Chapter 645: Langtian Rescues the Beauty, Qingzhu Descends to the Mortal World
One person standing against an army of a million!
With the last defenses of Nine Heavens Taixuan Palace shattered, under the tidal wave of Yuan Gate disciples, a lone figure stood like a slender tree before a raging flood.
She seemed fragile, yet possessed a tenacity that could not be shaken.
Behind her, the disciples of Nine Heavens gazed at that graceful back, eyes rimmed red. Some of the women could not help but sob aloud.
"Green Lotus Ten Thousand Swords Art!"
Ling Qingzhu's delicate face was resolute as boundless Yuan Power surged forth, condensing above her into countless emerald swords of energy.
Her jade hand swept down. The air shrieked with the sound of tearing wind.
A storm of swords howled forth like a collapsing sky, smashing into the charging tide of Yuan Gate disciples.
"Ahhh!"
Screams rang out as blood sprayed, staining the ground crimson.
For the moment, the flood of Yuan Gate's charge had been held back by Ling Qingzhu alone.
Above, the Yuan Gate Grand Elder watched the mounting casualties with blank eyes, black light swirling in their depths. He felt no pity at all—only lifted a hand in a casual wave.
Three Reincarnation‑level elders with gloomy faces stepped past him, cold smiles on their lips.
Their figures blurred and reappeared in front of their disciples an instant later.
With a snort, all three struck out at once. Black light flooded their eyes as torrents of Yuan Power poured forth, weaving into layers of barriers that soaked up the storm of incoming sword light.
"Slaughter Nine Heavens Taixuan Palace!"
Their shout cracked like thunder.
The momentary pause broke; Yuan Gate's disciples roared and surged forward again toward the wounded defenders.
Biting her lip, Ling Qingzhu moved to intercept—only for three shadows to flicker into place around her.
The three elders sealed off every avenue of advance.
They wasted no time. Yuan Power exploded from their bodies as they each jabbed a finger toward her. Three colossal fingers of energy descended from the heavens, crashing down to crush her.
Ling Qingzhu watched the incoming blows in silence. Then her slender hands came together as dazzling jade light erupted from within her like a tidal wave.
Boom!
The terrifying green radiance streaked out, shattering the three massive fingers as if they were glass before flashing forward to appear before the elders like a ghost.
"Not good!"
A suffocating wave of dread struck the three men. They snarled like cornered beasts as evil black light flooded their eyes.
Swish!
They struck together, hands turning jet‑black as demonic qi coiled around their fingers. Each palm lashed out like lightning toward the oncoming glow.
Buzz!
The emerald light flared, revealing Ling Qingzhu's flawless form. Confusion flickered through her eyes for a heartbeat. Then her sword hand trembled. Three streaks of sword light flew.
Sss, sss, sss!
Her blade flashed past them, and she slid to a halt with her sword slowly returning to its sheath.
Behind her, thin red lines appeared at the throats of the three elders.
Blood spurted as three heads spun skyward.
"Hmph."
Beneath her gauzy veil, Ling Qingzhu let out a faint, muffled groan. Three charred handprints smoldered on her shoulder, vivid blood soaking into the thin fabric.
She had slain three Reincarnation experts in a single exchange, but the cost to her body was brutal.
"Clap, clap, clap…"
Slow applause echoed across the sky as the Grand Elder finally stepped out of the black clouds. Black light raged in his pupils as demonic qi towered behind him, blotting out the sun.
"Impressive tricks. It seems I'll have to handle this myself."
Lu Feng, Yuan Gate's Grand Elder, looked at Ling Qingzhu with a savage glint.
Feeling the crushing aura radiating from him, Ling Qingzhu's slim body shivered once. She tightened her grip on her sword.
She had to hold him here. If Lu Feng broke free, not a single Nine Heavens disciple would escape.
Swish!
She moved first, body turning into a streak of green as a razor‑sharp sword light stabbed toward him like a lightning bolt.
Buzz!
The blade was about to pierce his chest when two withered, black‑veined fingers caught it between them. Sparks flared, but the edge could not advance another hair.
"Heh."
Lu Feng's lips peeled back in a cruel grin as his other hand clenched into a fist. Dense magic patterns crawled across his knuckles as an overwhelming, evil power built up.
Boom!
His punch crashed into Ling Qingzhu's body.
Demonic qi erupted, smashing the air itself to pieces.
Blood burst from Ling Qingzhu's lips. Sorrow flickered through her eyes as her body whipped backward, tumbling through the air like a broken butterfly.
"Senior Sister Qingzhu!"
Su Rou and the other disciples, halfway through their retreat, cried out hoarsely.
"This is the price of resisting Yuan Gate. Die!"
Madness flashed in Lu Feng's eyes as he swept his arm forward.
Demonic qi boiled into a thousand‑zhang‑long magic blade. With a flick of his sleeve, the blade tore through space and shot toward the fallen Ling Qingzhu.
She stared up at the onrushing sword, teeth sunk into her lip. A trace of despair crept into her clear eyes.
They had lost.
Nine Heavens Taixuan Palace would be erased beneath Yuan Gate's butcher's knife.
"Senior Sister!"
Su Rou's voice broke as she watched the fragile silhouette below that descending blade.
Swish!
At that very instant, a sharp whistle split heaven and earth.
Far away, space twisted and a figure streaked across the sky like a bolt of living light.
Boom!
The magic blade slammed down.
The earth split open in a web of bottomless cracks; dust and debris erupted, swallowing everything from sight.
Faces went slack with horror.
Su Rou sank to her knees, staring vacantly toward the smoke.
"Senior Sister…"
Then, through the thinning haze, she saw it.
A patch of unbroken ground amidst the shattered plain.
And on that untouched earth, Ling Qingzhu still stood—unharmed.
"That is…"
A cry of shock broke the spell.
Su Rou's head snapped up.
Not far in front of Ling Qingzhu, a slender, green‑robed figure stood quietly with his back to her.
He wasn't towering, yet he had taken the full brunt of the storm and held it alone.
"That's… Brother Langtian?!"
Su Rou stared, eyes wide, at the familiar silhouette. An instant later, she shot to her feet, joy exploding across her face.
Tears blurred her vision.
Behind him, Ling Qingzhu slowly opened her eyes. She gazed at the figure shielding her, biting down hard on her lip as a storm of emotions churned within her.
He turned his head slightly, dark eyes meeting hers.
Gentleness welled silently up in their depths.
"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one will hurt you."
Those firm, protective words broke past her icy composure.
For the first time in years, a nameless ache flooded Ling Qingzhu's chest. Her eyes grew wet, her breath catching at the tip of her nose.
Before she could steady herself, Lin Langtian bent and swept her into his arms.
The sudden loss of ground beneath her feet stunned her into blankness.
Then instinct kicked in and she began to struggle.
"Be good. Hold still."
The uncharacteristically soft tone froze her resistance. She raised her head at last.
The face before her seemed even more handsome than in memory.
His usual coldness was gone, replaced by an almost aching tenderness.
Her fingers clenched into fists at her sides. The strength went out of her struggles, leaving only the faint trembling of her hands.
"Brother Langtian?"
Su Rou and the other disciples could only stare, stunned, as he carried Ling Qingzhu toward them.
It took Su Rou a long moment to snap out of it.
"Brother Langtian, it really is you! You're back in the Eastern Xuan Region?! I knew you'd come back!"
Lin Langtian stopped before her.
Seeing her shining, tearful smile, he couldn't help but smile back.
"Well done."
He gently set Ling Qingzhu down and turned back to Su Rou.
Her face lit up at the praise, as if all her exhaustion had melted away.
"Ahem."
Ling Qingzhu coughed softly at his side. A fresh bloom of red seeped through the veil over her lips. Lu Feng's strike had left deep damage.
"Senior Sister, are you all right?!"
Su Rou jolted, and the disciples rushed in, rings of anxious faces closing around Ling Qingzhu.
She shook her head slightly. Looking at the blood on their clothes, she said quietly,
"Pull yourselves together. The enemy is still here."
The words snapped them out of their daze. Their joy faded into grim focus once more.
"Leave the rest to Heavenly Palace. Guard her well."
Lin Langtian glanced at Ling Qingzhu. Her expression had returned to its usual cool calm, but she refused to meet his eyes—every time their gazes brushed, she turned away.
"Be careful, Brother Langtian. That Yuan Gate Grand Elder is very strong."
Su Rou bit her lip. Her mind knew he should avoid direct confrontation, but her heart trusted him blindly. The warning that came out was anything but discouraging.
"Heavenly Palace's Lord has our thanks."
Ling Qingzhu's lashes lowered as she spoke softly. "But if we cannot repel them, I hope you'll withdraw.
"Even if we are destroyed, Nine Heavens Taixuan Palace will never bow its head to Yuan Gate."
Su Rou winced, sticking out her tongue silently.
She knew better than most there was something unspoken between the two—but watching the distant look on Ling Qingzhu's face now, even she was confused.
She had seen her proud Senior Sister drift into dazes during cultivation, lost in thoughts of someone far away.
Yet here, faced with that very person, she spoke as if to a stranger.
Still, no one in Nine Heavens dared question Ling Qingzhu.
In Su Rou's heart, the two of them fit together too well to ignore.
There were few in the younger generation worthy of Ling Qingzhu—and few women worthy of Lin Langtian. The match seemed written in the stars.
"What 'Lord of Heavenly Palace'? Don't tell me you've forgotten my name."
Lin Langtian raised a brow, the corner of his mouth twitching at her formality.
Still so cold. Completely unlike fiery Tang Xinlian.
Ling Qingzhu's expression did not change. She did not lift her head or answer.
His lips thinned. Suddenly, his hand flashed toward her face with a sharp gust of wind—as if in anger.
Feeling the rush of air, her body tensed and her eyes fluttered shut. She didn't move.
Swish.
His fingers brushed her cheek.
Cool air touched her skin as the veil was tugged away.
In that instant, the flawless beauty hidden beneath was laid bare.
For a moment, even the air seemed to brighten.
"You—!"
The chill on her face made her start. She snapped her eyes open, staring dumbly at the veil now dangling from his hand.
For once, a flush of shame and anger colored her usually pale cheeks.
"This is much better. Don't bother playing the immortal in front of me—I've never had a taste for that."
Looking at the fairy‑like woman unveiled before him, with her new hint of mortal color, Lin Langtian felt his fingers itch.
His smile deepened.
(END CHAPTER)
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