Leng Qingqiu vs. Gu Yan

The night wind howled under a bright moonlit sky.

Only Leng Qingqiu and Gu Yan remained in the heavens.

However, Gu Yan stood there now as the Night King.

Leng Qingqiu gripped an ordinary longsword in her right hand, the surroundings now devoid of others.

She fixed her gaze on the dazzling source of life essence ahead.

That person was none other than Gu Yan!

Thus, she had to stop him from continuing his slaughter.

"Enough, Night King," she said, her voice steady.

"Too many have already died."

Leng Qingqiu dispelled her killing intent, knowing it was Gu Yan before her.

That was why she spoke to him calmly now.

By this point, all those who had besieged the Leng Family—save for the forces of the mortal world—had been exterminated by Gu Yan.

Those remaining here were unrelated to the events of the past.

So Gu Yan... should stop now.

If he ceased at this moment, she would quietly dispatch her own people to eliminate the remaining enemies in the mortal world.

Then... she would bury deep in her heart the truth that Gu Yan was the one who had taken her dagger.

Once peace was restored, she and Gu Yan could live a tranquil, loving life together.

Yet, to Leng Qingqiu's disbelief and inner tremors...

Gu Yan lifted his head to look at her, his voice laced with mockery and indifference. "Leng Qingqiu, when did you become like this?"

"Since when do you care so much for others?"

"Have you considered what those people would think of you if they learned you were once the Night King?"

Hearing this, a wave of bitterness surged in Leng Qingqiu's heart.

Gu Yan was speaking to her with such coldness.

She tightened her grip on the sword, her qi swirling around her like razor-sharp light.

Swish!

Leng Qingqiu pointed the blade at Gu Yan, her voice icy. "Your dagger is the source of your power. Destroy it, and you’ll no longer be the invincible Night King!"

"If I kill you here and now, no one will ever know of my past identity!"

Gu Yan chuckled, the Power of Night flickering around him. "By all means, try."

With a flick of his wrist—swish!—the dagger shot toward Leng Qingqiu at a speed almost invisible to the eye.

Her heart sank. How had Gu Yan mastered the dagger to such an extent?

Just how deeply had the Power of Night corrupted him these past days?

No time to dwell.

Leng Qingqiu swiftly raised her sword to block.

Though she could not see, her heightened perception allowed her to lock onto his position through spiritual energy.

Now at the Post-Grand Master level, she could even discern Gu Yan’s current cultivation—merely a Grand Master. In combat, he stood no chance against her.

She refrained from using her Spirit Blade.

Its attacks targeted the soul; even striking the dagger would transmit excruciating pain to Gu Yan.

So...

Clang! Clang! Clang!!

Leng Qingqiu swung her ordinary sword with precision, her qi forming an impenetrable barrier. The dagger clashed against the blade in a flurry of metallic sparks.

The sky trembled as gales roared, the force of their collision sending shockwaves through the air.

Her spiritual senses remained locked onto the dagger. A single misstep, and it would pierce her flesh.

A mix of frustration and hurt welled within her.

Gu Yan... wasn’t holding back at all?

The thought stirred a flicker of resentment.

She had tried to talk things out, yet he met her with full force.

With a furious burst—boom!—she pushed off, her body streaking toward Gu Yan like an arrow.

The full might of a Post-Grand Master erupted from her!

Post-Grand Master already... My Qingqiu never disappoints.

Then... in this battle, I must secure your standing in the Martial Alliance.

Gu Yan’s lips curled as he gathered the Power of Night once more, conjuring several black energy blades that shot toward Leng Qingqiu.

Her eyes narrowed. Twisting midair, she dodged some and shattered the rest with a single slash.

Her technique was flawless—no hesitation, no retreat—yet she still held back, careful not to harm Gu Yan.

But Gu Yan, oblivious to her struggle, pressed her relentlessly, forcing her toward her limits.

Leng Qingqiu gritted her teeth, anger simmering.

Gu Yan... must you really go this far?

Boom! Boom! Boom!!

Their battle raged across the sky, qi and the Power of Night intertwining into massive vortices of energy.

Every move carried the weight of life and death.

Then—seizing an opening—Gu Yan willed the dagger to strike the same spot on her blade repeatedly.

Crack!!

Leng Qingqiu’s sword shattered into fragments.

The clash paused.

Gu Yan stared at the now unarmed Leng Qingqiu, his tone cool and taunting. "Leng Qingqiu, why hold back?"

"If you don’t use your Spirit Blade... you will die."

As he spoke—boom!—a colossal black hand materialized behind him, and a dark longsword was drawn from the void.

"........."

Leng Qingqiu’s heart clenched. She balled her fists. Gu Yan’s tone... wasn’t joking.

He meant it.

Why?

Does Gu Yan want to kill me? Why? There’s no one around—no need to act.

But...

She pushed aside the turmoil in her mind.

Focusing, she studied Gu Yan with cold clarity.

Something’s wrong. The Power of Night must have warped his mind.

I need to make him listen first!

With a deep breath, she unleashed her full power. Her pure white eyes gleamed like twin moons in the night.

A radiant Spirit Blade materialized in her grasp, its glow piercing the darkness. She leveled it at Gu Yan and declared, "As you wish, Night King. You’d better use everything you have."

"Or... you’ll die here today."

"Heh. Wouldn’t have it any other way."

Gu Yan gripped his phantom blade and charged.

Leng Qingqiu met him head-on—but unlike their earlier skirmish, both now unleashed their true might.

BOOM!!

Qi and the Power of Night collided violently, erupting in a blinding flash that seemed to tear the heavens apart.

Below, fighters paused to look up.

Dark clouds churned above, obscuring all but two streaks—one black, one white—clashing at impossible speeds.

Each impact sent shockwaves rippling downward, disrupting the breath and balance of those below.

"Gods...!"

"Is that Director Leng fighting the Night King?!"

"She’s holding her own against him?!"

"Then the Night King... will fall today!"

Mo Chongxiao's expression was equally shocked—Leng Qingqiu's talent... was actually this terrifying?!

To single-handedly challenge the Night King... this was unprecedented!

Meanwhile.

Two figures wearing demon masks retreated after slaying their enemies, stepping aside.

They anxiously looked up at the sky.

"Brother, will His Lordship be alright?" Little Bai asked urgently. Leng Qingqiu seemed to be the strongest among the humans—could His Lordship lose in a one-on-one fight?

"It's fine... His Lordship ordered us not to interfere no matter what happens," Shitou replied in a hushed voice, struggling to suppress his own urge to rush to Gu Yan's aid.

Besides, they were far too weak—even if they went, they wouldn’t be much help.

The battle in the sky grew increasingly fierce.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!

Every clash between Leng Qingqiu and Gu Yan was like thunder, shaking the heavens. Streaks of blinding light and dark shadows intertwined, as if the very sky was locked in a life-and-death struggle.

Leng Qingqiu’s swordsmanship was razor-sharp, each strike carrying relentless spiritual pressure.

Gu Yan, gripping the phantom blade "Illusion's End," flickered like a specter in the night.

Tsk, this spiritual backlash is really unpleasant...

Qingqiu has truly founded an extraordinary school...

Gu Yan mused silently. He calculated the timing—it was about right.

Time for the next step.

After deflecting a sword beam with the Power of Night, he retreated and sneered, "Leng Qingqiu, you’re digging your own grave!"

"The Night shall annihilate all sin. Those who stand in our way... deserve death!!"

A resonant hum filled the air as the Power of Night swirled around him, forming a dark barrier.

Gripping Illusion's End, he charged at Leng Qingqiu, a massive surge of destructive energy and the Power of Night gathering at the tip of his blade.

If it exploded, the blast would likely obliterate everyone below!

"!!"

Leng Qingqiu’s eyes flashed with determination. She unleashed her spiritual energy to its limits, manifesting a colossal radiant sword aimed directly at Gu Yan’s Illusion's End.

She even fine-tuned the energy output to perfectly counterbalance his attack.

However.

To her shock, the moment Gu Yan closed in, he abruptly dropped his stance—his true target was below!

"What?!"

Gu Yan was aiming for the fighters on the ground—including his own allies?!

Leng Qingqiu froze for an instant before instinctively reaching out to stop him.

In that split second—

SNAP!!

She caught Gu Yan’s arm!!!