Battle Against Nangong Xiyun

Things didn’t seem to be going well.

Su Luo thought pushing the Demon Lord out might not be a bad idea.

But then again, the Demon Lord couldn’t die just yet.

Su Luo stepped forward, shielding the Demon Lord: "I’m afraid she won’t be staying."

"If I insist otherwise?"

"Then there’s nothing to be done."

Su Luo drew Xia Ying, ready for battle.

The Demon Lord, gripping the Heavenly Demon Sword, doubted Su Luo could handle Nangong Xiyun.

"I’ll join you."

"No need," Su Luo refused. "I won’t be able to protect you if we fight."

"Are you underestimating me?" Though Jiang Ningshu hadn’t fully recovered to her second stage, her strength was still formidable.

"No, but your peak hasn’t returned yet. Today, you’ll listen to me, right?"

"...Yes."

"Then stay back—no, go to the spot I showed you. I’ll hold her off."

Jiang Ningshu hesitated but obeyed. She had promised to follow his lead today.

Nangong Xiyun slashed out a sword beam to block Jiang Ningshu’s retreat.

Su Luo intercepted it effortlessly.

"I’ll be your opponent."

Su Luo hadn’t planned to fight Nangong Xiyun so soon. In the past, every challenge he issued ended in defeat—utter, crushing losses. Even at his peak, he’d never managed to push her to her limits.

But now, armed with new skills, he at least wouldn’t be humiliated. Winning, however? That would require reaching the Great Ascension Realm.

Su Luo struck first, channeling Nangong Xiyun’s power—though he couldn’t wield it too fiercely, his body still couldn’t withstand such overwhelming force.

"Void-Splitting Strike: Zero!"

Space split violently, a jagged rift tearing through the fabric of reality.

Nangong Xiyun’s blade sealed the fissure shut with a single stroke.

Their swords clashed in rapid succession, faster and faster until the blades became invisible.

"Hey… are you angry?" Su Luo asked.

"No."

Liar. Her fury practically radiated off her. Su Luo could feel it in her strikes. "Why? Did I do something?"

"No." Nangong Xiyun pressed her assault.

Su Luo didn’t let his guard down.

At first, his familiarity with her techniques gave him a slight edge.

But Nangong Xiyun adapted swiftly, effortlessly recalibrating. Her improvisation was flawless.

The stalemate was an illusion. Su Luo knew prolonged combat only spelled his defeat.

In a split-second gamble, Su Luo let Nangong Xiyun’s blade slash his waist—while his own sword struck hers.

Earlier, he’d rolled the dice. A nine.

His sword slammed into her like a bat hitting a ball, launching her backward.

Meanwhile, he clutched his side, gritting his teeth. Even with half the damage negated, the pain was sharp.

Nangong Xiyun rose, unharmed. A single strike wouldn’t fell her—she was no pushover.

She closed the distance again. From the start, she’d treated Su Luo as a top-tier opponent.

"You continue to surprise me," she said coldly, careful not to betray too much emotion. If Su Luo realized she was A’Yun, things would get complicated.

"Pretend you didn’t see it," Su Luo replied.

Being on her radar was trouble, though he knew his words were pointless.

They clashed again.

Suddenly, Su Luo’s eyes glowed violet, energy bursting forth.

If physical attacks failed, he’d strike her mind.

He sought to unleash the inner demon Nangong Xiyun had sealed away. He knew it was futile—even if it surfaced, she’d suppress it again. But buying time was enough.

Diving deep into her psyche, Su Luo froze.

Where was the demon?

The sealed darkness that once tormented her—gone.

Huh? Is that… a portrait of me?

Before he could focus, he was ejected.

"You—what did you see?!" Nangong Xiyun’s voice wavered, tense and hurried.

But Su Luo had his own question: "Where’s your inner demon?!"

"We reconciled. That’s why I reached the Great Ascension."

"…What?"

Su Luo’s confusion was palpable. That wasn’t how it happened in the original timeline—her demon was supposed to be destroyed later. Reconciliation made no sense.

Nangong Xiyun relaxed. He hadn’t seen it.

"Wait, I think I noticed—"

"You saw nothing." She swung her sword again.

"I wasn’t hallucinating. Why was there a painting of me?"

"Because you’re a formidable opponent. I take you seriously." Her tone was deadpan.

"…Really?"

Su Luo almost believed her. The Nangong Xiyun he knew—when not playing a role—never lied.

"Really."

She had already locked her mental world. No more intrusions.

Regardless, Su Luo couldn’t afford distractions. He focused solely on survival.

Their blades, once a storm of motion, gradually slowed.

Yet this wasn’t fatigue—it was a higher level of swordsmanship.

Every strike carried profound intricacies, their power mounting.

Each collision shook the earth, the battlefield long reduced to ruin.

In this deadly dance, a single misstep meant defeat—for Su Luo, at least. Nangong Xiyun, a Great Ascension cultivator, wouldn’t fall so easily.

[The Jester’s Delight]

Nangong Xiyun: "Ahahahaha—!"

She stiffened. Why was she laughing? Su Luo’s doing, no doubt.

His tricks were endless—and she couldn’t counter this one.

Laughing mid-battle wasn’t her style. Being watched by Su Luo made it worse. Her icy demeanor was crumbling.

Good. That was the point.

Since he couldn’t win fairly, he’d exploit every advantage.

I’ll defeat you just once, Nangong Xiyun—no matter what it takes!

…Wait. Wasn’t I supposed to stall and escape?

Why am I getting fired up?

No matter. Fight first, think later.

Su Luo disengaged. "Enough. Let’s end this with one strike."

The dice landed on five.

[Charging…]

Nangong Xiyun nodded. Originally, she’d come to reconnect with Su Luo in her true identity, to mend their rapport. Yet here they were.

But retreat wasn’t an option now. And this battle had taught her much.

Nangong Xiyun lifted his sword, his demeanor utterly calm, yet beneath that serenity lay an unfathomable power gathering momentum.

Su Luo inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, as strands of spiritual energy began coiling around her, growing denser by the second.

In an instant, an immense surge of spiritual energy coalesced around Su Luo’s body before being channeled entirely into Xia Ying—this strike was pure offense, with no thought of defense.

Xia Ying trembled with excitement. After being sealed away for so long, it was finally free to unleash its full potential.