Chapter 1196

Above Blood Plain, Nian Er Ping Zhi and Granny Yin exchange dozens of moves, probing with mortal killer moves, then Immortal Gu, then immortal killer moves, until the battle turns heated. Immortal Wang praises Granny Yin’s steady and experienced fighting. Chu Du notes that Granny Yin dictates the flow, yet Nian Er Ping Zhi’s sword light still charges without hesitation. ^{ch. 1196}

Inside Golden Dawn Hall, Nian Er Yi Fang watches nervously, ready to intervene. For Nian Er tribe, keeping Nian Er Ping Zhi alive outranks rules or reputation. ^{ch. 1196}

Granny Yin, a soul path veteran holding bewitching soul Immortal Gu, reveals herself, points from afar, and casts bewitching soul art. Nian Er Ping Zhi’s sword light dissipates, and he floats mindless and defenseless. She laughs, her hand swelling many times over as it descends fan-like toward his skull. ^{ch. 1196}

Nian Er Yi Fang shouts and rushes out to save him. Chu Du, expecting interference, had arranged for Hao Zhen to intercept it. Hao Zhen accuses Nian Er Yi Fang of interfering and strikes him with lightning. His sick tree spring armor blocks it and sprouts fresh leaves. ^{ch. 1196}

Chu Du is surprised less by the famous armor than by Nian Er Yi Fang’s choice to block rather than save him, reading it as proof he saw no urgent danger. He is right. ^{ch. 1196}

Before Granny Yin’s hand lands, sharp light flashes in Nian Er Ping Zhi’s eyes. A sword light cuts her in two before she can defend. Nian Er Yi Fang laughs and names it sword heart clarity, an immortal killer move from Sword Saint true inheritance meant to restrict wisdom path and similar methods, rare among Sword Childs in history. ^{ch. 1196}

Ye Lui Xiao Jin, who lost to Xue Wu Hen, sees the contrast: Nian Er Ping Zhi has killed the rank seven Granny Yin. Chou Lao Wu grumbles that Nian Er Yi Fang is truly crafty for staging his rescue while knowing Nian Er Ping Zhi was safe. Granny Yin was perhaps too confident in her bewitching soul art, Chu Du judges. Nian Er Ping Zhi had deceived her by pretending to be struck. Chu Du privately judges the killing move, extremely fast and nearly impossible to guard against, as likely one sword life, an immortal killer move Sword Saint Nian Er used in his younger days. ^{ch. 1196}

Nian Er Ping Zhi retreats at Nian Er Yi Fang’s urging. He is badly hurt but victorious. He takes both halves of Granny Yin’s corpse, one holding her aperture, as spoils under the competition’s rules. Xue Wu Hen won three battles but only killed the rank six Liu Hui; Nian Er Ping Zhi’s one win took a rank seven expert’s life, so the righteous path holds a slight lead. Chu Du weighs who fights next. ^{ch. 1196}

News that Granny Yin has died reaches Fang Yuan, cultivating in Lang Ya blessed land. He is only slightly surprised. Many geniuses beat rank seven with rank six cultivation, though rank seven beating rank eight is extremely rare. He has no memory of Nian Er Ping Zhi, since in his first life he was a mortal who knew nothing of the Gu Immortal world. He is far more interested in Xue Wu Hen’s spoils: the blessed land of Liu Hui, an earth path Gu Immortal of two heavenly tribulations, ripe for annexation toward rank seven. ^{ch. 1196}

He asks Chu Du to help arrange buying the aperture from Xue Wu Hen. He puts off Chu Du’s request to join the fighting, citing seclusion. He means to raise his cultivation to rank seven before joining. His alliance with Chu Sect is lenient enough that he owes no more, even if it were destroyed. ^{ch. 1196}

Chu Du frowns at the refusal and sighs that Elder Liu Guan Yi would make this easier. Xue Wu Hen asks why Chu Du holds Liu Guan Yi in such esteem. Chu Du explains Liu Guan Yi’s letter asked Xue Wu Hen to sell him Liu Hui’s aperture. Xue Wu Hen answers he could not get Liu Hui’s Immortal Gu, and not knowing the aperture’s worth, will not sell it. ^{ch. 1196}