Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

Chapter 396: Chapter 395: Defeat

At this time, the cultivators from every sect were filled with anticipation.

Then, at that very moment, Lian Shuang’s sword moved.

With a focused gaze, her long sword sliced through the void. The light from her blade was like a shooting star, yet as ephemeral as a passing glance, appearing before Shangguan Wan’Er in an instant.

As the blue sword light streaked toward her in a graceful, meteor-like arc, Shangguan Wan’Er, now one with her sword, could clearly sense its aura.

The approaching strike was as ethereal as a phantom—transcendent and ephemeral, yet also erratic and unpredictable, impossible to track.

But as it arrived before her, a piercing Sword Qi, thick with a murderous aura, swept forth.

That murderous aura was sharp and domineering, like the irresistible will of a god. The moment it made contact, Shangguan Wan’Er’s soul trembled.

With her soul trembling, the will within Shangguan Wan’Er’s sword faltered, and her momentum plummeted.

Then, Lian Shuang pressed her advantage. Her piercing Sword Qi shattered Shangguan Wan’Er’s Sword Rainbow.

BANG!

Her long sword trembled as Sword Qi raged toward her. Shangguan Wan’Er was completely engulfed by the blue light of the blade.

As she was engulfed by the sword light, Shangguan Wan’Er’s qi and blood roiled within her. She spat out a mouthful of blood, and her body was sent flying backward.

As her body flew backward, her heart felt as if it had plunged into the Cold Cave. ’I’ve lost... and so miserably. Is this the real gap between us?’

For the first time, she felt utterly dejected because of the Sword Dao.

At this moment, she finally realized that the talent in the Sword Dao she had always been so proud of was completely worthless.

At this thought, Shangguan Wan’Er felt as if her heart would break.

The depths of her dejection and powerlessness were beyond what any ordinary person could imagine.

Ever since her days in the Great Tang Empire, Shangguan Wan’Er had hoped to change her own destiny by relying on her prodigious talent for the Sword Dao.

’Now that the talent I was so proud of has been proven so inadequate, what do I have left?’

’Right now, I’m being forced by the Beiming Sword Sect to kill Ling Fei!’

As she flew backward, tears began to stream from the corners of her eyes without her even realizing it.

She sighed internally, the sense of injustice and despair known only to her. ’Is this my fate?’

”Wan’Er lost?”

”Lian Shuang is so strong! To think that Shangguan Wan’Er, ranked third among the current generation of our Beiming Sword Sect, would be so helpless against her.” The members of the Beiming Sword Sect were shocked.

”Senior Sister Lian Shuang is so strong!”

”As expected of the Little Sword God!” The young disciples of the Lingyun Sect and the other sects gazed at her with admiration.

At that moment, the blue-haired woman stood with her sword held high, looking just like a Sword God. Who else in this era could possess such a magnificent bearing?

”Wan’Er!” Just then, Ling Fei’s brow furrowed. Moving like a ferocious dragon, he shot forward, flying into the air above Shangguan Wan’Er’s arena platform.

”That’s Ling the Pill Master.”

”What’s he doing?” The disciples of every sect were stunned as they watched Ling Fei suddenly fly forward.

Lian Shuang’s brow twitched slightly as she glanced at the approaching Ling Fei.

As everyone watched, Ling Fei reached out and caught Shangguan Wan’Er by the waist as she flew backward, her white robes fluttering.

Dragon Qi pulsed from his body, dispersing the lingering shockwaves in front of them.

Then, holding Shangguan Wan’Er in his arms, Ling Fei gracefully descended to the edge of the arena platform.

”Is that Ling the Pill Master, playing the hero saving the beauty?”

”He’s so bold! Doing something like this in front of everyone... is he trying to win Shangguan Wan’Er’s affection?” many people exclaimed.

”But isn’t Ling the Pill Master a mortal enemy of the Beiming Sword Sect?” some asked in confusion amidst the clamor.

If they’re mortal enemies, why would Ling the Pill Master be so reckless? Besides, Lian Shuang is also a peerless woman, and if you consider talent, she’s even more outstanding than Shangguan Wan’Er. What’s more, they’re from the same sect. Wouldn’t Ling Fei’s behavior disappoint Lian Shuang? If he’s going to woo someone, shouldn’t it be the more outstanding Lian Shuang?

For a moment, the crowd erupted in discussion. Only the people from the Lingyun Sect knew that Ling Fei and Shangguan Wan’Er were likely a couple.

They had seen Shangguan Wan’Er visit Ling Fei before.

However, because of the awkwardness of their respective statuses, the members of the Lingyun Sect didn’t cheer, simply watching the scene unfold in silence.

They understood that if Ling Fei and Shangguan Wan’Er wanted to be together, they would surely face many hardships.

As a powerful arm wrapped around her waist, Shangguan Wan’Er trembled, her Heart Spirit finally breaking free from the grip of dejection and sorrow.

Her gaze shifted, and she saw a familiar face.

Upon seeing that familiar face, two streams of hot tears streamed uncontrollably from Shangguan Wan’Er’s bright eyes.

”Ling Fei!” Shangguan Wan’Er gazed at the young man holding her, and her heart pounded in her chest. The heart that had been so lost, so utterly despairing, suddenly blazed with warmth. She felt her blood begin to boil. The sorrow from moments ago vanished without a trace, replaced by ecstasy, bliss, contentment, and joy!

”Wan’Er!” Ling Fei said, landing softly on the ground with her in his arms. He simply stared at the young woman he held.

He had seen the sorrow and dejection on her face moments before.

Now, an inexplicable sadness filled Ling Fei’s heart as well.

Shangguan Wan’Er...

She was an incredibly driven woman.

Unwilling to let others control her fate, she cultivated with all her might.

She was also a woman one couldn’t help but feel for.

Because changing one’s fate is far from easy. The sweat and tears, the loneliness and solitude one must endure... it was beyond what an ordinary person could ever know.

But none of that was the most important thing.

The most terrifying thing was despair.

And just moments ago, Ling Fei had clearly seen despair in Shangguan Wan’Er’s eyes.

It sent a pang of pain through his heart. He wished he could give her everything and let her live a life free of worries.

’But can I?’

Ling Fei took a deep breath, feeling the immense pressure.

He knew that the only way to achieve this was to become stronger himself.

’I will succeed.’ As he took another deep breath, his gaze became incredibly resolute.

’No matter how difficult it is, I have to protect the woman in my arms.’

’I absolutely cannot let the woman I’m holding live such a difficult life.’

Shangguan Wan’Er simply let Ling Fei hold her. She was so lost in the moment that she didn’t even realize they had landed, her eyes fixed on the young man before her.

’How wonderful it would be if he could hold me and cherish me like this forever?’ Shangguan Wan’Er thought.

She had struggled alone for so long, supporting her dreams and searching for freedom. Her life had been too hard.

For all these years, her nerves had been stretched taut, never daring to relax for a moment.

But now, after this crushing defeat, heartbroken and despairing, being held in his arms... she found she truly savored the feeling of being cherished by the one she loved.

In this moment, she felt an unparalleled sense of bliss.

She knew, this was the feeling she had always longed for.

On the platform, Ling Fei and Shangguan Wan’Er gazed at each other, their deep affection for one another on full display.

Watching this scene, the spectating cultivators from the various sects seemed to understand what was going on.

A dark glint flashed in Beiming Transformation Sea’s unfathomably deep eyes. ”Shangguan Wan’Er...” he muttered.

”’It seems Ling Fei truly is fond of Shangguan Wan’Er,” Beishan Jianxiong murmured.

’In that case, the chances of Shangguan Wan’Er succeeding in killing Ling Fei will be much higher.’

”’If she were to strike now, she’d have a ninety-percent chance of success,” Beichen Xinghe mused, his eyes glinting with a hint of excitement.

But he also knew that was impossible.

If Shangguan Wan’Er killed Ling Fei now, the Lingyun Sect would surely retaliate with overwhelming force and kill her. Why would she do something so foolish?

And so, Beichen Xinghe quickly suppressed the fervent glint in his eyes.