Redemption of a Born Demon

Chapter 87: The Stirring of True Intents, Mutually Borrowing Taoist Skills (Part 1)

In the park, within the Greening Forest.

As Zhou Qingchen moved, her Pure Qi took the form of a sword. This Purity Sword instantly dispersed the chaotic magnetic field from the Zizai Dharma Seal. She moved without the slightest hesitation, striking toward Yi Beidou with extreme speed.

Her clear spirit, light Qi, and Innate Sword Bone made her far faster than other Saint Experts.

She didn’t attack Yi Beidou immediately. Instead, the surrounding trees became her springboards as her body flickered around him, weaving back and forth in an almost inconceivable way.

And this was no simple Body Technique. With every rebound, Zhou Qingchen’s speed increased.

After just a few breaths, her speed had already surpassed the limit of what Meng Qianyuan and the others could track with their eyes. They could no longer make out her movements, only a blurry, flickering silhouette.

Even to Yi Beidou’s eyes, Zhou Qingchen was now moving so fast that she was leaving afterimages.

’Interesting.’

Yi Beidou stood his ground, perfectly still. He had already seen through her technique. This wasn’t simple acceleration via footwork. With each reversal, her spirit was accumulating and soaring, her Physical Ability was slightly enhanced, and under the intangible influence of her True Intent, it created the phenomenon of her ever-increasing speed.

This was a peculiar footwork that could build up both Physical Ability and a Great Trend.

This was the second major characteristic of the Dustless Sword Step, named "Kuibu."

Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles.

If one practices tranquility and inaction, never striving to step forward, how can one explore their limits and ride the crest of the era’s wave?

Yi Beidou didn’t stop her from building her Great Trend precisely because he wanted to observe its wonders and see just how powerful it could become.

After five breaths, Zhou Qingchen’s speed reached its absolute peak. Her figure flashed, and forming a Finger Sword, she thrust at Yi Beidou from an incredibly awkward angle at his side.

FZZT!!

Her two fingers tore through the air. Though made of flesh and blood, a Saint’s body is nigh indestructible. Combined with Zhou Qingchen’s Sword Bone Heaven-Born nature, the might of her fingers surpassed even a sharp sword—they could pierce through a bulletproof steel plate.

This strike was neat, precise, and swift. It carried a shadow of the Emei Ape Swordsmanship, yet also seemed to incorporate the essence of a Western Throwing Sword. Her Heart Intent pierced through all delusion, her fingertips seeming to bloom with a blinding light.

A clear spirit and light Qi are best for the fight!

She would be faster than everyone, sharper than everyone, and go farther than everyone!

This technique was named "Clear Light Barrier-Breaking"!

Yi Beidou suddenly twisted his body, striking out with a palm toward Zhou Qingchen’s incoming fingers.

Demon Body Palm Strike Asks the Heavens!

Celestial Demon Inquiry Dao!

FZZT!!

However, his True Intent seemed to be sliced apart by Zhou Qingchen’s will.

He sought to pry open the Celestial Gate with his Demon Body, while she sought to pierce the veil of illusion with her Finger Sword.

Both possessed a heart that sought the Dao; both were exceptionally gifted.

But Zhou Qingchen had built her Great Trend through footwork. Now, her spirit was stronger, her Physical Ability was greater, and with her Sword Momentum concentrated into a single point to shatter a plane, she actually took the upper hand!

THUD!!

Zhou Qingchen’s Finger Sword struck Yi Beidou’s palm.

PSHH!!

A spray of blood erupted. A gash had actually appeared on Yi Beidou’s palm where he was struck. The skin and flesh had split open, spilling blood.

Seeing this, the pupils of Meng Qianyuan and the others contracted sharply.

They were all aware of how powerful Yi Beidou’s physical body was. He had fought so many Saint Experts and always emerged completely unscathed. But now, with a single technique, his Golden Body had been breached and he was bleeding?!

Could this Zhou Qingchen of Emei truly be so powerful?!

However, Zhou Qingchen, who appeared to have landed a decisive blow, showed a look of astonishment. She could sense that her strike had merely broken the surface of his skin. The gushing blood was simply a result of the impact between flesh and the surge of his Qi and blood.

The resilience of this man’s body was simply unheard of!

The attack hadn’t had nearly the effect she’d anticipated.

BOOM!!

In the next instant, Yi Beidou’s body shuddered, instantly neutralizing the impact. He brought a palm crashing down toward Zhou Qingchen.

Heaven-storming Evil Qi condensed on his palm, rolling forward like an unstoppable, frenzied tide.

Destruction Killing Tribulation!

With a tap of her foot, Zhou Qingchen’s Dustless Sword Step cleaved through the magnetic field’s influence. Her figure drifted back like a feather. She didn’t meet Yi Beidou’s attack head-on, choosing to dodge instead.

She wasn’t the type who excelled in direct confrontations; a head-on clash with Yi Beidou would be unwise.

However, that palm strike was only the beginning. Yi Beidou unleashed a chain of palm strikes. His Qi and blood surged, and waves of murderous Evil Qi crashed down, each more powerful than the last.

A Killing Tribulation Chain, with no escape.

The ever-surging Evil Qi and the seemingly tireless, relentless assault caused the Qing Guang at Zhou Qingchen’s feet to dim. Her Dustless Sword Step was finding it increasingly difficult to evade the influence of the Killing Tribulation.

In the face of such a tribulation, even a Daluo Golden Immortal could not remain untouched.

"What a magnificent Killing Tribulation Chain. What a fine method for controlling killing intent. Today, I’ll borrow this technique of yours!"

A light flashed in Zhou Qingchen’s eyes. In an instant, all the Qing Guang and her sharp aura retracted, not vanishing, but condensing upon her two fingers.

The searing momentum and magnetic field were so intense that the watching Emei Disciples and Meng Qianyuan’s group could clearly see a dazzling Qing Guang enveloping Zhou Qingchen’s fingers, forming a blade as thin as a cicada’s wing.

As their True Intents intertwined and their auras clashed, Zhou Qingchen had a sudden insight. She learned the method of controlling Evil Qi that Yi Beidou had acquired from the True Intent of the ancient Nameless Sword Lord of the Silent Heart Sword. And she immediately applied it to her own technique.

The original True Intent of the Destruction Killing Tribulation was to destroy Evil Techniques and propagate the Righteous Dharma. Yet now, under the assault of the Killing Tribulation Chain, Zhou Qingchen was not only undefeated, but had even achieved an epiphany and broken through her limits. This was proof enough that she represented the "Righteous Dharma."

In that single moment, a flaw appeared in the True Intent behind the Destruction Killing Tribulation.

With its True Intent flawed, the assault faltered. An opening had been revealed.

SWOOSH!!

Zhou Qingchen thrust her sword-finger forward. Yi Beidou’s overwhelming Celestial Demon Evil Qi was split apart by her attack. Her finger, concentrated with Pure Qi, struck his palm, creating a gash that ran clear across his hand. The flesh tore open, faintly revealing the bone beneath.

After the single exchange, the two separated.

DRIP! DRIP!

Yi Beidou’s hand hung limp at his side, blood trickling from his fingertips to drip onto the ground.

Meng Qianyuan and his companions were utterly silent.

Yi Beidou had formed the Zizai Dharma Seal, which was broken by Zhou Qingchen’s Dustless Sword Step.

His Celestial Demon Inquiry Dao was shattered by her own Seeking Dao Technique, which she empowered by using Kuibu to build her Great Trend.

His relentless Destruction Killing Tribulation was countered when she learned his method of controlling Evil Qi, broke free from the tribulation, shattered his Heart Intent, and drew blood from his Demon Body.

The Mr. Yi who had seemed omnipotent in their eyes now appeared to be out of options. He was showing signs of defeat, completely suppressed by his opponent.

Still, it was only natural. There was always someone stronger, a higher heaven beyond the heavens.

Even someone as gifted as Mr. Yi had to have his limits.

’Everyone couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.’

"I believe the outcome is decided. There’s no need for us to continue this spar."

Zhou Qingchen said, her eyes fixed on Yi Beidou.

Yi Beidou’s expression, however, was calm. There was no trace of defeat on his face, only the faint glimmer of memory in his eyes.

His recent epiphanies regarding magnetic fields, his experiences sparring with various Saint Experts—it all replayed in his mind, culminating in the stunning True Intent and Taoist Skill displayed by the opponent before him.

"Now that I think about it, my Martial Arts are truly missing a proper footwork technique. You learned how to control the Evil Qi’s magnetic field from my technique. I can’t let you be the only one to come out ahead, so I’ll just borrow the True Intent of your footwork."

Yi Beidou flicked his hand, shaking off the blood. The muscles in his palm contracted, and the wound instantly sealed shut, stanching the flow.