Lin Yu looked up at the descending black vortices, a faint smile on his lips. With a thought, the Wind Controlling Sword spinning before him turned into a cyan rainbow, shooting toward the puppet's fists.
The Nine Heavens Sword Controlling Art, combined with the Wind Controlling Sword and Lin Yu's Myriad Manifestations Fifth Grade cultivation, made this cyan rainbow so powerful that even a Myriad Manifestations Sixth Grade warrior couldn't block it.更何况 (Moreover), this black iron puppet only had Myriad Manifestations Second Grade combat power—its durability came from its metal body, allowing it to withstand two wind intents.
Boom!
The black vortices on the puppet's fists were instantly slashed apart by the flying sword. Sword intent flashed, and its arms were severed like cutting melons and vegetables. The puppet was sent flying, crashing toward Jiang Xuan like a leaf in the wind.
"You... you're a Myriad Manifestations warrior?" Jiang Xuan's face paled, gaping at the hurtling puppet.
The Wind Controlling Sword circled the flying puppet, and as it neared Jiang Xuan, neat incisions appeared on its body. The puppet disintegrated into parts, raining down around Jiang Xuan.
"Puppet... my puppet..." Jiang Xuan stared at Lin Yu in horror. Who could have known a Myriad Manifestations Second Grade puppet couldn't withstand one strike from Lin Yu's flying sword? This was an ancient treasure that other sects would use as a clan-protecting artifact!
Realizing Lin Yu could defeat the puppet so easily, Jiang Xuan turned to flee.
"Did I say you could leave?" Lin Yu snorted. The Wind Controlling Sword accelerated, blocking Jiang Xuan before he could react.
Trembling, Jiang Xuan turned to Lin Yu. "T... Third Prince, I was wrong. I can compensate them. Spare me, and I swear never to target them again. Please, have mercy!"
"Did you show mercy when they begged you?" Lin Yu shook his head—evildoers must be eradicated; Jiang Xuan had to die today.
Jiang Xuan looked at Lin Yu helplessly—Chu Chu and Seventh Princess hadn't begged him. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Third Prince, I'm not just a Profound Heaven disciple; I'm the Grand Elder's grandson. Kill me, and my grandfather will wipe out the Great Han royal family tomorrow. Think about the consequences!"
"Oh? Your grandfather is Profound Heaven's Grand Elder? No wonder Elder Zhang obeyed you. Killing you does have serious consequences." Lin Yu nodded, feigning surprise.
"Now you understand! Though you're Myriad Manifestations, our sect has Void Formation Realm ancestors and countless Myriad Manifestations warriors. Destroying Great Han is easy!" Jiang Xuan grinned, eyeing the unconscious Chu Chu and Seventh Princess. "Here's a deal: give them to me as equal wives. Profound Heaven and Great Han will become in-laws, and your dynasty will gain our full support."
"Is that all?" Lin Yu laughed—Jiang Xuan's audacity knew no bounds.
"Name your terms; I can agree to them!" Jiang Xuan was confident Lin Yu wouldn't risk the royal family's annihilation. Even though Lin Yu was stronger, he talked brazenly.
"I have no terms. I just want to ask: what makes you think Great Han would marry its princesses to you as equal wives? Your oversized ego?" Lin Yu sneered. "Others fear Profound Heaven, but I don't. Today is your death day."
"You..." Before Jiang Xuan could react, the Wind Controlling Sword pierced his heart, severing his meridian.
Jiang Xuan died staring at Lin Yu in disbelief.
Lin Yu turned to the unconscious pair, then looked at the puppet (wreckage). "Cauldron Lord, can this puppet still be refined?"
"Tsk tsk! A fine Myriad Manifestations Second Grade puppet, shattered like this. It can be refined, but it's equivalent to refining a Myriad Manifestations First Grade demon cultivator. Next time, keep the puppet intact—damaged parts reduce the spiritual energy yield!" Cauldron Lord lamented the wasted treasure.
Lin Yu grinned and promised to preserve future puppets. Cauldron Lord then emerged, devouring the puppet wreckage and refining Jiang Xuan, erasing all traces of him.
Afterward, Lin Yu hid暗处 (in the shadows), waiting for Chu Chu and Seventh Princess to wake.
Soon, Chu Chu, with stronger cultivation, regained consciousness first. She gripped her sword, stood茫然 (blankly), and looked around in confusion. Seeing Seventh Princess unconscious, she staggered over and woke her.
They found Jiang Xuan and the puppet gone, as if the battle had been a hallucination.
"Chu Chu, look at the ground!" Seventh Princess pointed to the sword marks left by the flying sword. "These weren't here before we passed out. Someone saved us!"
"Sword marks... could it be Prince Su?" Chu Chu mused. "When Father was attacked at the border, Prince Su slew the demon cultivator from afar using sword intent in a wooden sword. Maybe he saved us this time too?"
"Must be. The wind intent in your body was surely left by Prince Su. As Great Han's hope, he'll keep you safe." Seventh Princess shuddered at the thought of falling into Jiang Xuan's hands.
"Luckily Prince Su saved us from afar. We were so close to disaster!" Chu Chu nodded, grateful to the unseen Prince Su.
Assured they were unharmed, Lin Yu slipped into the forest and headed back to the camp below Moyun Ridge.