Before Lin Hao could think further, Ning Qingxue spoke up.

  "Lin Hao, long time no see."

  "Today, I've e to capture you. You've itted numerous crimes and must return to the sect to await your punishment."

  Capture me?

  Lin Hao suddenly uood. So these people were all gathered by Ning Qingxue, or rather... she was their leader!

  Damn it!

  "You're no mate, so surrender and spare yourself the pain!"

  Ha!

  Lin Hao sneered.

  "You say I've itted crimes, but what about you?"

  "If the seew about your deeds, they'd surely skin you alive and crush your soul."

  Ning Qingxue's expression ged slightly, and a hint of panic fshed in her beautiful eyes.

  Wang Ben, alerceptive, saw this as his ce to shine.

  He stepped forward and shouted sternly, "Lin the demon, your crimes are heinous, a you dare to provoke Fairy Ning with your words. Such beastly behavior!"

  Zheng!

  A sword flew out of its sheath.

  Lin Hao grasped it, lightly flicked the bde, and unleashed a burst of sword energy.

  A sharp and unparalleled sword energy!

  It sliced off a strand of Wang Ben's hair.

  Wang Ben was shocked. How had Lin the demon bee so powerful!?

  This guy must have... reached the peak of Foundatioablishment!

  That was too fast!

  His eyes were filled with both shod fear!

  Even Ning Qingxue was somewhat surprised.

  However, she didn't care. No matter how strong he was, what could he do?

  At most, he could swing one more sword.

  "Lin Hao, no matter how yue, you insulted your fellow disciples and stole spirit stohese things 't be faked!

  I must represent the sed punish you!"

  "You really are righteous, the Sect Leader's beloved disciple!" Lin Hao's lips curled into a mog smile.

  "Say what you will."

  Ning Qingxue drew the sword from her back, its uhed bde gleaming coldly!

  Zheng!

  A sword energy sshed out, chilling to the bone!

  The surrounding people's cheeks were frosted.

  Not to mention Lin Hao, who faced the sword energy directly, feeling the cold pierce his bones, painfully frozen.

  Frost covered his face, turning his hair and beard white.

  Buzz!

  A crimson fme emerged!

  Id fire iwined.

  Clearly, the fire couldn't melt the ice.

  Lin Hao wore a bitter smile.

  Even after advang to the peak of Foundatioablishment, he still couldn't defeat Ning Qihe gap in strength was too great!

  The memory of beied by three swords was vivid!

  But how could he admit defeat?

  If one sword energy wasn't enough, then two!

  The crimson fme roared like a dragon!

  The frost-like sword energy melted away!

  A trace of surprise fshed across Ning Qingxue's lips.

  Lin Hao's strength had truly increased signifitly.

  That frost-like sword energy seemed casual, but it was her full-force strike!

  She formed a sword seal with her left hand and infused spiritual energy with her right.

  She unleashed two more sword energies.

  The sword's power was overwhelming, as if it could split the sky.

  "This sword will surely kill Lin the demon!"

  The onlookers shouted!

  "Fairy Ning's strike will surely capture the demon!"

  "This sdrel will die today!"

  Lin Hao's expression was serious as he wielded his sword with all his might.

  In moments, the sword energy dissipated.

  Ning Qingxue looked at Lin Hao, though his clothes were tattered and his body covered in wounds, he stood tall like a proud pine in the snow.

  He was no lohe novice she had defeated with three swords before.

  A fighting spirit rose in Ning Qingxue's heart, and her sword, thin as a cicada's wing, was covered in frost.

  "Again!"

  With a wave of her delicate hand, a shog sword energy was unleashed.

  This was a new sword move she prehended after beied by Lu Buping in the inner sepetition, a move even Golden Elixir stage guardians dared not face head-on!

  Suineering sword energy!

  Lin Hao was taken aback, knowing Ning Qingxue was a swenius, but he hadn't expected her to be so monstrous as to create her own sword moves, her strength truly astonishing!

  A warning arose in his heart; if he took this move head-on, he might die!

  Thinking of this, he dared not face it directly!

  Though their cultivation levels were the same, his time ih was short, and his uanding of spells and swordsmanship was not deep, making it impossible to rival her.

  Escape!

  Without a sed thought, he summoned a flying sword, leapt onto it like a swallow, and turned into a stream of light to flee.

  "Shameless Lin sdrel, too scared to face Fairy Ning's sword move, running away in panic!"

  "Hey, the dog thief is esg, let's chase him!"

  Lin Hao sensed many pursuers behind him, with Ning Qingxue being the fastest. He didn't want to fight this woman and could only el all his spiritual energy to flee at full speed.

  But his proud escape teique was nothing in front of Ning Qingxue, and the distaween them grew closer.

  Anxious, a fierce look fshed in his eyes, and he spat out a mouthful of blood essence.

  The pursuers dwindled, leaving only Ning Qingxue.

  Yet, to Lin Hao's fusion, although she could have caught up with him with a little more effort, she suddenly stopped.

  "Fairy Ning... has Lin the demon been sin?"

  Soon, Wang Ben caught up, cautiously asking as he looked at the solitary figure.

  "No, he escaped."

  Ning Qingxue's voice was cold.

  "However, I've marked him with a trag seal. We find him using the seal."

  "Now go inform the teams to gather. Later, we'll surround Lin Hao and ensure he 't escape!"

  "Yes, Fairy Ning!"

  A hint of joy fshed in Wang Ben's eyes as he hurriedly went to notify the others.

  In a cave at the Hanging Coffin Ge, Lin Hao sat cross-legged, reguting his breath.

  Though he wasn't severely injured from the fight with Ning Qingxue, spitting several mouthfuls of blood essence during the chase had caused some damage.

  But it wasn't a big issue, just needed some adjustment.

  That night.

  In the Demon 's temple, a white tiger missing an ear looked troubled.

  Ning Qingxue asked calmly, "What's with your ear?"

  The white tiger sighed.

  "Don't mention it. A white-robed swordsman from the Heavenly Sword Sect kept chasing me. I had to use my innate divine ability to escape."

  White-robed swordsman? Ning Qingxue pondered briefly and uood.

  "You're unlucky to be targeted by that sword fanatic. Good luck to you!"

  The white tiger's amber eyes flickered with hatred.

  "Ohis matter is settled, I'll seek him out to avenge my ear!"

  Ning Qingxue shook her head slightly, her expression calm. "I've gathered nearly five hundred cultivators. Wheime es, I'll lead them to the Hanging Coffin Ge. you hahem?"

  The white tiger's face twisted, revealing sharp teeth.

  "Wheime es, I'll bring a thousand demons, not to mention a dozen demon generals to lead. We'll ehe human cultivators don't return!"

  Peerjun