Combined Strike 07

Zhao Wuying said, “Ordinarily, any one of us exchanging blows with a young lady like you would be beneath our dignity. But you are different—you are the White-Clad Witch. Cleansing the martial world of bloodshed and evil is everyone’s duty; if we join forces to eliminate evil, our peers in the Central Plains will only praise us. Even if there are whispers, for the sake of the greater good, I, Zhao Wuying, have never cared about personal reputation. This is acting for justice, not bound by trivialities.”

Xiao Zhenfen interjected, “Miss Bai, forgive me. It seems all your grievances and injustices can only be carried to the King of the Underworld.”

Long Wei, who had remained silent upon arrival, saw no need for words with an enemy. All he needed to consider was how to kill her. He, too, unsheathed his sword—the Celestial Dragon Sword.

Years ago, Lord Long dominated the martial world with this very weapon. Its edge was not honed on a whetstone, but on the skulls of his enemies. With this sword, Lord Long inspired awe throughout the rivers and lakes, nearly undefeated. His only loss had been three years ago, and his defeat was at the hands of Bai Xuehua.

The Celestial Dragon Sword was the pride of all swords. When Long Wei inherited it from his father, he vowed to uphold its legendary might with his own blood. For three years, he valued this sword more than life itself, engraving upon it the words: “If the sword survives, I survive; if the sword perishes, I perish.” The Celestial Dragon Sword was not only Long Wei’s weapon—it represented the entire Long family.

The rise of the Celestial Dragon Sword marked the Long family’s emergence in the martial world; as long as its brilliance endured, so too would the Long family’s dominance. The sword was their symbol, bearing witness to both their glory and disgrace. Now, as it left its scabbard, its blue gleam radiated a chilling intent to kill. Thirty years ago, Bai Ying’s father, Bai Hao, died by this very blade.

Xiao Zhenfen also drew his Seven-Star Blade, its lethal chill seeming to proclaim to the world that none could withstand a single strike. Over the years, all doubters had been sent to hell by this blade. Xiao Zhenfen was no longer the man who, five days prior, had wished for death—he had resumed his former ferocious self.

Three unmatched masters joining forces—no one in the world could hope to escape from their combined assault, save perhaps the so-called Sword Immortals of legend.

All within the martial world knew the “Register of Masters.” Zhao Wuying ranked first, Long Wei seventh, Xiao Zhenfen ninth. This alone showed how formidable they deemed Bai Xuehua.

Despite the deep-seated grudges among Zhao Wuying, Xiao Zhenfen, and Long Wei, in the face of Bai Xuehua’s terrifying power, their goal was united: to kill her.

Zhao Wuying, to preserve his status as the number one swordsman and leader of the martial world, had no choice but to eliminate this new generation’s supreme expert—the greatest threat to his position, Bai Xuehua.

For Xiao Zhenfen, Bai Xuehua sought vengeance for her adopted father, threatening his and his family’s lives; he, too, had no choice but to kill her. As for Long Wei, their enmity was not only personal—Bai Xuehua had injured his father years ago; it was a blood feud, a hatred between entire families.

Naturally, he wished all the more to destroy Bai Ying’s adopted daughter—the most vital figure of the Bai family, the one whose martial skills surpassed all others and posed the greatest threat to the Longs.

Though Zhao Wuying’s swordplay and martial skills exceeded those of Xiao Zhenfen and Long Wei, he alone would struggle to kill Bai Xuehua. He understood from their earlier exchange that even if he could slay her, it would come at a terrible price—perhaps mutual destruction. But if he joined forces with Xiao Zhenfen and Long Wei, killing her would be far less difficult.

Shared interests and a common malice—they conspired together like wolves in collusion. The three now faced Bai Xuehua in a triangle formation.

Bai Xuehua gazed at them in utter stillness. In that moment, no one could fathom what she was thinking. Did she regret granting Xiao Zhenfen a chance that day, leading her now to the brink of death atop this sheer precipice?

Her skill was truly fearsome—so fearsome that these three unmatched masters were willing to risk everything to join forces and bring her down.

They began their assault. Zhao Wuying opened with a sword strike aimed directly at Bai Xuehua’s chest.

Long Wei’s Celestial Dragon Sword, brimming with murderous intent, swept toward her right. Almost simultaneously, Xiao Zhenfen’s Seven-Star Blade sliced toward her left in a flurry of snowflakes.

Three supreme experts, striking as one; three murderous auras converged—a storm of blades and swords.

Each was a grandmaster in their own right, their combined assault forming a seamless web, both offensive and defensive.

Bai Xuehua faced enemies on three sides, her back to the abyss—there was no way she could break through the sword net formed by these three supreme masters.

She had no choice but to retreat, step by step, toward the cliff’s edge.

Zhao Wuying and his companions were all seasoned veterans of the martial world, with ample experience and extraordinary patience. To them, Bai Xuehua was doomed—there was no need to advance rashly. They proceeded with caution, methodically forcing her toward the precipice.

For now, they did not seek to win outright, but merely to avoid mistakes; thus, they lacked the desperate courage of one fighting for life or death.

Of course, with their overwhelming advantage, they had no need to take risks. In this way, Bai Xuehua was able to endure for the moment. But for her, only by taking a desperate gamble did she have any hope of survival—she had no way out.

Now only a few steps from the cliff, out of options and time, she could only risk everything.

Clenching her teeth, she twitched her jade flute, fusing body and weapon into one as she lunged at Long Wei. Though this move stemmed from “Eagle Soars the Sky,” created by Bai Ying, Bai Xuehua’s execution surpassed even her father’s.

Faced with this strike, not even Long Wei’s father would dare meet it head-on.

If Long Wei forced the exchange, he would be wounded, but so too would Bai Xuehua. With the advantage on his side, he would not risk mutual destruction. Thus, he could only retreat several steps to evade.

Bai Xuehua then turned and struck at Zhao Wuying, forcing him back a step.

At that instant, Xiao Zhenfen’s Seven-Star Blade came sweeping toward Bai Xuehua.

She could not evade in time and had to parry the blade’s edge with her left hand. Though she used deft skill to deflect the blow, the Seven-Star Blade was so sharp that her jade-like hand was sliced open, blood flowing freely.

Almost simultaneously, her right hand’s jade flute struck Xiao Zhenfen’s chest with unerring force.

Her hatred for Xiao Zhenfen’s cunning had ignited a murderous rage; this blow, delivered with all her might, shattered the protective force around his body. Xiao Zhenfen felt as though a giant hammer had smashed his chest. He staggered back, collapsing to the ground.

At that moment, Zhao Wuying’s invisible sword and Long Wei’s Celestial Dragon Sword thrust toward Bai Xuehua in unison.