A sword appeared in Xiao Man's hand. The sword was covered in cracks, battered and worn, as if it could shatter with a single blow. The elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect sneered upon seeing it.
"Sect Master, this little girl has truly gone mad, sneaking into the Heavenly Sword Sect with a broken sword. She truly knows no fear."
Yue Tianxia, however, was on high alert. "Is this the Brahma?"
"Sect Master Yue has sharp eyes." Xiao Man raised the sword before her, her finger brushing its surface. "This is indeed the Divine Sword Brahma."
Fierce fighting intent erupted in Yue Tianxia's eyes. The Heaven-Piercing Pagoda, the Divine Sword Brahma. If he killed Xiao Man, he would gain two divine artifacts. Even if he wanted to spare her, these two artifacts would not allow him to.
"Since that is the case, then you shall leave both behind!"
Yue Tianxia charged forward, brandishing the Azure Lotus Sword. The others watched with the air of spectators, as if Xiao Man were already a prize within their grasp. In their eyes, no one could be Yue Tianxia's match!
To their surprise, facing Yue Tianxia's attack, Xiao Man did not dodge or evade. She met it head-on. The two swords clashed, sparks flying. The Azure Lotus Sword let out a humming sound, as if in pain.
"What is happening? Why is the Azure Lotus Sword trembling?"
After dozens of exchanges, Yue Tianxia retreated. The Azure Lotus Sword in his hand groaned under the strain, shattering into pieces. The symbol of the Heavenly Sword Sect Master, the Azure Lotus Sword, a king-grade treasure, had been destroyed by a broken sword!
Yue Tianxia looked at the shattered Azure Lotus Sword, a strange glint in his eyes. If a treasure like the Azure Lotus Sword was no match for Brahma, he suddenly wanted to see how many good things Xiao Man's storage bag contained!
"Sister."
"Step back," Xiao Man said calmly, her gaze fixed on Yue Tianxia. A wry smile played on her lips. "Yue Tianxia, do you know why the Heaven Shield Sect was annihilated?"
Yue Tianxia's expression became strange, a mixture of apprehension and confusion. "This sect leader knows not of what you speak."
"You know," Xiao Man continued unhurriedly. "The Heaven Shield Sect was annihilated because they touched taboos they should not have, and you are now treading that same path."
"Nonsense!" Yue Tianxia flew forward, engaging Xiao Man in bare-handed combat, intending to seize the Brahma from her. Xiao Man seemed to see through his intentions and allowed Yue Tianxia to grab the Brahma.
Yue Tianxia snatched the Brahma from Xiao Man's hand, clutching it joyfully. "Divine Sword Brahma, I never thought I would have the chance to obtain Brahma..."
Suddenly, a phantom blue flame erupted from the Brahma, instantly engulfing Yue Tianxia's hand. Yue Tianxia cried out in alarm and threw the Brahma away.
Xiao Man caught the thrown Brahma. The phantom blue flame still enveloped it, yet it caused her no harm.
"That is the Nine Nether Flame!"
"Sect Master Yue has sharp eyes. This is indeed the Nine Nether Flame." Xiao Man said with a charming smile. "For cultivators, this Nine Nether Flame is practically a nemesis. Sect Master Yue, do you like it very much?"
Yue Tianxia stared at Xiao Man for a long time, his expression full of suspicion. "Why can you control the Nine Nether Flame?"
"That is my secret," Xiao Man said softly. "Sect Master Yue, why don't we make a deal?"
"A deal?" Yue Tianxia laughed. Indeed, there were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. Even though he had annihilated the Qin clan and had been relentlessly pursuing Xiao Man, she still chose to yield when faced with profit. "What kind of deal?"
"I request Sect Master Yue to commit suicide. I will then refrain from releasing the Demon Lord. How does that sound?" Xiao Man continued with a smile. "Sect Master Yue, as the leader of the foremost sect in the world, you care for all under heaven. Surely you would not bear to see the Demon Lord unleashed to poison the world, would you?"
"If I kill you, I can still prevent the Demon Lord's birth."
"Kill me? Do you think I am still the same little girl from ten years ago, to be bullied by you?" Xiao Man flicked the sword's body with her finger. "Ten years ago, I could still destroy half the Heavenly Sword Sect. Today, do you believe I can destroy the entire Heavenly Sword Sect?"
"Based on you?"
"Based on me!" Xiao Man's aura shifted. The elders who had surrounded the courtyard were all pressed to the ground, unable to rise, by her oppressive might!
"Nascent Soul stage!" Yue Tianxia was greatly shocked. To become a Nascent Soul stage powerhouse in ten years, how was this possible? Even if she had extraordinary talent, reaching divinity in a decade was simply unheard of!
"Sect Master Yue, I will give you another chance to save the world. Commit suicide, and I will stop the Demon Lord from emerging." Xiao Man's voice echoed throughout the entire Heavenly Sword Sect. "And I will not harm a single soul of the Heavenly Sword Sect. What do you say?"
"Fatuous talk."
"So, the so-called righteous path of the martial world, the orthodox Heavenly Gate, is nothing more than this. When their own lives are threatened, they will not care about the lives of others."
"Do you think you can kill me just because you reached divinity in ten years?" Yue Tianxia's killing intent had never been so strong. He must kill Xiao Man and not give her any more time to grow. Otherwise, with her talent and disposition, she would eventually trample him underfoot. Moreover, he had done so many things to harm her; she would never let him go!
"Everyone, immediately distance yourselves from here." Yue Ran leaped onto the wall and commanded, "Order the disciples to evacuate the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"Young Sect Master..."
"If you don't want to die, do as I say!" Yue Ran roared. "A battle between Nascent Soul stage powerhouses, staying here is seeking death!"
The elders looked at each other, struggling to rise from the ground. They retreated one after another. Yue Ran was right; staying would be seeking death. The Heavenly Sword Sect was a vast sect with tens of thousands of disciples; they could not stay here and wait to die!
The elders began making arrangements for the disciples to evacuate, while Xiao Man and Yue Tianxia fought and retreated. Xiao Man was not a bloodthirsty person. Furthermore, the Heavenly Sword Sect was to be passed on to Yue Ran in the future, so she would not truly destroy the sect.
"Xiao Man, how about this: I will let you and Yue Ran leave if you hand over the Heaven-Piercing Pagoda and the Brahma. What do you say?"
"Don't you want the Nine Nether Flame?"
"Once a unique flame is contracted, unless the host dies, the unique flame cannot be separated." Yue Tianxia said calmly. If he took the Heaven-Piercing Pagoda and the Brahma first, Xiao Man's strength would inevitably be affected. Then he could find a way to kill Xiao Man and strip away the unique flame!
"Sect Master Yue, are you thinking too beautifully, or am I too naive?" Xiao Man asked sarcastically. "Let alone the Heaven-Piercing Pagoda is not in my hands. Even if it were, if I handed it over to you, my own strength would be greatly weakened. At that time, how could I still be your opponent? If you break your promise, kill me, and then usurp Yue Ran, who will be able to stop you?"
"I have always abided by..."
"Enough. You yourself do not believe these words, let alone others." Xiao Man sneered. "If I kill you, Yue Ran will naturally be safe, and I won't have to worry about anyone else chasing me."