Chapter 1443: Chapter 152 Exorcising Evil and Eliminating Misfortune_3
The Tian Gang Sword Sect was quiet today, with Liao Yi on duty. In just two months, he would be marrying Lu Yiyi. Although Yiyi had a somewhat fiery temperament, she possessed a kind heart and an unrivaled beauty. Thinking about his fiancée, Liao Yi’s heart burned with excitement. He yearned to finish his shift quickly and run to see her. Just as he was lost in thought, he suddenly sensed a powerful wave of energy emanating from the base of the mountain. That energy was immense and profound, unlike anything he had ever experienced before. Liao Yi stood up, unsheathing the Tian Gang Heavy Sword from his back. He gracefully landed at the mountain’s entrance, fixing his gaze downward, ready to respond to whatever came. Out of caution, due to the sheer magnitude of this energy, he quickly sent a signal for help, alerting his fellow sect members that an enemy might be approaching.
A golden radiance pierced through the mist of the mountains, floating upward, seemingly slow but actually swift, heading directly for Liao Yi. Liao Yi gripped the hilt of the Tian Gang Heavy Sword with both hands. The boundless True Qi he had recently attained upon entering the fifth realm surged forth, its white glow enveloping him. With a loud shout, he called, "Who goes there? Stop!" The golden radiance did not pause at his warning, continuing to ascend steadily. Liao Yi’s eyes flashed with cold determination as he raised the Tian Gang Heavy Sword above his head. Should that golden light enter his range of attack, he would not hesitate to strike with full force and prevent it from reaching the summit.
However, just as he was about to attack, Liao Yi saw clearly what lay within the golden radiance. The heavy sword he held aloft suddenly froze in mid-air, and he himself was stunned. Inside the golden light was a tall, graceful figure clothed in red. Her curvaceous silhouette, her face of unparalleled beauty, and her long blue hair cascading down her back exuded an unearthly sacred aura. Her deep blue eyes gazed at him, filled with an ethereal calmness. She... she seemed to be a goddess! That goddess, enveloped in the golden luminescence, smiled gently at him, revealing her pearly white teeth.
Faced with that breathtaking smile, Liao Yi felt his entire body go limp as if his strength had been drained. Stammering, he muttered, "A-are you a goddess from the heavens?"
Xuan Yue gracefully descended to land near Liao Yi. Though four years had passed, he hadn’t changed much in appearance, and she recognized him at a glance. Smiling, she said, "Big Brother Liao Yi, what silly things are you saying? What goddess? Don’t you recognize me?" The golden energy surrounding her body dissipated as Xuan Yue stood daintily three meters in front of Liao Yi. Four years ago, it had been Liao Yi who guided her on her first visit here, so she naturally identified him instantly.
Liao Yi looked at her in puzzlement. Though this gorgeous woman felt vaguely familiar, he genuinely could not recall her identity. Muttering, he asked, "You... you are?"
Xuan Yue was about to answer when she sensed multiple figures rapidly advancing toward the mountain entrance from within the Tian Gang Sword Sect. She involuntarily shifted her gaze in their direction. The first to appear was a pink-clad figure with a lithe and graceful form. Twisting deftly in mid-air, she rapidly descended toward Liao Yi—none other than Lu Yiyi. She knew it was Liao Yi’s turn for patrol today, so as soon as the signal for help was sent out, she dashed out like an arrow. Liao Yi was her betrothed; how could she not be worried?
Lu Yiyi landed beside Liao Yi, only to find, to her shock, that he seemed to be utterly unaware of her presence, staring blankly ahead. Following his line of sight, she turned her gaze in the same direction. When her eyes landed on Xuan Yue, Lu Yiyi’s entire body trembled. Xuan Yue’s stunning appearance sent a massive wave of shock through her heart. Never had she imagined that a human woman could be so flawless and breathtaking. The faint but unmistakable sacred aura emanating from Xuan Yue was something she could not hope to compare to. Like Liao Yi, she stood frozen in place.
By now, figures began emerging one after another from within the Tian Gang Sword Sect. Leading the group was the acting sect leader, Lu Wen, Lu Yiyi’s grandfather. Since the Sect Leader Xi Wen and Third Elder Liao Wen had left with Yan Shi to search for Ah Dai, the burden of managing the sect had fallen entirely onto Lu Wen’s shoulders. Alarmed by the signal, he had rushed over with a contingent of disciples, fearing any mishap. All the third- and fourth-generation disciples who saw Xuan Yue shared the same awestruck expressions as Liao Yi, staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed at the celestial beauty before them. Lu Wen, though of far deeper cultivation, remained relatively composed compared to the others. Hovering beside Lu Yiyi, he asked, "Young lady, who are you?"
Xuan Yue bowed to him courteously and replied, "Do you not recognize me? I visited four years ago with Ah Dai."
Lu Wen’s heart stirred as he recalled the exquisite young maiden from four years past. In astonishment, he said, "You’re Miss Xuan Yue! In just four years, you’ve become even more beautiful. I hardly dared recognize you. What brings you to us today? Liao Yi, since this is a friend, why did you send out a distress signal and alarm the entire sect?"
At Lu Wen’s words, Liao Yi finally snapped out of his daze. Though he now understood Xuan Yue’s identity, he dared not look directly at her again. Bowing his head, he replied, "Fourth Grandmaster, I thought at first it might be an enemy."
Lu Wen said sternly, "Be more careful next time, understood? Miss Xuan Yue, please, let us speak inside. The rest of you young rascals, get back to your training! Haven’t you ever seen a beautiful woman before?" At his rebuking shout, the third- and fourth-generation disciples accompanying him finally snapped out of their stupor and retreated quickly into the sect. However, the awe Xuan Yue had inspired in them would leave an indelible mark on their hearts.
