Five days later.

At the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion of the Seventh Peak.

“Although the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion is equipped with a Spirit Gathering Array and talisman scrolls that aid in calming the mind and focusing the spirit, the effects are quite limited if one only cultivates in seclusion for a day or two.”

After leading Xu Taiping to the entrance of the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion, Senior Brother Qingxiao solemnly reminded him.

“Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. The fourth round of the Seven Peaks competition is in four or five days, and I want to use the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion to rest and get my body into optimal condition.”

Xu Taiping replied.

“That’s thoughtful of you.”

Qingxiao was somewhat touched by his words.

“The doors to the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion only open at the hour of Yin each day; at other times, you can enter but not leave. Be mindful of this, so as not to miss anything important.”

He then added another word of caution to Xu Taiping.

“Understood, Senior Brother. I’ve taken note.”

“Then go on in.”

Qingxiao smiled and nodded.

Without further ado, Xu Taiping briskly walked into the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion.

“Given the current state of our fellow disciples, we are likely to lose the fourth round of the competition in a few days. I hope Taiping won’t be too disheartened when the time comes.”

Dugu Qingxiao watched Xu Taiping’s retreating figure and murmured with a hint of melancholy.

In the second round of the Seven Peaks competition, “Sword Roaming through Yunlu,” the Seventh Peak had the best chance of winning, but the opportunity was completely lost due to the recurrence of Senior Sister’s old injury.

However, it was not Senior Sister’s fault, as she was already injured and had forced herself to compete despite her condition.

“If only I were stronger, Senior Sister wouldn’t have had to exert all her strength yesterday.”

Qingxiao looked at the newly healed wound in his palm, his eyes filled with frustration.

“Still, the third round tomorrow is more worrying than the fourth round in a few days. I wonder how Senior Sister’s injury is. I should visit the Hundred Grass Hall to check on her. If her injury is still severe, she cannot be allowed to compete tomorrow.”

As he thought this, he flew away from the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion on his sword.

No sooner had he left than Xu Taiping emerged from behind a cliff next to the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion.

“It seems Senior Brother hasn’t noticed my clone.”

Watching Senior Brother Qingxiao’s departing figure, Xu Taiping secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, the one who had entered the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion was his clone.

“Taiping, it’s getting late.”

At this moment, Fairy Lingyue reminded Xu Taiping.

“Yes, it’s time to head to Fengxiao Villa.”

Xu Taiping nodded, grasped the invisibility leaf in his palm, and his figure vanished on the spot.

He was going to kill Lu Chen tonight.

And the reason for his special trip to the Heart-Nurturing Pavilion before heading to Fengxiao Villa was naturally to create an alibi.

…

Above Yunlu Mountain, in the southern sky.

High above ten thousand feet.

To fly this high, aside from spirit birds, even ordinary sword cultivators would find it difficult.

“Xu Taiping, can you withstand the chaotic astral winds up here?”

Baiyu turned his head to look at Xu Taiping, who was clinging to his neck.

“I can… I can withstand it.”

Xu Taiping nodded and grunted, then bit his teeth and braced himself against the high-altitude astral wind currents.

The innate astral currents that existed only at these heights became stronger when resisted with spells, so one had to endure with physical strength alone.

Fortunately, Xu Taiping’s body had been tempered to be as tough as iron, and he could hold on for a while.

The reason for Baiyu flying so high was twofold: to avoid detection by cultivators below and because at this altitude, Baiyu could reach Fengxiao Villa in less than half an hour.

“Fairy Lingyue, once we reach Fengxiao Villa, can you use an illusion to make others see me as a fierce red-haired, green-eyed figure?”

Xu Taiping communicated with Fairy Lingyue in his mind.

“Do you want to disguise yourself as the Red-Haired Demon Blade?”

Fairy Lingyue immediately understood Xu Taiping’s intention.

“Yes.”

Xu Taiping nodded.

It was an idea he had just come up with.

“A good plan. I’ll help you when we get to lower altitudes,” Fairy Lingyue said.

The innate astral energy high above also harmed her spirit.

“Taiping, hold tight. We’re above Fengxiao Villa, and I’m going to dive down now,” Baiyu shouted.

“Alright, let’s proceed with the plan we agreed on the other day,” Xu Taiping nodded.

“Leave it to me. I’ve been itching to deal with that Lu guy!”

With a long howl, Baiyu suddenly dived towards the forest below.

“Boom!”

Amidst the loud noise of the astral wind, Xu Taiping’s body was hit again, but he clenched his teeth and endured without a sound.

However, once he descended from the high altitude, the chaotic astral currents around him instantly dissipated.

Xu Taiping relaxed all over.

“Phew…”

He exhaled deeply, then took out a Gathering Qi Pill and popped it into his mouth, also releasing the little monkey Ping’an.

“Ping’an, you and Baiyu guard the entrance of the villa. Don’t let anyone in.”

He shouted over the howling wind to Ping’an.

“Got it, Xu Taiping. Anyone comes in, I’ll smash them!” The little monkey Ping’an said earnestly, waving his little fists.

Xu Taiping smiled and ruffled his head.

“Xu Taiping, we’re about six hundred feet above Lu Chen’s residence. You can jump down from here, right?” Baiyu called out as the brightly lit Fengxiao Villa came into view.

“No problem.”

Xu Taiping nodded, then stood up on Baiyu’s back, holding onto the hilt of his knife at his waist.

“After I jump down, I’ll hide first. You and the little monkey create chaos in the front to draw Lu Chen out of his room!”

After saying this, Xu Taiping leaped down, plummeting towards the courtyard below.

As he jumped, Baiyu let out a piercing screech and then flapped his wings, shooting towards Fengxiao Villa’s courtyard even faster than Xu Taiping’s falling speed.

“Thud!”

Moments later.

Xu Taiping’s body crashed heavily onto the bluestone pavement of the small courtyard, creating a depression in the ground.

“Roar!”

Almost simultaneously, Ping’an’s roar and Baiyu’s screech sounded in the front courtyard of Fengxiao Villa.

Because of the commotion they caused, almost everyone’s attention was drawn there, and no one noticed Xu Taiping hiding behind a large elm tree in the courtyard.

“What’s going on? What happened at the front?”

Soon, Xu Taiping spotted a familiar figure—Lu Chen.

At this moment, Lu Chen was disheveled and irritable, his clothes loose and his hair unkempt.