Chasing after her husband? Is it even possible to win him back?

"Yes!" The sword attendant quietly slipped out from backstage. On the stage, six people were appreciating swords. The sword attendant took small steps onto the stage, leaned close to Chu Xunfeng's ear, and whispered about Zuo Zhishuang's attack before making his retreat.

On the stage, after a brief moment of contemplation, Chu Xunfeng whispered a few words to Zuo Shaojun, then walked straight down the stage and headed directly towards the table of the imperial envoy.

Everything had been unfolding according to his original plan, but... after the imperial envoy and the bronze beast yielded, the two completely different plans were suddenly being played out simultaneously, making Chu Xunfeng feel that things had taken an unexpected turn.

"Is there something you need, Master Chu?" Lian Cai stood up and clasped his hands in greeting as Chu Xunfeng approached.

Chu Xunfeng quickly approached Lian Cai and lowered his voice, "Still not giving up? In this situation, you still dare to risk everything to attack my young lady?"

Chu Xunfeng deliberately refrained from saying anything ambiguous or deliberately creating ambiguity, and instead directly pointed out what was happening at that moment.

Lian Cai's response was exactly as Chu Xunfeng had predicted.

The other party looked surprised, even gloomy, "Master Chu, don't joke around. Although we are radical, we are not fools."

"..." Chu Xunfeng was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "But I won't fabricate such a thing to joke with you right now."

The atmosphere between the two froze.

Chapter 49, The Vajra Disciple

Below the stage, in front of the round table, after a brief whispered conversation between Chu Xunfeng and Lian Cai, the two stared at each other in silence, attracting the attention of many cultivators.

Before the Sword Appraisal Tournament began, everything unfolded exactly as Chu Xunfeng had predicted.

By sowing the seeds of widening the gap between cultivators and the imperial court, and by escalating the conflict slightly at the opportune moment, the imperial envoy and the bronze beast were forced to choose to back down, thus allowing the sword-tasting competition to proceed normally.

He certainly didn't think that this alone would make the bronze beast and the imperial envoy accept their fate, but as Chu Xunfeng predicted, at least they wouldn't dare to do anything more under such a precarious situation.

But at this very moment, the workshop of Longquan Sword Manor was attacked. Chu Xunfeng didn't believe that anyone else would choose this time to cause trouble for Zuo Zhishuang. "Elder Chu, don't joke around. Although I, the Bronze Beast, am impulsive, I am not stupid." Lian Cai narrowed his eyes, staring at Chu Xunfeng's indifferent face.

"Lord Lian, I would never fabricate such a situation to joke with you." Chu Xunfeng responded calmly. "Nowadays, I can't think of anyone other than the Bronze Fang Beast who would dare to attack Zuo Zhishuang. You'd better do something to dispel my suspicions about you."

Lian Cai narrowed his eyes and stared at Chu Xunfeng for a moment, "Young Master Chu, you've really got a good plan."

"If you're so sure you can sit on your Diaoyutai (a metaphor for a secure position), then I'll have to ask for help from the many fellow cultivators here." Chu Xunfeng remained calm, but the threatening tone in his words was palpable.

Lian Cai's eyes twitched a few times.

Lian Cai didn't know who was causing trouble for Zuo Zhishuang, but that didn't stop him from making some basic deductions, just like Chu Xunfeng immediately suspected the bronze beast.

Lian Cai knew only his own affairs; he wouldn't believe it himself if it wasn't done by someone from his own circle.

Zuo Zhishuang has always been a semi-transparent, marginal figure in Longquan Sword Manor. Very little is known about her, and many people in Longquan Sword Manor are unaware that their young lady is a rare genius in forging techniques.

Not to mention that anyone would know that the method of forging the mysterious weapon was researched by Zuo Zhishuang and her craftsmen.

So what could be the reason that someone is eyeing Zuo Zhishuang at this moment?

It was for the forging method of the mysterious weapon, and not the forging method of the mysterious weapon that Longquan Sword Manor could provide at this moment, which was printed in books. Some people stubbornly refused to believe it, but what Longquan Sword Manor made public was the forging method of the mysterious weapon that they could master that was closest to the one that Jiang Youcai made back then.

In other words, there is actually no more sophisticated method of forging.

Unfortunately, some people just don't believe it.

Some people may not even know what happened inside the Sword Appraisal Tournament venue.

"What has Lord Lian thought?" Chu Xunfeng's words brought Lian Cai's wandering thoughts back to the present moment.

"I'll handle this." Lian Cai glanced around the table, then raised his hand and pointed to four people. "You're coming with me."

The four of them stood up, remained silent, and followed Lian Cai out of the Sword Appraisal Tournament venue. Chu Xunfeng quietly circled back onto the stage, pretending nothing had happened, and continued to preside over the tournament proceedings.

"Several fellow practitioners have already appraised the Cloud-Cutting Sword. Now, please proceed with the Nine-Bend Steel-Pointing Spear. This spear is characterized by its toughness and steel, with nine bends at the tip, moving like a snake on the ground. Anyone with a suitable military strategy or martial arts technique may raise their paddle and come forward to appraise this spear..."

The sword-tasting competition continued peacefully, while on the other side of the story, outside the Longquan Sword Manor workshop, the manor's steward, Zuo Jin, was holding a sword in one hand, locked in a fierce battle with a completely naked man.

This body cultivator's cultivation level was extremely high. Not to mention that he was splashed with molten steel by the exploding furnace in the workshop earlier, yet he was not burned in the slightest. Even now, when facing the long swords that Zuo Jin kept breaking through his defenses and slashing at him, this man directly blocked them with his bare body, which was truly domineering and arrogant.

Zuo Jin was also frustrated in his fight with this man. His moves were difficult to break through the man's steel-like muscles and powerful qi and blood, but he could not retreat. In the entire village, there were very few people who could exchange a few blows with this peak Earth Profound Realm body cultivator.

Moreover, the other party was clearly targeting his niece, so he had to hold on and absolutely could not back down.

The two fighters were locked in a fierce battle, while Xu Bailing, Yao Jiangshu, and Zuo Zhishuang, who were on the periphery, were protected by the sword servants of Longquan Sword Manor in the center of the sword formation. Compared to Zuo Jin, who could confront the attacker head-on, the three of them could only watch from the sidelines.

Xu Bailing and Yao Jiangshu were alright; they were both geniuses and could clearly perceive the gap between themselves and the attacker. As for Zuo Zhishuang, she might never have the chance to fight the attacker to a draw in her entire life.

"I think I can understand Jiang Youcai's feelings about trying every means to create the 'deceptive weapon'." Zuo Zhishuang, looking rather disheveled, looked at the two people in the distance exchanging blows, her expression filled with undisguised bitterness.

"Don't think so much..." Xu Bailing gently patted the girl's shoulder, wanting to say a few more words of comfort, but the bitterness and helplessness she sensed from Zuo Zhishuang were so clear that Xu Bailing felt that no matter what she said, it would only be like rubbing salt into someone else's wound.

"I know..." Zuo Zhishuang's lips moved. At this moment, what she was thinking about was related to forging the ghost weapons... The ghost weapons forged by Longquan Sword Manor always lacked certain qualities. After experiencing the dissatisfaction with her own strength just now, Zuo Zhishuang suddenly understood a few things.

The reason why he could not create the same kind of treacherous weapon as Jiang Youcai was not a problem of craftsmanship or forging techniques, but a problem of intention and will.

Of course, she wisely kept silent at this moment, and it is unlikely that she will ever mention the so-called "deceptive soldiers" again in the future.

It's good that the forging method can't forge a bizarre weapon. If I really forged a bizarre weapon like the one Jiang Youcai wielded decades ago... the world would be in chaos.

Just as Zuo Zhishuang was lost in thought, a muffled buzzing brought her back to reality. Zuo Jin used the hilt of his knife as a blunt weapon to smash the attacker's temple. He thought this attack would be fruitless, but unexpectedly, after Zuo Jin's blows, the attacker seemed like a big bell, buzzing loudly.

The buzzing sound was so loud that even from a distance, it made the disciples of Longquan Sword Manor frown, let alone Zuo Jin, who was confronting the attackers and personally ringing the 'bell'.

"Cultivating your body is like striking a bell, filling your orifices with energy to shake your whole body. Where did you learn the unparalleled skills of the Yan Kingdom's Vajra Sect?" Zuo Jin suppressed his surging blood and fiercely stared at the attacker of unknown origin.

"Where did you learn that...? Is that so hard to guess?" The attacker grinned, raised his hand and lightly tapped his chest, producing a metallic hum. "I am a member of the Vajra Sect."

Chapter 50, All for the Nation

Vajra Gate, bronze bell body.

The unique feature of the Copper Bell Body technique is that, unlike traditional body cultivation which relies heavily on punches and kicks and allows qi and blood to permeate the body, the Copper Bell Body is a true form of internal energy cultivation. Qi and blood are concentrated within the bones and flesh, and the body is forged like a bell. Any attack that lands on the Copper Bell Body will have its force retained within the body. As the power gradually accumulates, the Copper Bell Body will gradually emerge.

In other words, after being struck, the body vibrates like a bell.

Hearing the buzzing sound after the attacker raised his hand to strike his chest, Zuo Jin's expression darkened, and he dared not approach any further.

The Vajra Sect is famous, and so are its unparalleled martial arts. Once the copper bell body shows the effect of air entering through the orifices and the whole body vibrating, it proves that this technique has withstood a certain degree of attack... and can be released.

Zuo Jin didn't really have a clear understanding of how powerful this supernatural ability would be after it was released, but everyone said that it was incredibly powerful and impossible to defend against. Zuo Jin could only keep his distance in advance to prepare for it.

However, seeing Zuo Jin's stance as if he wanted to parry with his sword, and glancing around at the sword servants and the three girls in the sword formation, the attacker took a deep breath and then suddenly revealed a smile that could be described as ferocious.

Zuo Jin sensed something was wrong and charged towards the attacker with a move called "Immortal Points the Way." Just as the tip of his sword was about to pierce the attacker's eye socket, Zuo Jin suddenly closed to within three feet of the attacker. His seventh-grade longsword was already bent, but the blade could not advance an inch further.

"Release!" The blood and qi that had been contained within his flesh and blood suddenly rose to the surface beneath his skin. In that instant, the attacker seemed to turn into a blood-soaked figure. The muffled sound waves suddenly spread out, and Zuo Jin was the first to be hit. As the sound waves swept over his body, Zuo Jin felt his blood and qi surging violently as if boiling. He spat out a mouthful of blood mist and was directly swept away by the sound waves. He couldn't even control his body in mid-air and flew into the midst of the sword servants who were also severely injured by the sound waves, taking down a large number of people. The sword formation of Longquan Sword Manor also collapsed without being attacked.

Zuo Jin collapsed to the ground, barely managing to stay upright. He struggled to his feet, his hazy gaze sweeping over the spot where the attacker had stood. The attacker was no longer there. He stood up unsteadily and looked toward his niece.

The attacker held the sword that Xu Bailing was thrusting at him with one hand, his lips moving slightly as if he were saying something to Xu Bailing.

Zuo Jin struggled to his feet, still holding his breath and wanting to attack the attacker, but the attacker seemed to have noticed this and flicked his hand, sending Xu Bailing, who was unwilling to give up her sword, crashing into Zuo Jin along with her sword.

Yao Jiangshu struggled to her feet and stood in front of the unconscious Zuo Zhishuang, gritting her teeth and staring at the man whose strength was too overwhelming.

The attacker looked at Yao Jiangshu with impatience in his eyes. He raised his right hand and swung his palm at Yao Jiangshu.

At that moment, a figure wielding a knife suddenly rushed between the two.

Yao Jiangshu, who had been holding her breath, suddenly relaxed and collapsed to the ground. The figure blocking Yao Jiangshu's way used the hilt of a knife to block the attacker's palm. "Number Three, what are you doing!"

Lian Cai left the venue almost without stopping and went straight to the workshop of Longquan Sword Manor. He had been praying that it was not the people of the Bronze Beast who did this, but when he saw his subordinates, Lian Cai's heart sank to the bottom.

First, Number Three's actions were beyond his control; second, the other party had actually revealed his connection to Yan State without authorization.

"Everything I've done is for Yan Kingdom. Since you don't want the method for forging the Ghost Weapon, then Yan Kingdom will!" Number Three snorted coldly and raised his hand to deliver a cannon punch to Lian Cai's chest.

Number Three's attack was relentless, and Lian Cai, who was in a hurry to respond, could only parry with the unsheathed sword in his left hand, and could do virtually nothing else.

The man who was sent flying backwards narrowed his eyes slightly, staring intently at Number Three, who had been punched away by him.

He heard Number Three whisper in his ear as he unleashed his cannon punch, "Everything for Xu Guo."

Everything is for the sake of the nation.

This is clearly still the slogan of the Bronze Beast...

"Number Three! Don't be so stubborn!" After his feet touched the ground, Lian Cai shouted angrily, shattering the stone bricks with one step and sliding two feet away. He stared intently at his former colleague.

He had a vague feeling that something was going on.

However, Number Three had no intention of replying. He forced Lian Cai back with a single blow, rushed towards Zuo Zhishuang, and reached out to grab the unconscious girl.

Lian Cai gritted his teeth, drew his sword, stepped forward, and with a single step, cleaved the ground, raising his sword overhead and delivering a powerful blow that forced back Number Three's outstretched hand towards Zuo Zhishuang. Lian Cai also assumed a fighting stance, staring at Number Three. "Fine, since you have your master, then we are on different paths and will not work together. Let's each rely on our own abilities!"

Number Three grinned, waving his arms and taking steps forward in a staggered manner. He then delivered a powerful blow from above, slamming his arm hammer down towards Lian Cai's face.

Lian Cai was naturally unafraid and drew his sword to strike. Compared to outsiders' limited understanding of the Vajra Sect's bronze bell body, Lian Cai, as No. 3's colleague, had a clear understanding of the bronze bell body. Moreover, the two were at roughly the same level, both at the peak of the Earth Profound Realm, so they were evenly matched.

After several quick exchanges, Lian Cai kept trying to lead Number Three to some sparsely populated places, but Number Three kept trying to bypass Lian Cai and attack Zuo Zhishuang.

The two exchanged glances from time to time. Lian Cai kept questioning Number Three about why he made this choice, but Number Three only responded with a firm look and a brief change in his mouth that left behind a silent message.

Everything for the sake of the nation.

Lian Cai understood. Was it for the sake of Xu Guo that Number Three received orders before arriving in Lan Cang City? Or was there someone else in the team with higher command authority than him? Lian Cai didn't know, but...

Indeed, it was all for the sake of the nation.

Because of what happened at the Sword Appraisal Tournament, the Bronze Beast and the Imperial Court had to find a way to maintain their image, and at this time... what could be more valuable than a Yan Kingdom spy who suddenly appeared?

Many things can be directly attributed to this spy.

The image of the imperial court and the bronze beast was salvaged, and it could even reignite a wave of national hatred...