Fairy, please don't do this!

The sword flashed like shooting stars, targeting the opponent's weak points such as the eyes, throat, and abdomen.

The lizard demon flew into a rage and spat out a stream of dark green venom!

Wherever the venom passed, the aquatic plants withered instantly, and the river water was dyed an eerie green.

Luo Ling'er was prepared and quickly turned around, simultaneously unleashing a Xuan Yin sword aura with her sword!

The sword energy collided with the venom, freezing the venom into ice, which sank to the bottom of the river.

A glint flashed in Luo Ling'er's eyes, and her sword style suddenly changed. She swung her longsword repeatedly, and streams of Xuan Yin sword energy burst out like a net.

The lizard demon dodged and weaved, but was still struck by several sword energies, causing frost to condense on its body and making its movements slow down.

Luo Ling'er seized the opportunity and pressed forward.

The sword light flashed like a waterfall, aiming straight for the left eye!

puff!

The longsword pierced through, straight to the brain!

The lizard demon let out a shrill roar, struggled frantically, and lashed its tail wildly, stirring up the muddy bottom of the river.

Luo Ling'er drew her sword and retreated hastily, avoiding the dying counterattack. At the same time, she gathered all her spiritual power and slashed at his neck with her sword!

The sword flashed like the moon, slicing through the dark river.

The lizard demon's head rolled off, and its massive body slowly sank to the bottom of the river, its blood staining a large area of ​​the water red.

Panting, Luo Ling'er swam to the lizard demon's corpse, skillfully cut open its abdomen, took out a fist-sized demon core, and then swam towards the shore.

Gu Jinzhao was already waiting there. He reached out and pulled her ashore, using his divine soul power to evaporate the water from her body.

"Ling'er did a great job!"

"Whether it's responding to the enemy or finding weaknesses, their performance is commendable."

Luo Ling'er blushed slightly and handed over the demon core: "Master said that when fighting a difficult opponent, you must assess the situation carefully!"

Gu Jinzhao put away the demon core and said, "However, you had a flaw just now."

"You were too hasty in the final strike. If the lizard demon had fought back more fiercely in its dying moments, you might not have escaped unscathed."

"In future battles, we must reserve some strength in case of unforeseen circumstances."

Luo Ling'er nodded earnestly: "Disciple will remember."

Gu Jinzhao smiled and took her hand: "Let's go back and report."

……

Inside the weapon-refining shop.

Liu Qing remained seated behind the counter, drinking his wine.

squeak-

The door was pushed open, and Gu Jinzhao walked in with Luo Ling'er.

Liu Qing raised his eyes and looked at the two of them: "So fast?"

From the time he made the request until now, only an hour has passed.

Gu Jinzhao placed the demon core on the counter: "I have not failed in my mission."

Liu Qing put down the wine gourd, picked up the demon core, and examined it carefully.

The cut on the demon core was neat, and the aura of the lizard demon remained, indicating that the other party had not lied to him.

Liu Qing remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Come and collect the soul tablet at this time tomorrow."

"Thank you for your help, Master."

Gu Jinzhao bowed respectfully, said no more, and turned to leave with Luo Ling'er in his hand.

When I left the weapon-refining shop, night had completely fallen.

Although the clouds, mist, mountains, and seas are a small world, they form a world of their own.

As the seasons change, the festival customs are similar to those of the outside world.

Tonight is the Starfire Festival, a day in ancient times when humans used fireworks to drive away evil spirits and pray for peace.

The air was filled with the sweet aroma of candied hawthorns and roasted chestnuts, and children on the street chased and played with various lanterns.

Gu Jinzhao led Luo Ling'er through the bustling crowd.

Luo Ling'er followed quietly, but her gaze involuntarily fell on the square in front of her.

A large crowd had gathered there, with parents holding their children's hands, or young men and women standing side by side, holding various kinds of fireworks.

Someone lit the fuse, and the fireworks shot into the night sky with a "whoosh," then exploded with a bang, turning into a sky full of fiery streams, as dazzling as a rain of stars.

Luo Ling'er watched this scene, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes.

Her mother had accompanied her to set off fireworks before, but that was three years ago.

Gu Jinzhao noticed his little disciple's unusual behavior and led her towards the square, saying, "Come on, Master will take you to set off fireworks."

Luo Ling'er was taken aback: "Is that alright?"

"of course can."

"Today is the Spark Festival, so it should be lively and festive."

Gu Jinzhao smiled and led her to a fireworks stall, where they picked out three types of fireworks: [Golden Chrysanthemum], [Silver Willow Catkins], and [Meteor Chasing the Moon].

He then walked to a less crowded corner of the square and handed her one: "Ling'er, try it."

Luo Ling'er took the slender firework, only to see a middle-aged man squatting beside her, holding a little girl and her hand.

"Don't be afraid, Yan'er, Daddy's here."

After saying that, he took out a tinderbox to help her light the fuse.

Seeing this, Gu Jinzhao also squatted down and then hugged Luo Ling'er from behind.

With a slight twitch of the fingertip, the fuse ignited, and sparks flew.

Luo Ling'er held her breath, staring intently without blinking.

call out!

The firework shot out of my hand, soaring into the night sky and exploding with a bang at its highest point.

The brilliant light, like golden chrysanthemums blooming in the night sky, fell in wisps, illuminating her upturned face.

"So beautiful..."

Luo Ling'er murmured, her eyes reflecting the shimmering light.

Gu Jinzhao handed her another one: "Ling'er, do it yourself this time!"

"Ok!"

Luo Ling'er nodded vigorously, then channeled her spiritual power to ignite the fuse.

Whoosh—Bang!

Silvery-white filaments of light drifted like willow catkins, tracing graceful arcs across the night sky.

"Master, look!"

She couldn't help but laugh, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

"I'm watching!"

Gu Jinchao stood behind her, watching her excited expression, and a smile appeared in his eyes as well.

This little apprentice, who always silently endured everything, finally showed some of the innocence a child should have.

Luo Ling'er shoved a [Meteor Chasing the Moon] into Gu Jinzhao's hand: "Master, you should release one too!"

Let's set off this firework together!

Gu Jinzhao's gaze softened as he gently took her small hand and together they lit the fuse.

Whoosh—Bang!

This firework was bigger than the previous one. After it ascended into the sky, it exploded into dozens of streaks of fire, streaking across the night sky like shooting stars, leaving long trails of light that lingered for a long time...

Chapter 390, "The Empress Dowager is Wise!" (3K)

The Desert Hunting Ceremony is held once every twenty years.

The outcome of the match is not only a matter of face, but also involves the fate of both countries.

The victor will bring prosperity to the nation.

The loser's nation declines.

The last hunting expedition ended in a disastrous defeat for the Cangyue Dynasty because Emperor Yong'an was obsessed with beautiful women and neglected state affairs.

From then on, the dynasty was beset by internal and external troubles and almost perished.

Now, twenty years later, the Cangyue Dynasty has regained its prestige under the iron-fisted rule of Empress Dowager Xiao Qingyi.

The purpose of this trip is to avenge our previous humiliation.

At this moment, on the shore of the frozen lake, banners flutter in the wind.

On one side of the Cangyue Dynasty, three high platforms stood suspended in mid-air.

Xiao Qingyi, dressed in a magnificent phoenix robe, sat gracefully on the phoenix throne.

A pair of pale golden phoenix eyes surveyed the battlefield below, radiating an aura of dominance over the world.

On either side of it are the Zen deity and the Taoist deity.

On the Demon Court's side, three high platforms also rose.

Gu Jinzhao looked up and saw three figures standing among them.

In the center, the Flood Dragon Emperor and the Roc Emperor stood with their hands behind their backs.

The two men were tall and had sharp eyes, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

Behind them stood Teng Yan, the High Priest of the Demon Court.

This was an old man with a gloomy face and white hair, with vertical pupils, holding a snake-shaped scepter, exuding a chilling and eerie aura.

The oppressive auras of the six supreme experts clashed in this world.

The winds and clouds shifted, and the void twisted.

A sudden gust of wind arose by the lake, whipping up icy shards that filled the air.

At this moment, Teng Yan's mocking voice rang out from between heaven and earth: "I never expected that the current ruler of the Cang Yue Dynasty would be a woman."

"It seems that Cangyue is not far from its demise."

Upon hearing this, bursts of laughter erupted from the Demon Court.

Many generals and cultivators in Cang Yue's camp showed anger on their faces, but no one dared to make a move.

Xiao Qingyi narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly and slowly said, "I have heard that the Northern Desert Demon Court reveres power and places great importance on bloodline."

"But I don't know when it started, the Demon Court judges the rise and fall of a country not by its military strength or the cultivation level of its cultivators, but by gender instead?"

"If this is the case, then the Roc King is also male."

"But when I tore off your wings and you fled in a sorry state during the battle at the northern border seventeen years ago, was it because you lacked masculinity?"

Seventeen years ago, Emperor Yong'an passed away, and a new emperor ascended the throne.

The Cangyue Dynasty is in turmoil, and is in a precarious situation.

The Demon Court would not miss such a golden opportunity. The Peng Emperor and the Jiao Emperor personally led their troops south to launch a surprise attack on the northeastern border.

Unexpectedly, the Flood Dragon Emperor was stopped by the Daoist Venerable.

Meanwhile, the Roc King confronted a woman dressed in a phoenix robe. He thought he could easily kill her, but she tore off his wings, and he fled in a sorry state.

Only later did he learn that a female martial goddess had emerged in the Cangyue Dynasty, who was none other than the Empress Dowager Xiao Qingyi.

Peng Huang's expression darkened as his wounds were reopened: "If I hadn't been careless for a moment, how could you have harmed even a hair on my head?"