Chapter 237

Chapter 237: The Helian Family Member

Indeed, eight dragons clashed. But just as the earth dragon and water dragon exploded violently, four more water dragons charged straight at Jiang Yingyue!

"Haha!" Wen Hou laughed heartily. "See that, Brother Lou? Didn’t I tell you Miss Shui is clever? I was right!"

Lou Yun nodded admiringly. "Absolutely. She learned Jiang Yingyue’s attack method incredibly fast and even improved upon it!"

It turned out that while Shui Lingluo appeared to be controlling four water dragons, each dragon was actually two merged together. Thus, the instant before the earth dragon struck, these four water dragons split into eight, dodged the collision, and surged toward Jiang Yingyue.

At such close range, even with lightning-fast reactions, Jiang Yingyue couldn’t possibly summon four earth dragons from her bottle to counterattack. She didn’t even have time to evade!

Boom!

The four water dragons slammed into Jiang Yingyue simultaneously with an ear-splitting roar. They burst apart, scattering water droplets like a torrential downpour.

Jiang Yingyue’s body reeled violently under the impact. Unable to keep her footing on the massive rock, she tumbled into the water below.

Shui Lingluo’s strength was limited, and the water dragons had already split once before the strike. So, despite all four hitting Jiang Yingyue, the damage wasn’t severe—just a brief moment of dizziness.

The shock of cold water jolted Jiang Yingyue back to consciousness as soon as she hit the surface. She immediately tried summoning her magical weapon, only to realize her limbs refused to move.

Glancing down, she saw four water chains firmly binding her arms and legs. Simultaneously, a massive bubble drifted steadily toward her.

Before she could struggle, the bubble completely "swallowed" her. Trapped within it, Jiang Yingyue’s expression twisted further—she knew she had lost.

While Jiang Yingyue was ashore, Shui Lingluo could only attack indirectly using water, making victory uncertain. But once Jiang Yingyue fell into the lake, it became Shui Lingluo’s domain. The moment she hit the water, Shui Lingluo commanded water chains to entangle her and enveloped her in the bubble, paralyzing all movement.

So, Jiang Yingyue was defeated. Her eyes burned with resentment at Shui Lingluo, though helpless to act.

"Heh heh!" Helian Tiebi sneered coldly. "So, this is the top talent among the young generation of your Jiang family you bragged about? Seems she fell the fastest of them all!"

Jiang Wuyue visibly paled. She shot Helian Tiebi a frigid glare. "Don’t celebrate yet! I’ll be watching how your Helian clansman gets crushed by Lou Yun!"

With that, she flashed toward Jiang Yingyue in the lake—her own sister—impossible to abandon to Shui Lingluo’s mercy.

Watching Jiang Wuyue’s back, Helian Tiebi snorted contemptuously. "Hmph! Your Jiang magical weapons are all flash and no substance. Let me tell you, it’s the Helian family’s swords that reign supreme!"

From her perch on the water’s surface, Shui Lingluo saw Jiang Wuyue charging. Instantly, her hands formed seals, preparing to fight. Seeing this, Lou Yun hastily told Wen Hou onshore, "I’ll be quick!"

He swiftly threw out the Dream Emperor Sword, flying straight to Shui Lingluo’s side. "Miss Shui, release her!"

"Okay."

Without question, Shui Lingluo clapped her hands. The giant bubble trapping Jiang Yingyue shattered, and the water chains vanished. Jiang Yingyue surfaced, coughing harshly and gasping for air—the bubble held no oxygen.

Jiang Wuyue hauled her sister out of the water immediately. She stared intensely at Lou Yun. "Lou Yun! Don’t think sparing my sister grants you any mercy from me!"

Lou Yun smiled faintly. "I never asked for your mercy."

He ignored Jiang Wuyue, turning to Shui Lingluo instead. "Miss Shui, thank you. Let’s return and fetch Tie Sha and Wen Hou. We’ll cross the lake together."

"Alright." Shui Lingluo agreed, returning to shore at Lou Yun’s side.

Lou Yun hadn’t released Jiang Yingyue out of fear. On the contrary, he sought no deep hatred with the Jiang family. Should they cease viewing the Lou family as enemies, he’d even abandon the past feuds between their clans—all because of Granny Bai Cao’s significance.

Jiang Wuyue, clutching her sister, stood motionless. She neither pursued nor spoke, only stared at Lou Yun and Shui Lingluo’s receding figures. Moments later, she summoned her magical weapon and soared away with Jiang Yingyue.

As Lou Yun and Shui Lingluo reached the shore, Wen Hou already had Tie Sha on his back. Lou Yun hurried to take over, but Wen Hou waved him off. "No need. I’ve got him. Besides, you’ve got a fight coming."

Lou Yun paused, then smiled. "Fine. Leave the rest to me."

By then, Shui Lingluo churned a colossal spray above the water. The four stepped onto it, riding it swiftly across the lake.

They climbed over a small hill beyond the lake. Suddenly, a vast clearing opened before them. At its exact center stood a man and a seated woman.

Lou Yun instantly recognized the seated woman: Xia Zhilan. Her eyes were half-closed, face ashen, and devoid of her magical weapon—clearly severely debilitated.

Though he’d steeled himself for her condition, witnessing it firsthand unleashed uncontrollable fury within him.

He inhaled deeply, forcing composure, then scrutinized the standing man.

Muscular and imposing, the man gripped a sword whose tip touched the ground. Head bowed, eyes fixed on the blade, he stood utterly still as if asleep, oblivious to their arrival.

Yet Lou Yun focused instead on that sword. Not a magical weapon, but a common one!

As a skilled weapon maker, Lou Yun’s appraisal had grown sharper. He instantly knew this was an exceptional blade—thin as cicada wings, smooth as a mirror. Sunlight even revealed faint mist curling lightly along its surface.

This sword confirmed the man belonged to the Helian family. Lou Yun recalled Helian Xingye wielding a common weapon too—a curiosity back then. He’d thought himself unique practicing both magical and ordinary skills. Now he understood better.

He knew the Nine Clans practiced the authentic methods, mastering both paths. Though he hadn’t seen the other three families use common weapons tonight—likely their magical weapons proved superior—their Helian counterparts prioritized common blades. Lou Yun, also a sword master, understood: swords were basic, yet unmatched in lethality when paired with potent weapon techniques. Even common weapons could become extraordinary.

Moreover, the man’s stance and posture—deceptively like napping—assured Lou Yun of one thing: an attack from any angle would trigger an immediate response.

Lou Yun glanced meaningfully at Wen Hou and Shui Lingluo. "Wait here. I go alone."

Wen Hou nodded. "Be careful. This man is formidable!" He too sensed the danger.

Shui Lingluo echoed with concern, "Lou Gongzi, stay cautious."

"I will."

Lou Yun offered a smile before stepping slowly toward Xia Zhilan and the middle-aged man.

Each step was deliberate, heavy. His boots left shallow indentations on Biko Island’s relatively soft earth—methodically regulating his spiritual energy, readying for peak combat condition.

His companions had exhausted themselves getting them here. Lou Yun couldn’t fail this battle, or those ahead. He must return with all three just as they arrived.

As the gap narrowed, Xia Zhilan finally heard his tread. She lifted her head, slowly opening dim, unfocused eyes.

Several seconds later, recognition dawned. The approaching figure—her every waking thought. A tremble ran through her. Wild joy flashed across her wan face, briefly reviving its lifelessness. Lips parting to call his name, no sound came—only two tears tracking down her cheeks.

Lou Yun’s chest constricted violently. Heartache surged, but he kept his expression calm. A soothing smile meant for her alone touched his lips.

Two meters remaining. The man suddenly spoke.

"Take another step, and I won’t be polite!"