Chapter 1066: The Cold Wind Breaks the Proud Bones, the Plum Fragrance Becomes Even Stronger — Seven Sword Immortals Mei Si Ren Appears

Three breaths?

Making a life-or-death decision?

Do I even get to think about it? When Ba Zun An tried to recruit me at Bai Ku, he didn't threaten me like this! You're just bullying people!

In his vanished state, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't hold back any longer and started ranting and raving.

But in the next second, he suddenly understood why Jiang Buyi had abruptly ended their conversation and forced him to choose immediately, because...

"Drip, drip, drip..."

The communication talisman's sound was still steady and methodical, but at that moment, it emitted a faint glow, and a subtle guiding force emerged in his mind, directing Xu Xiaoshou to look in a certain direction.

Within Jiang Buyi's Saint Domain, Xu Xiaoshou's senses were completely disrupted, making it impossible to see the outside world clearly.

Yet, when he turned his gaze, he spotted a strikingly clear figure beyond the Saint Domain, in the hazy world outside.

It was an elderly man dressed in a light purple swordsman's robe, holding a folded fan. He exuded an air of extraordinary elegance and otherworldly refinement.

Apart from the two stone swords on his back that slightly diminished his aura, he appeared like a banished immortal, radiating a savior's gentle light, as if an angel had descended.

"Mei Jiren?" Xu Xiaoshou exclaimed in delight.

He recognized this person—the guest elder of Tian Shang Di Yi Lou. After failing to take on a disciple, Mei Jiren had left shortly after the night battle in Wang Cheng, and no one knew where he had gone.

Unexpectedly, in Xu Xiaoshou's moment of greatest peril, Mei Jiren appeared outside Jiang Buyi's Saint Domain, holding the communication talisman and standing firm.

A pillar of stability!

If this wasn't a savior, what was?

Mei Jiren... right now, you are my god!

"Hold on, does Mei Jiren even qualify? Jiang Buyi is a Half-Saint..." Xu Xiaoshou quickly calmed down, his heart racing.

"But wait, no... even if he's a Half-Saint, Mei Jiren is one of the original Seven Sword Immortals. With his talent, he could have become a Half-Saint ages ago—why wait until now?"

Xu Xiaoshou recalled his conversation with Mei Jiren that night and tried to reassure himself. "He's just choosing not to ascend now, but that doesn't mean he can't stand against a Half-Saint!"

After boosting his own confidence and realizing help had finally arrived, Xu Xiaoshou no longer felt inferior.

He controlled his painting avatar, which was now only half a body, and directly met Jiang Buyi's gaze, speaking gravely:

"Jiang Buyi, I respected you, so I spoke respectfully before."

"But you should know, even when Ba Zun An invited me to join the Saint Slaves that day, he didn't threaten me like this!"

With his half-body floating in the air, he flicked his sleeve, his voice laced with anger: "I, Xu Xiaoshou, am unyielding by nature, born to never bow!"

"Smack—"

As soon as he finished, Jiang Buyi lifted his eyelids, a sharp glint in his eyes, and the painting avatar of Xu Xiaoshou snapped at the waist, letting out a "Ugh!" before disintegrating into spiritual energy.

"What a pity—you made the wrong choice..."

Jiang Buyi's eyes filled with killing intent, and he was about to strike when suddenly, he turned his gaze to the distance, as if sensing something.

"I wondered what made you suddenly so bold in your words. Turns out it's because... you saw that person outside the domain?"

A soft click echoed.

A hundred li away, everything in the world seemed to slow down.

The light footsteps stepped into the Saint Domain, yet they rang clearly in the ears of both Jiang Buyi and Xu Xiaoshou.

"Jiang Buyi, saying that is a bit disrespectful, don't you think?"

Accompanied by this low chuckle, Mei Jiren gently fanned his paper fan and walked forward unhurriedly, shrinking the ground into inches. In just three steps, he arrived right in front of Jiang Buyi.

Smiling, he faced Jiang Buyi, whose killing intent filled the air, meeting his gaze directly. Despite not unleashing any Saint force, Mei Jiren's presence didn't waver in the slightest.

Once he stood firm, Mei Jiren closed his fan with a snap and lightly tapped it against his palm, smiling as he asked: "Jiang Buyi, don't I, an old man, even deserve a little respect?"

"Mei Jiren, save me—"

In his vanished state, Xu Xiaoshou was on the verge of tears.

This was too impressive—Mei Jiren's entrance was the coolest he'd ever seen!

Now, unless Ba Zun An showed up in person, Xu Xiaoshou felt it was time to update his list of the strongest figures.

Mei Jiren, with the poise of a Sword Immortal, stood against a Half-Saint without backing down.

This effortless demeanor was worlds apart from the Void Attendant, who had been one-shotted by a punch, or Teng Shanhai, who had been pierced through the chest by a palm... They weren't even comparable!

Among the Tai Xu realm, the difference was like heaven and earth!

He didn't know the ranking of the Seven Sword Immortals' strengths before, but now Xu Xiaoshou understood.

In the Tai Xu and Sword Immortal ranks, Ba Zun An and Mei Jiren formed their own tier, with Gou Wuyue and Rao Yao Yao below them, and Void Attendant and Teng Shanhai falling even lower.

Only then could you rank the true "Tai Xu powerhouses," like Shuang Dai, Hong Dang, Xiao Ren... and other minor figures.

To carve out a realm named after oneself through sheer force, between Half-Saint and Tai Xu—that's what defines a true powerhouse! That's the peak!

However, just as this thought crossed Xu Xiaoshou's mind and he started to feel saved, Jiang Buyi's eyes turned cold, and his aura shifted dramatically.

"Boom!"

Jiang Buyi merely narrowed his eyes, solidifying his killing intent, and the space within a hundred li shattered, reforming in an instant.

The nine heavens plunged into an icy abyss, the scene transforming completely.

Goose feathers of snow began to fall, and the biting cold wind that whipped up seemed ready to freeze any Spirit Master below Half-Saint to death.

Even Xu Xiaoshou, in his vanished state, shivered involuntarily, his scalp tingling as if electrocuted, feeling the effects across different spaces.

"Mei Jiren..."

Jiang Buyi shook his head slightly, incredulous.

He never imagined that, with the forbidden attributes of Miracle Forest fully activated, someone would dare to come here, intrude into his Saint Domain, and of all people, it would be this unexpected figure!

My Healing Game

At that moment, Jiang Buyi sneered mockingly: "Mei Jiren, do you realize what kind of shift your position will undergo after entering this game?"

As for the Saint Slaves, it was nothing more!

Mei Jiren smiled, fully understanding everything in his heart.

He should have declared his stance to the world long ago, right after the night battle in Dongtian Wang Cheng when he saved Xu Xiaoshou.

But back then, Xu Xiaoshou hadn't needed his help, so Mei Jiren felt the timing was just a bit late, and it didn't matter.

"Hoo, hoo..."

The swirling cold wind pierced through his robes.

A Half-Saint's fury brought about a complete transformation of the surroundings, enough to crush an ordinary Tai Xu.

Yet Mei Jiren stood straight as a spear, not trembling in the least.

"I have my own plans, so I won't trouble you with your concerns, Jiang Buyi. As for the young one here..." He scanned around but couldn't find Xu Xiaoshou.

If not for the communication talisman in his possession, Mei Jiren might have thought Xu Xiaoshou had already slipped away. Facing the Half-Saint's pressure, he chuckled lightly: "I want to take him with me. Jiang Buyi, could you give me that courtesy?"

"Hah!"

Jiang Buyi snorted coldly, and with a boom, the ground beneath Mei Jiren crumbled and sank several zhang.

"What do you think?"

The terrifying Half-Saint pressure accompanied his sinking voice, and even before Jiang Buyi truly attacked, Xu Xiaoshou in his vanished state couldn't help but recoil in shock.

This aura was even more dreadful than when he had faced Teng Shanhai!

Xu Xiaoshou stared blankly at the space in front of Jiang Buyi...

In the hundred-li Saint Domain, the two sides were starkly divided!

The winter chill brought by Jiang Buyi enveloped the entire domain, leaving him unmoved, for this was his territory.

But with just a glance from Jiang Buyi, the ground behind Mei Jiren shattered and collapsed, putting him at a clear disadvantage.

This was pure dominance in presence!

Yet, at that very moment, Xu Xiaoshou could still see a withered branch stubbornly emerging from the cracks in the rubble.

A hint of new green burst forth in the midst of winter, blooming into vibrant red plum blossoms.

"This..."

Xu Xiaoshou's pupils contracted sharply.

From that single red plum, he sensed a formidable will not inferior to Jiang Buyi's as a Half-Saint!

"Half-Saint power?"

"No! There's no Saint force fluctuation at all—this is just Mei Jiren's will manifesting?"

"But Mei Jiren hasn't even broken through to Half-Saint yet. How can he alter the heavens, change the landscape, and reverse the domain in a Half-Saint's territory?"

One side: Jiang Buyi, standing firmly on level ground, facing him coldly.

The other side: Mei Jiren, on the only unchanged stone pillar amid the collapsed earth, holding his ground.

They clashed head-on!

Rivals in every way!

"But one is a Half-Saint, and the other is a Sword Immortal, a Tai Xu!"

"Even Rao Yao Yao couldn't withstand one of Jiang Buyi's moves, and Mei Jiren is just another of the Seven Sword Immortals..."

Xu Xiaoshou stared dumbly at the evenly matched pair, then glanced at Mei Jiren, whose defiant spirit stood out even more against the sunken ground. His heart surged with unbridled heroism, beyond words.

Is this not the way of us sword cultivators?

The cold wind may break the proud bones, but the plum fragrance grows even stronger!

Jiang Buyi had now gauged the true strength of this renowned "Mei Jiren," and a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes as he said slowly: "So, you've touched the path to sainthood and could ascend any day now?"

Mei Jiren faced the Half-Saint, appearing calm on the surface but alert underneath.

To this question, he tapped his fan lightly and replied with a smile at the corners of his eyes: "Half-Saint is just a thought away, but freedom is what I've sought all my life."

These words seemed to strike a nerve with Jiang Buyi. His eyes narrowed, his beard and hair flew wildly, and his demeanor grew even more arrogant as he raged: "But as long as you don't ascend, you can't beat me!"

Without another word,

Jiang Buyi raised his hand in anger, and the Saint manifestation of his will materialized behind him once more, towering into the sky.

"This is the same Saint manifestation that destroyed Teng Shanhai's body, spirit, and will..." Xu Xiaoshou's pupils contracted, envisioning Mei Jiren being utterly annihilated by this move.

Jiang Buyi's "Execution of Saintly Cloud Light" had even overwhelmed Rao Yao Yao, who wielded the Xuan Cang Divine Sword!

Sure enough, within the colossal Saint manifestation, the "Half-Saint position" embedded in its forehead, under Jiang Buyi's summons, erupted with endless Saint force again.

At that moment, Jiang Buyi seemed utterly unconcerned about whether the forbidden attributes of Miracle Forest would be triggered further by his full power.

All his Half-Saint force converged!

A beam of Saint light plummeted from the heavens!

"Execution of Saintly Cloud Light!"

With no holding back, Jiang Buyi believed that as long as it wasn't another Half-Saint, there was no need for mercy.

Because anyone below Half-Saint—be they Spirit Masters or sword cultivators—who dared defy a Half-Saint's will was guilty of blasphemy.

—Blasphemers deserve only death!

The Execution of Saintly Cloud Light fell from the sky, swift to the extreme and overwhelmingly powerful.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't even dare approach, fearing he'd be instantly killed in his vanished state.

As he retreated, he was tempted to throw out a painting avatar to warn Mei Jiren that Teng Shanhai had died to this very move.

Tai Xu couldn't even resist!

Even demonic god power had been obliterated!

"Be careful..."

However, Mei Jiren, standing on the trembling stone pillar, merely lifted his gaze to the sky, glanced at it, and then looked away.

"Xu Xiaoshou, watch closely..."

Mei Jiren murmured softly. He knew Xu Xiaoshou was still here and hadn't left.

He also knew this journey wasn't just about saving someone—it carried the purpose of taking on a disciple and teaching the sword.

If a teacher who hadn't yet earned recognition knelt in front of his student in their first battle, how could Mei Jiren ever pass on the sword to him?

Half-Saint...

So what if it was a Half-Saint?!

"Saint force isn't invincible. If a Spirit Master ascends without the path of profound truths, they're merely controlling one Saintly Dao."

"But we sword cultivators study the nine great sword techniques, the eighteen sword styles, and the three thousand sword paths, encompassing all attributes... They cover the changes of the heavens and the five elements, all within our hearts."

"Even without entering the Saint realm, we can still blaspheme against saints!"

Mei Jiren's earlier words were explanatory, as if for Xu Xiaoshou.

But as he continued, they grew more profound, drawing upon the heavenly dao of Void Island that ordinary people couldn't touch, turning into a faint sacred sound echoing through the heavens and earth.

Though in a mortal body...

At that moment, Mei Jiren, as a Sword Immortal, invoked sacred sounds with his words, challenging the Half-Saint!

With that, he raised his right hand into the air, and with a hum, the frost in the heavens froze solid. The goose feathers of snow halted, and even time and space stopped functioning in that instant.

"???" In his vanished state, Xu Xiaoshou's face was full of question marks.

He seemed to grasp Mei Jiren's intent...

Was this real?

Faced with Jiang Buyi's strike, Mei Jiren wasn't going to dodge, block, defend, or deflect... He was going to counter with his sword?

"Received shock, passive points: 1."

In that moment, Xu Xiaoshou felt like he was back in the Eight Palaces, reliving the scene where Elder Sang suddenly appeared before Yu Lingdi and bluntly stated there were three ways to interpret profound truths.

His heart tightened, hoping Mei Jiren wouldn't overdo it and drag himself down too.

Words are plentiful in due time, but battlefield changes happen in a flash.

The Execution of Saintly Cloud Light, which could obliterate even demonic god power, was halted mid-air after just one glance from Mei Jiren!

Even Jiang Buyi felt it was surreal, but he could sense the shifts in the surrounding dao principles, suddenly filled with the essence of "time" and "space."

"Time-space attributes—the dream of every Spirit Master..." Jiang Buyi's gaze flickered.

—Sword paths encompass all things, and that's no lie!

Mei Jiren made his move.

With a pinch of his fingers, the red plum that had sprouted from the deep pit flew into his palm in an instant.