At this moment, his speed had reached its absolute limit; the body's natural descent combined with the thrust from his wings had set a faint flame burning around him. The clothes on his body began to shred, and some of his pendants were already scorched to ash.

"Ah…" Ye Xiu knew he could not stop. The sword behind him seemed to be gaining on him; he could already feel the chill of sword energy licking at his heels.

"One Severance." While maintaining his high-speed descent, Ye Xiu spun around and unleashed his ultimate slicing technique. A flash of sword light swept horizontally, instantly turning a sheet of incoming sword rain into dust. However, further ahead in the sky, countless sharp swords poured down from the black clouds, once again imperiling his life.

"Demon Blade: Ten Thousand Slashes." Ye Xiu did not cease his struggle. He raised Hengchen again, conjuring countless avatars, and commanded all the clones to unleash their severing attacks simultaneously, determined to obliterate these extraterrestrial blades.

Ye Xiu rotated as he dodged and fell. The surrounding tempest of whistling swords pursued relentlessly. The two forces, locked in an entangled struggle, only broke apart when they finally plunged toward the ice sheet. "Ah…" Ye Xiu seized this chance for a desperate burst of speed, narrowly escaping death as he finally approached the ground.

"Young Master Ye." Chen Ying had indeed not left. For her, everything that had transpired had lasted no longer than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Hearing Chen Ying’s voice, Ye Xiu finally calmed his nerves. He used his wings to gently slow his descent, occasionally glancing back to gaze up at the solitary, perilous Wan Jian Peak. Regardless of everything he had endured, he had indeed seen a figure atop the peak upon his retreat. Could that have been an Elder from the ancient Wing Clan?

"Young Master Ye, are you alright? How did you get hurt?" Chen Ying rushed forward with genuine concern, collapsing against Ye Xiu’s chest. She had been terrified he wouldn't make it down.

"It's fine, I told you I'd be alright." Ye Xiu pulled Chen Ying into an embrace, feeling an immediate wave of relief wash over him. "It’s just a pity I still couldn't reach the summit, alas."

Leaning against his chest, Chen Ying murmured coolly, "It’s good that you’re safe. Why bother climbing to the top? You have no idea how worried I was about you."

Ye Xiu was slightly surprised. He could sense the urgency in Chen Ying’s concern. When a woman falls deeply in love, she throws caution aside: "It’s alright, look, I’m fine. If I get another chance, I will definitely try again. I refuse to believe I can’t reach it."

"You want to go again? I forbid it!" Chen Ying pushed him away, staring at him fiercely. "How much longer do you expect me to worry myself sick over you? I only care that you are safe. You should do far less of those dangerous things."

Ye Xiu felt a stubborn resistance, but arguing with Chen Ying now seemed pointless. He smiled softly, stepped forward, and gathered her into his arms. Even his bat-like wings swept forward to envelop Chen Ying. "Alright, don't be angry. I promise not to go."

"Don't try to placate me; I know you’ll go anyway." Chen Ying was helpless against him, yet she could not resist his embrace. In that moment, she pressed tightly against his body again, her long-agitated heart finding expression in the rapid rise and fall of her chest.

The heat in Ye Xiu’s core was instantly reignited by Chen Ying. His hands gently caressed her waist, helping her undo the bindings around her lower body. He himself could no longer hold back, pressing deeply within her. The two savored a frenzied, wild passion in the open wilderness. Ye Xiu's force was immense, as if he needed to vent the tension from that recent ordeal through Chen Ying’s body. His hands gripped her lower body, driving relentlessly toward himself, while Chen Ying closed her eyes, moaning through the intense pain and searing pleasure. "Hoo…" Ye Xiu had never experienced such a scene. He was nearly too ecstatic to keep his wings from spreading, lifting Chen Ying as they soared into the sky. He needed to penetrate harder, crueler, and more ruthlessly to sustain Chen Ying’s body; all Chen Ying needed to do was surrender everything to Ye Xiu without reservation. Thus, the two entwined in the mid-air, their entwined passion erupting, until finally, with a shared cry, they shattered the stillness of the night sky.

……

Outside Wan Jian City, at the West Wind Pavilion, Xuan Yingfei of the Wing Clan, defeated in the second round by Lang Taotian, rested alone. Although his skill had been inferior, the Wing Clan’s Yi Tiannan reaching the finals was undeniably deserved.

"Are you a participant in the Three Swords First Martial Arts Tournament?" Dugu Bingchen flashed by using Qinggong, landing before Xuan Yingfei. The cold night highlighted his own mournful gaze: "Wing Clan's Xuan Yingfei!"

Though defeated, Xuan Yingfei was no ordinary person. He vaguely sensed a killing intent: "May I ask your identity, sir…"

Bingchen confirmed the name and immediately drew the half-moon blade behind his back. "Wan Jian City Guard, ordered by the Great City Lord to slay all participants of the Martial Arts Tournament."

"What? You say the Great City Lord!" Xuan Yingfei retreated a step, unable to believe the truth. "Why would the Great City Lord do such a thing? Is the entire tournament a conspiracy?"

"Heh, you're quite sharp. All those who were eliminated have already been killed by me. Now it's your turn." Bingchen’s eyes were cold and severe. As he spoke, a flash of blade light cut through the air, aimed directly at Xuan Yingfei.

Xuan Yingfei spread both hands, revealing his wings, and sprang vertically into the sky, evading the strike. "Perhaps things aren't that simple. You wish to use the Great City Lord’s name to slaughter martial artists and achieve your own nefarious goals, don't you?"

This was precisely what Bingchen was waiting for. He pulled back the corner of his robe and displayed the Great City Lord's golden kill medallion. A brilliant golden light instantly illuminated the surroundings: "I'll tell you before you die. I am indeed under the Great City Lord’s direct orders to eliminate the martial heroes of all clans. The purpose of this tournament was to lure you out so we could sweep you up in one go, thereby cementing Wan Jian City’s rule over the Three Swords Realm."

"Well said, Wan Jian Canglong." Xuan Yingfei shot upward, actually drawing a bow in mid-air and using his own feathers as arrows as he roared in anger, "Ten Thousand Arrows Volley!"

"Hmph! Childish tricks." Bingchen's half-moon blade slashed out, kicking up swirling dust. He pushed off the ground, thrusting the blade forward to meet Xuan Yingfei’s arrow rain: "Half-Moon Flowing Cup."

"What!" Xuan Yingfei was stunned by Bingchen’s technique. The half-moon blade had clearly formed a powerful protective shield that nullified every single arrow. However, unwilling to concede, he tried to ascend to a better vantage point to unleash his final ultimate move.

"Myriad Swords Overthrow the City!" Dugu Bingchen saw Xuan Yingfei's intention immediately. He drew the precious sword from his waist and executed a Wan Jian Jue move. A beam of cold light shot upward from below, effortlessly piercing the West Wind Pavilion and hurtling toward Xuan Yingfei in the sky.