This willow tree was seventy to eighty feet tall, not considered massive in this forest, where some trees towered nearly a hundred meters high, and it even appeared somewhat small.

The beasts attracted by the Spirit Spring numbered over a hundred, with even the weakest among them at the Spiritual Sea Seventh Heaven. The leading ones had even reached the Profound Pill Realm, forming a small beast tide.

In the face of this force, even Ye Qingchen was uncertain if he could stop them.

However.

An unexpected scene unfolded.

This originally tranquil willow tree suddenly came to life. The countless hanging willow branches transformed into sharp swords, shooting out like a hail of crossbow arrows with 'whoosh' 'whoosh' sounds piercing the air.

The speed was terrifyingly swift, causing even Ye Qingchen's expression to change.

Then.

A swift green afterimage flew through the void.

The soft willow branches were incredibly sharp, piercing through the beasts' tough scales and bodies effortlessly!

"Puff!"

A series of tearing sounds echoed.

The bodies of nearly a hundred beasts suddenly froze, as if the scene had been paused, stopping abruptly in mid-air.

And then.

Those willow branches casually flicked, tossing the beasts' corpses off the towering cliff.

Afterward.

The willow branches quietly drooped back down, appearing as they did before.

"It's a Willow Tree Demon!"

This sudden turn of events made Ye Qingchen's heart jump.

This Willow Tree Demon.

Was like an unparalleled master guarding before the Bronze Gate.

If the beasts hadn't been attracted by the Spiritual Qi here, perhaps even he himself would have been attacked by the Willow Tree Demon!

"It seems, to enter this Bronze Gate, defeating this Willow Tree Demon is the only way!"

Although.

Ye Qingchen did not know if he could defeat this Willow Tree Demon, but having come this far, he certainly wouldn't give up so easily.

Taking a deep breath.

Ye Qingchen's eyes shone brighter, his fighting spirit surging.

Bang!

In that instant.

The star power within him surged out.

Simultaneously, a furious wind stormed around, with the five major Sword Intents of Wind exploding forth.

At the apex of this aura.

Ye Qingchen suddenly took a step forward, his entire being like a bolt of lightning, darting fiercely toward the Willow Tree Demon.

Whoosh!

Almost at the same time.

The Willow Tree Demon also launched a counterattack at that instant, dozens of willow branches shooting out with horrifying momentum, akin to a master of the Sword Dao!

"Get out of my way!"

Ye Qingchen shouted in a deep voice.

The Silver Dragon Sword swept out.

A rush of Vast Sword light surged forward, as he employed the Avalanche Form of the Jinghong Sword.

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!"

A terrifying clamor rang out.

The willow branches shattered directly under this sword strike.

In that instant.

Countless willow leaves shattered in fright, disintegrating into a spray of fragments.

Whoosh!

As if Ye Qingchen had severed dozens of willow branches, the Willow Tree Demon seemed to fall into a rage, shooting out hundreds of willow branches with even greater ferocity than when it slaughtered the beasts.

"Not good!"

Seeing this, Ye Qingchen's pupils contracted, and he swiftly grabbed with his right hand.

'Swish! Swish! Swish!'

A series of sword clanging sounds arose as hundreds of flying swords materialized around Ye Qingchen, fiercely swarming toward the willow branches.

But an unexpected scene occurred.

The enormous form of the Willow Tree Demon twisted abruptly, countless willow branches writhed like Spiritual Snakes, intertwining to form a gigantic Willow Blade that swept forward.

A series of 'dinging' and 'dangling' explosions resounded.

Then.

The flying swords, sharp enough to split stones, were torn apart by the Willow Blade.

"Explode!"

Ye Qingchen's face grew solemn. He pointed the Silver Dragon Sword forward, its light flashing fiercely toward the Willow Blade.

"Boom!"

The two swords clashed.

Instantly, the contained Sword Qi erupted violently, sweeping in all directions.

Furthermore.

The terrifying Sword Qi crashed into Ye Qingchen, sending him flying and spewing a mouthful of blood!

While the Willow Sword only paused for a moment before continuing its assault on Ye Qingchen.

"Boom!"

Without wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Ye Qingchen slapped the ground with his palm, quickly retreating.

"Slash!"

The Willow Blade swept through the air, slicing into the ground with a tearing sound.

Ye Qingchen gasped.

He saw the ground where he had stood cleaved apart, with even a massive boulder over ten meters high split in two, leaving a sword scar extending nearly a dozen meters.

This sword scar was nearly half a finger wide, stretching from the Spirit Spring's edge to nearly under his feet.

"This Willow Tree Demon..."

Watching the willow branches retract and spread out again, Ye Qingchen narrowed his eyes.

This Willow Tree Demon guarding the Bronze Gate was truly formidable!

"With my current abilities, I can't deal with this Willow Tree Demon unless I reach the Spiritual Sea Eighth Heaven, or comprehend another Wind Sword Intent, or learn a higher-level Swordsmanship!"

"Or, unlock the Profound Celestial Lock!"

"But..."

Ye Qingchen frowned.

Because.

All these tasks were incredibly challenging for him at the moment.

Moreover.

The Profound Celestial Lock was his last trump card, one he would not use unless his life was at critical risk.

Staring at the distant Spirit Spring, Ye Qingchen's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Right, with the abundant Spiritual Qi here, I might be able to attempt a breakthrough in cultivation! And, the Willow Tree Demon can't attack me here!"

Immediately.

He sat down cross-legged.

Activating the Cultivation Technique of the Star System.

"Hum~"

The void trembled as the ethereal Spiritual Qi hovering above the Spirit Spring seemed to be drawn, transforming into countless strands swirling toward his body.

Meanwhile.

The Willow Tree Demon appeared to sense Ye Qingchen's action. Infuriated by the human cultivator daring to probe its Spirit Spring, it flailed its numerous branches in a frenzy.

But because Ye Qingchen was at a distance, it couldn't attack, merely stirring its branches ineffectively, allowing Ye Qingchen to absorb the Spiritual Qi of the entire Heavenly Zhou.

"Such pure Spiritual Qi, I might really succeed in breaking through this time!"

Feeling the power slowly emerging within, a jubilant light flashed in Ye Qingchen's eyes.

While Ye Qingchen practiced diligently in Dragon-Clutching Mountain.

Qianlong City grew increasingly lively with the Qingzhou Sword Fighting Conference.

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