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The heartbroken Cai Die raised her right hand, from which a burst of cold light shot out from her palm.

The cold light reached about ten feet in front of Ma Lu and then, with a loud bang, exploded into dozens of fine iron needles.

These iron needles sealed off all of Ma Lu's possible escape routes.

Despite his excellent qinggong, Ma Lu couldn't dodge such a wide-ranging attack.

He only managed to evade most of the iron needles, but still, two of them struck his body.

However, the cold-gleaming needles didn't penetrate his skin, as they were repelled by an invisible force.

"My turn! Draw a card!"

Cai Die beckoned, and three streaks of purple light flew out from the deck, landing in her hands.

Then two more streaks of purple light joined her hand cards.@@novelbin@@

Glancing at her hand, Cai Die first played a Heart Method Card—Charming Lady's Profound Yin Technique.

She had cultivated this Inner Strength to the 4rd Level, which meant the card could only bring her 4 points of True Qi. However, it had an additional effect.

When an attack caused damage to a target, it would embed a strand of Profound Yin Energy in the target's body.

Once the Profound Yin Energy in the target's body reached thirteen strands, it would transform into the Charming Lady's Profound Yin Technique, inflicting significant cold damage to the target.

Seeing this Heart Method Card, Ma Lu let out a soft exclamation, realizing many things in a flash, and blurted out,

"I know why you targeted the Xu Deputy Gate Master—you are his enemy. No, that's not right. You would have been only a few years old back then. That means it's your elders who had a feud with Xu Deputy Gate Master."

Upon hearing this, a flash of resentment crossed Cai Die's eyes, "Xu Baichuan killed my father, Shattered Jade Knife Tie Zheng, and when my mother sought justice from him, he killed her as well..."

In Cai Die's narrative, Xu Baichuan was undoubtedly a great villain beyond redemption. Fortunately, Ma Lu often surfed the internet and knew that one should not simply take one side's word for such matters.

Moreover, if Ma Lu remembered correctly, Xu Baichuan's eldest disciple had been killed by one of his formidable opponents. Xu Baichuan himself narrowly escaped death in that battle and was left with a cold energy inside him.

Ma Lu could roughly guess what had happened back then. If nothing unexpected, the other party in that great battle was Cai Die's mother, who had planted the Charming Lady's Profound Yin Technique within Xu Baichuan.

What happened subsequently was unknown, but eventually, Xu Baichuan had the last laugh.

At that time, Cai Die would have still been just a child. As she grew up, she came to seek revenge on the Xu Deputy Gate Master.

However, according to what Manager Zhou said earlier, Cai Die had entered Xu Mansion four years ago. If she wanted to make a move against Xu Baichuan, she didn't need to wait until today.

She should have had plenty of opportunities before now, unless...

Ma Lu then asked, "What is your grudge against the Heavenly Dragon Sect? Why did you kill Xu Baichuan and then frame it as the work of a Beggars' Sect expert, inciting conflict between Heavenly Dragon Sect and Beggars' Sect? Also, the theft of the Lotus Bowl from the Beggars' Sect—is that related to you as well?"

This time, Cai Die didn't answer directly but chuckled, "Want to know? Then beat me. If you win, I'll tell you everything."

After speaking, she played another Body Protection Card—Flat Boat Spiraling Turn.

This was the fourth form of the Boat Handling Technique, a martial skill realized by a martial arts eccentric after watching a leaf-covered boat maneuver through turbulent river waters without capsizing.

It emphasized the principle of guiding force according to the situation and deflecting power with power.

Cai Die spent 2 points of True Qi to activate the card's additional effect.

He gained 5 parry points and a state called "Even Force."

The Even Force state could not block or weaken incoming attacks, but it could distribute the damage of a single attack across two turns for settlement.

Ma Lu had also never seen such an unusual Self-Defense Martial Arts that could split damage into two parts, deferring one part for later.

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Unfortunately, Cai Die had only cultivated it to the 2nd Level. If she had more time to continue her training, who knows into how many parts she could split a single attack.

Although the deferred damage had to be endured and the total amount wouldn't decrease, it still gave the practitioner ample time to cope with the opponent's attacks.

And it was especially effective against opponents who stored power for a burst-of-energy strike.

For example, like Gu Qingyi, who would save up her parry value over several turns and then unleash it all at once—if her damage was divided into segments, naturally, it wouldn't be as lethal anymore.

Cai Die played two cards and chose to end her turn, after which Ma Lu praised, "What excellent skill."

Seemingly pleased by his words, Cai Die enthusiastically introduced, "The Charming Lady's Profound Yin Technique is the martial arts of the Profound Yin Sect, my mother's sect, while the Boat Handling Technique was left to me by my father. Their spirits in heaven must also be protecting me."

"Your parents must have both been experts."

"Yes, if they were still alive, there would be no chance for an impostor like Xu Baichuan to strut around in the martial arts circles."

Having said that, Cai Die's dark eyes circled Ma Lu's face again, "Everyone knows that Deng Baichuan only had two disciples, and both of his disciples died young. So where did you pop up from?

"I've been in the Xu Mansion for four years now, and this is the first time I've heard that Xu Baichuan has another disciple. Moreover, I just cursed Xu Baichuan so viciously, yet I don't see you getting anxious?"

Ma Lu stated earnestly, "My heart holds the utmost respect for my teacher. However, I'm a rather composed person by nature, and won't fly off the handle just because of a few slanderous comments by others."

"Haha, I think you simply don't have much affection for Xu Baichuan. Since that's the case, you might as well release me.

"Can't you see? The Heavenly Dragon Sect is about to be finished. Standing with them at this time is not a wise move.

"You might end up being lumped in with those mendicants from the Beggars' Sect and get eliminated alongside them, whereas joining us would be the better choice."

"And where is this 'us' you refer to?" Ma Lu counter-questioned.

Realizing that she had let something slip, Cai Die decided to shut her mouth.

It was Ma Lu's turn to draw cards, and his luck wasn't great. Out of the 5 cards in his hand, there wasn't a single Heart Method Card, but fortunately, during the draw phase, he picked up a Delicate Clouds Trickery.

Ma Lu played Delicate Clouds Trickery, discarding two cards from his hand to draw a Minor Eternal Spring Technique.

Then he followed it up by playing Minor Eternal Spring Technique, increasing his True Qi by 6 points.

He proceeded to play a Cease Worries right after.

This was the second form of the Subduing Demon Vajra Skill. Ma Lu spent 3 points of True Qi to activate it, gaining 14 parry points and a Dustless State.

In a Dustless State, if he hasn't launched an attack in this turn, his parry value would increase by another 10 points.

When Cai Die saw Delicate Clouds Trickery, she let out a soft gasp, recognizing it as the prized Qinggong move of Xu Deputy Gate Master.

And upon seeing Cease Worries, her expression turned even more interesting.

"Ah, how is it that you also know the Vajra Temple's skills, yet you don't look like a monk?"