Chapter 207: Evenly Matched

Soon, at the entrance of the Snake Clan’s cave, two women in white, bearing a striking resemblance to one another, met face to face.

"Greetings, Ancestor," the woman in white who had previously confronted Zhou Qing knelt respectfully on the ground.

"I have told you before not to imitate my appearance and attire. Have you forgotten?"

The woman addressed as the Ancestor glanced coldly at the kneeling figure. In truth, she felt no great anger; she knew that if this young demon, who mimicked her so closely, did not admire her deeply, she would never have gone to such lengths.

"I understand, Ancestor. I will never dare to do it again."

The woman on the ground replied in a voice trembling with fear. A moment later, her form flickered, and she transformed into a woman dressed in black robes.

"Tell me, what has happened that you must disturb me? I recall that six of you have attained human form. Where are the other four?"

Under the Ancestor's questioning, the woman knelt before her and respectfully recounted the events exactly as they had occurred. When she finished, the woman in white moved, vanishing into the mountain forest before the cave.

...

Having settled an old grudge, Zhou Qing followed the path he had taken into these wild woods years ago. Without realizing it, he arrived at the small river where he had once reunited with Lin Yunxi.

More than a decade had passed, yet the river remained unchanged. Zhou Qing walked to the grassy bank, sat down, and let out a soft sigh as he gazed at the flowing water.

Just as he sat alone, lost in reflection, he heard a disturbance behind him. Turning his head, he saw a familiar silhouette.

"Are you chasing me to avenge that half-snake demon?"

Seeing the woman in white approaching the riverbank, Zhou Qing asked in a calm tone before rising from the grass.

After studying the woman closely, he noted a difference: the aura emanating from this woman was entirely distinct from that of the one he had encountered earlier. Though their appearances were nearly identical, the demonic energy they possessed was worlds apart.

Realizing this, Zhou Qing’s expression tightened. "Your cultivation is quite impressive," he noted.

"Ha! You human cultivator, you are quite interesting. Knowing I have come to kill you, you show no trace of fear. Do you hold me in contempt, or do you simply look down on me?"

"Is there a difference?"

"Little cultivator, you are arrogant."

As she spoke, the woman in white flicked her wrist, and a blade of spiritual energy surged toward Zhou Qing.

Watching the incoming strike, Zhou Qing did not panic. He tapped the ground, retreated a long stride, then leaped into the air. With a nimble somersault, he landed steadily on the ground.

Having dodged the attack, Zhou Qing smiled slightly. "Your cultivation is indeed impressive, but killing me is unlikely."

"You are truly arrogant. I must kill you today."

After that brief exchange, the woman in white launched a second attack. Judging by her aura, Zhou Qing felt her cultivation level was on par with his own. If he were to use his full strength, along with his three spiritual roots, killing her would not be difficult.

However, he was not a man who thirsted for slaughter, and this woman was not an irreconcilable enemy like True Lord Fengshui. He had no desire to entangle himself with her.

After dodging her second strike, Zhou Qing’s figure blurred. He dove into the river and sped downstream.

Seeing him attempt to flee, the woman in white likewise blurred and dove into the water in pursuit. It was clear that she either possessed advanced water-manipulation techniques or, like Zhou Qing, held a water spiritual root.

Whether through arts or elemental affinity, her speed was nearly equal to his, perhaps even slightly faster, for every so often she would strike at him from beneath the surface.

Though the brief pauses required to weave spells widened the gap between them, she remained in hot pursuit, occasionally unleashing another technique at the fleeing man.

"Fellow Daoist, cease your pursuit. There is no enmity between us, which is why I have not fought back. Do you truly believe I fear you?" Zhou Qing called out during his escape.

"You killed a junior of my Snake Clan. How can you say there is no enmity?"

"That was only because he tried to kill me years ago. If not for that, why would I have killed him?"

"I do not care. You are too arrogant, and I must kill you today."

During the chase, the two exchanged words back and forth. As they spoke, another of the woman's spells struck Zhou Qing’s back. Originally, he had not wanted to hold it against her, but her persistence had crossed the line. He could no longer tolerate it.

"I will say this one last time: do not follow me. If you persist, I will kill you today."

"Kill me? How could a conceited creature like you kill me? I advise you to stop resisting; it might allow you a swifter death. If I catch you, I will tear your bones apart one by one and torture you until you draw your last breath."

There was no room for negotiation in her voice. Upon hearing her words, Zhou Qing focused his mind, channeling his water spiritual energy to lift his body above the surface of the river.

Seeing him emerge, the woman in white rose to the riverbank as well.

Once both were on land, Zhou Qing formed a seal with one hand and pointed at her. Instantly, a whirlwind of white mist swept toward her. As the mist formed, he tapped his toes on the water and leaped into an ancient forest on the bank.

Hardly had his feet touched the ground when a gale of energy sliced toward him from the riverside. Glancing over, he saw that the woman had already broken through his wind art and was charging toward him.

Thus, they began to battle in the old forest by the river.

Blow for blow, they fought to a stalemate. Before long, the ancient forest was leveled into a flat plain by the force of their arts and energy.

During the combat, Zhou Qing was surprised to find that the woman’s water-manipulation skills were not inferior to his own, and she seemed to possess an endless supply of spiritual elixirs. After every exchange, she would take a pill from a small cloth bag at her waist. This cycle dashed his hopes of outlasting her by exhausting her spiritual energy.

Their cultivation levels were too evenly matched. They fought from dusk to dawn, from dawn to dusk, from the forest to the mountaintop, and back again.

They clashed for nearly a day and a night, finally stopping at the edge of a great river in the woods as the second evening fell.