Chapter 408: Chapter 228: Lu Shu, Dead! The sword was drawn, and the winds surged! The sword energy formed a massive whirlwind, rolling forth towards Lu Shu with the swing of Gu Sheng’s blade. Lu Shu’s sword momentum was merely at the Small Success realm, utterly incapable of comparing to the sword energy. Although "Thousand Swords Return as One" was a mid-grade Mystical-level sword technique martial art, Lu Shu was unable to unleash its full power at this moment. In just one exchange, Thousand Swords Return as One was completely shattered. With her sword momentum broken, Lu Shu’s breath halted for a moment, and she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. At this point, she fully accepted the reality that Gu Sheng’s sword energy absolutely crushed her sword momentum. The aftermath of the Gale Nine Swords’ whirlwind still lingered after shattering Thousand Swords Return as One. Though there was still some distance between them, Lu Shu already felt the immense pressure emanating from it. Facing Gu Sheng’s sword energy, Lu Shu’s sword cultivation advantage could not be leveraged at all. Being decisive by nature, she immediately sheathed her sword upon realizing this and hastily retrieved two black cloths from her storage pouch. She wrapped a Spirit Stone in one of the cloths and flung it at the whirlwind of the Gale Nine Swords. After absorbing all the spiritual power within the Spirit Stone, the two black cloths instantly expanded with the wind, transforming into two large black sheets, each a square meter in size. Black light shimmered on the surface of the cloths, forming a thin layer of spiritual power barrier. These black cloths were no ordinary items—they were defensive treasures known as Spirit Steel Silk, rated as low-grade Mystical-level. Not only was their defensive capacity astonishing, but they could also serve as offensive tools if necessary. Though the sword energy was powerful, it had its limits. Moreover, Gu Sheng’s Gale Nine Swords was merely at the entry level. While its display appeared impressive, its actual power was somewhat diminished. He managed to easily crush Thousand Swords Return as One primarily because the sword energy completely suppressed Lu Shu’s sword momentum; otherwise, this strike would not have been so exaggerated in effect. "Clang!" The whirlwind collided with the Spirit Steel Silk, producing a loud clashing sound. The two sheets of Spirit Steel Silk were pushed back significantly, and the black light on their surface dimmed considerably. Thankfully, they successfully blocked the Gale Nine Swords. Although Spirit Steel Silk boasted formidable defense, its energy consumption was demanding. Each activation required a significant amount of spiritual power. Since Lu Shu currently possessed no spiritual power within her body, she could only rely on Spirit Stones to power them. As the whirlwind of the Gale Nine Swords dissipated completely, the black light on the Spirit Steel Silk quickly faded, and the two sheets flew back into Lu Shu’s hands. Though the Spirit Steel Silk remained undamaged, there was no trace of spiritual energy left within them. For Gu Sheng’s technique to have expended an entire Spirit Stone, it was evident how powerful it truly was. In the Red Cloud Prefecture domain, Spirit Stones were undoubtedly the most precious resources for cultivation. Even the wealthy Governor Mansion did not possess an abundant reserve. Although Lu Shu occasionally received Spirit Stones as gifts from her father, their quantity was incredibly scarce. Ever since she began cultivating until now, she had obtained no more than a handful, three of which she had earned by exchanging treasures from her previous ventures into the Red Cloud Secret Domain. Lu Shu originally intended to save these Spirit Stones for her breakthrough to the Marrow Refining Realm. Having to use one now made her heart ache intensely. Lu Shu stared furiously at Gu Sheng and demanded, "Are you trying to kill me?!" Gu Sheng’s earlier strike had been remarkably powerful. Had it not been for the Spirit Steel Silk, that blow could have taken Lu Shu’s life. Furthermore, Lu Shu could feel the strong killing intent radiating from Gu Sheng! Gu Sheng admitted calmly, "Weren’t you just trying to kill me moments ago?" Gu Sheng pulled out a restorative pill and swallowed it, then once more began to wield his Water Cold Sword. Sword cultivators excelled in offensive prowess, which was why most sword cultivators focused solely on mastering their sword techniques, avoiding other methods of cultivation. Lu Shu was no exception. Realizing that, with her shattered sword momentum, she could not defeat Gu Sheng on her own, she understood she needed backup. Lu Shu cast a cold glance at Gu Sheng and hissed, "Just you wait! I’ll ensure you don’t leave the Red Cloud Secret Domain alive!" After leaving this venomous remark, Lu Shu swiftly retrieved two red spheres from her storage pouch and flung them at Gu Sheng before bolting towards the distance. Gu Sheng’s perception, sharpened by the golden light from the Vajra Demon Suppression Bell moments earlier, quickly sensed an intense energy within the two spheres. Watching Lu Shu attempting to flee, Gu Sheng set his resolve, drew out his Spiritual Bag, and touched it to the Water Cold Sword before swinging it forward. The Gravity Field immediately enveloped Lu Shu, and her once nimble movements became sluggish as though she were mired in quicksand. Her actions grew exceedingly laborious, and her speed plunged drastically. "Boom!" When the two spheres collided with Gu Sheng, they erupted in a ferocious explosion, shredding his clothes to pieces and propelling him several meters away with their force. Stabilizing his stance, Gu Sheng clutched his chest and coughed uncontrollably. His Vibrant Gold Armor glimmered brightly upon his body. No one could discern the materials used to craft the two spheres Lu Shu had just deployed, but their potency was undeniable. Even with Gu Sheng’s Vibrant Gold Armor and his Mixed Element Body Refining Skill operating at full defensive capacity, the impact caused his blood and energy to churn violently, leaving him coughing in fits. Had it been a typical Golden Bone Realm cultivator in his place, they might have been utterly obliterated. Gu Sheng brushed away the lingering smoke in front of him and sneered, "You think I’ll let you go so easily? Since I’ve set my heart on killing you, you’d better obediently stay put!" With the Gravity Field restricting her, Lu Shu’s movements were significantly impaired. Unless she managed to neutralize the field, her escape was nigh impossible.