Practical Combat Exercise

The spell was one Luo Ci had just learned. It was almost entirely useless as an attack, merely a diversionary tactic.

The truly formidable move was the palm strike that followed.

The struck coachman fell directly to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He couldn't help but exclaim, "You're cultivators?!"

The grey-robed old Daoist's eyes flickered with jealousy. "Only Fourth Stage Qi Refining. Nothing to fear!"

Although the other three weren't cultivators, they weren't fools either.

"To be Fourth Stage Qi Refining at his age, he must be a genius from some major clan. Perhaps we should..."

"Should what? Precisely because he might be a genius from a major clan, we need to deal with him sooner rather than later. Otherwise, when he returns to his clan and brings people to kill us, who among you will escape?" the grey-robed old Daoist said grimly.

Even so, the other three hesitated.

Senior Sister Yuan Xi sat in the carriage with a smile. "Xiao Qi, Luo Ci, didn't you both say you wanted practical combat experience? The opportunity has presented itself, don't miss it."

Upon hearing this, Luo Ci immediately grew excited and ran out with his sword.

Lin Qi tilted her head, glancing at her senior sister, and suddenly realized she bore some resemblance to True Monarch Qingyun.

The grey-robed Daoist flicked his horsetail whisk, and two rows of flames erupted from the ground, surging towards Luo Ci.

"I'd like to see just how impressive these geniuses from the major clans truly are!"

Luo Ci only knew one offensive spell, 'Wind Sweeps Clouds'. After using it, his Spiritual Energy was significantly depleted, leaving him to rely on a horizontal sword slash.

His small wooden sword, enveloped in Spiritual Energy, struck the flames. Sparks flew, and the situation reached a stalemate.

Luo Ci gritted his teeth and exerted all his strength, disregarding how much Spiritual Energy remained in his Dantian, and cleaved through the flames.

The grey-robed old Daoist looked at this and, instead of anger, laughed. "Idiot!"

Immediately after, the ground began to bulge in succession. Earth spikes instantly appeared beneath Luo Ci's feet, while simultaneously, four or five vines snaked out from the ground, tightly ensnaring his legs.

Even with Luo Ci's agile footwork, he found it impossible to break free.

Lin Qi watched from the side, a look of helplessness on her face. Her fingers deftly formed a hand seal, and she leaped forward, unleashing the Minor Lightning Descent Technique.

A thundercloud gathered above the grey-robed Daoist's head, with finger-length bolts of lightning flickering within. A terrifying and dangerous aura was contained within.

Sensing this danger, he abandoned Luo Ci, pushing his hands upwards. A layer of golden light enveloped him.

Crackling lightning rained down continuously, striking the golden shield. It caused not a single bit of damage to the grey-robed Daoist.

When the attack ended, the grey-robed Daoist retracted the golden shield, his face grim as he stared at Lin Qi.

"I was blind. I didn't expect another cultivator, one at Fifth Stage Qi Refining!"

"Fifth... Fifth Stage Qi Refining?!" The coachman was already starting to panic. He had seen that this group was all children and thought he could make a good meal out of it.

Who knew that such a seemingly simple group would have cultivators hidden within?

He had initially thought the grey-robed Daoist was referring to Yuan Xi.

But in the next second, the grey-robed Daoist spoke, "For decades, I've barely reached Fifth Stage Qi Refining. My life has been spent in toil, enduring countless hardships. Yet you, child, simply because of your talent, can achieve in one or two years what took me my entire life. Heaven is truly unfair!"

The coachman and the other burly men immediately focused their attention on Lin Qi.

They spoke in disbelief, "She... she's Fifth Stage Qi Refining?!"

Without a second thought, the coachman blurted out, "Old Grey, I'm out! These two kids are definitely children meticulously trained by major clans. If anything happens to them while in our hands, my entire family will be buried with them!"

With that, he and the other men turned and fled.

Luo Ci's eyes turned red with anger, and he chased after them with his small wooden sword. "Where do you think you're going! Stop right there!"

Lin Qi looked at him, feeling a strong urge to spar.

I've been really busy at home, but I've been trying my best to write when I can. I'll post this thousand-word update first. It's at least evening before I can update tonight. But I will make up for the chapters I owe! I still owe five thousand words!