Hunting and Counter-Hunting

"I'm going to find a spiritual herb and head deeper into the Southern Border," Murong Mo said.

This was the usual practice after completing a mission.

Most disciples from Shushan would choose to split up and search for what they needed individually.

However, due to the dangers deep within the Southern Border, perhaps only someone with Murong Mo's cultivation would dare to venture into its depths.

Jiang Luoshui had originally intended to follow Senior Brother Murong every step of the way, but upon hearing that Murong Mo planned to go deeper into the Southern Border, she abandoned the idea.

"Junior Brother Xuanxiao, what medicinal herbs are you looking for? Shall we travel together?"

Although Mount Wu Wang was on the edge of the Southern Border, it was still dangerous.

If one were careless and unfortunately encountered a ferocious plant spirit, it would be troublesome.

"Thank you, Senior Sister, but I still want to gain experience on my own."

Ling Xuanxiao once again refused Su Wan's kind offer.

Being rejected repeatedly left Su Wan somewhat bewildered.

Even if he were shy, he shouldn't be this shy, right?

So much time had passed, was he still holding a grudge over what happened before?

She had clearly forgiven him.

"Junior Brother Xuanxiao, you don't need to be polite with me."

Ling Xuanxiao smiled, feeling a bit frantic inside.

If he could, he really wished he could stay far away from this Fourth Senior Sister.

Someone nearby advised, "Xuanxiao, you should go with Fourth Senior Sister. With her help, you can find all the medicinal herbs you need."

"Finding herbs is secondary; the most important thing is to gain experience myself. Esteemed Senior Brothers and Sisters, please don't worry. I hope you will proceed with caution."

After speaking, Ling Xuanxiao didn't wait for them to say anything else.

He immediately flew away on his sword towards the east.

Flying at high altitudes was inconvenient in the Southern Border, so he traveled almost at ground level, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

This left Su Wan frowning deeply on the spot.

"What's wrong with this Ling Xuanxiao?"

Fan Zhiyu felt quite envious and jealous. He wasn't happy about traveling with Senior Sister Su Wan?

"Exactly."

"Fourth Senior Sister, don't be angry. Perhaps Junior Brother Ling has some unspeakable secret," Jiang Luoshui said deliberately.

Her words implied that Su Wan had tried to get close to someone who wasn't interested, and was now angry out of embarrassment.

Su Wan glanced coldly at Jiang Luoshui and ignored her.

Murong Mo said, "Junior Sister Su, how about we go into the depths of the Southern Border together?"

Su Wan pretended not to hear. Seeing that Ling Xuanxiao was truly unwilling to travel with her, she gave up the idea of chasing after him.

She hesitated for a moment, then set off alone in another direction.

Murong Mo gazed deeply in Su Wan's direction and said softly, "This is the last chance I'm giving you."

Then, he too departed.

Jiang Luoshui, meanwhile, formed a small team with the remaining two and continued forward.

Ling Xuanxiao moved swiftly, his figure weaving through the forest.

After traveling over thirty li in one go, Ling Xuanxiao let out a barely audible sigh.

Did it have to be like this?

He truly hoped he was overthinking things, but now it seemed...

Ling Xuanxiao rested for a moment and continued on.

After a day like this, Ling Xuanxiao set up a simple magic array in his current location.

He drew a circle on the ground with his sword, then sat within the circle, closing his eyes to meditate.

The bright moon hung high overhead, like a silver disc casting its cool radiance, illuminating the quiet and dark forest.

In the midst of this darkness, Ling Xuanxiao, who had kept his eyes tightly shut as if in slumber, suddenly opened them without any warning.

His eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if capable of discerning all the secrets hidden within the night.

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In an instant, a cold glint shot towards him from behind like lightning.

The speed was so fast, it was almost impossible to react.

The cold light was an incredibly sharp flying sword, piercing Li Xuanxiao's body at an extremely tricky angle.

Amazingly, despite the sword's terrifying power, the sword energy it emitted was sharp and extremely precise.

It neither caused violent fluctuations in the surrounding airflow nor did it cause significant destruction to the environment.

The flying sword easily pierced the fallen leaves on the ground, as if passing through a thin sheet of paper.

Then, like a phantom, it silently embedded itself into a thick tree trunk not far ahead, leaving behind only a subtle, almost imperceptible hole.

From beginning to end, this thrilling attack process revealed no aura whatsoever, not even the slightest sound was made.

It was as if the attacker was extremely cautious, afraid of being detected by anyone due to even the slightest movement.

The attacker slowly revealed himself.

Murong Mo looked at Li Xuanxiao's corpse with a cold expression.

But in the next second, the corpse erupted in a cloud of poisonous mist.

Murong Mo's brow twitched slightly. With his hands behind his back, he showed no sign of nervousness.

"A decent illusion technique, but a pity your cultivation is too weak..."

The poisonous mist had no effect on Murong Mo, swirling outside his protective aura.

Li Xuanxiao reappeared, "Senior Brother, do you really have to kill me?"

"You disgusting piece of trash, there are some things you shouldn't meddle in, but you insisted on getting involved. Stealing my woman, aren't you just asking for death?

"Moreover, you have the Marrow Cleansing Pill left by the Sect Leader. Hand it over to me."

Murong Mo was completely devoid of the kindness he had shown at Shushan.

In the eyes of his fellow disciples, Senior Brother Murong was a gentle and refined young master.

Humble and polite, courteous and kind, even towards disciples from the Miscellaneous Peaks.

But looking at Murong Mo before him, he was like a completely different person from his usual self.

"I can give up my things, but you can't pick them up! And you can't snatch them!"

What kind of domineering CEO speech is this, Li Xuanxiao thought to himself.

"I originally intended to let you die quickly, but you're quite foolish."

Murong Mo knew Li Xuanxiao's strength clearly.

He had even seen Li Xuanxiao fight not long ago, and could only describe it with four words: utterly unremarkable.

Even with equal cultivation, Murong Mo was a hundred percent confident he could take the other person down.

Especially since he was a whole realm higher.

"Your fate is to die here. The moment you accepted the mission from the Sword Exchange Pavilion, you stepped into my trap. If I didn't explain it clearly to you, you'd probably die in ignorance."

Murong Mo said indifferently.

"You're also courting death. If you had traveled with Junior Sister Su Wan, it would have been difficult for me to make a move. I didn't expect you to choose to travel alone. I gave you more than one chance, but heaven is not on your side."

Li Xuanxiao smiled slightly, offering no further explanation.

He reached behind him and unbuckled his Sword Box.

"Spring!"

With a clang of the sword, a cold light shot out from the Sword Box.

"Senior Brother, you might have misunderstood something. I'm not weaker than you at all."

Li Xuanxiao no longer suppressed his cultivation.

Murong Mo's expression shifted slightly, "Foundation Establishment!"

Judging by the aura, he had already reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment. How was this possible!?

Murong Mo raised his hand, intending to recall his treasure sword.

It was too late!?

The opponent's sword came very quickly. Murong Mo raised his hand to summon his own magical artifact.

However, Li Xuanxiao seemed to have anticipated this.

From the bushes behind Murong Mo, Li Xuanxiao had meticulously set up a trap.

Two Scorpion Puppets fired poison needles.