First Encounter with an Immortal Cultivator

The youth was slightly startled when he saw the person ahead suddenly accelerate. Without hesitation, he turned and pursued Qin Fengming once more.

Both were incredibly swift, maintaining a distance of about ten feet between them as they left Tenglong Town.

The youth considered using a small, three-inch weapon in his hand to kill the person ahead several times, but ultimately dismissed the idea.

He was extremely curious at the moment. The person ahead was undoubtedly a mortal. Yet, their speed greatly surprised him. His Master had once mentioned that even the most exceptional martial arts movement techniques couldn't compare to the immortal arts he cultivated.

However, he was now greatly perplexed. He wanted to see what allowed the person ahead to possess such rapid movement.

Meanwhile, Qin Fengming was filled with even greater dread. His speed was already exceptionally rare, but the youth, constantly hovering about ten feet above the ground, followed closely behind him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake him.

Although he didn't look back, he knew the youth behind him showed no signs of exertion. Such incredible immortal arts filled Qin Fengming with extreme fear.

One on the ground, one in the sky, they chased and fled through the mountains and forests. In just a moment, they were several miles away from Tenglong Town.

Suddenly, a drastic change occurred. Qin Fengming, who was fleeing rapidly, slipped and fell. A branch snagged his veil, and his precious sword was flung several feet away.

Greatly alarmed, Qin Fengming's expression changed drastically. As he sat up, before he could even stand, the youth flew to a spot about ten feet above his head, his rapid movement instantly ceasing. A small ball of flame danced on the youth's fingertips.

"Don't move. If you move, I'll scatter your soul." A childish voice came from the youth. There was no trace of anger in his tone.

Hearing the youth's words, Qin Fengming immediately stopped moving, sitting on the ground with his hands behind him, propping himself up. He looked up at the sky, his face filled with terror, not daring to move again.

But as the youth got a clear look at the person before him, he couldn't help but show a hint of shock. Seeing that the person on the ground was only fifteen or sixteen years old, only four or five years younger than himself.

"What martial art are you practicing? Your movement technique is so fast! It's almost on par with my Sky-soaring Talisman. If you honestly tell me, I, this young master, can grant you a swift death. Otherwise, I'll make your life worse than death."

As he spoke, the youth slowly descended to about ten feet from Qin Fengming, the flame in his hand flickering uncertainly, as if ready to be unleashed at any moment.

Facing the youth, Qin Fengming's expression was one of extreme fear, but his eyes coldly stared at the youth, offering no reply.

Seeing this, the youth chuckled, "It's fine if you don't answer. I don't know what enmity you have with my father and brother that you would cruelly kill them?" As he spoke, he took two more steps forward. He was now less than ten feet from Qin Fengming.

Qin Fengming watched the youth, his face still showing terror, but he still did not answer.

"Good. Since you refuse to answer, I will send you to the underworld to avenge my father and brother."

Unhurriedly, the youth raised his right hand, preparing to unleash the flickering ball of fire in his palm.

"Wait! I have something to say."

As this voice rang out, the youth abruptly stopped his right hand. But in that brief pause, a faint "snap" sound suddenly echoed in his ears.

Following this sound, several dark stars suddenly flashed out, directly shooting towards his chest.

Although the youth was already alert, the distance was too short. With a flash of cold light, he only felt a sharp pain in his chest before suddenly falling to the ground. He could no longer exert any strength throughout his body.

Seeing the youth fall, Qin Fengming, who was still sitting on the ground, was overjoyed. With a movement, he sprang up and instantly appeared before the youth. With a flick of his finger, he gripped the youth's neck, his inner force surging.

"Hmph, you're just a child. Even if you cultivate supreme immortal arts, you don't understand martial arts tricks. Now, you can go join your father and brother."

With a "crack!" sound, the youth's head was torn off by Qin Fengming. Blood spurted out like a fountain, reaching several feet.

Seeing the youth decapitated, knowing he was utterly dead, Qin Fengming finally let out a long breath and collapsed weakly to the ground...

After an unknown amount of time, a mountain breeze blew, and a chill entered his body, startling Qin Fengming awake. It was already broad daylight.

Turning to look at the youth's corpse lying on the ground, Qin Fengming's face showed lingering fear.

His survival from this perilous situation was thanks to his Azure Cloud Maze movement technique and the "Cold Star" hidden weapon as a trump card. At the same time, the opponent's lack of combat experience was also a major factor.

Looking at the corpse of the twelve or thirteen-year-old youth before him, Qin Fengming was very curious about his ability to fly in the air. Immortal arts were indeed truly miraculous. The flame in the youth's hand was even more wondrous. Such extraordinary abilities made Qin Fengming yearn for them.

Squatting beside the youth's corpse, he searched the youth's entire body, finding only a dozen taels of silver and a yellowed booklet with no title. He found nothing else.

He looked at the corpse with disappointment. Such a strange youth, yet he had no valuable items on him.

Looking around, he went to the base of a large tree. Using his precious sword, he dug a small pit in the softer ground and placed the youth's body inside.

Just as he was covering the body with soil, he suddenly noticed a ring on the youth's right middle finger, made of something like tungsten iron. The surface of the ring was very rough and ugly, utterly unremarkable.

Despite this, Qin Fengming's heart stirred. The youth wore entirely white clothes, impeccably clean. How could he wear such an ugly ring? He figured this ring must have an extraordinary origin.

With this thought, Qin Fengming removed the ring from the youth's finger. Holding it in his hand, he examined it closely. It felt neither like gold nor like wood. There was nothing else unusual about it, but he reasoned that since it belonged to the youth, it couldn't be ordinary.

He placed the ring on a rock, picked up his precious sword, and struck the ring with great force. With a "bang," the precious sword was sent flying high, but the ring remained completely unharmed.

Upon seeing this, Qin Fengming was overjoyed. He was certain it was a treasure. After all, his precious sword was capable of cutting through gold and jade. Without time to study it further, he carefully put the ring into his pocket.

Then, he covered the corpse with soil, concealed the surrounding bloodstains with dirt, and finally left the mountain forest.