As the dust settled, Li Yang stared at the spear planted in the center, his face dark with anger.
It had only been a few days, yet those bastards had already caught up.
He had erased every trace of his passage along the way—not just his own, but Youqin Xuanya's as well.
"Who goes there? Show yourself!"
Li Yang gripped his sword, scanning the area as he shouted warily.
"Heh, who else but me, Junior Brother?
And Xuanya, it's only been a few days, but I've missed you dearly!"
A cold laugh rang down from above. Li Yang and Youqin Xuanya looked up and saw Yuwen Ling gripping Yuan Qing by the shoulder, helping him withstand the surrounding miasma.
The speaker was Yuan Qing. The warmth he had once shown Li Yang was gone from his gaze, replaced by vicious malice.
"Junior Brother, you're at the Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation. Why did you have to ruin my plan?
How dare you ruin my plan?
Tell me, how should I deal with you?"
His words were as cold as the underworld, brimming with murderous intent toward Li Yang.
"Deal with me?"
Li Yang had regained his earlier coldness. He pointed the tip of his sword at Yuan Qing.
"You've got it backward. You attacked a fellow disciple and did it so brazenly. Shouldn't you be afraid I'll deal with you?"
As if he'd heard a joke, Yuan Qing burst into laughter.
"Deal with me? Junior Brother, with your meager cultivation at the Ninth Stage of Spirit Transformation?
Have you forgotten that General Yuwen beside me is an Origin Immortal?
So, what gives you the confidence to boast that you'll deal with me?
Oh!
I remember now. The five men under my command who attacked you and your Senior Brother are all dead. You must have some treasure in your hands, right?
Something that can kill someone at the Ninth Stage of Returning Dao—now that's impressive.
Unfortunately for you, I have plenty of immortals on my side.
Li Yang, be sensible. Hand over the treasure and submit to me, and perhaps I'll spare your life."
"What a joke. You?"
Li Yang sneered. "I'd sooner give this treasure to a dog than to a beast like you, who slaughters fellow disciples.
I'll have you know, I've already reported everything to the sect. Venerable Wangqing is on his way. If you surrender, you might still have a chance of survival."
"Hahahahaha!"
Yuan Qing laughed, then gently applauded. "Junior Brother, you're clever and quick to react, but unfortunately, you're not very good at lying.
None of my channels have picked up any message you sent out.
Oh, right. You're only at the Spirit Transformation Realm. You couldn't send any message out anyway."
Yuan Qing looked as though he had Li Yang right where he wanted him. Li Yang and Youqin Xuanya both looked grim; their intentions had been seen through.
"Junior Brother, watch out!"
Suddenly, a sharp sword thrust out of the air beside Li Yang, and a distorted figure began to appear.
"Immortals to the north, mortals to the south; sky-swallowing flames soar aloft, their glory shining across the Four Seas!
Fire Qilin Sword Box!
Open!"
Three ringing clangs, and the swords sang across ten miles!
Youqin Xuanya pointed her sword at Li Yang. A flying sword blocked the deadly strike, then slashed at the attacker.
"Clang!"
The clash of metal sent the attacker reeling backward.
"Go!"
Youqin Xuanya's long hair streamed in the wind as fiery lotuses bloomed around her. Their light shone against her delicate skin, illuminating her star-bright eyes. Then they crashed toward the surrounding area.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
A barrage of explosions forced every hidden attacker into the open.
"Attack together!"
Seeing that they'd been exposed, the men stopped hiding and threw themselves at Youqin Xuanya and Li Yang with all their might.
Youqin Xuanya flicked her fingers, directing the fiery flying swords around her as they darted back and forth. She was somehow holding off three opponents at once.
She soared through the air, her long skirt fluttering. She was as dazzling and captivating as a fairy dancing amid flames. Watching her gallant figure, Yuan Qing gazed at her in a daze.
A flash of heat crossed Yuan Qing's eyes. "General Yuwen! This time, we absolutely cannot let Xuanya escape again!"
"Rest assured, Fourth Young Master. Last time, we didn't know she had a teleportation talisman," Yuwen Ling replied gravely. "Her mana is nearly spent. Once she's exhausted, I'll step in and capture her.
"It's a pity she dislikes you, Fourth Young Master. The Love Gu may be only half as effective.
"So I have a question. I'd appreciate your answer."
"Go ahead!"
Yuwen Ling spoke solemnly. "I'm quite puzzled, Fourth Young Master. How did you manage not to win the Sixth Princess's heart even after sixty years?
"If this fails today, or if the Love Gu doesn't work, we'll have to kill the Sixth Princess here. So please prepare yourself."
Yuan Qing's expression darkened. He clenched his fist, looking irritated. "In that case, I'll leave it to you, General Yuwen."
Yuwen Ling was a little disappointed that the Fourth Young Master hadn't explained why he'd failed, but he accepted the order nonetheless.
"Rest assured, Fourth Young Master!"
"Boom!"
An explosion suddenly erupted on Li Yang's side, drawing Yuan Qing and Yuwen Ling's attention.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Another series of explosions blasted the three men attacking Li Yang into a soot-covered mess. They didn't dare approach him at all.
"What power! That's comparable to a full-force strike at the Ninth Stage of Void Refining. From the looks of it, he has plenty more. So this must be what took down Yang Dang and the others."
Yuan Qing quickly assessed the situation and settled on a plan. "This thing looks like it can be mass-produced, and it's powerful enough to kill even someone at the Ninth Stage of Returning Dao. Otherwise, Yang Dang wouldn't have fallen to it, given his cultivation. It would be an unparalleled weapon in an army.
"General Yuwen, you must capture him and force him to reveal how it's made as quickly as possible."
Yuwen Ling understood its value. He replied solemnly, "Rest assured, Fourth Young Master. I'll capture him now."
With that, he set Yuan Qing down and flew toward Li Yang to attack.
"Damn, that's dirty!"
Li Yang cursed as he turned and ran. As he fled, he shouted to Youqin Xuanya, "Senior Sister, let's split up and draw them away. I'll lead the enemy off first!"
Li Yang slapped on a Thousand Mile Travel Talisman and raced away, pumping his legs as fast as he could. Somehow, he even dodged both of Yuwen Ling's attacks. The newly ascended immortal, still riding high on his confidence, was furious.
"After him!"
His three subordinates gave chase, and he took to the air and swiftly followed.
He attacked Li Yang from above, forcing him to slow down. Soon, the three subordinates caught up.
They surrounded Li Yang. A man at the Returning Dao Realm sneered. "You little punk, let's see where you'll run now! Brothers, get him!"
Seeing that there was no escape, Li Yang raised a hand and called out, "Wait!"
The three men paused—and actually stopped. They thought Li Yang had given up now that he'd lost the advantage.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a giant hammer struck one of the subordinates at the Void Refining Realm, crushing him into a meat patty.
Looking at the hammer, Li Yang saw two words engraved on it. Its name was...
'Take It Slow!'
Yuwen Ling and his two surviving subordinates were stunned by the sudden turn of events.
Wasn't this just shameless?
But Li Yang didn't hesitate. Several golden pills shot toward another subordinate at the Void Refining Realm.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Five consecutive blasts. The man didn't even get a chance to scream before he was blown to smithereens.
"You're asking for death!"
Yuwen Ling and his last subordinate were furious. They launched a fierce attack on Li Yang.
Li Yang pulled the same trick again, turning his head as if in fear and loudly begging for mercy.
"Stop!"
The two men immediately grew wary.
Suddenly, a sword burst out of the ground and cleaved the last subordinate, who was at the Returning Dao Realm, in two.
Looking at the sword, they saw two words engraved on its blade: 'Stop!'
Before you continue