Yuan Shanxiang's gaze at Qin Haoxuan practically spat fire. If looks could kill, Qin Haoxuan would have died more than a thousand times over. He roared, "Heaven's sins may yet be forgiven, but one's own sins cannot be escaped! No matter what Demonic Arts or magical treasure you used, today I'll tear you into ten thousand pieces to atone for your crimes!"
With his right hand, he drew a spirit talisman from his robes. It was a piece of azure jade about two fingers wide, gleaming with a greenish light and carved with cryptic, unfathomable runes.
A scorching aura seeped from the talisman and spread through the cramped Lava Cellar.
Sealed within the talisman was a spirit art attack known as Blazing Flames. Its power surpassed even the most basic Fireball Technique by countless times. It only needed sufficient spiritual power to activate, and its explosive force was equivalent to the all-out strike of an Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf expert. It could blast a tree half a man's width thick into dust. Even a cultivator like Yuan Shanxiang at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf could not emerge unscathed from this talisman's attack. Even if Qin Haoxuan had skin of bronze and bones of iron, he would surely be unable to withstand its might.
Everyone present, apart from a newly initiated disciple like Qin Haoxuan, knew the value of a spirit talisman perfectly well. An ordinary Menial Disciple would have to scrimp and save for at least two years to afford one talisman equivalent to a strike from an Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf cultivator—and that was only in a year of favorable winds, timely rains, and abundant harvests.
In the eyes of Menial Disciples lacking great strength, possessing a spirit talisman meant having another layer of protection over one's life. To use it so casually was truly extravagant wastefulness!
Even the two law enforcement disciples hiding outside the iron gate showed a trace of reluctance in their eyes. They inwardly lamented that Yuan truly harbored murderous intent. More than half his possessions had probably gone into this, hadn't they?
How could Yuan Shanxiang, consumed by rage, feel any regret? If he had more talismans, he would have used them all without hesitation. He wished for nothing more than to blast Qin Haoxuan to pieces.
Just as he was about to inject spiritual power into the talisman and activate it, a powerful sense of danger surged into Qin Haoxuan's heart. He focused again, staring fixedly at Yuan Shanxiang as he tried to use his divine consciousness attack once more. Yet Yuan Shanxiang had already prepared himself, concentrating with every ounce of attention as he desperately poured spiritual power into the talisman.
Qin Haoxuan seemed able to see the flow of spiritual power within Yuan Shanxiang's body. It was nearly enough to activate the talisman. In his desperation, he let out a roar. Golden light flickered in his mind, splitting off another strand that shot toward Yuan Shanxiang. This time, though Yuan Shanxiang was prepared and did not become dazed again, he still faltered slightly.
That instant of hesitation was exactly what Qin Haoxuan had been waiting for. Fearless of death, he lunged forward.
The danger this talisman gave him felt even stronger than when Yuan Shanxiang had used Thousand Cuts. No matter what, he had to destroy it.
As long as that talisman was gone, Yuan Shanxiang—with one hand and both legs broken—would not be able to do anything to him for the time being. Cultivators might have strong self-healing abilities, but at worst, Qin Haoxuan could beat him up every day, adding new pain to old wounds. Then Yuan Shanxiang would have no way to take revenge!
Yuan Shanxiang snapped out of his daze and saw Qin Haoxuan already pouncing before him, his hand terribly close to the talisman. A moment slower, and it would be snatched away! Yuan Shanxiang, who had always held the upper hand both in strength and mentality, finally panicked!
At that moment, the killing intent in his heart grew even denser. He had to protect the talisman. Even if it meant suffering the severe punishment of expulsion from the sect, he had to use it to eliminate Qin Haoxuan. Otherwise, there would be endless future trouble!
His broken legs prevented him from moving. Under Qin Haoxuan's fierce charge, he did not even have time to activate the talisman. He could only throw himself backward, caring nothing for an expert's bearing as he rolled several times across the ground in utter disgrace. The pain from his broken limbs tore at his heart and lungs, only strengthening his determination to eliminate Qin Haoxuan.
Qin Haoxuan was not the strongest opponent he had ever encountered, but he was the most terrifying. This man was ruthless and vicious, having actually broken both his legs and one hand. If he had regained consciousness even a moment later, his right hand would certainly have been broken as well.
One could imagine that if they had been in some deserted wilderness, Qin Haoxuan would not have stopped at breaking his limbs. He would surely have slit his throat and killed him, cutting off all future trouble.
Qin Haoxuan's desperate attempt to seize the talisman, along with the "Demonic Arts" that had briefly made people lose their senses, caused Yuan Shanhu's entire body to tremble. Fear began to rise within him.
Qin Haoxuan was still merely a mortal. It had only been two days since his Seed Breaking, yet he had defeated Yuan Shanhu, an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf cultivator.
In the cultivation world, any method that could defeat an opponent was strength! But no matter how one looked at it, for a mortal who had just undergone Seed Breaking to injure an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf expert was itself an incomparably terrifying matter!
Unfortunately, even heaven seemed to pity Qin Haoxuan, the "weaker" party.
A sharp rock jutted up in front of Yuan Shanxiang as he rolled. It struck precisely against his broken bone, and the agonizing pain made his rolling speed falter. In that brief pause, Qin Haoxuan, pursuing without mercy, rushed forward, pressed Yuan Shanxiang beneath him, and delivered a brutal barrage aimed specifically at his broken legs and hand.
Though Yuan Shanxiang was an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf expert, he still possessed flesh and blood. Under the crushing pain, the spirit talisman clenched tightly in his right hand was seized by Qin Haoxuan.
Having lost his final reliance, Yuan Shanxiang was both furious and terrified. He gathered all the spiritual power in his body and viciously struck Qin Haoxuan's chest and abdomen with his palm. Several dull cracks sounded. Qin Haoxuan, having taken the blow, broke several ribs and was sent flying sideways, blood spraying from his mouth.
Before everyone's eyes, Qin Haoxuan, with his mortal flesh, had fought an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf expert to mutual ruin in an exceptionally brutal fashion. The scene deeply shocked them all!
Looking at the heavily injured Qin Haoxuan lying in the distance, Yuan Shanxiang—both legs and one hand broken—still possessed spiritual power and a heart full of resentment. Yet his crippled body could not move over there at all, leaving him completely unable to do anything to Qin Haoxuan. At present, his only hope of killing Qin Haoxuan was that talisman, but Qin Haoxuan had seized it in such an exceptionally brutal manner!
It hurt! But the price of that pain was that he had snatched the thing away!
"Peh!"
Qin Haoxuan spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the ground. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he smashed the talisman against the floor. Though it was a fine treasure, it was also the only thing in the Lava Cellar that could threaten him. Destroying it was the safest choice.
Watching the talisman become scattered fragments across the ground, both the old hands in the Lava Cellar and the two law enforcement disciples hidden beyond the iron gate felt fear toward Qin Haoxuan, who killed decisively and was not blinded by immediate gain!
The same thought flashed through all their minds: Never offend Qin Haoxuan!
At that moment, Yuan Shanxiang noticed the group of old hands in the corner. An idea struck him, and he shouted, "Whoever kills him, I'll give him three spirit talismans after I get out!"
Three spirit talismans!
Under a heavy reward, brave men would surely emerge! To anyone here, three spirit talismans were an enormous fortune.
Then the old hands looked at the severely injured Yuan Shanxiang, then at Qin Haoxuan on the other end with several broken ribs. They looked at one another, yet not a single person dared move.
Even an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf cultivator had been beaten into such a miserable state by him. Though he was injured now, who knew what other trump cards he still possessed?
Compared to three precious spirit talismans, their lives were more important!
Qin Haoxuan merely sneered. "Kill me? At a time like this, you still have the leisure to think about me? You'd better think carefully about how you'll explain to the sect that you entered this place to kill me. According to sect rules, your cultivation will be abolished, and you'll be reduced to a fool before being thrown out of Taichu Sect."
Upon hearing those words, Yuan Shanxiang felt a chill shoot straight into his skull. If Qin Haoxuan had died, he could have freely accused the dead man of anything. But now Qin Haoxuan was still alive... this time, he feared that he...
At the thought of the strict sect rules, darkness filled Yuan Shanxiang's vision. His earlier injuries, coupled with the fresh mental blow, caused him to faint.
News that Qin Haoxuan had used weakness to overcome strength in the Lava Cellar, beaten more than a dozen Immortal Seedling Realm disciples until they cried for their fathers and mothers, then fought an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf disciple to mutual ruin, was vividly spread by an old hand released from confinement that very afternoon.
"Have you heard? Qin Haoxuan fought Yuan Shanxiang, who went into the confinement cell to cause him trouble, and they actually ended up mutually injured! Qin Haoxuan even held a slight advantage!"
"How is that possible? Yuan Shanxiang is an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf disciple! Among us disciples of Spirit Field Valley, his cultivation is considered outstanding. I heard that in three months, he may take part in the final selection and have a chance to become a true mountain sect disciple."
Injuring Yuan Shanhu of the Immortal Seedling Realm Third Leaf had already made Qin Haoxuan famous throughout Spirit Field Valley. Everyone knew his name, and everyone marveled at it! Now, even more shocking news spread: he had defeated Yuan Shanxiang of the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf! It left everyone utterly dumbfounded.
Taichu Sect was usually rather peaceful. With such gossip suddenly appearing, it immediately became the foremost piece of news passed from ear to ear.
The news quickly reached Xu Yu and Li Jing.
A mortal who had only just stepped into cultivation had fought an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf cultivator to mutual ruin?
If such a thing had happened to anyone else, Li Jing would never have believed it. But upon hearing that the mortal was Qin Haoxuan, he believed it completely. Seeing Zhang Kuang, who had received the same news, fly into a rage and stamp his feet in anxiety, Li Jing immediately guessed that this matter definitely had something to do with him.
"It must have been Zhang Kuang!" Xu Yu said anxiously. "No! I have to go to the Lava Cellar and check on Brother Haoxuan..."
Li Jing stopped Xu Yu, who was anxiously preparing to head immediately to the Lava Cellar to visit him. With a gentle smile, he said, "Junior Sister Xu, going like this will accomplish nothing. Why not make a long-term plan?"
Although Xu Yu did not have the slightest favorable impression of Li Jing, she remembered that he had helped her in the Law Enforcement Hall. Since she truly had no good way to resolve the matter, she stopped and patiently listened to him.
"I think this matter definitely has something to do with Zhang Kuang. Otherwise, why would an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf cultivator seek trouble with Junior Brother Qin for no reason? Besides, I have also heard some rumors that Zhang Kuang was looking for people two days ago to deliberately commit offenses, get locked into the Lava Cellar, and deal with Junior Brother Qin."
At Li Jing's prompting, Xu Yu grew even more worried. She had originally only guessed that Zhang Kuang was responsible, but Li Jing's words further confirmed her suspicions. Given the grudge between Zhang Kuang and Qin Haoxuan, Zhang Kuang would not rest until he had Qin Haoxuan dead. He might even send more people to the Lava Cellar to deal with Qin Haoxuan. The anxiety on her face deepened.
Seeing Xu Yu take the bait, Li Jing secretly rejoiced. As long as he pulled her to his side, Zhang Kuang, even as a Purple Seed, would not be able to stir up any great waves. Though Xu Yu was indifferent to fame and gain and disliked forming factions, she was still a Supreme Purple Seed with limitless future achievements. With her support, his path toward becoming sect leader would be much smoother. His smile immediately became even gentler and brighter.
Li Jing paused, then deliberately said, "I don't think Zhang Kuang will let this go! The best method now is to imitate Zhang Kuang. Junior Sister Xu could find a powerful helper, deliberately cause trouble, and get them locked into the Lava Cellar to protect Junior Brother Qin at close range."
Li Jing's suggestion was sound, but ever since Xu Yu had been tested as a Supreme Purple Seed, countless people had come to curry favor with her. Yet she ignored those snobbish people with ulterior motives, so she remained alone even now, unlike the other two Purple Seed disciples, who were surrounded by stars and had countless lackeys at their sides.
Though she also wanted to send someone into the Lava Cellar like Zhang Kuang had, first, she had no one she could use, and second, she knew no one in the Law Enforcement Hall. There were thousands upon thousands of confinement cells on Solitary Confinement Mountain, so there was no way to ensure that someone would be assigned to the Lava Cellar.
How could Li Jing, so skilled at reading expressions, fail to see Xu Yu's concerns? He immediately smiled. "Junior Sister Xu, rest assured. Your matters are my matters. You have been occupied with cultivation lately, so your connections are not as broad as mine. I have several warmhearted friends, including one in the Law Enforcement Hall. If I ask them for help, they will surely be able to send a reliable person into the Lava Cellar to protect Junior Brother Qin."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Li, for your righteous assistance. If Brother Haoxuan can come out safe and sound, Xu Yu will certainly repay you." The worry on Xu Yu's face eased slightly. She gave Li Jing a polite, faint smile. Her smile was sweet and lovely, and in that instant, the feminine charm flowing from her eyes and brows moved even Li Jing, who had seen many peerless beauties. She was not the sort of woman who toppled a city at first sight and a kingdom at second, yet her moderately attractive features never grew tiresome to behold. That air of serenity was something many women lacked.
Li Jing could not help secretly reproaching himself. How had he failed to notice back then that she was a woman, and even offended her so disastrously? Otherwise, he would not need to expend such effort now. She kept calling him Brother Haoxuan, and her relationship with Qin Haoxuan was so close. His plans to deal with Qin Haoxuan would have to be set aside for now. Once he had tied Xu Yu to his boat, he could consider matters at leisure.
"Rest assured, Junior Sister Xu. Leave this matter to me." After making his promise, Li Jing hurriedly took his leave. He had to settle this matter as quickly as possible. If anything happened to Qin Haoxuan in the Lava Cellar, his plan to win over Xu Yu would be delayed again.
Watching Li Jing leave, Xu Yu turned and headed toward the Law Enforcement Hall. What the Yuan family had done this time was something even Zhang Kuang could not open his mouth to defend. Since the Yuan family dared cause trouble this way, they should be prepared to accept the punishment of sect rules: have their cultivation abolished and be reduced to fools! Taichu Sect's rules had never merely been placed there for people to look at.
Before you continue