Interception

This question made Xie Tao feel very uncomfortable. Of course, he remembered, but at this moment, he couldn't say it.

How could he overturn himself, even if he knew he was wrong?

It was also his fault for being too naive back then. Ideals and such were not suitable for the association's development. He knew this back then, but he used ideals as a means to win over the unsupported loose artifact refiners to join the association and strengthen it, which was beneficial for eroding the artifact refining market.

In fact, the loose artifact refiners who joined understood this. Even if they didn't, they should have understood after adapting for a while. But why was it only Wu Zhongxing who insisted on that so-called ideal?

If Wu Zhongxing weren't capable and could get things done, Xie Tao estimated he would have expelled Wu Zhongxing from the association long ago.

Now, he already regretted it faintly.

Seeing Xie Tao's silence, Wu Zhongxing answered for him, "You said our association's founding ideal is that once you join, we are family, with no distinction between superiors and inferiors, working together through thick and thin.

The two characters 'Tong Zhu' mean advancing and retreating together, watching out for each other. You said it's too difficult for us loose artifact refiners under the jurisdiction of Five Spring Mountain. If we don't watch out for each other, how can we live a good life?

Moreover, we not only need to watch out for each other within the association but also provide more help to those outside. This is because we are all loose cultivators, and we all suffer the same persecution.

But what about you now? Look at what you're doing. Just because Li Mo joined another artifact refiner association, you and Fang Ming are going to kill him?

Does this not conflict with our association's ideal?

President Xie, answer me?

Heh, you can't answer, can you? Because you've changed. You've been corrupted by that lofty power. You think everyone must follow your will, or they are betraying the association.

You and Fang Ming have both betrayed the association, betrayed the ideal you set for yourselves."

Wu Zhongxing almost shouted the last sentence, showing his heartache and how much he had invested in this association, how high his expectations were, and how deep his despair was.

Listening to his roar, Xie Tao's anger grew, but he still suppressed it deeply. He said, "Little Wu, I brought you into the association. After so many years of experience, I thought you had grown up and seen through some things."

"This is how the world is. If we don't do that, our living space will become narrower and narrower. In this way, how can we improve our artifact refining skills and cultivation? If there are no benefits in the association, how can we get the artifact refiners in the association to follow us?"

"Ideals are just a means for us to attract loose artifact refiners. If we don't say that, how will those loose artifact refiners join our association?"

"Are you an idiot? You don't even understand this."

"Maybe I am truly an idiot? Perhaps in the entire association, only I still believe in that foolish ideal," Wu Zhongxing murmured, looking utterly dejected. "President Xie, from today onwards, I, Wu Zhongxing, will withdraw from the Mutual Aid Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner Association."

After speaking, Wu Zhongxing turned around unsteadily.

"You dare to withdraw from the association? Withdrawing from the association is treason. All traitors must die." Xie Tao's entire demeanor became ferocious, and his killing intent towards Wu Zhongxing could no longer be contained.

Wu Zhongxing ignored him and headed for the door to leave.

"It seems I can't let you live. Die!" A fierce look flashed across Xie Tao's face, and he immediately attacked.

"Bang!"

A Fire Sword shot towards Wu Zhongxing's back, then struck the defensive barrier formed by spiritual light. The Fire Sword extinguished, while the Small Spirit Shield remained steady.

Xie Tao exclaimed, "A Small Spirit Shield Robe?"

Wu Zhongxing turned back, his face devoid of any emotion, neither happy nor sad. He nodded, "Indeed, it's the Small Spirit Shield Robe refined by Fellow Daoist Li, along with the Spirit-Absorbing Robe.

Xie Tao, my artifact refining talent is very poor, so I gave it up and focused on handling the association's miscellaneous affairs. Then, day and night, I practiced spells, hoping that one day I would have enough strength to protect the association's artifact refiners.

Unexpectedly, fate plays its tricks.

Xie Tao, you and Fang Ming are the root of the Mutual Aid Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner Association's decay. Today, before I leave the association, I will eliminate this root. I hope that for the fellow Daoists in the association who still uphold the original ideals, things will become smoother."

Wu Zhongxing sighed, then his expression turned firm. A Disposable Storage Talisman appeared in his hand. With a flash of light, a Spell Sword materialized, and then, like lightning, shot towards Xie Tao.

"Little Wu, do you know what you're doing?"

Sensing the aura fluctuations of Wu Zhongxing, who was at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining, and the lightning-fast Spell Sword, Xie Tao was greatly alarmed. He was also only at the Fifth Level of Qi Refining, and had spent his life studying the path of artifact refining. He was no match for Wu Zhongxing.

"Little Wu, I know I was wrong!"

"Little Wu, don't be impulsive. Think about how I usually treat you."

"Little Wu, I'll go with you to persuade Fang Ming."

"Little Wu, spare my life! I was truly wrong, I shouldn't have lost my original intention..."

"I'm sorry, President Xie, this is a matter of principles!"

A moment later, Wu Zhongxing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, conjured a Fireball Technique, and burned Xie Tao's corpse to ashes. Then, he headed directly to Fang Ming's residence.

"Vice President Fang, are you there?"

Fang Ming was in his room reading books on artifact refining. With the threat of Li Mo removed, he was in a great mood, feeling as if his comprehension had even increased. Hearing Wu Zhongxing's voice at this moment, his eyes moved, and he got up to open the door.

As soon as he opened the door, a Spell Sword was pressed against his neck.

Fang Ming was furious, glaring at Wu Zhongxing, "Wu Zhongxing, do you know what you're doing?"

Wu Zhongxing said coldly, "Vice President Fang, there is something I want to ask you. If you answer honestly, I promise not to cut off your head."

Fang Ming realized then that Wu Zhongxing was not joking and immediately became compliant. He answered whatever Wu Zhongxing asked.

"Alright, I've answered everything. If you want to save Li Mo, don't waste time here." Fang Ming extended two fingers and cautiously, slowly moved the Spell Sword away from his neck.

Seeing the Spell Sword slowly move away from his neck, Fang Ming's expression relaxed. Then, his expression changed, and he looked down at the Spell Sword piercing his chest. A sweet, bloody taste rose in his throat, and he looked at Wu Zhongxing with disbelief, "You said you would spare my life."

Wu Zhongxing twisted his Spell Sword, extinguishing Fang Ming's life force, and said seriously, "I never go back on my word."

After that, he destroyed the evidence and left quickly.

He had to save Li Mo.

Time should be enough.

"Heh, I really am an idiot," Wu Zhongxing mocked himself. Li Mo's ambush was all because of him. If he didn't save him, he wouldn't be at peace.

It conflicted with his inner principles and would hinder his cultivation.

Wu Tao and Fellow Daoist Jin walked home towards Sincere Tea Street while chatting.

Only two more streets and they would reach Sincere Tea Street.

Suddenly, Fellow Daoist Jin's nostrils twitched, and he stopped, his expression wary. A talisman had already appeared in his hand, and he said in a low voice, "There's a smell of blood."

Wu Tao's expression tightened. He also gripped a Disposable Storage Talisman, ready to draw his weapon at any moment. At the same time, Spiritual Power had already connected to his Small Spirit Shield Robe, Spirit-Absorbing Robe, and Godly Travel Talisman. Only if something was wrong would he immediately use the Godly Travel Talisman to escape.

If he couldn't escape, then he would consider fighting for his life.

But with Fellow Daoist Jin, who was at Qi Refining Layer 7, it shouldn't be his turn, a mere cultivator at the Third Level of Qi Refining, to fight for his life, right?

There wasn't a single person on this street.

Footsteps sounded, and a figure with bloodstains on his body ran towards them. Just as Fellow Daoist Jin was about to make a move, Wu Tao called out to him, "Senior Jin, wait. It's an acquaintance."

"Fellow Daoist Li, leave quickly. Fang Ming wants to kill you. Two at Fifth Level of Qi Refining..." Seeing Wu Tao from afar and realizing he was safe, Wu Zhongxing quickly shouted.

Wu Tao shouted, "Fellow Daoist Wu, don't come closer to us. Stop, or we'll attack."

Seeing Wu Tao's caution, Wu Zhongxing felt a mix of joy and worry. He had no choice but to stop and quickly said, "Fellow Daoist Li, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Fang Ming sent two people to ambush you. You and this fellow daoist should leave quickly."

"Too late!"

A voice rang out from the street corner, and then two figures appeared. As soon as they appeared, Fellow Daoist Jin flashed, also using a movement technique, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of the two Loose Cultivators, launching a fierce attack.

"Late-Stage Qi Refining?"

"Senior, spare us! We were just passing by!"

Two screams erupted. Fellow Daoist Jin clapped his hands and said to Wu Tao, "It's done. Artifact Master Li, let's go home."

"Fellow Daoist Jin, you haven't looted the bodies yet."

"Thank you for the reminder, Artifact Master Li."

Fellow Daoist Jin finished looting the bodies in a second.

Wu Tao said to Wu Zhongxing, who was still stunned, "Fellow Daoist Wu, we'll talk about this later. We're going back first. Please handle the bodies, Fellow Daoist Wu. Deal with them cleanly to avoid future trouble."

After speaking, without waiting for Wu Zhongxing to recover, he and Fellow Daoist Jin swiftly departed.

When Wu Zhongxing came back to his senses, Wu Tao and the Qi Refining Layer 7 cultivator were nowhere to be seen. He didn't have time to ponder why Wu Tao had protection and instead quickly used two Fireball Techniques to destroy the bodies and pack up the ashes.

He was afraid that if he was a step too late, the Patrol Squad and the Demon Slaying Hall would come to investigate.

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