I Should Have Known You Were a Scammer From the Start!

"Or what? Your current Magical Power might surpass the late stage of ancient Qi refinement, but without any spells or magical artifacts, you're useless against anyone! Kid, you can seek freedom and happiness, but without the power to protect yourself, that happiness won't last long. This is the way of the world!"

Wang Qi roared in his spiritual sense, "Old man, you can lecture, but not at any time or place! We're not out of danger yet!"

Damn it...

Wang Qi clenched his fists.

"Those three have moved a bit further away. While we have the chance, move along the bushes and grass."

"Which way?"

"Try to stay as far away as possible from the battlefield between that Nascent Soul Realm cultivator and Xiang Yatou."

Fearing discovery by the three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, Wang Qi could only use the strength of his elbows and abdomen to inch along. The movement techniques he had practiced for years were useless. The mountainous terrain was full of rocks and thorns, quickly tearing through his clothes and scratching his hands.

"This won't do. I'm afraid my skin and flesh will be torn to shreds before I can escape!"

Wang Qi was extremely anxious. As a modern person, he knew very well that blood loss and severe pain would affect his mental state and distract him. This would be fatal when facing a stronger opponent. However, the situation forced him to drink poison to quench his thirst.

"Ahhh, damn it!"

An enraged roar came from above. Then, countless sword energies rained down towards the ground. Wang Qi, seeing the sword energies continuously striking the ground, was greatly alarmed and quickly pulled out a silver talisman.

Zhen Chanzi shouted, "Don't rush! That person's swordplay is for close combat. When attacking from a distance like this, the gaps between the sword energies are huge, they won't hit you!"

Wang Qi gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the urge to activate the talisman. The sword energies rampaged through the forest, felling several branches, shattering rocks, and plowing through the soil. Some of these strikes landed not far from Wang Qi, scaring him into breaking out in a cold sweat.

After a long while, the sword energy attack finally stopped.

Zhen Chanzi judged, "By the standards of ancient cultivators like us, that kid must have used nearly half his Magical Power—though this technique looks familiar."

"You've seen plenty of sword techniques—I really want to give them a taste of something fierce. Old man, are offensive talismans useful?"

"I don't recognize this type of talisman. Based on the Magical Power sealed within, it's more than enough to kill a Foundation Establishment Early Stage without magical defenses. However, I can't determine if this talisman needs to be activated at close range or can be used from afar, or if it requires aiming or can be controlled after activation. Using it now is gambling with your life!"

Wang Qi chuckled grimly, "Close-range activation or long-range attack, requires aiming or controllable... To resolve this crisis, we'd need to guarantee this talisman can be used for both long-range attacks and is controllable. The probability is about one in four."

"Gamble?"

"Gamble what! Unless it's a situation where not gambling means certain death, any gamble with less than a ninety percent chance of winning is a fool's errand."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

Wang Qi gritted his teeth, "Wait. The sword energy has cleared a space in front of us. If I move, I'll be easily spotted."

Zhen Chanzi said, "I suggest you don't place your hopes on that girl. She can't hold on much longer."

"What!?"

"If there's no turning point, she can only last for another cup of tea at most."

Xiang Qi indeed couldn't hold on much longer.

The Heavenly Order Sword Disc, among the many modern sword techniques, was known for its "ever-changing nature," but it was a late-blooming method. This sword technique was divided into seven cycles. The first three cycles were merely introductory, and it was only in the fourth cycle that various miraculous changes and powerful killing techniques began to emerge!

And Xiang Qi had not yet completed the third cycle.

The silver sword disc circled around Xiang Qi, constantly deflecting the opponent's magical attacks, but this wouldn't last long. Initially, the girl could still find opportunities to attack while defending, but now, in this storm of bombardment, she could only tighten her sword formation.

"Can't hold on any longer, little girl?"

The ancient cultivator sneered gloatingly. He had already seen through the strength of the girl opposite him. Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. If she were an ancient cultivator, even a late-stage Golden Core might not be able to defeat her.

But he was an early-stage Nascent Soul ancient cultivator!

A cruel smile appeared on his face. He had been tested for cultivation aptitude as a child and had excellent roots. However, because he was too poor, he couldn't even break through the initial stages of cultivation, becoming a laughingstock. In the end, he had no choice but to join the ancient cultivators. It was precisely because of this that he hated every cultivator who could practice modern techniques, especially those with extraordinary comprehension like Xiang Qi. Torturing them and watching them die in agony brought him a perverse pleasure.

Those more talented than me deserve to die!

With this thought, his offensive attacks quickened.

Xiang Qi's defenses were already crumbling. Every strike from the Nascent Soul Realm cultivator sent tremors through her foundation, feeling like a heavy punch to her internal organs. A trickle of blood escaped from the corner of Xiang Qi's mouth, a shocking sight. She knew very well that she was about to collapse.

Just then, a powerful Heavenly Sword intent flew from afar!

"The turning point has arrived," Zhen Chanzi said calmly, sensing the sword intent.

"What?" Wang Qi was confused. Among everyone present, his strength was the weakest, and he was the most insensitive to such matters. At this moment, even the three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators who were hunting him stopped, looking into the distance blankly.

"That kid surnamed Li is back... No, there's another ancient cultivator with him, a peak Nascent Soul! That cultivator is obstructing Li kid from returning to reinforce!"

Wang Qi asked, "Is it in time?"

"I don't know. Judging by the aura, this ancient cultivator would have been an elite among elites in our era." Having witnessed Xiang Qi's feat of resisting an early-stage Nascent Soul with her late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, he wasn't too surprised that Li Ziye at the mid-stage Golden Core was fighting a late-stage ancient Nascent Soul: "The cultivation technique of that Nascent Soul Cultivator... Wait, this, this is?"

Zhen Chanzi's tone carried a hint of panic.

Damn it! Something did happen!

When Li Ziye saw the firelight coming from the direction of Dabai Village, he knew something was wrong.

Dabai Village was located in the southeastern heartland of the Divine Continent, which should have been the area with the fewest ancient cultivators. He truly couldn't understand why he was so unlucky as to encounter a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. When he sensed that something had happened in the direction of Dabai Village, he finally realized that he might have fallen into a pre-arranged trap.

"Don't run! Take this!"

The one fighting Li Ziye was a white-robed youth who looked no older than thirty. He had a stern face and wielded a greatsword. With a roar, he swung his greatsword, transforming it into countless sword shadows that assailed Li Ziye.

This strike was a sword technique derived from the peerless ancient inheritance, Emperor-Grade Heaven-Splitting Dao. It was supremely powerful and domineering, forged with unyielding might! Li Ziye dared not underestimate it. His spiritual sense surged like water, enveloping the battlefield. He activated his Myriad Dharma Sect cultivation technique, Calculated Fate Sutra, to its fullest, calculating the opponent's sword moves before wielding his Heavenly Sword and thrusting it towards the sword shadows.

Clang! Heavenly Sword's light and agile thrust struck precisely at the flaw in the sword momentum, just as the opponent's old strength faded and new strength had yet to arise! The might of Heavenly Sword erupted simultaneously, unleashing a powerful force. Struck by this blow, the stern youth felt his greatsword magic artifact almost fly from his grasp!

So strong!

Such admiration was uttered by a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator towards a Golden Core stage cultivator. This seemed incredible in the era of ancient cultivation, but now, modern cultivators could almost universally kill ancient cultivators across levels. Even top-tier ancient cultivators like the stern youth found it difficult to defeat modern cultivators of the same level!

Li Ziye thrust his Heavenly Sword repeatedly, instantly shattering the stern youth's sword momentum. How could the stern youth dare to withstand the Heavenly Sword, hailed as the strongest weapon of modern cultivation, with his body? He hastily retreated.

However, forcing the enemy back did not bring Li Ziye any peace of mind. Because of the enemy's obstruction, his escape technique had slowed down again. He could clearly sense that Xiang Qi's situation was precarious!

The ancient cultivator fighting Xiang Qi also seemed to understand that victory would be his if he could kill Xiang Qi before Li Ziye arrived. In fact, if he and the stern youth joined forces, and those three subordinates arranged a formation, killing Li Ziye wouldn't be impossible!

Xiang Qi also saw the key point and mustered her strength, preparing to unleash a secret technique that would overdraft her potential.

Li Ziye let out a fierce cry, merging his body with his sword. His entire being transformed into a beam of sword light, streaking rapidly towards the Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator!

Wang Qi's breath-concealing technique couldn't fool him but was useful against ancient cultivators. It could hold out for a while longer, but Xiang Qi and the fate of that Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator were crucial to the entire battle's outcome.

The stern youth was unwilling to let him go support Xiang Qi. He charged forward with his sword, preparing to intercept this formidable foe. Suddenly, he paused, his movements slowing. He actually brushed past Li Ziye. Li Ziye, not encountering the expected interception, was surprised but had no time to ponder. He quickly rushed towards Xiang Qi's location. The Nascent Soul Early Stage ancient cultivator was aghast, as the stern youth's action undoubtedly sold him out to Li Ziye.

At this moment, Wang Qi felt the black jade ring on his hand grow warm. Almost simultaneously, Zhen Chanzi roared in his mind: "Run! Run fast! Towards Li Ziye! He's a disciple of Emperor-Grade Heaven-Splitting Dao! Emperor-Grade Heaven-Splitting Dao!"

Li Ziye was unaware of Zhen Chanzi's anomaly. He quickly brought the Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator within his attack range, then unleashed his Heavenly Sword with full force! A golden sword energy tore through the air, hurtling towards the Nascent Soul Early Stage ancient cultivator.

He was fully engaged in attacking Xiang Qi and had no time to defend! The protective spiritual light around him shattered like foam before the sword energy. The violent sword energy immediately tore through his physical body. Xiang Qi seized the opportunity, spewing a mouthful of vital energy onto three sword discs. The three sword discs shot out, and with three pfft sounds, pierced the opponent's chest.

Seeing this, Xiang Qi could no longer hold on. She coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed softly.

Li Ziye breathed a sigh of relief and turned around, ready to have a proper fight with the stern youth. However, he saw a scene that made his eyes split with rage—

The stern youth was charging directly towards Wang Qi's location!

Wang Qi's expression was furious. Seeing that he could no longer evade the Nascent Soul Early Stage pursuer, he roared, "Bastard! I should have known you were a scammer!"