Inside the manor.
The six Transformation Class disciples led by Murong Qing stood ready in battle formation, their eyes fixed on this uninvited guest who had hidden until the very end.
Shen Lin seemed to recognize him. After thinking for a moment, his expression changed slightly.
"I know him. Tang Qi, a core disciple of the Yin Puppet Sect, a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator and disciple of Blood Soul Old Ghost. He once single-handedly blood-sacrificed an entire small sect to feed his spirit pet. His vicious reputation is well known."
"Foundation Establishment Middle Stage..."
The others' hearts sank at once.
They were all at Qi Refining Peak, only a single step away from Foundation Establishment. If they unleashed every method they had, they could still fight a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
But against someone at Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, the gap was simply too great.
There was no comparison.
Other than Murong Qing, who had the strength to fight, the rest of them would only be dead weight.
Tang Qi chuckled.
"I had long heard that Heavenly Mystery Holy Land had launched an Elite Training Program, selecting a group of Spirit Transformation seedlings for special guidance. Now that I see you, you truly are all extraordinary. If I refined every one of you into special Yin Corpses, it would make quite a fine tale."
As he spoke.
Tang Qi swept his gaze across the six of them.
His eyes held nothing but jealousy and greed.
There was no other reason.
These people were simply too young.
Not one of them was even twenty years old.
Yet not one was below Qi Refining Peak, and each had their own strengths.
If he could refine such geniuses into Yin Corpses, his foundation would soar by another level.
As for Jiang Li, he ignored him.
Among a group of Qi Refining Peak cultivators and even Foundation Establishment cultivators, one Qi Refining Level 6 lackey simply was not worth a second glance.
He thought Jiang Li was probably some second-generation immortal who had come to coast along and gild his credentials for contribution points. Not worth mentioning.
He even found it troublesome to refine him into a Yin Corpse.
Tang Qi's gaze swept over them before finally settling on Murong Qing.
"You are the priority target in the intelligence reports. A Water-attribute Heavenly Spiritual Root, possibly with a special physique as well. You are a future Saintess candidate of Heavenly Mystery Holy Land. Capturing you will definitely make Heavenly Mystery Holy Land ache to the bone."
Murong Qing merely stared coldly at him.
There was not the slightest sign of panic in her mind.
She simply issued her orders in an orderly manner.
"I'll hold them back. You leave."
Tang Qi laughed.
"Do not indulge in foolish dreams. Since I received the intelligence in advance, I naturally came fully prepared. I believe that if you risk your life, you can hold me back, but... how will you hold back this Foundation Establishment cultivator Yin Corpse of mine, as well as my spirit pet?"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Tang Qi released a Blood Corpse from his Storage Bag.
Blood qi coiled around its body. Its ferocity was abnormal, and it radiated the aura of a Foundation Establishment Realm Yin Corpse.
At the same time.
The blood-red cane in Tang Qi's hand came alive, transforming into a python. Its entire body was crimson, its twin pupils glowed faintly, and its forked tongue flicked out as blood mist swirled from its mouth.
Clearly.
This was also a Foundation Establishment Realm snake demon.
Its aura was even stronger than that of the Yin Corpse from before.
If the Blood Corpse was equivalent to an ordinary Foundation Establishment First Layer cultivator, then this python was already equivalent to a peak Foundation Establishment Second Layer cultivator. Its strength likewise stood above everyone present.
With a mere wave of his hand, two more Foundation Establishment Realm combatants had appeared on the field.
The reserves of a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator were plain to see.
They were absolutely not something Qi Refining stage cultivators could hope to challenge.
For a moment.
The atmosphere on the field grew somewhat silent.
Only Xia Di was secretly overjoyed, his grin growing more and more sinister.
Heaven knew how badly he had wanted to die when he learned that Heavenly Mystery Holy Land had set its sights on this place, but now the situation had reversed.
Heavenly Mystery Holy Land wanted to wipe out the Yin Puppet Sect, while the Yin Puppet Sect had secretly struck back as well.
And now, they had even captured six Spirit Transformation seedlings.
This contribution was enormous.
So enormous that it was enough to make up for his losses. The sect would not blame him either.
"Senior Brother Tang, go ahead and capture that woman. I'll hold the others back for you and make sure they don't disturb your good time."
Xia Di let out a sinister cackle.
The confidence of a Foundation Establishment cultivator had returned to him.
He might not win in a one-against-five, but holding back six was no problem.
"Little bugs, prepare to welcome dea—"
Before he could finish.
A corporeal Sword Aura slashed toward him. As it shot forward, the Sword Aura transformed into a dragon-shaped phantom, pouncing at Xia Di with the speed of lightning, too fast to cover one's ears.
In that instant.
Xia Di felt the threat of death.
His pupils contracted sharply.
The great terror between life and death brought his thoughts to an unprecedented focus. As he retreated, he instantly brought out three blood shields.
Each blood shield was as strong as a Foundation Establishment Realm strike.
Other than Tang Qi and Senior Brother Tang, no one present could shatter three blood shields at once.
A moment ago.
That was what he had thought.
He was quite satisfied with his reaction speed.
The next moment.
Half of his body fell to the ground.
The three blood shields before him had all been shattered, and the remaining force pierced straight through his body.
Before he died.
He saw the owner of that attack.
It was Jiang Li, the one with the lowest cultivation among everyone present.
Jiang Li held the Burning Sky Sword and looked at him calmly.
He muttered, "You sure talk a lot of crap."
Xia Di's eyes widened.
A dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator like him had actually died at the hands of a Qi Refining Level 6 cultivator.
And that was after he had summoned three blood shields in succession.
Were Holy Land disciples really this absurdly overpowered now?
How was this Qi Refining stage? Calling him Foundation Establishment Realm would still be underselling him.
In that shock, the Foundation Establishment cultivator guarding this secret Yin Puppet Sect stronghold completely lost his breath.
At once.
The entire field fell silent.
Shen Lin and the others stood with their mouths open, staring at Jiang Li in disbelief.
Even Tang Qi, who was confronting them from the air, saw this unexpected scene.
A trace of astonishment appeared in his eyes.
He had misjudged him.
Someone who could overturn a Foundation Establishment cultivator while at Qi Refining Level 6 was probably the true greatest genius in this team.
Once he grew up, killing Tang Qi would be as easy as chopping vegetables.
Fortunately, however, Tang Qi had encountered him before his wings had fully grown.
The power of that strike was still not enough to pose much of a threat to him.
Of course.
He could not continue letting Jiang Li run wild.
After all.
His Blood Corpse was only at Foundation Establishment First Layer.
Though it was tougher than an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator by virtue of being impervious to blades and spears, it was not fundamentally much stronger than a normal Foundation Establishment cultivator. Because it lacked consciousness, it was also easily damaged.
If he allowed Jiang Li to keep attacking, his losses would be severe.
Murong Qing saw through Tang Qi's thoughts.
She stepped in front of Jiang Li.
A rain of swords surged into the sky.
The others reacted as well.
One after another, they stepped in front of Jiang Li.
Spells erupted together.
Forcing Tang Qi to pull back, leaving him disheveled and his face as dark as iron.
Jiang Li smiled.
He had originally planned to bring out the Shield of Justice.
He had not expected his teammates to be this reliable, forcibly driving Tang Qi back.
Since that was the case.
He no longer needed to keep watch over his surroundings.
He could focus on gathering power.
"Give me some time to prepare, and I can kill them all."
The next moment.
Jiang Li's spiritual power surged around him once more, condensing into a corporeal Sword Aura in his palm. The Sword Aura shifted, transforming into a dragon-shaped phantom, and a faint dragon roar echoed out.
"Sword Aura Manifestation. It really is Sword Aura Manifestation. I knew my instincts were right."
Shen Lin's face had turned red.
He was incomparably excited.
Guessing was one thing. Seeing it with his own eyes was another.
A Qi Refining Level 6 cultivator had comprehended the second great realm of the sword path, something even Foundation Establishment cultivators could not grasp. Even peerless geniuses born with sword bones or innate sword bodies were no more than this at his level.
Brother Jiang was a true genius.
Tang Qi also revealed a look of shock.
A Sword Cultivator who had comprehended Sword Aura Manifestation could be said to slaughter freely throughout the Foundation Establishment stage.
No wonder Xia Di had been instantly killed in one strike. He had not been wronged at all.
"Not good, my Blood Corpse."
Tang Qi grew anxious.
He immediately moved to retrieve the Blood Corpse.
However...
Jiang Li moved faster.
The instant his Sword Aura underwent Sword Aura Dragon Transformation, he slashed out.
The Sword Aura shot forth like lightning, arriving in an instant and transforming into a dragon shadow that pounced forward.
In no more than the blink of an eye.
The Blood Corpse was covered in dense wounds, one hole after another punched through its body, before it finally collapsed onto the ground.
No matter how Tang Qi commanded it, it no longer moved.
"Good, good, good. Boy, I underestimated you. You are the one in this team most worth fearing. One moment of carelessness, and you destroyed one of my toys. But from now on, I will not give you another chance."
After he spoke.
The python formed from the blood-red cane opened its mouth and hissed, merging into Tang Qi's body before everyone's eyes.
The next moment.
Tang Qi underwent an astonishing transformation.
His pupils turned into snake eyes, scales covered his entire body, a snake tail grew from behind him, and even his hair was covered by smooth scales. In the blink of an eye, he had become a snake-man.
His aura surged directly to the peak of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
"I am at the peak of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Who dares kill me? Who can kill me?"
Ding, the technique "Dragon Slaying Sword" slowly typed a question mark in the public chat. He was a dragon, right? Jiang Li: Little bro, aren't you finished now?
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