Translator: CinderTL
Jiang Yan divided the spiritual liquid into four equal portions. Although Huan Xi'er and Mo Xianxian belonged to the same sect, Shangyin Mountain was a powerful force, so giving them a slightly larger share wouldn't matter. Besides, the spiritual liquid wasn't an exceptionally rare treasure; a little less wouldn't make much difference.
After each had secured their share, Mo Xianxian bowed in farewell and headed north. Huan Xi'er snorted coldly and departed in the opposite direction, clearly disliking Mo Xianxian.
Now, only the Jiang Family and the Zuoqiu Clan remained.
Jiang Yan turned to Zuoqiu Shu, a smile playing on his lips. "Immortal Maiden, where do you plan to go next?"
"Young Master Jiang, you may call me by my name," Zuoqiu Shu replied with a radiant smile. "Our families have a long history of cooperation; there's no need for formality."
Jiang Yan gazed at her refined demeanor, his heart warming. Seeing her willingness to befriend him, he was overjoyed. "Then I'll take the liberty, Miss Shu'er. The secret realm is fraught with dangers, and Demonic Path cultivators roam freely. Since we both belong to righteous path clans, why not join forces?"
Hiding behind them, Zuoqiu Zhen secretly curled her lip. Look at him, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets! Who can't see what he's up to?
A pang of disappointment struck her heart. Why is it that all these powerful figures are drawn to my eldest sister? The Demonic Sect Holy Son was the same, and now the Young Master of the Jiang Family too. Is my sister really that captivating?
Should I change my clothes and remove these ornaments?
Zuoqiu Shu smiled and nodded. "That would be lovely. However, my second sister is still in the northern part of the city. I wonder if that's on your way?"
"Of course, it's on my way! I was just heading north myself," Jiang Yan immediately replied.
Behind him, the Jiang Family disciples exchanged silent glances, their lips twitching. Didn't we just come from the northern part of the city?
Zuoqiu Shu, whether she noticed their reactions or not, smiled brightly. "Then I shall entrust myself to Young Master Jiang's care."
"It would be my honor..."
The Zuoqiu Clan and the Jiang Family joined forces and began their journey north together.
As dawn gradually broke, the corpse demons retreated underground, leaving behind a street strewn with wreckage.
Luo Changtian leaned against a wall, blood trickling from his mouth. At his feet lay his Junior Brother, already lifeless.
"Brother Luo, hand over the item. I don't want to kill you," Qi Liang said, stepping forward with a longsword in hand, its blade stained with streaks of blood.
Jiang Qinqin and the others formed a semicircle, trapping Luo Changtian against the wall.
"Pah! You're just relying on numbers. Do you dare face me alone?" Luo Changtian glared at Qi Liang, his eyes burning with defiance.
Qi Liang shook his head. "Brother Luo, why delay any further? Do you really think someone will come to save you?" He had already seen through Luo Changtian's stalling tactics.
"I'll count to three. If you don't hand over the jade slip, I'll take it myself."
Without waiting for a response, Qi Liang began counting aloud, "One..."
Luo Changtian tightened his grip on his longsword.
"Two..."
Qi Liang shook his head slightly. "Attack! Show no mercy!"
"Kill!"
The crowd surged forward. Luo Changtian, wielding his longsword, desperately parried their attacks, but his severe injuries and depleted Spiritual Power left him vulnerable. Within moments, Jiang Qinqin struck him squarely in the chest with a palm strike.
Bang!
Luo Changtian's body flew backward, crashing heavily against the wall. Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the brickwork behind him. His longsword slipped from his grasp and plunged into the ground.
Blood trickled from his mouth as he collapsed unconscious.
Qi Liang stepped forward and snatched Luo Changtian's storage pouch. He retrieved a jade slip, pressed it to his forehead, and probed it with his divine sense. Instantly, a majestic aura washed over him.
The overwhelming presence sent tremors through his soul. In that moment, he felt like a tiny ant beneath the vast heavens, gazing up at towering peaks that pierced the sky.
Mist swirled around the mountain peaks, as if immortals dwelled there, their indifferent gazes piercing through the clouds to observe him.
"What... is this...?" Qi Liang murmured, utterly captivated. The awe-inspiring presence felt like the gaze of the heavens themselves—detached, merciless, yet encompassing all creation, its depths unfathomable.
"This... is the Dao?"
Qi Liang's entire mind was consumed by the jade slip, leaving him seemingly frozen in place.
"Senior Brother, are you alright?" Jiang Qinqin asked anxiously, noticing his strange behavior.
Qi Liang shuddered, snapping out of his trance. He quickly stowed the jade slip into his storage pouch.
He knew he had truly struck gold this time—he had found an unparalleled treasure!
"Senior Brother, what should we do with him?" Jiang Qinqin asked, pointing at Luo Changtian.
"Kill him!" Qi Liang's voice was icy. This secret must remain his alone.
"Kill him? Senior Brother, he's..." Jiang Qinqin was shocked. Killing Luo Changtian would mean incurring the undying wrath of the Harmonious Mountain Praying Dao Sect.
"I said, kill him!" Qi Liang snapped, turning to glare at her with a deadly intensity.
Jiang Qinqin gritted her teeth. Unable to defy Qi Liang's command, she raised her palm, a luminous energy slowly coalescing. With a heavy strike, she slammed her palm down on Luo Changtian.
"Stop!"
A desperate shout echoed from the distance, followed by the glint of a Jade Clarity Longsword.
Fang Qingge had arrived.
He had come alone, driven by his concern for Luo Changtian's safety. He had raced through the night, crossing Endless Central City from south to north without rest, finally arriving at this critical moment.
Qi Liang's brow furrowed as he channeled his energy into his longsword, aiming a lethal strike at Luo Changtian's heart.
He had to kill him, even if it meant incurring the wrath of both the Praying Dao Sect and the Source Worship Sect. He would stop at nothing!
"Stop!" Fang Qingge roared, his figure soaring skyward like a dragon. The Jade Clarity Longsword in his hand transformed into a myriad of luminous shadows, instantly illuminating the entire sky, eclipsing even the rising sun on the horizon.
This strike was unleashed with every ounce of his strength.
Qi Liang was stunned. Abandoning all thought of Luo Changtian, he channeled his full spiritual power into defense, conjuring a radiant light barrier around himself.
A searing pain erupted between his brows, his body's primal instinct screaming that failure to block this attack meant certain death.
Jiang Qinqin's beautiful eyes widened as she stared in awe at the countless luminous shadows. In a panic, she summoned a treasured mirror to shield herself.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion shook the heavens as the myriad sword shadows pierced toward Qi Liang and his followers. The dense barrage slammed against the light barrier, Qi Liang gritting his teeth as he desperately held his ground.
Hiding behind the mirror, Jiang Qinqin watched in horror as cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, her heart pounding with terror as she prayed it would hold.
The sword shadows dissipated, leaving behind a ground littered with corpses—all Qi Liang's subordinates, who had failed to withstand the onslaught.
Jiang Qinqin stared at the shattered mirror, feeling both heartache and relief. Thank goodness it held.
Qi Liang's face was deathly pale. His right hand was hidden behind his back, a trail of blood dripping from his fingers.
Looking around, Fang Qingge realized Luo Changtian had already been rescued and was now being fed a medicinal pill.
"Qi Liang, why did you try to kill him?!" Fang Qingge demanded, a wave of lingering fear washing over him. If he had arrived even a few breaths later, his friend would have perished on the spot.
"Hmph, I'm the holy son of the demonic sect. Do I need a reason to kill? I kill whoever I please!" Qi Liang sneered, his expression nonchalant, but inwardly he was on high alert.
The Qingge Sword Intent lived up to its reputation.
"If that's how it is, then I can kill you too!"
Fang Qingge gently laid Luo Changtian down, slowly straightened up, and summoned his Jade Clarity Longsword. The blade pointed directly at Qi Liang.
(End of the Chapter)
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