Crouching Tiger Mountain outskirts.
Hiss…
The grass rustled slightly as a dark red shadow flashed past.
“Here it comes!” Zhou Kai’s spirits lifted.
It was one of his targets for this trip, the Red-Eyed Snake! This first-tier demonic beast was fast; its venomous fangs weren’t fatal, but they could paralyze a person long enough for it to have a full meal.
Zhou Kai didn’t retreat but instead advanced, his footwork shifting in a mysterious step that precisely avoided the snake’s pounce. Simultaneously, a yellow talisman was already held tightly between his fingertips.
“Strike!”
With a low shout, his spiritual power was channeled, activating the Fireball Talisman!
Whoosh!
A fist-sized fireball shot out with a howl, accurately striking the Red-Eyed Snake at its vital spot.
Hiss—!
The snake let out a shrill hiss as the smell of scorching flesh filled the air. It thrashed wildly but was beyond saving; the flames quickly spread, and soon it stopped moving.
Zhou Kai didn’t approach immediately. After observing for a moment to confirm no other dangers, he quickly walked over. Skillfully, he used a dagger to peel off the still-intact snakeskin and carefully pried out two faintly glowing fangs.
“A good start.” Zhou Kai weighed the snakeskin in his hand, feeling pleased. With his Qi Condensation fourth-layer cultivation and well-prepared talismans, dealing with these first-tier demonic beasts on the outskirts was indeed much easier.
“Too bad I haven’t encountered a single Horned Swine.” Zhou Kai turned his gaze toward the deeper forest.
Adult Horned Swines were mostly mid-first-tier, a type of herd demonic beast with thick, tough hides and immense strength. The horn on their heads was material for crafting magical tools, making them considerably more valuable than Red-Eyed Snakes.
He checked his direction and headed deeper in.
The further he went, the taller the trees became, and the light grew dimmer. The surroundings were so quiet that only his own footsteps and the occasional chirps of insects or birds could be heard.
Zhou Kai paused, sniffing the air intently.
“A very strong smell of blood.”
He immediately grew alert, softened his steps, and slowly pushed aside the obstructing bushes.
Ahead, seven or eight Horned Swine corpses lay scattered on the ground.
Others had only a small bloody hole in their heads, cleanly pierced through from front to back.
The surrounding trees had also suffered; several thick trees had been snapped in half at waist height, the broken ends jagged and splintered, showing the force of the Horned Swines’ death struggles.
Faint remnants of spiritual power fluctuations lingered in the air—cold, sharp, carrying a heart-palpitating aura of slaughter.
What powerful methods! Zhou Kai thought with inner shock. Judging by these wounds, the person who struck was far above my own cultivation level—likely at least late-stage Qi Condensation, or even higher!
One strike kills, clean and efficient, without even traces of excessive struggle.
“But…” Zhou Kai looked at those Horned Swine corpses, especially those valuable horns. “Leaving so many good things just lying here? What a waste!”
While Horned Swine meat wasn’t a top-tier delicacy, it was rich in blood energy and greatly beneficial to low-level cultivators and mortal martial artists. These bisected corpses couldn’t be directly taken back to the Chen family for credit, but they could be sold at a market for quite a few Spirit Stones.
What a pity.
Zhou Kai licked his lips, his gaze lingering on those intact horns.
These were excellent materials for crafting magical tools; they could fetch many Spirit Stones at a market.
“The split ones are mine…” He had just pulled out his dagger when faint explosive sounds of spiritual power collisions and sharp clangs of weapons clashing came from afar.
“A fight between cultivators?” Zhou Kai immediately became wary again.
Whoever left those cleanly killed Horned Swine corpses was definitely not someone to trifle with. Now there was another fight? If both sides ended up wounded… maybe there was an opportunity for profit?
Pushing aside one last clump of bushes, the scene before him made Zhou Kai hold his breath.
In a forest clearing, two male cultivators wearing Heavenly Spring Sect attire were jointly attacking a woman.
The woman had her dark hair tied high up; a few strands fell beside her cheeks. Her jade hairpiece gleamed like snow against her hair; her phoenix eyes were like cold-forged stars.
Her white robes fluttered sharply; her golden-thread horse-face skirt swirled like blades of light. Her toes lightly touched treetops; her long legs seemed to tread clouds mid-air—ethereal and agile.
Most eye-catching was the longsword in her hand; its blade flowed with faint golden-white radiance.
“What a dashing female sword immortal,” Zhou Kai silently praised, his gaze involuntarily drawn to her.
Boom!
The Heavenly Spring Sect disciple with a slightly longer face summoned a crimson-red gourd magical tool. From its mouth surged torrential flames; waves of heat rolled out.
The other disciple, more robustly built, controlled an azure flying sword; its sword light flickered—cunning and vicious.
Both were at the Qi Condensation seventh-layer cultivation. Their coordination was seamless; spells and flying swords wove into a net, firmly trapping the woman at its center.
Zhou Kai saw clearly: although the woman seemed only at the Sword Control seventh-layer cultivation, her swordsmanship was exquisite beyond compare. Every thrust of her sword was accompanied by dazzling golden-white light—sharpness unparalleled—like condensed extreme Geng Metal energy. Enjoying the story? Read on at NovelPing.
Clang!
Golden-white sword light clashed fiercely with the azure flying sword; an ear-piercing metallic screech erupted as sparks flew everywhere.
The master of that azure flying sword grunted softly; clearly, he had suffered slightly in this direct clash.
She’s clearly a metal-attribute sword cultivator! Zhou Kai thought to himself. Among peers of equal level, sword cultivators inherently possessed greater burst power than spell cultivators; metal-attribute sword cultivators were among their best—their offense most fierce and domineering.
Clang! Another clash of blades sent sparks flying everywhere again.
The disciple with the longer face urged his crimson gourd to spew flames while raising his voice. “Fairy Shen, why must you be so distant? We mean no harm.”
His tone was deliberately gentle, but his eyes gleamed with light. “This place just witnessed slaughter; it’s quite dangerous. Our sect elders are nearby clearing out remnants.”
“Why not come rest at our Heavenly Spring Sect for a few days? Once this storm passes, we will personally escort you back to Lone Goose Palace—a gesture of fellowship among peers.”
The more robust disciple controlled his flying sword; his attacks grew fiercer as he chimed in, “Senior Brother speaks true! Fairy Shen, you’re alone here; if something unforeseen happens, how could we explain it to Lone Goose Palace?”
“It’s best not to be stubborn; coming back with us is safest!”
The woman addressed as Fairy Shen dodged an insidious sword light with ethereal movements, white robes fluttering as golden-white sword energy coalesced again. Her phoenix eyes were icy cold, her voice clear as snow.
“Are you worthy?”
The long-faced disciple’s expression darkened slightly. “Fairy Shen, your words are mistaken. Our Heavenly Spring Sect also acts out of goodwill; this disturbance is no small matter. Though your cultivation is high, you’re only at Sword Control seventh layer after all. If misfortune strikes…”
He shifted his tone. “…If something happens, not only your personal safety but also Lone Goose Palace’s face would suffer. We are acting under orders, duty-bound. Please understand, Fairy, don’t make things difficult for us.”
Shen Hanyi’s longsword hummed in her hand, its tip pointing diagonally at the ground, deflecting incoming flames. She sneered, her tone carrying undisguised mockery. “Under orders? Orders to invite me or capture me? Heavenly Spring Sect’s reach extends too far.”
“Shen Hanyi!” The robust disciple shouted sharply. “You refuse good wine only to drink punishment wine! My Senior Brother speaks kindly, yet you show such ingratitude! Do you truly think our Heavenly Spring Sect is made of clay?”
The leading long-faced disciple raised a hand, signaling his junior brother to calm down, but his eyes turned completely cold, his tone losing all warmth. “Fairy Shen, it seems you insist on opposing our Heavenly Spring Sect.”
“I say one last time, this matter is significant, beyond our authority. To come politely with us or have us take you—Fairy, please consider carefully.”
Before his words finished, the crimson gourd in his hand flared brightly and spewed flames, deepening in color until they almost became a sea of fire, completely blocking all possible retreat paths for Shen Hanyi.
The other disciple’s azure flying sword also shone brilliantly, sword energy flickering uncertainly, killing intent fully revealed.
Shen Hanyi’s dark hair beneath her jade hairpiece stirred slightly. She raised eyes in which stars flickered. With no extra words left, she spoke only one resolute word:
“Fight!”