Because the whip had entangled the sword, Yao You Liang had no choice but to flee. However, the consequences of abandoning his fellow disciple were severe.
In order to aid his fellow disciple, Yao You Liang cast aside his whip and gathered all his strength into his palm. He was preparing to attack Niu You Dao.
“Bang!”
Yao You Liang's eyes widened. He seemed to have understood something.
Niu You Dao had already executed a somersault and returned to the sword. The sword had been weakened by the whips, so Niu You Dao seized it and headed towards the desperately fighting Black Peony and the others.
Black Peony and the others were no match for Fang Shao Qun. However, several individuals collectively fought against him. They constantly fended him off, hoping that Niu You Dao would come to their rescue.
Lei Zong Kang, who had already sustained several injuries, could no longer fight. He was now a burden to everyone, so he could only stand at a distance and watch the battle cautiously.
Black Peony and the few other individuals surrounded Fang Shao Qun. Sword qi powerfully scattered in all directions. Fang Shao Qun constantly repelled the three individuals but couldn't land a decisive blow on anyone. The three fought him from a distance and dared not approach him. Whichever person Fang Shao Qun advanced on, immediately retreated, while the other two attacked him at the same time.
The three individuals had not spent so many years together in vain.
In such a desperate stalemate, there was neither victor nor vanquished.
Black Peony, Duan Hu, and Wu San Liang played for time, placing their hopes on Niu You Dao. And he did not disappoint them. They noticed how Niu You Dao had already slain one and eliminated the others. And now, he was flying towards them with his sword!
The usually calm and peaceful Niu You Dao could actually be so fierce and ruthless! Several individuals couldn't have imagined that Niu You Dao was capable of such a thing. A deadly aura radiated directly from him!
So many people were no match for Niu You Dao. Fang Shao Qun, in his confusion, immediately decided to flee upon seeing Niu You Dao.
Black Peony shouted:
“Seize him!”
At this moment, he could not be allowed to escape, so they surrounded Fang Shao Qun from all sides to prevent his flight.
A silhouette flickered. It was Niu You Dao, who had reached them and, amidst the chaos, directed his sword qi at Fang Shao Qun. Fang Shao Qun immediately gathered all his strength and also struck with his sword.
“Clang!”
The two swords collided, and Fang Shao Qun was startled. He noticed that his sword's power seemed to simply dissipate before Niu You Dao's extraordinary strength.
Niu You Dao retracted his sword and, instantly spinning it, attacked again!
A single sword, wielded by a bloody hand, flew forth!
The sword's gleam halted. Fang Shao Qun immediately tried to block the strike with his left hand, but the sword had already pierced his chest. The blade's tip had passed straight through him.
Fang Shao Qun wanted to raise his head and look at Niu You Dao.
But at that moment, Niu You Dao, without waiting for his reaction, immediately pushed off him and withdrew his sword. Fresh blood began to gush forth.
Black Peony barely had time to react before Niu You Dao's single strike killed Fang Shao Qun.
However, Niu You Dao at this moment pointed his sword towards a hill. Several individuals turned their heads.
Cui Yuan staggered to his feet, intent on escaping.
Yuan Fang appeared from an unknown direction and, with a ferocious expression, pounced on the unsteady Cui Yuan. He intended to stab him with his knife.
In the end, Niu You Dao flicked his finger, and Yuan Fang stopped. He then chuckled and ran uphill again.
Le Zhan Bing and Yao You Liang moved even more slowly. They certainly wouldn't escape. At this moment, they seemed to be on their last gasp.
Niu You Dao, holding his sword, said seriously:
“Gather everything. The three sects have joined forces, so many witnesses need to be interrogated!”
“Understood!” Black Peony replied. She waved her hand, and several individuals immediately began to act.
Yuan Fang ran over, presented the sword's scabbard, and said with a chuckle:
“Lord Dao.”
Niu You Dao shook the blood from his sword and sheathed it in the scabbard held by Yuan Fang.
Niu You Dao took the sheathed sword and stood upright before the tall grass. The killing aura on his face once again dispersed, and he became calm and tranquil...
Blue sky, desolate wilderness, tall grass, and a fresh breeze.
Vultures, as if having caught the scent of blood, circled in the sky.
Niu You Dao stood, leaning on his sword, gazing into the distance.
Black Peony approached, wanting to report to him.
Niu You Dao: Did the Jin Dan cultivators from the three sects leave yesterday?
Black Peony nodded: “Cui Yuan says so. Yao You Liang also confirmed it.”
Niu You Dao: And Le Zhan Bing?
Black Peony: “He won't confess no matter what. Methods could be found to make him speak, but it would take time.”
Niu You Dao: “No need to waste time on him. Those who confessed, keep; those who refuse... kill!”
“Understood!” Black Peony replied. She then presented a bundle and said:
“Lord Dao, these valuables were found on them!”
“You distribute them yourselves,” Niu You Dao replied calmly. He wasn't interested in such things.
Black Peony said nothing. She simply put the bundle back and immediately went to Le Zhan Bing. She drew her sword and pierced his heart.
For her, such things were nothing new. In a ruthless era where people often fought to the death, such actions didn't stir her heart. She simply didn't understand why Niu You Dao had left two witnesses.
Niu You Dao approached and ordered Cui Yuan and Yao You Liang to be dragged before him. He plunged his sword into the ground and then placed his palms against their backs.
“Ugh!”
The two men spat out bloody ice. Niu You Dao once again released his power upon them and sealed their acupoints. Then he picked up his sword and said: “Bind them.”
Duan Hu and Wu San Liang immediately bound both men tightly.
Yuan Fang had already led six horses from a distance.
Niu You Dao took one horse and mounted it. Pointing at the distant, injured Lei Zong Kang lying on the ground, he said:
“Take the two witnesses and lead them behind the hill. Wait for us to return!”
As soon as he said this, several people immediately exchanged glances. There was a deep meaning in Niu You Dao's words!
Black Peony immediately began scolding Lei Zong Kang:
“Why are you silent? Quickly carry out Lord Dao's command!”
Lei Zong Kang, with mixed feelings, cupped his hands before Niu You Dao:
“Understood.”
“Let's go!” Niu You Dao spurred his horse forward.
Black Peony and the others also mounted their horses and rode after him.
When they caught up to Niu You Dao, they noticed they were heading back. Black Peony asked, surprised:
“Lord Dao, where are we going?”
Niu You Dao calmly replied: “To Zhaixing City!”
“Ah!” several people exclaimed in surprise.
Duan Hu hastily said:
“Lord Dao, if we return to Zhaixing City, won't we be walking into the tiger's maw?”
“They will return late. Time is on our side!” Niu You Dao replied, then looked ahead:
“The Flowing Clouds Sect and Wuyou Mountain have entered the game. They dared to interfere with me? They will have to pay for their malice. It's time to teach them a lesson!”
Several people exchanged glances.
The group once again rode out into the steppe, then into the Gobi Desert, and stopped again near a stable.
Abandoning their horses, the five individuals once again soared forth and entered the mountain ranges.
Dusk settled, and several individuals entered the illuminated city.
Black Peony, Duan Hu, and Wu San Liang lit the way with their butterflies.
“Where is the Liuxiang Sect's shop located?” Niu You Dao asked.
Several people seemed to guess what they were about to do and involuntarily felt a tremor of fear. However, they led him on.
When they arrived at the Liuxiang Sect's shop, they saw a sign indicating that the shop was temporarily closed. Niu You Dao, ignoring the passersby, walked directly to the shop, pushed open the door, and lifted the latch. Then, flinging the doors wide, he entered. Black Peony and the others followed him in.
Several people went inside. Black Peony and the others began illuminating everything with their butterflies.
Niu You Dao closed the door and said:
“Go through and take everything of value!”
Sweat broke out on Black Peony and the others' brows. Did this guy really intend to rob the shop? Wouldn't the Liuxiang Sect go insane afterwards?
Yuan Fang, on the other hand, was delighted. He immediately began moving around and collecting items. He took spiritual herbs from a cabinet.
Black Peony and the others also quickly gathered valuable items.
Niu You Dao took out a cage and tossed three sniffer birds inside. Then he continued his search.
Everyone else also searched for valuables.
Niu You Dao threw several more Bird Kings into the cage, then waved his hand, and they left.
Several individuals with bundles on their backs emerged onto the street. Outside, a large stream of people flowed by. Thus, they had, one might say, robbed the shop right before everyone's eyes.
Black Peony and the others were nervous, but Niu You Dao walked out calmly as if nothing had happened, continuing onward as if on a leisurely stroll. They didn't close the doors, simply leaving the sign as it was.
Several people immediately headed towards the shops of the Flowing Clouds Sect and Wuyou Mountain.
There, they also conducted a thorough search and gathered several bundles.
Niu You Dao waved his hand:
“Let's go, we'll sell these goods at major shops.”
Wu San Liang hastily said:
“Lord Dao, if we sell to shops, we'll get at most half the price for the goods!”
Niu You Dao: “It doesn't matter. There's no need to be petty about this!”
Duan Hu said with a bitter smile:
“Lord Dao, these are not trifles. These are rare items!”
“And how far can you carry all these rare items on your back?” Niu You Dao immediately countered.
Several individuals entered the Ling Sect's shop and sold all the precious spiritual herbs. Niu You Dao seemed to pay no attention to the price. Thus, they managed to sell everything they had stolen for half price. Taking the banknotes, the group left. The shop owner and his employee began whispering among themselves, unable to comprehend where these people had acquired so many spiritual herbs.
Niu You Dao and the others also entered the Myriad Beasts Sect's shop. Niu You Dao handed them several birds and received half the price for them.
Then they took all the tools and sold them to the Qiyun Sect's shop. However, they didn't even get half price for those. But Niu You Dao paid no mind even to this. Yuan Fang only kept a few more daggers for himself.
After they had sold everything, they had profited more than 1,200,000 gold coins!