Facing Hongmao Laogui’s slash, Xuanyuan Hong and the others unleashed their techniques in unison. However, they had overestimated the power of their combined attack—and underestimated the strength of someone at the Moon Profound Realm.
As their attacks clashed with Hongmao Laogui’s blade, they instantly realized he was unbeatable. Though it appeared he was only one cultivation realm above Xuanyuan Hong, the gap was insurmountable, not something numbers could bridge.
That slash crushed their combined force with overwhelming ease. Fortunately, it also expended some of its power. Even so, the remaining energy still sent Xuanyuan Hong and the others flying backward. They spat out fresh blood, slammed into the cliff wall, blasted out over a dozen large craters, and finally collapsed to the ground.
“Hmph. A speck of starlight dares compete with the brilliance of the moon.” Hongmao Laogui stood in the sky, eyes filled with scorn as he said, “You bunch of trash from Azure Jade Sect actually think you can stop me? Laughable.”
“I’ll give you one last chance. Hand over Zhong Qing.”
“Hongmao Laogui, stop dreaming.” Xuanyuan Hong and the others struggled to stand, blood dripping from their lips as Xuanyuan Hong said, “A man fights for pride like a tree clings to its bark. We will never hand him over—and you won’t find Zhong Qing either.”
“Good, good! Since you’re so stubborn, I’ll kill you all first, then destroy Azure Jade Sect, and after that… I’ll slowly hunt down that Zhong Qing.” Fury burned in Hongmao Laogui’s eyes. His long blade surged with profound energy, and the black mist around him thickened to the extreme.
“Everyone, follow me and meet his next strike!” Xuanyuan Hong stared solemnly at Hongmao Laogui above and shouted.
“Yes!” All the Peak Masters and elders stepped forward. Their faces were grave—they could tell this next attack would be even stronger than the last.
But just as they were about to cast their spells, a figure suddenly appeared beside Xuanyuan Hong.
“Everyone, leave this strike to me.” As the voice fell, Xuanyuan Hong quickly turned and was shocked to find Zhong Qing standing beside him in white robes.
“You… Zhong Qing? When did you get here?” Xuanyuan Hong asked in alarm.
“I came immediately after receiving Third Elder’s message,” Zhong Qing replied gently.
“You!” Xuanyuan Hong looked frustrated and shouted, “Didn’t I tell them to signal you to run?!”
“This all started because of me. How could I shamelessly leave and make you clean up the mess?” Zhong Qing smiled faintly.
That was exactly why, even after activating his waste tie, he hadn’t left Azure Jade Sect. Apart from Duan Feng bullying him, none of the elders or Peak Masters had truly wronged him—especially Peak Master Xuanyuan Hong, who often showed him kindness when they met.
Especially what happened today made him feel true belonging.
“But… but he’s at the Moon Profound Realm. Even with all of us, we couldn’t hold him back. How could you stop him alone?” Xuanyuan Hong asked in disbelief.
“It’s just the Moon Profound Realm, Sect Master, you’re overthinking it.”
“Moon… Moon Profound Realm, just that?” Xuanyuan Hong and the others stared blankly at Zhong Qing.
Zhong Qing smiled calmly, hands behind his back as he took a step forward, slowly raising his head to look at Hongmao Laogui in the sky.
“Hongmao Laogui, I am Zhong Qing. Your disciple was killed by me.”
“Didn’t you want to kill me? Then go ahead—use everything you’ve got.”
He looked at Hongmao Laogui calmly and said, “Come on.”
“You’re Zhong Qing?” Hongmao Laogui’s gaze locked on him. When he saw the one who had killed his disciple, his face twisted with hatred. His crimson eyes widened, and he breathed heavily.
“Good… good… I never thought you’d dare come out yourself, brat!”
“Then go die with my disciple!!!”
In the sky, a violent gale howled around Hongmao Laogui, forming a massive storm with him at the center. The black mist around him merged into the whirlwind like the end of days. Everything in its path—buildings, stones, cliffs—was pulverized.
And within that storm, countless horrifying faces and monsters emerged, howling with terrifying screams that made one’s scalp go numb.
“So… so terrifying!” Seeing this storm, Xuanyuan Hong and the others felt their legs weaken.
This… this was the true power of someone at the Moon Profound Realm!
Even Xuanyuan Hong knew that if he got swept into that storm, he would be dead on the spot.
They couldn’t help but look toward Zhong Qing. How could he possibly block it?
As they watched in horror, Hongmao Laogui moved. With the storm behind him, he raised his long blade high—its edge surrounded by evil spirits and monster phantoms—and slashed toward Zhong Qing.
As the blade came down, the storm followed. The sky darkened, debris flew, and the ground trembled. This slash carried all of Hongmao Laogui’s fury and hatred.
Yet Zhong Qing simply raised one palm. Then, he extended a single finger and lightly pressed forward toward Hongmao Laogui within the storm. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
In an instant, the storm disintegrated. The evil spirits and monster phantoms vanished into nothing.
“W-what…?” Hongmao Laogui’s eyes widened in terror. Just from the pressure of that finger, he felt like he was facing the power of the heavens themselves—completely helpless. Even the long blade in his hand began to vaporize.
“No… no—” His terrified scream was the last sound he made.
That one finger crushed down. With a final cry of disbelief, Hongmao Laogui and his blade were vaporized—erased from existence.
Only after a long time did the residual energy in the sky finally dissipate.
But behind Zhong Qing, Xuanyuan Hong and the others stood frozen with their mouths open, completely stunned, unable to calm their hearts.
What had they just witnessed?
That Hongmao Laogui from the Moon Profound Realm… was killed by Zhong Qing with just one finger?
Not even a trace was left?
For a moment, everyone stared at Zhong Qing as if they were seeing a ghost.
“You… you you you…” Xuanyuan Hong pointed at Zhong Qing, unable to form a sentence.
The elders and Peak Masters behind him were no better off.
They thought they had already overestimated Zhong Qing. After all, he was still so young. But what they had just seen completely shattered their understanding.
Seeing their expressions, Zhong Qing rubbed his nose and smiled awkwardly.
“You brat… are you even human or a monster?” Xuanyuan Hong finally managed to recover a little and glared, “You really hid it deep. You’re this powerful, and yet you pretended to be a useless good-for-nothing all this time?! You really…”
“I had no choice, Sect Master.” Zhong Qing laughed. Of course, he couldn’t reveal the system, so he casually explained, “This cultivation world is full of schemes. Keeping a low profile and hiding a bit of my cultivation is just a precaution.”