Li Cheng wielded his sword and immediately struck at Yun Man. At the Golden Core stage, battles no longer required close combat, and a sword aura formed from Spiritual Qi rapidly assaulted Yun Man.
Yun Man was not flustered. With a backhand sword strike, she counterattacked in the exact same manner.
Two massive sword auras collided in the air, and the powerful shockwave immediately stirred up clouds of dust, forcing the weaker disciples of Immortal Sword Peak to retreat.
Even Qin Xiao retreated several steps. This enormous shockwave was something he, currently at the Body Refinement First Layer, dared not withstand head-on.
This first sword strike was merely a test from both sides, comparing their Spiritual Qi.
“How can her spiritual power be as strong as mine? Was she already Golden Core before she joined? But her aura clearly shows a recent breakthrough…”
From the first move’s test, Li Cheng gained no advantage, making him even more puzzled.
“Truly worthy of being a Heavenly Spirit Root. Whether she cultivated to the Golden Core stage before entering the sect or after entering, it’s terrifying enough. After all, judging from her age, she’s only sixteen or seventeen. A Golden Core cultivator at this age is truly frightening.”
Yao Kaidong also marveled at Yun Man’s cultivation level. This could no longer be described as just genius.
“That’s all you can do? And you want revenge on my master? Ridiculous.”
Yun Man also tested out Li Cheng’s strength. She had only released thirty percent of her power.
“Hmph, do you think this is my full strength?”
Li Cheng was immediately provoked, and he rapidly gathered enormous Spiritual Qi onto his sword.
“Mountain-Splitting Sword Art.”
Li Cheng shouted loudly. His sword quickly condensed a huge sword shadow, which then slashed down toward Yun Man.
“This is Senior Brother Li’s ultimate move. One sword strike can split open a mountain. No one can block this now.”
“It’s fine. Yun Man is Golden Core too. Qin Xiao is the only one who’ll die from this strike,” Yao Kaidong said.
“The Holy Son says it well. This Qin Xiao truly deserves death.”
As Li Cheng’s Mountain-Splitting Sword Art took form, everyone on Immortal Sword Peak’s side believed there was no suspense left.
“Oh no, this is bad. I wonder if my disciple can withstand it?”
Watching the huge sword shadow slash down, Qin Xiao was also somewhat panicked. Only a fool wouldn’t panic when facing such a life-threatening situation.
“Heaven-Opening Sword Art.”
Yun Man also summoned her own sword, infusing it with massive amounts of Spiritual Qi.
In an ordinary duel, she could completely avoid this sword strike without needing a head-on clash. But now she couldn’t avoid it; if she avoided it, Qin Xiao behind her would suffer.
“What technique is that? The spiritual power in her sword shadow is even stronger than Senior Brother Li’s!”
“Could it be she intends to forcefully receive Senior Brother Li’s move?”
“Why? All because of that waste?”
Seeing Yun Man not retreat but instead condense energy to forcefully meet the attack, everyone was very puzzled.
“What benefits did Qin Xiao give Yun Man? She actually insists on taking this move head-on?”
Yao Kaidong couldn’t understand either. He could see that Li Cheng used this move specifically to force Yun Man to dodge, allowing him to kill Qin Xiao with one sword strike without intending to harm Yun Man. But Yun Man seemed bewitched, insisting on protecting Qin Xiao.
Seeing her sword shadow fully condensed, Yun Man hurriedly spoke to Qin Xiao behind her.
Qin Xiao forgot his dignity and hurried back.
“Since you persist in your delusion, then don’t blame me.”
Seeing Yun Man not only refuse to avoid the attack but prepare to counterattack, Li Cheng no longer held back, directly slashing down at Yun Man.
Yun Man remained unflustered. Holding her sword with both hands, she slashed toward the sword shadow in the sky.
Two enormous sword shadows then exploded above Seven Stars Peak. The powerful shockwave instantly swept across the entire Seven Stars Peak, and even the entire sect felt the commotion.
This forceful collision caused both of them to suffer backlash.
Yun Man had a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, while Li Cheng fell directly to the ground, vomiting large amounts of blood, showing that the backlash was severe.
“This can’t be. This can’t be. It’s the same backlash, why did you only suffer such minor injuries?”
Li Cheng asked Yun Man while vomiting blood, his words unclear.
“My spiritual power is stronger and purer than yours. Even cultivators in the same realm can differ in strength. You forced your way into Golden Core with pills. Your power can’t compare to mine.”
Yun Man wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and spoke disdainfully.
“Good, good, good! Another prodigy for the Tianyuan Sect. Junior Sister Yun, here’s a new offer: whatever Qin Xiao gives you, Immortal Sword Peak will double it. Will you join us? My father will teach you personally.”
Li Cheng vomiting blood did not elicit half a trace of pity from Yao Kaidong. Instead, he tried even harder to recruit Yun Man.
This caused the already injured, blood-vomiting Li Cheng to spit out another mouthful of blood before falling unconscious.
“Useless. Go and bring him back.”
Looking at the unconscious Li Cheng, Yao Kaidong only felt that this waste had embarrassed him.
“I appreciate the offer, but Immortal Sword Peak can’t provide what my master gives me, let alone twice as much. Don’t bring it up again.”
Yun Man did not believe Immortal Sword Peak could give her one drop of Spirit Liquid daily. Even when her Yun Family was at its peak, they only gave family disciples one drop monthly, and only to members of the main family line, while branch family members received one drop every three months.
The preciousness of Spirit Liquid far exceeded so-called market prices. Even if Immortal Sword Peak were richer, they couldn’t afford such consumption.
“Oh? Is there something my Immortal Sword Peak can’t give? Might as well say it. If we’re talking only about Spirit Stones, my Immortal Sword Peak might not match Immortal Medicine Peak. But what my Immortal Sword Peak has surpasses what the other peaks have.”
Yao Kaidong did not believe there was anything his Immortal Sword Peak couldn’t give. Even Middle Grade Dharma Treasures-aside from the Sect Leader having one, only his Immortal Sword Peak possessed one.
“Hey, hey, hey, disciple, don’t say too much. Keep a low profile.”
Qin Xiao feared Yun Man would directly blurt out the matter regarding the Spirit Liquid, and he quickly stepped forward to stop her.
“Don’t worry, Master. I know what matters.”
Yun Man naturally understood Qin Xiao’s meaning. She wasn’t a fool; such things naturally wouldn’t be spoken about. She still understood the principle that an innocent man gets in trouble for possessing treasure.
“Could it be Junior Sister Yun has taken a liking to this kid? Are these all just excuses?”
Yao Kaidong no longer cared about keeping up appearances. If she insisted on protecting Qin Xiao, he need not hold back either. He would have his father capture her by force. If she would not serve him, he would squeeze all the value he could out of her, then kill her.
“What nonsense! He’s my master. Say that again, and I won’t be so polite.”
Yun Man was only sixteen or seventeen years old. Where would she have heard such wild talk? For a moment, she became somewhat anxious.
“You won’t be polite? I’m at late Golden Core, not some useless fool like Li Cheng. If you won’t listen to reason, I don’t mind teaching you a lesson.”
“Is Holy Son planning to bully the weak?”
Qin Xiao had also heard of this Yao Kaidong. He was young but already at the Golden Core late stage. His disciple was only at the Golden Core early stage, meaning the strength difference was too great, and she must absolutely not act rashly.
“Bullying the weak, so what?”
Yao Kaidong’s entire body’s Spiritual Qi surged violently, ready to act at any moment.
“Stop.”
Just as Yao Kaidong prepared to attack, Great Elder Yao Tiansheng arrived.
“Father.”
Seeing Yao Tiansheng, Yao Kaidong immediately became well-behaved.
“Get back to Immortal Sword Peak. Stop making a fool of yourself in public.”
Yao Tiansheng scolded his son without sparing his dignity.
“Yes, Father.”
Yao Kaidong gave Qin Xiao a fierce look before leaving discontentedly.
“Thank you, Great Elder, for resolving this.”
Qin Xiao stepped forward and cupped his fists in thanks. Proper etiquette was still necessary; after all, this was the Great Elder.
“It was all a farce, Martial Nephew. I hope you won’t take offense. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t stay.”
Yao Tiansheng dropped these words and then flew away.
It wasn’t that he truly cared about sect rules. Rather, Yun Man and Li Cheng’s previous collision had attracted other Peak Masters, and he had to appear; otherwise, what would the other Peak Masters think?
“Are you alright?”
Just as Yao Tiansheng left, Sect Leader Lin Tiancheng arrived. Looking at Qin Xiao’s tattered appearance, he asked with concern.
“Thank you, Sect Leader. I’m fine.”
Qin Xiao quickly expressed his thanks. He knew the Sect Leader treated him quite well, but was simply bound by sect regulations, hence the three-year agreement. Fortunately, he had already received a disciple.
“There are only twenty-odd days until the Sect Competition. Yao Kaidong is petty. Watch out for his revenge. If you can’t beat him, concede. I’ll make sure you stay alive.”
Lin Tiancheng patted Qin Xiao’s shoulder somewhat apologetically.
“This disciple understands. Thank you, Sect Leader.”
Qin Xiao nodded in reply.
“I’ll go now. Report any trouble to the sect. Don’t try to be a hero.”
After saying this, Lin Tiancheng also flew away.
“Come, disciple. Back inside to cultivate in seclusion.”
Seeing that no one else was arriving, Qin Xiao called out to Yun Man and headed toward the room.