Translator: Lynn
Sponsored chapter (2/4)
Sun Xinghong, being the eldest, voiced his concerns first, “Shimei, Shidi, the situation is dire. What should we do?”
Qin Xiu’er, her complexion pale, responded promptly, “We must escape, of course!”
Shen Peng, with a furrowed brow, raised his head and hesitated, “Shimei, the senior showed kindness in saving our lives. It might be too much to…”
Sun Xinghong and Qin Xiu’er fell into a brief silence upon hearing Shen Peng’s words.
They were not ungrateful, but their limited worldly experience and the fear lingering from their recent brush with death made them reluctant to engage in a fight as before. They realized the preciousness of life, having narrowly escaped the clutches of death, and were unwilling to return to their previous recklessness. Moreover, their vigor and self-confidence had been drained by the pack of beasts, and their weakened state of mind left them ill-prepared for any confrontation.
If they could follow these seniors, gradually overcoming the trauma with their protection while battling wild beasts and claiming victories, they might dispel the shadows of the past. However, under the current circumstances, this seemed impossible.
The urgency of the situation left them little time for contemplation.
Qin Xiu’er, holding the highest status among them, spoke decisively, “The person who has come is formidable. We are no match for them, and staying here is futile and burdensome for senior. It’s better to retreat immediately, send a letter to the division elders, and request their rescue. So that elder will come to our aid.”
Sun Xinghong and Shen Peng exchanged glances, nodded silently, and offered wry smiles.
While the statement sounded noble, the futility of a confrontation with four opponents of equal strength was evident. Moreover, the whereabouts of the division elders were unknown, and the time it would take for their teacher to be notified and arrive remained uncertain. The unpredictability of these factors would consume precious time, and their benefactor might not survive the relentless siege until then. The notion of seeking help was essentially an excuse.
Despite their recent experiences, the three of them, being decent disciples of the righteous path, were torn. Abandoning their benefactor would bring shame, yet the significance of preserving their own lives overshadowed any feelings of guilt or shame.
In no time, their expressions hardened, and when they looked at Xu Ziqing again, guilt seemed to be concealed deep within their hearts.
Xu Ziqing, perceptive to human emotions, discerned their actions and expressions. Rather than disappointment, a sense of relief washed over him. He was originally not inclined to accompany them, the arrival of the four individuals from Jile Peak seemed like a fortuitous turn of events. If he engaged the four in a duel and delayed their escape, he could use his means without worrying about being seen by others after they fled.
With this realization, Xu Ziqing’s eyes narrowed, and his aura surged. “Since you’ve come to take my life, just do it!” He then transmitted his voice to the back, “They’re after me; I’ll stall them, you run!” The three heard the words and felt a mixture of shame and gratitude.
Xu Ziqing shouted, “No more hesitation. I’m prepared to face death. I can’t protect you!”
This declaration spurred the trio into swift action, their hearts laden with gratitude and guilt.
The four individuals in front were oblivious to the split-second sound transmission between Xu Ziqing and the three, but they did catch his provocative words.
Their initial bravado gave way to a more serious mood, and the tallest among them commanded, “Do it!”
In the next moment, an astonishing aura exploded from all four.
Without waiting for the four opponents to act, Xu Ziqing swiftly raised his steel wooden sword, creating intricate sword patterns as he initiated an attack. Employing the “Four Seasons Sword Art,” a technique he hadn’t used in a while, his sword danced like flowing clouds, and the sword light resembled flying snow. In an instant, it stirred up real essence, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder.
The four individuals wielded flying swords, all low-grade spiritual weapons, which they quickly summoned, surrounding Xu Ziqing from all directions. Although they possessed other magic weapons, the complexity of coordinating them made it impractical in this situation.
In a moment, four powerful sword techniques, infused with various forces such as gold, fire, and metal, manifested as countless piercing sword lights, weaving into dense sword nets that emitted formidable energy.
The movements of the assailants were mysterious, advancing, and retreating with indescribable changes, creating an unreal and overwhelming experience for anyone attempting to confront them. Xu Ziqing found himself struggling to keep up.
In the Golden Core Formation stage, compared to the Foundation Establishment period, the denser true essence contained significantly more potent energy in each drop. As a result, even the same technique had a more powerful impact.
The clash produced brilliance and a turbulent force that, while not earth-shattering, transformed into a hurricane, reducing everything in its vicinity to ashes.
Although the assailants were not yet sword cultivators and merely collaborated on a sword technique, their combined strength proved formidable. However, their confidence led them to underestimate Xu Ziqing. They believed that, with their numerical advantage, they could swiftly end the confrontation, not expecting to be entangled by an early Golden Core Formation master.
Amused by the spectacle of Xu Ziqing appearing beleaguered under their assault, they reveled in the “cat-playing-mouse” dynamic. This talented disciple, who had swiftly risen to prominence within a few months of entering the Grand Competition, seemed destined for greatness in the future. Witnessing his struggle was a source of enjoyment.
Yet, their amusement inadvertently granted Xu Ziqing a respite. Had they exerted their full strength from the beginning, Xu Ziqing might have been compelled to unleash Rongjin immediately.
Despite the pressure, Xu Ziqing remained composed. Months of rigorous training in the Wild Beast Plain, facing both the beasts and their pressures, equipped him with effective strategies against group attacks. His plan involved conserving and refining his true energy, enduring until the last moment of weakness, at which point he would unleash Rongjin and escape.
As he faced the relentless assault, Xu Ziqing let out a low grunt, raising a golden bead obtained from Li Cai. After a slight sacrifice, the bead became a potent weapon to hurl at his adversaries.
Recognizing the power of this object, one of the assailants promptly raised his sword to block, resulting in a crisp “clang” sound and numbness in his arms. Seizing the momentary gap in their defenses, Xu Ziqing pointed, and the Qingyun needle at the center of his eyebrows transformed into a blue net, targeting one of the attackers.
This rudimentary form of Qi, a significant feat for several cultivators, forced the targeted assailant to evade. Xu Ziqing then redirected his long sword to entangle the moves of the remaining two attackers. In the heat of the battle, Xu Ziqing managed to hold his ground against all four enemies.
Upon witnessing the opportunity, Qin Xiu’er and her companions immediately unleashed their true energy, employing various escapism techniques to desperately flee. Within a few breaths, they vanished from sight.
Xu Ziqing felt a surge of joy and relief, realizing that his considerable efforts had not been in vain. Finally, he let them go, and it seemed his strategy had paid off.
The four individuals from Jile Peak focused on their confrontation with Xu Ziqing and paid no attention to the escaping trio. These three Foundation Establishment Stage juniors, masked and fleeing for their lives, seemed inconspicuous. The four attackers, assuming they wouldn’t be identified, deemed them unimportant. Besides, if these fleeing individuals dared to escape, they likely knew something, making them hesitant to report to others.
Now fully aware of Xu Ziqing’s resourcefulness, the attackers abandoned any restraint. They simultaneously raised their palms, intending to overpower Xu Ziqing with their life’s cultivation.
However, Xu Ziqing executed a feint, transforming his steel wooden sword into a white vine resembling a poisonous snake, sweeping in all directions.
Reflecting on his encounters with the wild beasts, Xu Ziqing had developed the ability to transform ten thousand trees. Amidst the chaos of the beasts, he couldn’t afford the luxury of transitioning between spells. After diligent practice, he mastered the art of seamlessly shifting between natal wood and other trees.
In an instant, Rongjin replaced the millennia-old steel wood, unleashing a powerful roar. Covered in leaf buds, the vine, upon contact with a person’s body, could absorb and penetrate deeply. Once ensnared, no essence or blood could escape its grasp.
The nearest assailant found himself entwined around the waist by a vine, initially dismissing it as a mere plant. However, a sudden, sharp pain paralyzed half his body, causing him to struggle to maintain his grip on his magic weapon. The vine drained him of his essence and blood, leaving him hollow and weakened. Witnessing this, the other three attackers hurriedly attempted to evade the vines.
Undeterred, Xu Ziqing remained composed. He flicked his fingers, and three additional vines emerged from his other palm, advancing toward the remaining assailants. The vines created a fierce spectacle, restricting their movements and encircling them.
Amidst the commotion, a voice interrupted the tense atmosphere. “Fortunately, I stumbled upon quite a show,” the voice remarked, “The dignified Immortal Sect disciple employing Demonic methods.”
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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