Qin Feng navigates interactions at the Treasure Vault and accepts an invitation for tea from Miss Lan Yueliang. Meanwhile, Xie Xuan interrogates Jia Fu about Qin Feng's sword and background, vowing to uncover his secrets. Qin Feng and Miss Lan Yueliang agree to cooperate and travel to Canghong Mountain together, meeting a large group of adventurers at the East City Gate.
"Haha, it’s no trouble at all."
"Who isn’t trying to make money?"
"He’s a top-tier adventurer! Just two days ago, I saw the real meaning of wealth."
"Heh heh, I’m here too. He and Miss Lan Yueliang are quite well-off."
All the adventurers chuckled.
To them, Qin Feng’s mission was a stroke of pure luck. They had all been scouring the Kanhong Mountain Range, akin to finding a needle in a haystack. If they could secure an extra 50% without additional cost, only a complete fool would decline.
"Miss Lan Yueliang, it appears you neglected to inform me of this arrangement beforehand." Suddenly, a somber voice cut through the air.
A sizable contingent of people emerged, clad in the distinctive Daoist robes of the Buddhist Sect. Their auras were potent and stirring. This individual was none other than Xie Xuan, the leader of the West Gate Shao Sect.
"Does Xie Shaoguan object?" Lan Yueliang expressed her surprise, genuinely believing no one would turn down such a lucrative offer.
"Should I be the one hired?" Xie Xuan cast a disdainful glance at Qin Feng. "Miss Lan Yueliang, the compensation is irrelevant to me. You must already be aware of my reasons for assisting you."
"Fool, do you actually believe I need to recruit you?" he retorted, his voice sharp.
"I’m not here to investigate you; I’m here to kill you!" Xie Xuan suddenly bellowed.
"Whoa!"
A chilling glint flashed as Xie Xuan’s long sword was drawn in an instant.
"Of course, that’s precisely how it must be done."
"How would we dare provoke Xie Xuan? That 50% commission would go to waste."
"No, it seems Xie Xuan intends to kill and seize the spoils! With the money in hand, he’s going straight for the kill!"
Witnessing the unfolding situation, the adventurers prudently retreated. They dared not interfere when the Shao Sect leader from the West Gate made his move.
Among those present, few held Qin Feng in high regard.
Qin Feng, disregarding the scornful gazes surrounding him, slowly met Xie Xuan’s eyes. A mocking smirk finally graced the corner of his lips. "I am aware I possess no formidable backing, and you wish to end my life. Heh heh, regrettably, you lack the requisite ability."
"Today, I shall demonstrate the true meaning of death. All of you, stand back and witness how I dispatch him." He waved his hand, commanding his fifty men to clear the immediate vicinity.
Qin Feng turned, and a magnificent battle blade materialized. He had no intention of resorting to a mere sword.
"Die!"
Xie Xuan let out a low roar, taking the initiative. He slammed his foot onto the ground and surged towards Qin Feng.
Facing Xie Xuan’s full-force assault, Qin Feng did not retreat. Instead, he accelerated towards his adversary with astonishing speed.
Throughout their clash, the two figures moved like blurs, their passage stirring up violent gusts of wind.
"Bang!"
A sharp, metallic clang echoed as a ferocious wave of energy erupted from their point of impact. Instantly, the ground within a ten-meter radius was scoured clean of leaves and dirt.
Qin Feng wielded his skillful blade, his gaze fixed on Xie Xuan’s long sword, which lunged like a striking viper. A silver arc flickered at the sword’s edge with each movement.
Devoid of ostentatious martial arts or ethereal auras, the battle blade in Qin Feng’s grasp executed a straightforward, decisive slash.
"Chomp!"
In their head-on collision, Xie Xuan’s sword met the broadsword squarely. Under the immense pressure, the slender long sword bent into a precarious arc, a sight that made onlookers flinch. The sword’s tip nearly grazed Xie Xuan’s sword-wielding hand.
"This brat possesses considerable strength." Realizing he had suffered a minor setback in their initial exchange, Xie Xuan smirked. He channeled his spirit into his palm, gathering it before striking the sword hilt. A current-like energy flowed along the blade, rapidly propagating into Qin Feng’s weapon.
As the electric energy infiltrated the battle blade, the hand gripping it trembled. His internal spiritual power surged, swiftly expelling the intrusive, volatile energy.
"Lightning is indeed a potent skill. Unfortunately, your mastery is lacking; cease embarrassing yourself."
Qin Feng effortlessly purged the foreign energy and responded with a casual taunt.
"Heh heh, boy, your confidence is premature!"
Xie Xuan laughed as Qin Feng’s palm quivered. His sword began to spin erratically, scraping sparks off the battle blade as it unleashed a sudden outburst.
"Thunderstorm Dance!"
As his sword weaved, Xie Xuan chanted in a low voice. A serpentine arc flickered across the blade, intertwining and pulsing with crackling energy, emanating a formidable power.
"Thunderstorm Dance?"
"How quickly did the master of the small sect learn the Arch Lightning Dance?" Witnessing Xie Xuan's audacious performance, shouts erupted from the onlookers as the swift technique reached its climax and concluded. Though the Arch Lightning Dance was merely a Holy-grade high power, it represented Xie Xuan's most potent ability, essentially his trump card. It was unexpected that he would deploy it so soon after their encounter.
"Heh, heh, wanting to defeat this kid in the shortest time to show him how big the gap is, fewer and fewer gatekeepers!" From a secluded spot, a high-ranking official from the Xifu Sect chuckled.
Xie Xuan, after all, was an insurmountable force at the third layer, his mastery of thunder and lightning paralysis skills granting him immense power. Qin Feng's strongest Sword Dao, being concealed, found its power significantly diminished.
Conversely, Qin Feng also experienced a degree of pressure.
On the battlefield, as Xie Xuan unleashed such an effort, Qin Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, but his extensive combat experience steadied him.
Under the strained attention of the crowd, the sword and blade clashed violently. With a sudden burst of energy, minute fissures webbed across the rocky ground beneath them.
"Chomp!" The sharp tip of the sword met the lightning's arc, depicted as claws and fangs in a fierce collision. The immense force embedded within caused the blade to shatter. Furthermore, due to the arc's corrosive effect, the spiritual power ensconcing the blade rapidly depleted by over half.
"Heh heh." Observing Qin Feng's momentary discomfiture and hasty retreat, Xie Xuan sneered. However, he maintained his grip, not yet completing his sword's withdrawal, and fiercely thrust it forward, implying Qin Feng's retreat was too late to counter.
"Chomp!" Another sharp sound resonated as the spirit energy on the sword completely dissipated.
"Chomp!" Xie Xuan's sword not only broke through the spirit force guarding the blade but also continued its lightning-fast assault. Simultaneously, the final arc of energy spewed forth from the sword's body, striking the battle blade with considerable force. With a resounding boom, the spiritual battle blade in Qin Feng's grasp, overwhelmed by these potent forces, could no longer endure, disintegrating into dispersed spiritual power.
"You mongrel, perish!" Xie Xuan brandished his treasured sword, coldly taunting Qin Feng.
"Shh" A hissing sound emanated as Qin Feng's weapon was forcefully dispersed. Around the periphery of the battlefield, a collective intake of breath was audible. In this competition, the loss of one's weapon was virtually synonymous with defeat.
Under typical circumstances, this would indeed be the case. However, for Qin Feng, the reality was quite the opposite. While the blade did enhance his offensive capabilities, it also served as a form of restraint. This was because he had never formally practiced any sword techniques, relying solely on instinct.
At the same cultivation level, employing a high-tier Holy Rank power versus an instinctive slash would naturally result in a disadvantage. But if one possessed superior skills, the outcome would undoubtedly differ.
In a one-on-one confrontation,
Freed from the constraints of the battle blade, Qin Feng experienced a sense of liberation. Naturally, if Qin Feng were to fully employ his Sword Dao, spiritual power, physical prowess, and other supplementary techniques, even a formidable opponent at the third layer like the Unbeatable Ghost could be vanquished. Therefore, defeating the gifted Xie Xuan would be well within his capabilities.
Thus, upon hearing Xie Xuan's icy sneer, Qin Feng casually shrugged his shoulders. "Then, let's see."
