Chapter 18

Zhao Xian didn't take Amu seriously at all, and of course, this couldn't be blamed on him. Who, considering themselves as lions or tigers, would need to be cautious of an opponent like a sheep or a rabbit?

Zhao Xian let out a cold snort, and with a grab of his right hand in the air, a mass of invisible cold air gathered in his palm. If one looked closely, they would see a layer of frost forming on Zhao Xian's hand.

This was the low-level elemental technique of the Northern Cold Sect, the Cold Condensation Technique. Beginners at the first stage of cultivation generally mastered it. It involved using the condensed spiritual energy within the body to transform into cultivation power, then gathering the cold air from the surroundings to harm the enemy, similar to the low-level fireball techniques of other sects.

However, because the Northern Cold Sect's cultivation methods leaned towards ice and cold, more practitioners cultivated the Cold Condensation Technique.

"Amu, be careful, that's the Cold Condensation Technique! Quick, dodge," Lishui said, though he didn't have any immortal roots, he still had basic knowledge.

Zhao Xian sneered at Amu, "Brat, this will make you so cold you won't be able to get up for three days!" As he spoke, Zhao Xian quickly moved, aiming to catch Amu off guard.

In Zhao Xian's mind, his Cold Condensation Technique was already quite proficient, and making a mere mortal like Amu lie in bed for three days was no problem.

Although the Cold Condensation Technique was a low-level elemental technique, if it struck water, the water would instantly turn to ice. If it hit a person, the cold air would directly enter their meridians. At best, the person would be freezing cold and bedridden for three days; at worst, they could be frozen to death by the cold air.

So, Zhao Xian's thoughts were reasonable, but unfortunately, what was reasonable didn't usually apply to Amu.

If it came to low-level combat experience, no disciple of the Northern Cold Sect could match Amu. Although cultivators were far superior to mortals in terms of ability, the number of people they had killed might not necessarily be more than Amu's.

Zhao Xian, with his sinister expression, had already secretly prepared. Amu was worried about the cultivators' flying swords and talismans, the so-called "flying swords that can kill from a thousand miles away," which Amu was confident he couldn't withstand.

However, Amu overestimated Zhao Xian. To control a sword with qi, one needed at least the cultivation level of the sixth stage of initial cultivation, and Zhao Xian was far from that. As for talismans, Zhao Xian had a few given by his master in his pocket, but he wasn't willing to use them against Amu, nor did he see the need.

Without these two, how could Zhao Xian possibly defeat Amu?

The small Cold Condensation Technique was directly ignored by Amu. With his immortal bone, the Cold Condensation Technique was not a threat at all.

So, when Zhao Xian approached and the Cold Condensation Technique was about to strike Amu, Amu didn't hesitate. He moved, advancing straight toward Zhao Xian.

"Suicidal!" Deng Yan and Li Tong behind him exchanged cold smiles.

Zhao Xian didn't expect that after hearing Lishui's warning, Amu would not dodge but advance instead. He felt a bit disappointed: "Sigh! Mortals are just mortals. Winning too easily takes away the fun."

Zhao Xian was daydreaming when he suddenly felt something was wrong.

Amu had already closed to within three steps of him. According to the usual bullying routine, the Cold Condensation Technique should have already struck Amu. Amu should have screamed, fallen backward, rolled around, turned blue and purple, chattered his teeth, and convulsed...

But? But?

Zhao Xian was deep in thought when he suddenly saw a figure flash by, and then a sharp pain hit his abdomen. Before he could react, a gust of wind came from below, and his chin was struck hard. Instantly, Zhao Xian's vision went black.

Deng Yan and Li Tong couldn't help but exclaim in shock. Their previous cold smiles had not yet faded when they saw Amu advance and Zhao Xian fly backward.

"Ah!" Zhao Xian flew back two or three zhang and fell backward.

In fact, Amu's immortal bone had completely ignored Zhao Xian's Cold Condensation Technique, which couldn't harm him at all. Then, he punched Zhao Xian's abdomen hard, followed by an uppercut to his chin.

If Amu hadn't come to the Northern Cold Sect and didn't want to cause trouble for Lishui or make Han Qian lose face, Amu might have taken Zhao Xian's life.

Even so, with his immortal bone, Amu's strength was extraordinary. The moment he was hit, Zhao Xian's internal organs were injured, his chin was shattered, and he fainted, flying backward.

If Zhao Xian hadn't been a cultivator who had once achieved great success with his immortal roots and had his cultivation power refine his body, this blow might have been truly severe.

But Zhao Xian was also unlucky; he landed directly on a stone ground.

With a "thud," although he broke a few ribs, the flow of qi in his body was restored, and he regained consciousness.

It would have been better if he hadn't woken up. Upon waking, his internal organs felt like they were being cut by a knife, his chin was shattered, his mouth was full of blood, and his body was in excruciating pain.

Thus, the scene he had imagined of Amu being hit and suffering now befell him.

He rolled around, his face turned blue and purple, his teeth chattered, and his body convulsed...

The contrast between the expected outcome and the actual result was too great. After their initial shock, Deng Yan and Li Tong rushed to Zhao Xian.

Lishui was also startled and hurriedly asked, "Amu, are you... are you okay?"

Amu was calm, deliberately dusting off his clothes, then looked at Deng Yan and the others, and replied, "Senior Brother Lishui, I'm fine! A first-stage cultivator really can't take a hit."

Hearing Amu's words, Lishui couldn't help but look at Zhao Xian, who was now in Li Tong's arms, his chest covered in saliva and blood.

"Du... Du... Du..." Unfortunately, Zhao Xian's chin was shattered, and his tongue wouldn't obey him, so he couldn't speak.

Li Tong quickly said, "Senior Brother Zhao, don't speak. Senior Brother Deng Yan will avenge you!"

At this moment, Deng Yan's face was ashen. He and Zhao Xian and Li Tong had formed a bond through their long-term bullying of the weak. Now that Zhao Xian had suffered a setback, Deng Yan naturally had to step forward.

Most importantly, Deng Yan believed that Zhao Xian must have been careless or that his Cold Condensation Technique wasn't proficient enough, allowing Amu to catch him off guard.

Looking at Zhao Xian's injuries, Amu must have been a martial artist before, with some strength and good agility. But as long as he was careful, Amu wouldn't stand a chance against him, a third-stage cultivator.

Thinking this, Deng Yan asked Li Tong to take care of Zhao Xian. Both of their storage bags contained medicinal pills. Although Zhao Xian's injuries looked severe, for cultivators, such physical injuries were nothing. However, today's setback was too embarrassing.

If this spread, the three of them being humiliated by a mere cultivator would surely become a laughingstock among the Northern Cold Sect's disciples.

Deng Yan approached Amu and sneered, "You're called Amu?"

"You're called Deng Yan?" Amu had heard Li Tong's words and knew Deng Yan's name, so he asked in Deng Yan's tone.

"Hehe!" Deng Yan's face grew even darker, "When did you come up the mountain, and you have some martial arts foundation?"

"Yesterday! Your brother is really a coward!" Amu raised his head, provocatively looking at Deng Yan while secretly remaining on guard.

"Yesterday?" Deng Yan's face changed. From his perspective, Amu should have been practicing the Root Nourishing Technique for one or two months. Perhaps Amu was a disciple from another small sect. Thinking this, Deng Yan quickly regained his composure and said no more, "Humph! Then let's spar!"

He also grabbed the air with one hand, using the Cold Condensation Technique. However, with two stages of cultivation difference, his Cold Condensation Technique was clearly more advanced than Zhao Xian's. The cold air was no longer invisible but a faint cold mist.

Amu sneered. With the previous experience, he was even less afraid. Since Zhao Xian's technique had no effect on him, how could this slightly more advanced Cold Condensation Technique be any different?