Chapter 6

Xu Yang suppressed his shock, knowing that with three Xuan scholars attacking simultaneously, the Qimen hard training team was destined to be completely annihilated here.

Even Xu Yang, who was watching from the side, was so shocked. The bitterness in the hearts of the Qimen hard training team members, such as Song Ren, can be imagined.

"We are only peripheral disciples of the Qimen Daochang, not members of Qimen!" Liu Zishan shouted, "I am willing to leave the Qimen Daochang and join the Huoyun Daochang! I beg the guides to accept me!"

"Interesting," the pale and emaciated Hong Xi sneered, "Song Ren, it seems your Qimen Daochang isn't doing well, with your disciples begging to transfer to our Huoyun Daochang."

Wei Haoshan, with a scarred face, said impatiently, "Kill them all, don't let any news leak out." He took the lead, throwing a punch at Song Ren.

The punch was accompanied by a rumbling force, and a surge of fiery Xuan energy erupted. Not only Song Ren, who was directly in the line of fire, but even the Qimen Daochang apprentices behind him were horrified, feeling the intense fiery Xuan energy.

"Externalizing internal energy, this is the realm of a Xuan scholar..." Xu Yang, watching Wei Haoshan's punch from the side, heard a faint roar of a tiger, and the externalized fiery Xuan energy formed a faint tiger shape. His heart trembled, "This scar-faced Xuan scholar, Wei, is already at the peak of the Xuan scholar realm, close to becoming a Xuan master!"

Song Ren's face was dark. He couldn't even withstand one Wei Haoshan, let alone the late-stage Xuan scholars Hong Xi and Lu Zhuo. However, he couldn't just sit and wait to die. He had to gather his Xuan energy to fight back.

Song Ren's body trembled, his bones cracking. Dark yellow earth Xuan energy condensed on his fists. He slammed his fists into the ground, and with a crack, he pulled out two rock-like giant gloves that extended to his elbows.

"Roar!" Song Ren's dark yellow giant fists met the attack, and the Xuan energy collided with a loud explosion, sending debris flying everywhere.

"Good, indeed it's the peak earth Xuan energy, excelling in defense. Come again!" Wei Haoshan's eyes lit up, and his bones crackled like a string of beads. His aura suddenly intensified, and he roared, "Lan Yan Spear!"

Wei Haoshan's fiery Xuan energy suddenly condensed into a massive flaming spear, which shot towards Song Ren.

Song Ren felt the scorching heat of the flames, and his hair and eyebrows had a faint burnt smell. He was alarmed and clapped his hands together, causing earth Xuan energy to surge and form a massive shield as solid as a mountain.

"Lan Yan Spear is a mid-grade human Xuan technique, while Song Ren's 'Xuan Turtle Shield' is only a low-grade human Xuan technique. Plus, Wei Haoshan is a level higher than Song Ren. This Xuan technique battle should determine the winner," Xu Yang's eyes flickered as he analyzed the situation.

At the same time, Hong Xi and Lu Zhuo also rushed into the group of Qimen Daochang hard training disciples with sinister grins.

This was a massacre. Xuan apprentices who hadn't formed Xuan energy vortices were powerless against two late-stage Xuan scholars.

Not everyone resisted, but Hong Xi and Lu Zhuo didn't even use Xuan techniques. They relied on their physical strength, sending those who resisted flying with a single hand, bones breaking with each strike.

Wei Haoshan's "Lan Yan Spear" shattered Song Ren's "Xuan Turtle Shield" into scattered dark yellow Xuan energy. Song Ren spat blood, his body flying from the force of the spear, his chest bones shattered. As he was thrown, he coughed painfully, spitting out small pieces of internal organs.

"Hmph, a late-stage Xuan scholar, one realm lower than me, and you still want to compete?" Wei Haoshan sneered, and just as a Qimen Daochang disciple tried to escape, he caught up and smashed him into a pulp.

The strength of a Xuan scholar far exceeded that of a Xuan apprentice. After forming a Xuan energy vortex, the Xuan energy would naturally improve the body, enhancing physical strength. This Wei Haoshan, without using Xuan energy, had physical strength exceeding fifty jin, ten times that of an ordinary Xuan apprentice.

A dozen Xuan apprentices were no threat and were quickly slaughtered by the three Xuan scholars.

"Please, mentors, spare my life. I am willing to join the Huoyun Daochang..." Liu Zishan, who hadn't dared to resist, knelt and begged, bowing repeatedly.

The three Huoyun Daochang guides exchanged glances and all showed a sinister smile.

"You are the one who dug up the Ash Grass? Interesting, but the news of today's events cannot leak out," Hong Xi said softly.

"I will keep my mouth shut!" Liu Zishan was overjoyed, presenting a leather bag, "This is the Ash Grass I collected. Please accept it, mentor."

Hong Xi took the leather bag, sneered, and casually put away the Ash Grass. At the Xuan scholar realm, such ordinary herbs were no longer of interest to him.

"How can I trust your promise?" Hong Xi sneered, "We didn't even bring our own disciples on this mission... Do you think we would trust an outsider like you?"

Liu Zishan's face turned deathly pale.

"Moreover, this place isn't just home to Ash Grass, but also... the Flame Flower," Hong Xi continued softly, "Do you think we, from the Huoyun Daochang, are fools who would not investigate after finding the Ash Grass? It seems you are not only weak but also greedy."

Liu Zishan's face was as white as paper. He trembled, pulling out a small bag from his waist and presenting it, sobbing, "It's all my fault, please spare me, mentor!"

"Enough, no more cat and mouse games," Wei Haoran stepped forward, snatching the Flame Flower, and coldly said, "Boy, give up. This day next year will be your anniversary."

Seeing Wei Haoran's raised hand, Liu Zishan was terrified and suddenly shouted, "No, there's someone else... there's still one person in our team who hasn't died!"

Wei Haoran's arm paused, curious.

"Who else?"

"If I tell you, will you spare me?" Liu Zishan asked hopefully.

"Sure, if what you say is true, I'll spare your life. What's the problem with that?" Hong Xi sneered, his eyes filled with ridicule.

"The person is called Xu Yang, not a disciple of the Qimen Daochang. When we found the Ash Grass, he said he needed to relieve himself and never came back..." Liu Zishan stammered, spilling out the information.

"Hmm, interesting." After listening, Hong Xi asked about Xu Yang's appearance and clothing twice, then casually slapped Liu Zishan on the top of his head.

Liu Zishan's face still bore a smile of relief, but it suddenly froze. His eyes showed disbelief as he fell backward.

"Collect their bodies and burn them," Hong Xi wiped his hands and said calmly, "This is to destroy evidence. Even if the Qimen Daochang sends people to investigate, they won't find anything."

"What's the point? The blood here will attract wild beasts, and within a day, there won't be a single intact body left. Burning the bodies and leaving bones will only increase the Qimen Daochang's suspicion," Wei Haoran said dismissively.

Lu Zhuo had already started searching through the dead bodies. He didn't care much about the Xuan apprentices' leather bags but walked over to Song Ren's body.

"Tsk, a late-stage Xuan scholar, and he only has two sets of clothes, some dry rations, and a map." Lu Zhuo searched Song Ren's bag, sneered, and threw the leather bag back on the ground.

"We can't ignore the possibility of a survivor," Hong Xi said seriously, "The master instructed us to act together to ensure no news leaks out, and to be thorough."

"Search the area around the mountain. If you find anything unusual, kill it on the spot," Wei Haoran said simply, and with a few leaps, he left the valley.

Hong Xi and Lu Zhuo followed.

Xu Yang was not angry at Liu Zishan's final betrayal. What's done is done, and harboring resentment against a dead person is meaningless.

Xu Yang quietly climbed the high hill and quickly approached the cliff.

"Three Xuan scholars think that if I discover the scene, I will flee far away. Therefore, this place is temporarily the safest. Once they finish searching, they will definitely meet here, making it dangerous again."

Xu Yang risked approaching to obtain the map of the Giant Python Mountains. This area is dangerous for a Xuan apprentice, and he shouldn't stay long.

Holding onto a green vine, Xu Yang landed quietly. He silently approached Mentor Song Ren, opened his leather bag, and took out a piece of cloth with a map of mountains and roads.

"This is the map of the Giant Python Mountains..." Xu Yang felt a surge of joy. The map marked a hard training route, winding and curving, eventually returning to the city of Linyuan.

Suddenly, Xu Yang's ankle tightened, as if a hand had grabbed it.

Xu Yang was startled. Even though he was brave, cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he quickly turned around.

Seeing it was Mentor Song Ren, Xu Yang relaxed. The Xuan scholar was not quite dead, with a faint breath left. However, his condition was beyond saving.

"Xu Yang..." Mentor Song Ren struggled to speak, "I... I'm dying..."

Xu Yang nodded and looked into Mentor Song Ren's eyes, "I know, but I can't save you."

"No... no need to save me..." Song Ren coughed, dark red blood foaming at his mouth, "I have a favor to ask of you..."

"Go on," Xu Yang said calmly, "If it's not too much trouble, I'll agree. Consider it a favor for talking to me."

Song Ren smiled bitterly, "I... I know you are resentful, blaming me... for always indulging Lu Song and the others in bullying you... I apologize..."

Xu Yang didn't comment. Song Ren was right. It was reasonable. He wasn't a disciple of the Qimen Daochang, and joining the hard training team was a coincidence. As a disciple of the Daochang, Lu Song and the others bullying a useless person like him, Song Ren wouldn't intervene.

"I... I beg you, take care of my daughter... she is only 8... without me, she can't survive..." A warm and loving look flashed in Song Ren's eyes, "I beg you, take her in... as a maid or a servant, please... treat her well..."

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**End of Chapter**