Chapter 12

"Otherwise? Your current magical power might surpass that of a late-stage Qi Cultivation practitioner of the ancient method, but without any spells or magical artifacts, you can't defeat anyone! Kid, seeking a carefree life is fine, but without combat power to protect yourself, this happiness will not last. That's how the world works!"

Wang Qi shouted in his spiritual consciousness: "Old man, you need to choose the right time for your preaching! We're not out of danger yet!"

Damn...

Wang Qi clenched his fists.

"Those three have moved a bit further away. Take advantage of this and move along the shrubs and grass."

"Which way?"

"Try to stay as far away as possible from the battlefield between that Core Formation practitioner and Xiang girl."

Due to the fear of being discovered by the three Core Formation practitioners, Wang Qi only dared to move a little bit using the strength of his elbows and waist. The body techniques he had practiced for years were of no use. The mountainous terrain was full of rocks and thorns, and his clothes were quickly torn, and his hands were cut in several places.

"If this continues, I'll be worn out before I can escape!" Wang Qi was extremely anxious. As a modern person, he was very clear that blood loss and severe pain would affect his mental state and distract his attention. This was fatal in a situation where the enemy was strong and he was weak. However, the circumstances forced him to continue this self-destructive behavior.

"Ah, damn it!"

A furious roar came from above. Then, countless sword auras stabbed down to the ground. Wang Qi, seeing the sword auras continuously landing, was greatly alarmed and quickly pulled out a silver talisman.

Zhen Chanzi shouted: "Don't panic! That person's sword technique is for close combat. Attacking from a distance like this, the gaps between the sword auras are very large, and they won't hit you!"

Wang Qi gritted his teeth and forcibly suppressed the impulse to activate the talisman. The sword auras rampaged through the forest, cutting branches, shattering rocks, and plowing through the soil. Several of them landed not far from Wang Qi, making him break out in a cold sweat.

After a while, the sword aura attacks stopped.

Zhen Chanzi judged: "By our standards as ancient method cultivators, that kid must have used up nearly half of his magical power—though this sword technique looks familiar."

"You've seen many sword techniques—want to give them a good one. Old man, are offensive talismans useful?"

"I don't recognize this talisman. Based on the magical power stored in it, it's more than enough to kill a Core Formation practitioner without any protective spells. However, it's unclear whether this talisman needs to be activated at close range or can be used from a distance, or whether it needs to be aimed or can be controlled after activation. Using it now is a gamble with your life!"

Wang Qi said with a wry smile: "Close range or long range, needs aiming or can be controlled... to resolve the crisis, we need to ensure that this talisman can both be used from a distance and controlled. The probability is about one in four."

"Want to gamble?"

"Gambling? Unless it's a situation where not gambling means certain death, any life-risking gamble with less than a 90% chance of success is just fooling around."

"What do you plan to do then?"

Wang Qi gritted his teeth: "Wait. Now that a clearing has been cut out by the sword auras, moving would make it easy to be discovered."

Zhen Chanzi said: "I suggest you don't pin your hopes on that girl; she's almost done for."

"What!?"

"If there's no turn of events, she can only hold on for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

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Xiang Qi was indeed almost done for.

The Heavenly Sequence Sword Disc is known as the "most versatile" among the many sword techniques of the modern method, but it is a late-developing technique. This sword technique is divided into seven cycles, with the first three cycles being the basics, and the fourth cycle starting to produce various wondrous changes and powerful techniques!

Xiang Qi, however, had not yet completed the third cycle.

Silver sword discs circled around Xiang Qi, continuously deflecting the opponent's magical attacks, but this wouldn't last long. At the beginning, the young girl could still find opportunities to attack while defending, but now, in the midst of a storm of attacks, she could only tighten her sword formation.

"Can't hold on anymore, little girl?"

The ancient method cultivator mocked her with glee. He had already seen through the girl's strength. A mid-stage Core Formation practitioner, if she were an ancient method cultivator, might even be able to defeat a late-stage Golden Core practitioner.

But he was an early-stage Nascent Soul practitioner of the ancient method!

A cruel smile appeared on his face. He had been identified as having the potential to cultivate at a young age, with excellent physical attributes. However, due to his poor health, he couldn't even break through the stage of nourishing the body, leading to ridicule from everyone. In the end, he had no choice but to join the ancient method cultivators. Because of this, he hated every modern method cultivator, especially those with extraordinary insight like Xiang Qi. Torturing and killing them, watching them die in pain, gave him a twisted sense of pleasure.

Those more talented than me should die!

Thinking of this, his attacks intensified.

Xiang Qi's defenses were on the verge of collapse. Each attack from the Nascent Soul practitioner shook her magical foundation, feeling like a heavy punch to her internal organs. A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of Xiang Qi's mouth, a shocking sight. She knew she couldn't hold on much longer.

At this moment, a shocking sword intent came flying from afar!

"A turn of events." Zhen Chanzi, sensing the sword intent, said calmly.

"What?" Wang Qi was confused. Among the people present, he was the weakest and the least sensitive to such matters. At this time, even the three Core Formation practitioners who were searching for him stopped and looked at the distance in confusion.

"That Li kid is back... no, there's another ancient method cultivator with him, a peak Nascent Soul! That cultivator is blocking Li from coming to our aid!"

Wang Qi asked: "Will he make it in time?"

"Can't say. By the standards of our era, this ancient method cultivator is definitely an elite among elites." Due to witnessing Xiang Qi's ability to resist a Nascent Soul practitioner with a late-stage Core Formation, he wasn't too surprised by Li Ziyeh's ability to tangle with a peak Nascent Soul practitioner at the mid-stage Golden Core level: "The cultivation method of that Nascent Soul practitioner... wait, this, this is?"

Zhen Chanzi's voice carried a hint of panic.

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Damn! It's really happened!

When Li Ziyeh saw the flames coming from the direction of Dabai Village, he knew something was wrong.

Dabai Village was located in the southeastern part of the Divine Continent, an area with the fewest ancient method cultivators. He couldn't understand why he would be so unlucky to encounter a late-stage Nascent Soul practitioner. When he sensed that something was wrong in the direction of Dabai Village, he realized he might be caught in a pre-planned conspiracy.

"Don't run! Take this!"

The one fighting Li Ziyeh was a young man in a white robe, looking no more than thirty, with a cold and stern appearance, wielding a heavy sword. He roared and swung his heavy sword, creating countless sword shadows that rushed towards Li Ziyeh.

This attack was a supreme technique passed down from ancient times—the sword technique derived from the *Imperial Extreme Heaven-Splitting Dao*, extremely powerful and invincible! Li Ziyeh didn't dare to be overconfident. His spiritual consciousness surged like water, enveloping the battlefield. The *Yao Ding Suan Jing* of the Myriad Methods Sect ran at full speed, calculating the opponent's sword moves, and then he wielded his Heavenly Sword, thrusting it towards the sword shadows.

Ding! The Heavenly Sword, light and agile, struck the weak point of the sword move just as the old force was exhausted and the new force had not yet formed! The power of the Heavenly Sword burst forth, sending a powerful force. The cold and stern young man, hit by this attack, felt his magical heavy sword almost slip from his hand!

So strong!

Such praise was actually coming from a Nascent Soul practitioner to a Golden Core practitioner. In the era of the ancient method, this seemed inconceivable, but now, modern method cultivators could almost always defeat ancient method cultivators of higher levels, and even a top-notch ancient method cultivator like the cold and stern young man found it difficult to defeat a modern method cultivator of the same level!

Li Ziyeh's Heavenly Sword struck continuously, instantly breaking the cold and stern young man's sword formation. The cold and stern young man, how could he dare to use his body to block the Heavenly Sword, known as the strongest weapon of the modern method, and quickly retreated.

However, repelling the enemy did not make Li Ziyeh feel any more at ease. Because of this delay, his escape technique slowed down. He had already clearly sensed that Xiang Qi's situation was extremely dangerous!

The ancient method cultivator fighting Xiang Qi also understood that as long as he could kill Xiang Qi before Li Ziyeh arrived, it would be a victory for him. Even if he joined forces with the cold and stern young man and had those three subordinates set up an array, killing Li Ziyeh was not impossible!

Xiang Qi also saw the key point, mustered her remaining strength, and prepared to use a secret technique that would overdraw her potential.

Li Ziyeh let out a fierce roar, merged with his sword, and transformed into a streak of sword light, rushing towards the early-stage Nascent Soul practitioner!

Wang Qi's concealment technique could fool the ancient method cultivator but could only last for a while. However, the life and death of Xiang Qi and the early-stage Nascent Soul practitioner were crucial to the outcome of the entire battle.

The cold and stern young man, of course, wouldn't let him go to support Xiang Qi. He rushed forward with his sword, preparing to intercept this formidable enemy. Suddenly, he hesitated, his body technique slowed down, and he passed by Li Ziyeh. Li Ziyeh, not encountering the expected interception, was surprised but didn't have time to think about it, quickly rushing towards Xiang Qi. The early-stage Nascent Soul practitioner was greatly alarmed, as the cold and stern young man's actions were clearly betraying him to Li Ziyeh.

At this moment, Wang Qi felt the black jade ring on his hand heat up slightly. Almost at the same time, Zhen Chanzi roared in his mind: "Run! Run fast! Towards Li Ziyeh! He's a disciple of the *Imperial Extreme Heaven-Splitting Dao*! *Imperial Extreme Heaven-Splitting Dao*!"

Li Ziyeh didn't know about Zhen Chanzi's unusual state. He quickly brought the early-stage Nascent Soul practitioner into his attack range and struck with his Heavenly Sword with full force! A golden sword aura roared through the air, rushing towards the early-stage Nascent Soul practitioner.

The man was fully attacking Xiang Qi and had no time to defend. The protective spiritual light around his body was like foam, instantly shattered by the sword aura, which brutally tore through his flesh. Xiang Qi seized the opportunity, spitting a mouthful of essence into three sword discs, which shot out like lightning. With three *pu* sounds, they pierced through the opponent's chest.

Seeing this, Xiang Qi could no longer hold on, spitting out a mouthful of blood and collapsing.

Li Ziyeh breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, and prepared to face the cold and stern young man. However, he saw a scene that made his eyes widen in shock—

The cold and stern young man was directly rushing towards the direction where Wang Qi was!

Wang Qi's expression was full of anger. Seeing that he could no longer avoid the pursuit of the early-stage Nascent Soul practitioner, he shouted: "Damn it! I should have known you're just a scoundrel!"