Chapter 6

Xu Yang suppressed the shock in his heart. With three Xuanshi (mystic scholars) attacking simultaneously, the Qimen Sect's ascetic team was destined to be completely annihilated here.

Even Xu Yang, who was watching from the side, was so shocked. The members of the Qimen Sect's ascetic team, who were in the midst of the killing, must have felt an indescribable bitterness.

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

"Interesting," Hong Xi, with a pale and emaciated face, sneered, "Song Ren, it seems your Qimen Sect's training ground is not doing well. The disciples under your command are all begging to transfer to our Huoyun Sect's training ground."

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

The punch was accompanied by a roar of energy, and a surge of fiery Xuanli (mystic power) erupted. Not only Song Ren, who was the first to bear the brunt, but even the Qimen Sect's training ground apprentices behind him were shocked, feeling the intense fiery Xuanli.

"Internal energy released externally, this is the realm of a Xuanshi..." Xu Yang, watching from the side, saw Wei Haoshan's punch, which faintly carried the sound of a roaring tiger, and the faint shape of a young tiger formed by the externalized fiery Xuanli. His heart trembled, "This scar-faced Xuanshi, Wei Haoshan, has already reached the peak of the Xuanshi realm, close to becoming a Xuan Shi (mystic master)!"

Song Ren's face was dark. He couldn't even withstand one Wei Haoshan, let alone the late-stage Xuanshi, Hong Xi, and Lu Zhu, who were also present. However, he couldn't just sit and wait to die. He had to gather his Xuanli to fight back.

Song Ren's body trembled, his bones cracking. Dark yellow earth Xuanli condensed on his fists. He punched 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. The Xuanli collided, and a loud explosion echoed, with rocks and sand flying everywhere.

"Good, indeed it is the extreme earth Xuanli, skilled in defense. Come again!" Wei Haoshan's eyes lit up, and his bones crackled like a string of beads. His aura suddenly rose to a higher level, and he roared, "Lan Yan Qiang (Flame Lance)!"

Wei Haoshan's fiery Xuanli suddenly condensed into a huge 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 startled and clapped his hands together, causing earth Xuanli to surge and form a massive shield as solid as a mountain.

"Lan Yan Qiang is a mid-grade human-level Xuan Shu (mystic technique), while Song Ren's 'Xuan Gui Dun (Mystic Turtle Shield)' is only a low-grade human-level technique. Moreover, Wei Haoshan's strength is a level higher than Song Ren's. This Xuan Shu competition should determine the winner," Xu Yang's eyes flickered as he analyzed the situation.

At the same time, Hong Xi and Lu Zhu also laughed wickedly and rushed into the group of Qimen Sect's ascetic disciples.

This was a massacre. Xuantu (mystic disciples) who had not yet formed a Xuanli vortex were powerless against two late-stage Xuanshi.

Not everyone resisted, but Hong Xi and Lu Zhu didn't even use Xuan Shu, relying on their physical strength alone. With a wave of their hands, they sent the resisters flying, and the sound of bones breaking could be heard continuously.

Wei Haoshan's "Lan Yan Qiang" shattered Song Ren's "Xuan Gui Dun" into scattered dark yellow Xuanli, which dispersed in all directions.

Song Ren spat blood, his body was thrown by the force of "Lan Yan Qiang," and his chest bones shattered. As he was thrown, he coughed painfully, and small pieces of internal organs were expelled.

"Hmph, a late-stage Xuanshi, a level lower than me, also wants to compete?" Wei Haoshan sneered, and just as a Qimen Sect's training ground disciple tried to escape past him, he caught up and smashed him into a pulp with a single hand.

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

A dozen or so Xuantu were no threat at all and were killed by the three Xuanshi like wolves.

"Please, three mentors, spare my life. I am willing to join the Huoyun Sect's training ground..." Liu Zishan, who had not dared to resist, knelt and begged, bowing continuously.

The three guides from the Huoyun Sect's training ground exchanged glances and all showed a sinister smile.

"You are the one who dug up the Ash Grass? Quite 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, took the leather bag, and presented it, "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 Xuanshi realm, such ordinary herbs were no longer of much value to him.

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

Liu Zishan's face turned deathly pale.

"Moreover, this place not only has Ash Grass but also... Flame Flowers," Hong Xi continued softly, "Do you think we, from the Huoyun Sect, 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 and fumbled for a small bag from his waist, presenting it and sobbing, "It's all my fault for being foolish. Please, mentor, show mercy!"

"Enough, no more cat and mouse games," Wei Haoran stepped forward, snatched 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 are others... There is still one person in our team who hasn't died!"

Wei Haoran's arm lowered, and he was curious.

"Who else?"

"Will you spare me if I tell you?" Liu Zishan looked hopeful.

"Sure, if what you say is true, I will spare your life. What's the harm?" Hong Xi sneered, his eyes flashing with intense mockery.

"The person is called Xu Yang. He is not a disciple of the Qimen Sect's training ground. When we found the Ash Grass, he said he needed to relieve himself and hasn't come back..." Liu Zishan's lips trembled as he spoke rapidly.

"Hmm, interesting." After listening, Hong Xi asked about Xu Yang's appearance and clothing twice, then casually slapped Liu Zishan's forehead.

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

"Gather their bodies and burn them," Hong Xi wiped his hands and said calmly, "This is called destroying evidence. Even if the Qimen Sect's training ground sends people to investigate, they won't find anything."

"What's the point? The smell of blood 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 Sect's suspicions," Wei Haoran said dismissively.

Lu Zhu had already started searching through the pile of dead bodies. He didn't care much about the leather bags of the Xuantu but walked over to Song Ren's body.

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

"We must be cautious about the one who escaped," Hong Xi's face was serious, "The sect leader instructed us to act together to ensure no news leaks out and to be thorough."

"Search the mountain. If you find anything unusual, kill on the spot," Wei Haoran said simply and acted swiftly, leaping out of the valley in a few bounds.

Hong Xi and Lu Zhu followed.

Xu Yang was not angry about Liu Zishan's final betrayal. What had happened was already done, and harboring resentment against a dead person was meaningless.

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

"Three Xuanshi think that if I discover the scene, I will flee far away. Therefore, this place is temporarily the safest. Once they finish their search and meet here, it will become dangerous."

Xu Yang took the risk to approach to get the map of the Giant Python Mountains. This place, with its strange beasts, was too dangerous for him at the Xuantu stage, and he couldn't stay long.

Holding a green vine, Xu Yang slowly landed. 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 cultivation route, winding and curving, eventually returning to the starting point—Linyuan City.

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.

When he turned, Xu Yang relaxed. It was Mentor Song Ren. This Xuanshi was not yet dead, but he was on his last breath. His condition was beyond saving.

"Xu Yang..." Mentor Song Ren struggled to speak, "I... I am 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, and dark red blood foamed at his mouth, "I have a request... I ask you to..."

"Go on," Xu Yang said calmly, "As long as it's not too troublesome, I can agree. Consider it a favor for our conversation."

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

Xu Yang did not comment. Song Ren was telling the truth. It was reasonable. He was not a disciple of the Qimen Sect's training ground, and joining the ascetic team was just a coincidence. As a disciple of the training ground, Lu Song and the others bullying a useless person like him, Song Ren naturally wouldn't intervene.

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

---

Xu Yang did not feel angry about Liu Zishan's final betrayal. What had happened was already done, and harboring resentment against a dead person was meaningless.

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

"Three Xuanshi think that if I discover the scene, I will flee far away. Therefore, this place is temporarily the safest. Once they finish their search and meet here, it will become dangerous."

Xu Yang took the risk to approach to get the map of the Giant Python Mountains. This place, with its strange beasts, was too dangerous for him at the Xuantu stage, and he couldn't stay long.

Holding a green vine, Xu Yang slowly landed. 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 cultivation route, winding and curving, eventually returning to the starting point—Linyuan City.

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.

When he turned, Xu Yang relaxed. It was Mentor Song Ren. This Xuanshi was not yet dead, but he was on his last breath. His condition was beyond saving.

"Xu Yang..." Mentor Song Ren struggled to speak, "I... I am 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, and dark red blood foamed at his mouth, "I have a request... I ask you to..."

"Go on," Xu Yang said calmly, "As long as it's not too troublesome, I can agree. Consider it a favor for our conversation."

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

Xu Yang did not comment. Song Ren was telling the truth. It was reasonable. He was not a disciple of the Qimen Sect's training ground, and joining the ascetic team was just a coincidence. As a disciple of the training ground, Lu Song and the others bullying a useless person like him, Song Ren naturally wouldn't intervene.

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