Tit for Tat!

Clad in a blue-purple brocade robe, Luo Changqing paid no attention to Qin Wushang, nor did he care to speculate on the relationship between Li Guanqi and Qin Wushang. He simply assumed Qin Wushang wanted to get closer to Li Guanqi, given how deeply enigmatic Li Guanqi's background was. Even the Eight Generals seemed to look out for him to some degree. When Hong Zhi had been grievously injured and rescued before, she had recuperated at the Great Xia Sword Sect for a time—a matter Luo Changqing was well aware of. Furthermore, the overnight disappearance of Mingchuan on the Lingxu Continent years ago had also been Long Hou's handiwork. Later investigations by many revealed that Long Hou had likely acted back then specifically to save Li Guanqi. None of that concerned Luo Changqing, however. His sole purpose here was to take Luo Siyang away and, while he was at it, get a look at Li Guanqi. With a cold, stern countenance, Luo Changqing hovered midair, looking down upon them. A sudden flicker of annoyance flashed in Qin Wushang's eyes, and he abruptly exploded into action, slashing out a terrifying arc of sword light! The sword light streaked diagonally upward, heading straight for the crown of Luo Changqing's head! Luo Changqing's expression changed slightly, and he instantly dipped his body downward. Qin Wushang said coldly, "Come down lower. My neck hurts, and I can't be bothered looking up." Luo Changqing narrowed his eyes. The thumb of his left hand, which held his saber, crept slowly onto the hilt. Qin Wushang took a step forward with a sneer, his sword vibrating faintly with a ringing hum. "What? Want to try your hand against me first?" Qin Wushang showed no fear whatsoever, a frenzied battle lust glinting in the depths of his eyes. That surging intent even ignited Luo Changqing's own. Li Guanqi felt rather helpless—had he known, he wouldn't have let Qin Wushang come along. Luo Changqing said coldly, "I have long heard of the formidable strength of Qin Imperial City's imperial scion. As fellow candidates for the Eight Generals, I am quite curious to see how the candidate for Sword Head measures up..." Standing to the side, Li Guanqi twitched his lips in exasperation. With a flick of his raised hand, the four thunder pillars high above began to contract with a deafening rumble! In that mere instant, the unconscious Luo Siyang was violently jolted awake by sheer agony. His limbs were crushed into mangled flesh and shattered bone. Li Guanqi's voice wasn't loud, but it reached both men crystal clear. "You two go ahead and fight. I'll play around for a bit." Clenching his teeth, Luo Changqing cast a sharp gaze toward the distant thunder pillars in the firmament. "A sealing spirit incantation? This... this is the Four-Direction Heaven-Reaching Pillars!" His gaze finally shifted to Li Guanqi, his voice deep and grim. "Enough. If he dies, this feud between us can never be resolved." Hearing those words, Qin Wushang burst into laughter. Sure enough, Li Guanqi opened his left hand toward a spot several hundred paces away and clenched it hard! *Boom!* A bloodcurdling shriek tore from Luo Siyang's throat! "Aaaaargh!!" The space-sealing power crushed the man's limbs into pulp! Luo Changqing flew into a rage, roaring, "Li Guanqi, how dare you?!" Hearing his brother's voice, Luo Siyang's eyes flooded with tears as he writhed desperately, looking toward Luo Changqing. "Ugh! Mmph... Wahhh!!" Watching Luo Siyang's limbs get crushed into minced meat, Qin Wushang curled his lip. "You didn't really think the feud between you and him could ever be smoothed over, did you? I've told you before: spend less time in secluded cultivation and listen to what's going on in the world outside." Glaring fiercely at Qin Wushang, golden light flared beneath Luo Changqing's feet, and his silhouette flashed forward, instantly appearing before Luo Siyang! Just as the saber in his hand was about to leave its scabbard, Li Guanqi's figure abruptly materialized a mere foot in front of him! *So fast!!* *Clang!* The saber had cleared its sheath by a foot, but before he could draw it completely, a fist clad in violet scales slammed into his wrist! *Boom! Clang!* Luo Changqing's expression twisted in horror. A tremendous force surged into him, instantly shattering his wrist. The partially drawn saber was violently forced back into its scabbard! Luo Changqing drove a knee strike toward Li Guanqi's chin, but Li Guanqi merely batted it down with a languid slap of his palm. Immediately shifting palm to fist, he threw a vicious punch straight forward! Luo Changqing raised his blade horizontally across his front, bringing an arm up to protect his chest. *Thud!!* Luo Changqing hurtled backward like an artillery shell, his posture hunched like a boiled shrimp as he flew through the air. "Pfft!!" Incredulity flooded Luo Changqing's eyes as a mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips. The bones in his arm were fractured, his wrist smashed, and two of his ribs broken. In that single punch, he felt as if he had been slapped flying by a colossal dragon. The sheer power that had poured through was terrifying... Sitting in a chair atop the mountain peak, Qin Wushang jumped to his feet. He stared intently at Li Guanqi's right hand, which was covered in scales gleaming with a metallic sheen. "Dragon scales?" Having dragged his feet through the air to leave two pitch-black rifts before arresting his momentum, Luo Changqing muttered in a chilling voice. Li Guanqi didn't deny it. Ever since acquiring the Qilin Transformation, he had spent his periods of seclusion comprehending the manual. The art originally had three layers, but through Li Guanqi's modifications—and because he possessed Jiuxiao's true dragon essence blood—unleashing it was now more aptly called the Dragon Transformation. Combined with the Dragon Elephant Prison-Suppressing Art, Li Guanqi could dragonize both arms, multiplying his physical strength to frightening heights! With a grim expression, Luo Changqing looked at Li Guanqi and wiped the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. Within a few breaths, his left hand healed back to normal. He said coldly, "Release him, and I won't make things difficult for you." Even Qin Wushang shook his head upon hearing this. Luo Changqing was truly an idiot. If Luo Siyang hadn't provoked Li Guanqi, why would Li Guanqi have bothered capturing him in the first place? If he had just asked what had happened and offered an apology and restitution, the matter might well have been settled. But putting on airs like this... Sure enough, Li Guanqi sneered. Lifting Luo Siyang up by his head, he spoke without joy or anger, "He's right here. Come and take him." *Boom!!* An incomparably formidable pressure erupted from within Luo Changqing! Razor-sharp Geng Metal power formed a golden tempest several dozen yards wide, swirling fiercely around him. "Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!" *Whoosh!* This time, Luo Changqing was even faster, vanishing from his spot in the blink of an eye. *Clang!!* A crisp saber chime rang across the heavens. Without even looking, Li Guanqi turned and jabbed the withered branch forcefully toward his flank! *Boom!!* Wind and clouds roiled as dense black storm clouds blanketed a radius of a hundred li, throwing the spirit qi into wild turmoil. *Clang!* Branch met saber tip to tip, diamond cut diamond, the tremendous force shattering the void for hundreds of yards around. Atop the peak, Qin Wushang sat calmly, letting the stray shockwaves pulverize the boulders beside him while remaining completely unfazed. Munching on peanuts and sipping his wine with one leg crossed over the other, he marveled, "Isn't this way better than staying at home? Tsk, tsk... The Li Guanqi of today is truly something else..." From the very moment of contact, Luo Changqing realized that his strength lagged several tiers behind his opponent's. A sharp glint flared in his eyes, and his saber instantly shifted stances, sending dazzling golden blade lights scattering erratically across the heavens! Gradually, the golden radiance dispersed as the power concentrated back toward the blade's edge. Qin Wushang curled his lip. "When it comes to controlling power, Luo Changqing is still far behind Li Guanqi."