The Third Elder of the Xieling Sect had lurked underground for a long time, but ultimately could no longer hold back.
Suddenly bursting through the earth, he appeared behind Qin Xuan.
A pair of crafty eyes fixed unblinkingly on Geng Zhi, who stood bathed in golden light in the backyard.
Within that golden beam, Geng Zhi looked toward the Third Elder as well. In this moment, something about him had changed; the plump, merchant-like demeanor he had maintained in the past was completely gone. Stimulated by the moonlight, the golden radiance around him steadily poured into his body, and a ferocious magic power slowly surged from within his bones.
So this array diagram was not just for teleportation!
The Third Elder's eyes went wide, gripped by shock and suspicion, and for the moment he did not dare strike.
Even the various factions throughout Pingyuan Commandery City noticed something amiss with the Geng family head.
Geng Zhi stood quietly in front of Old Huang, Old Wu, and the others. His gaze swept over the Third Elder, calm and composed, yet his tone carried a touch of contempt:
"Zhang the Third, with that meager cultivation of yours, you dare come hunting me?"
"Or did that brat Yu Cheng send you here to die?"
The Yu Cheng he spoke of was the master of the Xieling Sect, a figure who struck awe across Mount Tong.
Upon hearing this, the Third Elder could not help but stumble back several paces. Something occurred to him, and a look of horror crept onto his face as he cried out, "You... who are you? Who in the world are you? Are you even Geng Zhi?"
Geng Zhi paid him no mind, not even bothering to spare him another glance.
Seeing this, Zhang the Third grew even more uncertain, hesitating all the more to make a rash move.
Geng Zhi shifted his gaze to Qin Xuan. Knowing the matter was settled, he cupped his hands with martial camaraderie and smiled. "Brother Qin, green hills remain unchanged, and clear waters keep flowing. Until we meet again."
Qin Xuan likewise cupped his hands. "Until we meet again."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the burly men within the light curtain bowed to Qin Xuan in unison. Then the flowing light dispersed, and in a flash they vanished without a trace.
The Third Elder's expression changed abruptly. Geng Zhi had not struck him, which made him realize that he might have been played for a fool!
A surge of fury shot straight to the crown of his head!
"You wretched brat, you ruined our grand affair! Die!"
Zhang the Third whirled on Qin Xuan and struck out in fury!
The other three guardian elders realized it at the same moment, pouncing toward Qin Xuan together, itching to tear him limb from limb to vent the hatred in their hearts.
Yet...
Qin Xuan stood where he was, his composure undisturbed, showing not the slightest hint of fear.
The elders roared in anger, "A mere junior like you thinks he can bluff us? Give us your life!"
Just as the guardian elders made their move, the glazed lampshade suddenly shone with brilliant radiance. At the same time, a figure appeared in midair, riding a cloud into view.
Looking through the dim light, the onlookers made out an old Daoist holding a horsetail whisk.
Catching a glimpse out of the corner of his eye, Zhang the Third felt his hair stand on end.
Not good! Isn't this old Daoist said to have renounced worldly affairs to cultivate in quiet seclusion? Why did he suddenly show up?!
Whoever was slowest to run right now would have to do battle with this old Daoist.
Who cared about Qin Xuan anymore? Zhang the Third hastily reined in his magic power, burrowed into the earth, and fled underground.
Among the three guardian elders, one reacted exceedingly fast, abandoning even the Xieling corpse general and the black-haired zombies to dive into the ground after him.
The remaining two were a beat slower, but had the good fortune to witness a bit more of the spectacle.
Standing atop the cloud, the old Daoist made a sweeping gesture from afar. A powerful beam of treasured radiance flew over, striking directly against the many black-haired zombies and Xieling corpse generals. Magic power burst apart into thousands of fine threads—it was a horsetail whisk.
Each strand of the whisk was like a needle, carrying an incomparably fierce Xuan Yang evil qi.
Only Qi Refining cultivators at or above Core Formation could refine evil qi for their own use.
The ten-foot-tall Xieling corpse generals were shattered by this single sweep of the whisk; the Xieling Sect's corpse-mist technique was broken, unable to reform.
Several zombies were pierced through by the whisk's threads and crumbled with a roar. As for the two remaining guardian elders, they had not noticed the person in the air at first and could not mount any reaction in time; struck by the whisk's threads, they were laid to rest on the spot in the courtyard of the Geng residence.
An evil creature had also been lurking underground, and it now began digging downward to escape into a subterranean river.
That subterranean river ran deep, extending all the way into the Netherworld.
Judging by this, the monster was unwilling to clash with the old Daoist above.
The glazed lampshade around Qin Xuan took flight, drawn into the old Daoist's sleeve with a wave of his hand. The various factions throughout the city clearly knew who had intervened. They stepped back one after another, offering a trace of deference to show they harbored no malice.
The temple head of Yuansong Temple, formerly a Qi Refining cultivator of Guanjiang Mountain, was one of the foremost figures in Pingyuan Commandery.
In this commandery, this was his authority.
Daoist Wu said not a word. With a flick of his whisk, he rode the cloud away into the distance.
Many curious eyes turned toward the young man in the Geng residence.
For many years, Daoist Wu had shunned worldly entanglement and refrained from taking action. Yet today he had unleashed two great treasures back-to-back, making his stance clear and making an exception for a young man.
Was this providing Dao protection for him?
Some questioned it, while others recalled Qin Xuan's talent in the sword arts and thought that perhaps it was well worth it.
Tonight was destined not to be peaceful.
Many sharp observers sensed the undercurrents surging through the city. Those who had acted from the shadows were unfamiliar to the local factions, their origins unknown.
It was said that Liangfeng Temple had ties to the Western Religion, which was why it vied with Yuansong Temple and Yingyang Prefecture for incense.
Yet tonight, that Buddhist light had aided a core disciple of Yuansong Temple, which was truly baffling.
These two orthodox lineages had no possibility of reconciliation.
While the onlookers were still puzzled, Qin Xuan and He Wushuang moved swiftly, collecting every hundred-treasure pouch from the dead of the Xieling Sect.
"Let's go!"
The white crane spread its wings and soared straight up.
Seated upon the crane's back, Qin Xuan looked down at the courtyard of rubble. A sense of exhilaration flashed through his heart, mingled with a touch of sorrow. As the wind in his ears grew louder, he felt only the boundless vastness of heaven and earth, wide enough for eyes to roam and heart to wander, reaching for limitless freedom.
Truly:
Speak not of youth lacking roots or foundation;
A ray of pure light already nears the Dao.
Riding the crane into the distance, Qin Xuan's robes fluttered as he gradually merged with the bright moon.
Many throughout the city watched from afar and saw this sight.
Yuansong Temple had thirteen core disciples, a fact well known to many, but those who truly left a deep impression on the major factions were few and far between.
After tonight, the blood of those Xieling Sect fiends had painted some color onto the plain name of Qin Xuan...
As the crowds dispersed, several clashes broke out.
Monsters roared, people shrieked, and fierce fighting raged all the way to the inner canal.
Before long, an enormous beast was slain on the banks of the canal. The monster's blood drew the spiritual and precious fish of the Yishui River, gathering them in dense schools; any fishermen casting their nets tonight would reap a bountiful harvest come morning—perhaps even a fortuitous encounter.
In life-and-death clashes like this, anyone who drew near might be treated as a threat by both sides.
Thus, most kept their distance; very few dared satisfy their bloodlust by watching such excitement.
The few who did were rewarded with a discovery: the one who had slain the beast was a man in black.
Among the people fleeing the chaos, several hurried in the direction of Yuansong Temple.
Among them were Elder Ji An's disciple, Qi Baiyan, and his junior disciple-brother, Tian Yifei.
The two had come under Ji An's orders to see how Qin Xuan would end up.
Had he died, it would naturally have been cause for celebration all around, sparing them from making an enemy while fulfilling the elder's errand.
Yet the outcome was entirely beyond their expectations.
"Senior Brother, this..."
Junior Brother Tian hardly knew what to say. "When did Qin... Qin Xuan cultivate such a sword art? I never heard anything about it. And where did that sword talisman come from? Could it all have been bestowed by the temple head?"
Speaking of this, envy flared inevitably in his heart.
Qi Baiyan took a deep breath, his expression grim. "Not necessarily. The temple head is no sword immortal; his sword art and sword talisman likely have nothing to do with him. Our temple has sword mantras as well, but they differ from what he practiced."
"This Qin Xuan is the maternal grandson of the Lin family of Laidu. The sword art is most likely family heritage."
He paused, then suddenly asked, "How many years has he been on the mountain?"
At Qi Baiyan's question, Tian Yifei looked surprised. "Six years. Why do you ask, Senior Brother?"
Qi Baiyan asked again, "How many years have I been on the mountain?"
Tian Yifei hesitated briefly, then replied in a low voice, "Eleven years and eight months."
"Indeed. I began cultivating earlier than he did, and I was taken as a disciple earlier than he was, yet he became a core disciple and my senior brother. How could I accept that? I always assumed it was because of Temple Head Wu's ties to Senior Li. But looking at it now..."
Qi Baiyan let out a sigh. "He is worthy of the name. I am truly no match for him."
"Se-Senior Brother... you..."
"I will contend no longer."
Saying this, Qi Baiyan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "When we return to the temple this time, I will focus entirely on cultivation. Once someone among those thirteen enters the Upper Court, only then will I vie for a core disciple seat."
Tian Yifei found it strange. "Senior Brother, that doesn't sound like you."
"You want the truth?"
"Please enlighten me, Senior Brother."
Qi Baiyan lowered his voice. "Because the heads of those Xieling Sect people flew rather high. I have fought to the death with others before, but that was the first time I've ever seen a head keep talking after it took flight."
Tian Yifei shuddered.
He too had seen that eerie spectacle earlier, along with the terrifying horde of corpses. Put in that position, he would probably be dead already.
Yet Senior Brother Qin had slain one of the five core disciples of the Xieling Sect.
In a daze, he reached up to feel his own neck.
Thank goodness, his head was still there...
Reflecting on everything he had just witnessed with his own eyes, he suddenly felt that Senior Brother Qi might well be right...
Chapter 27