Chapter 251: Great Battle Begins (Part 2)
Xiao Sha’s voice, like muffled thunder, swept towards HongHua Sect. Echoes reverberated in every corner, one after another, ceaselessly, causing eardrums to go numb and birds and beasts to scatter.
“Juexian Cult?”
Upon hearing these three words, people began to panic and flee. Both cultivators and ordinary people alike were deeply wary of this terrifying cult.
“Is this… Xiao Sha? Has the Juexian Cult finally arrived?”
Qi Huang frowned slightly, then smiled with a sense of relief. “Good, it’s time to settle the score from last time.”
“Since we’ve lured the snake out of its hole, it’s time to clear out the traitors.”
Qi Huang calmly sat up from bed, extending her spiritual sense towards a small courtyard in the back mountain of HongHua Sect.
Meanwhile, in the small courtyard, Bi Xin, the spy from the Juexian Cult, was holding an eavesdropper, continuously reporting the situation at HongHua Sect to the higher-ups outside, especially about Qi Huang.
“Give it here.”
Qi Huang’s lips curved slightly. Her powerful spiritual sense enveloped the eavesdropper, instantly yanking it over.
Bi Xin felt a great force, and then his grip slipped. The bamboo-like “eavesdropper” inexplicably flew away.
“What… what is going on? This eavesdropper has a mind of its own?”
Bi Xin was dumbfounded, then his expression changed. He muttered, “Bad luck! This is a treasure bestowed by Altar Master Xiao. How can I account for myself if I lose it?”
‘Then you won’t need to account for yourself!’
Qi Huang snorted coldly, and her powerful spiritual sense pressed down directly on Bi Xin.
“Boom…”
The next moment, Bi Xin’s entire body suddenly exploded, dissipating into a mist of blood in the air.
“I’m dead?”
Before Bi Xin’s soul could comprehend the situation, it was immediately wiped out by the Heavenly Dao. This was the sorrow of an ordinary person.
Qi Huang stood up and walked to the window. The eavesdropper soon flew into her hand.
“Nothing I desire escapes me.”
Qi Huang smiled proudly. With a thought, the eavesdropper was stored in her storage ring.
At this moment, Cheng Hong Ling had already walked in from outside.
“Did you hear the challenge from outside?”
Cheng Hong Ling asked calmly.
“I did. I know this person. He’s an altar master from the Juexian Cult, named Xiao Sha. His strength is extremely terrifying, comparable to the Huashen realm of cultivators,” Qi Huang said seriously.
“Is that so? No wonder he dares to openly provoke us outside the sect.”
Cheng Hong Ling’s rosy lips curved slightly.
“Do you have confidence in dealing with him?”
Qi Huang inquired with concern.
“Against opponents of the same level, whether they are warriors or cultivators, I, Cheng Hong Ling, am confident in defeating them,” Cheng Hong Ling stated with extreme confidence.
“Excellent! Then you go and face him. He’s challenging us at the front gate but has sent hundreds of people to stealthily approach from the back mountain. This is clearly a tactic to lure the tiger away from the mountain. Let’s fulfill his wish!”
Qi Huang said mockingly, having scanned the situation around HongHua Sect with her spiritual sense.
“Then I’ll leave the Juexian Cultists in the back mountain to you. Be very careful. If you encounter an enemy you can’t handle, notify me immediately, and I will recall you into the Sea of Consciousness.”
Cheng Hong Ling carefully instructed.
Qi Huang’s heart warmed, and she confidently said, “Don’t worry, you know my strength best. In Yongning Prefecture, there’s no one who can threaten me.”
“That’s not necessarily true. What if you encounter an opponent who wields killing intent?”
Cheng Hong Ling retorted.
“…”
Qi Huang was rendered speechless. She indeed couldn’t deal with killing intent at the moment.
“I’ve always told you to cultivate diligently. Now you understand my intentions, don’t you? Everything has a counter. The counter to spiritual sense is killing intent.”
Cheng Hong Ling took the opportunity to lecture her.
“Having a counter only proves that my spiritual sense isn’t strong enough! If I had obediently cultivated true qi from the start, I would have died countless times by now. How could I have saved myself time and time again by acting?”
Qi Huang retorted, unfazed.
“…”
Now it was Cheng Hong Ling’s turn to be speechless. Although she was somewhat unwilling, she had to admit that what her little clone said was the truth.
“What? The dignified Hong Ling Immortal seems to be afraid to fight? If this gets out, not only will your reputation be ruined, but the entire HongHua Sect’s reputation will be tarnished.”
Xiao Sha, having waited for a long time without seeing his target, began to mock. However, even after his words fell for a long while, not a single person appeared.
“Heh, since Immortal Hong Ling is avoiding me, I’ll have to search one place after another.”
A cold smile appeared on Xiao Sha’s face. Without warning, he threw a punch. The terrifying speed instantly generated a massive fist intent, which shot towards the gate of HongHua Sect like a meteorite, frictioning the air and producing a piercing screech.
“Boom!”
The gate, built of granite, was struck by the fist intent and instantly shattered like a pile of dry dirt, scattering into countless small stones that flew outwards, striking down several people nearby who couldn’t dodge in time.
“If you don’t come out within one breath, I will destroy one building of your HongHua Sect. If you don’t come out within ten breaths, I will destroy ten buildings of your HongHua Sect until I find you!”
Xiao Sha’s gaze was icy. He strode towards the destroyed gate, step by step. His objective today was to destroy HongHua Sect, and if no one stopped him, it would be even better.
“Audacious villain, how dare you trespass upon HongHua Sect!”
A few gatekeepers snapped back to reality and fearlessly charged forward.
“Overestimating yourself! Pfft!”
Xiao Sha disdainfully spat. His long and powerful breath immediately stirred the surrounding air into a gale, directly blowing the disciples backward.
“Is everyone in HongHua Sect this useless?”
Xiao Sha taunted, continuing to advance with his hands behind his back.
“Altar Master Xiao, please wait!”
Just then, a gray figure instantly appeared ahead. He had white hair and a white beard, with a ruddy complexion, and his age was indiscernible. Who else could it be but the Sect Leader of HongHua Sect, Qin Quan?
“Who are you?”
Xiao Sha frowned slightly.
“This old man is the Sect Leader of HongHua Sect, Qin Quan. Altar Master Xiao, a mere martial artist, comes to an Immortal Sect to discuss the Dao. Have you taken a wrong turn?” Qin Quan said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“The Sect Leader of the dignified HongHua Sect is nothing more than this, with such low awareness! The purpose of practicing martial arts is to shatter the void and seek immortality. Cultivation is also for shattering the void and seeking immortality. The paths are different but lead to the same destination. How can you say I’ve taken a wrong turn?” Xiao Sha said yin-yangly.
“Altar Master Xiao has quite a way with words, but sadly, some paths, even if taken correctly, may not be passable. So please return,” Qin Quan threatened implicitly. Although he knew he couldn’t win, as the Sect Leader, he could only brace himself and go up. After all, he had those genius disciples to fall back on; they would definitely help him out at a critical moment.
“Looking at you, you’re at most in the Guiyi Realm. Are you sure you want to block my path?” Xiao Sha said with ill intent.
“The Path of Cultivation is inherently defying the heavens. If we fear even you, how can we defy the heavens?” Qin Quan said, unmoved.
“Since that’s the case, I shall fulfill you.”
Xiao Sha’s figure instantly disappeared from his spot and appeared at the gate. Due to his extreme speed, a gale swirled behind him, pulling in countless shattered stones that shot towards Qin Quan like a torrential downpour.
Qin Quan’s expression was solemn. He continuously swung the sword in his hand, cleaving the shattered stones.
“To save you, you think you’re worthy of blocking my path?”
Xiao Sha closed in and punched towards Qin Quan.
Qin Quan was struggling to cope, and coupled with the opponent’s extreme speed, he was utterly unable to defend himself. His heart instantly froze.
At that moment, a blue sword energy tore through the air and flashed into view.
“Hmph!”
Xiao Sha snorted coldly, not dodging or evading, and punched out.
“Bang!”
The fist collided with the sword energy, emitting a crisp cracking sound. The blue sword energy instantly shattered, splashing into sharp mystic ice that scattered in all directions.
Simultaneously, a powerful spiritual sense swept over, scattering the ice blocks towards Xiao Sha’s face.
Xiao Sha’s expression changed. He shielded his face with both hands and retreated rapidly.
“Swish swish swish…”
Countless ice shards grazed Xiao Sha’s arms, leaving bloody gashes.
“This is… Mystic Ice?”
Xiao Sha stabilized his feet, then looked at his scarred arms with disbelief.
“The gate of HongHua Sect is not a place for just any cat or dog to enter. Without a token identifying your status, let alone a mere altar master like you, even elders, protectors, or the Cult Master of the Juexian Cult himself wouldn’t be able to step into my HongHua Sect.”
Cheng Hong Ling’s clear voice echoed. She then slowly descended in front of the gate of HongHua Sect, her pretty face as calm as still water, her hair blowing in the wind, and her skirt clouds billowing, obscuring everything behind her, exuding an aura of unwavering defense.
