Mo Tiange focused her gaze. She saw that where they had originally been standing, a flash of light had appeared, cleanly severing the bluestone slabs on the ground and leaving behind a faint trace of Spiritual Qi.
She was secretly startled. Her divine sense had also been constantly monitoring their surroundings, yet she had only sensed that flash of spiritual light the instant it appeared. If Qin Xi hadn't been by her side, she could have dodged it, but it would have been much more perilous. Core Formation Cultivators were indeed not to be underestimated.
After Qin Xi finished speaking, the cultivator's aura finally appeared fully unveiled within their divine sense—restrained, yet harboring a sharp edge deep within.
Mo Tiange secretly gripped the White Silk Handkerchief in one hand, while her other hand held the seal-shaped magic treasure bestowed by Dao Lord Jinghe. With the White Silk Handkerchief in hand, she reckoned that even if this person attacked, she would have the ability to defend herself, and then look for an opportunity to counterattack.
That person finally stepped out. It was the late-stage Core Formation cultivator from the trade meet, the one who had been sitting opposite them, whose cultivation level was second only to Qin Xi's.
Qin Xi gently pushed her back a step, sending a secret message: "Be careful."
Although they were both in the Core Formation stage, the difference in strength between a late-stage Core Formation cultivator and an early-stage one was immense. Mo Tiange knew that she hadn't even refined her Life-Bound Artifact yet and currently lacked the ability to act recklessly. Without another word, she quietly retreated a bit further.
That person spoke, his voice low and hoarse: "You two are quite bold. To bring out such treasures at the trade meet and then dare to walk the streets without any concealment—aren't you afraid someone might try to seize them by force?"
Qin Xi let out a cold laugh, looking at the man. "Seize by force? By you?"
Mo Tiange frowned slightly. She always felt that the Qin Xi outside the sect was completely different from the taciturn, secluded cultivator within the sect. The latter still bore a faint shadow of the Senior Brother Qin from before, but the former... didn't resemble him in the slightest.
"You seem quite confident!" The man's face beneath the bamboo hat was hidden in darkness, but his voice carried a note of interest. "Everyone says that although Qin Shoujing's natural talent is ordinary, on the path of cultivation, he far surpasses even single-spiritual-root geniuses. I, for one, am not convinced."
"Whether you are convinced or not, what does it matter to me?" Qin Xi's expression remained unchanged. "If you wish to fight, then please proceed. Otherwise, don't waste our time!"
The man tilted his head slightly and chuckled. "Fight? Here?"
After all, Kunzhong City was a town with many mortals, and most of the cultivators here were low-level. If two Core Formation cultivators fought, it would undoubtedly be a disaster.
A faint, mocking smile appeared on Qin Xi's lips. "Didn't you just attack? Have you suddenly remembered Kunzhong City's rule forbidding combat within the city limits?"
"Rules?" The man let out a low, hoarse laugh. "Kunzhong City only has a few Core Formation loose cultivators. What does it matter if I don't abide by them?"
These words were truly arrogant. Kunzhong City didn't have just one or two loose cultivators; it had seven. For this person to disregard the city's rules so blatantly, could he possibly take on seven by himself? Moreover, she had witnessed Tong Tianyun's divine sense and the methods of the Withered Wood Daoist. If Qin Xi considered them noteworthy, they must be extremely formidable. Could this man's judgment be even higher than Qin Xi's?
Furthermore, she and Qin Xi were one early-stage Core Formation and one Core Formation Perfection cultivator, while the other was merely late-stage Core Formation. Could he possibly take on two by himself?
As Mo Tiange was thinking this, in the very next moment, she suddenly saw a flash of sword light appear abruptly—the black-robed cultivator had made his move!
Qin Xi had anticipated this. He raised his left hand, and golden light surged from his arm as the Three Yang True Fire Sword materialized within the radiance. With a flip of his hand, the Three Yang True Fire Sword soared, flames erupting to form a wall of fire that completely blocked the black-robed cultivator's sword energy.
Seeing his sword energy so easily blocked, the black-robed cultivator tilted his head slightly, seeming surprised. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Xi gave him no chance. Gathering extremely pure, flame-colored Spiritual Qi in his right hand, he gave a gentle push. The Three Yang True Fire Sword erupted with dazzling brilliance, lunging toward the man.
Caught off guard, the black-robed cultivator clapped his palms together. The longsword on his back unsheathed, its sword energy incomparably sharp, unleashing a shower of sword light.
This person was undoubtedly a Sword Cultivator. Such imposing force—if he weren't a Sword Cultivator, where would such sharp sword energy come from?
"Tiange!" Qin Xi suddenly turned his head and called out.
Sword energy was indiscriminate. Mo Tiange knew what he meant. In an instant, she waved the White Silk Handkerchief, transforming it into a mist that enveloped her. The mist was hazy, revealing no trace of Spiritual Qi. The sharp sword energy vanished without a trace upon encountering the fog.
Seeing even her block his sword energy so effortlessly further startled the black-robed cultivator. Before he could retract it, Qin Xi's sword also arrived. He hastily brought his own sword up to block. A dull thud sounded as sword energy and Spiritual Qi clashed between the two blades, exploding with a roar.
The pressure generated by two Core Formation cultivators, both highly skilled in destructive techniques, engaging in Dharma Combat was utterly terrifying. In that instant, the street was already in disarray. The bluestone slabs were shattered into pieces, rendered unrecognizable. If the street hadn't been wide, the shops on either side likely wouldn't have escaped unscathed!
As the Spiritual Qi exploded, several streaks of escaping light shot out from the highest tower in Kunzhong City, flying toward them.
Qin Xi and Mo Tiange didn't move. The black-robed cultivator didn't move either.
Kunzhong City wasn't large. The escaping light arrived in a flash—three Core Formation cultivators, led by none other than Tong Tianyun.
"Fellow Daoists, you..." Tong Tianyun looked surprised at the scene.
Qin Xi glanced at Tong Tianyun, raised his hand to recall the Three Yang True Fire Sword, and said, "Fellow Daoist Tong, you've come just in time. This person has been following us since leaving the trade meet and even launched a sneak attack. I wonder what his intentions are."
Tong Tianyun looked even more surprised, turning his gaze to the black-robed cultivator. "You..."
Though he only uttered one word, Mo Tiange had a bad feeling. Judging by Tong Tianyun's expression, he seemed to recognize this person.
Seeing Tong Tianyun and the others arrive, the black-robed cultivator let out a hearty laugh and reached up to remove his bamboo hat.
It was a very young face, equivalent to a youth of twenty-four or twenty-five. Not as cleanly handsome and elegant as Qin Xi, but with a spring-like charm at the corners of his eyes and brows, his face like peach blossoms, his gaze fluid and seemingly full of affection.
Upon seeing this face, Qin Xi immediately frowned and muttered, "It's you!"
The young man smiled brightly. "Indeed, it is me."
His smile made Qin Xi even more displeased. "Since you've come, why not meet directly? What's the point of sneaking around and ambushing us?"
The young man waved a hand, sheathing his sword. Holding his bamboo hat as if it were a fan, he said in a frivolous tone, "It's precisely because of you two!" His eyes flashed, a pair of eyes brimming with spring-like warmth fixed on Mo Tiange as he smiled. "Is this young lady Perfected One Qingwei, the closed-door disciple of Dao Lord Jinghe? I am Jing Xingzhi, a cultivator of the Ancient Sword Sect. I have long heard of your great name."
Jing Xingzhi? A cultivator of the Ancient Sword Sect? Qin Xi had said they were still waiting for a cultivator from the Ancient Sword Sect here. Could it be this man?
She performed a Daoist salute and said calmly, "I am indeed Mo Qingwei. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Jing."
Seeing her remain completely unmoved by his attentive attitude, Jing Xingzhi was momentarily taken aback, then smiled even more brilliantly. "So it's Lady Mo. When I first heard that Lady Mo formed her Golden Core at a young age and was called a genius among geniuses, I thought it was an exaggeration by the world. But now that I've seen you, young lady..."
"Jing Xingzhi!" Qin Xi called his name bluntly, his displeasure plain on his face. "Fellow Daoist Tong and the others are still here. Instead of offering an explanation, why are you trying to curry favor with my junior sister?!"
Hearing this, Jing Xingzhi laughed even more joyfully, blinking his peach-blossom eyes. "Qin Shoujing, why are you in such a hurry? Fellow Daoist Tong doesn't mind..."
"You're wasting our time!" Qin Xi glared at him coldly, then turned and cupped his hands toward Tong Tianyun and the other two. "Fellow Daoist Tong, I've already explained the situation. Whether to punish or execute, please ask this Fellow Daoist Jing. My junior sister and I will take our leave first." With that, he turned and walked away, looking as if he didn't want to stay a moment longer.
Before Mo Tiange could say anything, she nodded to Tong Tianyun in acknowledgment and hurriedly followed behind him.
Tong Tianyun didn't stop them. Although they had engaged in Dharma Combat within the city and damaged quite a few things, from the looks of it, there were no casualties, so it wasn't a particularly serious incident. However, turning his head, he saw Jing Xingzhi watching the direction the two had left with a faint, ambiguous smile. Tong Tianyun couldn't help but laugh and remind him, "Fellow Daoist Jing, I must advise you—Fellow Daoist Shoujing is in a rather poor mood this time. It would be best not to provoke him."
"Oh?" Qin Xi and Mo Tiange's figures had already disappeared. Jing Xingzhi shifted his gaze and asked with a smile, "Why is that? Isn't Qin Shoujing supposed to be unshakable by all things? How did his mood turn sour?"
Tong Tianyun said, "Who wouldn't be in a bad mood after failing to form their Nascent Soul three times?"
Jing Xingzhi nodded upon hearing this, then blinked. "That's true, but... I think his bad mood has another reason, doesn't it?"
"Heh heh," Tong Tianyun pretended not to understand his implication. "This old man wouldn't know. If Fellow Daoist Jing wishes to know, why not ask Fellow Daoist Shoujing himself?"
Jing Xingzhi shook his head. "I'm not that foolish. Could I get an answer out of him by asking? If I ask a few more questions, his Three Yang True Fire Sword will come chopping at me!"
"Is Fellow Daoist Jing afraid?"
Tong Tianyun was clearly trying to provoke him with words, but Jing Xingzhi was candid, spreading his hands. "Fellow Daoist Tong, don't try to goad me. I admit that in terms of Dharma Combat, even though I'm a Sword Cultivator, I'm not his match. However... when it comes to forming a Nascent Soul, I might actually beat him to it."
Tong Tianyun's eyes flickered. "Fellow Daoist Jing is truly confident. Does that mean you already have hope of forming your Nascent Soul?"
"Not at all." Jing Xingzhi wasn't foolish either. Seeing Tong Tianyun's expression, he immediately distanced himself. "Didn't Qin Shoujing fail three times? Presumably, he won't be able to attempt it again in the short term. If I put in some effort and succeed on my first try, wouldn't that mean I'd beat him to it?"
"Heh heh!" Tong Tianyun laughed twice. "It seems Fellow Daoist Jing is extremely confident about this trip to the Demonic Mountain!"
"Confidence is too strong a word. I've just made a few more preparations, that's all." Jing Xingzhi looked at Tong Tianyun with meaningful intent. "Isn't Fellow Daoist Tong the same? I imagine for this Demonic Mountain journey, Fellow Daoist Tong is the one who truly has a plan well in mind."
Tong Tianyun pretended not to understand his words and changed the subject. "Fellow Daoist Jing, since you've arrived, let's regroup tomorrow. We've already been delayed for some time. If the restrictions on the Demonic Mountain disappear early, we'll have suffered a great loss."
"Quite right, quite right." Jing Xingzhi smiled. "In that case, I'll return to rest first. Fellow Daoist Tong, until tomorrow!"
"Hold on!" Tong Tianyun stopped him, also smiling. "Fellow Daoist Jing, you disregarded our Kunzhong City's rules, caused a disturbance and fought within the city, damaging property. Shouldn't you compensate for that?"