"Venerable Songfeng," Ding Luan said with a smile, her tone laced with contempt. "With your current state, neither human nor ghost, if I were you, I'd have long since hidden myself away from the world. Yet here you are, strutting about as if you're something special. Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock among all the cultivators under heaven?"
Though Ding Luan appeared gentle and soft-spoken, her words were anything but polite. Even Venerable Songfeng, who was accustomed to being insulted, grew angry at this. He sneered coldly, "A laughingstock among all the cultivators under heaven? You little Ding wench, why don't you drag them out here and have them curse at me then? Enough of this nonsense!"
"The one who's always spouting nonsense is you, not me," Ding Luan retorted sharply, her smile never faltering. "Do you really think those youngsters regard you as the number one cultivator of the Tianji Region? I've seen people with inflated self-importance before, but never one as deluded as you. Never mind the distant examples, just look at the Qin boy right here—does he hold you in any regard at all?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Xi inwardly sighed with bitter amusement. Although he had long been at odds with Venerable Songfeng, he wasn't so arrogant as to believe he could escape from under the nose of a late-Nascent Soul great cultivator relying solely on his own power. His current strategy was to use the presence of the three Nascent Soul cultivators to downplay his own existence. And now, this Senior Ding had gone and pushed him right back into Venerable Songfeng's line of sight.
However, he couldn't very well blame Ding Luan. Considering she was willing to protect him to some extent out of respect for Dao Lord Jinghe, she was already doing him a favor.
Venerable Songfeng's figure, hidden within the black qi, was indistinct, but his gaze shot over with fierce intensity. He then said, "Ding hag, enough idle talk. Since none of you are willing to back down, don't blame this old man for getting serious!"
As he spoke, his entire form merged into the black qi and he suddenly lunged towards the three.
Despite their verbal disdain, the three dared not underestimate Venerable Songfeng's assault. Ding Luan and Feng Xiao simultaneously retreated, employing teleportation techniques and summoning their Magical Treasures. The couple's treasures were both musical instruments: Ding Luan held a zither, Feng Xiao grasped a flute. Instantly, they spread out a thick, resonant net of musical sound.
Venerable Songfeng's black qi, though seemingly ferocious, was intercepted by this sonic net.
Seeing this, Daoist Ji smiled slightly. He took out a large wine gourd from his robes, leisurely took a sip, then suddenly opened his mouth. The fine wine shot out like an arrow, also spraying towards Venerable Songfeng's black qi.
Venerable Songfeng retracted the Demonic Qi surrounding his body and retreated abruptly. Though his words were arrogant and his methods ruthless, he was not a fool blinded by pride. While he claimed to look down on the Luan-Feng Immortal Couple, in his heart he understood that this husband-and-wife pair both had considerable cultivation and fought with impeccable coordination. Their combat strength was not inferior to that of a late-stage cultivator; he absolutely could not take them lightly.
Moreover, there was still Daoist Ji on the side. This Daoist Ji was notoriously taciturn—some even said he was a mute—but when he moved, he was sharp and ruthless, often setting up hidden traps silently, causing people to fall into his schemes without realizing it.
Therefore, though his tone was brazen, in his heart he dared not be overconfident and remained extremely cautious.
However, having started the fight, there was no reason to stop. Seeing Venerable Songfeng retreat, Ding Luan and Feng Xiao pressed forward aggressively. The flute's melody changed, the zither's notes became clanging and forceful. The originally lofty, earth-like musical sound turned fierce and intense, shaking the very soul.
Stimulated by this zither-and-flute duet, Qin Xi felt the Spiritual Qi within his body churning wildly, almost beyond his control. He immediately steadied his mind, focusing entirely on guiding the Spiritual Qi back into order.
"Hmph! Petty tricks!" Venerable Songfeng snorted coldly. From within the black qi, a black object suddenly shot out at incredible speed, smashing directly towards the Luan-Feng couple.
The moment this black object left the range of Venerable Songfeng's black qi, it suddenly expanded, instantly becoming as large as a small mountain peak, bearing down upon the Luan-Feng couple with immense force.
Seeing this, the Luan-Feng couple changed their melody again, returning to its ancient, thick resonance. But this time, it wasn't so easy to block. Venerable Songfeng let out a sinister laugh. The small mountain peak tore through the sonic net and pressed down upon the two with the force of a thousand jun.
Ding Luan and Feng Xiao's expressions turned extremely grave. The husband and wife exchanged a glance, stopped their playing, and each threw out their zither and flute. These two Magical Treasures themselves carried extremely dense Spiritual Qi. Supported by the couple's own Spiritual Qi, they suddenly erupted with dazzling spiritual light.
Qin Xi found it blindingly bright and couldn't help but raise a hand to shield his eyes from the radiance.
This wasn't his first time witnessing Nascent Soul cultivators in Dharma Combat. Having a master of extraordinary Nascent Soul strength, his standards were naturally high. Yet watching these few fight, he still felt a sense of being unable to look directly—the Nascent Soul Stage was, after all, the Nascent Soul Stage. Though he was only a step away from forming his Nascent Soul, the difference in power was immeasurable. If he had already formed his Nascent Soul now, even if only at the early stage, facing these people, he definitely wouldn't be completely helpless.
While Venerable Songfeng and the Luan-Feng couple fought fiercely, there was still the silent Daoist Ji on the sidelines.
This Daoist Ji appeared to be only in his early twenties, with an extremely delicate and handsome face. Rumors said that when traveling, he was often mistaken for an innocent, inexperienced Qi Refining junior disciple. But when he took action, his ruthlessness was no less than Venerable Songfeng's. Over the years, who knew how many blind, foolish cultivators had been deceived by his harmless appearance and died by his hand.
Amidst the spiritual light of the battle between Venerable Songfeng and the Luan-Feng couple, Qin Xi could no longer clearly see their movements. But he knew the present moment was the best opportunity. So, he quietly retrieved a Jade Talisman from his Qiankun Bag. With a flick of his finger, the talisman ignited into flames and, concealed by the sky-filling spiritual light, shot skyward.
Fortunately, this time it was finally sent successfully.
As the Jade Talisman vanished into the sky, the Dharma Combat suddenly halted. Venerable Songfeng retracted the Demonic Qi around him and snorted coldly, "Qin Shoujing, what trick are you playing now?!"
Qin Xi smiled faintly. He had known that even if the old man wasn't dealing with him now, he definitely wouldn't let him leave easily.
"It's nothing. This junior merely informed my master that there's an interesting spectacle to witness here."
Venerable Songfeng fell silent for a moment. The black qi around him churned incessantly, as if brewing something. The next moment, he might very well strike at Qin Xi.
With his attention focused on Qin Xi, how could the three Nascent Soul cultivators let this chance slip? They heard Ding Luan shout sharply. Holding the zither with one hand, she gripped the strings with the other, pulling and releasing them abruptly. The strings emitted a sudden, resonant "zheng" hum, and spiritual soundwaves violently spread out. Feng Xiao's fingers twirled, securing the jade flute, which he then brought to his lips, blowing into it with relaxed ease.
This husband-and-wife pair, one attacking, one defending, one tense, one relaxed, coordinated flawlessly. Even Venerable Songfeng, hailed as the number one cultivator of the Tianji Region, dared not look down on them. The black qi around him grew denser and denser, like dripping ink, before suddenly scattering outwards.
The black qi surrounding Venerable Songfeng was known as Origin Demonic Qi. When this Origin Demonic Qi was set into motion, it was like violent winds and thunder, its power astonishing. As the Origin Demonic Qi scattered, it coalesced into a substantial form, gathering into a long blade that seemed poised to cleave down fiercely upon the Luan-Feng couple.
Yet, in that split second, the black long blade suddenly changed direction, chopping towards the right rear.
"Ah—!" A scream rang out. It was Daoist Ji, who had secretly lurking behind Venerable Songfeng.
Hearing Daoist Ji's cry with his own ears, Qin Xi's first thought was actually, *So he really isn't a mute.* His next thought was, *Venerable Songfeng truly lives up to being a late-Nascent Soul great cultivator. Even I, an observer, didn't notice. Amidst the fight, he actually turned the tables, feinting east while striking west.*
"Hmph!" Venerable Songfeng snorted coldly. "Stinking Daoist, did you really think no one would notice?!"
A vicious expression instantly appeared on Daoist Ji's delicate, harmless face. Ignoring the Demonic Qi blade embedded in his shoulder, his hands suddenly flicked, sending an extremely small object flying straight towards Venerable Songfeng's face. Venerable Songfeng tried to dodge, but the distance was too close. He failed to avoid it and was struck squarely.
The moment this thing landed on Venerable Songfeng, it immediately erupted with a tremendous "BOOM" of explosive force.
"Ah!" This time, the cry came from Venerable Songfeng.
Now it was Daoist Ji's turn to sneer coldly. He grabbed the Demonic Qi blade embedded in his shoulder, pulled it out, and tossed it aside. His voice was hoarse, "Venerable Songfeng, how does the Heaven-Shaking Thunder taste?"
The Origin Demonic Qi around Venerable Songfeng seemed to coalesce and disperse intermittently, as if he had been heavily injured.
Ding Luan and Feng Xiao exchanged a glance and both attacked simultaneously.
Just as it seemed Venerable Songfeng was about to bear the full brunt of the combined assault from the three Nascent Soul cultivators, a black shadow flashed. Venerable Songfeng instantly vanished from his spot, reappearing in mid-air. The black qi once again gathered and solidified around his body.
"Ignorant brats!" Venerable Songfeng sneered coldly. "Did you really think that after taking one hit, this old man would just let you slaughter me as you please?!"
He now floated in mid-air, the Origin Demonic Qi around him not diminished in the slightest, as if he had never been injured at all.
The three Nascent Soul cultivators were all stunned, expressions of surprise rising on their faces.
"Fellow Daoist Ji," Ding Luan said in a low voice. "This is..."
Daoist Ji also found it unbelievable, his face shifting through various emotions as he stared intently at Venerable Songfeng. "Impossible. He's bluffing! The power of the Heaven-Shaking Thunder, both Fellow Daoists know it. If this old man took one head-on and claims to be fine, I absolutely don't believe it!"
Feng Xiao's face darkened uncertainly for a moment before he said, "Fellow Daoist Ji is right. Luan-mei, let's not be fooled by him!"
Hearing her husband say this, Ding Luan's doubts vanished. She retrieved her zither, gathering power for another strike.
Right at this moment, several streaks of escaping light suddenly flashed across the horizon, heading in their direction.
The newcomers also came in two groups, approaching from two different directions.
"That's... Old Daoist Fuling!" Feng Xiao murmured, watching one group gradually become clearer.
Daoist Ji's expression darkened. "Over a hundred years ago, I had a bit of a grudge with that old Daoist. I'm afraid he might..."
Ding Luan and Feng Xiao fell silent. Old Daoist Fuling should actually be called Sword Venerable Fuling, one of the Ancient Sword Sect's Nascent Soul Sword Venerables. He originally entered the Dao through the Daoist path, so he always dressed as a secular Daoist, and people like them still called him 'old Daoist'.
Although they all came from the Seven Great Sects and, considering their friendly sect relations, still maintained a sliver of camaraderie, when interests were at stake, it was hard to say.
The other group was now flying closer as well. Daoist Ji's brows furrowed even tighter. "Qin Jinghe..."
Ding Luan and Feng Xiao exchanged another glance, their expressions subtle. Logically speaking, Qin Jinghe's relationship with them was still quite good. But the problem was, the reason they had confronted Venerable Songfeng was to compete for a treasure. With the treasure right there, who knew if he might not try to seize it by force?
At this moment, Feng Xiao's gaze imperceptibly flickered towards Qin Xi beside them. Ding Luan gave a slight, almost invisible nod.
Feng Xiao suddenly moved, instantly appearing beside Qin Xi. He smiled and said, "Qin boy, do us a favor, will you?"
Though Qin Xi had remained vigilant, Feng Xiao was, after all, a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator. He had just summoned his Three Yang True Fire Sword when Feng Xiao's palm came down upon his head.