Chapter 10: Ping'an's First Move

Although Ningning Mu was shouting anxiously, Li Ping'an's expression did not change much.

Even his Dao heart did not show a ripple.

To be frank, the Wanyun Sect spell deployed by this young disciple had left Li Ping'an slightly disappointed.

The disciple was already at the second or third tier of the Spirit-Gathering Realm, yet the power of his spell was so lackluster, utterly lacking the overwhelming might to shatter gates and crush rocks.

This was not the Spirit-Gathering Realm that Li Ping'an aspired to.

Li Ping'an lightly tapped his foot and gracefully retreated, deftly avoiding those air swords.

Amidst the flutter of his garments, a small crossbow appeared in Li Ping'an's right hand. A sliver of mana infused into it caused the bow's spring mechanism to emit a thunderous snap, and several rusted crossbow bolts shot towards the young disciple from Elixir Dust Peak.

The young disciple quickly backed away, but a bolt pierced his left shoulder, contorting his face with pain.

The disciple, enraged, shook off the crossbow bolt, sealed the wound, and tried to activate the cloud-driving spell with a talisman.

Meanwhile, Ningning Mu, sword in hand, came charging, her blade sweeping across.

The young disciple had no choice but to retreat, his gaze fixed on Li Ping'an.

Li Ping'an, unruffled, continued to watch Ningning Mu clash with her opponent, sighing inwardly.

Facing a Spirit-Gathering Realm Qi Cultivator, his ingeniously modified crossbow, honed in the secular world, could only inflict superficial wounds; the bolts, though coated with a composite toxin that could quickly put a normal person to sleep, seemed to have no effect on the young disciple.

In short, it was all quite insubstantial.

Ningning Mu engaged the young disciple on the ground, while Li Ping'an used beginner talisman spells to leap among the treetops, launching harassing attacks.

Soon, Li Ping'an's peripheral vision caught a group of patrolling disciples flying towards them, controlling their mounts.

Most patrol disciples were in the external sect, their cultivation ranging from the Ether-Refining to the Merge True Realms, occasionally led by external sect overseers.

Li Ping'an's thoughts raced.

Elixir Dust Peak, the third largest peak within the sect, was primarily responsible for supplying elixirs to the Wanyun Sect, housing many Immortals adept in alchemy.

The young disciple who had clashed with him and Ningning Mu was a formal disciple of Elixir Dust Peak. Even if this disciple was the least among them, tasked with the care of Precious Medicine Spiritual Beasts, his background was not something a minor disciple from the Flowing Cloud Observatory could compare with.

He could shout "Father Li Dazhi," but what about Ningning Mu?

Then, Li Ping'an thought of his own father.

His father had not yet settled into a secure position within the Wanyun Sect. Though senior in age, his cultivation was low.

Moreover, the status of Elixir Dust Peak within the sect was somewhat different compared to other peaks...

Li Ping'an kept pondering all aspects, his body flitting back and forth, elegant and unrestrained. His hand cast yellow-paper talismans, summoning lightning and fire spells that pestered the young disciple relentlessly.

As the patrol disciples appeared in the distant sky, Ningning Mu was temporarily repelled by a burst of mana from the young disciple.

Seizing the moment, Li Ping'an shouted:

"Can disciples from Flowing Cloud Observatory be bullied at will?"

The young disciple from Elixir Dust Peak retorted angrily, "If you don't come back with me to accept your punishment, then I'll drag you back!"

A thunderous explosion erupted from the disciple's palm, and he exhaled a dense mist, which coalesced into dozens of air swords!

Half of the air swords shot towards Li Ping'an atop the trees, targeting vital points around his body for the second time, causing a cold light to flash in Li Ping'an's eyes.

The other half swept towards Ningning Mu, forcing her to dodge and defend.

Ningning Mu had her Treasure Sword for protection, advancing and retreating with ease;

but as she turned her head towards Li Ping'an, her face instantly paled.

Li Ping'an had shifted slightly on the treetop, and was hit simultaneously by more than a dozen air swords, with tiny blood arrows spurting from his shoulders, arms, and legs!

Li Ping'an let out a pained moan and fell headfirst toward the ground.

The young disciple pounced towards Li Ping'an like a ferocious tiger!

Ningning Mu released several sword energies from her Longsword, trying to force the young disciple back while her left hand stretched towards Li Ping'an's arm, but she was too late to lend support...

The falling figure of Li Ping'an and the young disciple's outstretched hand were already converging!

"Senior brother!"

At that moment!

Li Ping'an suddenly opened his eyes, and three streaks of black light flew from his sleeve, shooting straight at the young disciple's face!

The young disciple, intent on capturing Li Ping'an, was caught utterly off guard, his expression changing drastically as he had no time to dodge!

Bang!

The three black lights exploded in unison!

One emitted a dazzling flame intermixed with a multitude of powder;

another burst like a lotus flower, releasing countless fine, hair-like needles;

and the last whistled sharply, veering out two thin, leaf-shaped darts!

The young disciple had just enough time to use his arms to shield his eyes, letting out only half a scream.

Why only half a scream?

In the instant the three hidden weapons exploded, Li Ping'an's right hand was already pressing against the young disciple's throat!

He did not hold back, pushing forward fiercely with his palm, concentrating his mana into that small space!

A cracking sound was heard, as the young disciple struck a tree trunk ten paces away, solidly, before collapsing onto the ground.

The disciple convulsed all over, trying desperately to stand, his face bloodied and swollen red... After struggling for two breaths, he passed out.

Looking at Li Ping'an.

After throwing that palm strike, Li Ping'an crashed onto the grass, casually yet gracefully turning his head to spit out a mouthful of blood, causing the fine wounds on his body to continue spurting out tiny blood arrows.

But Li Ping'an felt he wasn't miserable enough, and before Ningning Mu could reach him, he vibrated his meridians to produce some fake internal injuries that wouldn't leave lasting damage.

"Senior brother!"

Ningning Mu knelt beside Li Ping'an, her sword pointed at the young disciple, and bent down to help Li Ping'an up.

Suddenly, a whisper as thin as a mosquito's buzz reached her ear: