Reinforcement...
Why would there be such a powerful character at the side of Qin Wentian?
Old Mo was struck dumb when he heard Qin Wentian's words. He, the Clan Lord of the Mo Clan, Mo Qingcheng's grandfather, and one of the strongest cultivators in Chu below the Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns, couldn't believe his ears. This young man with mediocre talent dared to address him like this?
"What did you just say?" Old Mo's face contorted with anger. He was already in a foul mood after what had happened to Qingcheng, and now, with Qin Wentian's audacity, he couldn't bear it. An aura of terrifying pressure emanated from him involuntarily.
"If you don't have the courage to do it, I will. Move out of my way," Qin Wentian coldly continued, locking eyes with Old Mo. He knew very well why Old Mo didn't dare to kill Hua Xiaoyun.
Old man Mo feared Hua Xiaoyun's background. Even though he knew that Hua Xiaoyun was responsible for Mo Qingcheng's condition, he still hesitated to take action.
Narrowing his eyes, a glint of murderous intent shone in Old Mo's gaze. If it were a member of the Mo Clan challenging him, he might have hesitated, but facing Qin Wentian, he had no such reservations. Qin Wentian was inviting his own demise.
Qin Wentian kept moving forward, his tone dripping with sarcasm, each word like a slap to Old Mo's face. Old Mo couldn't bear Qin Wentian's insolence any longer.
"Ignorant fool," Old Mo exclaimed and unleashed a palm strike toward Qin Wentian. However, in that very instant, a fierce gust of wind blew, carrying an exceptionally sharp intent that sent shivers down Old Mo's spine. He felt as though he were facing mortal danger.
As the wind passed, a graceful figure appeared in front of him, as if she had always been there.
The young woman stood there casually, her mere presence sending a bone-chilling sensation through Old Mo. He felt as though he could be shredded into mincemeat with a mere thought from this young lady.
His palm, frozen mid-motion, and his eyes were wide as saucers. This veiled young lady was at the Heavenly Dipper Realm, a Heavenly Dipper Sovereign.
Why was such a powerful figure standing by Qin Wentian's side?
"You're truly unfit to be Qingcheng's grandfather. If she recovers, well and good. But if anything happens to her, I'll personally send you to hell to be with her," Qin Wentian's gaze bore into Old Mo, the intensity of his determination causing Old Mo to shiver involuntarily.
To be threatened in such a manner by a junior – it was beyond anything Old Mo could have anticipated. Glancing at the Heavenly Dipper Sovereign standing by Qin Wentian's side, numerous questions raced through his mind.
If Old Mo had been more attentive to matters within Chu, he would already have known about Qingcheng. But how could a place as small as Chu Country attract his attention? To him, Chu was just a speck of dust. He certainly wouldn't have held Qin Wentian, a self-proclaimed 'genius' from Chu, in high regard.
Qin Wentian continued past Old Mo, his focus zeroing in on Hua Xiaoyun.
Hua Xiaoyun's eyes flickered as he glanced at Qingcheng. He realized that if Qingcheng chose to make a move, he would be powerless to resist. However, his primary shock stemmed from the unexpected presence of a Heavenly Dipper Sovereign in Chu.
"I am Hua Xiaoyun from the Hua Clan of the Moon Continent. May I ask who you are?" Hua Xiaoyun inquired, his gaze fixed on Qingcheng. As a Heavenly Dipper Sovereign, and considering her age and beauty, he deduced that she likely hailed from the Grand Xia Empire.
Qingcheng's eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. She cast a cold glance at Hua Xiaoyun before deliberately looking away. Her response caught Hua Xiaoyun off guard. He was being disregarded, treated as if he were air.
"Your identity doesn't matter. You're destined to die," Qin Wentian's aura surged, demonic energy filling the air. His jet-black hair swirled in the wind, his blood boiling and roiling within him. Thunderous rumbles echoed, his killing intent reaching the heavens, prompting those nearby to unconsciously take a few steps back.
Was this the renowned genius of Chu? The intensity of his aura was nothing short of terrifying.
However, rumors circulated that Hua Xiaoyun stood at the fourth level of Yuanfu, creating a considerable gap between him and Qin Wentian. To make matters worse, Hua Xiaoyun had already comprehended a Mandate. The odds seemed heavily stacked against Qin Wentian.
Boom! A colossal Yellow Springs Monument materialized and shot towards Hua Xiaoyun with explosive speed. Crimson beams of light flowed from Qin Wentian's body into the monument. Hua Xiaoyun's expression froze as he felt his blood circulation accelerate, his heart pounding with increasing intensity.
"KILL!" Qin Wentian's roar pierced the air.
Buzz. A terrifying aftermath surged as Qin Wentian transformed into a blur, hurtling toward Hua Xiaoyun. His demeanor twisted into one of boundless violence, resembling an ancient demon war god. An ancient-looking halberd manifested in his hands.
Hua Xiaoyun's aura also erupted. He waved his sleeves, conjuring a resplendent golden halo before him. Pouring his energy into it, countless golden, razor-sharp swords flew madly at Qin Wentian, aiming to cut him down where he stood.
These golden swords possessed fearsome penetrating capabilities and were infused with the Mandate's will. Qin Wentian felt as though his body was on the brink of being pierced through by these deadly weapons.
The ancient halberd in his hands moved with fluid grace, creating elegant arcs of Astral Light that annihilated the incoming golden swords. Simultaneously, as he defended against this onslaught, Qin Wentian commanded the Yellow Springs Monument to slam into Hua Xiaoyun. Thunderous booms reverberated, and Hua Xiaoyun emitted a painful groan. The resonance generated by the monument's blood Qi was overwhelmingly powerful.
Retreating, Hua Xiaoyun summoned a protective-type divine weapon in the form of a millstone. His expression remained resolute as he pointed toward the sky. The golden light radiating from the millstone enveloped the crimson glow of the monument.
A sharp whistle emanated from the Yellow Springs Monument as the crimson light intensified. With a roar of fury, Qin Wentian channeled even more of his bloodline's power into it, merging his senses with the monument. At this moment, he could feel an immensely formidable force residing within it, but sadly, he still lacked the ability to fully control it.
"I want your death." Qin Wentian fixed Hua Xiaoyun with a chilling gaze, as if he were already witnessing the man's demise. With every step he took, the ground quivered under the force of his stride. His halberd moved with blinding speed, and the crushing weight of the stone monument bore down on Hua Xiaoyun.
Terror flickered in Hua Xiaoyun's eyes as he strained against the crushing pressure. He unleashed a golden beam of light to deflect the ancient halberd, but in the end, he couldn't prevent a spurt of blood from escaping his lips, his face contorted in pain.
Without a second thought, Hua Xiaoyun swiftly retreated, putting as much distance as possible between him and Qin Wentian.
Even without the intervention of the Heavenly Dipper Sovereign, an enraged Qin Wentian was already a deadly threat.
Hua Xiaoyun felt like he was trapped in a surreal nightmare. Despite being at the fourth level of Yuanfu, he couldn't believe he was struggling in this manner.
"It must be the monument's suppression. Otherwise, I would have dispatched him easily," Hua Xiaoyun mused, bewildered by the bizarre turn of events.
"I can't stay in Chu any longer," Hua Xiaoyun thought with a heavy heart. Who would have guessed that Chu was so perilous? It was a humiliating experience.
An oppressive killing intent bore down on him, and he sensed the icy resolve closing in. Hua Xiaoyun stiffened and turned to look. The air thickened with demonic Qi as a pair of demonic beast wings sprouted from Qin Wentian's back. His obsidian eyes were like an abyss, conveying that Hua Xiaoyun's death was imminent. Qin Wentian would not relent until the man was dead.
"You foolhardy imbecile," Hua Xiaoyun seethed.
Drawing on every ounce of Astral Energy within his Yuanfu, Hua Xiaoyun's speed skyrocketed as he shot toward the Dark Forest.
Swoosh! A ferocious wind howled as an overwhelming bloodlust descended. Hua Xiaoyun grimaced, feeling as though his body might burst at any moment. Glancing back, he saw the Yellow Springs Monument had somehow sprouted wings like Qin Wentian's, granting it an explosive burst of speed as it pursued him relentlessly.
Coming to a halt, Hua Xiaoyun's once-arrogant expression twisted into a sinister sneer as he conjured a golden sword crackling with deadly intent.
"SHATTER!" Hua Xiaoyun unleashed a slashing torrent of golden sword energy aimed at the stone monument. To his shock, the monument momentarily quivered but then shrugged off his attack, continuing its relentless pursuit. Panic surged through him as explosions of fear echoed in his mind. His attack had failed? If this continued, the relentless pressure would eventually crush him.
"Young Master," a voice called out. Hua Xiaoyun's gloom vanished, replaced by relief as he shouted, "KILL HIM! KILL THE MAN BEHIND ME!"
Several figures materialized in the distance. Leading them was a man with a profoundly intimidating cultivation level, a Heavenly Dipper Sovereign. Behind him stood about five servants with lower cultivation bases, all below the third level of Yuanfu. Normally, these Yuanfu-level cultivators served him, and he offered them occasional guidance when time allowed.
In the Grand Xia Empire, such arrangements were commonplace. There were always individuals willing to serve under Heavenly Dipper Sovereigns, even those from transcendent powers. These individuals often lacked exceptional talents, making it nearly impossible for them to ascend to the pinnacle of their respective transcendent powers. Serving under a Heavenly Dipper Sovereign offered them the hope of achieving that status in the future.
While these servants possessed Yuanfu-level cultivations, they were still considered experts in Chu, highlighting the vast difference between Chu and the Grand Xia Empire.
The Heavenly Dipper Sovereign had arrived to retrieve Hua Xiaoyun from the Mo Clan, as the matter in the Dark Forest had concluded. He had never anticipated that someone in this remote Chu territory would dare to target the second young master of the Hua Clan. Perhaps the saying "fools rush in where angels fear to tread" applied here.
Although Hua Xiaoyun wasn't considered exceptional within the Hua Clan, he hailed from the main lineage. Additionally, his elder brother's talent shone brilliantly, ensuring that no one dared to mistreat him, either within or outside the clan. This protection gradually earned him the nickname "the useless second Young Master" behind his back.
The Heavenly Dipper Sovereign cast a cold gaze at Qin Wentian and extended his hand to seize him, unleashing a formidable surge of energy directed at Qin Wentian.
But just as the attack approached, a lotus materialized in front of Qin Wentian, and Qing`er's ethereal figure suddenly appeared, her beauty transcending mortal standards.
"You intend to kill me? I WANT YOU DEAD!" Hua Xiaoyun howled at Qin Wentian, his malice growing as he saw his followers arrive.
Qin Wentian shifted his gaze to Qing`er, who remained as composed as ever. She glanced back at him, her voice clear and melodious as she said, "This old man is not a threat to me. I can handle him."
A smile played on Qin Wentian's lips as he admired Qing`er's icy demeanor. Yet, when he turned his gaze back to Hua Xiaoyun, the burning desire to kill flared once more.