by EkkoTheDemon
Rumble—
The sound of thunder echoed under the stormy night sky like a god roaring in anger, plunging the Taikun Mountain Range into a state of oppression.
In the forest, Yang Jueding and Li Qingqiu pushed through the heavy rain. When they reached level ground, Yang Jueding turned to look at Li Qingqiu.
"Walking through such heavy rain will inevitably affect your physical condition. Besides, the Seven Peaks Alliance is quite far from here, and it will be difficult to reach in less than a few days. Why don't we rest for a night and go into town tomorrow to borrow two horses?"
Yang Jueding felt that Li Qingqiu had lost his reason and thought that accompanying him in the rain for a while would wake him up.
Li Qingqiu spoke: "It's fine. We don't need to be too hurried, as long as we catch up with that group from the Seven Peaks Alliance who escaped. They are dragging along many wounded, so they shouldn't have gone far."
"I see. I really thought you were going to charge straight into the Seven Peaks Alliance."
Yang Jueding let out a sigh of relief. He had almost wanted to say 'I thought you were crazy.'
For the two of them to go to the Seven Peaks Alliance would be absolute suicide.
But hunting down a group of wounded warriors was something they could handle with ease.
"Since that's the case, let's pick up the pace!"
Yang Jueding’s spirit rose and he began to quicken his steps. Li Qingqiu did not stop him, as this was exactly what he wanted.
In the dark forest, Yang Jueding performed light-body techniques while Li Qingqiu performed the Stormstride Art. The two flew along like ghosts, and at a glance, it seemed as if their feet never touched the ground.
The night grew deeper, and the heartless storm began to subside, as if the heavens had nearly finished their vent.
On the mountain path between the ranges, hundreds of sturdy horses were advancing slowly. Wounded warriors lay across many of the horses' backs, while over a hundred more warriors led the horses on foot.
Yue Zhenchuan walked at the very front. Rainwater streamed down his face and his gaze was ice-cold, but his heart was filled with lingering fear.
There was still a gash on his neck that had nearly cut his throat.
Jiang Zhaoxia’s figure, looking like a mad demon, was burned into his mind, along with that girl who had nearly killed him with a single sword strike.
The Clear Firmament Sect was actually hiding two such terrifying youths, and when added to Li Sifeng, Yue Zhenchuan simply couldn't understand it.
Forget the Seven Peaks Alliance—even in the hegemon sects he had visited, he had never seen such monstrous geniuses.
This grudge had already been set, and there was no way for the Seven Peaks Alliance to resolve it. He had to bring the news back and bring the full power of the alliance to wipe out the Clear Firmament Sect; otherwise, in ten years—no, perhaps even five years—the Seven Peaks Alliance would face complete destruction.
The more Yue Zhenchuan thought, the more afraid he became. He even suspected that demons and monsters were hidden within the Clear Firmament Sect. The news of Lin Xunfeng searching for immortals had long since spread, and many martial heroes had mocked him for losing his mind, including Yue Zhenchuan himself. But thinking about it now, had Lin Xunfeng encountered something that made him want to find immortals?
The rain had stopped, but the clouds in Yue Zhenchuan’s heart showed no sign of clearing.
"Good heroes ahead, please stay your steps!"
A deep and powerful voice came from behind, shocking the Seven Peaks Alliance disciples into turning around, fearing that the Clear Firmament Sect was attacking.
Yue Zhenchuan also let out a shudder and turned his head to see two figures in grass raincoats quickly approaching them. Under the night sky, visibility was poor, and they could only barely determine that the figures were human.
Although there were only two of them, the Seven Peaks Alliance disciples who had experienced that fierce battle earlier that day were terrified and didn't dare to be careless, drawing their weapons and standing ready.
They were dragging wounded and were injured themselves; they definitely couldn't outrun anyone, and once they started running, they would be easily picked off one by one.
"I am Yang Jueding. Have you heroes heard of my name?"
Yang Jueding’s voice rang out again. After he identified himself, the Seven Peaks Alliance disciples looked at each other and all relaxed.
Dragon-Subduing Hero Yang Jueding—in the martial world of the Gu Prefecture, there was no one who didn't know his name.
Yue Zhenchuan also let out a sigh of relief. He knew Yang Jueding; when Yang Jueding had visited the Seven Peaks Alliance in the past, he had witnessed his skills. Although Yang Jueding might not be as good as him, his palm power was certainly worthy of a reputation in the top ten of the Empyrean Ranking.
"So it is Brother Yang! Please come over and talk!"
Yue Zhenchuan shouted and even waved at the two of them.
With Yang Jueding traveling with them, they would surely be safer.
Yang Jueding seemed to recognize him and quickened his pace toward him, with the Seven Peaks Alliance disciples making way.
"Why so wretched? Did you get into a fight with the Azure Cult?"
As Yang Jueding approached, he took off his hat and spoke with a teasing laugh in his voice.
Yue Zhenchuan didn't pay any attention to the person behind him and replied helplessly, "I went out to handle some business and ended up suffering a loss."
Yang Jueding reached Yue Zhenchuan and inspected the injuries on his body, clicking his tongue in wonder. "What an expert! Judging from the sword wounds, the moves were incredibly fast, aiming for your life at every turn."
Yue Zhenchuan’s expression became unnatural and he snorted. "Indeed an expert. Today I was careless..."
"Are you the experts from the Seven Peaks Alliance?"
Li Qingqiu moved around Yang Jueding and looked at Yue Zhenchuan as he asked.
Yue Zhenchuan didn't see his face clearly and thought he was Yang Jueding’s junior, so he replied casually, "Mhm. Our Seven Peaks Alliance can be considered old friends with the Dragon-Subduing Hero beside you..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a flash of sword light flared. Yang Jueding had no time to dodge and was splashed in the face with blood; his eyes widened, his expression filled with shock.
Yue Zhenchuan’s eyes also widened, his hands instinctively clutching his throat, but the blood sprayed out uncontrollably and couldn't be stopped.
"You..."
Yue Zhenchuan looked at Li Qingqiu in disbelief, his body stumbling back unsteadily.
The faces of the Seven Peaks Alliance disciples nearby changed drastically. They were about to speak when Li Qingqiu turned and swung his sword, cutting another throat.
Not far away, Yue Zhenchuan’s disciple, the young man, was taking the opportunity to rest. He sat on a rock and was about to take off his pants to check the wound on his thigh when he suddenly saw his master backing away and then falling to the ground with a thud, which left him in a daze.
He was about to ask what was wrong when he saw the person in the grass raincoat beside Yang Jueding turn and throw the sword in his hand directly at him.
Squelch—
The blade pierced the young man’s forehead and dragged him back several zhang. When he stopped, all signs of life had completely vanished, his eyes remaining open in death.
Li Qingqiu rushed over, pulled the sword from the man’s head, and charged like a ghost toward the other Seven Peaks Alliance disciples.
Those disciples also snapped out of it and turned to face Li Qingqiu.
Li Qingqiu, after breaking through to the third level of the Essence Nurturing Realm, was like a brand-new person. His senses had become sharper, his body more agile, and his reactions incredibly fast.
Every time he passed someone, he killed them, with no wasted movements. The sound of the blade slicing through flesh rang out continuously.
After a brief moment of shock, Yang Jueding quickly turned to look. Seeing the field of corpses, he was terrified by Li Qingqiu.
'So fast!'
'So ruthless!'
He had long ago guessed that Li Qingqiu was strong, but he hadn't expected him to be this strong—even Jiang Zhaoxia couldn't compare to him.
"Kill him!"
An older Seven Peaks Alliance disciple shouted with a predatory look, raising his blade. With that, he charged straight at Li Qingqiu.
The other Seven Peaks Alliance disciples also charged, which caused more and more horses to bolt. The sounds of neighing rang out one after another, and some horses even began to stampede; some of the wounded were thrown from their backs and trampled to death.
In an instant, this mountain area fell into chaos.
Every single one of these Seven Peaks Alliance disciples was wounded; forget fighting in an injured state—even in their peak condition, they wouldn't have been a match for Li Qingqiu.
Because of this, the battle became a one-sided slaughter. As Yang Jueding watched Li Qingqiu embark on a killing spree, a chill ran down his spine.
'What heavy killing intent!'
Although Yang Jueding traveled the martial world, he cared more about the level of martial arts and reputation than killing; this was also why he was able to become a "hero." The Li Qingqiu of the moment made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.
He tried hard to convince himself that it was the Seven Peaks Alliance who started the trouble, and besides, the alliance was not a righteous sect and had done many evil things in the martial world.
When he visited the Seven Peaks Alliance in the past, he had called it a "sparring match," but in reality, he wanted to suppress them; unfortunately, he hadn't succeeded and could only pretend that he wanted to make friends.
However, regardless of how he comforted himself, as he watched Li Qingqiu move like a tiger among a flock of sheep, he couldn't help but wonder: if he were to face an angry Li Qingqiu, how many moves could he block?
When the number of dead Seven Peaks Alliance disciples passed the halfway mark, the remaining disciples finally couldn't take it anymore and began to flee in terror. Li Qingqiu, however, had no intention of letting them go and hunted them down one by one.
These Seven Peaks Alliance disciples were wounded and had been traveling, so they were already exhausted; they hadn't run far before being slain by Li Qingqiu.
A stick of incense's time later.
Li Qingqiu carried his sword to Yang Jueding and looked up, his blood-stained face revealed beneath his hat.
"Only one left. He won't get far. After I kill him, I'm going to the Seven Peaks Alliance. You stay here; without these people to take the news back, the Seven Peaks Alliance won't return immediately. Tomorrow, take the disciples and clear the bodies on the mountain to avoid breeding a plague."
Li Qingqiu spoke. With that, he turned and walked in the direction the last Seven Peaks Alliance disciple had fled.
After walking two steps, Li Qingqiu seemed to remember something and turned back to look at Yang Jueding. "I'll have to trouble you again to search all these corpses. See if there's anything valuable and bring it all back to the mountain. In addition, you must not reveal a single word of what happened tonight to the disciples, including my siblings. Don't tell them what I'm doing either; just say I'm patrolling the mountain."
As the words fell, Li Qingqiu turned and walked away with his sword.
The night was vast and hazy. Yang Jueding watched Li Qingqiu’s back and opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single word.
After witnessing Li Qingqiu’s terrifying strength, he felt that even if Li Qingqiu failed at the Seven Peaks Alliance, he would still be able to retreat safely.
He stood there, watching Li Qingqiu disappear over the top of the mountain ridge. Only then did he snap back to his senses. He turned around to look at the field of corpses, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
He suddenly felt that the task Li Qingqiu had given him was no less difficult than the slaughter.
On the other side, three li away.
The last Seven Peaks Alliance disciple was fleeing up a hillside. Because he was too agitated, his foot caught on a stone and he rolled directly down the slope, stumbling all the way.
When he finally managed to stop, he felt pain all over his body, as if his bones were about to fall apart.
While gasping in pain, he struggled to get up. As soon as he looked up, his eyes widened and despair flooded his face.
Following his gaze, Li Qingqiu stood atop the ridge in his grass raincoat, looking down on him with sword in hand. The dark clouds in the night sky happened to disperse, and the bright moon hung high above Li Qingqiu’s head.