Footsteps echoed in the air.
Both of them had keen senses, and soon they discerned from the sounds that there were three people approaching. It wouldn’t be long before they arrived.
“Leave Hong Xing to me,” Lin Dongming suggested. “You just fought him recently; it’ll be easy for him to see through you.”
“Alright,” White Zhiqing said. “One of them has steady footsteps, is the least drunk, and the strongest. I’ll take him. You handle the other two—that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Ordinary worldly wine had little effect on cultivators. The three of them had most likely been drinking Spirit Brew. Good Spirit Brew could even affect those at the Core Formation stage.
“Fine.” Lin Dongming nodded and leaned against the tree trunk, waiting for Hong Xing.
He had hidden his figure earlier to avoid being noticed by unrelated people, but there was no need for sneaky tactics when dealing with Hong Xing.
“Hm?”
Hong Xing, dressed in blue, noticed Lin Dongming and White Zhiqing on the opposite side. “Why are there people here?”
The black-clothed man, who was the least drunk, frowned. “What are you doing here? Wearing black and masked, sneaking around.”
“Here to teach you a lesson,” Lin Dongming replied in a disguised voice.
“Teach us a lesson? You’re quite bold,” Hong Xing said, now serious after sensing hostility. Both sides readied their swords.
“Let’s fight. I’ll let you go first.” Lin Dongming beckoned with his middle finger.
“What a cocky guy!”
The Core Formation early-stage man, drunkest among them, charged at Lin Dongming. His long sword split into dozens of streaks of light.
Lin Dongming sneered, sidestepping the attack, then used his right hand to deflect the opponent’s sword. The hilt struck the back of the man’s head.
“Wha—” The man hadn’t even finished speaking before collapsing.
Everyone was shocked.
Not just Hong Xing and the black-clothed man, but even White Zhiqing was surprised. She knew Lin Dongming had some hidden trump card, but hadn’t expected so much.
It’s important to know that the bodies of Core Formation cultivators were extremely tough. Even if they weren’t body cultivators, they weren’t easily broken through.
With an ordinary weapon, it would be hard to even scratch them. Even Earth-grade or Heaven-grade weapons required the wielder to possess formidable strength.
Moreover, Lin Dongming’s weapon was too ordinary. White Zhiqing estimated it was no higher than Xuan-grade. This meant Lin Dongming relied purely on the sheer force of that single strike to knock the opponent unconscious.
From the moment the opponent attacked to defeat took only a few breaths. Even a late-stage Jiedan fighting early-stage Jiedan wouldn’t be that fast.
“…Interesting.” Hong Xing said to his companion, “I’ll take this kid. You handle the other one.”
Hong Xing drew an impressive Earth-grade long sword, swallowed an elixir to boost his spiritual power, and began relentlessly attacking Lin Dongming with sword control techniques.
“Typical Guanzhier, dripping in wealth,” Lin Dongming sneered as he dodged the incoming flying swords.
During the Sword Dance Terrace duels, both sides were forbidden from using drugs. So the Hong Xing Lin Dongming faced now was much stronger than the one White Zhiqing had faced before.
—The flying swords were too dense.
Lin Dongming struggled even using the Tiandao Jingxin Jue to evade. Anyone else would likely be hacked into a mess quickly.
“So what? You think you, a penniless nobody, can beat me? No matter how talented you are,” Hong Xing sneered. It seemed Lin Dongming’s earlier words had offended him.
“You think you’ve already won?”
Lin Dongming couldn’t help but worry for Duyuan Peak’s decline. This Guanzhier clearly couldn’t handle important matters or take charge.
Lin Dongming seemed to be struggling just to dodge, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t counterattack.
“You’re all talk. I’m going to chop off your head!” Hong Xing’s flying swords grew even denser.
“…” Lin Dongming was getting angry.
Disputes among disciples in the Heavenly Extreme Sword Sect were forbidden but could be minor or major. As long as the master was willing to protect you, there was rarely any serious consequence.
But killing a fellow disciple was a grave crime, punishable without exception.
Yet Lin Dongming and White Zhiqing clearly had no intent to kill; otherwise, Lin Dongming would not have simply knocked the opponent out.
But Hong Xing had already shown murderous intent. Even knowing his opponent was likely someone he bullied before, now seeking revenge.
“You’re pretty arrogant yourself.” Lin Dongming raised an eyebrow and gripped his long sword tighter.
“Hmph, blame your bad luck for being born a lousy brat!”
Hong Xing unleashed a barrage of cold sword light.
Duyuan Sword Technique · Falling Star!
Tiandao Jingxin Jue · Duankong!
Lin Dongming slashed through Hong Xing’s flying swords. His figure appeared like a ghost before Hong Xing.
“Well then… I wish you a better fate in your next life.”
A sword strike fell.
The terrifying killing intent made Hong Xing feel as if his head had flown off. The next moment, he lost consciousness.
Meanwhile, White Zhiqing seemed to be in a fierce battle.
Despite her solid strength, she was at a disadvantage. Though experienced in combat, her opponent seemed to have superior experience and cultivation, completely dominating the fight.
Core Formation early-stage versus mid-stage was tough.
“Need help?”
Lin Dongming flew over to White Zhiqing’s side.
“No need. Just watch carefully.” White Zhiqing said with difficulty.
“But you don’t look like you’re winning at all.” Lin Dongming ignored her pride and prepared to assist.
The black-clothed man didn’t take Lin Dongming seriously. “You’re proud after beating two of us? Do you think I’m the same?”
Lin Dongming deliberately provoked him. “Not much different.”
The black-clothed man sneered. “Then try me.”
“Listen carefully.” Lin Dongming sent a voice transmission. “I’m not competing for the kill. I’m just here to create openings. Make good use of them.”
“You don’t need to remind me,” White Zhiqing was clearly displeased.
“Agreed?”
The black-clothed man raised his long sword. “Then die!”
Duyuan Sword Technique · Remnant Moon Break!
The black-clothed man unleashed the same Remnant Moon Break, but with more than double the power compared to Hong Xing.
Countless flying swords rushed toward the two, seemingly unstoppable.
Lin Dongming sneered and slashed his sword out.
Tiandao Jingxin Jue · Polaris Breaker!
The sword in Lin Dongming’s hand rapidly expanded, sweeping away the black-clothed man’s flying swords in waves.
“What?!”
The black-clothed man was stunned.
Now!
White Zhiqing charged in front of the black-clothed man.
Tianjian Seven Absolutes · Gale Fury!
Her sword slashed toward the opponent’s chest.
But the black-clothed man’s left hand suddenly revealed a black long sword, slashing at White Zhiqing. Given their speed, if White Zhiqing didn’t evade, they’d both be severely injured.
At that moment, an unnamed long sword appeared in the path of the black sword, slightly blocking its attack.
Though just for an instant, it was enough.
Enough for White Zhiqing’s sword to pierce through the opponent’s chest.
“You brat…” The black-clothed man shot Lin Dongming a resentful glance before being knocked down by White Zhiqing’s sword.
The moment the cold gleam flashed, blood sprayed everywhere.