Jiang Huai’s pupils contracted as he dodged to the side.
In an instant, the longsword at his waist was drawn and slashed straight at the Hehuan Sect Female Cultivator’s arm, carrying a streak of black sword light.
Qin Qingyue was secretly shocked.
She had been worried that Jiang Huai would hesitate and not dare to strike, that he would be indecisive.
But she hadn’t expected that, the moment Jiang Huai made his move, he would aim directly for the opponent’s hand—decisive and straight for the vital spot.
With this sword and the aid of her Lingli, severing that hand would be no problem.
The female cultivator sensed the sword’s deadly edge and quickly ducked, sitting down on the ground like a horse, then sprang up, her eyes fixed on the longsword in Jiang Huai’s hand in panic.
Within that fear, there was also a hint of longing.
Jiang Huai’s cultivation seemed to be only at Qi Refining, yet this sword was infused with a strange Lingli that seemed capable of directly threatening her life.
The female cultivator composed herself, tightly watching the sword in Jiang Huai’s hand, her panic gradually turning to greed.
No matter what, Jiang Huai was just at Qi Refining; even with this sword, he might not be her match.
Hehuan Sect was the largest sect in this area, and she had the backing of an Elder. Even if the other party had some status, so what?
At this thought, the greed in the Hehuan Sect Female Cultivator’s eyes almost became tangible.
She no longer underestimated her opponent, let out a low shout, and the pink mist around her thickened abruptly.
Her figure became ghostly and erratic, her ten fingernails suddenly elongating as she pounced at Jiang Huai again.
“Careful!” Zhu Siyao called out anxiously, her heart in her throat.
She knew all too well how sinister the Demonic Arts of the Hehuan Sect were—how could someone at Qi Refining Stage defend against them?
They had only just met, yet this young man would go so far for her?
A heart, long restless for the opposite sex, began to stir.
Yet Jiang Huai remained exceptionally calm, locking onto the female cultivator’s core movements.
Qin Qingyue’s Lingli surged within him—not vast, but refined and pure—naturally coating the longsword in his hand, making the black sword light seem even more sinister.
Facing the female cultivator’s vicious and cunning claw shadows, Jiang Huai stepped forward, using his own advantages to swing his sword, doing his best to avoid physical contact.
The sword tip was like a Dragon, striking with pinpoint precision at the claw shadows, forcing her to withdraw and defend.
Jiang Huai pressed the attack, the longsword drawing a cold, upward arc from below, the blade skimming along the female cultivator’s forearm.
If not for her quick withdrawal, her sleeve would have been sliced through—the chilling sword light sent a bone-deep cold through her skin.
Clearly just the Basic Sword Formula, yet it was proving extremely troublesome for the female cultivator.
Unable to defeat someone at Qi Refining Stage after so long, while junior sisters behind her watched and mocked.
The female cultivator, fuming, struck the sword spine with her palm, hoping to knock away the weapon she so feared with brute force.
Jiang Huai’s wrist sank, the sword tilting to dissipate most of the force. His body only swayed slightly; the sword did not fly from his hand as she had expected.
Catching the moment when her old strength faded and new strength hadn’t yet formed, Jiang Huai slashed diagonally at her wrist—fast, precise, ruthless!
“Good!”
At his waist, Qin Qingyue couldn’t help but praise him inwardly.
She saw clearly that Jiang Huai’s combat talent far exceeded her expectations, and she felt a surge of pride.
Thrust, flick, block, slash—every move was just the Basic Sword Formula she had taught him, yet in combat he executed them to perfection.
He didn’t simply rely on the power she lent him, but perfectly integrated it with the most fundamental sword techniques.
Especially that composure in the face of danger—truly rare.
She had underestimated her own husband’s talent.
Though the gap in cultivation prevented him from winning immediately, with solid swordsmanship and the black sword light, he was actually fighting on even footing with a Foundation Establishment Period female cultivator—maybe even gaining the upper hand.
The more the female cultivator fought, the more shocked and stifled she felt.
She had the cultivation of Foundation Establishment and seductive arts, yet was completely stymied by the ominous black-glowing sword.
Those seemingly simple sword moves always landed in the most troublesome spots for her, forcing her to hold back her full strength.
Zhu Siyao was even more astonished, freezing in place just as she was about to intervene.
Wait, he’s this strong? He looks even younger than me!
“Damn it! This kid’s some kind of freak!”
The female cultivator cursed inwardly, her face now devoid of any playfulness, replaced with anxiety and malice.
She suddenly bit her tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood essence into the pink mist, which instantly turned thick and blood-like, its power surging. At the same time, she shrieked:
“Honored Master! Someone is trying to steal a treasure and has injured your disciple!”
Can’t win on home turf? Call for backup!
This shriek was infused with Lingli, spreading far and wide.
Almost as soon as the cry faded, a pressure far greater than Foundation Establishment Period descended on this small corner of the Market like a heavy mountain.
The air seemed to freeze. The invisible pressure made all the low-level cultivators watching turn pale, struggling to breathe as they staggered back, clearing a wide space.
Even Zhu Siyao felt her chest tighten, almost unable to stand, gazing in terror at the source of the pressure.
This was bad—real trouble had arrived.
A middle-aged beauty in a dazzling palace gown, with a seductive figure and fine crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes, appeared silently in the center of the scene.
She was beautiful, but bore an innate sinister air and the arrogance of long-held authority. Her gaze swept over the crowd like a cold viper, sending chills down everyone’s spine.
The beautiful woman glanced coldly at her disheveled disciple and said in an icy voice:
“Useless!”
“You can’t even handle a mere Qi Refining Stage brat—you’ve disgraced our Huanhuan Sect!”
If you can’t even handle someone at Qi Refining Stage, what’s the point of reaching Foundation Establishment?
The female cultivator, as if granted amnesty yet deeply ashamed, quickly retreated behind the beautiful woman, pointing at Jiang Huai and crying out in hatred:
“Honored Master! It’s this brat! He used that evil sword to try and snatch the Dao Resonance Pearl I had my eye on, and he even injured me!”
Twisting the truth came as naturally as breathing.
The beautiful woman’s gaze landed on Jiang Huai, containing scrutiny and a hint of barely concealed greed and amazement as she looked him up and down.
A fine beauty in the making—if brought back and properly trained, he’d become a devastating beauty in the future.
Whether for her own use or to gift to someone else, it was a tempting prospect.
“Hmph, just a Qi Refining nobody, and you dare act up on my Huanhuan Sect’s turf? Kneel!”
Her voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an unquestionable command. The overwhelming pressure slammed down on Jiang Huai’s shoulders like a ten-thousand-jin boulder.
A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, suppressing everyone present.
Jiang Huai grunted, his face instantly pale. He felt as if all his bones were groaning, his knees wanting to buckle uncontrollably.
The black light on his longsword flickered violently, as if a candle in the wind.
Absolute suppression of realms was on full display at this moment.
If not for Qin Qingyue secretly channeling her refined Lingli to protect his heart, this would have left him gravely injured and kneeling.
She wasn’t unwilling to help—she simply wanted Jiang Huai to see what this cultivation world was truly like, how the strong preyed on the weak.
And to remember her own hardships on this path, years ago.
The strong win everything; the weak lose all.
The onlookers were silent as cicadas in winter—no one dared to speak.
The Elder of the Hehuan Sect was like a god here.
Zhu Siyao’s face darkened as she reached for the Token at her waist.
If they refused to show restraint, then even if she didn’t want to reveal her identity or rely on her mother, she would have to act now.
The beautiful woman, watching Jiang Huai struggle to hold on, curled her lips into a suggestive smile:
“Enough, come back to the sect with me. You have talent.”
“You could be my personal…”
Before she could finish, the cold in Qin Qingyue’s Dragon Eyes at Jiang Huai’s waist had already frozen solid, her killing intent unable to be contained.
“Heh.”
A supremely disdainful sneer rang out as if directly inside everyone’s soul, instantly shattering the heavy pressure.
The laugh was not loud, but it carried an aloof indifference and an indescribable authority, making the beautiful woman’s smile freeze and a wave of terror clutch her heart.
“My man—someone like you dares to touch him?”
A cool, languid female voice resounded, imbued with supreme majesty.