Looking at Liu Zixi’s slightly annoyed expression, Qin Mu scratched his head in confusion.
They had clearly just met for the first time, so why did he have to call her ‘Elder Sister’?
Women really are strange creatures.
His own Elder Sister was like that too—sometimes getting angry for no reason at all.
Not far away, Ma Tianming watched the young man and woman laughing and chatting.
He remembered how Junior Sister Liu would always say, “I’m busy, I need to cultivate,” when she rejected him.
So, it was only him she was too busy for.
Ma Tianming clutched his chest in heartbreak.
It had taken so much for his heart to stir, but he had lost so completely!
No way!
Anger surged up Ma Tianming’s head, and he marched straight over.
On the other side, Qin Mu saw the man who had confessed to Liu Zixi earlier walking over.
He instinctively took a step back, feeling like the neighbor Lao Wang who got caught in the act.
Hiss! Wait, why do I feel guilty?!
Qin Mu stopped in his tracks and straightened his back.
However, in Ma Tianming’s eyes, this action looked like blatant provocation.
Even an uncle couldn’t stand for this!
Ma Tianming approached Qin Mu with a hostile look.
No impression of this guy—probably not a tough opponent.
“This Junior Brother, what’s your relationship with Junior Sister Liu…”
Ma Tianming’s eyes gleamed with menace.
Qin Mu faced the aura of a Golden Core Realm powerhouse head-on, completely unafraid.
Please, after years of being tempered by his Elder Sister, as long as you don’t unleash your True Qi, everything else is nothing.
Ma Tianming saw Qin Mu standing steady as a mountain and raised his eyebrow.
Seeing Ma Tianming’s face darken, Qin Mu grew worried the other might act dishonorably and hurriedly explained:
“I have nothing to do with Liu Gu—”
Liu Zixi’s Qi locked onto Qin Mu.
“Senior Sister Liu is just a friend.”
Qin Mu wanted to cry.
Why were all the women he met so domineering?
“Senior Sister?”
Ma Tianming’s voice rose.
He didn’t dare lay a hand on Liu Zixi, but bullying the young man in front of him would be a piece of cake.
“Senior Brother, I told you, I’m not interested in you.”
At that moment, Liu Zixi stepped forward to intervene.
Ma Tianming’s face turned ugly, but Liu Zixi acted as if she hadn’t noticed and continued,
“I’m not interested in you now, and I won’t be in the future. So, you should give up.”
Liu Zixi’s words pierced Ma Tianming’s heart like an arrow.
He staggered back, gasping for air.
“Fine, fine, I’m just overthinking it. But you!”
Ma Tianming pointed at Qin Mu.
“Let’s have a match!”
Qin Mu: “???”
“Hey, no, Senior Brother, I didn’t say anything to offend you!”
Qin Mu was speechless at being dragged into this for no reason.
“Besides, Senior Brother, your cultivation is way higher than mine. I can’t possibly beat you.”
Beside him, Liu Zixi frowned as well, dissatisfied with Ma Tianming’s behavior.
Ma Tianming snorted coldly.
“I won’t take an unfair advantage. Whatever your cultivation is, I’ll suppress mine to match. I’ll even let you get ready first.”
“Qi Refining Third Layer.”
“……How much!?”
“Qi Refining Third Layer.”
“Hiss!”
Now it was Ma Tianming’s turn to be speechless.
Has the Seven Star Sect’s entrance requirements gotten this low? Even someone at the Qi Refining Third Layer can get in?!
“Fine! Qi Refining Third Layer it is!”
Ma Tianming began suppressing his cultivation, then looked at Qin Mu again.
“Get ready, I’ll give you a chance.”
Qin Mu sighed helplessly.
Last time, he ended up in prison at Miss Mengyu’s place for no reason.
Now, with Miss Ruoshuang, he was about to fight someone for no reason.
Why was his luck so terrible?
Qin Mu took out the treasures his two Elder Sisters had given him for self-defense.
Across from him, Ma Tianming saw the youth pull out a defensive robe.
Heh, probably the kid’s only possession.
Then the youth drew a sword that radiated a chilling aura—even Ma Tianming felt uneasy.
But it didn’t stop there.
The youth even summoned a wisp of flame.
The flame danced, not harming the youth but flowing over his body instead.
Looking at the fire, Ma Tianming grew more unsettled.
What was up with this kid?
Why did he have so many treasures?
Qin Mu’s next actions almost made Ma Tianming’s jaw drop.
One stack, two stacks, three stacks… A full eight stacks of Talismans, ten sheets in each.
He tossed them out like they were free.
“All right, Senior Brother, I’m ready!”
Qin Mu nodded.
He was fully prepared this time.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ma Tianming’s figure shot toward Qin Mu, a small Bagua symbol spinning in his palm.
As expected of the Golden Core Realm—though the realm was suppressed, his experience was overwhelming.
Liu Zixi didn’t intervene to help Qin Mu.
This time, she wanted to see his true capabilities.
Last time, Qin Ruoshuang had intervened and spoiled things.
If Qin Mu truly couldn’t withstand it, she’d step in at a critical moment.
Here it comes!
Qin Mu infused True Qi into the long sword, slashing forward.
Cold Sword Qi flashed before Ma Tianming’s eyes in an instant.
Not good!
Ma Tianming hurriedly took out an Array Flag.
“Heh ah!”
A Phantom Bell appeared around him.
Clang!
Qin Mu’s attack was blocked.
Seeing this, he swung his sword several more times.
Sword Qi after Sword Qi struck the Phantom Bell.
Still not enough.
Qin Mu grabbed several Talismans, activated them with True Qi, and hurled them all at once.
Ma Tianming was teary-eyed.
Was this really Qi Refining Third Layer?
Even as a Golden Core Realm, he’d never fought such a wealthy battle!
Crack!
A crack appeared on the Phantom Bell.
Qin Mu became excited, controlling the flame and transforming it into a Fire Dragon that roared forward.
Ma Tianming panicked inside.
He couldn’t take this attack head-on.
He chanted a spell, and the Phantom Bell vanished.
The Fire Dragon locked onto Ma Tianming and refused to let go.
Ma Tianming darted around using his movement technique, suddenly appearing in front of Qin Mu.
Nani!
Qin Mu was startled and quickly pulled out several Talismans.
Before he could throw them, Ma Tianming said,
“Kid, taste your own attack for yourself!”
In the next moment, Ma Tianming’s figure flashed again, and the Fire Dragon, which had been chasing him, was now right in front of Qin Mu.
Not good!
Liu Zixi sensed trouble and gathered True Qi, ready to rush to Qin Mu’s aid.
At that moment, a figure silently appeared before Qin Mu.
“Young Friend Qin, when you attack, you must know when to advance and when to retreat.”
Liu Tiancheng smiled calmly.
He opened his palm and gently pushed forward.
The Fire Dragon dissipated with a “boom.”
“Master!”
Seeing who it was, Ma Tianming hurriedly bowed.
Liu Tiancheng looked at his disciple.
“Tianming, in sparring, you must show restraint. If I hadn’t arrived, Young Friend Qin would have been seriously injured. How do you explain yourself?”
Ma Tianming said,
“This disciple was at fault and is willing to accept punishment!”
Liu Tiancheng turned to Qin Mu.
“Then, Young Friend Qin, how do you think he should be punished?”
The question was tossed to him.
Qin Mu was about to speak when Ma Tianming interrupted.
“No! Absolutely not! If there’s punishment, it should come from Master!”
Liu Tiancheng ignored Ma Tianming and waited for Qin Mu’s answer.
“How about this,”
Qin Mu put away all his fancy equipment,
“If he can withstand a single sword from my Elder Sister, that’s enough.”