Huh?
Letting me plant a slave seal on Beichen Yue, just like that? So generous?
Dongfang Xiaotian immediately found Xiao Yuanqing’s gaze much friendlier.
Meanwhile, Beichen Yue’s body trembled slightly, and she stared at Dongfang Xiaotian, unable to calm her heart.
Would Young Master Dongfang really agree?
It was unlikely, but what if he really did agree—what then?
Her cultivation was already not as high as Xiao Yuanqing’s; if Dongfang Xiaotian joined in, she’d stand no chance at all. In that case, a bit of compromise was inevitable.
Should she go ahead and change how she addressed him now?
Emotionless, emotionless… She mustn’t think about such things.
While Beichen Yue silently recited the Emotionless Dao’s heart technique in her mind, her lips couldn’t help but speak out,
“Should I start by calling you ‘Master,’ Young Master Dongfang, just to get used to it?”
Beichen Yue spoke abruptly, but the heart technique of the Emotionless Dao made her face expressionless as she said this.
“Ahem, don’t look at me like that,”
Dongfang Xiaotian glanced away, unnerved by her blank stare. “Do I really look that dumb? Even a laborer has to sign a work contract—how could I trust an empty promise like that?”
“That’s my oversight.”
Xiao Yuanqing didn’t know what an ‘empty promise’ was, but he took out several sheets of paper and said, “This is the Tiandao Qishu. I can make a contract with Brother Dongfang again. Should any term in the contract go against the Dao of Heaven, we will be struck with endless calamity.”
Beichen Yue’s expression froze as she looked at the beast hide sheets in Xiao Yuanqing’s hand…
The Tiandao Qishu, powerful as it was, was a consumable spiritual artifact passed down from ancient ruins—each use meant one less in the world!
For Xiao Yuanqing to use such means even when he already possessed enough strength to win Dongfang Xiaotian over… For some reason, Beichen Yue felt an ominous sense of dread from another direction.
Even Dongfang Xiaotian was wavering as he listened, almost dropping to his knees and ready to shout out ‘godfather.’
Seeing his words had effect, Xiao Yuanqing quickly added, “But just to be safe, please allow me to plant a slave seal on you as well, Brother Dongfang.”
“Rest assured, with the Tiandao Qishu as our bond, I absolutely will not do anything to disgrace you!”
Dongfang Xiaotian instantly straightened up.
What, you think I’ll just sign anything?
Yet Xiao Yuanqing kept chattering on, “In this way, I can kill my enemy, the fallen Elder Li Shiwu who’s become a demonic cultivator. Beichen Yue can advance her cultivation, and you, Brother Dongfang, can acquire the resources you need to restore your spiritual sea.”
“The cost is merely those at Four Sages Academy who were destined to be sacrificed, as well as the demonic cultivators who deserve to die anyway.”
Even Beichen Yue was swayed by Xiao Yuanqing’s words.
Just as he said, the distance between the central hall and the Four Sages Academy camp was too great. By the time they rushed over, the battle would likely be over, leaving only a pile of demonic cultivators.
No matter how talented she was, Beichen Yue’s spiritual power was limited—she could never fight them all alone.
It might be better to avenge them now and grow stronger in the process.
Most importantly, Beichen Yue truly had goals that could only be achieved with greater power.
For that, she would spare nothing.
“That’s enough.”
Dongfang Xiaotian said indifferently, “Don’t make it sound as easy as letting others fight while you report it to the authorities. If you truly believe what you’re doing is right, let me ask—would you dare tell your sister Xiaoyuanzhiang?”
Tell Xiaoyuanzhiang? Impossible.
Even if the Xiao Clan had basically fallen into Li Shiwu’s hands, Xiaoyuanzhiang was only thirteen—barely into her maiden years.
With Xiao Yuanqing’s powerful protection, she couldn’t leave the Xiao Clan, but the clan itself was still vast enough to let her grow up in peace.
All Xiao Yuanqing ever wanted was for his one and only sister to grow up well and become as good a person as Brother Dongfang.
After a brief silence, Xiao Yuanqing replied flatly, “She has no need to know.”
“See? Wrong is wrong.”
Dongfang Xiaotian looked at the screen, where a young boy not yet of age was fighting valiantly. He chuckled, “Besides, how do you know everyone at the Four Sages Academy will die?”
Come on, the protagonist is right there!
The more he watched his junior, who, at the ninth level of Qi Refining, was challenging several Foundation Establishment cultivators at once, the more he felt this kid had the makings of a great emperor.
“It was arrogant of me.”
Xiao Yuanqing sighed, but drew his sword.
“But this ancient formation is already too old. Even activating it once drains half an hour’s time. It likely can’t be used again… I can’t wait for them to finish fighting before I activate it again. My sister’s future depends on this—I cannot gamble!”
His expression was solemn as he said, “Still, I believe this is the best option.”
“Fine, I’ll say no more. It does feel a bit embarrassing to just stand here and watch you fight.”
Dongfang Xiaotian stopped talking and pulled a broken blue sword from his spatial ring, making it clear that negotiations had failed.
Beichen Yue looked at the sword in confusion, expecting the legendary Azure Dragon Sword, but… Why was it a broken sword?
Wait! The Azure Dragon Sword is broken!?
That’s an imperial weapon! What kind of battle at the Golden Core stage could break such a weapon?
Before Beichen Yue could think further, Dongfang Xiaotian was already giving orders beside her: “Buy me three hundred breaths of time.” “Alright.”
Beichen Yue snapped back to herself, nodded, and drew her own sword, standing protectively in front of Dongfang Xiaotian.
She didn’t know what a now crippled Dongfang Xiaotian planned with a broken sword, but array masters were beyond her understanding.
All she knew was that an array required the natural terrain and structure to draw on the world’s power, but such natural formations were extremely rare.
That’s why array flags and various strange artifacts were used to alter the landscape, allowing for self-sustaining spiritual formations.
Perhaps this broken sword was the key to setting up such an array.
“All right then.
Let’s go!”
Xiao Yuanqing watched with some regret, “Beichen Yue, Brother Dongfang, forgive me!”
His expression turned stern, and a surge of Qingming Jianqi slashed toward Beichen Yue. Instantly, she released icy spiritual energy and countered with her full strength.
However, Xiao Yuanqing’s strike was far stronger than Beichen Yue had expected. She barely managed to deflect it with all her might.
“Honestly, I really don’t want to fight you two,” Xiao Yuanqing said as he continued to unleash sword qi at Beichen Yue.
Beichen Yue immediately darted to the side, forming a sword of ice with her qi and attacking back.
“Oh? Sword Qi Manifestation.”
Xiao Yuanqing was a bit surprised but crushed her ice sword effortlessly with a single blow of his Qingming Jianqi.
“Miss Beichen, you truly are a genius to reach this level. Are you really sure you won’t reconsider my offer?”
He added, “Brother Dongfang’s reputation is spotless throughout Shenghua. Why resist, Miss Beichen?”
Beichen Yue’s expression faltered, but she gripped her sword tightly and manifested three more icy longswords to attack Xiao Yuanqing again.
Yet Xiao Yuanqing didn’t even move—he simply waved his sword, and several more waves of sword qi shattered Beichen Yue’s attacks.
***
Meanwhile, he kept conjuring even more sword qi, launching them at Beichen Yue.
Ordinarily, quick sword styles were considered the least powerful among all sword cultivation techniques, and compared to Beichen Yue’s dual cultivation in swordsmanship and spellcraft, they were a little lacking.
As a Tiandao Foundation Establishment cultivator, Beichen Yue should have been able to fight back.
But Xiao Yuanqing was already half a step into Foundation Establishment, needing only enough resources to reach Golden Core.
He was also a Tiandao Foundation Establishment cultivator, meaning their foundations were the same, but his cultivation level far surpassed hers.
The gap of ten minor realms made every one of Xiao Yuanqing’s strikes overwhelmingly powerful.
Beichen Yue had to cycle her Bingyi Divine Art and both first and second-stage sword techniques just to barely block each attack!
But as soon as she blocked one blow, the next would come crashing down. Gritting her teeth, she had to defend herself over and over.
Her arms were numbed by the onslaught of sword qi, and the ground was littered with icy shards she’d created for defense.
“Miss Beichen, you struggle to take even one blow from me—why stubbornly cling to your conscience at the expense of the greater good!”
Xiao Yuanqing advanced step by step, swinging his sword, while Beichen Yue held her ground with difficulty, refusing to retreat.
As the distance closed, their clash shifted from sword qi to pure swordplay.
Xiao Yuanqing showed no mercy, slashing down hard; Beichen Yue quickly parried, but his force grew heavier with each blow, striking her already faltering sword again and again.
“Miss Beichen, have you ever thought—when I kill, I need a reason. But what about Li Shiwu?”
“He’s already fallen to the demonic path! Having tasted blood pills, he’ll only become worse! If he reaches mid-Golden Core, who’ll be able to stop him?”
“Will it be the two early Golden Core cultivators left in Lingtian City, or your Ice Ling Immortal Palace? By the time you arrive, will the Four Sages Academy even exist? Will anyone still be left in Lingtian City?”
“And how would that make you any different from those who do nothing now?”
Every word Xiao Yuanqing spoke was perfectly reasoned, yet his attacks grew ever fiercer. He knocked Beichen Yue’s sword aside and seized the opening to clasp her slender, pale neck in his hand.
A slight surge of spiritual power from his palm and he could kill her instantly.
“Instead of letting that old bastard Li Shiwu get his way, why not let me reach Golden Core and slay him early, bringing peace to all!”
But Beichen Yue simply sliced downward with two fingers, and a massive blade of icy sword qi crashed down upon them both!
A mutual destruction move!
Xiao Yuanqing clicked his tongue, flinging Beichen Yue aside and slashing out dozens of sword qi, chopping the enormous ice sword into countless neat, square Fangzheng Bingkuai.
“Huff.”
Stepping over the icy debris, Xiao Yuanqing exhaled and glanced at the two of them, regaining some composure.
“I’ve said what needed saying, and fought the fight that needed fighting.”
“I just don’t want us to be enemies. That doesn’t mean I won’t kill you.”
He pointed his sword at Dongfang Xiaotian, who still stood motionless, and at Beichen Yue, who lay coughing up blood and propping herself up with her sword, and said coldly, “Brother Dongfang, Miss Beichen Yue—will you be friends, or foes? Choose.”