Outside the Valley of Despair, the dire wolf waited quietly, showing no intention of fleeing.
Offering the leaves of the sacred tree, Ming Qi began his journey back to the Biyou Sect.
"There shouldn't be any more delay this time," Ming Qi thought, as the sacred tree leaves swiftly swept across the mountains, heading back towards Bikong City.
The sky was gradually brightening, and the uniquely moist scent of the mountain stream rose from the ground, still barely dissipating. It felt slightly warm, but not hot, and quite pleasant.
Although he had resolved to pay no attention to the situation in Qinglong Town, Ming Qi couldn't help but glance over there as he passed.
Qinglong Town was eerily quiet, but what surprised Ming Qi greatly was that the corpses on the ground had disappeared, leaving it much cleaner. Even the bloodstains were dimmed, almost indistinguishable.
Needless to say, something must have happened in Qinglong Town in the space of less than a day and a night.
This time, Ming Qi didn't attempt to find out what was going on. After all, his last trip was due to fluctuations in the Supreme Mountain and Sea Map, and he encountered Protector Mo and nearly lost his life. He wasn't about to risk it again.
He directed the leaves of the sacred tree and flew back along the predetermined route.
"Didn't you notice?"
Shortly after passing Qinglong Town, Meng Ling suddenly spoke up.
"What?"
"That town is still a little strange."
Meng Ling was referring to Qinglong Town. Ming Qi had never doubted Meng Ling's intelligence. He could sense that Qinglong Town still held secrets, and Meng Ling could see them too.
Ming Qi shook his head.
"There's something fishy about Qinglong Town, but we can't rush in now. Let's go back."
"Okay."
Meng Ling simply expressed her doubts. Seeing that Ming Qi didn't intend to go, she agreed.
The journey back was smooth. By nightfall, they had already crossed the mountains and could see the location of Azure Sky City in the distance.
"Meng Ling, transform into your true form first. If someone sees you, you could be in trouble."
Ming Qi was also vaguely worried. After all, Meng Ling's origins were still unclear, and such a beautiful woman imbued with the art of blood and blood would be eye-catching wherever she went. If she didn't hide well, she would surely cause trouble.
As they neared the large square in front of Azure Sky City, Ming Qi activated the leaves of the sacred tree to descend to the ground.
His strength was limited, and he wasn't so arrogant as to fly back to Tianqi Court directly on a sacred tree leaf. So, he chose to walk back quietly, not even riding the dire wolf, but simply carrying it with him.
After taking a few steps, Ming Qi suddenly felt someone's gaze on him.
He raised his head and quickly spotted the source of the gaze: it was Ge Chuncheng!
Seeing Ming Qi looking at him, Ge Chuncheng made no move to avoid him and walked directly towards Ming Qi.
After not seeing him for a few days, Ge Chuncheng had changed considerably. Though still a little pale, he wasn't worn out, his eyes still sparkling. Even more surprising, he still held his silver spear in his left hand.
Seeing that Ge Chuncheng seemed to be waiting for him, Ming Qi immediately considered many possibilities.
Could he be fighting him again?
Ge Chuncheng paid no attention to Ming Qi's expression. He approached and said directly, "Junior Brother Ming, may I have a moment with you?"
"Oh?"
Ming Qi was surprised, but agreed.
So Ge Chuncheng led the way, and the two of them, one in front of the other, headed towards a rather secluded direction.
"Senior Brother Ge, what's causing you to be so cautious?"
Ming Qi wondered why Ge Chuncheng had suddenly become so strange.
After walking a distance and seeing no one was watching, Ge Chuncheng turned around.
"Junior Brother Ming, you need to be careful."
"Why?"
Ming Qi had a vague suspicion.
"With Dean Ji's help, Senior Brother Zhao Fenghua has fully recovered and is training in the Xuanwu Formation. He might reach the Xiantian realm soon."
I understand.
Ming Qi naturally understood what Ge Chuncheng meant. Ge Chuncheng's point was clear: Zhao Fenghua wasn't a very good person. Once he reached the Xiantian realm, while he wouldn't openly cause trouble for Tianqi Academy or Ming Qi, given his personality, he could very well plot a ruse.
Thinking of this, Ming Qi suddenly felt a fondness for Ge Chuncheng. Far from harboring any resentment for the loss of his arm in battle, this guy had come to kindly remind him to be wary of Zhao Fenghua's schemes. At least based on the current situation, this guy was quite commendable.
"Brother Ge, you're overthinking it. It's just Zhao Fenghua. Even if she reaches the Xiantian realm, what's the big deal?"
Ge Chuncheng's face darkened. "Junior Brother Ming, will he also reach the Xiantian realm?"
In Ge Chuncheng's opinion, challenging the Xiantian realm from the acquired realm was impossible. Since Ming Qi had said so, there was only one possibility: Ming Qi would also reach the Xiantian realm in a short period of time.
This was undoubtedly a huge shock to Ge Chuncheng.
Ge Chuncheng's expression changed, and then he said, "Junior Brother Ming, did you know that during your absence, Qionghuayuan came to challenge us again, demanding the Tianguan Pagoda."
"Oh?"
Ming Qi was immediately furious. These guys were really insatiable. Would they not give up until he came to challenge them?
It seemed necessary to teach them a lesson as painful as Xuanwuyuan had.
Just as Xuanwu Academy has its top-ranked Senior Brother Zhao Fenghua, Qionghua Academy's most powerful individual is a female cultivator named Lingyun. Known as Senior Sister Lingyun within Qionghua Academy, rumors circulate that Lingyun has considerable backing within the Inner Sect, making her a formidable figure within the Outer Sect, her reputation no less impressive than Zhao Fenghua's.
"Since they refuse to give up, I'll visit Qionghua Academy another day and teach them a lesson."
Ever since mastering the Blood Control Technique, Mingqi has essentially become the strongest cultivator below the Xiantian realm. Even a cultivator just entering the Xiantian realm would be a match for him, and naturally, he wouldn't be afraid.
"Junior Brother Ming, the eldest sister of Qionghua Academy, Lingyun, is incredibly powerful. She's said to have broken through to the Xiantian realm, but she can conceal her power from outsiders. She hopes to obtain a powerful magical weapon at the Golden Autumn Festival."
"Really?"
Ming Qi knew about the Golden Autumn Festival. Every year, the Biyou Sect holds a competition for outer disciples, known as the Golden Autumn Festival. Midsummer was drawing to a close, and the Festival was less than two months away.
At each Golden Autumn Festival, the sect offers valuable Yuanjing and magical weapons as rewards, aiming to encourage outer disciples to strive for excellence and reach the Xiantian realm as soon as possible, thereby strengthening the core strength of the Biyou Sect.
"Xiantian?"
While Ming Qi possessed the strength to fight a Xiantian, he wasn't absolutely sure he could win. Therefore, he needed to make careful plans.
Seeing Ming Qi pondering, Ge Chuncheng added, "As for Ling Yun..." He paused, "Junior Brother Ming, it's best not to seek her out until you've reached the Xiantian realm."
"Why?"
Ge Chuncheng seemed wary of Ling Yun, which was completely inconsistent with his character.
"Because her cultivation method is very unique."
"What method?"
"Charm."
"Charm?"
"Thank you, Senior Brother Ge, for your kind reminder. I'll be careful, but since she's repeatedly bullied Tianqi Academy, I won't tolerate it."
Although Ming Qi was somewhat grateful for Ge Chuncheng's kindness, he felt he had his own agenda, though what it was, Ming Qi still had no idea.
In the darkness, Ge Chuncheng watched Ming Qi's retreating figure, his grip on the silver spear tightening.
"You must fall by my spear. No one else can interfere!"
Ge Chuncheng's cold voice practically sent a chill through the scorching heat.
Returning to Tianqi Court, Ming Qi quickly found the others.
As expected, during his absence, someone from Qionghua Court had indeed come to challenge them.
With Meng Junyi of Tianqi Court now in the Heavenly Official Tower and not emerging, and having gone to the Valley of Despair himself, the remaining members were not particularly strong. Qionghua Court had clearly come prepared, and several members of Tianqi Court had been severely injured.
"Is it Ling Yun?"
Ming Qi asked, looking at Tang Qi and Yue Qinglong, whose faces were livid.
Yue Qinglong, rarely slacking his usual scoundrel demeanor, said, "It's a man named Du Qingyun. He joined us together."
"Du Qingyun?"
Ming Qi paused, naturally unsure of who this Du Qingyun was. After all, since they had come together, it was normal to have some memory of his face, but as for his name, few knew much.
Take, for example, the cool and beautiful girl whom Yue Qinglong had always revered as a goddess. Later, he only knew she was assigned to Beichen Academy, but he didn't know her name.
"This Du Qingyun seems to have had a conflict with Junior Brother Ming."
Just then, Tang Qi suddenly spoke up.
Tang Qi was naturally present when Du Qingyun led his men to challenge him. Du Qingyun even specifically asked Ming Qi to come out and accept the challenge, his words filled with disdain.
"So it's him."
By this point, Ming Qi already knew who Du Qingyun was.
"Junior Brother Ming really recognized him?"
Qiu Ling, standing nearby, exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes. That day during the entrance exam, while crossing the sword formation, Du Qingyun, relying on his eighth-level acquired realm strength, was second to reach the other side. We had some friction, but I didn't expect him to rush out so hastily to cause trouble. Well, I'll visit Qionghua Courtyard another day."
After understanding the situation, Ming Qi took out the Peiyuan Pills and treated everyone's injuries before returning.
Du Qingyun was a minor figure, certainly not a concern. What Ming Qi was wary of now was Senior Sister Lingyun. Women are skilled in seductive techniques, which are enough to give anyone a headache.
Back home, Ming Qi no longer kept Meng Ling in the ring.
"Is this your home?"
Meng Ling emerged, surveyed her surroundings, and immediately complained, "How shabby."
...
Ming Qi hadn't expected this girl to have any sense of taste.