He rested overnight in Tianqi Courtyard.
It was a quiet night, and Meng Ling was surprisingly quiet, showing no signs of abnormality. The next morning, Ming Qi rose early, had breakfast, and went to the Trial Pavilion to turn in his quest.
This time, thanks to Meng Ling's unexpected help, his gains were truly immense. With what he had on him, he had more than enough to complete two quests.
He had two Golden Viper King demon cores, enough to complete two full quests. He also had a large supply of Black Viper inner cores left, though he wasn't sure if the person who had issued the quest would need them.
Originally, Ming Qi had planned to leave Meng Ling at home, but she insisted on coming along, so he had no choice but to place her in his ring. This simple storage device naturally couldn't hold Meng Ling, so Ming Qi repeatedly told her not to show up in public. Only after receiving Meng Ling's agreement did he leave.
The journey was relatively quiet. Although Ming Qi's reputation as a "handkerchief genius" had already spread, he was, after all, a newly promoted outer disciple. While he was a bit overbearing, he still couldn't quite match the word "genius."
Soon, they arrived at the Trial Pavilion.
Just like Ming Qi's last visit, there were quite a few people gathered here, some accepting quests, some issuing them, and people rushing in and out.
The old man with the hazy eyes sat at the entrance again. Ming Qi calmly approached him and returned the information he had given him.
Ming Qi had already inquired about this. This was the Trial Pavilion's rule: when submitting a mission, the information had to be returned first, so it could be used as a basis for comparison. Of course, the Trial Pavilion also had a corresponding ID card for registration, so the chance of error was almost zero. He chose to take the information back, naturally, not wanting his painstakingly collected data to be lost.
The old man seemed to have forgotten Ming Qi. He took the information and glanced at it, then opened a small notebook from the table and carefully compared it, finally confirming it.
"To submit your mission, take this sign and go to Beichen Court to find Zong Weiyi."
Zong Weiyi, the Dean of Beichen Court.
Although Ming Qi had only been in the Biyou Sect for a short time, he still had considerable knowledge of the outer sect.
Among the many outer sects of the Biyou Sect, Beichen Court was considered one of the most powerful, especially its Dean Zong Weiyi, a genius himself. At the age of twenty, he achieved a breakthrough to the Xiantian realm, entered the inner sect, and became an elite disciple. He then traveled extensively, his cultivation unfathomable. Because he had been in Beichen Court before entering the inner sect, he volunteered to take charge of Beichen Court after the previous Dean of Beichen stepped down.
Although Zong Weiyi was exceptionally talented, he maintained a very low profile. For example, during the recent crackdown on Tianqi Court, Beichen Court remained completely uninvolved.
"To my surprise, this mission was issued by the Dean of Beichen Court, Zong Weiyi."
Taking the sign for the mission from the old man, Ming Qi headed towards Beichen Court.
The outer gate of the Biyou Sect is vast, and its architectural layout cannot be measured by the mortal world. Just within the outer gate of Bikong City itself, there are mountains, rivers, forests, bridges, and winding paths aplenty, making a stroll through them a refreshing experience.
Beichen Court, like the humble Zong Wei, is quite remote. After making inquiries, Ming Qi estimated that the walk would take at least half an hour.
However, this half-hour stroll was not a quiet one.
Shortly after leaving the Trial Pavilion, as they passed a small bridge, someone blocked Ming Qi's path.
The leader, a man in a green robe, had a stern expression, a thin, upright figure, and a gleaming gaze. Behind him were four male and female cultivators bearing the insignia of the Qionghua Court.
Ming Qi naturally recognized this individual; it was this same man who had clashed with him during their previous encounter with the sword array.
"Du Qingyun?"
Ming Qi looked at the person before him and called out his name.
"What? You're not a coward anymore? Why didn't you dare come out when I visited Tianqi Academy the other day?"
Du Qingyun's eyes quirked upward, his lips curled in a look of extreme derision, clearly still basking in the exhilaration of tormenting the Tianqi Academy disciples a few days ago.
He had already reached the eighth level of the Acquired Realm during the entrance examination. Upon entering Qionghua Academy, he immediately captured the attention of the Academy Master, Pei Tianqi, and was designated a candidate for key training. With the support of his alchemy skills and his considerable talent, Du Qingyun quickly broke through to the ninth level of the Acquired Realm, becoming a renowned figure within the Outer Sect in the blink of an eye.
Furthermore, Du Qingyun sensed that Senior Sister Lingyun seemed to view him with a special regard, which filled him with joy. Every gesture, intentional or unintentional, would stir his heart, leaving him overcome with emotion.
When Lingyun spoke of her deep dislike for Tianqi Academy, Du Qingyun immediately understood that it was time for him to show off. So he immediately led his men to attack Tianqi Academy, and at the same time, to punish the ignorant boy who had acted so arrogantly in his presence.
Lingyun was both incredibly beautiful and incredibly powerful, and she had considerable backing within the inner sect. Even the head of Qionghua Academy, Pei Tianqi, had to show her respect, so virtually all the disciples of Qionghua Academy followed Lingyun's lead.
Du Qingyun thought he had grasped this point clearly. As long as he could please Lingyun, it would be a happy ending for both parties.
"Did Lingyun send you here?"
Mingqi wasn't angry either. He never cared much about verbal attacks.
"Boy, do you think you're even allowed to call out Senior Sister's name with your filthy mouth? Just for that, slap yourself in the face."
Du Qingyun was simply looking for trouble. Having failed to find Ming Qi after his challenge, he decided to give him a good lesson right now.
Ming Qi, too lazy to argue, said nothing and stepped forward.
"Get out of the way!"
Without resorting to violence, and without giving them any leverage, he immediately activated the Taixu Nine Steps Technique, attempting to bypass them.
But Du Qingyun was looking for trouble, so how could he let Ming Qi get away so easily?
The moment he saw Ming Qi's footwork change, he knew he was using a footwork technique. The two were already close, and Du Qingyun, with a horizontal thrust of his palm blade, attacked Ming Qi without hesitation.
As Du Qingyun attacked, the four Qionghua Academy disciples behind him simultaneously spread out, occupying the four corners to prevent Ming Qi from breaking through.
These four individuals were also at the seventh or eighth level of the Acquired Realm. They were no match for Ming Qi in a standoff, but with the four of them surrounding him, and Du Qingyun at the ninth level, Ming Qi would have a difficult time breaking through with his Taixu Nine Steps.
Du Qingyun launched a palm strike, forcing Ming Qi to avoid a dodge. This instantly boosted his confidence, and he clenched his fists, pressing forward.
Although the Outer Sect's territory was vast, it was still not far from the Trial Pavilion, and people were constantly passing by. As soon as the two men engaged in combat, others immediately noticed, dropping their work and rushing over to see what was happening.
Du Qingyun's rise to prominence within Qionghua Courtyard quickly spread throughout the Outer Sect, and many recognized him instantly.
"Du Qingyun from Qionghua Courtyard."
"The handkerchief genius?"
Few knew Ming Qi's name, but his exceptional skill in throwing handkerchiefs was still fresh in people's minds.
"What? Scared? You don't even dare to fight back?"
Du Qingyun, believing he had the upper hand, began to taunt him as he pressed forward.
His goal was simple: to embarrass Ming Qi. Ming Qi was currently Tianqi Academy's formidable fighter. If Ming Qi were humiliated to the point of being unable to raise his head, it would be a direct slap in the face of Tianqi Academy. After all, Tianqi Academy didn't have the backing of the Dean, and its members were pitifully small, so they couldn't cause much trouble.
"Scared? You're truly asking for trouble."
Ming Qi kept dodging and defending, hoping for more onlookers to testify. Otherwise, without the Dean's support, Tianqi Academy would suffer a heavy loss if a matter of face and reputation truly came to a head. Without the backing of a powerful innate being, they were essentially at the mercy of others.
As the crowd grew, Ming Qi stopped dodging and clenched his fists, thrusting them outward.
Ordinary fists, ordinary movements.
Even Du Qingyun was amused when he saw Ming Qi's move. Would such an action be effective?
The answer was soon revealed.
Ming Qi's fists flew out, initially at a remarkably slow speed, but in the blink of an eye, they were as fast as lightning. As his fists whistled, two index fingers suddenly emerged from his clenched fists.
Their index fingers intertwined, striking Du Qingyun's incoming palm blade with uncanny accuracy.
The third Wolf Fist blow, a proud destiny.
Fists transformed into fingers, the Wolf Fist's most powerful strike!
Proud, unyielding, a strike toward destiny.
If Ming Qi remained motionless, nothing would happen; if he moved, it was an unstoppable, powerful strike.
The moment the profound wolf nature permeated, Du Qingyun's expression suddenly changed. He finally understood that the rumors of wolf sightings were true.
This man's punches were indeed more powerful than a wolf's!
As Du Qingyun's expression shifted, his index finger suddenly bent, then suddenly intertwined.
The two fingers intertwined, and then, his fists quickly separated.
Du Qingyun had never seen such a fighting style before. He had originally thought the opponent's index finger was a flaw, but he had already irreversibly blocked his palm blade.
It was too late to withdraw his palm blade.
Crack!
The sound of bone breaking accompanied Du Qingyun's muffled groan. The palm blade he had originally struck out had become a bloody mess, and the five fingers of a single hand were directly severed in the middle.
Separating fingers with one's own finger would seem almost impossible to others, but in Ming Qi's hands, it was effortless.
Du Qingyun endured the excruciating pain and tried to retreat.
But how could Ming Qi let him have his way?
Du Qingyun had come to challenge him, and nearly every disciple of Tianqi Academy had been injured by him. Now, wouldn't it be too easy for him to only sever five of his fingers?
Ming Qi extended his palms, maintaining his forward lean, his body perfectly unchanged. He exerted force with his legs while clenching his right fist, and the phantom of a giant wolf head suddenly materialized!
The ultimate secret of the Wolf Fist: The Wrath of the Wolf God!
Amidst the astonishment of those around him, a bright crimson shimmered across Ming Qi's body as he unleashed the Blood Shadow Step.
Du Qingyun was, after all, a ninth-level cultivator of the Acquired Realm, possessing exceptional speed, defense, and adaptability. Ming Qi, drawing upon the blood and energy of Du Qingyun's severed finger, unleashed the Blood Shadow Step as a precaution.
Now, in full view of the crowd, he naturally aimed for a decisive strike. While he couldn't kill Du Qingyun on the spot, he could at least prevent him from ever harboring the desire to bully Tianqi Academy again.
At this moment, Du Qingyun suddenly realized Ming Qi's incredible speed.
Aura shield, defense, he realized his actions were futile.
Tear!
The ethereal wolf-head pounced, and Du Qingyun's right shoulder suddenly revealed its bones, a large piece of flesh ripped off.
Bang!
A sigh echoed from the crowd as Du Qingyun collapsed to the ground, a pristine white handkerchief carefully covering his right shoulder.
Looking back at Ming Qi, he had already passed the four stunned Qionghua Academy disciples, walked straight across the small bridge, and disappeared into the mountains and water.