In the bitter cold of winter, the snow drifted down. Most demonic beasts hibernated at this time, hiding in their warm dens awaiting the coming spring. This made it extremely difficult for Ming Qi to find and hunt demonic beasts.
This was especially true in this desolate stone forest, where demonic beasts were nearly extinct.
After entering the Xiantian realm, Ming Qi selectively left the stone forest while regularly practicing and comprehending the Suzaku Burning Heaven Sutra.
The complete Suzaku Burning Heaven Sutra had already been imprinted in Ming Qi's mind, and now he simply followed the incantations, gradually understanding and comprehending it.
The snow continued to fall heavily, and because he was in no hurry, Ming Qi only emerged from the hundred-mile stone forest on the fifth day. Of course, this wasn't because he was slow, but rather because he had spent the vast majority of his time during those five days studying the Suzaku Burning Heaven Sutra.
After Wu Tian, when Ming Qi emerged from the stone forest, he had already mastered the Red Refining Sky Fire with considerable precision and had also mastered some of the elementary magical powers from the Suzaku Burning Heaven Sutra.
On the seventh day, Ming Qi entered the snow-covered forest.
Amidst the boundless mountains, he encountered a group of hunters from a nearby village, approximately thirty in number. When Ming Qi encountered them, they were struggling to hunt a Level 2 demon beast, the Bone-Eating Black Jackal.
The Bone-Eating Black Jackal is a common beast in these mountains, but few achieve even minor success. A Bone-Eating Black Jackal like this one, having reached Level 2, is quite rare.
Ordinary hunters were clearly powerless against a demon beast equivalent to a fourth or fifth-level cultivator. Unfortunately, the enormous Bone-Eating Black Jackal had completely aroused the hunters' ferocity. Relying on its powerful physique and speed, it charged through the group, constantly inflicting damage.
Upon seeing these hunters, Ming Qi immediately thought of his parents back home in Yanzhuang. Didn't his father and two brothers often go hunting in the mountains? It was almost the end of the year, and perhaps right now, his father was working tirelessly with his eldest and second brothers, Miao Sen and Miao Cheng, along with the villagers, to collect taxes for the coming year.
Thinking of this, Ming Qi rushed forward without hesitation, unleashing a burst of innate energy, hurling it directly at the frantically biting Bone-Eating Black Jackal.
It was obvious that even the most formidable Level 2 demonic beast could not withstand the blow of a powerful innate being.
As soon as Ming Qi's innate energy struck the Bone-Eating Black Jackal's massive head, a stream of blood instantly erupted. Without even a cry, the beast collapsed to the ground, dead.
The hunters glanced at the suddenly appearing gray-clad youth, each sharing a look of inexplicable surprise.
Many of them had already been injured in the battle against the Bone-Eating Black Jackal. Seeing someone suddenly and effortlessly slay the monster, dozens of eyes were filled with confusion and fear.
Ming Qi was wearing the Great Destruction Battle Suit, a mottled gray and quite worn. His face, hidden deep within the hood of his cape, easily reminded him of a vicious fugitive roaming the mountains.
Seeing the fear in the hunters' faces, Ming Qi simply said, "I have no other intentions. I just see how hard you're working. I won't steal your prey."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Stolen prey is a common occurrence in mountain hunting. Competition between villages for prey is a common occurrence, much like the killing and treasure-stealing among monks.
The mountains remained cold and desolate, but Ming Qi had slain a number of demonic beasts during his days of trekking. Though their levels weren't high, he didn't mind taking action as long as they could replenish his soul.
Sometimes, he even felt like he'd entered the demonic realm; otherwise, how could he show even a modicum of mercy when slaughtering weak creatures? But then he realized that such a thought was ridiculous. Survival is essentially a matter of the survival of the fittest. If Ming Qi encountered a powerful demonic beast that completely overwhelmed his innate abilities, he might be the one to be slain.
He initially felt a bit conflicted, but when he encountered humans again in the mountains, his initial hesitation completely dissipated.
On the fourth day after Ming Qi had helped the hunters slay the Bone-Eating Black Jackal, amidst the vast mountains, amidst the icy snow, he encountered another group of people.
To be more precise, a group of people was hunting one person.
Ming Qi was somewhat surprised to encounter such a scene in this vast, uninhabited mountain. However, since these people were all cultivators, that was understandable.
The person being pursued was a middle-aged man in black. Behind him, a group of dozens of cultivators, each armed with magical weapons, pursued him relentlessly, shouting incessantly.
Ming Qi hid in the shadows, quietly spreading his spiritual awareness, and instantly the group of people came into clear view.
The black-clad man being pursued was also of innate strength, and among those pursuing him were four innate masters, while the remaining nine were all cultivators at the peak of the ninth level of the acquired realm.
The black-clad man looked pale, as if he had exhausted his energy. His steps were noticeably unsteady, and he probably couldn't hold out for much longer.
However, Ming Qi had no intention of helping the man in black. He had previously helped the village hunters when he was fully in control of the situation. But now, these people were all incredibly powerful, and he had no idea of the man in black's identity. There was no need for that.
Ming Qi had hidden in the shadows to avoid their attention and avoid unnecessary trouble.
However, just as Ming Qi had taken stock of these men's strengths, a slightly hurried voice suddenly echoed from the depths of his mind.
"Sir, save me! I will reward you handsomely!"
Ming Qi instinctively looked up at the pursuers, only to notice that the man in black, seemingly the leader, had glanced towards Ming Qi's hiding place.
Could it be that he had already spotted him in the shadows?
Ming Qi was startled, wondering what the man in black had come from, that he could spot him from such a distance.
Although wary, Ming Qi didn't immediately respond.
A few seconds later, the voice rang out again.
"Sir, why aren't you taking action? I hold a treasure that these shameless men covet. If you can save my life, I will give it to you."
Bang!
As soon as the voice left his mouth, Ming Qi saw the man in black in the distance suddenly turn around and unleash several magical powers, forcing the pursuers back a short distance. He then continued his circuitous escape, heading directly towards Ming Qi's hiding place!
He had indeed noticed!
Ming Qi's heart trembled, and he thought rapidly.
To attack or flee—it was indeed a difficult decision.
The mysterious man in black must be no ordinary person. To be able to escape and fight back while being pursued by four innate masters clearly meant he was definitely not at the first level of the innate realm.
And looking at the group of pursuers behind him, they showed no sign of giving up, seemingly confident.
Both parties were far more powerful than Ming Qi. If the situation got out of control, he would likely be in trouble too. After a moment's thought, Ming Qi finally replied through voice transmission.
"Are you sure you can trap them?"
If they were to attack, they would have to be killed, not a single one spared, or there would be endless trouble.
"Yes! As long as you can hold their attention for five breaths!"
Five breaths?
Ming Qi calculated. Five breaths—holding the attention of these thirteen people within five breaths—seemed manageable.
"I want a treasure."
Ming Qi didn't act immediately, but instead reassured the other party's sincerity.
"Top-grade spiritual weapon: the Thunder Blade, top-grade spiritual weapon: the Yin-Yang Bell, or mid-grade spiritual weapon: the Thousand Crane Furnace. Take your pick."
The man in black quickly named the three magical weapons.
"Okay!"
Ming Qi replied with a "yes!" and instantly retracted his aura to cover a two-mile radius. Simultaneously, he channeled the mysterious energy from the Supreme Mountain and Sea Map into his spiritual consciousness, strengthening his aura.
Immediately, everything within a two-mile radius surfaced in Ming Qi's mind, revealing no secrets. He focused his attention on the thirteen cultivators pursuing the black-clothed man, paying particular attention to the four Xiantian cultivators.
They all had ample Yuan Energy and were not significantly depleted, appearing fully capable of engaging in a battle.
However, after clearly observing the fluctuations in their Yuan Energy, Ming Qi felt a sense of peace of mind. He suddenly realized that even at their peak, their Yuan Energy was still nowhere near his own.
Their potential was truly rather paltry!
Seeing this, Ming Qi felt an unprecedented sense of superiority. It seemed the miraculous effects of the Ten Thousand Years Crimson Pearl Vine were truly extraordinary, allowing Ming Qi, a mere Xiantian First Stage cultivator, to completely surpass cultivators of the same stage.
As for the nine Xiantian cultivators, despite possessing the strength of the peak Ninth Stage, Ming Qi didn't take them seriously at this point. While reaching the Xiantian realm wasn't a leap to heaven, the gap between the Xiantian realm and the Xiantian realm was still insurmountable.
"Especially those four Xiantian!"
At this moment, Ming Qi heard the man in black's voice again.
Clearly, his thoughts were exactly the same as Ming Qi's.
Based on the current situation, the only ones who could pose a threat were the four Xiantian masters. As for the nine Xiantian cultivators, they were simply filler and cannon fodder.
Almost there!
In the moment Ming Qi observed carefully, the man in black had, intentionally or unintentionally, led the group of followers to within a mile of Ming Qi.
"Want to escape? I'll kill you today!"
One of the Xiantian masters shouted, and the long sword in his hand shone with a radiant light, sending streams of blade energy slicing towards the man in black.
Bang!
The man in black turned and unleashed a magical power, blocking the opponent's blade energy and continuing his run.
"How dare you, devil, spread rumors in Jinchuan? The Celestial Witch Cult was long ago annihilated during the Holy War. Thinking of reviving it? It's pure wishful thinking!"
A female Xiantian cultivator also shouted angrily.
The Celestial Witch Cult!
Ming Qi was shocked when he heard the name. He immediately thought of the prophecy Meng Ling had mentioned: 'When black-clad men appear, the Celestial Witch will rise.'
Could this man in black be a member of the Celestial Witch Cult?!