The Lihuo Sect still had nine innate masters: the Sect Master, Taoist Feihuo, four Dharma Protectors, and four rookie disciples.
Seeing the two brats before him so arrogant, Taoist Feihuo felt no point in saying more and simply telegraphed to the men behind him, "Attack immediately. Show no mercy. Kill them on the spot!"
At Taoist Feihuo's command, the nine Lihuo Sect members immediately dispersed and, in coordinated fashion, surrounded Ming Qi and the other two, each summoning their own magical weapons.
"Are you going to attack?"
Ming Qi sneered, his eyes scanning the nine Lihuo Sect members one by one.
"Changli, the bearded man is the most powerful among them. We'll merge our powers then."
With his expression unchanged, Ming Qi quietly telegraphed to Mo Changli.
The bearded man Ming Qi was referring to was none other than Taoist Feihuo. Not only did he sport three long wisps of beard, but his eyebrows were also quite long. At first glance, he truly had the air of an immortal.
Ming Qi's expressionless eyes swept over each of them, yet he remained empty-handed, offering no powerful-looking magical weapons.
"Are you content to be pawns of the Bai Mansion, even exploited by the Biyou Sect?"
After a moment's observation, Ming Qi suddenly uttered something incoherent.
Taoist Feihuo was taken aback. What was this kid's sudden statement implying? While this incident was connected to the Biyou Sect, no matter how one looked at it, the Biyou Sect was merely a place ravaged by an ancient evil demon. Now, the Lihuo Sect was pursuing the evil demon, so how could they be said to be exploiting the Biyou Sect? This was truly unbelievable.
As for the Bai Mansion's minions, Taoist Feihuo wouldn't deny it. After all, the Lihuo Sect was within the Jinchuan Bai Mansion's sphere of influence, so serving them was only natural.
"What do you mean?"
Since the Lihuo Sect and the Biyou Sect had always been at odds, Taoist Feihuo, upon hearing this brat actually bring up the Biyou Sect, immediately asked with patience.
"Hehe..." Ming Qi sneered, "The Biyou Sect has closed its gates and refused to admit visitors?"
Taoist Feihuo nodded. "True, but so what? What does this have to do with this?"
Ming Qi's gaze was sharp as a knife, utterly fearless as he stared at Feihuo. He spoke word by word, "You keep saying you want to slay demons and uphold justice, but I dare ask, have you ever seen the Human Blood Devil Harp?"
"This..."
Taoist Feihuo was stunned by Ming Qi's question.
They had only seen the image on the Bai Mansion's wanted poster, but they had never seen the actual Human Blood Devil Harp.
"Hmph." Ming Qi looked at Fei Huo with disdain and continued, "The Bai Mansion is preoccupied with the Seven Mansions Conflict a year from now, while the Biyou Sect has even greater plans. If you, the Lihuo Sect, don't consider your own options and instead blindly pave the way for others, you'll be wiped out in the near future!"
Fly Huo's face darkened, darkening to a veneer.
He was the Sect Master of the Lihuo Sect, and now this ignorant brat had spoken such words to his face. How could he, the dignified Sect Master, handle this?
"Nonsense!"
Fei Huo shouted, his expression darkening even further.
It was true that the Bai Mansion was preparing for the Seven Mansions Conflict a year from now, so that was out of the question. However, if the Biyou Sect was secretly plotting something at this moment, Fei Huo simply didn't believe it. The Biyou Sect had already been severely damaged in the Demon Slayer Battle, and having recently closed its doors to visitors, they probably hadn't even recovered yet. How could they possibly have the strength to plot anything?
"You don't believe it?"
Ming Qi's face flashed with a look of contempt.
He then addressed Taoist Feihuo with a tone of infinite sarcasm: "Don't forget, I was there during the battle in Bikong City that day!"
With that one sentence, Taoist Feihuo suddenly woke up!
Yes, how could he have overlooked such an important matter at this moment?
The Biyou Sect's demon-slaying battle could have been entirely caused by this brat. If he hadn't somehow managed to bring the Human Blood Demon Harp to Bikong City, how could the Biyou Sect have suffered such a heavy blow?
But if this brat had come from the Biyou Sect, could his claims about the Biyou Sect plotting some earth-shattering scheme actually be true?
For a moment, Taoist Feihuo hesitated.
They had originally come to kill the Human-Blooded Demonic Lute in accordance with the Bai Mansion's instructions, but so far they hadn't even seen the Human-Blooded Demonic Lute. Although Ming Qi had a girl by his side, he, Feihuo, was far more experienced than Longji. While Mo Changli might be murderous, in Feihuo's opinion, she was no match for the Human-Blooded Demonic Lute.
"Then tell me, what is the Biyou Sect planning?"
Feihuo raised an eyebrow and looked at Ming Qi.
The Lihuo Sect and the Biyou Sect have a long-standing feud. Although both sides are under the auspices of the Jinchuan Bai Mansion, they have been constantly fighting each other, and their hostile relationship has persisted. If it weren't for the Bai Mansion's occasional mediation, the two sects might have already been at loggerheads.
Now that he had the opportunity to uncover the Biyou Sect's hidden secrets, Feihuo naturally wouldn't let them go.
Ming Qi remained silent, surveying the surrounding innate masters, who were watching eagerly. Then, extending a finger and gesturing across them one by one, he said, "If you want to know, you can, but you must make them all retreat and return immediately to your Lihuo Mountain!"
"You!"
Taoist Feihuo's expression darkened again. He had expected this brat to reveal the Biyou Sect's secrets so easily, but he hadn't expected such a request.
Seeing Taoist Feihuo's silence, Ming Qi bluntly declared, "Let me tell you, even if all of you attack me now, you can't kill me. However, if you choose to attack, I will soon flatten Lihuo Mountain and kill every last member of the Lihuo Sect before the Biyou Sect does. Lihuo Sect Master, don't make the wrong move!"
Ming Qi's expression remained unchanged, but every word he spoke was filled with murderous intent.
"I can promise you that."
After a moment's silence, Taoist Feihuo finally spoke, gesturing to the other Lihuo Sect masters.
Ming Qi nodded, watching the remaining eight men summon their magic weapons and fly away. Then he said, "I have one more condition, and I'm sure you'll agree to it."
Feihuo remained silent.
Ming Qi, not caring whether he would agree, simply pointed to Yanshan and said, "This tiny Yanshan is a small place. I hope you, Master, will take good care of it from now on."
"This..."
Flying Fire Taoist didn't know what to say. He realized he'd been tricked.
Ming Qi chuckled, but suddenly changed his tone, becoming icy. "Master Lihuo, if Yanshan is in danger, I will take your head!"
"Hahaha..."
Flying Fire Taoist suddenly burst into laughter. He took a few steps back, his face dark, and said, "Are you threatening me?"
Flying Fire Taoist, a master of the fifth level of the Xiantian realm, was being threatened by a cultivator who seemed to have only recently entered the Xiantian realm. Even Feihuo Taoist himself found it a bit ridiculous and unbelievable.
Ming Qi raised an eyebrow. "We're trading, each taking what they need. I'm giving you an opportunity, and I'm getting the safety of Yan Manor. It's that simple."
Fei Huo frowned, pondering for a moment before his expression finally softened. After all, his grudge with the Biyou Sect was more important.
He, Fei Huo, could easily make a promise, but as for whether it would be fulfilled, he had no idea.
However, Ming Qi seemed to have overlooked this point and immediately revealed the Biyou Sect's secret plot to seize the Wonderful Sword arsenal.
"The Wonderful Sword Martial Saint's treasury!"
Upon hearing this news, Taoist Fei Huo, despite his remarkable composure, couldn't help but exclaim.
The Martial Saint's legacy might not rival the rare treasures left behind by ancient masters, but for a third-rate sect like theirs, a Martial Saint's treasury was enough to significantly elevate their overall strength.
"If the Biyou Sect obtains the Wonderful Sword Arsenal, they will most likely reach a strength similar to that of the Seven Great Prefectures, potentially allowing them to participate in the Seven Prefectures' Battle in a year. Your Lihuo Sect and the Biyou Sect have a long-standing feud, so I needn't elaborate on the pros and cons."
Ming Qi recounted the possibility in one breath, then smiled, "As for whether or not you can kill a demon like me, I don't think you'd care, would you?"
While speaking, Ming Qi wasn't idle either. He spread his aura and activated the amplifying effect of the Supreme Mountain and Sea Map. Sure enough, he soon discovered that the Lihuo Sect's powerful men, who had previously departed, hadn't gone far, but were lingering five or six miles away.
Glancing at the contemplative Taoist Feihuo, Ming Qi didn't immediately point it out.
These men clearly didn't believe Ming Qi's words, so they had no intention of leaving. As for Taoist Feihuo's promise, Ming Qi didn't trust it 100%. However, since he had a potential advantage, he naturally wouldn't let it go.
Of course, this presents significant risks and uncertainties. The Lihuo Sect, having already learned of the Biyou Sect's plot to seize the Wonderful Sword Arsenal, will naturally investigate and seize the opportunity.
If the Lihuo Sect obtains the Wonderful Sword Arsenal, its overall strength will undoubtedly increase, allowing it to counterbalance the Seven Great Prefectures. This will immediately unravel the fragile agreement between Mingqi and Taoist Feihuo.
However, Mingqi currently lacks a clear solution. Although, as he previously stated, even if they all attack, Mingqi and Mo Changli still have a chance to escape, Yanzhuang will inevitably be slaughtered if they do. After all, Longji is dead, and they have already forged a grudge against the Lihuo Sect.
Now that Mingqi has offered such a huge inducement, this agreement still has some effect until the Wonderful Sword Arsenal is completely seized.
After a long silence, Taoist Feihuo said, "In that case, we will part ways."
With that, he turned and walked away.
After Taoist Feihuo left, Mo Changli asked in confusion, "You said you'd kill them all at the beginning, so how come you let them all go in the blink of an eye?"
Ming Qi said, "They're still useful to me now, and if we kill them, we'll inevitably attract even more powerful cultivators, and then we'll be truly on the run."
Mo Changli nodded thoughtfully. Although she was quirky, she wasn't good at this kind of scheming test.