Sword Qi crisscrossed the air as blood splashed three feet high!
Armed with a brutally lethal technique like the Red Night Sword Qi, Tang Shun was like a God of Slaughter descending upon the valley.
But what was even more chilling was his masterful acting.
In the valley, every time he encountered a former companion, he would feign a look of pleasant surprise, suggesting they travel together. Then, the moment they lowered their guard, he would strike with his sword.
These young Cultivators, having spent two years together, never imagined a companion would suddenly turn on them. Caught off guard, they all became fodder for Tang Shun's Sacrificial Refinement of his Sword Qi.
In just two short hours.
Five people had already fallen to Tang Shun. After absorbing their Blood Essence Qi, his Red Night Sword Qi grew more condensed and vicious. A bloody glint faintly emanated from it, its power skyrocketing.
Even his own Cultivation rose accordingly. His aura surged, faintly showing signs of breaking through the bottleneck of the Qi Refining First Layer!
A heart of stone, hands of death, and acting skills fit for the gods!
Following silently behind Tang Shun, Qi Yun witnessed the entire process of this treacherous little snake putting on an act before stabbing his victims in the back.
Even he couldn't help but sigh in admiration. 'This kid really is a natural-born seed of the Demon Dao.'
But his only focus along the way was killing people for his sword's Sacrificial Refinement; he didn't seem to have any other plans.
'Could it be that the only condition to pass this trial is to survive until the end?' Qi Yun wondered, staring at Tang Shun's back.
Just then, a black shadow descended from the sky ahead. Its tyrannical, oppressive aura whipped up a fierce wind, making the surrounding leaves rustle noisily.
Wielding a Soul-Catching Rod, the suddenly-materialized Black-clothed Cultivator stared at the unfazed Tang Shun and let out an ambiguous chuckle.
"As expected of Junior Martial Uncle Tang's nephew. Such bearing and composure are beyond the ordinary."
"Senior Brother, you praise me too highly. I am merely benefiting from the protection of my elders." Tang Shun's expression remained unchanged as he cupped his hands in a polite, humble salute.
"Hahaha, Junior Martial Uncle Tang has passed down his orders, which we naturally must obey. We can catch up properly when we see each other in the sect later."
Waving his hand, the Black-clothed Cultivator gestured for Tang Shun to leave. It was obvious some high-ranking figure in the sect had pulled strings, ensuring he could pass the trial without lifting a finger.
"Then I must thank you, Senior Brother."
Tang Shun smiled faintly and strode forward, perfectly at ease. He was clearly well aware of this "special treatment."
Just as he was a mere three to five meters past the Black-clothed Cultivator...
A nearly imperceptible sound of something slicing through the air suddenly rang out!
A glint of blackish-green light, like a lurking scorpion's sting, shot silently from the Black-clothed Cultivator's palm, aimed straight at the back of Tang Shun's head.
SWISH—
In a flash, Tang Shun tilted his head ever so slightly.
The Silver Needle, shimmering with a blackish-green light, grazed past his cheek.
His sneak attack a failure, the Black-clothed Cultivator rapidly created distance. His fingers intertwined, forming a Finger Technique. Between his palms, seven cold points of light flickered menacingly, sharp and terrifying.
"Fang Sea, your acting is pathetic. You thought you could ambush me with a trick like that?" Tang Shun sneered, turning to face the Black-clothed Cultivator after dodging the attack.
His identity exposed, Fang Sea dropped the act. He threw back the black hood, revealing a fair, mild-mannered face. A hint of confusion crossed his features.
"How did you know? I thought... I didn't leave any openings."
"You revealing yourself to me was the first mistake.
These Black-clothed Servants are just low-level grunts, barely better than the 'Talent.' How would they know my uncle?
You thought you were being clever by dropping my uncle's name, hoping I'd let my guard down so you could strike.
Fang Sea, we don't have any feud, do we?"
Tang Shun tilted his head, his eyes fixed on Fang Sea.
The initiation process for the Infinite Demon Sect is complex and rigorous.
If they went through the official process, neither was completely certain of success.
Moreover, under that process, their elders within the sect couldn't help or intervene.
But by taking the route of prospective talents, they could bypass the official process and even use these mortals to sacrificially refine their Magic. It was killing two birds with one stone.
This was the case for both him and Fang Sea.
But the two of them had no conflicts or grudges in their daily lives, so he couldn't understand why Fang Sea would go to such lengths to ambush him.
"Of course we don't have a feud. It's just that you found a piece of Tough Gold in the valley earlier.
I want it."
Fang Sea stated his purpose brazenly, his gaze burning as he stared at Tang Shun. At the same time, a heavy, fierce aura began to emanate from him.
"Qi Refining Second Layer? Tsk, no wonder you're acting so tough."
Sensing the aura radiating from Fang Sea, Tang Shun gave a light laugh. A faint red Sword Qi began to flicker around his lowered left hand.
"But you think a mere Qi Refining Second Layer is enough to take me down?"
"We'll know once we try, won't we?"
Before the words had even faded, Fang Sea's Finger Technique shifted, and the seven Yin Wind Needles poised in his palm instantly shot forward.
Those like them, with powerful backing, wouldn't bother learning common, run-of-the-mill Magic.
Just like Tang Shun's Red Night Sword Qi, his Yin Wind Needle technique was also passed down from an elder.
It didn't just summon these stealthy, hard-to-detect Silver Needles.
The needles were also laced with a sinister poison; anyone struck would lose all mobility within minutes, leaving them helpless.
"Pathetic tricks."
With a nonchalant smile, Tang Shun waved his hand, unleashing a pale red stream of Sword Qi. The sharp, overbearing energy instantly shattered the Yin Wind Needles and continued toward Fang Sea with undiminished force.
The Sword Qi grazed his shoulder, carving a deep gash in a tree trunk behind him. Fang Sea immediately retaliated. His Finger Technique shifted constantly, sending a ceaseless stream of Silver Needles flying toward Tang Shun.
For a moment, Sword Qi filled the air and needle-shadows swarmed like locusts.
Flashes of pale red and blackish-green light collided violently in the forest, bursting apart on impact.
Leaves and branches flew, rocks shattered. The two were locked in a stalemate!
Perched like a ghost on a branch not far away, Qi Yun clicked his tongue in amazement as he watched the Magical Combat unfold.
'So this is what those with connections are capable of. Compared to these two, the Five Elements Technique we learned is utterly pathetic.'
Amidst the fierce battle, Fang Sea spotted an opening. He unleashed nine Yin Wind Needles to seal off Tang Shun's escape, simultaneously closing the distance like a phantom. His right hand shot out like lightning and grabbed the bulging pouch at Tang Shun's waist!
'Got it.'
But just then, Tang Shun, seemingly cornered, suddenly moved his right hand. A much weaker, yet equally sharp, stream of Sword Qi shot out, aimed straight at Fang Sea's right arm.
"Two-Handed Sword?! You've been holding back!"
With a stunned cry, Fang Sea frantically tried to pull his hand back, but he was too close. The Sword Qi arrived in an instant.
SCHLICK—
Fresh blood splattered, spraying across the surrounding grass like splashed ink.
With a muffled groan, Fang Sea clutched his right arm and retreated in a hurry!
The pouch he had been holding fell to the side, landing on a slippery, moss-covered rock.
'Hm?!'
Qi Yun, who had been watching the battlefield intently, suddenly narrowed his eyes. A sharp glint flashed within them.
'My chance has come!'
He suppressed his excitement, not daring to move rashly, and patiently waited for the perfect moment.
After forcing Fang Sea back with his sword, a vicious light filled Tang Shun's eyes. The Red Night Sword Qi had injured Fang Sea, siphoning off a portion of his Blood Essence Qi and slightly replenishing Tang Shun's own energy.
Glancing at where the pouch had fallen, Tang Shun decisively charged Fang Sea first. The Sword Qi from his left hand struck like a viper, piercing Fang Sea's shoulder from an impossibly sharp angle and completely destroying his ability to fight.
'Now's my chance!'
In that instant, as the severely wounded Fang Sea staggered and Tang Shun prepared to deliver the fatal blow...
An invisible, intangible current of Clear Wind, like a natural gust from the valley, silently swept over the mossy rock.
The pouch on the rock vanished without a trace!
The fatal Sword Qi pierced Fang Sea's throat. He stared at Tang Shun, his eyes filled with disbelief and resentment, as bloody froth bubbled from his lips.
"You... you..."
Brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead, Tang Shun's eyes turned cold as a smirk played on his lips.
"Did you really think I hadn't noticed you tailing me for so long?
I was just pretending to be weak to lure you in!
Otherwise, why would a fool like you show yourself and pick a fight with me?
This is perfect. With the Cultivation of a Qi Refining Second Layer expert to offer up to my sword, my Red Night Sword Qi will finally be fully honed.
And for that, I really have you to thank."
Hearing this, Fang Sea's eyes went wide. His outstretched left hand clawed futilely at the air before falling limply to his side.
Wasting no more words, Tang Shun quickly performed a hand seal and cast a spell, absorbing Fang Sea's Blood Essence Qi. Feeling the fully honed Red Night Sword Qi within him, he couldn't help but let out a few satisfied laughs as he walked smugly toward the rock.
However, when he reached the rock and his gaze swept over it...
It was empty!
There was nothing but slippery moss and a few drops of blood that had yet to dry!
The smile on Tang Shun's face froze instantly. He lunged forward, his hands frantically searching the rock and the surrounding grass.
Nothing!
There was absolutely nothing!
An icy chill shot straight from the soles of his feet to the top of his skull.
The next second, a roar filled with shock, fury, and violence erupted, shaking the entire forest.
"WHO?!!!"
...