From behind, Zhao Gongming piloted a golden flying sword, rging body and sword as one. His face was ashen and grim. "Fang Jin, Fang Shui..."
He was already advanced in years, approaching the two-hundred-year limit, and the Zhao Family's Dao Foundation ancestors had dwindled until only he remained!
Once his lifespan ended and he passed into seclusion, the Zhao Family would face imdiate collapse!
That was why he had previously nurtured his direct-line descendant Zhao Wuxu, feeding him to Li Rulong through the human pill thod.
Yet he never expected Li Rulong to use the intercalation technique to swap fate and instead devour his own grandson!
The matter involved too many Purple Mansion sches. Zhao Gongming dared not probe too deeply; he could only swallow the bitterness with broken teeth and turn to cultivating another genius in the clan—Zhao Wufeng!
After setting aside his preconceptions, Zhao Gongming was delighted to discover that this child possessed the bearing of an ancient sword cultivator. His talent surpassed even Zhao Wuxu.
Previously, the family's resources had all poured into Zhao Wuxu, making Zhao Wufeng seem sowhat diocre by comparison.
But once the resources shifted in his favor, he imdiately blood with dazzling brilliance. Recently he had cultivated to the perfect ninth layer of Qi Ingestion and was preparing to form his Dao Foundation.
Once a new Dao Foundation cultivator erged, Zhao Gongming could die with his eyes closed.
Yet he never imagined the boy would die so suddenly!
Zhao Wufeng's death was not rely the loss of one Dao Foundation seed—it ant the Zhao Family had no one left!
The probability of producing talent among family cultivators was already lower than in sects. Most Zhao Family mbers had poor aptitude and could not even break through to late Qi Ingestion!
The few elderly clan mbers who had reached late Qi Ingestion were all in their seventies or eighties, long past the optimal age for breakthrough. Forcing a Dao Foundation attempt would an certain death.
There might still be so promising seedlings among the children who had only recently begun ingesting qi, but his remaining lifespan could not wait that long.
Thus, Fang Qing killing Zhao Wufeng was, to Zhao Gongming, an enmity as deep as exterminating his entire clan!
Even the slightest suspicious clue had to be pursued!
In truth, this was deliberately arranged by Fang Qing to test the feedback from "mutual slaughter" at the Dao Foundation level.
Unfortunately, things had taken an unexpected turn.
"Hmm? There is another one? No... this is demonic qi? The half-demon Li Rulong? It really is you!"
Seeing Li Rulong, Zhao Gongming suddenly understood everything in a flash of realization.
In his view, a re ordinary [Ji Water] Dao Foundation like "Fang Shui" would have no reason to bear a personal grudge against him.
Unless soone had instigated it!
And the instigator could only be Li Rulong!
This person harbored a blood-deep enmity with his family. Nothing he did would be surprising!
"Li Rulong? A wanted half-demon, and you still dare to show yourself?"
Zhao Gongming saw two Dao Foundations yet did not flee. Instead he pressed down his sword light, preparing to entangle them from a distance.
He had already sent a signal. As long as he held out for a short while, familiar Dao Foundation ancestors from allied aristocratic families would arrive. Then he could surely capture or kill this half-demon. As for "Fang Shui"? He had almost completely ignored him.
Though both were early Dao Foundation, his cultivation was profound and had reached the peak of early Dao Foundation. As a [Kang tal] cultivator, how could he possibly take a re [Ji Water] seriously?
His only concern was Li Rulong alone!
"Sigh..."
Seeing this scene, Fang Qing could not help but let out a soft sigh.
He was sighing because the hard-won opportunity was now clearly beyond reach.
Teaming up with an outsider to kill a sword cultivator, yet being unable to switch techniques in front of Li Rulong—there was no way he could obtain the feedback from "mutual slaughter" now.
"Hmph. Fellow Daoist, it is not too late to repent even now!"
Zhao Gongming shouted sharply. His flying sword's light split apart, instantly filling the sky with sword shadows.
He was a Dao Foundation sword cultivator who had cultivated flying swords for many years. With the profound mysteries of his [Kang tal] Dao Foundation, he had achieved the two great sword dao realms of "Sword Motion Like Thunder" and "Sword Light Division."
The sword light moved swift as thunder, arriving in an instant with the might of lightning, inspiring chills in the heart.
The casual ring of [Ji Water] mana Fang Qing had arranged shattered almost upon contact with the sword light.
"Sigh... My Dao Foundation mysteries are not suited for combat. I can only cheer and wave the flag for Fellow Daoist from the sidelines."
He took the chance to retreat so distance, preparing to observe a proper battle between Ancient Shu Dao Foundation cultivators.
"Haha... Fellow Daoist luring this person out is already a great rit!"
Li Rulong laughed heartily. Demonic qi soared to the heavens, transforming into a bewitching purple moon.
Wind, frost, rain, and snow raged around them, bringing bone-piercing cold.
The purple demonic qi coalesced into a ferocious, scale-covered giant hand that reached toward the sky full of sword light.
Puff puff!
The sword light was incomparably sharp, capable of severing gold and jade, yet upon contact with the purple hand, sothing astonishing occurred.
The purple-scaled giant hand radiated Dao Foundation mysteries, overcoming hardness with softness. It pinched the golden sword lights one after another, instantly transforming them into wind, frost, rain, and snow.
The endless sword light collapsed at a touch. The purple hand struck the flying sword's main body with a single palm.
The flying sword flew backward, revealing the Zhao Family ancestor's face filled with shock and uncertainty. "You..."
"Let inform Fellow Daoist: my Dao Foundation is nad 'Gentle Modulation of Rigidity.' It excels at transforming material properties and specializes in countering tal and fire. Today you have encountered your natural predator. Please leave your life behind."
Li Rulong laughed loudly. His figure dispersed into several black shadows that closed in rapidly.
Cold sweat beaded on Zhao Gongming's forehead. He recalled his sword to protect himself, relying on his seasoned combat experience and mana far deeper than Li Rulong's to barely hold on.
This person... dragging things out without retreating—could he be waiting for reinforcents?
If he did not kill him today and let him escape to spread word that he had allied with the demon race, it would not look good...
Better to silence him.
Fang Qing drifted along the edge of the battlefield, occasionally casting a few spells to cheer from afar while rapidly analyzing the situation in his mind.
Li Rulong was still young after all. Even with the advantage of his Dao lineage countering the opponent, quickly taking down this veteran Dao Foundation sword cultivator remained quite difficult.
After settling on a plan, Fang Qing stepped forward on rippling waves and thunderously joined the fray.
"Kill!"
He shouted fiercely. The heaven and earth condensed water vapor into blades, spears, swords, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks, all crashing toward Zhao Gongming.
Zhao Gongming casually tossed out a treasure—a golden sphere. Instantly, tallic qi spread outward, forming protective astral winds around his body.
The blades condensed from water vapor could easily slay ordinary Qi Ingestion cultivators, yet they proved utterly helpless against that thin layer of golden astral wind.
"Hmph. A re [Ji Water] Dao Foundation, whose aura clearly shows it has only recently advanced. Its mysteries are the sort that 'Long-Awaited Sweet Rain'—completely unsuited for combat—and yet you dare join forces to surround and kill this old man?"
Zhao Gongming seethed inwardly with hatred. "Under normal circumstances, three sword strikes from would be enough to take this child's life!"
At that mont, Li Rulong released a flying sword of his own.
This sword bore so resemblance to the forr Army-Subduing Sword, yet its entire body glead verdant green, like a venomous serpent. It clashed fiercely with Zhao Gongming's flying sword. Sparks flew with every collision, and tiny rice-grain-sized nicks appeared along both blades, drawing the sword cultivator's full attention.
"The opportunity has co."
How could Fang Qing not know his own Dao Foundation was ill-suited for battle?
The reason he had forced himself to join in was precisely to lower Zhao Gongming's guard.
Seeing Li Rulong seize the mont to intensify his assault, Fang Qing imdiately reached into his robes and activated a long-concealed second-rank talisman!
Chirp!
Heaven and earth spiritual qi erupted violently. A majestic crimson firebird materialized!
It was none other than a second-rank superior Firebird Talisman!
In the Blue Sea Sect's environnt, due to elental restrictions, this talisman's value fell slightly short of ordinary second-rank superior talismans, allowing Fang Qing to pick it up at a bargain.
But here in Ancient Shu, where tal and fire reigned supre in the current age, the amplification it received was trendous. The transford firebird's wingspan exceeded three zhang, and its mana fluctuations far surpassed what it had displayed back in the Blue Sea Sect.
Sizzle!
The scorching fire spiritual power directly dispersed the tallic qi, shattering that layer of golden astral wind with a thunderous crack.
Then, the transford fire phoenix revealed intricate mysterious patterns across its body. Its fla power surged even higher as it charged straight toward Zhao Gongming.
"This... a talisman with power approaching late Dao Foundation?"
Zhao Gongming could not dodge in ti. Shock filled his face as he took nearly the full brunt of the Firebird Talisman's might head-on.
He let out a miserable scream. His beard and hair charred black, half his body nearly reduced to scorched charcoal.
Yet a strand of Dao Foundation mystery transford into incandescent golden qi, barely clinging to his vital spark and sustaining his life.
"Damn it... even a second-rank superior talisman couldn't finish off an early Dao Foundation cultivator?"
Fang Qing's heart jolted at the sight.
Zhao Gongming recalled his flying sword and prepared to flee.
Puff!
At that instant, the verdant flying sword struck like a serpent flicking its tongue. It slipped past the sword-light defenses and pierced directly between Zhao Gongming's brows.
It was Li Rulong who struck, choosing the perfect timing and angle—a display of exceptional combat talent.
"I..."
Zhao Gongming uttered not another sound. He perished on the spot. His body dissolved into a mass of golden qi that exploded outward, scattering into countless fragnts of gold and iron.
After killing Zhao Gongming, Li Rulong turned a wary gaze toward Fang Qing.
Clearly, the fact that Fang Qing could casually produce a talisman with near late-Dao-Foundation power had caught him completely off guard.
"Fellow Daoist... you truly possess extraordinary fortune."
After several breaths, Li Rulong burst into hearty laughter. "My great enmity has been avenged, and I must thank you for it. We will split the spiritual items on this man's body evenly. As for the Celestial Axis Star Sand I promised earlier—this is yours."
With a lift of his hand, a jade bottle and several other items flew toward Fang Qing—including even Zhao Gongming's golden flying sword.
Fang Qing caught the flying sword. A sweep of his divine sense revealed it felt like nothing more than a lump of stubborn iron.
A cultivator's natal flying sword would lose at least thirty percent of its power after its master died.
Still, overall, it was slightly stronger than his own spiritual-artifact-grade flying sword.
His divine sense then swept over the jade bottle. Inside floated star sand radiating stellar light, like countless fireflies gathered together. Fang Qing nodded inwardly with satisfaction. "With this material, I can return and begin sacrificing and refining my natal flying sword. This journey has indeed been greatly auspicious."
Fang Qing looked at Li Rulong, who seed about to speak yet hesitated. He cupped his hands in farewell. "Zhao Gongming must have called for reinforcents. It is inconvenient for to remain exposed, so I will take my leave first. Fellow Daoist, may our paths cross again in the mountains and rivers."
"Until we et again!"
Li Rulong watched Fang Qing depart, stepping across rippling waves. His gaze grew deep and distant, eventually turning into a soft sigh.
A hundred li away, Fang Qing divined once more. "Mm... staying longer would bring minor misfortune. Li Rulong risked so much to co here; it cannot be solely to kill Zhao Gongming. He is most likely carrying out so mission for Descending Phoenix Mountain."
"Ancient Shu is destined for further chaos. I should hide for a while. Perfect timing to return and refine the flying sword. Once this sword is complete, I will at least possess the ans to threaten late Foundation Establishnt cultivators. As for late Dao Foundation cultivators? Better to wait a little longer."
"Unfortunately, I had originally planned to recruit a capable disciple and send them into the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain. It seems that must be set aside for now."
The reason he did not choose Xu Hei was simple: the man's strength was average, and he had proven quite useful in recent years. Fang Qing did not wish to see him die easily.
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