The distant moonlight condensed into a flowing streak. Within a few leaps, its speed multiplied severalfold, overtaking the blazing solar shadow to stop ten zhang before Yang Lingrui.

With hands spread wide, the cultivator summoned a sword technique and thrust it violently from his chest toward Yang Lingrui’s face.

This Solitary Moon Mountain cultivator wielded late-stage seventh-level Gathering Qi cultivation. His drawn sword aimed straight for Yang Lingrui’s life.

Yet in that instant, a golden light rippled out from Yang Lingrui’s palm.

The sword struck the golden barrier with a metallic screech, halted mere inches from its target.

“Hmph! A second-rate diamond talisman? Is this your pitiful defense?”

The Solitary Moon Mountain cultivator leaped back, recalling his sword and channeling moonlight energy into it. “To survive my blade, a shoddy talisman won’t suffice!”

“Strike!”

The moonlit sword gleamed brighter, its power swelling to rival the eighth level of Gathering Qi.

Two slashes shattered the golden shield around Yang Lingrui.

Smirking triumphantly, the cultivator lunged forward, gripping his sword to pierce Yang Lingrui’s heart.

Whoosh—

Golden light flared anew.

Disdain flashed in the attacker’s eyes.

“If my flying sword broke your talisman, this blade will finish you!”

But as steel met radiance, his entire arm shuddered as though striking indestructible metal.

“This… Impossible! That’s no second-rate talisman—it’s superior-quality!”

Shock coursed through him.

Mid-stage Gathering Qi families could barely afford second-rate protective talismans. How could this brat possess both grades of late-stage talismans?

Even on Solitary Moon Mountain, second-rate late-stage talismans were rare treasures. After years of service, he only carried two support-grade second-rate talismans. Yet his opponent had casually used two, including a superior-quality one!

A searing heat at his nape interrupted his thoughts.

“Hmph!”

The cultivator whirled, slashing backward with twin arcs of moonlight to disperse the blazing projectile.

Gao Hui somersaulted over him, landing protectively before Yang Lingrui.

The enemy’s speed technique had nearly outpaced him. Thankfully, Yang Lingrui’s preparations bought enough time.

Gao Hui’s golden-patterned crimson robe—a late-stage Gathering Qi spiritual treasure borrowed from He Shenglai—glowed faintly. This artifact amplified his Fire techniques and yang-based arts, letting his sixth-level Gathering Qi combat prowess match his opponent’s.

The Solitary Moon Mountain cultivator sheathed his sword, bellowing, “Gao Hui! Your repeated interference caused my disciples’ deaths! Dare you oppose Solitary Moon Mountain? Remember City Lord Song’s ties to us! One word from me, and your official rank vanishes!”

Gao Hui sneered at the words, his eyes filling with mockery.

The Solitary Moon Mountain had truly played local emperor for too long, now deluding itself with imperial fantasies.

To this day, their sect remained woefully uninformed, still believing Song Kaiyang could be used against him.

Little did they know the imperial capital’s secret envoys had infiltrated Moon Watching City half a year prior.

Song Kaiyang’s every action now fell under imperial surveillance – the man couldn’t possibly shield Solitary Moon Mountain anymore.

A polite observer might say he accompanied the envoys, but truthfully, he remained under house arrest within Moon Watching City.

“What an outrageous criminal! Friend, you’ve mastered truth-twisting indeed.”

He scoffed coldly, “Solitary Moon Mountain withheld tribute for years. Now you seek free labor within the kingdom’s borders. Shouldn’t I intervene?”

“You call Friend Yang a murderer of your disciples, yet ignore the Xie Family’s corpses beneath us. Don’t you know their deaths’ cause?”

“Nonsense!”

The Solitary Moon Mountain cultivator roared, “Stop your prattle! Mortal lives mean less than ants! How dare you compare them to my disciples! This independent family’s destruction was their destined fate!”

“Regarding tribute,” he sneered, “this concerns no petty Baishi Town mayor! Heed final warning – don’t court destruction!”

Unfazed, Gao Hui shrugged. “No sense talking past each other. Let our techniques decide!”

White flames erupted around him as he lunged forward.

The two individuals clashed again, moonlight warring with white radiance across the battlefield.

The cultivator’s expression darkened mid-combat. Gao Hui’s body technique combined with True Sun defenses rendered sword techniques useless.

Though not lethal, the stalemate favored neither. Noticing Yang Lingrui, the cultivator hatched a scheme.

“He shields this wretch so fiercely? Then this becomes my opening!”

Feigning retreat, he edged toward Yang Lingrui’s position. At critical range, he activated his speed technique and hurled his sword to distract Gao Hui.

“Die already! Show me another talisman!” he shouted, palm striking toward Yang Lingrui, defenses lowered anticipating no diamond talisman.

Golden light flared thrice.

“How?!”

The mountain-opening talisman’s beam struck before he could react.

CRACK!

“Argh!”

Yang Lingrui’s talisman smashed into his right chest as Gao Hui’s blazing sunlight technique scorched his back.

Caught between enemies on both sides, he was severely wounded in both mind and body.

Realizing the danger, he swiftly swallowed a Healing Elixir to staunch his wounds and slapped a late-stage Gathering Qi talisman onto his body.

With a single leap, he soared a hundred yards and fled.

“Mayor Gao, take this!” Yang Lingrui produced a superior-quality divine movement talisman and tossed it to Gao Hui, who instantly activated it to give chase.

But since the talisman was of late-stage Gathering Qi, even at full speed, Gao Hui fell further behind.

“Damn it! Once I return, I’ll report this to the Elders! Gao Hui’s head will roll! The entire Yang Family will be exterminated!” the Solitary Moon Mountain cultivator fumed as he fled.

He had almost lost Gao Hui – a few more moments and he’d be free.

Then he detected a cultivator ahead. Using his divine awareness, he locked onto the figure – the same youth who’d shouted “Kill the thief!”

This brat’s shout had caused Yang Lingrui to kill three Solitary Moon Mountain disciples. Rage burned within the cultivator.

“If I can’t handle them, I’ll crush you instead!” he roared, veering toward Zhao Qi. “A first-level practitioner like you will make fine revenge!”

Zhao Qi had fled when the fighting broke out. Burning through three divine movement talismans, he’d barely reached this spot.

Thinking himself safe, he crouched in bushes to rest but kept Yang Lingqing’s talisman clenched in hand – years of misfortune had taught him caution.

The precaution saved him. Hearing rushing wind, Zhao Qi looked up to see the enraged cultivator bearing down. He hurled the talisman without thinking.

“You? You have one?!” The cultivator gaped. Slaughtering a first-level practitioner at the seventh Gathering Qi should’ve been effortless.

Instead, his rage doomed him. Had he kept fleeing, he’d have escaped. But his vengeful detour sealed his fate.

Blood sprayed as he crumpled. Surviving two mountain-opening talismans testified to his tough physique and vitality.

A bell-like chime echoed as his sea of consciousness fractured.

“Why… why you?” he choked. “What house is this Yang Family? Giving mountain-opening talismans to first-level practitioners? Are you nobility?”

Fading, he saw Zhao Qi approach. “Why… die by your hand…” Zhao Qi froze, suspecting a trick, then flung five fire talismans to ignite the body.

He followed with Golden Light Technique blasts from safety. Only when the corpse carbonized did he inspect the ashes.

Staring at the charred remains, Zhao Qi muttered: “My luck’s always been rotten. Your attempt was my fate. Your death here? That’s yours.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep