A Decisive Display of Power

Having determined their objective, Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing steadily advanced towards the southeast corner of the grand hall. Before long, they arrived beneath the light cluster that contained the bows, arrows, and armor.

Since this area held fewer treasure light clusters, consequently, fewer cultivators had gathered here. Including Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing, there were only sixteen individuals present. Upon seeing two more people arrive, the dozen or so cultivators already present eyed them with caution. Their gazes shifted to a mixture of awe and surprise, however, when they noticed Chi Qiu, a female cultivator, among the newcomers.

This was due to two reasons. Firstly, Chi Qiu, having refined her mind and body through cultivation, possessed an appearance and aura of the highest caliber. Secondly, female cultivators of the God Concealing stage were an exceedingly rare sight in the outside world. As disciples of prominent sects or members of esteemed aristocratic families, the cultivators present were naturally aware that over ninety percent of God Concealing stage female cultivators were secluded within their chambers, primarily to bear descendants.

“May I ask, fellow Daoists, what treasure has caught your eye here?” Perhaps sensing their distinguished demeanor, a cultivator in yellow robes stepped forward, clasped his hands in a respectful salute, and addressed Su Hanxing.

Su Hanxing offered a faint smile. “This great bow, and this suit of armor, shall belong to the two of us.”

“How utterly audacious! There are only four treasures here in total, yet you two intend to claim two of them. Are you suggesting we are mere idlers?” Hearing Su Hanxing brazenly declare his intent to take two spiritual artifacts, a younger cultivator beside the yellow-robed man fumed.

“Fellow Daoist, Scarlet Light Island has already laid claim to this armor. It would be best if you sought another treasure.” A middle-aged cultivator, clad in crimson robes with hair and beard of the same fiery hue, strode towards Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing. Behind him followed four other cultivators, similarly robed in red, clearly all from Scarlet Light Island.

Sensing the red-robed cultivator’s clear intent to engage, the yellow-robed cultivator and the younger man beside him prudently retreated several steps, slowly yielding their ground.

“Cease your babbling. Withdraw now, and I shall spare your lives.” Su Hanxing’s expression subtly darkened. With a flick of his hand, a silver long spear materialized in his grasp.

Chi Qiu remained silent. She gently drew the black jade longsword from her waist, stepping forward to stand abreast with Su Hanxing. Her brilliant golden pupils shimmered with nascent golden tribulation lightning.

“They refused the toast, so they must drink the forfeit.” The cultivators from Scarlet Light Island clearly intended to make an example of someone before the treasures were unsealed. Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing, unfortunately, fit the role of their chosen “chickens” perfectly.

“I’ll take three, and you two? How does that sound?” Su Hanxing asked, his voice soft as he glanced at Chi Qiu beside him.

“Do not underestimate me. I shall handle the three on the left.” Chi Qiu turned to respond to Su Hanxing. Her petite, palm-sized face was etched with solemnity. Her brilliant golden pupils swirled subtly, sparking with minute bolts of tribulation lightning.

Su Hanxing’s heart quivered at the sight of the tribulation lightning in Chi Qiu’s eyes. Even with his formidable power, a distinct chill ran down his spine.

“It seems Little Chi has had quite the fortuitous encounter. Very well, those three are yours.” Su Hanxing, no longer concerned for Chi Qiu’s safety, confidently entrusted the three Scarlet Light Island cultivators to her.

“Indeed arrogant. Taste my blade!” Seeing Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing casually allocate their opponents with a few words, the red-haired, red-bearded middle-aged cultivator’s brow furrowed in a tight knot before he lashed out in fury.

A fiery crimson ribbon of energy coiled around his sword. With a swift movement of his feet, he instantly materialized before Su Hanxing, thrusting his sword forward. Witnessing their leader charging into battle, the four red-robed cultivators behind him swiftly activated their movement techniques, following closely in his wake.

Su Hanxing, with a casual flick of his long spear, effortlessly deflected the middle-aged cultivator’s thrusting sword. He then summoned a flying sword, which streaked through the air to cleave towards another, younger red-robed cultivator.

Seeing Su Hanxing already engaged, Chi Qiu was unwilling to be outdone. With a sweep of her sword, a golden sword qi materialized from thin air, cleaving towards the three remaining cultivators. With their respective opponents thus allocated, both factions swiftly plunged into a chaotic melee. The remaining nine cultivators divided into three camps, observing the unfolding conflict. For them, the more fiercely Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing fought against Scarlet Light Island, the better; any casualties would greatly benefit their own prospects.

“A mere female cultivator, instead of dutifully nurturing children and serving her husband within her clan, dares to venture into such a perilous place. Today, you shall regret this for the rest of your life.” A spear-wielding cultivator scoffed, confronting Chi Qiu.

Hearing these words, Chi Qiu’s anger flared instantly. Her mood was already exceptionally poor, and such blatant disrespect only fueled her fury.

With a sweep of her sword, true qi, imbued with the divine might of the Yinglong and golden tribulation lightning, burst forth, sending the other two cultivators reeling backward. She then concentrated true qi into her feet, taking a single step that generated such immense force it left a foot-deep indentation in the metal floor.

Harnessing this explosive power, Chi Qiu herself instantly surged forward, appearing directly before the spear-wielding cultivator who had mocked her. With a swift, diagonal slash of her sword, she parried his war spear, forcing his defenses wide open.

Though his defenses were exposed, the spear-wielding cultivator showed no hint of panic. He was clad in a full suit of crimson armor, and while Chi Qiu’s longsword had indeed parried his war spear, it would be impossible to strike him past it in a single, swift motion.

To the spear-wielding cultivator’s astonishment, Chi Qiu did not retract her black jade longsword. Instead, she maintained the block on his war spear, then closed the distance in a rush, launching a palm strike directly at his chest.

Chi Qiu’s hand was fair and exquisitely delicate. Yet, this seemingly feather-light palm strike, delivered with the innocent grace of a young girl’s playful tap, caused every hair on the spear-wielding cultivator’s body to stand on end. An aura of extreme peril emanated from her palm.

The spear-wielding cultivator attempted a hasty retreat, but alas, it was already too late.

Rip—

Chi Qiu’s seemingly effortless palm strike descended, its trajectory imbued with profound mystery. Golden tribulation lightning erupted from her palm, instantly tearing through the crimson armor. The spear-wielding cultivator’s expression froze, his eyes losing all vitality. His body, a full chi taller than Chi Qiu’s, slowly toppled to the ground, undeniably and irrevocably dead.

“What!”

The red-haired, red-bearded leader of Scarlet Light Island felt his vision dim as he witnessed his disciple struck down in an instant. He had never dreamed that this seemingly delicate girl possessed such formidable combat prowess.

“Fighting me, and you dare to be distracted?”

In that fleeting moment of the middle-aged cultivator’s distraction, Su Hanxing thrust his spear forward, aiming directly for his throat. The cultivator belatedly reacted, frantically bringing his sword across to parry.

Shhk—

Though the middle-aged cultivator narrowly parried the spear thrust, two flying swords streaked past him from behind. They plunged into his back and emerged from his chest, leaving a crimson mist in their wake. His eyes wide with disbelief, the middle-aged man crashed to the ground.

In a mere two or three breaths, two of the seemingly formidable Scarlet Light Island cultivators had fallen. This spectacle struck terror into the hearts of the onlookers, who considered their own strength to be comparable to that of Scarlet Light Island, albeit with fewer numbers. Now, seeing two cultivators of near-identical strength perish in an instant, how could they not be astonished? How could they not be afraid?

The three remaining Scarlet Light Island cultivators lost all desire to continue the fight. They pushed their movement techniques to the absolute limit, fleeing the area with desperate haste. Only eleven cultivators now remained in this area.

“They presented a formidable front, yet proved so utterly vulnerable in actual combat.” Chi Qiu sheathed her black jade longsword. She did not bother to pursue the fleeing cultivators, deeming them too frail to warrant the effort.

“Little Chi’s strength has truly advanced considerably.” Su Hanxing smiled as he put away his long spear and flying swords. He then sidled up close to Chi Qiu once more, earning him a subtle arch of her brow.

“My esteemed friends, does anyone else wish to impede our acquisition of these treasures?” Su Hanxing turned, his smile gone, and expressionlessly inquired of the other nine cultivators.

“Heavenly treasures belong to those with the ability to claim them. Both of you, fellow Daoists, possess extraordinary strength; these spiritual artifacts are undoubtedly destined for you.” The yellow-robed cultivator from earlier tugged at the corners of his mouth, managing a smile that looked more pained than a grimace, and spoke with clasped hands. The others hastened to echo his sentiments.

Meanwhile, the young cultivator beside the yellow-robed man was now trembling uncontrollably, his face etched with terror, fearing that Su Hanxing and Chi Qiu might, in their wrath, execute him for his previous defiant words.