Chapter Thirty-Nine: Clash!

The fourth stage of the Qi Condensation Realm, trying to contend with a cultivator at the seventh stage, was no different from smashing an egg against a stone.

Despite his heart being filled with fear and dread, Qian Bo remained calm and clear-headed, making an accurate assessment. The disparity in strength was plain to see—three full levels apart. Even if he threw his life at the enemy, hoping for mutual destruction, it was impossible.

He simply wasn’t qualified!

In such a situation, was there any choice besides fleeing? If he didn’t seize the chance to escape before the enemy closed in, and instead dragged the other two down with him in a desperate struggle—hmph, Luo Tian might be foolish, but Qian Bo refused to be anyone’s puppet!

Even for Lin’er’s sake, he had to survive, so that the sect could one day avenge her.

A yellow radiance surged from Qian Bo’s body. He stretched his legs and bolted, the sudden movement catching everyone off guard; in a flash, he’d already gained some distance.

Luo Tian was dumbfounded as he watched Qian Bo’s retreating figure.

If he and Zhao Lin’er could hold off the others for a while, and he threw everything he had at the seventh-stage cultivator, there was a chance the three of them might not face a dead end.

But now, with the enemy encircling them at the edge of the rocky valley, how could they possibly escape alive?

The outer disciples of the Divine Sun Sect, if they survived the initial hardships, could usually accumulate some trump cards—treasured artifacts, large amounts of pills, or unique techniques. If forced into a life-and-death struggle with these bandits, the outcome would be uncertain. But losing their courage before the fight even began, and with the enemy prepared while they were not, their chances of survival diminished further.

“Senior brother, I—I won’t run!”

Zhao Lin’er bit her red lips, looking pitiful yet determined. Her voice trembled slightly, but her resolve was unwavering. She knew all too well what these bandits could do to a woman; death in battle was far preferable to dying in disgrace.

“Lin’er, act according to the situation!” Luo Tian said quietly. With their numbers lacking, he felt the pressure. Zhao Lin’er had only just broken through to the third stage of Qi Condensation and probably hadn’t even mastered her own strength. Holding off a pack of ferocious bandits seemed unrealistic.

If he believed only their leader was a cultivator, he’d be naive; at least one other among them had surely entered the Qi Condensation Realm.

This battle would not be easy.

“Who are you, exactly? Are you not afraid of the Divine Sun Sect’s retribution?” Luo Tian stepped forward, shielding Zhao Lin’er behind him. Blue light rippled around him like water, draping him in dazzling armor.

Qi Condensation Realm, sixth stage!

Sun Huangkun’s pupils contracted sharply. The youth before him was barely fifteen or sixteen, yet had reached such a level—could he be the heir of one of the Four Great Families?

If so, things would become complicated!

To kill an outer disciple from a wealthy family was one thing; to kill a scion of the Four Great Families was quite another, especially in the eyes of the Divine Sun Sect.

“Chief of the Clearwind Bandit Crew, Sun Huangkun!”

Though tension gnawed at Sun Huangkun’s heart, not a trace showed on his face. Instead, he appeared utterly confident. “If I dare move against you, I do not fear the Divine Sun Sect’s vengeance! Besides, if no one sends word, how could the sect possibly know it was the Clearwind Bandit Crew?”

His yellow hair was already a trademark of the bandits; even if he did not declare his identity, once this feature was reported back to the sect, the Clearwind Crew would surely be wiped out. Thus, Sun Huangkun had no reason to conceal the truth.

“Hmph, how arrogant!” Luo Tian could think of no better plan, so he tried to stall for time, hoping for a slim chance. “When I return, the Divine Sun Sect will surely send their forces to obliterate your bandit crew!”

Zhao Lin’er’s heart skipped a beat.

“Haha!” Sun Huangkun burst into laughter. “The Four Great Families are hardly united. If you’re from one, only your own family will care! Trying to bluff me? If you’re just a commoner, then killing you means nothing—the sect would mourn a dead dog at best, and never seek revenge against me!”

A grave miscalculation!

Luo Tian regretted his words. If only he’d been more careful in his dealings, he wouldn’t have uttered such nonsense. But how did Sun Huangkun know so much about the sect’s internal affairs?

“Boy, prepare to die!”

Sun Huangkun glanced back, seeing Xiao Wu about to catch up with the fleeing third-stage disciple. He relaxed, then shouted and charged at Luo Tian.

Fifteen or sixteen years old, at the sixth stage of Qi Condensation—a promising seedling! But today, you’ve met Sun Huangkun, and your life ends here!

“Lin’er, take care of yourself!” Luo Tian spoke softly, drew his Azure Light longsword, and rushed to meet Sun Huangkun.

Sixth-stage against seventh-stage; Luo Tian didn’t believe he was doomed, nor that he lacked the strength to fight. However, he could not divide his attention to others. The only option was to kill Sun Huangkun quickly, then rescue the others.

“I…”

Zhao Lin’er had never witnessed such a scene. Naturally, she was afraid. Yet after seeing Qian Bo flee, and being entangled by an enemy herself, while Luo Tian faced the strongest opponent, she realized she had no other choice—she had to fight with all her might.

With the sword in his hand, Luo Tian felt a surge of confidence. Bathed in shimmering blue light, his youthful body charged forward like a rampaging bull, unstoppable in his momentum.

This boy truly has some courage!

Sun Huangkun saw Luo Tian advancing rather than retreating, and secretly admired him. His killing intent intensified; if he let this youth escape, the Clearwind Crew would face disaster in the future.

With that thought, Sun Huangkun hesitated no longer, swinging his longsword directly at Luo Tian’s head.

A lower-grade human-tier artifact?

A glint flashed in Luo Tian’s eyes as he deliberated.

Both were artifacts. The lower-grade ones were sturdy and durable, resistant to cuts and blows. But mid-grade artifacts were superior; they could channel a cultivator’s internal energy to increase their lethality.

Once energy was infused, the artifact would glow—a clear sign—though otherwise, their appearances were similar.

Luo Tian decided not to channel his energy into the Azure Light sword, saving it as a hidden ace. Perhaps, at a critical moment, it would turn the tide.

Energy circulated, strength surged, and Luo Tian’s sword met Sun Huangkun’s blade head-on.

A sharp, grating sound rang out as sword and blade clashed, unsettling the mind.

To Sun Huangkun’s surprise, he found himself at a disadvantage, forced half a step back during their exchange!

Luo Tian, in contrast, merely leaned back slightly, dissipating the force.

The difference between them was clear.

Sun Huangkun almost thought it was a mistake. He had attained the seventh stage of Qi Condensation, wielding over seven thousand pounds of force—enough to punch a hole in a tree as thick as a grown man’s waist. How could he be overpowered by a sixth-stage youth?

Was there any justice in the world?

Refusing to accept it, Sun Huangkun attacked repeatedly. Luo Tian, undaunted, met every move head-on, his eyes showing not a hint of fear.

Luo Tian’s muscles trembled—not from fear, but excitement.

Over the past two months, Luo Tian had often observed the movement and combat of magical beasts, rapidly advancing his energy cultivation and mastering body-tempering techniques. Yet day after day of sparring with beasts, or practicing alone, had grown stale, leaving him with a sense of suppressed vigor.

Now, Sun Huangkun’s explosive strength—enough to unleash seven thousand pounds of force—finally gave Luo Tian the feeling of meeting a worthy adversary. Though his absolute power was slightly lacking, it would suffice.

The benefits of body-tempering techniques became evident. The seamless coordination of flesh, bone, and sinew allowed Luo Tian to unleash force at peak efficiency with every strike. Though he wielded a weapon, he almost felt the visceral thrill of bare-handed combat.

Witnessing Luo Tian’s display of power, Zhao Lin’er was inexplicably inspired. Her fear and panic sank deep within, and pale yellow energy surged from her dantian. Her lower-grade artifact sword seemed divinely empowered; not only did she suppress Zhou Gang, who was also at the third stage, even the dozen or so minions were intimidated by her courage, hesitating to approach.

In the Qi Condensation Realm, those at the body-tempering stage posed little threat; in such battles, they could only serve as distractions, their chances of causing real harm negligible.

“Brat, looks like I’ll have to show some real skill, or you’ll underestimate me!”

Sun Huangkun sneered. The youth’s strength was surely the result of medicinal boosts—brute force, nothing more.

At the later stages of Qi Condensation, what counted was not just pure energy and strength, but elemental attributes!