Rustle.

The sound of feet stepping on fallen leaves echoed.

Two Cultivators in black robes entered the forest.

"Big Brother, that kid is gone... He has some means of concealing his aura."

"He’s nearby. We’ll force him out and kill him."

The Level 8 Qi Refining Cultivator had a beard and looked to be around thirty years old.

When speaking to his younger brother, his tone was one of unquestioning authority.

"However, the direction he fled in is towards the Cave Abyss Sect, so he might be a Sect Disciple. It’s hard to say if he has any protective means or escape techniques."

"Ah Qing, be careful when we start fighting."

Zheng Heqing nodded, saying in a deep voice, "Yes, Big Brother."

Zheng Haiyan and Zheng Heqing, these two brothers, were not new to such illicit activities.

Murder and arson bring wealth.

This was the fastest way to get Spirit Stones.

Practice makes perfect. Zheng Heqing knew what kind of opponents to face and what to pay attention to.

It was just that his Big Brother loved to remind him repeatedly, and he simply listened obediently.

"Big Brother, this place isn’t far from the Cave Abyss Sect, so could it be..."

The two brothers were accustomed to caution; acting here was indeed somewhat risky.

Zheng Haiyan shook his head, "That doesn’t matter. Just be quick and clean with it."

"After this job, we’ll find a place to lay low. When the coast is clear, we’ll come back."

As he spoke, the faint green Spiritual Qi in Zheng Haiyan’s hand grew brighter: "That kid is at Qi Refining Stage 6. If we combine our strength..."

"It’s best to suppress and kill him, so no incidents arise."

Boom—

A green storm suddenly burst from Zheng Haiyan’s hand, beginning to rage around them.

Song Yan, hidden in the shadows, was startled: "Storm Reversing Dust Talisman..."

The storm enveloped the entire dense forest in a very short time.

He hesitated for only a split second before re-condensing his protective Spiritual Armor.

Even if he was exposed on the spot, it was better than getting injured before the fight even began.

A Spiritual Qi fluctuation appeared for a split second.

"...Over there."

Before Big Brother’s words finished, Zheng Heqing had already lunged forward.

He held a section of jade-green bamboo and attacked Song Yan.

"Close-quarters combat?"

It could be said that, up until now, this chase, from beginning to end, was still within Song Yan’s understanding.

However, the fighting style of this Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level Cultivator was truly beyond his expectations.

Three pure Spiritual Qi condensed into jade-like beads were fiercely flicked by Zheng Heqing, shooting towards him.

At the same time, the green bamboo in his hand swung horizontally like a short staff, powerful and heavy, aiming for a killing blow.

In the distance, Zheng Haiyan had already conjured a circular blade that circled beside him.

Seeing that this person had exposed himself and his younger brother had already launched a killing strike, he formed a Dao incantation with his hand.

"Go!"

With a flash of Spiritual Qi, the circular blade flew out rapidly, heading straight for Song Yan.

He seemed to be stunned by the scene, completely unresponsive.

"Are Sect Disciples all so weak?"

A sense of smugness surged in Zheng Heqing’s heart. He struck the person’s Dantian with his staff, and Spiritual Qi surged wildly.

At the same time, the flying blade arrived.

Song Yan was heavily repelled by the powerful staff strike, and Zheng Haiyan’s flying blade happened to slice across him.

In an instant, his head was separated from his body.

"..."

This life-and-death struggle ended in a flash.

It was just... Zheng Heqing felt something was slightly off.

"Hmm?"

Zheng Haiyan in the distance was slightly stunned.

He saw that no blood flowed from the corpse, and its skin slowly began to roughen from the fingertips.

Its appearance became increasingly blurred, and the wrinkles and patterns on its skin became denser.

In the blink of an eye, it transformed into the appearance of wood and tree bark.

Zheng Haiyan frowned: "Calamity Aversion Talisman?"

At this moment, Song Yan was still hiding in the dark.

A sharp sword light slowly began to condense on the tip of his right index finger.

The vast majority of ordinary Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators’ battles were not actually about comparing the level of their Spiritual Qi.

At this stage, some powerful Spells and Divine Abilities were not yet available for cultivation.

There were very few Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators like Song Yan who held a Sword Cultivator Legacy and possessed Sword Dao True Essence as a killing move.

Magical Treasures and Spiritual Artifacts with special powers were also not something most Cultivators at this stage could obtain.

Therefore, without time to set up trapping or killing formations in advance, most of the time, it was a competition of Spiritual Artifact grades and the Talismans they could activate.

Low-grade Spiritual Artifacts were relatively cheap and could be used continuously, but their manipulation consumed a lot of Spiritual Qi and mental energy.

Although Talismans were one-time use items, they were very convenient to use, and their effects were diverse and strange.

Some of them could even save one’s life at critical moments.

Just like the "Green Wood Calamity Aversion Talisman" from earlier, it was one of the backup plans he had prepared.

Upon activation, it could use the Spiritual Qi stored within to create a Clone.

However, other than that, it had no other use.

It was merely used to divert the opponent’s attention.

If he didn’t have the Hidden Sword Gathering Spirit Stance, he would have been easily seen through.

Even so, the price of this Talisman was not cheap.

Sixty-eight Spirit Stones.

The original price was seventy, and the two fewer Spirit Stones were what he had haggled down.

"Fellow Daoist, reveal yourself."

The Level 8 Qi Refining Cultivator said loudly, "That move is only effective once."

Song Yan naturally wouldn’t obediently walk out.

Besides this Green Wood Calamity Aversion Talisman, he had also purchased an escape Talisman at a high price.

It was just that this Talisman needed to be activated temporarily and would take a little time.

These two people in front of him were clearly vicious and cruel, aiming for fatal blows with every move.

If he activated it rashly, he was worried that the opponent would act too quickly and keep him there.

With his current Qi Refining Stage 6 strength, fighting two opponents was simply suicide.

He had to come up with a practical and foolproof plan.

Currently, this wisp of Sword Dao True Essence, when used against an unprepared Cultivator in the early or Middle Stage of Qi Refining, could basically instantly penetrate their protective Spiritual Armor and kill the opponent.

As for a Cultivator in the Late Stage of Qi Refining, Song Yan wasn’t sure.

He thought that if the opponent didn’t have a protective Magic Treasure or similar Spiritual Item, penetrating their protective Spiritual Armor and severely injuring them would not be a problem.

After a brief assessment, he dared not be careless in his heart.

These two clearly frequently engaged in such activities, so they probably wouldn’t lack protective items.

For some reason, Song Yan’s thoughts were extremely clear at this moment; he felt he was incredibly calm.

"The probability of both having protective Spiritual Items is very high. The target cannot be that Level 8 Qi Refining Cultivator."

"This person has a higher cultivation, and the Sword Essence might not be effective. Also, I can only make one strike in a short time, so this choice is not solid enough."

His current situation didn’t allow him to consider how to counter-kill these two.

Instead, it was about escaping with his life.

"If I can severely injure that Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level Cultivator, then I’ll have a chance to escape."

Song Yan admitted that he would have difficulty winning against a Level 8 Qi Refining Cultivator. This move seemed to have no effect on the battle.

However, that Level 8 Qi Refining Cultivator was further away from him, which would buy him enough time to activate the Talisman.

"..."

Just as he was about to unleash Unmoored Boat and his Sword Essence simultaneously, an unexpected change suddenly occurred in the field.

Rustle... A subtle cold wind swept through the forest.

Zheng Haiyan frowned, raising his head alertly.

Both brothers still thought it was some trick by the hidden Cultivator.

Song Yan was also somewhat alert, worried it was some method of these two.

"Hehehe..."

Suddenly, a girl’s soft laughter came from somewhere in the dense forest.

The two brothers looked towards the source of the sound, and Song Yan, hiding in the dark, also turned his gaze.

A faint mist had risen in the forest at some point, and the sound of something heavy landing on a pile of fallen leaves was heard.

In the shadows, a pair of pale purple eyes slowly swayed.

"Giggle giggle... How lively it is~"

A tender, clear child’s voice came.

Zheng Heqing suddenly retreated rapidly, moving to his Big Brother’s side.

"Croak—"

Bang!

A giant grey-green toad leaped out from the shadows, landing heavily on the ground, its swollen poison glands emitting a faint, eerie glow.

Its dull frog eyes stared at the two black-robed Cultivators.

Croak—

The two black-robed Cultivators looked up, only to see a girl in blue sitting atop the frog’s head.

The girl looked to be only about ten years old, her bare feet dangling in the air, gently swinging.

The silver bells on her ankles jingled softly with her movements.

Zheng Haiyan’s heart sank. His Divine Sense swept over her, but he couldn’t discern her cultivation, and a sense of retreat already arose in his heart.

The mysterious girl in front of him clearly meant trouble.

In the dense forest behind him, there was also a Cultivator, possibly a Cave Abyss Sect Disciple, hiding.

At this moment... it seemed as if they, the two brothers, were being ambushed from both sides.

Although his younger brother Zheng Heqing was slightly less experienced in the Jianghu than his Big Brother, even a fool could tell that the current situation was dire.

"Fellow Daoist..."

A green Talisman had already appeared in Zheng Haiyan’s hand, hidden in his sleeve.

If the situation turned bad, he would immediately activate it to escape.

This was not the first time the two brothers had encountered such a situation; they had long since prepared themselves.

"We are pursuing an enemy here. I wonder if you could grant us some convenience..."

"Of course, of course..."

The little girl giggled, her small feet swinging even more cheerfully, as if something exciting was about to happen.

The two brothers felt a slight easing in their hearts, but they still did not relax their vigilance.

"Then many thanks, Fellow Dao..."

At some point, a fragrant breeze began to waft through the mist in the forest.

A lively, pale blue butterfly, flapping its wings, flew with the fragrant breeze to the two men’s side.

Zheng Haiyan frowned slightly. Although the butterfly had no Spiritual Qi fluctuations, he remained quite wary.

Just as he was about to warn his younger brother, he saw the blue butterfly had already landed on Zheng Heqing’s protective Spiritual Armor.

"Ah Qing!"

Zheng Heqing realized something was wrong. While retreating rapidly, Spiritual Qi surged, and his Spiritual Armor emitted a green light.

But at this moment, things were completely out of his control.

The blue butterfly’s wings fluttered.

In an instant, Zheng Heqing felt the Spiritual Qi all over his body furiously rushing towards the blue butterfly!

Song Yan, hidden in the dark, carefully observed the battlefield in the forest. Zheng Heqing’s abnormality naturally caught his eye.

"That spiritual butterfly..."

"Seems a bit strange."

Zheng Heqing frantically urged his Spiritual Qi, trying to drive away and kill the blue butterfly, but his green bamboo jade staff waved, always failing to reach the blue butterfly.

It floated lightly with the surging Spiritual Qi, like a bubble rising and falling with the waves.

Spiritual Qi was continuously devoured and absorbed by it.

Zheng Heqing’s protective Spiritual Armor became unstable and actually melted like wax meeting fire!

"Ah Qing! Move quickly!"

Zheng Haiyan’s heart was filled with alarm, and he shouted sharply.

An excellent opportunity!

Song Yan, who was closely watching the battlefield, couldn’t miss it.

Hum—

In that instant, a black and white sword shadow shot out from the dense forest behind him.

Before he could make any resistance, Zheng Heqing’s protective spiritual jade automatically activated, forcefully withstanding the sword strike.

The spiritual jade shattered with a crash.

However, before he could even celebrate, a sword light, hidden beneath the Flying Sword’s stream, revealed its sharp edge.

In his eyes, the cyan-gold cracks converged, and in his ears, there was the sound of shattering glass.

Hiss.

Zheng Heqing’s gaze was filled with disbelief.

The girl cupped her face, tilted her head, and appreciatively watched Zheng Heqing struggling as he collapsed to the ground, his unwilling expression.

She gently bit her little finger and giggled.

Zheng Haiyan’s roar echoed throughout the entire dense forest: "Ah Qing!!!"

Song Yan remained hidden in the dark. He looked at the strange girl sitting on the giant frog, and a few more questions arose in his heart.

He didn’t know this person, but now, she was helping him escape danger.

Hmm... now it could no longer be called escaping danger.

If she wished, with such a strange spiritual insect, Song Yan could even team up with her to take down this Level 8 Qi Refining demonic Cultivator as well.

But the problem lay here.

Meeting by chance, why would she help him?

Even if she knew his identity, what profit could be gained from an Outer Sect Disciple?

What did she want?

Zheng Haiyan didn’t know what the two were thinking; he only knew that his younger brother, with whom he had depended on since childhood, had died in front of him.

His eyes were splitting with rage, and veins bulged on his forehead.

The two had actually long anticipated that such a day would come, but they hadn’t expected it to come so quickly.

He suddenly took a deep breath, activating the Talisman in his palm with Spiritual Qi, and was about to flee without even having time to collect his brother’s corpse.

"Ehh, I haven’t had enough fun yet..."

The girl seemed a little displeased: "Why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Zheng Haiyan transformed into a green streak of light and flew rapidly towards the distant sky.

Originally, Song Yan had not hoped to be able to stop him.

But when Zheng Haiyan flew only a few feet into the air, he seemed to be blocked by something and actually bounced back?!

His eyes were wide with astonishment, as if he found it hard to believe.

Above the dense forest, in the low sky, a fine web of silk had appeared at some point... "Spider silk?"

Song Yan’s eyes narrowed. After being hit by the black-robed Cultivator, he finally saw clearly.

In the shadows, the faint sound of some arthropods crawling on the trees could be heard.

"What a strange Cultivator..."

He found it hard to give a standard definition to this somewhat frightening girl in his mind.

Insect Cultivator?

It didn’t seem so.

The Insect Cultivators he remembered were like Rong Xiaofeng, Cultivators who commanded large numbers of spiritual insects.

Beast Tamer Cultivator?

It was somewhat similar, but it also didn’t seem right.

"I still lack experience."

She said she hadn’t had enough fun, but when Zheng Haiyan fell from the sky, the girl seemed to have grown tired of the game.

"How boring."

Hum—

A thick scorpion tail shot out rapidly from somewhere in the dense forest.

Before Zheng Haiyan even landed, the stinger at the end of the tail easily pierced his protective Spiritual Armor, then impaled him.

It then quickly retracted, dragging the still-living corpse back into the shadows.

At the same time, a spider silk shot out from another direction, dragging the other black-robed corpse, which was sprawled on the ground, into the forest.

Two grating chewing sounds simultaneously echoed.

A Level 8 Qi Refining Cultivator... killed instantly?