Chapter 172: A Soul Formation Captive, Two Men Flee

Everyone was watching Qin Xiao fight Nie Yuanzheng. No one had expected this result.

Ling Ruoxue had already asked Elder Zeng to intervene and save Qin Xiao if things turned critical, and Elder Zeng had been standing by ready. Yet, the result was that Qin Xiao remained completely unharmed while Nie Yuanzheng flew into a furious rage and attacked.

“Miss, it seems this old man’s help won’t be needed after all.”

Elder Zeng could see that Qin Xiao must have encountered a great fated chance, seeing as even Nie Yuanzheng could not easily injure him.

“What on earth is going on? Could Qin Xiao have consumed a Saint Origin Spirit Fruit? Even a Saint Origin Spirit Fruit shouldn’t have such an effect, right?”

Ling Ruoxue was equally puzzled. Although Qin Xiao’s explosive speed inside the secret realm had given her some inkling, no amount of breakthroughs should allow someone to simply ignore a Soul Formation cultivator.

“To think this kid is so heaven-defying? I suppose he cannot be recruited now, nor can he even be killed. What a pity.”

Ling Wujun also marveled at Qin Xiao’s terrifying resilience, having taken two of Nie Yuanzheng’s strikes head-on without a scratch.

“It seems all the fated chances were taken by Brother Qin. My Pure Yang Sect missed its opportunity. Had we managed to recruit him earlier, perhaps it would have been our sect’s fortune. A real pity.”

Gong Yuankui recognized that Qin Xiao had emerged as the greatest beneficiary of the secret realm. After a single excursion, he possessed strength comparable to the Soul Formation stage. Even with all his own treasures, Gong Yuankui would struggle against a Soul Formation expert, yet Qin Xiao remained completely unfazed. His fated chances were truly profound.

“With such strength, this kid is unlikely to join our Mysterious Yin Sect. Truly regrettable.”

Lu Feng sighed as well.

Only the disciples of the Tianyuan Sect wore grim expressions.

For a disciple like this to be driven out of the sect—what was the Great Elder thinking?

If Qin Xiao were still a Tianyuan Sect disciple, how wonderful that would be! With such a monstrous talent among them, the sect would no longer need to bow its head to others.

“Yao Tiansheng, oh Yao Tiansheng, you old fool, you’ve truly ruined our Tianyuan Sect.”

Wan Rongyang shook his head helplessly.

Wan Rongyang had also been ready to intervene if Qin Xiao faced certain death, saving him for the sake of their former shared sect. Merely stopping the killing would probably not bring Chen Shunyi to Tianyuan Sect to demand an explanation.

However, Qin Xiao had indeed killed their disciple, so a thorough beating was warranted. Even if Qin Xiao were left severely injured, Wan Rongyang would not have interfered. But if someone intended to take his life, Wan Rongyang would have stepped in.

From the way Qin Xiao acted, he must have obtained a great Fated Chance. He no longer feared early-stage Soul Formation.

As for Qin Xiao, he welcomed Nie Yuanzheng’s shift to close-quarters combat. The more powerful techniques the man used, the better.

Seeing Qin Xiao stand motionless, Nie Yuanzheng suspected a trap and kept his distance, halting just as his sword tip reached Qin Xiao’s throat. At this range, he could execute Qin Xiao instantly, but he wanted to make his target suffer.

“Why do you not dodge?”

Nie Yuanzheng wanted to know what trap Qin Xiao might have set, so he asked.

“Why don’t I dodge? Because I’m not afraid.”

Qin Xiao replied instantly.

Dodge my ass. Hurry up and attack already. I still want to test this defense.

“Since you are courting death, I will oblige you.” This chapter was copied from novеlping.com without permission.

Uncertain of Qin Xiao’s intentions, Nie Yuanzheng knew that at this range he could kill him a hundred times over. He slashed his sword downward, eager to inflict some initial torment.

His plan was simple: slice open the chest, watch the man beg, and let him experience a fate worse than death.

But Nie Yuanzheng soon felt something wrong. The sword tip slid across Qin Xiao’s chest without cutting in, as though it had struck something hard.

Qin Xiao looked at his torn clothes and the slight scratches on his chest. He was annoyed.

He reached out, grabbed the tip of the enemy’s sword, and yanked hard.

Nie Yuanzheng never expected Qin Xiao to grab the blade bare-handed. He hurriedly surged his Spiritual Qi, intending to cripple Qin Xiao’s hand.

Nie Yuanzheng had not expected Qin Xiao to be so strong. Before he could circulate his Spiritual Qi, Qin Xiao had pulled him right up to him.

Releasing the sword, Qin Xiao grabbed Nie Yuanzheng by the throat.

“I told you to attack and kill me, so why are you ruining my clothes? Do you have any idea how much these cost?”

Qin Xiao questioned him, his left hand gripping Nie Yuanzheng’s neck.

“Courting death!”

Nie Yuanzheng had no time to worry about anything else. His neck was held, but his hands were free. He raised his sword and stabbed at Qin Xiao furiously.

At this range, how could Qin Xiao dodge? This sword was a Low Grade Dharma Treasure. Whatever tricks Qin Xiao had, Nie Yuanzheng was sure he would die.

Yet after several frantic thrusts, Nie Yuanzheng’s mind went blank.

“How is this possible? Why are you uninjured? Why won’t my sword pierce your skin? Why is only your clothing damaged?!”

At point-blank range, holding nothing back, why couldn’t he pierce the flesh?

Nie Yuanzheng felt his worldview shatter. What kind of Body Refinement was this?

Many cultivators practiced Body Refinement as an auxiliary discipline, but who had ever heard of a physique strong enough to block a Soul Formation cultivator’s sword bare-bodied?

“I gave you a chance, but you’re completely useless.”

Qin Xiao slapped Nie Yuanzheng several times with his right hand. That was for cutting his clothes.

“Who are you really? You aren’t Qin Xiao. Someone must have taken over your body! We won’t seek revenge anymore. Please, Senior, spare me!”

Thinking it over, Nie Yuanzheng could find only one explanation: someone had taken over Qin Xiao’s body. Otherwise it made no sense.

“Now you know to fear? Want me to spare you now?”

With another sharp crack, Qin Xiao delivered another heavy slap.

“Senior, it’s a misunderstanding! I’ll offer reparations, I’ll pay compensation, please show mercy!”

Nie Yuanzheng was truly frightened. He was convinced some senior had taken over Qin Xiao’s body. He had cultivated for over three hundred years and finally reached Soul Formation. He did not want to die.

“Compensation? Did I ask you to compensate? Can’t I just take it myself?”

Qin Xiao snatched the sword from Nie Yuanzheng’s grip, tore the Storage Bag from his waist, and tossed both straight into his System Space.

“Senior, I’ve given you everything! Please, spare my life!”

Faced with such blatant robbery, Nie Yuanzheng dared offer no resistance, clinging solely to the hope of survival. This chapter was copied from novelping . com without permission.

“What do you mean you gave it to me? I took it myself. There is a fundamental difference between me taking it and you giving it.”

Qin Xiao rejected the offer.

“Senior Brother, save me!”

Finding Qin Xiao entirely unreasonable, Nie Yuanzheng had no choice but to call out for help.

Hearing Nie Yuanzheng call for help, Sun Lianghan and Shi Pengfei stopped fighting.

“Qin Xiao, release Junior Brother Nie immediately, or we will show you no courtesy!”

Sun Lianghan shouted.

“Shut your trap. As if you ever showed me any courtesy. Hand over your Storage Bags and treasures, and I’ll let your junior brother go. Otherwise, I kill him right here.”

Qin Xiao barked back.

“Young man, don’t go too far. Leave us room to meet again. Release Junior Brother Nie, and we’ll leave now.”

Sun Lianghan would not surrender his Storage Bag and treasures. They were everything he had; how could he give them up to save someone?

“Indeed. Let him go, and we will depart this instant.”

Shi Pengfei shared the exact same sentiment-how could he surrender his life’s savings?

“You see that? Your two senior brothers care more about their treasures than your life.”

Qin Xiao knew how hypocritical these people were. They called each other senior and junior brother, but when it mattered, most would only look after themselves.

“Senior Brothers, save me! I will compensate you for your losses later!”

Nie Yuanzheng had not expected his senior brothers to refuse to trade for him. He could only plead with them.

“Junior Brother, that brat’s words cannot be trusted. Rather than all three of us perishing here, you must endure this sacrifice. We will report everything to Master, and he will avenge you!”

Shi Pengfei flatly refused.

“Junior Brother, let’s go.”

Without hesitation, Sun Lianghan turned and sped away.

Seeing his senior brother flee, Shi Pengfei immediately followed suit.

Neither Zhang Zuo nor Li You gave chase; mid-stage Soul Formation experts determined to escape could never be pinned down in a one-on-one scenario.

“Qin Xiao, if I am to die, you won’t leave unscathed either!”

Nie Yuanzheng mobilized all the Spiritual Qi in his body.

Elder Zeng was the first to notice that something was wrong.

“Qin Xiao, get away! He’s about to self-destruct!”