Chapter 52: Hunted Down, the Holy Son Falls

After meditating for about an hour, Qin Xiao heard a noise outside.

“Senior Brother, we’ve been searching for a long time. Could they have changed direction?” Li Cheng asked in confusion.

“There’s no mistake. That brat hasn’t changed direction. Did you think I approached him earlier just to question him? I knew he wouldn’t stay put, so I secretly left a trace of aura on him. It’s so faint you wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for it.” Yao Kaidong spoke confidently.

“No wonder you’re our eldest senior brother. I’d never have thought of that.” Li Cheng spoke admiringly. His eldest senior brother had all sorts of tricks.

“However, Senior Brother, with just the two of us, I’m afraid we might not be able to handle Yun Man. What if we fail?” Li Cheng remained somewhat uneasy, especially since both of them had previously suffered defeat at Yun Man’s hands.

“Useless fool. I admit Yun Man is strong. When we were both at late Golden Core, she had the edge over me. But I’m at peak Golden Core now. How could she beat me? And don’t get careless. Last time you were stupid enough to fight Qin Xiao hand to hand. Don’t make that mistake again.” Yao Kaidong was confident enough to follow them. As long as that idiot Li Cheng did not do anything foolish, he was sure nothing could go wrong.

“You’re right, Senior Brother. I’ll make Qin Xiao repay that humiliation a hundred times over.” Li Cheng lowered his head under the scolding, furious with himself. How had he been so stupid last time?

“You two seem to be having a fine time. Looking for me?” Qin Xiao walked out of the stone cave. The two idiots were right nearby. Instead of looking around, they stood there chatting.

“Good, brat! I was worried I couldn’t find you. I didn’t expect you to come out yourself.” Yao Kaidong was relieved to find Qin Xiao here. He would not have to waste more time searching. It would not do for him and Li Cheng to be away too long.

“Where’s Yun Man? Bring her out. I’m feeling generous today. You master and disciple can keep each other company on the road to the underworld.” Yao Kaidong stopped pretending. He drew his weapon and fully released his cultivation, ready to attack.

“Come on, you two. We’ve had our differences, but we’re still in the same sect. It’s hardly a feud that calls for killing each other, is it?” Qin Xiao was rather speechless.

“Whatever you say, it’s no use. Same sect? Once you’re dead, how could a corpse be my fellow disciple?” Yao Kaidong wanted to kill him more than ever.

Qin Xiao had brought Immortal Sword Peak setbacks and humiliation at every turn. Yun Man had trampled on Yao Kaidong’s dignity as Holy Son. Either reason was enough for him to kill them both. Neither Immortal Sword Peak’s authority nor his own dignity could be challenged.

“So there’s no room to talk? Someone has to die today?” Qin Xiao had wanted to leave them a way out. They were not much good, but they had not done enough to deserve death. They were still from the same sect.

“Enough talk. If Yun Man won’t come out, I’ll kill you first.” Yao Kaidong had not attacked because he was wary of Yun Man. With his cultivation improved, he did not fear facing her head-on. A surprise attack would be harder to handle.

“Disciple, come out. If you don’t show yourself, they won’t dare make a move,” Qin Xiao called out, realizing negotiation was pointless.

“Master, are we really killing both of them?” Qin Xiao had already told her, but Yun Man was still worried. Get faster updates on novelрing.com.

“What else? They want to kill us. Should we keep them around for New Year? Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility for everything.” Qin Xiao was at a loss for words.

“Ridiculous. You want to kill us? I’m at the peak of the Golden Core stage now. With this Low Grade Dharma Treasure, I could even fight Lin Shimeng at Nascent Soul. Where does your confidence come from?” Hearing them openly discuss killing him and Li Cheng almost made Yao Kaidong laugh.

“You have no idea what you’re up against. Senior Brother can kill you as easily as crushing an ant. Don’t think your connections with Ling Wushuang and the others will save you. There are only four of us here. Nobody will know who killed you.” Li Cheng found them laughable too. Regardless of whether his senior brother could kill Yun Man at once, Li Cheng thought he could kill Qin Xiao in no time if he fought properly. Then they could join forces against Yun Man, leaving her no chance to escape.

“Disciple, you heard them. They want to kill us. We’re not the ones trying to kill them.” Qin Xiao sounded helpless.

“I understand.” Yun Man had had doubts before, but now they were gone.

“You handle them alone. They aren’t even strong enough to temper my body. I won’t bother.” Qin Xiao stretched and walked back.

“Brat, you’re afraid to die, so you push your disciple out in front. Don’t worry. Once we kill Yun Man, you won’t get away either.” Yao Kaidong had planned for each of them to take one opponent, since Qin Xiao had too many strange tricks. Now it was two against one. He thought the outcome was certain.

Yun Man was ruthless and quiet. She wasted no words on Yao Kaidong, simply advancing slowly with her Low Grade Dharma Treasure in hand.

“Bold of you to come forward when you know you’ll die. Yun Man, I’ll give you one last chance. Kill Qin Xiao and join Immortal Sword Peak. You’ll be our second Holy Maiden. Someday, you might even reach Lin Shimeng’s level. Don’t throw away your future.” Yao Kaidong still wanted Yun Man. Killing a Heavenly Spirit Root would be a real waste.

“Your Immortal Sword Peak thinks it’s worthy of me?”

Yun Man stopped hiding her strength. She released her Spiritual Qi at full power, revealing her Nascent Soul cultivation.

“What? Early Nascent Soul? Impossible. Impossible! It’s only been a month. How is that possible?” Yao Kaidong was dumbfounded. It could not be true.

He did not have a Heavenly Spirit Root, but he had a Top Earthly Spirit Root. He had always believed he was not much worse than someone with a Heavenly Spirit Root. He had already been at the very limit of late Golden Core, needing only a chance to reach the peak. After a month, he had finally broken through.

A month ago, Yun Man had clearly only just reached late Golden Core. How could she advance two levels in one month, even crossing into a whole new major realm? Impossible. It was impossible.

“Senior Brother, run! I’ll hold her off. Please take good care of my Li Family.” Li Cheng knew something was wrong and hurried to stand in front of Yao Kaidong. He had the lowest cultivation and knew he would die. Better to sacrifice himself; at least his family would be compensated. Follow the newest chapters on novelping . com.

“Hold her off a moment, Junior Brother Li. I’ll take care of your family.” Yao Kaidong’s Dao Heart was almost shattered. He no longer dared fight and only wanted to run. With Li Cheng offering to hold her off, he could not ask for more.

Yao Kaidong turned and fled. Li Cheng stared hard at Yun Man. He knew he could not stop her, but he had to try.

“What a loyal dog. A pity.” Qin Xiao did not quite know what to say. Li Cheng was loyal, but it really was not worth it.

“You think you can stop me?” Yun Man would not let Yao Kaidong get away. She slashed at Li Cheng.

Her sword rose and fell. Before Li Cheng could react, he was cut in two. He had not held her up for even a single breath.

So little time had passed that Yao Kaidong had barely fled any distance before Yun Man caught up.

“Yun Man, I know I was wrong. Spare me, and I promise nobody will hear about this. Immortal Sword Peak will be on good terms with Seven Stars Peak from now on. My father is the Great Elder, and my grandfather is the Supreme Elder. You can’t kill me!” Panicking, Yao Kaidong invoked his powerful family, hoping it would make her hesitate.

“Noisy.”

Yun Man ignored him and raised her sword with a casual motion.

“I won’t accept this!”

The sword fell. After his protest, Yao Kaidong closed his eyes. Holy Son, son of the Great Elder, grandson of the Supreme Elder, second only to the Holy Maiden—all his countless honors vanished as his eyes closed.

“Take their Storage Bags, then destroy the bodies and erase the evidence.” Qin Xiao gave the order and went back into the cave alone. He could not be bothered to clean up the battlefield. He could not use the Storage Bags anyway; they were all for Yun Man, so naturally she could do the cleaning.

Meanwhile, back with the others, Yao Kaidong and Li Cheng’s disappearance had been noticed.