Chapter 82: Tian Ji’s Horse Racing Strategy, Master-Disciple Cooperation

When Qin Xiao saw the other party produce a Formation-Breaking Flag, he knew trouble was brewing.

“Master, do not panic. This type of Formation-Breaking Flag cannot breach this Formation.”

Noticing Qin Xiao’s unease, Yun Man spoke up reassuringly.

“Really? That’s a relief. Let’s recover first. Once we’re ready, we’ll fight them.”

Qin Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. They were not ready yet, chiefly because Yun Man needed to replenish what she had spent flying them here. Lin Shimeng was fine, and Qin Xiao needed no replenishment himself.

The Tian Family Head casually tossed the Formation-Breaking Flag in one direction, but it yielded no reaction whatsoever. He then tried several other spots.

He kept trying until he had tested the whole surrounding area, but the flag never reacted.

“Could the compass really be broken? What do we do now? The City Lord ordered us to kill that brat and bring the two women back. How will we answer to him if we lose them?”

The Tian Family Head began to panic too. If they lost the three, his family’s dream of rising to prominence would be over before it began. The City Lord might even turn on them.

“Old dog, still after my disciple? I’ll have to find a chance to kill you.”

Hearing that the man was still targeting his disciple, Qin Xiao’s fury flared instantly.

“Yun Man, how are your preparations?”

Consumed by rage, Qin Xiao could barely contain himself.

“Master, I’m ready.”

Yun Man opened her eyes. Replenished by the Spirit Liquid, her recovery had been swift.

“Then drop the Formation and slaughter these lackeys.”

Qin Xiao instructed Yun Man to dismiss the barrier.

Without hesitation, Yun Man dissolved the Formation, revealing the three figures.

“Family Head, they are right there!”

One of the subordinates shouted the moment they appeared.

“Brat, you could have made a lot of trouble for me by staying hidden. I never thought you’d come out to die of your own accord.”

The Tian Family Head was delighted to see the three come out.

“Save your breath, Chen Lou’s lackey. Who is courting death remains to be seen.”

Qin Xiao fixed his sights on the Tian Family Head and rushed at him.

“Second Junior Sister, take care of the two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. I will handle the two early-stage ones.”

With those words, Yun Man intercepted the two early-stage Nascent Soul opponents.

Though momentarily stunned, Lin Shimeng did not dwell on it. Drawing her sword, she engaged the remaining two mid-stage Nascent Soul elders. Get faster updates on novelрing.com.

“This brat really is unusual. He gives off no fluctuations of Spiritual Qi, yet he can move that fast.”

The Tian Family Head stayed on guard as Qin Xiao charged. No ordinary person could move at that speed.

Just before Qin Xiao could hit him, the Tian Family Head dodged. A late Nascent Soul cultivator had plenty of time to evade an attack launched from that far away.

Qin Xiao had never intended for that single punch to land; he was merely gauging the speed gap between himself and a late-stage Nascent Soul practitioner.

“Interesting, brat. Not only do you refuse to flee, but you dare take the initiative. It has been a long time since this old man took a life. Today, I shall nourish my sword with your blood.”

The Tian Family Head drew his sword. Cold light gleamed along its blade. It did not look like an ordinary Spirit Weapon; it was probably a Dharma Treasure.

“Who said I was going to fight you? If you think you can kill me, go ahead and try.”

That exchange had shown Qin Xiao that, although he might not be faster than his opponent, he was at least just as fast. He had no reason to fear him.

“Brat, don’t think your speed will keep you alive. I can make any number of mistakes. You can only make one.”

With that declaration, the Tian Family Head brandished his sword and attacked.

Qin Xiao could not afford to be careless. The man was a late Nascent Soul cultivator, and the pressure he gave off was no less than that of the peak Nascent Soul giant ape on the secret realm’s second floor.

As the sword tip lunged forward, Qin Xiao sidestepped at the last fraction of a second.

One attacked and the other dodged. For a while, neither could gain the upper hand.

Meanwhile, Yun Man’s battle had already concluded. The two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators failed to last ten moves under her onslaught, perishing before they could even utter a final threat.

Lin Shimeng was barely holding on. Two mid Nascent Soul cultivators together were more than a single early Nascent Soul cultivator could handle. She had only lasted this long because Chen Lou had ordered them to capture the women alive without injuring them.

Seeing Lin Shimeng driven steadily backward, Yun Man struck, forcing the two mid-stage opponents back with a single sword slash.

“Second Junior Sister, looks like you need to work harder.”

Without missing a beat, Yun Man engaged one of the mid-stage opponents.

“This is infuriating!”

Lin Shimeng looked at the two dead early Nascent Soul cultivators, then at her own retreat, and fumed. There was nothing she could do about it. She raised her sword and attacked the other mid Nascent Soul cultivator.

Qin Xiao and Yun Man had planned this beforehand. Splitting the four opponents evenly, or having Yun Man hold off the two at mid Nascent Soul, would turn it into a battle of attrition. One slip could mean defeat. Instead, Lin Shimeng held off the stronger pair while Yun Man quickly killed the weaker two. This was the uneven-matchup strategy Qin Xiao had called Tian Ji’s horse race.

They had discussed it secretly without telling Lin Shimeng. Qin Xiao did not fully trust her yet. He did not fear betrayal, but she was still more loyal to the sect, while Yun Man was completely on his side.

That was why he instinctively left Lin Shimeng out of some decisions. He was not deliberately excluding her; he was simply used to working with Yun Man. Follow the newest chapters on novelping(.)com.

The Tian Family Head knew nothing of what had happened in the other fight. He grew more astonished with every exchange. The boy’s movements were ordinary but extremely fast, and sometimes he slowed by half a beat, making the sword stab into empty space too soon.

It defied conventional combat logic. The youth slipped about like an elusive loach, evading every strike by a hair’s breadth.

“What movement technique is this, boy?”

The Tian Family Head finally stopped. One missed strike could be a coincidence, and a few could be good luck. But after so many failed sword strikes, he saw no point in wasting effort. Besides, he was starting to covet Qin Xiao’s movement technique.

“Oh? Interested in my movement technique?”

Seeing his adversary pause, Qin Xiao halted as well.

Qin Xiao looked completely at ease, but his mind was racing. He was anticipating the man’s moves and countering his predictions so quickly that his brain was almost overloaded.

“Surrender your movement technique and your boots, and I shall grant you a swift death.”

The Tian Family Head had also noticed that Qin Xiao’s strange movements were not the only reason he could avoid every attack. His shoes were a Middle Grade Dharma Treasure, which gave him that speed.

“Grant me a swift death? Did I mishear?”

Qin Xiao almost laughed. The man had no one left under his command, yet he was still threatening him.

“Of course. All my Tian Family’s elders are here, along with me, the Family Head. That’s five Nascent Soul cultivators. How could you escape? The outcome is decided. Those two women can live, but you must die. You can choose how, though: a quick death, or torture first. I’m sure you know the difference.”

The Tian Family Head spoke with absolute confidence.

“Elders? What elders? Do you have any left?”

Qin Xiao pointed behind him, inviting him to look for himself. There were no elders left.

“Do not attempt such crude tricks, boy. This old man will not fall for it.”

Refusing to turn his head, the Tian Family Head suspected Qin Xiao might use the moment of distraction to launch a high-speed ambush with his bizarre attack methods.

Following a brief exchange of glances with Yun Man, Qin Xiao charged forward.

Seeing Qin Xiao charge, the Tian Family Head thought the earlier words must have been a trick to make him look back. He took a defensive stance, ready to kill Qin Xiao in one blow as soon as he saw an opening.

Yet just as he congratulated himself on his cleverness, a chilling sensation pierced his back. Abandoning his focus on Qin Xiao, he hastily whirled around to raise his sword in defense.

The attacker was Yun Man. Delivering a strike without holding back, she forced the Tian Family Head to commit his full strength to the block.

But he had forgotten that blocking Yun Man left him unable to block Qin Xiao’s fist.

Sure enough, the Tian Family Head felt a tremendous impact in his lower back. He flew a long way like a kite with its string cut, only stopping when he hit a stone wall.

The force of that punch was terrifying. It passed through his lower back straight into his Dantian. His Dantian shook, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. All he could do now was call for help.

“Ancestor, save me!”