I glance at the burning talismen in his hand. Of course this brat is wealthy enough for teleportation talismans. What kind of young master wouldn't throw money around like water?
I turned back to my ruined sword for the second time.
Tch, as expected, one spirit stone for one item. Cheap is cheap for a reason. I scanned my spiritual sense over him and narrowed my eyes.
It seems he's close to breaking through to the late formation establishment realm. At sixteen, calling him a prodigy isn't an overstatement. In a year or two, he'll be able to catch up with me in cultivation. All the more reason to make this place his grave.
I gripped the hilt of my blade, pushing forward as I threw him to the side. His body flew in the air, landing somewhere a mile away from here. I tossed my broken blade into the nearby yin fire, watching it melt and burn away into nothingness as I spread out my spiritual sense.
I clicked my tongue.
Even after using my full strength, he's still alive? What kind of luck is this?
I stepped towards his direction, appearing before him in a few moments. His body was embedded in the ruins of a broken building, hair a mess, robes in shreds, and limbs mangled as he coughed up mouthful after mouthful of blood. Despite this, he's still alive. Barely.
I unsheathed my other sword, letting the demonic energy I've been suppressing surge out of my body, looking down at him as a small fire flared in my chest. Was it anger? Maybe excitement?
I shook my head.
Well, it won't matter anyway. Once this brat is dead and I get my hands on a heart-suppressing pill, these things won't bother me anymore.
I stood before this pathetic sight, watching as he managed to raise his head, his jewel-like eyes meeting mine with anger and unwillingness. A look I've seen a little too much in life, other than despair. Then again, what kind of cultivator would look at their soon-to-be killer with acceptance and happiness?
Anyways, time to kill him now.
Since he's only in the foundation establishment realm, I won't have to deal with his soul escaping, and given his current state, one swing would've finished him.
I'm saying would've because just as my sword was about to cleave his head off, an overwhelming pressure hit me like divine thunder, sending me to the ground, even my spiritual consciousness wavered for an instant.
I was barely able to push myself up, only to meet a glare full of rage, a sense of dread wave over me like cold water.
Heaven-seeking realm?! But the only one with that strength should be the Boshai sect leader. This area should be the least affected by the spirit gathering array. Why would that monster come here?
The sect leader of the Boshai sect, dressed in dark blue and gold, stepped down from the air, walking past me to the brat still coughing up blood. The old man picked him up, pushing a few pills into his mouth, his wounds healing at a rapid pace.
After seeing this, I let out a sneer.
So he came here for that so-called prodigy. Good, I see that the heavens desperately want you alive. It seems I'll have to endure punishment from that hag after this.
The Boshai sect leader glanced at me, sprawled on the ground, as I barely managed to glare up at him. He narrowed his eyes, snorting before waving his hand as he sent a wave of spiritual energy at me. My nerves stood on end, quickly making hand seals to create a shield of qi to block the blow.
It only lasted an instant before it shattered, and I was sent flying, broken bones stabbing into my internal organs as I felt my head spin and lose consciousness.
-----------
When I woke up, pain coursed through my body, unable to move or open my eyes. I took in a breath, pain pounding against my chest. I swept my spiritual sense over my body, noting the disaster my body was in. No wonder I can't move. If I hadn't shielded myself from that senior's attack in the last moments, I would've died on the spot.
But...
I scanned my condition more closely and couldn't help but sigh.
If I don't start healing now, I might as well be dead.
I circulated demonic energy throughout my body, slowly healing my internal wounds bit by bit. After a few cycles, I was able to open my eyes, seeing the dark sky, soul shrieking spirits screaming not too far away.
It seems it hasn't been long since I lost consciousness. I expanded my spiritual sense, scanning for anyone nearby.
Other than corpses, low-level cultivators were desperately fighting off the malicious spirits, no immediate threats.
I relaxed a little, retracting my spiritual sense as I focused on healing my injuries. After a while, I pushed myself up, sitting around the ruins of a city. I got up, taking out a healing pill from my storage bag and tossing it into my mouth. The next moment, my external injuries started to heal, most of the minor ones completely gone.
I spread my spiritual sense, pinpointing Jiě jie's spiritual aura and connecting to her spiritual consciousness.
Jiě jie.
The response was instant.
Xiaoya?! Are you okay? I couldn't contact you through the communication plaque. Where are you?
So I was sent out of the range of the plaque, as expected of a heaven-seeking expert. I looked at my intact limbs, a tiny bit of fear planting itself in my heart. It seems the heavenly dao hasn't abandoned me after all.
I turned my attention back to the link.
I ran into that brat after sending the dog and snake away. But a senior from the Boshai sect showed up before I could kill him.
A senior? Was he powerful? Are you unharmed?
I'm fine. He was in the nascent soul realm, but I managed to escape.
I lied, a small pang in my heart as I did. I quickly pressed the feeling down.
This is necessary. If I told her the truth, she'd worry herself to death. Which would make me worry and stall both of our cultivation.
I heard a relieved sigh on the other end of the connection, then she advised, obviously still worried.
If you say so, please meet me at the western gate of the city. Remember, kill as many Boshai disciples as possible.
I nodded.
I will
Alright, please stay safe, don't take any unnecessary risks, and stay vigilant of any seniors.
Yes, yes, I know, I know.
I assured, stretching my arms as I turned towards the direction of the western side of the state. I circulated demonic qi through my legs, taking off in a sprint, passing piles of debris and ruined buildings. I spread out my spiritual sense outward, searching for any Boshai disciples alive or dead.
As I ran, I killed off a few disciples. Though more like finishing them off. Despite their fragile bodies, these Soul shireking spirits are surprisingly useful against these weak qi refining cultivators. Even so, their vitality needs desperate improvement.
When I return to the set after my punishment, I'll need to give that lazy mutt a few hits. Maybe supervise him while he takes care of the malevolent spirits while I'm at it.
Soon, I arrive at the western gate of the province. Now just a crumbling wall of debris and fire. I scanned the area, finding Jiě jie among a few corpses. From what they were wearing, they were outer Boshai disciples around the qi refining realm.
Hmph, dare to target Jiě jie. They were either foolish or arrogant, most likely both. Did they truly think their qi refining cultivation could match a late golden core expert like my Jiě jie? She may not be particularly talented compared to the other geniuses of the sect, but she has combat power equivalent to early nascent soul cultivators. These weaklings simply don't compare.
I smiled at her as a swell of pride began to grow.
"Jiě jie!" I called out, waving to her.
Jiě jie turned around, her mouth curving into a smile when she spotted me. She rushed over, sheathing her sword as I felt her spiritual sense wash over me.
"Ya'er, are you really okay?" she asked, taking my wrist and checking my pulse.
I took it back, warmth gathering in my chest as I reassured her again.
"Fine if you say so," she sighed, brushing off some dirt on my robes before pushing some hair away from my face.
"But please be careful next time."
"I know, I will."
After some more reassurance, she eventually stopped worrying. After, she just stared at me for a while, and her smile grew brighter.
I furrowed my brows, "Is something wrong?"
She didn't answer right away before shaking her head, "Nothing. It's just nice to see your face."
"My face?"
I touched my cheek, feeling my skin instead of my mask. Did it break again? The disguise talisman must've also worn out too. I sighed, not again. This is twice now. Even if paying a mortal to remake it is cheap, I can't keep letting it break like this. This didn't happen before. This is all his fault. Ever since I came across that brat, I've been making more mistakes lately. Now that I failed to kill him, I'll probably get punished by that old hag. This will be more than just a small annoyance now.
My frown deepened, my brow furrowing deeper the angrier I got.
Just as I was cursing his nine generations of ancestors, Jiě jie called out to me again.
"Ya'er, we'll be meeting with Senior brother Yi and sister Er soon. Our Junior brothers and sisters have already fled to the sect," Jiě jie reminded, walking past the ruined wall to outside the state.
Oh, right. The main mission. I'll have to put my revenge aside for now. For a gentleman to take revenge, ten years is not too late. But I doubt it'll take that long to kill a foundation establishment brat.
I followed her out of the city and through a path littered with corpses. After we traveled for a night, we met up with rat one and the snake in a village nearby. Then we started back to the sect, which reminded me why I never go on missions with those two.
Just because you're Dao partners doesn't mean you can't keep it in your pants. If I didn't have any self-restraint, I would've ripped off my own ears and killed both of you by the second night.
A/N
Gasp! How scandalous!