âBlow all you like, bragging doesnât cost a penny.â
âElder Tianwu, others might not know, but I am crystal clear that your cultivation has been influenced by the Immortal Spirit Qi within you, and you now only possess a tenth of your original power. Youâre nothing but a weak chicken. Killing you would be as easy as slaughtering a dog!â
Sky Blade Song Que sneered coldly, his eyes narrowing as he sized up the old beggar before him.
To tell the truth, he was somewhat surprised himself. That strike of his should not have been withstood by his opponent, according to reason. Could it be that the old man still retained a trace of his cultivation?
âOld beggar, you refined your cultivation to a natural perfection, achieving Golden Core at fifteen, Nascent Soul at twenty, Divinity Transformation at thirty, and completed your Tribulation Crossing in a fated year. After that, you soared into the sky, never returning on the invincible path. Itâs normal for a mortal like you not to understand.â
The old beggar revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth, chuckling merrily.
âShameless! Youâre even proud of achieving Golden Core at fifteen? I joined the path of the blade and reached Golden Core at thirteen. You, old man, only achieve this by virtue of your age and longer time cultivating. If not for this, I would have already split this realm and ascended to the Upper Realm!â
Song Que said viciously.
âOld Song, youâre still too young. In time, youâll understand that in the world of the strong, only results matter, not the process. What use is your gifted talent if that Immortal Spirit Qi is still comfortably lying within the old beggarâs Dantian?â
The old beggar scoffed, his expression filled with disdain.
âHeh, you make a good point. Even if you once roamed freely across the mainland, imposing and influential, today, you shall inevitably grovel at my feet!â
Song Que said solemnly, his fingers lightly touching the hilt of his blade as a crisp dragon roar pierced the heavens, and an invisible sharpness thrust toward the old beggar in front.
âHehe.â
The old beggar cackled strangely, his figure flickering, disappearing from the spot in an instant.
âWhere do you think youâre going!â
Song Que roared angrily, as a streak of cold light unsheathed, his short blade shooting out from his waist, aimed directly at some deserted area in the void.
âClang!â
An aged hand extended, effortlessly pinching Song Queâs short blade.
The old beggarâs figure materialized, his face calm, appearing as tranquil as a light breeze and soft clouds.
âYouâve recovered your cultivation?â
âYou can use Immortal Spirit Qi now!â
Song Queâs pupils suddenly contracted. That strike was his real deal, yet it had been caught so effortlessly.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
This incident reminded him of the scene thirty years ago when Elder Tianwu likewise flicked away his short blade with a single hand, everything so natural and smooth, as if it were the most natural thing.
âOld Song, youâre no match for the old beggar. Letâs stop here, shall we? The rules of the Holy City forbid all forms of martial engagement. You havenât forgotten, have you?â
Taking advantage of the moment Song Que was stunned, the old beggar flashed into the city gates, saying cheerfully.
With trembling hands behind his back, he put a small bottle into the Space Ring. Without the effects of that certain treasure, he wouldâve been a goner long ago.
âDamn it, I must thank the old beggarâs quick reactions, otherwise that certain treasure would have been completely used up by that guy today.â
The old beggar felt a lingering fear. There were only a few bottles of the treasure Xiaobai had given him. If he really fought with Song Que, it would all be wasted.
Besides, the other party might not even give him the time to use the treasure. It was better to play it safe.
âCough, Senior Sky Blade, I found Elder Tianwu in the depths of the borderlands, and Iâve also discovered the secret of the First Battlefield. Elder Tianwuâs return is also to solve this secret. Letâs head to the City Lordâs Mansion to discuss this important matter.â
Li Xiaobai cleared his throat and came out to speak.
The encounter just now was a bloody good deal for him; although they hadnât exchanged too many moves, the residual energy released was quite formidable.
In just a few minutes, the System had added several hundred thousand Attribute Points.
[Defensive Power: Half-step Human Immortal Body (3,700,000/10,000,000) (Immortal Spirit Qi: to be obtained) Advancable.]
If the top experts of the Mainland all have this kind of strength, it seems I just need to go around stirring up hostility, and my Attribute Points could fill up quickly; the only thing thatâs a bit hard to control is that if I really anger a big shot, my defenses could be breached and my little life might not be safe.
For now, itâs still better to freeload when I can, avoid direct confrontation as much as possible.
âThe secret of the first battlefield?â
âYoung Master Li, are you saying that Elder Tianwu was hiding in the first battlefield before this?â
Song Que raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Xiaobai as he asked.
âNot exactly, he was trapped by Mei Changqing in the remote frontiers; I just happened upon him by chance and casually rescued him.â
Li Xiaobai lowered his voice as he spoke.
âThis is not the place to talk; letâs go to the City Lordâs Mansion first, and have the cultivators under us guard the gates for now.â
âAlright then, letâs see what kind of situation Elder Tianwu has actually encountered!â
Song Que nodded. He was very interested in the affairs of the old beggar.
The cultivators around them heaved a sigh of relief after seeing Song Que and the old beggar calm down; damn it, that was too scary, they felt like they almost lost their lives just now. Do all the big shots strike without holding back?
âIs this the power of Great Crossing Realm Cultivators? Itâs terrifying!â
âNonsense, this is the peak existence among the Great Crossing Realm. Iâve seen Lord Cai in action, and he is far from this level.â
âShush! Stop talking, careful not to let the City Lord hear you!â
âEveryone, Iâm new here, have the cultivators of Holy City always been this terrifying?â
âCough, cough, keep it down, keep it downâ¦â
Inside Holy City, the old beggar and Song Que walked side by side, Song Queâs face as dark and grim as could be; the word âunhappyâ was all but written on his face.
However, the old beggar seemed quite at ease, as if he didnât see anything at all, looking around curiously like a wide-eyed babe, at everything on the way.
âYoung friend, all the shops here in Holy City are either Tangneng First-class or good quality stores; business is booming, making a fortune!â
The old beggar looked at the steaming buildings, eyes shining brightly.
It had been several months since his last bath, and he really wanted to jump right into a bathhouse and enjoy a comfortable soak; it would definitely be delightfully satisfying.
âYes, all thanks to the enlightened policies of City Lord Yang, or else these shops wouldnât have opened so smoothly.â
Li Xiaobai nodded, adding the cultivators from the third battlefield had caused the turnover of the shops to skyrocket; in a few days, when the cultivators from the first and second battlefields also poured in, the profits would multiply several times over.
âItâs truly the envy of others; young friend, at such a young age, not only is your cultivation level mighty, but you also have your own mount and businesses. You should know, in todayâs Cultivation World, the most important thing is to have oneâs own house; otherwise, itâs difficult even to find a companion.â
âWhen the old beggar was your age, he didnât even know how to make Spirit Stones. Now I may be invincible, but Iâve missed the best years, and no young lady will throw herself at me anymore.â
The old beggar rubbed his teeth and sighed with a tsk tsk.
Song Queâs eyelids twitched violently, âCut the crap, hurry to the City Lordâs Mansion, you bumpkin!â