Chapter 112: You'd Better Not Let Me Go

"Xiao Zhangqing, get out of here!"

As the cave dwelling's formation was broken, a roar of anger rang around.

The Lin sisters, who were packing things, were both shocked and angry at the sight.

It's not really rare for someone to break the formation of a Grade‑A cave dwelling, because the formation's defense is inherently low, barely reaching First Tier Lower.

Even a somewhat powerful Late Stage of Lian Qi cultivator can force it open.

But causing trouble at a Grade‑A cave dwelling, barging in so arrogantly and shouting at the master to get out, no one in Nanshan Fang has ever dared to do that!

Even the head of the Cao family wouldn't know, but the Lin sisters know it all too well.

On the surface, this top expert of Nanshan Fang, a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator in the middle stage, is utterly deferential before the master, daring not to show any airs.

Who would dare court death like this?

The Lin sisters each immediately produced the second‑tier Talisman Script gifted by Xiao Zhangqing, glaring at the intruder with fury.

"You clueless wretch! How dare you even utter the master's name?" Lin Zixi's eyes widened, and the hotter‑tempered her immediately activated the Talisman Script; under her control, several fireballs fell from the sky, bearing scorching heat as they slammed toward Liang Yuehua.

A Late Stage of Lian Qi cultivator touched by the fireballs would have his flesh quickly burned away, and even a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator wouldn't dare take them head‑on.

Liang Yuehua, seeing this, neither dodged nor flinched; a dust‑sweeping artifact appeared in their hand, and with a casual swing, several strands of power as fine as silkworm threads shot out, causing Lin Zixi's explosive fireball to fizzle like a dud, turning into tiny sparks that promptly extinguished.

Lin Zixi's pupils dilated at this sight, shocked by the opponent's casually terrifying method of nullifying a second‑tier Talisman Script, and even more terrified as the dust‑sweeping artifact, after effortlessly dispelling it, sent out thread‑like strands that snapped at her and her sister Lin Ziyu like poisonous snakes.

Lin Ziyu was also utterly shocked, and in her heart she roughly guessed that the woman in the gray Dao robe was likely a master from Baihua Valley.

Because she saw the usually dignified Ruan Qingzhu now in a pitiful, restrained state, eyes filled with terror and anxiety.

Only a messenger from Baihua Valley could treat the shopkeeper Ruan in such a way.

Fortunately, she remained calm and promptly activated the second‑tier defensive Talisman Script; a golden light shield instantly enveloped the two sisters.

Unfortunately, it was useless.

Crunch!

The second‑tier defensive Talisman Script held only briefly before shattering; two threads surged toward the Lin sisters, the sheer force striking them like lightning and causing serious injuries despite their Late Stage of Lian Qi cultivation. Simultaneously, the threads bound them, attempting to drag them away.

Liang Yuehua's actions were already a mercy, not killing outright, intending to leave a living target.

But at that moment,

Buzz! Two sword lights streaked in, bearing sharp, golden aura, cutting off Liang Yuehua's two long dust‑sweeping tendrils, preventing the Lin sisters from falling into that person's grasp.

Xiao Zhangqing had silently moved behind the two sisters, his gaze carefully fixed on the Daoist nun with bright eyes and fierce teeth, unadorned yet unable to hide a coquettish demeanor, feeling an unprecedented threat.

Cao Hao, Su Rongrong, the white‑haired old Evil Cultivator, and even the former Mu Renjie and Gong Wansheng gave him less of an impression than the inscrutable Daoist nun before him.

He glanced again at Su Rongrong beside the nun, her defiant expression and look of vengeance for today, and at the trapped, helpless Ruan Qingzhu; the nun's identity was now evident.

Most likely a senior elder of Baihua Valley! Yet he was somewhat surprised; even if Su Rongrong, after being injured by him, sent for reinforcements from Baihua Valley, it shouldn't have arrived this quickly.

Traveling from Nanshan Fang to Baihua Valley and back, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator sprinting at full speed would need half a month.

This is why Xiao Zhangqing decided to leave Nanshan Fang in ten days.

He wanted to prevent Baihua Valley from acting without chivalry, attacking the weak and then sending a swarm of reinforcements to beat him up.

He hadn't expected Baihua Valley's reinforcements to arrive so swiftly.

"You are Xiao Zhangqing?" Liang Yuehua sized him up, coldly saying, "Indeed you have some skill. In just a few days your cultivation advanced, reaching the middle stage of Foundation Establishment."

Yes.

He didn't know whether it was due to feeling pressure, or because Xiao Zhangqing had already amassed sufficient strength.

This seclusion before departure went unusually smoothly.

The previously slightly stiff bottleneck of the middle stage of Foundation Establishment cleared effortlessly this time; in just five days he successfully broke through, his internal magical force becoming more robust, and most importantly his Soul Transformation rose a notch! "I am Xiao Zhangqing. Which elder of Baihua Valley are you?" Xiao Zhangqing asked.

According to rumors, this generation of Baihua Valley is teeming with talent; besides the valley master, who is currently the top expert of the Da Yu Cultivation World in the Southwest Region, the great elder of Baihua Valley has also already achieved the Golden Core.

In addition, there are three Fake Core True Persons.

Compared with Luoxia Sect, their strength surpasses it by a wide margin.

However, now that his cultivation has broken through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, Xiao Zhangqing's confidence has grown.

As long as the Baihua Valley master doesn't come personally, even that great elder at the Golden Core stage wouldn't make Xiao Zhangqing overly apprehensive.

Looking at the nun, a middle‑aged woman, she is indeed beautiful with fair, smooth skin, yet she doesn't match the outsider's description of the Baihua Valley master's ethereal, celestial aura.

"Baihua Valley Fifth Elder Liang Yuehua, have you ever heard of my reputation?" Liang Yuehua said haughtily, a cold glint in her eyes.

"Liang Yuehua? I don't think I've heard of her..." Xiao Zhangqing thought for a moment, then shook his head solemnly.

Fortunately.

Fifth Elder? Not the Baihua Valley master, nor the great elder at the Golden Core stage.

Then at most it's a Fake Core True Person? Xiao Zhangqing's heart instantly steadied.

Even if the Fake Core True Person was at the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage before this seclusion, there's no need for caution.

Because his magical force and spiritual awareness are no less than those of a Fake Core True Person.

"Audacious! Xiao Zhangqing, facing a Fake Core True Person, you still dare to be reckless? Bow quickly!" Su Rongrong said resentfully.

Liang Yuehua sneered, getting straight to the point: "You needn't bow to me. Today's matter cannot be resolved peacefully. A petty Foundation Establishment cultivator dares to meddle in Baihua Valley's internal affairs and even injures our true‑line disciple; even if I were to kill you outright today, it would be justified, and no one could accuse me of bullying the weak!"

"However, the current situation is volatile, and Demon Sect Evil Cultivators could invade at any moment; the Da Yu Cultivation World is in need of talent. If you today apologize to Su Rongrong and provide five hundred high‑grade Spirit Stones as compensation… and also swear a grand Dao oath to serve Baihua Valley for twenty years, then I may spare your life."

Ha! Xiao Zhangqing laughed.

Baihua Valley truly gets more and more overbearing.

Interfering in Baihua Valley's affairs and injuring its true‑line disciple? Su Rongrong, at the time, overstepped by launching a mental attack, and was injured by his reflexive counter‑strike—so that's his fault too?

Not only an apology, but also compensation of five hundred high‑grade Spirit Stones, which equals fifty thousand low‑grade Spirit Stones… truly bold to demand that!

And that's not all; he must serve Baihua Valley as a beast of burden for twenty years! "Fifth Elder, you'd better not let me go. Make your move," Xiao Zhangqing said seriously.

"Bold!" Liang Yuehua was unsurprised, her murderous aura flaring as she said, "Fine, I'll deal with you first. Once you realize my strength, you'll become obedient and heed my commands!"

As for these despicable men, Liang Yuehua never intended to let them go.

Although forced by the situation—the Demon Sect is about to invade, Baihua Valley cannot rely entirely on its female disciples to block it. As for these male cultivators, each one of them displeases her!

If Xiao Zhangqing were not a Second-rank Talisman Master with decent strength, she wouldn't have given him any chance today to waste words or stay alive.

Meet, kill directly!

Now that Xiao Zhangqing refuses to bow and be soft, it exactly matches Liang Yuehua's intention—to first have a meal and vent before speaking!

Anyway she knows these men are spineless; they usually spout lofty words—righteousness, proud integrity, pouring out their hearts, vows of eternal love, saying they love only you, willing to give their lives for you… all lies, false! If you believe their nonsense, you'll find their true face is hypocritical kindness, lack of principle, debauchery, fickleness, turning you into a joke of the whole clan while feigning comfort, claiming they've always treated you like a sister.

Men—none of them are good!

Her cultivation goal in this life is to kill every ungrateful man under heaven!

The guy in front of her, called Xiao Zhangqing, not only oversteps by meddling in Baihua Valley's affairs, but look at the two concubines behind him—clearly a pair of sisters.

What kind of good man is that? He's obviously a scumbag!

These two sisters have also willingly fallen! Just as Liang Yuehua waved her sweeping dust in hand, ready to make Xiao Zhangqing feel her power.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Two sword lights surged from afar to near in an instant.

"Liang Xianzi, hold off!"

In the blink of an eye.

Zhou Songbai and his disciple Gong Wansheng arrived at the Jia Yi Cave Residence and stood beside Xiao Zhangqing.

"Xiao Symbol Master, long time no see."

Gong Wansheng still reeked of alcohol, his hair disheveled and messy.

Compared with a few years ago, his cultivation aura seemed unchanged, but he increasingly resembled a drunkard, extremely lazy.

"Gong Dao Companion?"

Xiao Zhangqing looked at the arriving two with some surprise.

Gong Wansheng patted Xiao Zhangqing's shoulder, exclaiming, "Haven't seen you for years, Xiao Symbol Master, you've changed a lot! Your cultivation is almost catching up to mine! Come, let me introduce you: this is my master, Luoxia Sect's Third Elder, Zhou Songbai Elder Zhou. Hehe, also a true person of the False Dan realm."

While saying that, Gong Wansheng gave a rather provocative glance at Liang Yuehua and Su Rongrong opposite, then winked at Xiao Zhangqing.

He signaled Xiao Zhangqing not to fear; with his master present today, Baihua Valley cannot harm Xiao Zhangqing.

"I've met Elder Zhou," Xiao Zhangqing bowed his hands in salute.

He wasn't worried about his own safety.

Instead, he was pondering a question.

Things shouldn't be this coincidental, right?

Liang Yuehua had just come knocking, intending to strike him, when Gong Wansheng and his master rushed over.

Even if one can calculate and divine, one couldn't achieve such precise timing.

Either Luoxia Sect hasn't given up recruiting him and has been looking for a suitable chance to 'bring' him back to the sect; or today Baihua Valley is making things difficult for him, both of which are within Luoxia Sect's scheming!

"Zhou Songbai? This kid offended my Baihua Valley; you want to protect him? Is Luoxia Sect now trying to provoke a dispute with my Baihua Valley?" Liang Yuehua raged, not expecting such a turn of events.

Zhou Songbai, unhurried, said, "No. It's not that I want to protect this Xiao Symbol Master. In fact, Xiao Symbol Master has always been one of us from Luoxia Sect. I came to Nanshan Fang this time to withdraw the Lingfu Pavilion and bring this Xiao Symbol Master back to the sect. If Xiao Symbol Master inadvertently offended Liang Xianzi, I will apologize on his behalf; please, Liang Xianzi, do not test him."

Although Liang Yuehua's temperament is extreme, she began to come to her senses at this moment.

Seeing Zhou Songbai's intention, she realized he actually wanted to use this chance to bring Xiao Zhangqing back to Luoxia Sect, to strengthen its strength.

A Second-rank Talisman Master, even at the Dan formation sect gate, is already a scarce talent, capable of great use.

Moreover, Xiao Zhangqing himself is at least equivalent to a late‑stage Foundation Establishment master.

If not for these two points, Liang Yuehua wouldn't have initially wasted words with Xiao Zhangqing.

"Stop the idle talk! Whether this kid is from your Luoxia Sect or not, since he offended my Baihua Valley and even injured my sect's true disciple, he must pay the price today!" Liang Yuehua said forcefully.

"Liang Xianzi, with the Demon Sect as a great enemy now, if our disciples happen to clash, shall we each step back? If anyone truly refuses to accept, let us save our strength and later on the battlefield see who slays more Evil Cultivators—that's the proper way to judge victory. But if we quibble over trivial matters now, refusing to settle and resorting to a full‑blown fight, it truly looks like an attempt to provoke a feud between the two great sects, inevitably raising suspicion of an Evil Cultivator infiltrator…"

"What a sharp‑tongued mouth!"

Liang Yuehua, furious, raised her eyebrows sharply and widened her almond eyes, realizing she couldn't outtalk him, immediately waved her sweeping dust; a massive solid‑state magical force, together with the weapon's might, almost enveloped the entire Jia Yi Cave Residence, forming a strange heaven-and-earth domain.

Such powerful magic is beyond the reach of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Even a fully completed Foundation Establishment cultivator cannot achieve this.

A False Dan is still a Dan; using the power of a False Dan to drive solid‑state magic is not far behind a true Golden Core novice.

"Today we won't involve other sects; I simply find your face detestable and want to learn two moves from you, Elder Zhou, is that okay?" Liang Yuehua said with murderous aura.

Zhou Songbai sighed, "Since Liang Xianzi is so interested, I can only risk my life to accompany you for two moves."

As his words fell, over a dozen magical swords rose from Zhou Songbai's body, occupying various positions; the fierce, criss‑crossing sword qi seemed to form a sword domain, instantly pushing back half of the area covered by Liang Yuehua's sweeping dust.

The two major False‑Dan cultivators stood opposite each other, their aura formidable.

Other Foundation Establishment cultivators, even someone like Gong Wansheng at a late Foundation stage, are far behind and cannot intervene.

(End of chapter)