Chapter 252: Yesterday Once More

"That is a different matter. This gift of yours is truly precious; it is a favor of cultivation for Xiao Xuan, and he must thank you," Xiao Hongyi said, waving his hand.

Having said that, Xiao Hongyi turned to Xiao Xuan and said with a solemn expression: "Xuan'er, why don't you thank your Xu Shixiong?"

Xiao Xuan had by now realized that the item in the pill bottle was not simple. Before Xiao Hongyi had even finished speaking, he had already bent his knees and was about to kneel before Xia Daoming.

"Don't, we are of the same generation; a bow will suffice," Xia Daoming hurriedly held Xiao Xuan up.

"Very well, Junior Xu Shixiong thanks Xu Shixiong for the generous gift," Xiao Xuan said, and seeing this, he was quite straightforward, bowing to Xia Daoming until his back was parallel to the ground.

"Haha, you are too polite," Xia Daoming laughed.

"What exactly is the Foundation Establishment item in this pill bottle?" Xiao Xuan couldn't suppress his curiosity, asking as he reached out to open the bottle.

"It is a drop of Jin Dan Ye!" Xiao Hongyi said, a trace of excitement on his face.

"You could have started Foundation Establishment last year, but I kept telling you to delay it because I wanted to find a top-tier Foundation Establishment item for you.

This Jin Dan Ye is the most superior Foundation Establishment item. It is just that this item is always kept by late-stage Core Formation cultivators for their own descendants and is never leaked out; it is something one can only hope for but not seek, not that your father couldn't afford to buy it.

When you started your cultivation, your father began inquiring about top-tier Foundation Establishment items, but for over ten years, I never found one that truly satisfied me.

I never expected that today, your Xu Shixiong would actually prepare a drop of Jin Dan Ye for you. This is truly a great fortune for you!"

Speaking to this point, Xiao Hongyi sighed with emotion, his gaze toward Xia Daoming becoming very complex.

Previously, he had somewhat harbored complaints about this brat, but now he looked at him in a new light.

This child is generous and values loyalty and friendship, just like Xu Shixiong Zuo. Xuan'er can build a deep friendship with him.

"Thank you, Xu Shixiong! Thank you, Xu Shixiong!" Only then did Xiao Xuan realize how precious this Jin Dan Ye was, even relating to his own future Core Formation path, and he hurriedly bowed to thank Xia Daoming again.

Xia Daoming waved his hand with a smile.

Xiao Xuan was sensible; after thanking Xia Daoming, he specifically paid his respects to Zuo Dongge as well.

This made Zuo Dongge, who had been silent for many years, feel that his face had gained some luster.

Watching this scene, Luo Qian and his daughter felt incredibly complex.

Especially Luo Qian, whose heart was filled with a trace of unease once again. Since Xia Daoming could produce Jin Dan Ye, he must have used Jin Dan Ye for his own Foundation Establishment, and his strength was definitely even more formidable than he had anticipated.

However, fortunately, he was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. Even if his foundation was solid and profound, he would at most be comparable to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, still far behind Luo Mu's cultivation realm.

This allowed Luo Qian's confidence to still far outweigh his unease.

"Shall we let the two of them begin the duel?" Luo Qian soon proposed.

"Perhaps we should just forget it!" Zuo Dongge remembered Luo Qian's change in address to "Xu Shixiong" on this trip and felt a touch of compassion, hesitating before speaking.

Luo Qian was slightly stunned, not yet having savored what Zuo Dongge meant by suddenly saying this, when Luo Mu already said with a look of certainty: "No, we must fight!"

In her view, it must be that Zuo Dongge was worried about losing face, which was why he was suddenly retreating before the battle.

"Xu Shixiong Zuo, regardless of win or loss, let them fight. Otherwise, I will also be unable to calm my heart," Luo Qian looked deeply at his daughter, then turned to Zuo Dongge, showing a bitter smile as he revealed his true state of mind.

Although he had always been unwilling to accept that Zuo Dongge had once shone so brilliantly, completely overshadowing the light of their entire generation, he knew very well that Zuo Dongge would never retreat before a battle.

Therefore, even though the gap in realms between Xia Daoming and Luo Mu was right there, Luo Qian's confidence began to waver.

He was no longer full of confidence.

But even so, he had to let his daughter and Xia Daoming have a real showdown; it was impossible to bow and admit defeat without fighting.

"Very well then," Zuo Dongge nodded.

Soon, the group arrived at an open, flat area halfway up Heaven Jianfeng.

Luo Mu stood thirty-some zhang away from Xia Daoming.

Last time, she had chosen twenty zhang, the most comfortable fighting distance.

But having suffered from Xia Daoming's speed last time, this time Luo Mu preferred to keep her distance, standing far away, hanging back to fight Xia Daoming, and not giving him a chance to get close.

"Begin!" Seeing the two standing ready, Xiao Hongyi spoke.

"Take this!" Before Xiao Hongyi's voice had even faded, Luo Mu had already shouted, and a fiery red rope left her hand, transforming into a giant flame python that rolled up billowing waves of fire as it lunged to kill Xia Daoming.

Almost simultaneously, a bead rose up, transforming into a fire dragon that slowly coiled around Luo Mu, its crimson dragon scales flashing with a metallic luster under the sunlight, exuding an indestructible aura.

This was the protective magic tool Luo Qian had used in his early years, the Crimson Dragon Flame Bead, a top-tier defensive magic tool.

Not only was it indestructible, but it could also spray fire in return, engulfing attacks.

Seeing his daughter fight with all her might the moment she made a move, without any carelessness or reservation, Luo Qian's confidence immediately doubled, and he no longer wavered.

Luo Qian specifically looked toward Zuo Dongge, showing a trace of smugness.

Zuo Dongge, however, remained calm and certain, which made Luo Qian feel somewhat bored.

"Luo Mu is no longer careless or underestimating her opponent, not giving Daoming any chance to exploit. It seems Daoming will lose this battle!" Seeing Luo Mu fully prepared in both offense and defense with her first move, with such astonishing momentum, Xiao Hongyi and Chi Shijian couldn't help but shake their heads secretly, not optimistic about Xia Daoming.

Just as they were shaking their heads secretly, Xia Daoming gave a faint smile and flicked his hand.

Nine streaks of green light broke through the air.

The nine streaks of green light landed, transforming into nine towering, emerald-green giant bamboos.

Their branches and leaves were lush, the green leaves like knives, flashing with cold light.

The nine towering giant bamboos surrounded the flame python, their branches and leaves swaying, green leaves flying down and transforming into a sky full of flying knives that shot toward the flame python.

Most of the flying knives were incinerated into ash before they could penetrate the flames.

A few flying knives did pass through the flames, landing on the flame python and emitting clanging sounds before falling into the sea of fire.

The bamboo leaf flying knives seemed unable to do anything to the flame python.

But the bamboo leaf flying knives covered the sky and blocked the sun, coming in an endless stream, still causing quite a few obstacles for the flame python.

The nine giant bamboos towered into the sky, their branches and leaves dense, constantly swaying and leaving no gaps, trapping the flame python in the middle.

These nine giant bamboos were precisely a set of flying swords Xia Daoming had specifically purchased based on the characteristics of his powerful spiritual sense: the Millennium Profound Bamboo Swords.

As the Millennium Profound Bamboo Swords landed and trapped the flame python, Xia Daoming had already activated his Wind-Chasing Boots, simultaneously channeling his strength into his feet, his entire person streaking toward Luo Mu like lightning.

"Sword formation!" Seeing this, Luo Mu's expression changed slightly, but she did not panic.

Controlling a sword formation required extremely high demands on spiritual sense.

A Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator deploying a sword formation must be struggling; it absolutely could not withstand the fierce impact of her Crimson Flame Python rope.

Once her Crimson Flame Python rope broke through the sword formation, it could return to provide support.

And on her side, she already had the Crimson Dragon Flame Bead protecting her body; with Xia Daoming's cultivation, even if he bombarded her wildly, he wouldn't be able to break through.

It could be said that with the Crimson Dragon Flame Bead, she was already in an invincible position.

The Crimson Flame Python frantically whipped its massive body, and fierce flames sprayed from its mouth like a fire dragon, attempting to break through the sword formation trapping it.

The Crimson Flame Python was indeed formidable.

With one sweep of its tail, three giant bamboos instantly collapsed to the ground, transforming back into flying swords.

But just as the Crimson Flame Python was about to rush out, the giant bamboos on the side filled the gap, their branches and leaves dancing wildly.

Still leaving no gaps.

"Impossible. While charging toward Mu'er, how can he be so distracted and precisely control the sword formation?" Luo Qian's expression changed slightly, a trace of shock appearing in his eyes.

Apart from Liu Qiaolian and Zuo Dongge, the others were also greatly shocked to see Xia Daoming able to precisely control the sword formation while charging.

"Damn it!" Luo Mu's expression changed again.

However, she still did not panic.

With the Crimson Dragon Flame Bead protecting her body, she was already in an invincible position.

And she firmly believed that the sword formation would inevitably be broken soon; it was impossible for it to persist any longer.

In the blink of an eye, Xia Daoming closed in.

Luo Mu looked at Xia Daoming, gave a cold smile, and pinched a magic seal.

The fiery crimson dragon coiling around her extended its massive dragon head toward Xia Daoming, spitting flames.

Seeing this, Xia Daoming gave a faint smile; the Profound Mist Mirror had already been suspended above his head at some unknown time, shining toward the fiery crimson dragon coiling around Luo Mu.

"How is this possible?" Seeing Xia Daoming precisely controlling the nine Millennium Profound Bamboo Swords while also being able to control the Profound Mist Mirror, a trace of panic finally flashed in Luo Mu's eyes.

However, in the blink of an eye, Luo Mu recovered her composure.

Her Crimson Dragon Flame Bead was a top-tier defensive magic tool with extremely strong defensive power. Under her full activation, even if Xia Daoming's mirror was very mysterious, that mysterious power would never be able to fix the Crimson Dragon Flame Bead in place.

Even if it were fixed, it could break free in the blink of an eye.

And Luo Mu firmly believed that Xia Daoming being able to spare the mind to deploy the Profound Mist Mirror was already astonishing to the extreme; he couldn't possibly exert much power.

Because with her cultivation realm, deploying two top-tier magic tools was basically her limit; even if she could deploy other magic tools, she couldn't exert much power.

Unless Xia Daoming's spiritual sense had reached the level of a Core Formation ancestor.

But how could that be possible?

Luo Mu had just calmed down.

A hazy, bright light shone onto the crimson dragon.

An extremely mysterious power instantly enveloped the crimson dragon.

Luo Mu immediately felt the true essence and magic power she had channeled into the Crimson Dragon Flame Bead being imprisoned.

Her heart was greatly alarmed, and the true essence and magic power in her meridians and dantian surged frantically, attempting to break free and shatter the imprisonment.

But just at this moment, Luo Mu felt a familiar chill and cold air on her neck.

Luo Mu's hair stood on end, and her limbs turned cold.

She slowly lowered her head.

The tip of a familiar black long spear was pressed against her neck.

Following the long spear, Luo Mu saw Xia Daoming, who was holding the spear and looking at her with a calm expression.

A deathly silence fell over the world.

Who could have imagined that even with Luo Mu fully on guard, having deployed both major top-tier magic tools for offense and defense at the very first moment, and having pulled the distance to thirty-some zhang, she would still end up in the same situation as more than a month ago.

With almost no exchange of blows, she had been cleanly and neatly pressed against her snow-white neck by Xia Daoming's spear, without even a chance to turn the tables.

Even Zuo Dongge, who had already had an inkling, had not expected Xia Daoming to end this battle in such a clean and neat manner.

He had thought there would be a fierce battle, with Xia Daoming ultimately being slightly more skilled.

"Xu Shixiong Sister, you were careless and underestimated your opponent again this time!" Xia Daoming withdrew his long spear.

"I was careless and underestimated my opponent again!" Luo Mu felt incredibly bitter in her heart.

Yes, if she hadn't been convinced that the other party couldn't truly exert the power of that mirror, thinking her Crimson Dragon Flame Bead would definitely be able to block the other party's mirror, but had instead dodged in advance or struggled to deploy another attack magic tool to block, the result should have been different.

"One trap, one fix, one strike—the coordination of your three techniques was flawless, and these three techniques are something only you could execute and coordinate so perfectly. Even if Luo Mu hadn't been careless and underestimated you this time, she would still not be your match," Luo Qian said with a complex expression.

"That's right. Your spiritual sense has already reached the level of a Core Formation cultivator, and you practice both Dao and Martial arts, with a solid and profound foundation. You also chose your three magic tools very appropriately; your comprehensive combat power is probably already comparable to a False Core cultivator.

Even if Luo Mu hadn't been careless and underestimated you, she would still not be your match; it would just mean she could hold on for a little longer," Xiao Hongyi said, his gaze toward Xia Daoming full of appreciation and surprise.

"That's right. Who could have imagined that a Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual sense would have already reached the Core Formation level. The three magic tools were also chosen exquisitely. The sword formation to trap people, the mirror to fix people, and those Wind-Chasing Boots, paired with body-refining footwork, made your speed reach an astonishing degree. Suddenly erupting, I'm afraid even a False Core cultivator would suffer a great loss if they were careless and underestimated you," Chi Shijian said with emotion.

Hearing the comments of the three Core Formation Elders, Luo Mu's face turned ashen, while Xiao Xuan and the others were filled with admiration and respect.

As for Zuo Dongge, he remained silent, just stroking his beard in a leisurely and self-satisfied manner.

"The three Uncle-Masters overpraise me, overpraise me. My tactical coordination was just a bit clever, that's all," Xia Daoming hurriedly waved his hand.

"Your most formidable aspect is not the clever tactical coordination, but your spiritual sense. This is equivalent to you already possessing a portion of a Core Formation cultivator's abilities. It is precisely because of this that you were able to exert the power of that sword formation and your mirror to the fullest.

Especially that mirror—if I'm not mistaken, the power it can erupt with should be directly related to your spiritual sense. Otherwise, even if its ability were mysterious, it wouldn't have been able to fix Luo Mu's Crimson Dragon Flame Bead, which she was activating with all her might.

Possessing Core Formation-level spiritual sense during the Foundation Establishment stage is truly rare. You must have had a fortuitous encounter that caused your spiritual sense to advance by leaps and bounds," Xiao Hongyi said.

"Uncle-Master has a discerning eye; this disciple admires you!" Xia Daoming immediately buttered him up, quite happy that Xiao Hongyi had such a speculation.

He would absolutely never reveal that his body refining far exceeded everyone's imagination, and that the strength of his spiritual sense originated precisely from the strength of his body refining.

"Spiritual sense is of great help to cultivation. Cherish and use this talent well; you will surely have hope for Core Formation," Xiao Hongyi said earnestly.

"This disciple will keep Uncle-Master's teachings in mind," Xia Daoming said with a serious expression, bowing and cupping his fists.

"Xu Shixiong, you have taken in a good disciple! I estimate that in a few years, your Heaven Jianfeng will once again lead the way," Xiao Hongyi turned to Zuo Dongge, saying with emotion and envy.

"It is better to handle this matter low-key; let it be limited to those of us who know. Daoming is still young; it is not appropriate for him to receive too much attention," Zuo Dongge said with a serious expression.

"Xu Shixiong has foresight; it is indeed not appropriate for this matter to spread for now," the three Core Formation Elders, including Xiao Hongyi, all felt a chill in their hearts upon hearing this.

Luo Mu, meanwhile, breathed a huge sigh of relief.

She was truly somewhat afraid that this matter would spread and cause her to lose all face.

"Master, three Uncle-Masters, the matter can be kept from spreading, but this 1.5 million spirit stones cannot be exempted. I have never seen so many spirit stones in my life!" Xia Daoming said, rubbing his hands together at the end, looking at Luo Mu with anticipation.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 253 =====