Chapter 84: Fierce Battle

The two kept their own counsel, each watching the overall situation closely. The cultivator at the fifth stage of Foundation Establishment was wary of Zhou Qi’s mid-grade spiritual artifact. Though he was three stages above Zhou Qi, the use of the Mountain Embracing Seal had already consumed a significant amount of his spiritual power. If he exhausted himself too much in this battle, it would affect the spoils he could claim afterward.

There were perhaps too many cultivators at the third and fourth stages of Foundation Establishment. If only a few more of them could perish in the assault on the three, it would be ideal, the fifth-stage cultivator mused. Feigning grave injury, he circled the outskirts of the skirmish, in no hurry to strike again. The first shot had been fired; as for the rest, he would let the others take the lead for now.

A perfect opportunity presented itself. Zhou Qi noticed that the cultivator fighting Jiu’er was dodging the Thousand Illusions Glaze, unwilling to risk his own spiritual weapon against a mid-grade artifact, leaving his back wide open.

With a flash of the Mysterious Thunder Movement Technique, Zhou Qi turned into a streak of lightning, appearing behind the cultivator and delivering a punch to the back of his head. The force was measured—not enough to kill, but just enough to knock the man unconscious.

The cultivator’s eyes were filled with the illusions of the Thousand Illusions Glaze when, all at once, he felt a heavy blow to his skull, the world spinning around him. I’ve been ambushed—it’s over for me, he thought, before losing consciousness altogether.

Zhou Qi did not finish him off; he had his reasons for keeping the man alive.

With one opponent down, Zhou Qi wasted no time, his feet once again flashing with the Mysterious Thunder Movement as he moved toward his next target.

In this melee, Huangfu Man’s fan proved invaluable. Though these enemies had all achieved Foundation Establishment, they had spent their lives scrambling for spirit stones—men who had never tasted true luxury. The beauties conjured by the fan dazzled their eyes; after all, these illusions could not harm them, and others would be the ones to kill Zhou Qi and his companions. Why not enjoy the spectacle while it lasted?

The fan’s illusions held off eight or nine cultivators above the third stage, a few of whom even regretted shattering the beauties through careless attacks.

Xiaobai fought with every ounce of strength he had, coughing up blood again and again, his life hanging by a thread. The cultivator fighting him was certain victory was at hand, only for Xiaobai to slip away at the last moment.

Zhou Qi saw that Xiaobai was gravely wounded—not by his opponent, but through his own self-inflicted exertion. With a flash of lightning, Zhou Qi appeared behind the man, unleashing the Immortal-Slaying Sword upon him.

This foe was a fourth-stage cultivator, astonishingly held at bay by Xiaobai at the second stage for so long. The moment the sword descended, he sensed the danger and dodged aside, evading the attack.

“Here.” Zhou Qi tossed a Restoration Pill to Xiaobai, his gaze hard as he sized up his adversary.

“I didn’t expect a mere second-stage cultivator to be so troublesome. No matter—killing you first, then him, will do just as well,” the fourth-stage cultivator sneered. His plan had been to take Xiaobai’s life, but his opponent had changed, and he was unconcerned; aside from Zhou Qi’s formidable weapon, there was little to fear.

“Kill!” Zhou Qi invoked the Myriad Swords Return technique. The Immortal-Slaying Sword split into countless tiny, pale blue blades, hovering before him, then surged toward his foe in a dense flurry.

Though the man was contemptuous at heart, he dared not be careless; the sight of the fifth-stage cultivator’s weapon being broken was fresh in his mind. Facing the swarm of swords, he could not tell real from illusion and dared not risk his own weapon.

He produced a wooden puppet, tossing it to the ground. In an instant, the puppet took on his appearance, while the man himself vanished. Zhou Qi, startled, immediately used his movement technique to leap aside.

Sure enough, the cultivator reappeared where Zhou Qi had just stood, his blade piercing only Zhou Qi’s afterimage. Where the Immortal-Slaying Sword had struck, nothing remained but the shattered puppet.

“Boss, I’ll help you!” Having swallowed the Restoration Pill, Xiaobai was revitalized, brandishing his spiritual artifact and lunging at the foe.

Seeing that he could not quickly overcome this opponent, Zhou Qi decided to leave him to Xiaobai and turned to attack another.

This one was a third-stage cultivator who had been muddling about on the battlefield, his opponent a beauty conjured by the fan. He had been careful not to harm her, but now the illusion was faltering, and he was reluctant to strike, merely dodging her attacks to prolong the moment.

Suddenly, a heavy blow landed on the back of his head, shattering his reverie—Zhou Qi again. The fan’s illusions were about to dissipate; soon, he might have to resort to the Maze Immortal Formation.

Having successfully ambushed three third-stage cultivators, Zhou Qi saw the fan’s beauties vanish at last, leaving nine opponents on the field, including the fifth-stage cultivator.

One at the fifth stage, five at the fourth, and three at the third.

Nine against three—the numbers were just right for divvying up the spoils, the fifth-stage cultivator thought. But the others had only been knocked unconscious, not killed; should he quietly finish them off?

No—there were still many lower-stage cultivators watching from the perimeter. It would ruin his reputation as a master.

“If you have any sense, surrender now,” the fifth-stage cultivator declared. “The Nine-Tailed Fox is so beautiful—her true form can’t be much less enchanting. What a pity it would be to see her torn apart.”

He decided to step in personally; he had waited long enough, and his spiritual power had almost recovered. The mid-grade artifacts were powerful, but after such a prolonged struggle, Zhou Qi and his companions could not have much strength left.

Seeing the fifth-stage cultivator take charge, the remaining eight ceased their attacks. The threat of the mid-grade artifacts had faded; bringing down these three would be no challenge. Now was the time to discuss the division of loot. After all, as righteous cultivators, it would hardly do to fight among themselves again after slaying these three.

“Senior, how about this? The mid-grade artifact in that man’s hand goes to you. The fox’s artifact can be appraised and its value divided in spirit stones, which we’ll share along with all other spoils from their bodies. You’ll get a share of the stones too, since your artifact was destroyed during the fight,” suggested one fourth-stage cultivator.

The other three fourth-stage cultivators nodded. With only two mid-grade artifacts, no one would be satisfied unless it was handled this way. They would end up with more spirit stones this way anyway. The remaining three third-stage cultivators had no choice but to agree; anyone objecting now would only draw the ire of the higher-stage cultivators.

“Hey, we’re not dead yet! Isn’t it a bit early to be discussing this?” Xiaobai shouted.

No one paid him any heed. The fifth-stage cultivator nodded, affecting concern. “Ah, what’s the point of all this? In ridding the world of these monsters, we’ve already lost five third-stage cultivators. The cost has been heavy indeed.”

“Yes, they sacrificed themselves for our people. They deserve to be remembered,” another chimed in.

Zhou Qi sneered. None of those five were dead—they had only been knocked out by him, yet here they were, already counted as casualties.

“So, you finally reveal your true faces. That’s fine—I no longer have any qualms,” Zhou Qi said coldly.

“Oh? Do you have some other trick up your sleeve?” the fifth-stage cultivator asked with a smile, unconcerned.

“Wait and see.”