Martial Cultivator

As an obscure small sect within the lineage of qi refiners, if not for its annihilation in the desolate north and the fact that Pinecreek Mountain happened to know that this sect possessed a long-lost secret technique from other qi refiner sects, the Small Hill Sect would likely have remained unnoticed even if it were destroyed several more times. But even a small sparrow has all its vital organs; although the Small Hill Sect was small, it must have had one or two treasures it held dear. That secret technique was one, and now, this wooden box found alongside the secret technique was naturally another.

What was inside the wooden box? Not only was Chen Chao curious, but Liang Jinjin was also intensely interested.

After exchanging a glance, Liang Jinjin did not hesitate. She reached out and opened the wooden box. There was no special glow, no miraculous scene. There was only a sheet of paper inside, made from an unknown material.

Despite the passage of centuries, the paper had not decayed, though it was slightly yellowed.

There were some words written on it.

Liang Jinjin picked it up and unfolded the paper. After a moment, her voice trembled slightly as she said, ”It’s the names of everyone in the Small Hill Sect.”

The list was written in cinnabar ink, but the ink was not made from cinnabar, but blood. As a result, the writing now appeared somewhat darkened.

The handwriting varied, clearly indicating that each name was written by the person themselves. Chen Chao glanced at it and felt that each name carried a distinct aura. In a daze, he seemed to see those qi refiners laughing as they tossed aside their brushes and marched to their deaths after writing their names on this list.

To be honest, Chen Chao had never had a favorable impression of the lineage of qi refiners, but this time, after seeing the Small Hill Sect, he deeply respected these qi refiners.

When other cultivators were focused on self-preservation, these qi refiners had already tied themselves with the entire human race. For the sake of their fellow people, they knew they would die, yet they charged forward without any hesitation.

Chen Chao said, ”Give me that list.”

Liang Jinjin was a bit curious but still handed the list to Chen Chao.

Chen Chao accepted it with both hands and said softly, ”Some people deserve to be remembered forever.”

Looking at the list, Chen Chao was overwhelmed with emotion.

After carefully storing it away, he said wearily, ”Let’s go.”

Liang Jinjin nodded. This visit to the Small Hill Sect had been fruitful, leaving no regrets.

The two soon left the great hall and slowly made their way back along the path they had come.

After some thought, Liang Jinjin thanked him sincerely, ”Thank you.”

It was not just because Chen Chao had saved her life twice before, but also because she had wasted a lot of his time by bringing her along.

“There’s something I forgot to mention earlier. Your senior brothers and sisters have all died. When you return with these things, won’t the elders at your sect grow suspicious?”

Chen Chao had just thought of this. Given Liang Jinjin’s low cultivation level, without the protection of her senior brothers and sisters, it would be questionable how she managed to safely leave the desolate northern plains.

Liang Jinjin replied softly, ”Don’t worry, I won’t mention you. I’ll say that Fellow Daoist Chen Fuyao from Windspirit Mountain helped me out.”

Chen Chao was speechless.

“Even if it’s later proven to be you, I wouldn’t have known the details either, so who could say anything?”

Liang Jinjin blinked, looking a bit mischievous.

Chen Chao said with vicissitudes of emotion, “You’re good at telling when someone is lying, but when you’re telling lies, others don’t realize it. That’s really quite unfair.”

Liang Jinjin smiled without saying anything.

The two returned to the mountaintop. By now, a significant amount of snow had accumulated around them, and it would not be long before this large hole would be covered up again.

Who knows when it would be discovered next time.

Afterward, the two began descending the mountain. Liang Jinjin naturally intended to follow the same path back, but Chen Chao shook his head and pointed to another route, softly saying, ”I have a bad feeling about this. If we go back the same way, there’s a good chance something might go wrong.”

Liang Jinjin did not argue and instead asked with concern, ”How are your injuries?”

Chen Chao smiled, ”I won’t die from them.”

“But I really should take the time to recover.”

Chen Chao murmured, ”I just wonder if anyone will be willing to give me that time.”

……

……

The second half of the battle between Yun Jianyue and Autumn was much calmer compared to the first half. Since Yun Jianyue realized that he could not kill this demon princess here, he changed his strategy, aiming to delay her as much as possible. Although he did not know where Autumn was heading, he figured that if she wanted to go there, his goal was to either prevent her from going or at least slow her down.

Without the pressure of a life-and-death struggle, though severely injured, Yun Jianyue felt much more at ease. There were many techniques in Daoism specifically designed for trapping opponents, and it just so happened that he was quite adept at them too.

After trapping the demon princess using wind and snow for nearly half an hour, Yun Jianyue finally watched as she broke free from the bindings. But just as she was about to leave the battlefield, golden threads surged from Yun Jianyue’s fingertips, once again appearing on the path Autumn had to take.

Autumn casually tore through one of the golden threads, her snow-white eyes revealing anger as she glared at Yun Jianyue, frowning as she said, ”Yun Jianyue, do you really want to die here?”

Yun Jianyue’s daoist robe was torn, but he still exuded an otherworldly aura. Hearing her words, he merely smiled and replied, ”Why would Your Highness say that?”

Autumn remained silent, but her killing intent grew. If one of the Twin Pillars of Daoism insisted on blocking her, then she might just change her target and kill Yun Jianyue right here and now.

Yun Jianyue also sensed the killing intent emanating from the wind and snow but remained unconcerned. He casually glanced up at the clouds, where thunder rumbled continuously. The heavenly lightning was gathering but had no intention of striking down this demon princess, only preventing her from leaving.

Yun Jianyue smiled and said, ”Your Highness possesses a profound cultivation. Today’s battle is hard to determine a victor. I hope that next time, I can make Your Highness see me in a new light.”

Autumn said in a cold voice, ”There won’t be a next time.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Autumn’s figure suddenly shot forward, closing the distance in an instant. However, as she advanced, Autumn grew increasingly frustrated. The heavenly lightning in the clouds would occasionally strike down, targeting this demon princess.

Countless deep pits appeared on the ground.

Yun Jianyue smiled as he drew a snow sword in the wind and snow, uttering a single word, ”Go.” The dao sword forged from wind and snow shot forward, aiming straight for Autumn’s heart.

These two were among the most talented cultivators of their generation, and it was no easy task to kill each other in a short time. Moreover, this was under the premise that one of them was not willing to risk his life at all.

Even though Autumn was filled with killing intent, it was still difficult for her to completely kill Yun Jianyue quickly.

Halfway through her advance, Autumn grew increasingly frustrated by the torment of the dao sword. In a fit of rage, she finally grabbed the blade of the snow sword, ignoring the blood that now flowed from her palm, and crushed it with force. She then hurled the shattered half of the snow sword back at Yun Jianyue.

Yun Jianyue’s expression changed slightly, but he quickly waved his large sleeve, catching the snow sword within it. However, this caused a few more tears to appear in his already tattered sleeve.

Yun Jianyue stood in place, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, while Autumn was forced to retreat.

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