The swordsman said, "Yes, what of it?"
Ming Zhi Tian, his fingers clad in a cold iron gauntlet, pointed at him. "I want to challenge you and see how strong a master of the Alchemy Realm truly is."
The swordsman scoffed dismissively, "Just you?"
Ming Zhi Tian asked, "What of it?"
The swordsman replied, "You are not worthy."
Ming Zhi Tian looked up. "We won't know until we try."
Suddenly, Ming Zhi Tian gathered his strength and unleashed a punch, sending it through the air!
The swordsman remained still, drawing his sword. A grey sword energy flew towards Ming Zhi Tian, colliding with the punch. The punch dissipated, and the sword energy struck Ming Zhi Tian, forcing him back. He struggled to stay on his feet, but still coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Had it not been for the Changsheng Jue he cultivated within his body, he might not have survived that blow.
Seeing Ming Zhi Tian wipe the blood from his lips and stand up, the swordsman nodded. "A cultivator at Qi Layer One who can withstand my sword strike without dying. You are quite remarkable. What is your name?"
"Ming Zhi Tian."
The swordsman grunted. "You are not my match yet. You may leave."
Ming Zhi Tian, enduring the pain of his injuries, cupped his hands in a salute. "Thank you."
"Wait." The swordsman said, "I see your cultivation technique is unique, unlike any sect's. You do not use a sword, nor do you use magic. Are you a martial cultivator?"
Ming Zhi Tian did not quite understand. "I suppose so."
The swordsman said, "If it is not too much to ask, who is your master sage?"
Ming Zhi Tian thought for a moment. He was going to die anyway, so there was no harm in saying. "Ran Yi Zhou."
"Shocked..."
It was not the swordsman, but Qiu Bu Yi.
As Ming Zhi Tian walked away, the door of the small thatched cottage was opened. "Stop!"
"We're finished. We're doomed." Xiao Ling Long had been relieved when the swordsman let them go, but she never expected the Medical Immortal to cause trouble.
Ming Zhi Tian turned around. "Is something the matter?"
Qiu Bu Yi, clad in white, was comely and young, her age indeterminate.
She hurried forward and grabbed Ming Zhi Tian's hand. "Say it again, tell me again."
Ming Zhi Tian looked confused. "Say what?"
Qiu Bu Yi said, "Your master sage... no, who is your master sage?!"
Ming Zhi Tian replied, "Ran Yi Zhou."
Qiu Bu Yi suppressed her excitement and asked again, "Which Ran Yi Zhou?"
Ming Zhi Tian said, "Wu Sheng Ran Yi Zhou."
"BOOM!" These five words struck Qiu Bu Yi's mind like a bolt of lightning. She gripped Ming Zhi Tian's hand tightly. "He's not dead?! Where is he?"
Ming Zhi Tian was about to say something, but Qiu Bu Yi, regardless of his willingness, pulled him into the small thatched cottage. She paused and looked at the swordsman. "You may go. What happened today is not to be spoken of outside."
The swordsman nodded, thinking, "A disciple of the Wu Sheng?" He then bowed respectfully. "Yes." He vanished in a flash.
Xiao Ling Long started to follow, but Qiu Bu Yi glared at her. "If you don't want to die, stay away."
Xiao Ling Long felt a chill down her spine. "Oh."
Ming Zhi Tian said to Ba Ke, "Ba Ke, be a good boy and wait for me here."
Qiu Bu Yi pulled Ming Zhi Tian into the small thatched cottage and closed the door.
From the outside, it looked like a simple small thatched cottage, but inside, it was surprisingly spacious. Most importantly, there was little furniture and few belongings, making it appear both simple and comfortable.
"Please, sit." Qiu Bu Yi released his hand and gestured for him to sit.
Ming Zhi Tian nodded, and they both sat down. Qiu Bu Yi did not offer him tea, but instead asked anxiously, her words tumbling out incoherently. "Are you truly... Yi Zhou's... disciple?"
Ming Zhi Tian did not hear clearly. "What?"
Qiu Bu Yi composed herself and clarified her words. "Is Ran Yi Zhou still alive? Where is he?"
Ming Zhi Tian shook his head. "Master Sage has been gone for a long time."
Qiu Bu Yi asked, "When did this happen?"
Ming Zhi Tian shook his head again. "I'm not sure. When I met Master Sage, he seemed to be just a wisp of a soul. He asked me to become his disciple, so I did. However, I remember Master Sage saying he had waited for my arrival for thousands of years."
A tear fell from Qiu Bu Yi's eye. "Five thousand years... ah."