"Swish!"
A thousand-zhang sword light descended from the sky, slicing down without mercy. Sun Qinghe's body was accompanied by a blazing flame dharma body, and his two natal artifacts appeared on his left and right. He clasped his hands together, blocking the powerful sword energy. Beneath the sword light, Elder Sun Qinghe's face was contorted with rage. The Qingluan Sect was so overbearing, and without understanding the situation, his fiery temper had long been ignited. However, since the Medicine King Valley was at fault first, the elder could not erupt and could only passively endure the blows.
"Good!"
Xiao Muchan raised an eyebrow. From the moment he became a twelfth-realm sword cultivator, he had never taken the twelfth-realm spirit cultivators in the world seriously. And indeed, how many twelfth-realm spirit cultivators in the world could withstand Xiao Muchan's sword energy? But this twelfth-realm elder, known as the Medicine King, was indeed a formidable twelfth-realm spirit cultivator.
Instantly, two natal flying swords shot out, heading straight for Sun Qinghe's chest with incredible speed!
Sun Qinghe frowned, a humming sound emanating from his chest. A fire-red pill refining treasure cauldron, his natal artifact, appeared. Flames erupted, and in a flash, a vortex of fire formed within the cauldron, temporarily restraining the opponent's two natal flying swords. However, with Xiao Muchan using both hands to press down on his sword, the sword light was bent like a yoke. The majestic sword intent enveloped him, transforming into countless fine sword energies that eroded his body.
Faintly visible, blood was already trickling from the corner of Elder Sun Qinghe's mouth. It was unavoidable. An elder of the twelfth realm, skilled in pill refining, could only do so much to resist a twelfth-realm sword cultivator in a fight. Winning was practically impossible.
...
"Lin Zhao."
Huang Tingyu, clad in a billowing cloak, narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Lin Zhao beside him and spoke in his heart, "Are you really not going to help? It seems Sun Tingxuan of the Medicine King Valley made a mistake and almost caused the Qingluan Sect's ancestor, Xiao Chen, to perish. Xiao Muchan is here to blame the Medicine King Valley, but this matter has little to do with Elder Sun Qinghe. If Elder Sun Qinghe is killed, it would be too unjust. Moreover, once the elder is gone, the Medicine King Valley… its spirit will likely decline day by day."
"I know."
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "But look for yourself. If this fight doesn't happen, Xiao Muchan's anger won't subside, and neither will Elder Sun Qinghe's. If he doesn't fight, his anger won't dissipate. Even if it results in bloodshed, it's better than swallowing his pride. If the Medicine King Valley truly doesn't dare to retaliate, then their backbone will be broken, which is not good. You and Wu Zhi keep an eye on things, just don't let the elder be killed. Today, we can reason, but the fight must happen first."
"Alright," Huang Tingyu said with a sigh.
Wu Zhi smiled slightly. She agreed with Lin Zhao's reasoning. Moreover, judging by Lin Zhao's demeanor, today's confrontation at the Summit Villa was bound to involve a battle-force-driven mediation by the Medicine King Valley. It was fortunate that the people from the Summit Villa were present; otherwise, today's situation might have become uncontrollable, and perhaps tomorrow the Medicine King Valley would cease to exist.
The disheveled man Tang Guangjun, draped in a tattered blood-red cloak, which no one knew where he found it, exuded an aura of extreme killing intent. He crossed his arms, his sword sheathed on his back, and ascended into the sky, his eyes coldly fixed on the battlefield ahead. He remained silent. Tang Guangjun was a wise man, knowing that he was here today to "support" his young master. His presence was enough; he might not even need to draw his sword, but he had to be present. A twelfth-realm military sword cultivator carried some weight, so Tang Guangjun was confident that his stance of support must be elegant to ensure a higher status in the future. Perhaps his master, in a good mood, would even upgrade his position as a low-ranking offering.
A low-ranking offering of the Summit Villa!
This title was truly enticing!
Chen Ben, filled with fist intent, his fists clenched, stood beside Lin Zhao, equally impassive. His thoughts were simpler: he would punch whoever Lin Zhao asked him to. Otherwise, he would remain silent. After all, he wasn't smart enough. Speaking out of turn in such a grand occasion might anger Lin Zhao, which would be quite inappropriate. Mu Zha had the same mindset, releasing his fist intent, perhaps intending to subdue enemies without a fight. In any case, everything would be decided by their master!
...
In the fierce wind, the battle between the two twelfth-realm great cultivators continued. Xiao Muchan unleashed one flying sword after another. He was a sword immortal who "sought quantity." Not only did he possess three natal flying swords, but he had also refined over a hundred medium and small flying swords. The sky was filled with shuttling sword light. Fortunately, Elder Sun Qinghe's pill-refining treasure cauldron natal artifact was known for its defense. The fire-red cauldron surface "clang clang clang" deflected countless flying swords.
However, after more than a hundred exchanges, Sun Qinghe's combat power was clearly suppressed. He had sustained several sword wounds, while Xiao Muchan's arm had merely been struck by the cauldron, resulting in some bruises.
Finally, Xiao Muchan could no longer tolerate this game of offense and defense. With a roar, he fiercely struck his sword, shaking off the elder's cauldron, and retreated rapidly. A fiery light rose from his spiritual void, transforming into a divine fire treasure cauldron, his natal artifact!
Who would have thought that this twelfth-realm great sword immortal's fourth natal artifact would be a divine fire treasure cauldron, not a flying sword? This could only mean that the quality of this cauldron was exceptionally high, so high that Xiao Muchan endured the pain of not refining a flying sword but instead refining the divine fire treasure cauldron. Or perhaps another possibility was that Xiao Muchan had never awakened a fourth sword-womb lake, so he had to find an alternative path. He couldn't remain in the eleventh realm forever, could he?
"Burn!"
Xiao Muchan's eyes turned cold. The divine fire treasure cauldron overturned, and instantly, a sky full of flames descended, igniting countless houses in the Medicine King Valley, threatening to turn it into ashes.
...
"This is going too far!"
Lin Zhao frowned. "Wu Zhi, save people. Old Huang, suppress Xiao Muchan. Tang Guangjun, stand guard. Mu Zha and Chen Ben, you two restrain the rest of the Qingluan Sect and prevent them from reinforcing."
"Yes!"
Wu Zhi transformed into a white sword light and plunged into the sea of fire. Her demonic soul swords streaked through the air, extinguishing the flames descending from the divine fire treasure cauldron. Simultaneously, dozens of medium-refined flying swords flew out of her sword-wombs, rescuing the trapped individuals one by one. A twelfth-realm peak Wu Zhi was more than enough to save people.
In the air, Lin Zhao shot out. His mighty sword surged out of his sword-womb, and in an instant, he created a magnificent small world, drawing the divine fire treasure cauldron and the sky full of flames into it. He frowned and said, "Lin Zhao of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, I request Sect Master Xiao to curb his anger and properly clarify the cause and effect of this matter with the Medicine King Valley."
"Do I need to?!"
Xiao Muchan raised his eyebrows and roared.
Just then, a figure descended from the sky like a thunderclap, "Of course, you do! Sect Master Xiao, your tone when speaking to our master is too arrogant. Please lower it a bit!"
Huang Tingyu swung his sword through the air, crushing Xiao Muchan!
"Huh?"
Xiao Muchan had never felt such intense demonic energy before. After all, he had never fought a thirteenth-realm great demon. As for twelfth-realm demon cultivators, almost no one could possess such concentrated demonic energy as Huang Tingyu. He hastily drew a natal flying sword to block the opponent's fierce assault, but with a deafening clang, the sword intent contained within Huang Tingyu's sword was too powerful, forcing Xiao Muchan to involuntarily sink.
He hastily conjured his second and third natal flying swords, but Huang Tingyu, imbued with demonic energy, also had three natal flying swords enhancing his sword. With a sudden, explosive clang, the sword lights burst forth, forcefully chopping Xiao Muchan from the sky to the ground. Although he was not injured, the "Number One Person of Ning Province" was greatly alarmed.
Both were twelfth-realm sword cultivators, yet Xiao Muchan was far inferior to Huang Tingyu. If Huang Tingyu were to fight seriously, he could possibly kill Xiao Muchan within a hundred moves.
After all, during his hundred years of confinement in the Qingliang Sect's Qianlong Abyss, Huang Tingyu's cultivation had never ceased, even while imprisoned. The tempering of his sword intent in adversity was twice as effective. Currently, Huang Tingyu's sword intent was definitely superior to that of the twelfth-realm great demon Feng Quan.
"Sect Master!"
A group of Qingluan Sect elders and offerings wanted to rescue him, but they saw two Heaven Origin martial artists blocking their path, especially the younger one, whose surging fist intent exuded immense pressure.
"Don't move."
Chen Ben, his body flowing with fist intent, clasped his fists and smiled, "Chen Ben of Summit Villa, greetings to all seniors. My brother Lin Zhao said that you should all observe the situation quietly and not bring trouble upon yourselves."
Everyone truly remained still.
The stone-paved ground in front of the Medicine King Valley's main gate had completely shattered under the collision of the two twelfth-realm great sword immortals. When Xiao Muchan was forced to the ground by Huang Tingyu's sword strike, the flagstones beneath his feet turned to dust. At this moment, the Qingluan Sect Leader had no temper left. Both in swordsmanship and sword intent, the opponent surpassed him by more than a small margin.
Furthermore, the twelfth-realm military sword cultivator in the air, arms crossed, was also looking at him with ill intent, as if he could attack at any moment, and his attack would likely be even more ferocious!
...
Lin Zhao descended from the sky, clad in white, and smiled, "Sect Master Xiao, why not let the Medicine King Valley defend its innocence and give them a chance to explain? If we continue to fight like this, neither side will gain much. There's no need for it."
"Hmph..."
Xiao Muchan frowned. "Lin Zhao, are you trying to bully with power?"
"No."
Lin Zhao said, "If Sect Master Xiao is willing to reason, I will reason. If Sect Master Xiao refuses to reason, then I will resort to power. It's up to Sect Master Xiao to choose. And forgive me for saying, Elder Sun Qinghe has just ended his seclusion and is completely unaware of the matter of selling Zhenyuan Pills in the valley. There are also some unknown hidden reasons behind the Zhenyuan Pill. Sect Master Xiao may not know, but I do. How about this: the elder invites us for tea, and we will discuss it in detail. How does that sound?"
Xiao Muchan took a deep breath, sheathed his long sword, clasped his fists, and gave an embarrassed smile. "Alright. The legendary Lin Baiyi not only speaks with some reason, but your Summit Villa's combat power is indeed formidable. Since that's the case, I'll listen to you."