"So, I'll give you two choices. Do you want to die with dignity or like a coward? Die with dignity, and you can take your own life, leaving a complete body. Die like a coward, and we'll beat you to death, leaving you mangled and unrecognizable," Fang Jinzhong said.
"It seems you won't surrender. I'll just get straight to it, as I'm in a hurry. But once I start, my attacks will be indiscriminate and without restraint, causing damage to everyone," Mo Qi said.
As he spoke, Mo Qi sent out the Burning Heaven Stone towards Fang Jinzhong. Fang Jinzhong sneered, took out a hand drum, and lightly tapped it. A red halo flashed out, meeting the Burning Heaven Stone.
As soon as Mo Qi launched the Burning Heaven Stone, he immediately activated the Azure Lotus Fire, and a circle of blue light flashed and vanished.
Following that, Mo Qi threw an Exploding Pill and a flying kick into the crowd surrounding Fang Jinzhong.
Then, he unleashed a Seven Star Flame Slash!
He was indeed in a hurry, wishing he could unleash all his attacks at once.
The Burning Heaven Stone collided with the halo from the hand drum, and they were evenly matched. However, the suddenly expanding flames caught Fang Jinzhong off guard.
Fang Jinzhong countered with divine fire, barely holding his ground, when a flash of blue light struck him. He felt his spiritual energy drain away.
Immediately after, a pill furnace flew towards him.
Fang Jinzhong roared in fury, striking the pill furnace with a palm. The furnace instantly exploded with a deafening boom. The entire space expanded, centered on Fang Jinzhong. The ground erupted, dirt and stones flying, a whirlwind of chaos.
Following this, a massive blade of flame descended from the sky. Hand strikes, blade strikes… the rumbling continued, light and energy flashed, black smoke and dust lingered, interspersed with screams rising and falling.
Amidst the billowing black smoke, people scrambled and fled in disarray.
After unleashing several Seven Star Flame Slashes, Mo Qi ceased his attack.
After a long wait, the smoke slowly dissipated.
Countless deep pits appeared on the ground, the earth seemingly turned inside out, mixed with flesh and blood, a black and red hue.
Some areas were scorched black, still emitting wisps of smoke.
Mo Qi scanned the area carefully; Fang Jinzhong was nowhere to be seen.
The people in the distance stood in disarray, looking around in panic, searching everywhere for Fang Jinzhong.
Mo Qi retrieved the Burning Heaven Stone and said, "Your commander has fallen. I'm in a hurry, so I was a bit heavy-handed and didn't leave him a complete body. As for you… if you're willing to abandon the darkness and embrace the light, raise your hands. I'm in a hurry, so you'd best declare your stance quickly."
The people exchanged glances. Mo Qi immediately produced another Exploding Pill, preparing to throw it. "I'm in a hurry, and I really don't have the patience to watch you dither. I apologize profusely."
As he spoke, he prepared to throw the Exploding Pill.
At that moment, a few people began to raise their hands, like bamboo shoots after rain. Soon, others followed suit, until a sea of hands was raised.
Mo Qi put away the Exploding Pill and nodded in satisfaction. "I'm in a hurry, so I won't be staying to entertain you. Continue to hold this position and await General Ye Xingchen's arrival to incorporate you."
With that, he flicked his body and transformed into a streak of azure light, departing.
The people were stunned!
This person was truly carefree, arriving and leaving in a flash, clean and decisive. Was he really that pressed for time?
Mo Qi activated his teleportation movement technique and reached Lingding Mountain in a quarter of an hour.
The Reverse Lingering Flower, its petals like willow leaves, scattered one by one. Though not overly vibrant, it was extremely fragrant, its scent wafting far and wide.
Mo Qi, carrying Zi Luo, circled the mountain countless times but found no trace of the Reverse Lingering Flower.
Mo Qi was starting to feel discouraged.
Despite his peerless cultivation, he was still flesh and blood and could get tired.
Fearing he might miss certain areas, he didn't fly but walked, observing as he went, leaving no corner unchecked.
After countless circuits, he felt utterly drained, his body heavy yet strangely light.
Zi Luo in his arms grew weaker, her breath seeming to falter at any moment. He became increasingly anxious.
Unconsciously, his eyes welled up with tears.
He couldn't give up. He mustered his strength and continued to search the mountain.
At that moment, for reasons unknown, Zi Luo's eyes slowly fluttered open.
Seeing herself cradled in Mo Qi's arms, she frowned and tried to struggle, but she had no strength at all. No matter how high one's cultivation, facing death was a universal experience.
"Am I… dying?" Zi Luo asked weakly.
"No, you won't die as long as I'm here," Mo Qi said, unable to meet her gaze.
"Why bother? You saved me only to kill me later. Why go through all this trouble? It would be better to let me die directly."
"I said I wouldn't kill you."
"But you will still kill my father. If I'm alive then, I'll fight you to the death. It's all the same."
"What happens in the future will be dealt with in the future. For now, I won't let you die."
"Don't bother. I feel like you can't save me this time." After speaking a few words, Zi Luo was extremely weak and felt exceptionally tired.
"If you were Yuwen Yan, you should know that your life belongs to me. If I don't permit it, you are not allowed to die."
"Childish…" Tears welled in Zi Luo's eyes. Too exhausted to speak further, she closed her eyes.
Mo Qi wiped the tears from her eyes and continued on his way, glancing around as he went.
Time trickled by, and Zi Luo in his arms grew weaker. Eventually, her heartbeat was almost imperceptible, though a faint breath remained.
Mo Qi's heart filled with anxiety. He moved swiftly, speeding through the air, his eyes constantly scanning. In his current situation, he could only rely on luck.
Given the limited time, examining every inch of land would be impossible. Some areas would inevitably be missed.
Therefore, the effect was the same as a cursory glance!
So, he adopted this perfunctory method of searching.
While observing his surroundings with his eyes, he also sniffed the air continuously, trying to locate the flower by scent.
The mountain was filled with various exotic flowers in full bloom, their fragrances intermingling, making it difficult to distinguish the scent of any single one.
However, as if guided by a divine touch, as if by fate, Mo Qi suddenly caught a whiff of that scent, a scent described only in books.
His heart stirred with excitement. He stopped, looked around, and continued to follow the scent. On a cliff face, he spotted a Reverse Lingering Flower.
With almost no effort, he immediately identified it as the Reverse Lingering Flower.
It was simply too unique!
He immediately sprang forward, reaching the edge of the cliff. With trembling hands, he carefully uprooted the flower.
Then, he soared into the air, carrying Zi Luo, and landed on a clearing at the mountain's summit, gently setting her down.
To save time, he still opted for the method of using himself as a furnace for healing.
However, just as he had processed the medicinal ingredients and was about to place the Reverse Lingering Flower in his mouth, figures flashed around him. Several people appeared from nowhere, landing around Mo Qi, their eyes blazing with anger and hostile intent.
It was clear they meant trouble.
Mo Qi inwardly lamented, "Why now, of all times, are they here to cause trouble? Don't they know I'm in a hurry?"
A young man at the forefront, clad in fine brocade and fur, his attire indicating great wealth, spoke to Mo Qi. "I am Yu Xiulian, from the Yu family of Wei."
Mo Qi stood up and said, "I don't care if you're from the fish family or the shrimp family. If you want to fight, fight. I'm pressed for time."
Yu Xiulian's previously feigned amiability instantly vanished, replaced by a ferocious expression. "Then I'll tell you directly. The Reverse Lingering Flower in your hand must be handed over to us. My family is acquiring this flower to refine a unique type of pill. We can pay you for it, but if you refuse, don't blame me for being impolite. You'll lose both your life and your treasure, a case of 'losing the wife and the soldiers,' and you'll regret it deeply."
"What a joke. Just because your family is acquiring it, I have to sell you the Reverse Lingering Flower? Who made that rule?" Mo Qi said coldly.
"This is the rule set by my Yu family. For hundreds of miles around, it's our territory. Do you object?"
"In time, the entire Wei State will be my territory. You'd best behave yourself," Mo Qi said indifferently.
The air froze for a moment as people savored Mo Qi's words.
Then, a burst of laughter erupted: "Hahaha…"
"This is hilarious! The entire Wei State is yours? Why don't you say the entire Red Leaf Kingdom is yours?"
"Is this guy a lunatic?"
"What kind of day is it? To encounter a madman, what bad luck."
Mo Qi glanced at Zi Luo lying on the ground, her eyes closed, her fate uncertain. It was truly not the time to waste.
"I'm using this Reverse Lingering Flower to save someone. I'll warn you one last time, and consider it a chance for you to live. Leave now, and I won't pursue this further. Otherwise, not one of you will leave today, and in the future, I will annihilate your Yu family. You've always engaged in forced sales and bullying with your influence. I imagine you're all unpleasant people," Mo Qi declared with conviction.
The crowd erupted into another round of unrestrained laughter.
Yu Xiulian's gaze suddenly fixed on the beauty on the ground. The beauty's eyes were slightly closed, her face veiled by a light gauze. Her figure was graceful, possessing a delicate beauty.
Yu Xiulian's eyes were immediately captivated, and a knowing smile spread across his face. "You speak so boldly, you might just bite your tongue. But it's alright, I forgive you. I won't destroy your entire family. Today, I only need you to die, and then the flower in your hand and the beauty on the ground will be mine."
Mo Qi could no longer bear it. He directly placed the Reverse Lingering Flower into his mouth, and then, one by one, he consumed the other medicinal ingredients.
This action instantly enraged Yu Xiulian, who roared, "You're courting death!"
As he spoke, Yu Xiulian lunged at Mo Qi first. He wielded an iron hammer, striking Mo Qi from the air. The hammer emanated black mist and surged forward. The others also unleashed their magical treasures, attacking Mo Qi.
Mo Qi couldn't defend against attacks from all directions. He could only pick up Zi Luo and activate his spatial techniques, weaving between the attackers.
Yu Xiulian and the others' eyes blurred. Suddenly, Mo Qi's figure vanished. They looked around in panic, but Mo Qi kept appearing and disappearing, striking with precision, eliminating Yu Xiulian and his group.