The fine needles pierced through, and with a sizzling sound, the ice swords shattered in mid-air, dissipating into cold mist that permeated the surroundings.
The dense needles passed through the ice wall and shot directly at Mo Qi. If he were hit, he would be riddled like a beehive.
Mo Qi's face drained of color. He hastily patted his storage bag, and the Qiankun Circle whizzed out, circling and weaving in the air, emitting a brilliant radiance that protected the surrounding space impenetrably.
A continuous series of clinking sounds ensued as the needles were smashed to pieces, vanishing without a trace.
Simultaneously, Linghu Xiaoxian and Gui Wu engaged in battle. Gui Wu wielded a butterfly-shaped magical artifact that buzzed and circled in the air, continuously emitting divine light towards Linghu Xiaoxian.
Linghu Xiaoxian parried with her Golden Staff, holding her own without falling behind.
Meanwhile, on Mo Qi's side, he initially wielded the Qiankun Circle, its divine light dispelling the needles. However, as time went on, stray needles began to slip through, piercing his skin.
Even with his Golden Body protection, Mo Qi winced in pain from the stings.
At this moment, Gui Si shouted again, "Dandelion!"
Another wave of fine needles was released.
Mo Qi's anger surged. He channeled his mental power, creating a blank area in the center, and the needles slid past his body on either side.
At the same time, he hurled the Qiankun Circle towards Gui Si.
Gui Si was greatly alarmed. He drew an arc in the air, and a ripple appeared, with a vortex swirling in its center, resembling the vastness of the sea.
With a gurgling sound, the Qiankun Circle plunged into the vortex. The vortex shook violently, spun rapidly, and then returned to stillness.
Mo Qi was shocked. Had it really captured the Qiankun Circle?
This was unbearable!
For Mo Qi, who cherished his treasures like his own life, this was more agonizing than killing him!
A smile played on Gui Si's lips as he prepared to retract the ripple.
Mo Qi clasped his hands together, and a flash of divine light streaked past.
With a thunderous roar, the ripple was torn open from the center. A monstrous wave surged forth, instantly crashing onto Gui Si and sweeping him back into the sea.
With a hum, the Qiankun Circle flew back and struck Gui Wu.
Previously, Gui Wu's butterfly-shaped magical artifact had been locked in a fierce struggle with Linghu Xiaoxian's Golden Staff, neither gaining an advantage.
The butterfly-shaped artifact suddenly opened, spewing a stream of red mist from within.
Linghu Xiaoxian, caught completely off guard, was momentarily disoriented. She immediately collapsed to the ground, and without pause, the butterfly-shaped artifact pulsed with light and struck at her.
Just as Linghu Xiaoxian was about to meet her demise, Mo Qi channeled the Qiankun Circle towards it again.
With a deafening boom, the butterfly-shaped artifact was struck, creating a gap from which endless red mist spewed out, filling the air.
"Pangu Divine Power!" Another beam of divine light shot out, cleaving the butterfly-shaped artifact in two from the middle, causing it to fall to the ground.
The boundless red mist permeated the air.
Gui Wu was shocked. He looked back to find Gui Si nowhere in sight. Assuming him dead, he immediately turned and fled.
As the red mist surged towards him, Mo Qi produced his Pipa Fan and fanned vigorously, managing to push the mist away!
Linghu Xiaoxian lay on the ground, her eyes gently closed, as if asleep.
Her lowered eyelids, her fair skin, her delicate nose, and her ethereal eyebrows, her lips like fire, all seemed to possess a life of their own, pulsing faintly.
She must have fainted!
There seemed to be a way to awaken someone who had fainted, and it involved mouth-to-mouth contact!
No matter what, saving her was the priority!
Mo Qi leaned down, puckered his lips, and pressed them downwards.
At that moment, Linghu Xiaoxian's eyes suddenly snapped open. Seeing Mo Qi's large face approaching her, she shrieked in fright and instinctively pushed him away with her hands.
Before she could push him, Mo Qi was startled by her scream and stumbled back a few steps, nearly falling. He managed to regain his balance with great effort.
"What are you doing?" Linghu Xiaoxian flipped over and got up, blushing as she brushed the dust off her clothes and tidied her attire.
Mo Qi felt a pang of guilt but maintained a righteous demeanor. "I saw you had fainted and was preparing to give you some breath. I wanted to save you."
Linghu Xiaoxian suddenly felt a twinge of regret. Why had she reacted so strongly just now?
As soon as this thought arose, she felt it was inexplicable. Why would she have such a strange thought?
She must have been experiencing a momentary lapse.
"Don't make excuses. You clearly wanted to take advantage of me," Linghu Xiaoxian said, glaring at him.
Seeing her indignant expression, Mo Qi wagged his hands like a rattle. "No, I really just wanted to save you."
Just then, figures flashed, and in an instant, a circle of people surrounded them.
Judging by their attire, they were all inner disciples of the Sun Moon Sect.
Mo Qi scanned the surroundings briefly. He recognized a few faces, including Hong Jianxin, Ou Zhaolun, and Nangong Yun.
Hong Jianxin's face was filled with murderous intent, his gaze fixed solely on Mo Qi, as if he wished to shoot beams of sword light from his eyes.
Ou Zhaolun sidled closer to Hong Jianxin and said, "Sect Leader, it's this person. He killed our sect members, Shangguan Jixiang, and several other brothers."
Hong Jianxin glanced at Linghu Xiaoxian. "Junior Sister, come over here. Don't stand with this scoundrel. Be careful not to get splashed with his blood."
Linghu Xiaoxian didn't move. She glanced at Mo Qi, then at Hong Jianxin, her brows furrowed slightly. "Withdraw your men first. Let me investigate this matter thoroughly."
Hong Jianxin, who had always obeyed her in the past, was unusually stubborn today. Without hesitation, he said, "What is there to investigate? The witness and evidence are all here. He is the killer, and he cannot deny it."
Mo Qi shrugged. "Indeed, there's no need to investigate. I admit I killed Shangguan Jixiang, but the others were used as shields by him. They have nothing to do with me."
Linghu Xiaoxian stamped her foot. It was hopeless, completely hopeless. She had created an opening for him, but he insisted on not taking it, choosing instead to plunge headfirst into danger!
Not everything could be resolved with fists!
At least, not in the Sun Moon Sect!
Its depth far exceeded his imagination, and even his own.
A faint smile touched Hong Jianxin's lips, his eyes glinting with killing intent. "It's good that you admit it. However, even if you hadn't, we would have had every reason to kill you, as you are guilty of releasing a prisoner, which is a capital offense."
"I released the person. It has nothing to do with him," Linghu Xiaoxian declared loudly.
"Junior Sister, you..." Hong Jianxin stared at Linghu Xiaoxian, his expression one of disbelief.
He knew Pang Qing was released by her. He had deliberately blurred the wording, intending to shift all the blame onto Mo Qi, thus absolving her of any wrongdoing.
However, he hadn't expected her to voluntarily take all the blame upon herself.
What was wrong with her? Was she out of her mind?
Mo Qi glanced at Linghu Xiaoxian. "Thank you, but Pang Qing is in my hands now, and Xiaobai was released by me. Therefore, all of this has nothing to do with you."
Before Linghu Xiaoxian could speak, Hong Jianxin quickly interjected, "Good, does that mean you confess?"
"I confess," Mo Qi said with a smile.
He wore an expression of utter defiance, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
Hong Jianxin smiled. He hadn't expected it to be so easy. "Good, it's good that you admit it. Then end yourself, so we don't have to do it."
Mo Qi raised an eyebrow. "I admit guilt, but I didn't say I admit my fate! Haven't you been to school? Who was your teacher?"
"It was Mr. Zeng, pfft, what's it to you?" Hong Jianxin was sidetracked by Mo Qi and became furious. He raised his hand and shouted, "Attack!"
As everyone was about to move, Mo Qi roared, "Wait!"
His voice was steady and commanding, like a mountain pressing down, instantly weighing on everyone's hearts.
Everyone froze in unison!
Mo Qi slowly said, "I advise you not to send them to their deaths. If many die later, the blame will fall on me again. I state this in advance: if they die, it is because you sent them."
After a moment of silence, laughter erupted around them, with people swaying unsteadily. "Where do you get the audacity to boast like that?"
Mo Qi slowly removed his mask, revealing a different face. His cultivation at the Tribulation Crossing stage was also unleashed without reservation.
Nangong Yun stood stunned, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.
Many of the surrounding individuals could no longer discern Mo Qi's cultivation level, feeling that going up would indeed be suicidal. They exchanged glances, hesitant to advance.
Hong Jianxin, also at the Human Immortal stage, saw through Mo Qi's cultivation level at a glance, a hint of disdain appearing in his eyes. "I thought you were so formidable. Shedding your outer shell has only turned you into a butterfly, not an eagle! Hahaha!"
Hong Jianxin's unrestrained laughter gave the others much-needed courage, and they all burst into laughter. Of course, more laughter was aimed at appeasing Hong Jianxin.
Mo Qi said indifferently, "To deal with small moths, a butterfly is enough!"
Calling him a moth, Hong Jianxin stopped laughing.
The others also ceased their laughter.
However, some people couldn't rein in their smiles in time and received a fierce glare from Hong Jianxin.
At this moment, Mo Qi realized that he had never lost an argument. He felt a sense of elation.
Linghu Xiaoxian, however, cast him a sidelong glance. "Who do you think you are? Do I need you to take the blame for me?"
Mo Qi suddenly gave her a flirtatious wink. "We'll discuss our matters later."
Linghu Xiaoxian's heart fluttered. She found herself thinking too far ahead, her face flushing.
But the question remained, if you take all the blame upon yourself, how will you get through this situation?
"Alright," Hong Jianxin waved to the people around him. "You all retreat. I alone am enough to deal with him."
The others responded and retreated, instantly moving twenty miles away.
"This, alas." Hong Jianxin couldn't help but sigh. Now there was no one to cheer him on.
Linghu Xiaoxian looked at Hong Jianxin. "Senior Brother, you shouldn't fight him. Let him leave. You can't defeat him."
For some reason, Hong Jianxin felt that Linghu Xiaoxian had changed somewhat today, though he couldn't pinpoint the exact change.
It was like a lioness suddenly becoming docile!
The thought itself was terrifying!
However, this well-intentioned reminder greatly angered Hong Jianxin.
He felt his pride being dragged across the ground five times.
Why not six? He didn't understand!
"Did I hear you correctly, Junior Sister? I can't defeat him? Him, a mere Tribulation Crossing stage cultivator, and I can't defeat him?" Hong Jianxin was overly agitated, his voice becoming somewhat shrill.
Linghu Xiaoxian was about to say, "Even I can't defeat him," but before she could speak, Hong Jianxin had already made his move.
Hong Jianxin formed a hand seal and patted his storage bag. "Swallowing Heaven Bell!"
A bell-shaped magical artifact spun out, expanding infinitely.
The bell had eight holes, and as it spun, red mist flowed out, sweeping towards Mo Qi.