Although the beast tide had receded, the oppressive and tense atmosphere in the air did not lessen in the slightest.
Li Pingfu stood atop the city wall of Hongyang County, commanding the soldiers to repair the defenses damaged by the demonic beasts and handling the various aftermath matters.
After days of fierce battles, he had grown thinner, but his posture had become even more upright and resolute like a pine tree.
At that moment, a streak of light tore through the distant horizon, swiftly arriving and landing right before him.
As the light faded, it revealed a woman dressed in a cloud-patterned palace robe, her face cold and stunningly beautiful.
Her aura surged with spiritual power, strong and commanding—she was Su Qingyun, the current matriarch of the Su family.
"County Captain Li."
Su Qingyun’s voice was like ancient ice, devoid of any warmth. "Where is my daughter?"
Li Pingfu furrowed his brow slightly; he recognized this woman.
After the elder of the Seven Stars Sect died and dissipated, it was this matriarch of the Su family who came to retrieve her daughter’s belongings, speaking with some complaints toward him, the man responsible for defending the city.The problem was, no one knew exactly how those two immortals perished. Rumor had it even their bodies were nowhere to be found—perhaps they died during the initial outbreak in the river.
Of course, all these were Li Pingfu’s speculations; as a low-ranking military official, he did not have the “privilege” to know about the immortals’ matters.
"Madam Su."
Li Pingfu cupped his fist, neither humble nor arrogant, and said, "On the battlefield, swords and blades show no mercy. Your daughter, being a sect disciple, was also a main force in this battle. Her unfortunate death is deeply regrettable. But the war was brutal, and we mortal soldiers did our utmost to protect the city’s civilians. There simply was no strength to spare."
"No strength to spare?"
Jiang Yunsheng laughed bitterly, "What kind of ‘no strength to spare’ is that! Your son is a first-rate sect disciple with a low-grade spiritual root, a heavenly prodigy. If you were truly present, how many demonic beasts could you have slain? How many lives could you have saved? Those incompetent fools who have magical protection are one thing, but do you even know how you yourself died?"
You certainly don’t know the guilt of those mortals; at this moment, you only want to vent your anger.
The early-stage refined energy pressure was released without reservation, pressing the surrounding soldiers backward, their faces turning pale.
Upon hearing this, Su Qingyun felt nothing but mockery.
Sect disciples always looked down on mortals, normally treating them as beneath notice. Now that her disciple had died, she turned around and blamed those “mortals” for their protective efforts?
What an absurd double standard!
"Madam Su."
Su Qingyun hastily lifted her head, her gaze cold and indifferent.
"Say that again. Your duty is to protect the people outside the city. As for those sect disciples, without godly abilities or mysterious spells, their lives and deaths are beyond my capabilities!"
"That!"
Ning Yaorou trembled with anger from those words. Did you think a mere military official could dare speak to you like this!
"Impertinent?! A soldier dares to talk about ‘duty’ in front of me? Does he know that a single hair on your son is worth more than all the worthless lives in this city combined?"
Before she finished speaking, a crimson flame in her palm suddenly surged wildly, forming a vivid fiery phoenix that charged toward Su Qingyun!
The air instantly ignited, crackling loudly.
Seeing this, Su Qingyun laughed coldly and advanced instead of retreating!
Not a shred of fear. The long-suppressed rage inside her finally erupted completely at this moment.
"Five Spirit Play, Power of the Bear and Tiger!"
He bent his waist and immediately activated, his blood qi roaring like a furnace.
The phantom of a giant bear howled to the sky, and a phantom tiger crouched on a hillock. These two divine auras miraculously merged atop his fist!
No fancy moves, just a simple, straightforward punch!
Boom!
The fist collided with the fiery phoenix in midair with a thunderous impact!
The overwhelming destruction Su Qingyun imagined did not appear.
The spell, formed from pure flames, splattered in all directions the moment it touched Li Pingfu’s fist, shattered by the overwhelming power of his punch!
Su Qingyun was dumbfounded, "How is this possible?!"
A mere warrior can bare-handedly withstand her sixth-level spell?
The power contained in that punch even made her heart skip a beat!
Just as Su Qingyun’s spirit was violently shaken, waves of furious killing intent locked onto her from all directions.
She turned sharply, pupils contracting.
On the city wall, those mortal soldiers who had been trembling from her pressure just moments ago now gripped their spears tightly. Thousands of eyes no longer held fear, only a unified, burning hatred!
They did not shout nor charge, but expressed their stance in the purest way:
Their lord was fighting to protect them.
They would live and die with him!
The iron-blooded aura of thousands merged, forming an invisible force field that even caused Su Qingyun’s protective spiritual light to flicker.
"Rebel! You ants dare..."
Su Qingyun trembled with rage. How could she ever endure such humiliation?
Just as she prepared to teach these reckless mortals a lesson, a steady voice came drifting up from below the wall,
"Madam Su, please calm your anger."
Jiang Yunsheng appeared under the city wall at an unknown time.
He still wore his dark armor, face solemn, but his deep eyes carried undeniable fatigue.
"This is a military command center. I hope Madam Su can prioritize the army’s interests and refrain from fighting here, to avoid disturbing morale."
He first stated the nature of the place, then offered Su Qingyun a way out. His tone then shifted as he looked at Li Pingfu:
"As a city defender, you should know your duty to protect the city. The demonic beasts have not fully retreated, and the city defenses remain unstable. How can you neglect public duty for personal reasons and cause conflict with allied forces?"
His words split the blame evenly, seemingly fair but secretly supporting Li Pingfu.
Could Su Qingyun not see through this?
Her anger flared even higher, but looking at Jiang Yunsheng’s calm, inscrutable face and the hundred fierce sect cultivators behind him, her killing intent was finally suppressed by reason.
Attacking a commander in a military stronghold was tantamount to openly challenging the dynasty’s authority.
This was a charge she could not bear, and neither could the Su family behind her.
"Good, a true celestial official of the dynasty, and a worthy Li Pingfu!"
Su Qingyun took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her anger.
"I will remember today’s events. Li Pingfu, you better pray you don’t fall into my hands."
With that, she vanished in a streak of light without lingering.
Jiang Yunsheng finally exhaled in relief. He walked to Li Pingfu’s side, patted his shoulder, and whispered, "That mad woman is not to be trifled with. The Su family is behind her. Be careful."
"Thank you for the warning, sir."
Li Pingfu returned the salute, looking down at the surviving soldiers below the city wall. His anger gradually transformed into a heavy sense of responsibility.
If this woman is not eliminated, he would have no peace, and the consequences would be endless.
Just as he fretted, a familiar aura approached. Li Pingfu turned and whispered, "Little brother, why are you back?"
"Big brother, no need to say more. I know everything."
Li Pingcan had clearly observed Su Qingyun’s true colors through the Fungal Lord Domain and grew increasingly murderous.
But immediately, he sensed something amiss.
Under the power of the Druid training site, a faint but alien energy fluctuation lingered around Su Qingyun, clashing with her spiritual energy.
"Tracking mark?"
Li Pingcan’s heart skipped a beat as he instantly understood.
Either Su Qingyun was being tracked by someone, or she herself was using a secret method to track someone.
The one being tracked was none other than him, the “culprit”!
No matter what, this woman was a calamity that had to be eliminated.
...
Outside Hongyang County, at an abandoned relay station.
In a corner of the relay station, a campfire burned brightly, crackling.
Li Pingfu added a dry branch to the fire, his voice low, "Little brother, are you really sure she will come here?"
"She wants to go from Hongyang County back to the prefectural capital. This is the only route."
Li Pingcan looked up, his usual relaxed smile on his face, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
"Besides, I planted a decent-aged Cold Pool Grass upstream along that river. Fire-element cultivators like her are most vulnerable to this heavenly material that neutralizes fire poison and enhances cultivation."
Li Pingfu’s lips twitched slightly. In his heart, he thought, ‘Little brother really has fishing down to an art.’
"Big brother, you don’t need to worry too much."
Li Pingcan seemed to see through his thoughts and smiled, "No matter how powerful she is, she is only an eighth-stage refined energy cultivator. Her soul isn’t strong, and her means are limited. You and I together, she can’t escape."
"I’m not worried about losing." Li Pingfu shook his head, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. "I’m worried that killing her will bring the Su family’s retaliation. Our Li family’s foundation is still too shallow."
"That’s why she can’t be allowed to go back alive and report."
Li Pingcan’s smile remained unchanged, but his tone turned colder.
"Big brother, for a dog that wants to bite you, either stay far away or beat it to death so hard that its master won’t dare send it out again. Su Qingyun is already a mad dog chasing us to bite."
Li Pingfu was silent, knowing his brother was right.
"She’s coming."
Li Pingcan suddenly said.
A figure was speeding toward the relay station on a flying sword.
Su Qingyun showed no intention of hiding her movement. In her view, this desolate wilderness was no place where anyone dared to harm a late-stage refined energy cultivator like herself.
At that moment, a sudden wave of alarm made her dodge sharply as a crossbow bolt shot from the relay station direction.
"It’s you!"
Seeing Li Pingfu, her enemy, her eyes blazed with rage. Without hesitation, she dropped her flying sword and charged at Li Pingfu, forming hand seals to cast a spell.
Li Pingfu shook his head. Just as his brother said, not hiding his figure actually baited Su Qingyun into a trap.
The Five Spirits United suddenly exploded forth, fearless, rushing toward the fiery spell.
"Seeking death!" Su Qingyun’s eyes gleamed with excitement. This “Blazing Flame Spell” was a seventh-level spell. Even if Li Pingfu’s energy shield was strong, he would definitely be harmed.
But Li Pingcan acted.
He didn’t even stand, just casually grabbed a half-burned wooden stick from the fire and lightly waved it at the intimidating flame.
Elemental Infusion plus Windrunner’s Protection!
A strong gust of wind howled, blowing the roaring fire into smoke, instantly dissipating it!
"What!?"
Su Qingyun’s eyes nearly popped out. She never imagined her powerful spell, strong enough to threaten cultivators of the same rank, would be so casually nullified.
And the opponent didn’t even perform hand seals, just used a burning stick?
"You! You’re a cultivator too!?" She stared at Li Pingcan in horror.
Li Pingcan smiled and said, "The night wind is cold and strong. Why not sit down and have some roasted meat to warm up?"
Warm your big head!
Su Qingyun flew into a rage, never having been so toyed with.
"Playing tricks!"
She shouted sharply, changing her hand seals again. Dozens of fiery red snakes appeared from nowhere, alive as if with minds of their own, surrounding Li Pingcan from all sides, blocking every escape route.
"Let’s see where you run this time!" Su Qingyun smiled on her face.
"Little brother!"
Li Pingfu’s heart tightened seeing this.
"Big brother, rest assured."
Li Pingcan casually walked into the sea of flames, letting the struggling fire snakes coil around him.
A strange scene unfolded.
The flames that could melt refined iron became like tame pets upon touching his body. Not only did they cause no harm, but they transformed into strands of pure fire spiritual energy, completely absorbed by his body!
Affinity of Extinguishment!
"This... how is this possible?!"
Su Qingyun was utterly stunned.
Breaking spells bare-handed was one thing; now even devouring flames?
Just as her mind lost focus, Li Pingfu moved.
A tiger’s roar erupted from him. Like a fierce beast unleashed from its cage, he surged forward with overwhelming momentum, instantly reaching Su Qingyun’s front with a brutal heavy punch aimed straight at her face!
"Not good!"
Su Qingyun’s alarm bells rang. Her extensive experience in spell battles made her instinctively retreat while pulling a soil-colored talisman from her storage pouch.
A first-grade superior Mountain Rock Talisman!
The talisman ignited itself, instantly wrapping her in a heavy, solid rock shield.
"Shatter!"
Li Pingfu’s fist struck the rock shield solidly.
Crack!
Spiderweb cracks spread across the shield’s surface. Using the momentum, Su Qingyun floated backward. At the same time, she flipped her wrist, and a flying sword shimmering with cyan light bypassed Li Pingfu’s front defense at a cunning angle, stabbing toward Li Pingcan behind him!
Catch the ringleader first!
To her, this strange cultivator was the real threat!
If she could eliminate him, the remaining brute soldier was no cause for concern!
Her smile quickly froze.
Facing the lightning-fast lethal strike, the “fragile” sword cultivator in her eyes showed no sign of dodging, instead grinning widely, revealing a set of white teeth.
That smile was wild and primal.
Savage Fury!
Li Pingcan’s figure suddenly expanded. His arm muscles bulged, and veins writhed under his skin like dragons and snakes. A savage and ferocious aura burst forth!
He stretched out his clawed right hand and grabbed the cyan flying sword mid-flight!
Clang!
A piercing clash of metal and iron rang out, sparks flying!
Su Qingyun’s flying sword was caught bare-handed!
"What!?"
Su Qingyun’s mind buzzed.
She felt like she wasn’t fighting a person, but a fierce beast disguised in human skin!
Even more despairing, the instant he caught the flying sword, an aura both familiar and terrifying exploded from him, shaking her soul!
This aura—
The aura that had extinguished the last spark of life from her daughter, Su Huanuan!
"It’s you! The killer of my daughter—it’s you!"
Su Qingyun screamed hysterically.
Her long-sought enemy stood right before her!
The irony was, she had arrogantly thought he was a soft target she could easily control!
"Only now recognizing me?"
Li Pingcan’s voice deepened and became hoarse. "Too bad, there’s no reward."
Su Qingyun was, after all, an eighth-stage refined energy cultivator with rich spell battle experience and did not lose all composure.
Yet Li Pingcan suddenly produced an ancient, jet-black iron sword from somewhere.
"You’re a sword cultivator too!?"
Su Qingyun’s voice was full of incredulous horror.
A brute with terrifying physical strength and mysterious spells, who also cultivated the sword path?
How could such an unreasonable monster exist in this world!?
Li Pingcan did not answer. He slowly raised his “Awakening Thunder.”
Su Qingyun withdrew her sword, flipping and darting like a butterfly, sword light dazzling and swift, aiming to stab straight at him.
But she faced Li Pingcan.
"Thirteen Wind Returning Swords, First Style, Willow Brush!"
Li Pingcan shook Awakening Thunder in his hand, a series of crisp metallic clangs rang out.
Su Qingyun’s proud exquisite sword moves were all lightly and effortlessly countered before him, like childish scribbles.
"Impossible!"
Su Qingyun clenched her teeth, "Fire Dance!"
She combined fire spells with swordsmanship. The air burned and twisted with heat and scorching wind as she unleashed it upon Li Pingcan again!
"Well met!"
"Third Style, Rolling Clouds!"
The Awakening Thunder sword no longer sought extreme speed but transformed into a continuous black sea of clouds.
Sword light surged like tides, wave upon wave, engulfing Su Qingyun’s sword techniques.
Knowing she was outmatched, Su Qingyun gritted her teeth and shouted, releasing a talisman to forcibly escape.
But she was fast; Li Pingcan was faster!
"Awakening Thunder!"
With his low shout, a lightning-fast sword light flashed and disappeared!
"Pop!"
Su Qingyun’s movements froze. She looked down in disbelief to see a bowl-sized transparent hole in her chest.
Life force vanished swiftly like the tide receding.
Her last consciousness was the stunning black sword light.