21: The first battle was a surprise attack.

"Black Fiend Saber, go!"

The ghost-headed saber transformed into a streak of black light, carrying a sharp Evil Qi as it slashed directly toward Huo Li's face!

Huo Li's pupils constricted. Not daring to meet it head-on, he hastily executed a movement technique to dodge, while the green steel sword in his hand traced an arc of light.

However, his magic power was insufficient, the sword light was dim, and his speed was a beat too slow.

Clang——!!

The green steel sword and the Black Fiend Saber collided violently, producing a crisp, ringing sound.

Huo Li felt a massive force transfer through the blade; instantly, the webbing of his thumb split open, and blood flowed freely.

The green steel sword was knocked flying, plunging into the distant soil, its blade covered in visible cracks.

A semi-magical artifact was, after all, merely a mundane weapon infused with magic power. Whether in terms of refining Materials or craftsmanship, it was far inferior to a true Magical Artifact, making it incredibly fragile.

As for Huo Li himself, the shock sent his blood and Qi churning. He staggered back repeatedly, nearly collapsing.

"Pauper!"

The Hunyuan Sect Disciple sneered, controlling the Black Fiend Saber to strike again. A terrifying whistling sound rang out continuously as the black saber light fell like a cascading waterfall, sealing off all of Huo Li's paths of retreat.

Clang— Clang— Clang—

Huo Li was stretched thin, barely holding on with a few low-level Talismans and crude Spells, but the wounds on his body multiplied, and his clothes were stained red with blood.

Despair, like a cold tide, gradually submerged his mind.

Was he destined to lose his life here today?

Seeing that life-taking Black Fiend Saber rise high once more, descending toward his head with a killing momentum.

A final flash of resentment crossed Huo Li's eyes, and he subconsciously closed them, waiting for death to arrive.

However, the expected agonizing pain did not come.

Just as the Black Fiend Saber was about to touch his scalp, a sudden change occurred.

Buzz—

A dazzling golden light suddenly appeared; even with his eyes closed, he could feel the brilliance piercing through his eyelids.

The Hunyuan Sect Disciple's eyes instinctively snapped shut, but in the next instant, a faint yet sharp sound of breaking air rang out.

Whiz!!!

Huo Li felt an incomparably sharp aura graze past his ear.

Immediately after, he heard a short, horrified grunt from behind, followed by the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground.

He snapped his eyes open and saw that the previously overbearing Hunyuan Sect Disciple was now standing frozen not far away. A thumb-sized blood hole had appeared in the center of his forehead, piercing straight through to the back, his eyes still filled with lingering, unbelievable terror.

The Black Fiend Saber Magical Artifact lost its control and fell to the ground with a loud clang.

Dead?

Huo Li was stunned, and the wild joy of surviving a disaster instantly surged into his heart!

Which Senior was passing by and lent a helping hand?

Was it a Senior Brother who had luckily escaped?

He hurriedly turned around, wanting to bow and thank his savior, shouting excitedly, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for sav—"

Before he could finish, his voice stopped abruptly, as if his throat had been seized by an invisible hand.

Because he saw a figure that had appeared several yards behind him like a ghost at some unknown time.

The person wore a simple green Daoist robe and had a cold, stern face. He didn't look very old, but his eyes were like deep, ancient wells, cold and devoid of any ripples.

However, what horrified Huo Li even more than the man was the object floating in front of him: a small sword about three inches long, entirely translucent purple, emitting a sharp aura.

The tip of the sword was pointed directly at him.

"You..."

The wild joy on Huo Li's face froze instantly, turning into endless fear and confusion.

This person was, naturally, Yu Xuzi.

Expressionless, he merely gave Huo Li a faint glance and shifted his intent.

Puchi!

The small purple sword turned into a stream of light once more, its speed even faster!

Huo Li had no time to make any reaction. He only felt a heart-wrenching pain erupt from his Dantian, as if something had been completely punctured and shattered!

The magic power he had accumulated through years of hard cultivation instantly dissipated like air from a punctured balloon!

"Ah—!"

Huo Li let out a shrill scream and slumped to the ground, his face as pale as paper, sweat instantly soaking his entire body.

His cultivation was destroyed!

He had become a complete and utter cripple!

"Although it's my first time killing someone, this feeling doesn't seem much different from killing a chicken."

Yu Xuzi walked forward and silently let out a long breath of relief.

"The Breath Concealment Technique recorded in the Huang Tian True Scripture is indeed powerful. It can not only hide one's cultivation but also suppress one's life aura.

A Cultivator of the same rank was so close, yet he didn't even notice my existence."

The reason he chose to act was not just because these two happened to stumble upon his hiding place, but more importantly, because he was confident!

The Second-tier Magical Artifact, the yu king sword!

Although he had only obtained this sword a few days ago, Yu Xuzi found that this sword was exceptionally 'clean' and highly compatible with him.

It was as if there were no traces of it ever having been refined or used by anyone else.

But Yu Xuzi knew that was impossible.

How could a Magical Artifact passed down in the State Preceptors Mansion for centuries have never been used?

Therefore, from the moment it was bestowed upon him, it had most likely been 'cleansed' by the bronze pavilion, clearing away all obstacles.

This was why Yu Xuzi found using this sword exceptionally smooth.

While he hadn't fully refined it over these past few days, simple manipulation was still possible.

Blinding the eyes with a Golden Light Talisman and using a Second-tier Magical Artifact for a secret sneak attack—it would be unreasonable if he couldn't take down an unprepared Cultivator of the same rank.

"You... who are you??"

Enduring the intense pain, Huo Li retreated repeatedly on the ground with a panicked expression.

However, Yu Xuzi didn't even look at him, searching the Hunyuan Sect Disciple's corpse thoroughly.

Ultimately, he obtained five of the lowest-grade Talismans, six Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and a bottle of unknown Medicinal Pills.

There was also the Tier 1 Low Grade Magical Artifact, the Black Fiend Saber.

Nothing else.

"So poor?"

Yu Xuzi was somewhat surprised.

He hadn't expected that a sect Disciple would only have this much on him.

He casually flicked a fist-sized, scorching fireball at the corpse; destroying the evidence was still necessary.

Boom!!

Raging flames quickly engulfed the corpse, turning it into a small pile of ashes within a few breaths.

Having finished all this, Yu Xuzi finally walked over to Huo Li, who was curled up on the ground in pain and despair. He picked him up, and with a flash of his figure, he disappeared into the depths of the dense forest.

This place was still too close to Purple Gold Mountain. For safety's sake, it was better to get further away.

The wind whistled in his ears, and Huo Li's consciousness gradually blurred. He only felt his body being carried at high speed, the surrounding scenery retreating rapidly.

After an unknown amount of time, he was tossed carelessly into a dark and damp mountain cave.

The cave walls were covered in moss, and the air was thick with the smell of earth and rotting leaves and branches.

Yu Xuzi stood at the cave entrance, blocking the faint light from outside and casting a shadow over Huo Li.

He looked down at Huo Li, who was slumped on the ground like a pile of mud, his voice as calm as still water:

"Now, I ask, you answer."

Huo Li struggled to raise his head, looking at those cold eyes, his heart filled with endless fear and bewilderment.