47: Chapter 47

"Ah!"

Before she could even struggle, Li Pingan's other hand had already clenched into a fist, carrying a forceful Qi capable of shattering mountains and cracking stones, as it smashed ruthlessly into her Dantian where flames were coalescing.

"Pfft!" Chu Linger, Heavenly Pride of Li Huo Pavilion, felt as if she had been struck by a heavy hammer, her entire body arching like a shrimp!

A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out, staining the lapel of her clothes red. A tearing, agonizing pain erupted from her Dantian, causing a look of extreme suffering to appear on Chu Linger's beautiful face.

The surrounding Cultivators watched with faces full of heartache.

After all, setting aside her personality and other traits, Chu Linger's appearance was that of a genuine beauty; countless Cultivators fantasized about becoming Dao Companions with her on the mountain.

The sparks from the shattered fire dragon were still dancing in mid-air, rapidly flying toward Li Pingan.

Li Pingan paid no heed to these futile struggles. His hand gripping Chu Linger suddenly exerted force, slamming her ruthlessly onto the ground. With a "bang," the bluestone floor tiles shattered, and Chu Linger's forehead struck the broken stone, instantly seeping blood.

"Do you still need me to give up the spot?" Li Pingan looked down at her from above, his eyes devoid of any pity.

"You dare..." Chu Linger's angry rebuke had just started when it was cut off by a steady boot ruthlessly stepping on her face.

"Ugh!" The crisp sound of her nasal bone fracturing mixed with a muffled groan, and Chu Linger's vision instantly turned blood-red.

She was a Prodigy of Leaving Fire Pavilion, a talent unseen in a century. Since childhood, she had been a pearl held in the palm of everyone's hands. Her cultivation base had progressed by leaps and bounds, and she rarely met an opponent among her peers. The Sect Elders praised her extraordinary talent, and her fellow Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters revered her like a deity. When had she ever suffered such humiliation?

Now, she was being stepped on like a dead dog, not even having the right to lift her head.

A supreme humiliation!

At this moment, only these four words occupied Chu Linger's mind, seeping into the very marrow of her bones.

The crowd stood dumbfounded, one by one, gasping in cold air.

They watched this scene in disbelief.

That rising Prodigy of Leaving Fire Pavilion had actually... actually lost to this dark-skinned youth. And she had lost so pathetically.

How was this possible?

But the truth was right before their eyes; no matter how hard it was to imagine, these people could only tell themselves to accept it.

Dao Seeking Sect!

What exactly was the background of this Dao Seeking Sect? Why was this dark youth so fierce? Even a Prodigy from a Hegemon-level Force was no match for him.

"Kid, you're looking for death!"

Seeing their Sect's Prodigy being stepped on, the other two Elders of Leaving Fire Pavilion instantly roared in anger and charged at Li Pingan without hesitation.

Two burning chains, carrying crackling sparks, coiled toward Li Pingan's neck like venomous snakes.

Li Pingan's footwork suddenly changed, his figure drifting sideways like willow catkins in the wind, returning to stand in front of Xiao Lingxian.

"Senior Brother, are you alright?" Xiao Lingxian asked with concern.

Li Pingan shook his head. "Just some superficial injuries. That woman isn't very good at fighting."

Xiao Lingxian squeezed out a helpless smile, her red lips parting slightly, but she ultimately swallowed her words. 'Senior Brother, is it possible that you are just too strong?'

The two Elders immediately helped the extremely disheveled Chu Linger up. One of them quickly took out a green porcelain bottle and poured out a Medicinal Pill for her to take.

After doing this, the two Elders turned to glare at Li Pingan and Xiao Lingxian. "Good, very good. Not only did you kill our Sect's Elder, but you also dared to heavily injure a Personal Disciple of our Leaving Fire Pavilion."

"If we let you two leave alive, where would the prestige of our Leaving Fire Pavilion be?"

Li Pingan took a step forward and said, "You mean you still want to fight?"

The two Elders immediately supported Chu Linger and took a step back.

They had to speak harsh words, but they truly couldn't beat this dark youth. That physique was completely unreasonable; even Chu Linger's 'Trapped Dragon Sea of Fire' couldn't stop this person.

How could they, two Outer Sect Elders, possibly fight him?

"It's true I killed your Leaving Fire Pavilion Elder, but that's because he made a lethal move against me and my Junior Sister first. Furthermore, if I truly had killing intent, you two wouldn't have been able to save her just now."

Li Pingan did not want to offend Leaving Fire Pavilion, as it would add unnecessary trouble for his Revered Master.

Moreover, before entering the Secret Realm, the Sect had already offended the colossus known as the Crimson Firmament Sect. If they added another Hegemon-level Force, even Revered Master might find it a bit troublesome.

"Kid, stop with the sophistry! If you have something to say, say it to the experts of my Leaving Fire Pavilion." The Elder on the left quickly reached into his robe and pulled out a message talisman.

With a "poof," the Talisman turned into a streak of light and instantly flew into the distance.

In less than an hour, nearby Leaving Fire Pavilion experts would arrive upon hearing the news. At that time, capturing this dark youth and holding him accountable would be as easy as turning over a palm.

Li Pingan frowned slightly, not expecting the other party to be so unreasonable.

Xiao Lingxian said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, let's retreat first. We should go regroup with the Sect Master and my Revered Master."

Li Pingan gave an "en" and moved to the side to protect Xiao Lingxian, intending to turn and dash away.

However, a figure suddenly lunged from the side, blocking the path of the two.

The newcomer was a man with a full beard, at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer!

His attire allowed one to clearly identify his status: the Third Elder of the Azure Nether Sword Sect.

The Fourth Elder licked his lips and chuckled, "Little friends, don't be in such a hurry to leave."

Li Pingan's eyes turned cold. "Senior, why do you block our path? We have no grievances between us."

The Third Elder laughed and said, "No grievances? Not necessarily. Besides, handing you two over to Leaving Fire Pavilion would earn me a decent favor."

"Senior, please help my Leaving Fire Pavilion capture these two. My Revered Master will surely reward you with a heavy gift," Chu Linger said, biting her lip after wiping the blood from her face.

Her eyes were filled with rage, wishing she could skin Li Pingan alive and pull out his bones.

Li Pingan took a deep breath and said with a serious expression, "Senior, do you truly intend to act this way?"

The Third Elder sneered and took out an ancient longsword from his storage space. The blade shimmered with a faint blue cold light, and his body was surrounded by surging spiritual energy fluctuations. The pressure of a Golden Core Expert spread out like dark clouds pressing down, causing the surrounding air to stagnate.

"This old man would like to see what extraordinary means you have, kid."

"You were able to cross Realms to defeat that Prodigy girl from Leaving Fire Pavilion; I wonder if you can cross Realms to slay this old man's Golden Core?"

A Golden Core Expert?!

Li Pingan felt as if he were facing a great enemy. If it were only an expert at the fifth or sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, he could still stall them and let his Junior Sister, Xiao Lingxian, escape.

But the opponent was actually in the Golden Core Realm.

The difference was simply too great.

The Third Elder's wrist flicked slightly, the longsword drawing a semicircle. A blue Sword Qi instantly solidified, carrying a sharp whistle that tore through the air as it slashed toward the ground in front of Li Pingan.

With a loud "bang," the bluestone floor tiles exploded. Amidst the flying debris, a trench several feet deep appeared between the two, clearly a show of force.

The surrounding Cultivators were so frightened they retreated repeatedly. Under the Golden Core pressure, even breathing became difficult.

Xiao Lingxian grabbed Li Pingan's right hand and said softly, "Senior Brother, in a moment I will use a Talisman to escape from here. Hold onto my hand and don't let go."

A Talisman?

Li Pingan looked at Xiao Lingxian in confusion.

Xiao Lingxian could only explain succinctly, "It's a life-saving measure given to me by my Revered Master. Even a Golden Core Expert would be powerless to stop it."

Just as Li Pingan and his companion were preparing to escape,

A green sword light containing vast Spiritual Qi appeared out of thin air without warning, instantly striking toward the Third Elder.