7: First battle

The sky was dim, dark clouds gathered, and a heavy downpour was brewing.

The carriage slowly pulled up in front of a rather simple inn. Zhang Yizhi skillfully maneuvered the carriage to the side.

After more than ten days of training, Zhang Yizhi seemed to be less and less resistant to driving.

He felt as if he was gradually falling in love with the job of driving.

A handsome young man and a shy young girl stepped out of the carriage. The young man looked up at the sky, dark as ink.

In the sky, dangerous lightning flashed continuously, appearing quite abnormal.

"The weather is unpredictable. This heavy rain might have another cause."

Qin Dong circulated his True Qi and gazed in a certain direction. His Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation greatly enhanced his physical functions.

He fully activated his True Essence, concentrating it in his eyes. His vision extended far, and a blurry figure sat leisurely atop a nearby mountain peak.

He was like an exiled immortal, fearless of the rolling thunderclouds above his head.

Just then, the system's voice echoed in Qin Dong's mind.

[Ding, the system has issued a quest: Evade the Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation. Quest reward: Two Yellow Rank Cultivation Method Proficiency Boost Cards.]

Qin Dong smiled slightly. Wasn't this an opportunity to get rewards?

"Hurry, Brother Qin, let's go in and eat. It's been so long since I've had fresh food."

"If you don't go in, I'm going in first."

Creak. Zhang Yizhi pushed open the inn door, but the next moment he was struck by what he saw.

"Ah! Help... me..."

In the dimly lit inn, a richly dressed merchant lay on the ground, a gleaming steel knife plunged into his body.

"Hmph, not dead yet?"

A burly man walked over, raised his knife, and brought it down. The merchant died on the spot.

Inside the inn, more than twenty fierce-looking burly men sat at several tables, eating and drinking heartily.

On the other side, several younger-looking men were counting stolen goods and moving bodies.

The burly man glanced at Zhang Yizhi outside the door with a playful sneer, then dragged the merchant away, leaving behind a strikingly obvious trail of blood.

"Brother... Brother Qin... let's leave here quickly. It's fine if I get a little wet from the rain."

Zhang Yizhi stammered, standing at the door, somewhat at a loss.

Qin Dong couldn't help but glance at him upon hearing this.

Leave?

Not far away, a quasi-Golden Core Realm grand cultivator was undergoing tribulation. How could they leave?

He was afraid that if they didn't get far, they would be struck dead by the lightning tribulation. It was better to fight these petty thieves, as the chances of survival were greater.

"Don't panic, I have a trump card."

"Sister Zixuan, let's go. I'm 100% confident I can protect your safety."

Qin Dong said calmly, then took Qin Zixuan's slightly flustered small hand and walked into the inn as if no one else was around.

Qin Zixuan, whose hand was being held, blushed slightly and hummed softly, letting him lead her.

For some reason, being by his side gave her an indescribable sense of security, an extra peace of mind.

She had paid close attention to him in the Qin Family, after all, he was the object of admiration for most of the women in Desolate Profound City.

Qin Zixuan knew a little about Qin Dong's daily life, when he slept, and where he liked to meditate.

She knew he was a cautious person.

"A trump card given by the Qin Family? In that case, I can rest a little easier."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade them, Zhang Yizhi could only pray that there was an inconspicuous corner in the inn where they could simply sit.

Qin Dong casually found a cleaner spot and sat down. Qin Zixuan frowned slightly, secretly observing the people around them.

She dared not be careless in the slightest, remaining vigilant at all times.

The most panicked was Zhang Yizhi, his legs trembling like an old man's, completely unsettled.

Outside the inn, a thunderbolt struck, and a formation rose from the inn's roof, blocking the lightning.

At this moment, the lightning tribulation began... For a time, the atmosphere inside the inn also became eerily quiet, with only the rumbling, silent thunder echoing.

[Ding, congratulations Host for completing the quest, you have received two Yellow Rank Cultivation Method Proficiency Boost Cards.]

Being in a den of thieves, Qin Dong naturally dared not be overconfident. He immediately thought, and used two Proficiency Boost Cards on Mountain Splitting Fist.

[Ding, Mountain Splitting Fist proficiency increased. Current proficiency: Proficient.]

[Ding, Mountain Splitting Fist proficiency increased. Current proficiency: Mastered.]

The proficiency of Mountain Splitting Fist had reached the Mastered realm, just one step away from complete mastery.

Silence... Half an hour passed, and the thunder in their ears reached its most intense.

"Three esteemed guests, what would you like to order?"

At this moment, a man dressed as a Waiter came forward, a malicious smile on his face.

Qin Dong knew that this battle was about to begin.

Perfect, let me experience the charm of this cultivation world.

"No, no, we're just sitting and sheltering from the rain."

But before Zhang Yizhi could finish speaking, Qin Dong, who was beside him, spoke.

"One plate each of steamed, boiled, roasted, and fried Demonic Beast Meat, and a pot of tea."

Upon hearing this, the Waiter's smile grew even wider.

He responded with a cheerful 'Alright!' but soon only brought out a plate of rotten meat with several white worms crawling within it.

Just one glance made Qin Dong's heart tremble, because he could still make out the outlines of humans within the rotten meat.

"Eat."

The Waiter sneered and pushed the plate towards Qin Dong.

At this moment, everyone in the den of thieves looked over, all with playful expressions, ready to act.

It was then that Qin Dong moved. He exerted force in his palms, delivering two sharp slaps to the Waiter's face.

"Ah!"

The Waiter, with only Qi Refining Realm first layer cultivation, could not withstand Qin Dong's slaps. He only managed a cry of alarm before being slapped unconscious to the ground.

The battle was on the verge of breaking out, and numerous weapons were drawn.

"Kill them!"

"Don't kill the little chick!"

The bandits all moved in unison, more than twenty men charging furiously, wielding weapons and howling like tigers and wolves.

Each of them had at least Qi Refining Realm second layer cultivation, and their boss behind them was even a Qi Refining Realm fourth layer expert.

"It's over."

This thought emerged in the minds of Zhang Yizhi and Qin Zixuan. Facing a group of murderous bandits, they were no match at all.

But they still resolutely drew their weapons and fought alongside Qin Dong.

"Kill!"

Qin Dong delivered two slaps, and a man at the second layer of Qi Refining Realm was slapped unconscious to the ground.

Suddenly, the sound of a blade cutting through the air came from behind him. Qin Dong turned around and slapped another person unconscious with two more slaps.

Clang, clang, the sound of weapons dropping to the ground echoed continuously.

Zhang Yizhi and Qin Zixuan watched Qin Dong display his might, slightly stunned.

"Is your young master really only at the first layer of Qi Refining Realm?"

"Why do I feel like even late-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators aren't his match for two slaps?"

"This, I don't know either. Since the young master was born, I haven't seen him make a move. Today is the first time."

Qin Zixuan looked at Qin Dong's figure, her eyes gradually filling with admiration.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yizhi pondered for a moment before responding.

"Brother Qin just told me not to panic, that he had a trump card. Could this be what he meant?"

"A trump card? That's right, our Qin Family's young master naturally has a trump card in hand."

"This must be a trump card that can temporarily enhance combat power."

As soon as the two thought of this, they immediately showed expressions of sudden realization. So that's how it was.

They/Our Qin Family is truly amazing.

"Ah, Boss, what should we do? This kid is too strong. Should we retreat?"

Before the man could finish speaking, two slaps landed, and the boss he spoke of was also slapped unconscious immediately afterward.

Although Qin Dong was entangled with these people, his gaze remained fixed on a certain corner.

"Enough!"

A furious voice came, and a black-robed, thin man swiftly attacked from a corner of the inn, unleashing a full-force killing move with a raised hand.

From the aura fluctuations of the newcomer, this was clearly a grand cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Qin Dong had been guarding against him all along, so how could he be successfully ambushed?

"Good timing, let me test the maximum power of my Mountain Splitting Fist."

Qin Dong fully activated his True Essence to circulate Mountain Splitting Fist. The Mastered level fist technique blasted out, colliding with the thin man's palm.

The aftershocks of the Foundation Establishment Realm battle reverberated throughout the entire inn. Apart from the two of them, everyone else had been knocked unconscious on the spot.

"Just as I wished."

Qin Dong glanced at Qin Zixuan and Zhang Yizhi. Seeing that they were safe, he finally relaxed.

Now he could go all out. The resentment accumulated over fifteen years could finally be released at this moment.

Bang.

The moment the two clashed, the thin man's face changed drastically.

How is this possible? He's in the Foundation Establishment Realm? Why is he so young!

Before the opponent could react, Qin Dong's fist struck again. He finally had a chance to unleash Mountain Splitting Fist.

Qin Dong naturally wouldn't let it go, throwing punch after punch, almost using a trade-blows fighting style.

There were no combat skills to speak of, only brute force.

"You! Who are you! Do you really want to be irreconcilable with my Black Blood Mountain City?"

The thin man clashed with Qin Dong. Even though he relied on his combat experience to fight him to a draw in a short time.

After all, the strength the opponent displayed was simply too heaven-defying, actually matching him, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

He himself had to constantly dodge the opponent's attacks, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to withstand a few punches.

The thin man took out a long saber. The saber had strange patterns, and its blade gleamed with a cold light. It appeared to be a Yellow Rank Weapon.

In fact, it was indeed a Yellow Rank Weapon, and its grade had reached mid-grade Yellow Rank. It was the thin man's most prized treasure.

He no longer dared to engage Qin Dong in close-quarters combat. Initially, he had a considerable advantage, but as time passed, he found that the opponent's combat skills were also continuously accumulating.

The thin man became anxious and furiously attacked with the power of his long saber.

The long saber slashed down, striking Qin Dong's body.

Only a clang was heard, as if it had struck something hard.

This made the thin man's expression instantly become spectacular.

"What grade of armor are you wearing? Who are you?"

"Guess."

Qin Dong had the Thick Earth Spirit Body, and his True Essence was recovering every moment. As his combat experience increased, his combat power also gradually grew.

Damn it, he's actually treating me as a whetstone!

After clashing again for a moment, the thin man seized an opening, gulped down a pile of pills, and then questioned Qin Dong's name again.

One must know that their Black Blood Mountain City was an extraordinary existence.

No matter which monstrous talent it was, he was confident he could make them suffer.

Punching the opponent back, Qin Dong grinned.

Is this the cultivation world? The battles are truly exhilarating.

"Speak my name, and you'll be startled. This Venerable One is Zhang Yizhi."

"Zhang from ' Arrogant' (arrogant), Yi from ' comfortable' (leisurely), Zhi from ' after' (after)."

"Good, good, so you're Zhang Yizhi, huh? You dare to offend our Black Blood Mountain City, I'll make sure you have no path to heaven and no door to hell!"

"You talk too much."

Let's decide the victor with one punch!

Mountain Splitting Fist!

True Qi coursed over his fist, drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. As the terrifying punch blasted out, the dimly lit inn was instantly enveloped in dazzling golden light.

"Zhang Yizhi!"

The thin man bit off his tongue and burned his vital essence, also heavily slashing out with his saber.

The two forces collided, and the entire inn trembled precariously. All objects and furnishings shattered into dust.

With a bang, the thin man flew backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.

He continuously spat out fresh blood, seeing that he wouldn't live. Before dying, he tremblingly took out a peculiar talisman.

He quickly wrote, "The one who killed me is Zhang Yizhi."

After these large characters, the talisman spontaneously combusted without fire. Having done all this, the thin man breathed his last.