Chapter 30 - Arc 2: The Linyuan Small Secret Realm | Chapter 30: Rescue

Translator: Lynn

Xu Chengwu found himself locked in a fierce battle with Tian Kui, struggling to gain the upper hand due to being constantly one step behind. Additionally, he had the responsibility of protecting a low-level cultivator, making it challenging for him to fully exert himself. If he continued to fight in this manner, not only would his spiritual energy be depleted with no chance for recovery, but he would also risk complete exhaustion.

In the midst of this intense struggle, a man suddenly descended from the sky and landed before Xu Chengwu. Though unable to defend himself at that moment, Xu Chengwu witnessed the man shaking his hand, unleashing a bolt of green light directly toward Tian Kui.

Caught off guard by this unexpected interference, Tian Kui quickly manipulated his flying sword, but the sudden disturbance forced him to hastily deploy a small round shield to block the incoming attack. Explosions ensued as the shield was struck by a cluster of thorny grass, penetrating its protective barrier. As Tian Kui glanced at the masked man, he sensed the individual’s formidable spiritual power, yet their attire and demeanor did not resemble that of any member of the five prominent families. Nevertheless, the intruder’s purpose was clear: to obstruct Tian Kui’s actions.

Maintaining a composed expression, Tian Kui retorted, “My Tian family is here on official business, so why don’t you mind your own business?”

In response, the man stated firmly, “You have harmed my Xu family. How can I stand idly by?”

The Xu and Tian families had deeply strained relations, with their conflict intensifying over the past five years, to the point where even superficial peace could not be maintained. Within this secret realm, where death had no permanent consequences, both families were locked in a deadly struggle.

Although Xu Ziqing had been cast aside by the Xu family five years ago, he still felt indebted to them for his upbringing. Now that the Tian family sought to eliminate the Xu family, he was driven by the desire to avenge the Tian family’s near-fatal attack on him, disregarding their shared blood ties.

Tian Kui narrowed his eyes, realizing that the Tian family was aware of all the Xu family members present in the secret realm. However, he remained ignorant of this mysterious man’s identity, indicating a deliberate attempt to conceal it. Could he be from the Meng, Wei, or Luo family?

Xu Chengwu, too, was puzzled, pondering the same question as Tian Kui. However, since he now had assistance, he chose not to delve into the matter further.

With Xu Ziqing’s intervention, Xu Chengwu seized the opportunity to anoint his flying sword with several mouthfuls of blood, causing it to emit a dazzling glow and release a stream of metallic qi. This collision of geng gold qi and the scorching qi emitted by Tian Kui’s flying sword gradually closed the gap between them.

Observing Xu Chengwu’s imminent turnaround, Tian Kui grew displeased and spoke sternly, “Since you refuse to be reasonable, I have no obligation to be polite!” Immediately after his words, he tapped his spirit tiger twice on the head and commanded, “Go!”

He witnessed the two-winged flying tiger emitting a long whistle while flapping its wings, heading straight toward Xu Ziqing!

Reacting swiftly, Xu Chengwu shouted, “Be careful!”

Xu Ziqing could detect the tiger’s foul breath, realizing that a moment’s hesitation would lead to him being swallowed by the tiger.

Having spent several years in the secret realm surrounded by demonic beasts, Xu Ziqing remained calm in the face of danger. He raised his hand and rubbed his right palm, producing a wooden stick with a sharp end and a round body, its color resembling both blue and green.

Bending down, Xu Ziqing positioned his body underneath the tiger’s belly, yet he raised the stick in his other hand, pointing the sharp end directly at the tiger’s abdomen. If the tiger were to pounce on him, its belly would be sliced open, resulting in its demise. However, the cunning tiger swiftly flapped its wings and maneuvered in the air, landing a few feet away.

Nonetheless, the two-winged flying tiger, under its master’s command, relentlessly coiled itself around Xu Ziqing, lunging and attempting to devour him. Xu Ziqing refrained from summoning the bloodthirsty demon vine, as he remained vigilant against other threats, opting instead to employ the wooden stick he had acquired, using it as a weapon against the tiger.

Realizing that it was unable to overpower its opponent, and fearing its master’s reprimand, the spirit tiger ascended and leaped above Xu Ziqing’s head, claws ready to tear him apart.

Slightly furrowing his brow, Xu Ziqing conjured two enormous leaf-like blades beneath his feet, providing support and allowing him to dodge the tiger’s claws.

These blades were fashioned from the primary leaves of the Suspended Sky Grass, created using the Qi of the Ethereal Wood. Although they possessed prolonged levitation capabilities, they lacked agility and were far inferior to the Spirit Tiger’s natural wings. Consequently, Xu Ziqing had to increase his speed to expedite the battle.

Xu Ziqing and the tiger reached a deadlock, each unable to assist the other. The two-winged flying tiger grew increasingly audacious, and Xu Ziqing became concerned that it would intimidate his spirit in the later stages of the battle.

Swift as needles, at Xu Ziqing’s command, they swiftly surrounded the two-winged flying tiger, transforming it into a hedgehog in the blink of an eye!

The two-winged flying tiger proved no match for Xu Ziqing, emitting a tiger’s roar as the needles turned into smoke and dust, dissipating in flames around its body.

The tiger, incensed by the pain inflicted upon it, began seeking the person responsible. However, before it could react to the wind above its head and lift its wings, a fierce Qi descended from above, piercing straight into its brain!

Blood gurgled from the tiger’s eyes, its body turning crimson.

As it turned out, Xu Ziqing had imitated the tiger’s actions, using the needles to disrupt it before transforming into a sharp weapon once again and launching an attack from above! The flying tiger struggled and descended, wailing throughout its descent.

Within two breaths, the two-winged flying tiger gradually lost its breath, crashing onto the ground with a resounding thud, twitching briefly before succumbing to death completely.

The first step is to gain a clear understanding of the situation at hand. Without his demonic pet, Tian Kui, who was merely at the sixth level of Qi refinement, would not have been able to compel Xu Chengwu in such a manner.

Meanwhile, Tian Kui’s heart was filled with grief. The spirit tiger had grown up with him, and their master-pet bond was extraordinary. Bringing the tiger here was an intentional act to provide it with more blood, but he never anticipated that it would lose its life. Consumed by ruthless determination, he vowed to kill Xu Chengwu and the others, offering them as sacrifices to the spirits of the two-winged flying tiger.

With one side’s morale heightened and the other side’s hatred deepened, the battle grew increasingly intense. Xu Ziqing, having landed on the ground, concentrated his aura and observed the ongoing fight. Assured that Xu Chengwu and Xu Ziyu were no longer in immediate danger, he decided to leave without further delay.

Xu Chengwu wanted to call out to him, but circumstances prevented him from doing so, ultimately forcing him to abandon the idea.

Moving to a different location, Xu Ziqing kept his mask on. Reflecting on the battle with the Spirit Tiger, he felt that he had gained valuable experience.

Over the past few years in the secret realm, although Xu Ziqing hadn’t collected any high-grade wood, he had gathered various types of usable wood for his own protection. For instance, the blades of the hovering grass beneath his feet allowed him to float temporarily when he didn’t possess a flying magical tool. The wooden stick in his hand was made from thousand-year-old hardened steel wood, possessing a hardness comparable to a top-grade magical weapon, making it suitable for refining weapons. Additionally, the needle leaves were derived from steel wood, and the grass thorns came from Wanhua grass, both serving as excellent materials for weapon refinement.

This was Xu Ziqing’s first battle against a cultivator, and while it wasn’t flawless, he considered it a commendable effort. Thoughts of mistakes, failures, and weaknesses filled his mind, driving him to seek improvement.

After self-reflection, Xu Ziqing directed half of his consciousness towards his storage ring, calling out to his friend.

Yun Lie didn’t appear but spoke from within the ring, saying, “The wood you’ve chosen is decent, but it lacks sharpness. You should further study and delve into it.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ziqing smiled faintly. “Yes, I will heed Brother Yun’s teachings.”

Yun Lie, despite being a spirit, possessed fighting skills far superior to Xu Ziqing’s. Whether it was wood selection or overall practice, Yun Lie had provided extensive guidance, enabling Xu Ziqing to protect himself and advance in cultivation. After each battle with a demonic beast, Xu Ziqing sought Yun Lie’s advice.

After a brief exchange, Xu Ziqing continued on his way.

He had three days to find an exit from the secret realm. Recalling his entry into the secret realm, he remembered a light shield piercing through the void, transporting the people to this place. It was said that the shield was tailored to the bloodline of each family, ensuring that no one could deceive them with disguises. Unfortunately, Xu Ziqing had only entered the secret realm with them and hadn’t left alongside them. He pondered how they managed to exit the secret realm. Being a genuine member of the Xu family, blending in wouldn’t be a challenge.

Upon careful consideration, Xu Ziqing remained cautious. Witnessing the intense conflict between the two Xu families, he couldn’t underestimate the possibility of further complications and unexpected turns.

At that moment, the eagle, which had gone hunting, returned and gracefully landed on Xu Ziqing’s shoulder.

The eagle appeared unchanged in size, resembling its appearance from five years ago. However, its intelligence had significantly developed.

Yun Ling, despite being cold in temperament, possessed vast knowledge and had provided the eagle with a method to refine its body as a demonic beast. Through rigorous training, the eagle’s steel claws and iron beak had become formidable, capable of piercing mountains and breaking rocks. Its power had greatly increased. Xu Ziqing could communicate with the eagle, and communication was now much easier to comprehend compared to before.

Lowering its head, the eagle allowed Xu Ziqing to gently touch the top of its head, conveying a sense of dependency through its eyes.

With a smile, Xu Ziqing remarked, “Once you’ve had your fill, don’t become lazy. Go and fly again.”

Without delay, the eagle spread its wings and took flight.

Xu Ziqing’s smile remained unchanged, and in an instant, the weight in his heart dissipated.

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