Chapter 83: Subterranean Fire_1

Translator: 549690339

The disciples of Artifact Refining clashed with those from the Qian Family, and the scene became chaotic for a moment.

In Tongxian City, generally speaking, those in the Qi Refinement Realm middle phase, around the fifth to sixth level of cultivation, would be able to learn offensive Taoist Skills.

Cultivator’s offensive Taoist Skills are divided into two categories: one is the Martial Dao learned by those practicing Body Cultivation, and the other is the spells practiced by Spiritual Cultivators.

Body Cultivation emphasized refining the body, channeling spiritual power through a formidable physical form for close combat, while Spiritual Cultivators specialized in magic, controlling spiritual power with Divine Sense to condense spells for long-range casting.

There were also Cultivators of dual cultivation, Spirit and Body, but such Cultivators needed two exceptionally favorable conditions:

One was good innate talent, which included a top-notch Spiritual Root and an excellent aptitude for Body Refinement; the other was a good family background, with profound teachings in Tao Cultivation to resolve the conflict between the practices of Body Cultivation and Spiritual Cultivation. Additionally, it would be best if their family had several Spiritual mines, unending supplies of Spirit Stones…

Spirit and Body Dual Cultivation was not destined for the vast majority in the Cultivation World, with some prominent Clans sometimes not producing such a talent for several generations, let alone the remote Tongxian City.

Whether it was a Loose Cultivator or a Cultivator from a smaller Clan, they could only choose to cultivate one method. They’d either focus on Body Refinement and become a Body Cultivator, or they’d focus on spells and become a Spiritual Cultivator.

In the Qi Refinement Realm, the advantage of Body Cultivators was much greater than that of Spiritual Cultivators. Unless one had a particularly poor natural constitution—like Mo Hua, for instance—they would choose the path of Body Refinement and become a Body Cultivator.

Therefore, the current battle situation was essentially a melee of Body Cultivators.

Although there were a few disciples from the Qian Family who were Spiritual Cultivators, their spells had not yet been released before they were rushed upon and knocked down with a punch.

In the melee among Body Cultivators, it was basically a brawl of fists and feet, striking flesh directly, supplemented with spiritual power of various attributes. Between each punch and palm strike, multicolored lights entwined, looking quite dashing.

This was the first time Mo Hua had witnessed such a large-scale battle between Cultivators, and for a moment, he was mesmerized. It took half a day before he remembered he should do something. What should he do?

What indeed?

After some thought, Mo Hua concluded there was only one thing he could do—run! In the midst of a brawl among Body Cultivators, with his weak arms and legs, it would be an achievement to escape unharmed. Not being a burden to everyone would be his greatest contribution!

As Mo Hua prepared to slip away, he hadn’t taken many steps before he felt someone grab his shoulder. Mo Hua struggled, but could not break free, and soon cold hands were clutching his throat.

When Mo Hua turned his head, he saw Qian Xing looking at him with an icy gaze.

As if Mo Hua was the sworn enemy who had murdered his father.

“Stop fighting!” Qian Xing shouted in a vicious voice.

Everyone stopped and divided into two groups. Disciples of the Qian Family, covering their arms and wiping blood, stood behind Qian Xing in a disheveled line, while Dazhu and his group stood in front of him, confronting them.

Seeing this scene, Mo Hua’s heart sank, “It’s over, the worst possible situation has happened!”

Originally, Dazhu and his group had the upper hand, but now that he was caught, everyone hesitated for fear of causing harm, and the situation became dire.

Dazhu faced Qian Xing with an expressionless face and said, “Let him go! Or you’re as good as dead!”

“Resorting to dirty tricks when you can’t win, coward!”

“If you can, try beating us again…”

The other disciple of Artifact Refining also shouted angrily.

Qian Xing sneered, “Only knowing how to fight and kill, it’s no wonder you’ll remain lowly for life. I’ve already gone to call for help, wait till the family guards arrive, none of you will escape.”

“What do you want?” Dazhu demanded.

“How does that sound?” Qian Xing laughed, tightening the hand around Mo Hua’s neck, “Don’t worry, I won’t kill him yet. Killing him would dirty my hands, and though I’m not afraid of the Taoist Court, I find it troublesome. I just need to take him up the mountain, hang him from a tree, and attract a few monster beasts to eat his flesh bit by bit until he dies in agony, which will relieve the hatred in my heart. Even if the Taoist Court wants to investigate, since it was the monster beasts that ate him, they won’t be able to trace it back to me.”

Dazhu’s eyes turned bloodshot with rage, “Bastard, how dare you!”

“You dare call me a bastard? What are you?” Qian Xing laughed mockingly, “Good, then kneel before me, slap yourselves, and end your lives. I won’t kill him then. How about that? You like to stand out, right? I’m giving you the chance.”

Grasping Mo Hua’s neck, Qian Xing threatened, “Kneel down, or I’ll kill him right now!”

Dazhu and the others were at a loss, feeling both anger and humiliation.

There was a flash of sharpness in Mo Hua’s eyes as he rasped, “Qian Xing… don’t push your luck!”

“Push my luck? I’ve given you face, I’ve spoken to you nicely, and you don’t agree, causing all this, and yet you blame me for pushing my luck?” Qian Xing argued, “I’ve lost so much face today, taking a few lives to regain some is reasonable, isn’t it?”

Mo Hua’s boyish voice carried a chilling hint:

“Then you’re asking for death!”

Far from getting angry, Qian Xing laughed, “You, a fourth level Qi Refinement Realm brat, who doesn’t practice the Martial Way or know any spells, what can you do to me? You say I’m seeking death? Alright then, I’d like to see how you can make me…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Qian Xing saw a stream of bright red ink splash toward his face. In a hurried defense, he raised his right hand to block, but it wasn’t enough; streaks of ink splashed into his eyes, seeping through his squinted lids and causing a fierce burning pain.

This was Fire-series Spiritual Ink used for Drawing Formation!

Enraged, Qian Xing endured the pain in his right eye, his left hand clenching with force, intending to strangle Mo Hua. But the momentary pain caused his grip to loosen for an instant, and Mo Hua took the chance to break free.

Qian Xing reached out to grab again, but knowing he couldn’t escape, Mo Hua turned and leapt up, kicking Qian Xing in the body.

However, the kick had no effect on Qian Xing; he didn’t budge an inch, nor did he feel the slightest pain. Instead, it was Mo Hua who got sent flying backward by the rebound force.

Mo Hua used the momentum to retreat, finally falling to the ground and rolling a few times before lying there, covering his head with his hands.

Seeing him in this state, Qian Xing couldn’t help but laugh, “Now you know who’s the waste, right?”

He continued walking forward, intending to catch Mo Hua before Dazhu could get to him.

But just as he took a step forward, Qian Xing suddenly felt a burning sensation in his chest. Looking down, he saw a piece of paper stuffed into his bosom – the paper was marked with seven Formation Patterns, drawn with bright red ink, which was becoming more and more glaring, even shining brightly.

Was this… a Formation?

Before Qian Xing could comprehend, a deafening boom erupted.

The Formation exploded.

Without warning, a surge of intense Spiritual Power fluctuations burst forth in front of Qian Xing, accompanied by a scorching heat and a pain that tore through his heart, engulfing him completely.

His Taoist Robe was burned to ash, the Spiritual Artifact Heart Protecting Mirror at his chest cracked open, and the scalding blast surged upwards to his face, scorching it beyond recognition. The shockwave from the explosion sent him flying, crashing through several stalls before he came to a halt.

The street fell instantly silent.

A few Clan disciples of the Qian Family were affected, lying on the ground wailing.

Meanwhile, Dazhu and the other cultivators were stunned as they looked at Mo Hua, crouching on the ground with his head in his hands, looking somewhat disheveled, and at Qian Xing on the other side, burned black and unrecognizable, unable to utter a word.

The sound of the explosion and the resulting fluctuations in Spiritual Power also alarmed nearby cultivators, with more and more rushing over.