109: Chapter 109 The Fisherman Benefits?

The two Houtu Sect Disciples who had luckily avoided serious injury saw their Senior Brother covered in wounds, lying on the ice unable to Move, and they no longer dared to harbor any thoughts of fighting for the mysterious ice flower.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with unconcealable fear, and hurriedly supported their injured Senior Brother from both sides.

The three walked with unsteady steps, their wounds stinging from the cold wind, causing them to wince in pain, yet none dared to linger.

They didn't even have the courage to glance back at the mysterious ice flower, and in the blink of an eye, they had vanished without a trace.

No sooner had the Houtu Sect people left than the fighting in the Ice Valley intensified, with the three Ghost Bone Sect Disciples and the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect members becoming completely bloodthirsty.

The Ghost Bone Sect Disciples were adept at using insidious Moves, occasionally releasing poisonous Gu and unleashing cold Spiritual Qi. However, the Wan Shou Sect Disciple at Qi Refining Perfection was accompanied by a First-Order Peak Ice-Patterned Leopard. This Yao Beast had thick skin and flesh, was fast, and had incredibly sharp claws. Coupled with the fact that the Wan Shou Sect Disciple's own cultivation was not weak, the man and beast coordinated with great tacit understanding.

The three from the Ghost Bone Sect gradually could not hold their ground, being beaten back step by step. They sustained several wounds, and their Spiritual Qi was nearly exhausted.

They knew clearly in their hearts that if they continued fighting, not only would they fail to seize the mysterious ice flower, but they would also lose their lives here. Yet, they were unwilling to leave just like that, so they could only throw out a few harsh words, looking fierce but acting cowardly:

"Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, just you wait! We have noted this debt, and we will definitely return it tenfold in the future!"

"We will yield the mysterious ice flower to you for now, but don't think you've won!"

After spitting out these harsh words, the three dared not continue the fight and turned to flee in a sorry state. They nearly slipped on the ice while running, looking as pathetic as one could imagine.

Within the short span of half an incense stick, the Ice Valley, which had been noisy and chaotic with fighting just moments ago, instantly fell silent.

The scene, originally contested by several parties, now only remained the Wan Shou Sect Disciple at Qi Refining Perfection, along with the majestic Ice-Patterned Leopard beside him that kept letting out low growls.

The Wan Shou Sect Disciple stood before the Ice Platform, looking at the mess and the bloodstains on the ground, then gazed at the four crystalline, Spiritual Qi-overflowing mysterious ice flowers in the center of the Ice Platform. The smugness on his face could no longer be concealed.

He smugly patted the head of the Ice-Patterned Leopard, his tone full of arrogance:

"We are the best after all! All this fighting among these trash, and in the end, didn't they just pave the way for us!"

After saying this, he could no longer suppress the greed in his heart. His eyes locked onto the mysterious ice flower, and he strode toward the Ice Platform, muttering incessantly.

"A bunch of useless things, daring to fight me for the mysterious ice flower. It's simply overestimating one's capabilities—they are far from it! These four high-quality mysterious ice flowers should have been mine from the beginning to the end. No one can take them away!"

At this moment, he only had eyes for the mysterious ice flower and completely failed to notice that another person was hiding behind a pile of sharp ice shards in the corner of the Ice Valley.

This person was Li Qing, who had been lurking in the shadows, quietly watching the various parties fight.

Seeing the Wan Shou Sect Disciple relax his guard and reach out to pick the mysterious ice flower, Li Qing knew that the best moment for him to strike had arrived!

He did not have the slightest hesitation, pushing off the cold ice surface with great force. His figure instantly shot out from behind the ice shards like an arrow released from a bowstring.

His speed was extreme, leaving only a shallow mark on the ice surface. His entire body almost transformed into a black shadow, and he rushed behind the Wan Shou Sect Disciple in an instant.

At the same time, Li Qing's hands quickly formed seals, his movements skilled and rapid.

First, he channeled Earth Spiritual Qi, and a thick Earth Spirit Shield instantly protected his entire body, guarding against a sudden counterattack. Immediately after, he fully channeled his Metal-element Spell, Golden Blade Slash. An incredibly sharp, cold-glinting golden Qi blade instantly condensed, carrying a shrill piercing sound as it ruthlessly struck toward the Wan Shou Sect Disciple's back!

The Wan Shou Sect Disciple was full of joy, ready to pick the mysterious ice flower, and had absolutely not expected someone to be hiding in the shadows. By the time he heard the sound of the air being pierced from behind, it was already too late!

He turned his head abruptly, and upon seeing that the one ambushing him was a plainly dressed Loose Cultivator at Qi Refining Peak who clearly belonged to no sect, his eyes were first filled with shock, then immediately surged with intense disdain. He immediately cursed angrily:

"Where did this trash Loose Cultivator crawl out from? Daring to sneakily ambush me, you are simply courting death!"

He did not take Li Qing seriously at all. After all, while Qi Refining Peak and Qi Refining Perfection seemed to be only a small step apart, the difference in strength was substantial. Furthermore, he was a Wan Shou Sect Disciple and considered himself a hundred times stronger than a Loose Cultivator.

He hurriedly mobilized the Spiritual Qi in his body, wanting to turn around and summon the Ice-Patterned Leopard to defend him, but Li Qing's speed was simply too fast, and the power of the Golden Blade Slash far exceeded his understanding of an ordinary Qi Refining Peak Loose Cultivator!

Only a dull "thud" sound was heard!

The golden Qi blade slashed heavily onto the Wan Shou Sect Disciple's back. The meager Spiritual Qi shield he had hastily condensed was instantly shattered, offering absolutely no power to resist.

The immense force, combined with the sharp edge, caused him to scream out in pain. His entire body was knocked forward, and he fell heavily onto the cold Ice Platform. His bones felt as if they had been shattered, and he vomited mouthfuls of blood, lying on the ground heavily injured and unable to even Move.

The Ice-Patterned Leopard on the side saw its master wounded and instantly flew into a rage. It let out a deafening roar, its fur standing on end, and turned around. It opened its bloody maw, baring sharp fangs, and lunged wildly at Li Qing.

But Li Qing had long anticipated this scene and was not the least bit panicked. With a thought, he immediately summoned the Red-tailed Fox he had tamed.

As soon as the Red-tailed Fox appeared, it sensed the hostility from the Ice-Patterned Leopard. Without waiting for Li Qing's order, it immediately took light steps and dashed toward the Ice-Patterned Leopard at an extremely fast speed. The Red-tailed Fox was a First-Order Perfection Yao Beast, a notch stronger than the Ice-Patterned Leopard, and speed was its innate advantage; it was incredibly agile.

Although the Ice-Patterned Leopard was fierce, its strength and speed could not compare to the Red-tailed Fox. After several bouts of fighting, it could not even touch a hair on the Red-tailed Fox. Instead, the Red-tailed Fox seized an opportunity to bite its neck. After struggling a few times, it completely lost its breath and was quickly killed.

In the span of just a few breaths, the previously majestic Wan Shou Sect Disciple had been heavily injured by Li Qing's single strike, and his reliance, the Ice-Patterned Leopard, had been killed by the Red-tailed Fox, leaving him with absolutely no power to resist.

The Wan Shou Sect Disciple lay on the cold Ice Platform, his chest heaving violently, blood continuously bubbling from his mouth. He raised his head with difficulty, his eyes filled with disbelief, and stared fixedly at Li Qing, roaring in a weak and unwilling voice:

"You... you are just a Qi Refining Peak Loose Cultivator, with no sect or faction, how could you possibly have such strong combat power... My Ice-Patterned Leopard, my mysterious ice flower... I am not convinced!"

He had fought with all his might to drive away all his opponents and was on the verge of obtaining the dream-like mysterious ice flower, only to have it snatched away by an inconspicuous Loose Cultivator in the end. This disparity of falling from the clouds into the mud filled his heart with resentment and unwillingness, his eyes turning red.

Li Qing glanced at him coldly and could not be bothered to waste words on him.

In this Secret Realm, it was inherently a place where the weak were prey to the strong. When the opponent was being arrogant and domineering earlier, he certainly had not thought such a day would come. If Li Qing had been weak, he would be the one dead now.

To avoid leaving any future trouble, Li Qing walked forward quickly, raised his palm without hesitation, and struck his crown directly with a fierce blow.

The Wan Shou Sect Disciple groaned, his head tilted to the side, and he completely lost his breath. Before dying, his eyes still held deep unwillingness and regret.

After resolving all opponents, the Ice Valley finally became completely quiet, leaving only the howling cold wind and the mysterious ice flowers exuding Spiritual Qi on the Ice Platform.

Li Qing let out a sigh of relief, his tense nerves finally relaxing. He walked slowly to the center of the Ice Platform, looked down at the four high-quality, Spiritual Qi-rich mysterious ice flowers before him, and finally, a faint smile appeared on his face.