112: Instantly killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Heavenly Star Sect! A Core Formation cultivator pursued him!

Chapter 112: Instantly Killing the Tianxing Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators! Pursued by a Core Formation Cultivator!

Returning to the shore, the river wind blew against his face, carrying moist water vapor.

The heavy stone in Lu Qiu's heart finally fell. The Bloodline Flood Dragon had been successfully enslaved and sent into the spatial bead; the primary goal of this trip had been achieved.

He prepared to leave this place of trouble immediately and return to Yellow Maple Valley.

However, just as he was about to activate his escape light, his expression suddenly changed!

Within his Divine Sense's perception, two formidable escape lights were racing toward him from the southeast at extreme speed. Their target seemed to be the very stretch of riverbank where he stood!

Furthermore, the spiritual energy fluctuations faintly emanating from those lights carried the unique aura of the Tianxing Sect's Cultivation Techniques!

"People from the Tianxing Sect? How can it be such a coincidence?" Lu Qiu's heart tightened, but his reaction was swift. He immediately made a decision—leave!

He did not want any complications, and he certainly didn't want to get entangled with the Tianxing Sect here.

His body flickered, intending to turn into an escape light and depart in the opposite direction.

"Stop!"

A harsh shout, like a sudden clap of thunder, exploded in his ears!

The voice contained the Spiritual Pressure of a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, clearly utilizing some sort of sonic attack technique intended to shock the soul.

Simultaneously, the two escape lights closed in. As the light dissipated, two Cultivators wearing the attire of Tianxing Sect Core Disciples appeared.

One was fair-faced and clean-shaven, holding a starlight-shimmering Flying Sword, with a cultivation at the Late Stage Foundation Establishment. The other was dark-skinned, with a uniquely shaped silver compass-like Magical Artifact hanging at his waist, and his cultivation was at the peak of Middle Stage Foundation Establishment.

Their gazes were sharp as lightning, instantly locking onto Lu Qiu, who was about to leave. They positioned themselves to the left and right, faintly forming an encirclement.

Lu Qiu's footsteps paused. His face displayed a perfectly measured amount of vigilance and a hint of unease. He turned around and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoists, why have you called for me? What are your instructions?"

At this moment, he had suppressed his aura to the Early Foundation Establishment Stage level, disguising himself as a Loose Cultivator who had happened to be passing by.

The fair-faced Tianxing Sect Cultivator looked Lu Qiu up and down. His gaze swept over Lu Qiu's simple green robes and the ordinary Storage Pouch at his waist, his tone questioning: "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Lu Qiu's expression was "frank," carrying the typical caution and politeness of a Loose Cultivator: "This humble one's surname is Lu. I am a Loose Cultivator from this vicinity. I occasionally come to the banks of the Panlong River to see if I can find some water-attribute spiritual materials or hunt low-level Yao Beasts to exchange for Cultivation resources. I did not know two experts from the Tianxing Sect would grace this place. If I have disturbed you, please forgive me."

"A Loose Cultivator?" The fair-faced Cultivator's brow furrowed slightly, the suspicion in his eyes not yet fading.

He turned his head to look at the dark-skinned fellow Disciple beside him.

Since his appearance, the dark-skinned Cultivator had focused most of his attention on the silver compass-like Magical Artifact in his hand.

At this moment, he stared at the slightly trembling needle in the center of the compass, then looked up at the river surface behind Lu Qiu—specifically the general area where Lu Qiu had set the array and entered the water. His expression shifted uncertainly.

"Senior Brother Li."

The dark-skinned Cultivator used Divine Sense transmission, his tone urgent: "The 'Dragon-Seeking Compass' clearly showed just now that there was an extremely faint, unique Bloodline aura of a flood dragon remaining in this area. Though it vanished in a flash, the direction should be right here at the bottom of the river! But after we arrived, the aura completely disappeared! Even the Dragon-Seeking Compass no longer reacts!"

Hearing this, Senior Brother Li's eyes sharpened. He transmitted back: "Junior Brother Wang, are you sure you didn't make a mistake? After the Bloodline Flood Dragon went missing, the Sect bestowed this 'Dragon-Seeking Compass' specifically to search for its possible remaining Bloodline aura or remains. There has been no movement for months; why would it suddenly appear and then vanish today?"

Junior Brother Wang said with certainty: "There is absolutely no mistake! Although that aura was so weak it was almost imperceptible and appeared for only a very short time, the Dragon-Seeking Compass is most sensitive to the aura of dragon-kin. There was definitely a reaction just now!"

His gaze swept toward Lu Qiu, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "Could it be... related to this Loose Cultivator?"

Senior Brother Li also looked at Lu Qiu, his Divine Sense carefully scanning him before he secretly shook his head: "He is merely at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, his aura is unremarkable, and he has no powerful Magic Treasures or special fluctuations on him. Given the power of the Bloodline Flood Dragon, even if it were dying of heavy injuries, a mere Early Foundation Establishment Stage Loose Cultivator could never come into contact with, let alone erase, its remaining aura or items."

That being said, the two of them had been ordered to secretly monitor this area for a long time. Having finally found a clue today, how could they let it go easily?

Even if the probability was extremely low, this suddenly appearing Loose Cultivator seemed quite suspicious.

Senior Brother Li and Junior Brother Wang exchanged glances, instantly reaching a consensus.

The coldness on Senior Brother Li's face intensified as he shouted at Lu Qiu, "Demonic Path thief, cease your sophistry! Your behavior is suspicious; you must be related to the anomaly here! Surrender peacefully and follow us back to the Tianxing Sect for investigation! Otherwise, expect no mercy!"

Before his voice had even faded, the two of them attacked almost simultaneously!

The starlight Flying Sword in Senior Brother Li's hand let out a clear chime, transforming into a brilliant silver sword-rainbow that pierced straight for Lu Qiu's chest!

The sword's momentum was fierce, carrying the weight and sharpness of a falling star. He was clearly serious, intending to heavily injure or capture him in one strike.

Junior Brother Wang slapped the Storage Pouch at his waist, and three fine needles flashing with blue light shot out silently. They attacked Lu Qiu's vitals from the side and rear—insidious and vicious, they worked with the sword light to seal off Lu Qiu's space to dodge.

Lu Qiu's face "changed greatly," his eyes showing "shock and fury," as if he hadn't expected the other party to suddenly strike such a lethal blow.

He "hurriedly" summoned a Medium Grade defensive shield obtained from some fallen Cultivator to block in front of him. At the same time, his body retreated rapidly, appearing somewhat "disheveled" as he avoided the main attack path of the three blue-light needles. However, the shield was struck by the starlight sword-rainbow, producing a loud "clang." Its spiritual light flickered violently, and fine cracks even appeared on the shield's surface.

"What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoists?!"

Lu Qiu shouted with "shock and rage," his voice carrying "incomprehension" and "indignation": "I am but a mere Loose Cultivator seeking some Opportunity here. When have I ever offended the Tianxing Sect? Why do you use lethal force without distinguishing right from wrong?!"

While "barely" defending, his Divine Sense acted like the most precise radar, instantly sweeping across the surrounding dozens of miles!

He found no other hidden powerful auras. At least for now, there was no third Tianxing Sect Cultivator nearby, and certainly no trace of a Core Formation Cultivator!

But Lu Qiu knew well how much the Tianxing Sect valued this place. He did not believe for a second that only these two Foundation Establishment Cultivators were here.

They likely had a means of communication, or a higher-level Cultivator was stationed somewhere not far away!

"Demonic Path thief, you still dare to resist! Die!" Seeing that Lu Qiu had actually blocked his strike, the killing intent in Senior Brother Li's eyes deepened. His sword incantation changed, and the starlight Flying Sword's radiance surged again, splitting into three smaller sword shadows that converged to slay him from different angles!

Junior Brother Wang also urged the blue-light needles again, waiting for a chance to launch a sneak attack.

The two intensified their assault, clearly determined to capture or kill this Loose Cultivator first, regardless of whether he was truly related to the Bloodline Flood Dragon!

They would rather kill an innocent by mistake than let a suspect go!

The last trace of hesitation in Lu Qiu's eyes vanished, replaced by a sudden cold gleam!

Since you are bent on seeking death, and there are no signs of higher-level Cultivators arriving immediately, then you cannot blame me!

Today's matter can no longer be settled peacefully!

"Courting death!"

The cold words were spat out.

In the next instant—

From between his brows, six Spirit Shocking Thorn—condensed to the extreme, invisible and formless yet carrying a bone-chilling cold—shot out without warning at a speed far exceeding the reaction limits of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

Three went straight for Senior Brother Li, and three went straight for Junior Brother Wang!

"Puff! Puff!"

The cruel grin on Senior Brother Li's face and the viciousness in Junior Brother Wang's eyes froze simultaneously!

Senior Brother Li had a higher cultivation and stronger Divine Sense. The moment the Spirit Shocking Thorn approached his body, he seemed to sense a fatal crisis. Extreme terror erupted in his eyes, and his protective spiritual light instinctively brightened. However, his meager Divine Sense defense was like wet paper before the Spirit Shocking Thorn, which were comparable to the Early Core Formation Stage!

Junior Brother Wang didn't even have time to react. He only felt a chill at his brow before his consciousness plunged completely into darkness.

Both their bodies stiffened at once, the light in their eyes fading as blood slowly seeped from their seven facial orifices.

Senior Brother Li's starlight Flying Sword lost its control, its light dimming as it fell to the ground. Junior Brother Wang's blue-light needles also clattered to the floor.

An instant kill!

Lu Qiu did not pause for a second. With a wave of his sleeve, eighteen streaks of annihilating golden light shot out!

sky burning gilded plumes!

The golden feathers were like the scythes of a life-reaping death god, instantly sweeping through the two bodies that had yet to fall.

Amidst "hissing" sounds, the corpses of Senior Brother Li and Junior Brother Wang, along with their weak remnant souls, were completely shredded and incinerated by the sharp golden light and scorching True Fire. They turned into two small piles of ash that were scattered by the river wind. Even their Storage Pouches were burned to nothing!

Lu Qiu didn't even bother to pick up the two ownerless Magical Artifacts on the ground. With a flick of his finger, two clusters of Chixiao True Fire landed, burning the artifacts until their spirituality was lost, turning them into scrap metal.

He did not dare leave behind any clues that could be tracked.

The entire process, from Lu Qiu's sudden counterattack to the complete destruction of the two Tianxing Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivators' bodies, souls, and traces, took no more than two or three breaths!

It was clean, efficient, ruthless, and decisive!

Having done all this, Lu Qiu did not hesitate. His body transformed into a pale green escape light that almost blended into the wind, racing toward the northwest at extreme speed, pushing the green wind boat to its absolute limit.

However, he had barely flown a hundred miles.

A terrifying Spiritual Pressure, as vast as the sea and as deep as an abyss, carrying a sky-toppling rage, suddenly enveloped from the distant horizon behind like an invisible canopy!

It locked onto him firmly!

A Core Formation Cultivator!

Lu Qiu's face instantly turned as dark as water.

"As expected, they still had a trump card! The Tianxing Sect hasn't given up on the Bloodline Flood Dragon yet! There's been a Core Formation Cultivator secretly watching this area!"

Thoughts whirled in his mind, and he made a decision in an instant.

The light of his escape suddenly faltered in mid-flight, and Lu Qiu quickly landed on the edge of a dense mountain forest.

He swiftly donned the invisibility gauze and operated the Myriad Transformations Hidden Origin Art with all his might.

At the same time, his thoughts moved rapidly!

The air beside him distorted, and a Fire Spirit Clone condensed into existence instantly!

The moment the Clone appeared, it immediately sped toward the southeast, deliberately emitting relatively obvious spiritual power fluctuations.

Meanwhile, Lu Qiu's true body, under the dual effects of the invisibility gauze and the Breath Concealment Art, slipped silently like a ghost into the depths of the dense and dark primeval forest, quickly finding a natural cavern covered by vines and ancient tree roots to shrink into.

Next, he unhesitatingly took out the set of newly refined Inverting Five Elements Array tools given by Xin Ruyin. His hands moved like lightning as he struck the Formation Flags into the surrounding earth and trees, placing the Formation Plate at the core of the cavern.

As the technique was completed, an invisible concealment barrier with the aura of the Five Elements flowing through it quietly rose, perfectly enveloping and masking the cavern and the surrounding area of several yards, completely merging with the forest environment and hiding all traces of his aura.

This set of Formations, enhanced for concealment and trapping enemies, played its most critical role at this moment... almost the very next instant after Lu Qiu finished setting the Formation and his aura completely vanished.

A brilliant starlight escape light, like a meteor streaking across the sky, carrying suffocating pressure and fury, crashed down above the general area where Lu Qiu's true body had landed!

The light dissipated, revealing a middle-aged Cultivator dressed in a Moon-White Star Cultivation Robe and a Seven Star Crown, his face as cold as ice and eyes burning with raging fire—it was precisely the Tianxing Sect's Core Formation Elder, Core Formation!

His face was so gloomy it seemed it could drip water.

Ever since the Bloodline Flood Dragon escaped the Formation using the "Blood Sacrifice Burning Core" technique over a year ago, he and Junior Brother Elder Cao Yu had pursued it closely, but the cunning beast eventually used some secret technique to flee and vanish without a trace.

The two had repeatedly searched the Panlong River and surrounding areas for months to no avail, eventually having no choice but to temporarily withdraw to the Sect.

But Core Formation was unwilling!

The Bloodline Flood Dragon was of immense value, and the Sect had paid a great price for this hunt, even losing many Disciples; how could he let it go at that?

He used the excuse of closed-door cultivation, but in reality, he secretly returned to the vicinity of the Panlong River. Relying on a special Magical Artifact of the Sect, the "Dragon-Seeking Compass," he had been secretly monitoring the area, hoping the Bloodline Flood Dragon's injuries would flare up and cause its death, or that it would reveal its tracks again.

Today, he was meditating in a temporary Immortal Cave a hundred miles away when he suddenly sensed that the Life Soul Lamps of the two Foundation Establishment Disciples he had sent on a routine patrol had gone out almost simultaneously!

And the direction in which they last disappeared was precisely the general area where the Bloodline Flood Dragon had escaped!

Core Formation immediately realized something had happened and rushed over at full speed without hesitation!

His Divine Sense swept through the mountain forest below like a wild wind, instantly capturing "Lu Qiu," who was "fleeing in panic" toward the southeast and emitting spiritual power fluctuations.

"Thief! How dare you act so presumptuously before this seat!" Core Formation roared, his voice shaking the surroundings. The terrifying pressure of the Core Formation Stage was released without reservation, causing the forest below to fall into dead silence as birds and beasts went into hiding.

His figure flickered, turning into an even more piercing starlight. At a speed far exceeding that of the Fire Spirit Clone, he caught up to it within a few breaths.

However, just as he was prepared to capture or kill this "bold thief who dared to kill Tianxing Sect Disciples," his Divine Sense swept over the opponent and suddenly detected something unusual!

The aura within that "escape light"... although the simulation was extremely similar and the spiritual power fluctuations were indeed those of a human Cultivator, it lacked a true "life Origin" and "Divine Soul charm," feeling more like... "Hm? Not right!" Core Formation's pupils constricted, his face turning even uglier, "A Clone?!"

As if to confirm his suspicion.

The Fire Spirit Clone "fleeing" ahead suddenly stopped and turned around. Facing the pursuing Core Formation, a vivid smile full of mockery and playfulness appeared on its face made of flames!

Then, before Core Formation could react, the Fire Spirit Clone let out a soft "bang" and turned into a sky full of scarlet gold sparks, dissipating into the air without leaving a single trace.

"Damn it!!!"

Core Formation instantly realized he had been played!

The real culprit had already shed his skin like a cicada and was hiding somewhere unknown!

A sky-toppling rage at being toyed with by an ant rushed to his head, making this Core Formation Elder almost spit blood in anger!

He abruptly stopped, suppressed his rage, and his powerful Divine Sense, comparable to the Middle Stage of Core Formation, acted like the finest comb, frantically scanning and penetrating in all directions with himself as the center!

Every inch of soil, every tree, every rock, even several yards underground—nothing was overlooked!

He refused to believe that the thief could completely disappear under his nose!

He must have used some clever concealment method or Formation to hide!

Time passed bit by bit.

Half an hour, an hour, one day, two days... Core Formation was like the most patient hunter, and also like the angriest lion, repeatedly searching this area of several hundred miles, his Divine Sense plowing through the earth again and again.

He even used several types of investigative secret techniques.

However, he found nothing.

The thief, along with any possible accomplices or hiding places, seemed to have evaporated into thin air, leaving no clues behind.

Five days passed.

Core Formation's face was so gloomy it could practically wring out water. His eyes were full of unwillingness and fury, but more so, a deep exhaustion and a hint of imperceptible shock and suspicion.

The opponent was not only ruthless and had strength far exceeding the Early Foundation Establishment Stage—being able to kill two people instantly—but was also extremely meticulous and cunning!

First using a Clone to lure him away, while the true body hid using extremely clever concealment methods that even he, a Core Formation Cultivator, could not find!

"Who exactly is it? Is it someone sent by another Sect to pick up the scraps? Or some deep-hidden Loose Cultivator old monster?" Thoughts were chaotic in Core Formation's mind, but he couldn't make sense of it.

Finally, after searching in vain for another half day, Core Formation had to accept reality—he had lost the trail.

Continuing to waste time here was just that.

He gave one last fierce sweep of his Divine Sense across the mountain forest that had brought him such humiliation, let out a muffled cold snort, and turned into a slightly dimmed starlight escape light, speeding toward the direction of the Tianxing Sect and disappearing into the horizon.

But that retreating figure, no matter how one looked at it, exuded a suppressed rage and unwillingness... Deep in the dense forest, within the natural cavern.

The Inverting Five Elements Array operated quietly, isolating the inside from the outside.

Lu Qiu sat cross-legged at the core of the Formation like the most silent rock. His aura had almost completely stopped, and even his heartbeat had slowed to the extreme.

He operated the Myriad Transformations Hidden Origin Art without ceasing, merging into one with the Formation.

A whole month.

He seemed to have completely become a part of this forest, not cultivating or moving, just quietly lurking and waiting.

His Divine Sense also fluctuated only very slightly within the range of the Formation, sensing any movement outside.

He could vaguely feel that powerful Divine Sense repeatedly sweeping over this area in the first few days, and once it even almost brushed against the edge of the Formation.

But the concealment ability of the enhanced Inverting Five Elements Array was indeed extraordinary, and added to his own perfect breath concealment, he was ultimately not discovered.

Later, that Core Formation Cultivator's aura completely disappeared, but Lu Qiu still did not move.

He knew well the terrifying nature and suspiciousness of a Core Formation Cultivator; what if the opponent made a sudden return?

It wasn't until another half month had passed and the outside world had completely returned to its former "calm," with only the sounds of birds, beasts, insects, and the wind.

On this day, Lu Qiu's tightly closed eyes slowly opened, his eyes clear without a trace of irritability from the long-term lurking.

He sensed carefully for a long time, then quietly sent out a trace of Divine Sense, weakened to the extreme, which brushed over the surrounding several miles like a breeze.

"It seems... he's really gone."

Lu Qiu breathed a complete sigh of relief in his heart.

With a wave of his hand, he withdrew the Inverting Five Elements Array, and his figure floated out of the cavern like light smoke, landing on the forest floor covered with fallen leaves.

A month of not moving or speaking had not made him the least bit listless; instead, because of the extreme peace of his mind while lurking, his mental state seemed to have become a bit more harmonious and transparent.

He took one last look in the direction of the Panlong River, his eyes complex.

This trip had brought great gains, but it was also fraught with danger, nearly leading to a direct conflict with a Core Formation Cultivator.

"This place is not suitable to stay for long."

Without further hesitation, Lu Qiu took off in an inconspicuous green escape light, chose another direction, and his figure soon disappeared into the vast mountains and fields.