"Sect Leader Nangong, it's been many days. I trust you've been well since we last t?"
The deep purple robes, the crown of black jade—it was undoubtedly Nangong Ding, who had been "kept in seclusion." An Ning greeted him with a face as calm as usual. However, in the very next instant, Green Rainbow had already been firmly grasped in her hand following its master's summons. Beneath its profound cyan shadow, there was a palpable sense of readiness to strike.
Well aware of this biological father's domineering, overbearing, ruthless, and heartless nature, Xiao Yi, standing to the side, couldn't help but tense up as well.
Unexpectedly, the other party rely gave a faint nod, then turned his gaze, unwavering, towards Qingyao, which was currently undergoing the lightning tribulation in mid-air.
"A spirit sword undergoing tribulation?" Only then did he finally turn his head to cast a glance at An Ning, seeming sowhat disappointed as he said:
"So it's not you who's making a breakthrough?"
An Ning: "..."
Hearing the implication in his words, An Ning felt a montary choke.
Well, thank you very much for having such high expectations of her.
A breakthrough? Even An Ning herself hadn't dared to think about that yet!
However, just from the fact that his first thought was of her making a breakthrough, rather than a spiritual treasure appearing in the world, it indicated that over these years, while seeming not to interfere, he had actually been keeping detailed track of her and even A-Yi's whereabouts.
Not entirely unexpected, after all!
An Ning couldn't help but think to herself.
Seeing that the other party had no intention of taking action for the mont, An Ning was just about to turn her head when she heard him continue:
"That formation at the Xie Family's place was your handiwork."
It was a statent of certainty, not a question.
An Ning did not deny it either, nodding directly.
"Correct, it was ."
It wasn't surprising that he could guess. During their battle that day, both sides had a clear understanding of each other's combat power. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were still evenly matched.
The Tianxuan Sect's mountain-protecting formation had been passed down for a thousand years, sheltering the sect for several millennia without anyone daring to challenge them openly. Its power was actually not weak at all.
This was also one of the reasons why that Sect Leader had dared to be so high-profile in recent years and earlier even dared to openly incite others to deal with her.
As for why she had been able to slash through it with one sword earlier, it wasn't due to a breakthrough or increased strength.
For no other reason than precisely finding the formation's vital point.
To be honest, when it ca to setting up formations, she might not be the top expert, but breaking formations? She really wasn't one to bluff.
Giving her a faint glance, Nangong Ding did not speak again. Like An Ning, he fixed his eyes intently on Qingyao, which was currently wrapped in layers of lightning and thunder.
Xiao Yi's gaze swept over both of them once, then hurriedly turned back.
The mont the Purple Gold Cauldron opened, beneath the oppressive black clouds in mid-air, massive bolts of thunder mixed with purple lightning continuously assailed the spirit sword floating in the air.
One bolt, two bolts, three bolts...
From its initial forging, Qingyao had been tailored to match A-Yi's innate thunder attribute. And now, accompanied by purple lightning bolts each stronger than the last, it was visibly clear that the purple spiritual light surrounding it grew increasingly radiant.
Until the final lightning tribulation descended, a suddenly blazing purple light instantly illuminated more than half of the sky and earth.
Simultaneously, sensing the commotion of a spiritual treasure's ergence, countless cultivators not far away rushed over in droves. However, upon sensing that familiar oppressive aura, they silently retreated quite a distance on their own.
"The Xuanming Sect?"
Damn it! Had this supre treasure been snatched up first by the Demonic Sect again?
Countless righteous cultivators inwardly lanted.
Despite saying this, the cultivators from various sects who had hurried over still didn't dare utter a single peep. Don't be fooled by these people who daily, in private, call them "demonic sect" this and "demonic sect" that. When actually faced with them, even soone as "noble" as a sect leader wouldn't dare raise their voice.
Let alone open their mouths to hurl curses!
Witnessing this, An Ning, who had silently withdrawn her own aura: "..."
Tsk~ Have to admit, a reputation for being evil is really quite useful!
However, while there were those with small guts, there were also those emboldened by opportunity. Yet, even when these people finally crept closer, furtively, what they saw was the spirit sword in mid-air circling and dancing excitedly on its own for a few monts before obediently returning to the hand of the red-robed youth not far away.
Phew, good, good, it's not that Demonic Sect leader. Looking at this youth, he's not very old. For such a treasure to fall into his hands, wouldn't it be tarnished!
Huh, wait... hold on, isn't that...
Miss... Miss Shen!
Seeing the similarly standing figure in cyan robes to the side, the few who had initially felt slightly relieved imdiately turned ashen-faced.
What kind of family was this? The biological father, a Demonic Sect leader. The aunt he follows, the fierce character who single-handedly challenged the number one sect and even slashed through and crippled their ancient protective formation with one sword.
And now, the youth himself, still so young, yet a peerless divine sword willingly submits to him.
Was this whole family composed of devils? Thinking that this supre treasure no longer had any chance of falling into their hands, so of those secretly peeking from the shadows hated it so much their eyes practically turned red.
They could only wish for these few to start fighting imdiately, preferably ending in mutual destruction with the treasure left masterless.
Too lazy to bother with these people's petty thoughts, the three of them were indeed in a kind of standoff at the mont.
To be precise, it was two against one.
And at this mont, neither of the two felt any fear. Not to ntion that An Ning and this Sect Leader's combat power were originally comparable. The ergence of the spirit sword also signified that Xiao Yi had comprehended the power of laws even earlier than in his previous life. Even his cultivation was on the verge of a breakthrough...
As if discerning sothing, Nangong Ding did not have the audacity to propose borrowing the spirit sword for a look. Instead, he gave the youth before him a deep look, then turned to glance at An Ning beside him, his tone uncharacteristically pleasant as he said:
"What you said before, this seat is now sowhat inclined to believe it."
As his words fell, accompanied by a surge of intense purple light, the figure in dark purple robes swiftly vanished from sight.
Xiao Yi, who had already prepared himself for a fight: "..."
Sheepishly retracting the eager Qingyao in his hand, Xiao Yi scratched his head, a rare look of regret on his exquisite little face as he said:
"Ah, I really thought we could have a proper fight!"
It would have been perfect to test the power of his newly forged Qingyao.
"But, Aunt, why do I feel that... actually, that person seed quite happy just now?" The youth asked, sowhat puzzled.
"And what did his last sentence an?"
Xiao Yi wasn't arrogant enough to think the other party was feeling gratified because his biological son was promising. To be honest, even though his childhood mories were brief, soone as perceptive as Xiao Yi clearly knew.
Fatherly affection? He doubted whether this person even possessed such a thing.
Just like earlier; although he valued his aptitude, he would only occasionally have soone carry him over for a look. Mostly, it was to check his spiritual ridians, to see if they were being cleared on schedule, if his aptitude had been damaged due to improper care.
Any other concern or warmth?
That would be asking for too much!
Back then, he wasn't even three years old, yet this biological father could kill soone right in front of him without any hesitation. He had been scared to tears, and the look in this father's eyes at that ti...
Even after so much ti had passed, that scene remained deeply etched in Xiao Yi's mory. It was also because of this that A-Niang had been determined to take him away.
Biological son? Gratified? Pfft!
Seeing the disdain on A-Yi's face, on the way back, An Ning couldn't help but stroke the little fellow's head:
"Yi'er, do you know what is most terrifying for a martial arts master on the verge of the peak?"
"It's the perpetual inability to see any hope of a breakthrough!"
Without waiting for his answer, An Ning spoke in a deep voice on her own.
Ah... Xiao Yi was montarily stunned:
"So that's the reason he's been so... well-behaved these years?"
Exactly, An Ning couldn't help but think to herself.
After all, it was a sect he built with his own hands. Was it important? Of course it was important. Compared to these, so-called successors, even the sect itself, were nothing more than trivial matters that could be dispensed with.
That makes sense, Xiao Yi nodded.
Wait... in that case, he seed to understand what the other party's last sentence ant now.
But, Aunt actually had such high expectations of him?
Stealing a glance at the female cultivator in cyan robes beside him, Xiao Yi couldn't help but give a quiet "hehe" laugh, feeling quite pleased with himself inwardly.
Yes, he was just that much of a genius, hehe!
Reviews
All reviews (0)