Chapter Fifty-Four: Jiang Kun, Bloodied and Broken
On the other side.
Jiang Kun and his father—Jiang Minshan, now the Elder of the Discipline Hall of Lingyu Sect—were riding a magical vessel, hurrying outward.
Suddenly!
Both their communication talismans received a message from Elder Zhuang Xiran.
“Kun’er, I’ll go ahead. I must hurry to support Elder Zhuang. You lead your men to provide backup from the perimeter. These bandits are no ordinary foes; you must not act rashly. Do you understand?!”
Jiang Minshan turned, his expression grave, instructing his son.
Jiang Kun hurriedly replied in affirmation.
After speaking, Jiang Minshan soared into the air, disappearing at an astonishing speed toward the marsh where Elder Zhuang and the black-robed cultivator were locked in combat.
Afterwards,
Jiang Kun, accompanied by over a dozen elite members from the Discipline Hall on the magical vessel, slowed their pace, began to stand guard, and contacted nearby sect members.
Yet he was unaware that, at this very moment, four masked, black-robed bandits were rapidly approaching from the opposite direction.
…
Above the marsh.
Elder Zhuang was unleashing spells upon the ground, attempting to break the illusion formation with brute force.
Just then!
Abruptly.
A long, curved streak of black energy shot up from the marsh below, slashing toward him!
Elder Zhuang squinted in alarm, attempting to dodge, but a chill ran down his spine.
A sweeping tide of black energy surged from behind, twisting toward him!
There was nowhere to escape.
He formed a hand seal, and instantly a square, white barrier appeared overhead, enveloping him in protection.
Countless black streaks struck the barrier but failed to breach it, vanishing one after another.
Elder Zhuang now clearly saw his opponent, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes as he spoke slowly: “I thought I’d meet a formidable foe, but it’s merely an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
“Oh? Let’s see who’s truly formidable, then.” The black-robed cultivator wearing a Buddha mask replied, voice utterly emotionless.
At that moment.
A distant streak of light approached rapidly, arriving almost instantly before the two.
It was Jiang Minshan, Elder of the Discipline Hall, come to reinforce.
Without further words, Jiang Minshan unleashed a powerful spell at the opponent.
Even facing two Foundation Establishment cultivators,
The Buddha-masked black-robed figure remained calm. His pale hands formed an unusual seal.
Boom!
A torrent of black flames erupted around him, his aura suddenly rising from early-stage to mid-stage Foundation Establishment!
In a flash,
Three powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators clashed above the marsh.
Spells of immense power collided in rapid succession, their might terrifying.
…
In mid-air.
Qin Ming’s expression was grim. He spared no expense of spiritual power, driving his flying spiritual shuttle at maximum speed toward Qingyang Market.
‘Damn, what rotten luck!’
‘Why’d they have to choose this moment to rob? Of all times!’
Qin Ming was extremely frustrated. He had finally obtained a jade talisman, but before he could secure Elder Zhuang’s recommendation, his plans had fallen apart.
All he wished now was to hurry back to Qingyang Market.
Page (1/3)
‘Next time, I won’t leave home unless I reach Foundation Establishment.’
‘The outside world is far too dangerous.’
‘People tearing through Tier Two Grand Arrays as if it’s nothing—who can withstand that?’
He resolved in his heart, exerting all his strength to control the spiritual shuttle beneath his feet.
Suddenly.
Qin Ming was speeding forward when he nearly collided headlong with a disheveled cultivator flying toward him.
“Is he drunk? Not even looking where he’s going?”
“Holy—Jiang Senior Brother!”
He nearly lost his words in shock upon seeing the other clearly.
Jiang Kun was utterly battered, a far cry from the usual bearing of Lingyu Sect’s core disciple, grievously wounded, even missing his entire left arm.
Jiang Kun was startled at first, but upon recognizing Qin Ming, the tense look on his pale face relaxed.
“Jiang... Senior Brother, what happened to you?” Qin Ming feigned surprise.
Jiang Kun took out a pill, swallowed it, and after catching his breath, replied, “Ah, it’s Fellow Qin. This is no place for talk. I’m being pursued—let’s discuss at the sect. I’ve already sent word to our comrades.”
Qin Ming paused; he didn’t need to ask to know that only the bandits could have reduced the renowned late-stage Qi Refining Jiang Kun to such a miserable state.
“Ah? What about the others?” Qin Ming suddenly asked.
Jiang Kun was taken aback by the question, responding coldly, “Fellow Qin, what do you mean?”
Qin Ming laughed it off, “Nothing, just curious. I won’t return to Lingyu Sect. Senior Brother Jiang, farewell.”
He cupped his hands and made to leave.
Jiang Kun’s brows knitted; a strong sense of foreboding filled him, and he detected something amiss.
This Qin Ming—something was wrong!
He immediately prepared to command the magical vessel to depart.
But just as he was about to channel his spiritual power, Qin Ming’s figure vanished from sight!
Startled, Jiang Kun crushed a high-grade protective talisman; a blue barrier instantly enveloped him.
Bang!
A violent collision rang out!
Crack!
Jiang Kun looked forward in shock and fury.
Qin Ming’s aura had soared, and he wielded a blazing black longsword.
Jiang Kun had tried several times to kill him—so now, it was time to strike while he was wounded!
With a single blow, Qin Ming nearly shattered the barrier formed by the high-grade talisman!
Jiang Kun instantly realized, a chill running through him.
“A body cultivator!”
There was no need to ask—he now understood how Chen Zi’ang and the others had died.
A cold gleam flashed in Qin Ming’s eyes. He wasted no words, immediately producing two high-grade offensive talismans:
One high-grade Lightning Arrow talisman, one high-grade Blazing Sun talisman.
He threw both at Jiang Kun.
In an instant,
Terrifying lightning and fiery spells in the shape of firebirds crashed toward Jiang Kun.
Boom!
Page (2/3)
A deafening explosion erupted.
Jiang Kun staggered out, vomiting blood. Floating beside him was a pale purple mysterious orb, its violet tassels coiling around him.
It absorbed most of the spell’s power.
Had he been at full strength, he’d have feared nothing from Qin Ming, but now, drained and exhausted, he knew he could not win.
Jiang Kun, decisive as ever, took out a blue-glowing talisman, slapped it onto himself, and instantly transformed into a streak of light, fleeing.
Qin Ming was frankly astonished—he hadn’t expected Jiang Kun, even in such a dire state, to possess so many life-saving treasures.
He quickly activated his spiritual shuttle, giving chase at full speed!
Whoosh!
At full speed, the spiritual shuttle matched a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s maximum flight.
Qin Ming rapidly closed the gap.
Jiang Kun, sensing Qin Ming bearing down from behind, was terrified beyond measure!
A supreme-grade flying artifact!
How did this kid get something like that?
As Qin Ming drew near, his vital energy surged, and he unleashed a flaming blade beam!
Jiang Kun, in desperation, raised a green longsword in his right hand, exhausting his last reserves of spiritual power to launch a sword technique.
Sword light flashed.
Swish!
Clang!
The green sword unleashed several sharp sword energies, barely blocking Qin Ming’s killing strike.
Moreover,
One sword energy pierced through the flaming blade, striking Qin Ming’s ‘Glazed Treasure Garment’ formed by his blood qi, breaking through its defense and slicing open his arm.
“A supreme-grade artifact!”
Qin Ming winced in pain and was shocked—it was the first time since strengthening his body that he’d been wounded by an artifact.
A fierce light flashed in his eyes. He unleashed the Burning Blood Blade technique at full power, enveloping Jiang Kun’s position in a dense barrage of flaming blade beams.
Slash!
“Ah!”
The blade beam severed Jiang Kun’s left lower leg.
Qin Ming leapt before him, stomping him down.
“Cough! Cough! Cough!”
“Fellow Qin, listen to me—” Jiang Kun, face drenched in blood, pupils dilated in terror.
Swish!
A flash of cold light in Qin Ming’s eyes. With ruthless precision, he swung his blade, severing Jiang Kun’s neck.
Jiang Kun’s head rolled aside, his eyes frozen in shock and disbelief.
Qin Ming collected his green sword and storage pouch, then flicked a black spiritual seed onto the corpse, casting Thorn Technique.
Black vines instantly engulfed Jiang Kun’s body, reducing it to a dry corpse.
Qin Ming picked up the blood bead from the ground and cast a fireball spell to destroy the remains.
Just as he finished,
He sensed four powerful cultivators rapidly approaching from afar.
Qin Ming’s heart tightened. Without delay, he mounted his spiritual shuttle and vanished into the distance.
PS: Special thanks to “Reader20220329095731940” for the 200 coin reward—my first ever, heartfelt gratitude! Thank you, benefactor!
Page (3/3)