Chapter 98: Spell and Magical Treasure ClashElder Qiu, whose full name is Qiu Hua, was one of the few who remained loyal to the sect.
Originally, he planned to make things difficult for Xiao Chou, assigning him to deadly positions or finding opportunities to eliminate him secretly.
But when he learned that Xiao Chou had become an elder in the Foundation Establishment Stage, he couldn't sit still.
He immediately sent a message to the alliance, reporting Xiao Chou for killing allies and demanding evidence be submitted.
Killing two allies was no small crime!
Although he himself couldn't escape blame, his extensive connections meant he could easily get away with a minor charge of negligence. But Xiao Chou would be in serious trouble.
Now, with the need for a suicide squad, Xiao Chou's fate would likely be to have his soul imprinted and be sent to the front lines as cannon fodder.
A Foundation Establishment Stage cannon fodder was hard to come by.
"They're here!" Qiu Hua's face lit up with excitement.
In the distance, two figures, a man and a woman, flew in on swords. They were enforcers from the Four Sects Alliance, both in the mid-Foundation Establishment Stage.
"Are you the one who reported someone from the Mountain Movers Sect for killing allied disciples?" The red-haired woman looked down at him coldly.
"That's right, here's what happened..."
Facing the enforcers, he didn't dare hide anything and recounted the events in detail, including his own actions.
A flicker of disgust passed through the red-haired woman's eyes.
While others were fighting and dying on the front lines, this old man was enjoying himself at home, even indulging in secret affairs.
"My actions have shamed the position of elder. I am willing to volunteer for the front lines at Chuyang City to atone for my sins!" Qiu Hua clasped his hands and half-knelt on the ground, eyes full of regret.
His attitude left the red-haired woman momentarily stunned.
"Hehe, Elder Qiu, there's no need for such dramatics. It's a small matter. Those two female cultivators from the Purple Mist Sect were also seeking their own cultivation. What's wrong with mutual benefit?" The middle-aged male enforcer stepped forward and helped Qiu Hua up.
During their interaction, a storage bag was quietly passed from Qiu Hua to the man, who tucked it into his waistband.
"I... I truly feel guilty. If I don't go to the front lines, I won't be able to cultivate in peace!" Qiu Hua spoke with tears and remorse.
The middle-aged male cultivator responded with polite words, both of them seasoned veterans of such situations.
However, the red-haired woman was new and didn't understand the nuances, thinking the old man was genuinely remorseful, and nodded secretly.
"Do you really want to die that badly?"
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed.
Xiao Chou appeared behind Qiu Hua, standing like a tower, eyes sharp as lightning, fists clenched.
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Qiu Hua was startled, then a look of joy flashed in his eyes. This person had walked right into his trap.
The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow and said indifferently, "So, you're Xiao Chou? Perfect timing. We suspect you of murdering allies. Come with us!"
Xiao Chou remained calm, "I didn't kill anyone."
Of course, he hadn't killed anyone; Xu Hei had done it.
"Whether you did or not, we will investigate. Don't make things worse for yourself!" The middle-aged cultivator said coldly.
Seeing Xiao Chou unmoved, the red-haired woman advised, "Xiao Chou, Elder Qiu's evidence isn't enough to convict you. If you're innocent, we will clear your name."
Qiu Hua pointed at him and shouted angrily, "I saw you kill with my own eyes. How can it be false..."
"Thud!!!"
Suddenly, a massive spike shot up from the ground at an incredible speed, striking Qiu Hua from below.
"Boom!!"
A protective barrier shattered, and Qiu Hua, terrified, hurriedly took out a defensive magical artifact. But then, an ivory flying sword slashed across his throat, sending his head flying and blood spurting.
"Stop!" The middle-aged cultivator's face changed drastically, but it was too late. The sudden attack left no time to react.
Qiu Hua's flying head had wide-open eyes, full of disbelief.
He couldn't believe he was killed right under the enforcers' noses.
"No..."
Fear lingered in Qiu Hua's eyes as his head hit the ground, and his headless body collapsed.
This actor, who had played his role all his life, finally met his end at the hands of a brute.
"As you wished, I killed him."
Xiao Chou's cold voice slowly echoed.
He had understood one thing.
—When someone accuses you of murder, it's best to actually kill.
The two enforcers were stunned. In all their years of enforcing, they had never seen such a brazen act, killing right under their noses.
"Attack!"
Xu Hei gave them no time to think. He immediately cast spells, releasing a giant snake and a huge frog, which lunged at the middle-aged cultivator. Xiao Chou charged at the red-haired woman.
The middle-aged cultivator, experienced in countless battles, reacted swiftly. As an enforcer, he had amassed many magical treasures.
He crushed a golden talisman, forming a protective barrier that blocked the Earth Spike's attack. Simultaneously, he flicked two purple beads from his storage bag, shooting them into the mouths of the giant frog and snake.
Xu Hei reacted quickly, making the puppets retreat and activating the Gravity Technique, suspending the beads in mid-air.
"Explode!"
The middle-aged cultivator shouted, and the beads exploded, lightning flashing and thundering, creating a deep chasm within a hundred feet.
Although the puppets avoided the explosion, they were charred black and lost their combat ability.
"Thunder Tribulation Pearls?"
Xu Hei squinted, then shook his head, "No, just imitations!"
True Thunder Tribulation Pearls absorbed the power of heavenly tribulations, their power comparable to a minor heavenly tribulation, capable of threatening even Core Formation Stage cultivators.
The downside was that they didn't discriminate between friend and foe, potentially killing the user as well.
"Still alive?"
The middle-aged cultivator glanced at Xu Hei in surprise, then shouted at Xiao Chou, "Xiao Chou, attacking enforcers is a serious crime. Surrender now!"
Xiao Chou had already transformed into battle mode, his body like a small mountain, fists thundering as he fought the red-haired woman fiercely, ignoring the man.
"Swish!"
A flying sword flashed like lightning, stabbing at the middle-aged cultivator. The protective barrier around him shattered upon contact, and the spiritual energy dissipated instantly.
This flying sword was Xu Hei's Spirit-Breaking Sword.
"This sword is strange!"
The middle-aged cultivator squinted, taking out a gourd. Opening the gourd's stopper, a powerful suction force erupted, pulling Xu Hei's Spirit-Breaking Sword towards it.
The Sword-Swallowing Gourd, specifically designed to devour flying swords, was the nemesis of all flying swords!
If not for the sword's strong suppression of spiritual energy, it would have been swallowed already.
"Gravity Technique!"
Xu Hei focused, applying the Gravity Technique to the gourd. The middle-aged cultivator used the same technique, resulting in a stalemate.
But then, the middle-aged cultivator was horrified to find that his Gravity Technique couldn't compete with this Foundation Establishment Stage great demon?
The Sword-Swallowing Gourd slowly moved towards Xu Hei.
"How is this possible?"
The middle-aged cultivator was shocked. Not only was his cultivation higher, but the gourd was also refined with his imprint. How could it be forcibly taken?
Even a late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator couldn't achieve this!
Xu Hei realized that his purple True Qi could suppress this person in quality.
This suppression transcended cultivation levels, an upper-level suppression over a lower level!
Though the man's cultivation was higher, his True Qi quality was inferior to Xu Hei's.
However, Xu Hei had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, and his True Qi wasn't as deep. Within a few breaths, he had consumed a lot.
Xu Hei didn't continue the stalemate. He quickly swallowed a Rejuvenation Pill and cast the Sandstorm Technique!
"Boom boom boom!!!"
In an instant, winds howled, sand filled the sky, and a massive storm erupted, lifting the ground as if to blow away the entire mountain.
The middle-aged cultivator quickly retrieved the gourd, took out a green pearl, and formed a wind-resistant barrier around him, ignoring the storm.
"Damn! This guy has so many magical treasures!"
Xu Hei cursed inwardly. The people he had killed mainly relied on spells, occasionally using flying swords, but he had never encountered someone with so many magical treasures.
In comparison, Xu Hei had very few magical treasures and rarely used them. He wasn't skilled in their use either.
The middle-aged cultivator was equally shocked. Despite his higher cultivation, he was at a disadvantage, barely able to defend himself.
This was the first time Bai Xiu had encountered such a situation.
"This demon isn't simple. Though it appears to be in the early Foundation Establishment Stage, its True Qi can suppress mine. The situation on the other side isn't good either. I can't drag this out."
Bai Xiu took out a black flag from his storage bag. It quickly expanded into a giant sail in his palm.
Instantly, the sky darkened, and the sound of ghostly wails and howls echoed.
Seeing the giant sail, Xu Hei felt a chill, as if he were in the depths of the underworld.
He retrieved his Spirit-Breaking Sword and the charred puppets, eyes wary.
"This giant sail must be his trump card. I can't give him time to release it."