Chapter Eighteen: Who Dares Harm My Disciple?
As soon as the words fell, Qin Tiangang pushed both palms forward, and a huge palm shadow formed before him, shimmering with a bluish-gray spiritual energy. The edges of the palm glowed with a faint icy blue light, radiating a fierce killing intent: “Profound Ice Mountain Suppression!”
The moment the palm shadow appeared, the temperature in the martial arena plummeted sharply. A three-inch-thick layer of ice formed on the ground, and many cultivators’ hair froze into icy strands.
“It’s the sect master! The sect master is personally stepping in!” a disciple of the Azurefall Sect shouted, hope flickering instantly in his eyes.
“The pressure of the Nascent Soul first stage! Xiao Yi is doomed!” another disciple nearby trembled as he spoke. To them, the Nascent Soul stage was a legendary realm, capable of taking lives with just a gesture.
Xiao Yi’s back was straight as a rod, golden-red flames burning ever fiercer around him.
He could feel the overwhelming pressure pressing down like a mountain and the bone-chilling killing intent, yet his eyes shone brightly with remarkable clarity.
His master had said that disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect must never kneel even in death.
He knew this was a matter of life and death. His spiritual power surged vigorously within him as a low roar escaped his throat: “Blazing Fire Inferno!”
The golden-red flames coalesced into a ten-meter-high wall of fire, inscribed with countless fiery runes.
Yet the oppressive pressure and killing intent of the Nascent Soul stage descended like a celestial curtain, and the fire wall cracked and popped the moment it met the palm wind, its edges freezing instantly into ice.
Xiao Yi felt as if his internal organs were shifting, his bones groaning under unbearable strain, but he bit down hard and refused to retreat.
Bang!
The “Profound Ice Mountain Suppression” collided with the fire wall, forcing the flames to recede like a tide.
Xiao Yi was shaken violently, blood surging through his throat with a metallic taste, but he forced himself to swallow it back.
He knew no matter what he did, he could not withstand Qin Tiangang’s assault. Since that was the case, he would give it his all. His hands quickly formed seals, and flames gathered in his palms, forming a fiery spear about three meters long.
“Kill!”
The fiery spear shot toward the giant palm, whistling sharply through the air, but the moment it touched the bluish-gray spiritual energy, it froze into an icy sculpture.
Qin Tiangang flipped his palm slightly, and the spear shattered with a crisp crack, fragments scattering across the ground.
He gazed at the stubbornness burning in Xiao Yi’s eyes, his killing intent intensifying—such a temperament, if it flourished, would sooner or later bring the Azurefall Sect down by his hand.
“You dare challenge the Nascent Soul stage, you insignificant Golden Core disciple! Such ignorance!” Qin Tiangang snorted coldly, adding more force to his palm strike with increased killing intent: “Profound Ice Sea Split!”
The palm shadow suddenly surged, accompanied by the tearing howl of air and a deadly aura, pressing down on Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi was struck like a heavy hammer, flying backward and crashing against one of the jade pillars in the arena.
The jade pillar shattered with a crash. Sliding down the broken stone, he hit the ground and tried to push himself up, but suddenly spat a mouthful of blood, staining the blue stones beneath him.
The spiritual power of his first-stage Golden Core violently fluctuated under the Nascent Soul pressure. The golden-red flames around him dwindled to scattered flickers, as if they would collapse any moment.
His chest rose and fell weakly; his vitality was rapidly draining away.
“Only a few moves, and he’s already beaten like this...” a gray-robed cultivator sighed, shaking his head nearby.
“What good is a Fire Spirit Saint Body? Before a Nascent Soul cultivator, it’s still far too tender.”
“Such a pity for such talent; it looks like this is where it ends.”
From farther away, some peered anxiously, their voices filled with regret.
“The sect master is mighty! This hidden danger is finally eliminated!”
“I told you, an outer sect disciple dares to cause trouble in the Azurefall Sect—now they know how formidable we are!”
“Was so arrogant just now? Now he’s like a dead dog!” disciples of the Azurefall Sect exclaimed joyfully.
On the high platform, Liu Ningxia watched the struggling figure below with a heavy heart, her throat tightening.
Three months ago in Wuwei City, she never imagined that this betrothed she had once underestimated would prove to be so resolute.
Thinking of his words, “A promise is a promise,” her chest suddenly felt as if pricked by needles.
Qin Tiangang strode slowly toward Xiao Yi, looking down at the figure on the ground, his killing intent undisguised: “With such talent, you are a threat merely by living. Today, I will cut the weeds to the root and eliminate all future trouble!”
He raised his hand to strike down. If the palm landed, Xiao Yi would be shattered to pieces.
“Who dares harm my disciple?!”
Suddenly, a furious roar exploded from the sky, the sound crashing like thunder across the arena, making everyone’s eardrums ring.
A figure in white robes broke through the clouds, descending with a trail of flowing light to stand before Xiao Yi—it was Ye Chentian.
In recent days, Ye Chentian had quietly followed Xiao Yi, witnessing his tenacity and perseverance.
At this moment, Xiao Yi’s chest was soaked with blood, and dried blood froth clung to the corner of his mouth.
His once-straight back now slightly hunched, yet he still propped himself up with his elbow, trying to raise his head.
Ye Chentian’s heart tightened. Waving his sleeve, a gentle yet irresistible spiritual force enveloped Xiao Yi, sending a warm current through him.
“Silly boy, still forcing yourself like this,” his voice carried a subtle tenderness but more so admiration. “To hold out against a Nascent Soul cultivator until now, well done.”
Leaning on his master’s shoulder, feeling that familiar warm spiritual flow, Xiao Yi’s tense body finally relaxed.
He coughed twice, the metallic taste rising again, yet he swallowed it back and whispered, “Master, I haven’t shamed the Profound Heaven Sect.”
“You did very well.” Ye Chentian wiped the blood from his mouth, lightly pressing his fingers on Xiao Yi’s back. “To hold true to your heart in the face of despair is more important than winning a match.”
“Ye... Ye Chentian?!” Some cultivators recognized him, their voices trembling like leaves in the wind. “That’s the one from Wuwei City! The bane who crushed Elder Wang Qing with a single palm!” Those nearby turned pale and instinctively shrank back.
Qin Tiangang looked up at the newcomer, his spiritual perception instantly sweeping over him, but all he sensed was an unfathomable aura of chaos.
It was as if the man’s cultivation level was beyond his comprehension; his spiritual sight sank like a stone into the sea, unable to find any useful information.
His heart tightened sharply, brow furrowing, suspicion and doubt surging within.
This person’s aura was strange—he could even block my spiritual probe? He is no ordinary cultivator!
He forced calm and spoke, his tone heavier than before: “Ye Chentian? You actually dare to intrude into my Azurefall Sect?”
“Hmph, the petty Azurefall Sect shamelessly dared to send an outer sect disciple to challenge my disciple with a three-month agreement, yet you acted like this!” Ye Chentian’s gaze fell coldly on Liu Ningxia on the platform. “Your disciple lost the bet and refused to honor the promise—that would be bad enough—but your entire sect covered for him and even tried to kill to silence the matter. Such betrayal—do you even deserve to be ranked among the top hundred sects of the Immortal Alliance?”
Liu Ningxia’s face paled, words failing her.
The disciples of the Azurefall Sect lowered their heads, utterly ashamed under Ye Chentian’s reproach.
Some outer sect cultivators whispered, “So the Azurefall Sect can’t accept defeat? They don’t even honor their own disciple’s promise. Who will dare deal with them in the future?”