Chapter 78 — Making a Move

The blue flying sword had lost all its sword intent; its blade broke inch by inch, turning into countless fragments!

The yellow-robed Daoist finally paled in horror. He could care for nothing else and fled in defeat.

The sudden turn of events left every cultivator in the free market, open or hidden, stunned on the spot. Wen Tie the Wanderer, who had been rolling on the ground, had become a pile of ash, leaving nothing behind. In the space of a single encounter, five Golden Core masters—one dead, one wounded, three fled. What kind of strength did that require?

Everyone's gaze toward Zuo Yan changed, and all those who coveted the yin beads could not help but rejoice that they had not made a move.

The vast free market was dead silent; only that wisp of dark red flame burned faintly before Zuo Yan's chest.

Zuo Yan extended a finger, and the dark red flame turned into a thread of fire and burrowed into his finger.

Xiao Huan's face was pale, her expression dazed, and she stood frozen in place. Her mind was a blank; she did not even notice Zuo Yan leaving. She did not know how long it was before she gradually came to herself. Seeing her mistress's pale face, she could hold back no longer and, with a wail, threw herself into her mistress's arms and burst into tears.

Just then, two yin beads fell to the ground.

Mistress and servant were both struck dumb.

Zuo Yan flew swiftly onward. His eyes were dim and lusterless, and even the blade-like smile at the corner of his mouth seemed to have lost its strength. He rose into the air and left; no one dared to block him, and no one dared to pursue... wait, no...

He stopped abruptly.

Lin Qian, dressed all in white, appeared behind him. The Lin Qian of this moment was utterly different from the easy, harmless man he had seemed when they first met. Spiritual power surged through his whole body like a sword drawn from its sheath, sword intent spilling in all directions! His expression was grave; he did not dare relax in the slightest, fixing his eyes on the man before him whom he could not fathom.

Zuo Yan gave a light laugh. "Heh. You're bold, I'll give you that."

His voice was icy. Though he laughed, there was not a trace of feeling in it. If Zuo Yan had been clear-headed, he would surely have recognized it as Pu Yi's voice. Poor Zuo Yan—in that desperate strait, the Bogey Sprite had finally been unable to hold back and acted.

Lin Qian in white did not change his stance, guarded and ready to unleash his fiercest strike at any moment. He said in a low voice, "Senior, your cultivation is astonishing. Why not show your true face?"

The Bogey Sprite stared at Lin Qian, the smile on his face growing even deeper. "Little friend, I have no time to play with you today. But rest assured, we shall meet again when the chance comes." Then, for no apparent reason, he tossed out, "Interesting! Haha!"

Before the words faded, a wisp of flame rose from beneath his feet.

Lin Qian was first startled, then shouted, "Senior, wait!"

A mocking look flashed in the Bogey Sprite's eyes, and in the blink of an eye he vanished from where he stood.

Lin Qian let out a breath of relief and stood where he was. Only then did he realize that, without his noticing, his back was soaked through. How long had it been since he had been so tense?

Suddenly, his expression shifted, and he vanished into the wind.

Lin Qian had barely left when a group of people arrived at the spot where they had just been—a band of black-clad men wearing masks. Their leader suddenly came to the place where the Bogey Sprite had stood and touched the ground, which showed nothing unusual. "We've found the right place!"

Those brief words brimmed with delight, but immediately after, he said in vexation, "What a pity—we were one step too late!"

A slight stir ran through the black-clad men, but no one spoke.

"I have been curious all along: what are you looking for?"

The mild voice fell into the ears of the black-clad men like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Every face changed drastically, and they whirled around.

Lin Qian in white lifted his feet and advanced toward them step by step. "Would any of you tell me just who that senior was?"

His expression was calm, but between his brows was a grim sword intent.

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Every cold I catch is absolutely brutal! I'll take a few days to adjust, then make up for the past few days.