Chapter 104 The Consequences of Going All Out Due to Tension

The pine forest is vast, exuding a faint scent of pine resin. The branches are covered with dense pine needles, resembling clusters of slender, verdant swords. A clear spring flows gently through the forest, while a pool of fiery water spreads silently. The crimson sunset reflects on the ancient pines, making the scenery exceptionally beautiful.

However, with no one to admire the scenery, the atmosphere was unusually tense. No one had expected that they would unexpectedly meet here so soon after entering the spirit cave.

Li Qingxu, dressed in purple, held a purple bamboo staff tempered by the sunlight, with a smile on his face, calm and composed.

Now it’s not that he’s trapped in a hunting situation, but rather that his opponent, Li Qingyue, is being cornered here by him and his acquaintances.

However, neither of the two acquaintances has responded yet, and they seem to have been caught off guard by this situation.

Li Qingyue, clad in silver armor, her black hair fluttering in the wind, said nothing and moved directly toward Li Qingxu.

At this moment, she was extremely assertive. Although her figure was as slender as a willow branch, her aura was incredibly compelling after donning the armor, unlike before.

She was bathed in a flowing, radiant light; the pine branches and vines that had blocked her path were parted, and the ground seemed to be paved with a glowing road, stretching forward. Looking ahead…

“Wang Caiwei won’t make a move. You all wait here,” Li Qingyue secretly transmitted, telling Qin Ming and the other three golden-armored guards not to follow.

In fact, Qin Ming had already predicted that Wang Caiwei would not participate.

If she helps Li Qingxu, what will Cui Chonghe think when he finds out afterwards?

Zheng Maoze wanted to wipe his sweat. How could he have encountered such a start? This puzzled him.

You’re bound to offend people.

Because they can’t kill anyone here to cover it up, whether it’s Li Qingxu or Li Qingyue, even if they are seriously injured, they will definitely be able to escape from the Spirit Cave. Now, asking them to choose sides, left or right, is difficult. However, Li Qingyue’s rise is also very strong, and she is not afraid of anyone when facing them alone.

In terms of personal relationships, he has become quite close to Li Qingxu in the past two years, after all, the latter is exceptionally talented and has a terrifyingly protective teacher.

After some struggle, Zheng Maoze, who was slightly stocky, spoke up: “We’re all acquaintances, old friends who used to be very close. There’s no need to be so tense.”

Qin Ming knew that this was very much in line with Zheng Dazhuang’s personality; although he seemed rough at first glance, he was actually very thoughtful.

Zheng Maoze had already judged that Wang Caiwei would not make a move. He had long known that the eldest daughter of the Wang family was not simple. Over the years, she had always been smiling at people and he had never seen her lose her temper.

Besides the reason Qin Ming identified, Zheng Maoze felt there were other reasons that could be used as evidence to predict that she wouldn’t participate.

One of the reasons is that Li Qingyue confronted Li Qingxu because she publicly brought up past events to stand up for her old friend Qin Ming and settle old scores. Wang Caiwei was also one of the parties involved in the past. After all, she had traveled with Qin Ming before. If she helped Li Qingxu deal with Li Qingyue this time, some people might gossip that she was cold-hearted.

Another very important point is that Li Qingxu is currently being targeted by several core disciples, making his chances of obtaining a near-immortal artifact somewhat slim.

However, Li Qingyue has a great chance. If she obtains it, she is destined to become an extremely important figure in the Fangwai region in the future. From a long-term perspective, it is even more inappropriate to offend her.

Sure enough, Wang Caiwei, dressed in black armor, smiled, her smile bright yet gentle, instantly making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

She smoothed things over, saying, “We were all friends back then, so why have we become estranged since coming to this otherworldly place? If we join forces, our power will be immense. Wouldn’t that be better than confronting each other?”

“Is that right?”

Li Qingyue continued walking, her graceful body glowing, her silver armor clanging as she stepped on the thick layer of pine needles. She smiled at Wang Caiwei, then nodded to Zheng Maoze, acknowledging him.

Li Qingxu sighed inwardly. In fact, he had anticipated this situation, but he couldn’t avoid Li Qingyue and was bound to fight her.

In fact, Li Qingxu is really strong, otherwise Tang Xumi, Jiang Yiyu and others would not have followed Li Qingyue to target him.

At this moment, he remained expressionless, only glancing at Wang Caiwei without saying a word, before secretly transmitting his voice to Zheng Maoze using a secret technique.

“What?!” Zheng Maoze was shocked.

Li Qingxu mentioned his master, that incredibly protective and terrifying old senior, who was in his prime and had many years left to live.

Moreover, Li Qingxu made a promise to him that could immediately improve his strength.

Therefore, Zheng Maoze’s expression changed slightly. There were benefits to be gained, but more importantly, he was very afraid of that senior figure, the kind of person that even a thousand-year-old family would not want to offend.

“Qingyue, I’m sorry, I have my reasons for intervening. But don’t worry, I’m just here for the fun. I don’t have the strength to hurt you, and I won’t really fight to the death.” Zheng Maoze secretly transmitted his voice, indicating that he was about to enter the fray.

Beside him, He Tai, who had mastered the Great Ape King Strength, was an absolutely terrifying master, hailed as a future grandmaster of boxing. He had already killed an Outer Saint during his freshman stage and was taking steps forward.

He Tai was a young powerhouse specially invited by the Zheng family, a family with a thousand-year history. Having received great benefits, he naturally had to do his best.

Zheng Maoze secretly instructed, “You don’t need to follow me into the attack. Just block the four golden-armored guards around Li Qingyue. Don’t use any harsh methods, just hold them off.” Li Qingyue’s beautiful face revealed an icy coldness as she looked at He Tai, then changed direction and headed straight for him.

Clearly, she was worried that this person would seriously injure Qin Ming and the three golden-armored guards, and wanted to take him down first.

He Tai sensed something, and his entire body surged with heavenly light. His eyes revealed a wild light, as if a great ape king had been born, stirring up extremely terrifying fluctuations. As the heavenly light swept across, the ancient pine trees in front of him collapsed.

“Qingyue, I’ve instructed He Tai not to actually harm your people. I swear I mean it,” Zheng Maoze quickly transmitted his voice secretly. He Tai was his trump card; if the two of them joined forces, they might actually have a chance to obtain the legendary item. They absolutely couldn’t afford to fight it out prematurely.

Li Qingyue’s eyes were deep and mysterious, gleaming with a mysterious light. Having cultivated her spiritual eyes, she could tell that Zheng Maoze was not lying. This time, without uttering a word, she charged directly at Li Qingxu. In the woods, colorful clouds surged, and she was bathed in their dazzling light, her elegant and ethereal fairy-like demeanor gone, replaced by a powerful and intimidating aura.

Li Qingxu smiled. Although he wasn’t confident in defeating Li Qingyue, Zheng Maoze was on his side, which was his biggest advantage.

In a battle between masters, even if one of them unexpectedly becomes significantly stronger, it can change the course of the battle, let alone with the addition of Zheng Maoze, who is not weak either. “Li Qingyue, I’m afraid you will be the first one eliminated!” Li Qingxu laughed.

His hair was glowing, his purple robes fluttered in the wind, and as he swung the purple bamboo staff, the nearby pine forest roared and trembled violently. His spiritual light expanded, intertwined, and twisted and shattered the nearby pines and giant vines.

Li Qingxu took the initiative to meet Li Qingyue. Before the two had even gotten close, their consciousness and the light of the Yellow Court had already collided, making the battlefield incredibly terrifying. Hundred-year-old pine trees exploded, and boulders disintegrated.

“Go and take care of her golden-armored guards!” Li Qingxu shouted, ordering the four experts behind him. At the same time, he also looked at Zheng Maoze and his helpers.

Zheng Maoze gritted his teeth and made his move, then sent a telepathic message to He Tai, telling him not to get serious and not to kill him.

Behind Li Qingxu, four golden-armored guards fought, some with bare hands, others with heavy weapons like spiked clubs, and the most eye-catching was the golden-armored youth wielding a large spear, who had probably inherited the legacy of the Overlord.

Clearly, Li Qingxu’s teacher was deliberately showing people that even someone as powerful as the former peerless overlord could only become a golden-armored guard in his eyes if they learned the legacy he left behind. This was a psychological intimidation.

The four bypassed the core disciples and rushed forward, their murderous aura shaking the pine forest; clearly, they were all Outer Saints.

At the crucial moment, Li Qingyue broke free from the encirclement of Li Qingxu and Zheng Maoze and charged towards the four. In an instant, five-colored divine light surged, and the four people who passed through this area were immediately trapped in the mud.

“Li Qingyue, you can’t interfere!” Li Qingxu said coldly, the purple bamboo staff in his hand, which had withstood the scorching light of the secluded world, made a sonic boom as it smashed towards Li Qingyue’s back. At this moment, Qin Ming threw a series of spears, four short spears piercing through the pine forest with terrifying wind and thunder sounds, reaching the four golden-armored guards.

Although the four outer saints staggered and were nearly overturned by Li Qingyue, they were freed by Li Qingxu’s intervention at the crucial moment.

In an instant, the four men were enveloped in a burst of heavenly light. Some used their bare hands, while others wielded weapons, to deflect the four short spears thrown by Qin Ming. With a series of thuds, the spears pierced through the nearby thick pine trees.

Qin Ming’s expression was solemn. It was clear that he could not deal with the four people by relying solely on his physical strength. His Heavenly Light could not yet leave his body and be infused into ordinary weapons, so the four short spears had no killing power against them.

“Kill!” The two men and one woman who had followed Li Qingyue for over a year had already established themselves at the Outer Saint realm. Now, they roared and charged forward, fearlessly confronting their opponents. Qin Ming, wielding his bronze staff, followed silently, preparing for the great battle!

Seeing that Zheng Maoze’s four henchmen were also approaching and trying to surround Qin Ming and the others, Li Qingyue took a deep breath and, despite the pressure from Li Qingxu and Zheng Maoze, dragged the two of them closer to the battlefield of the golden-armored guards.

Chaos erupted here, as the core disciples and outer saints were all in the same area, making it extremely dangerous.

Qin Ming suddenly accelerated. He really didn’t believe in evil. He had fused more than a dozen kinds of Heavenly Light Forces and enhanced his body. How could he not be able to deal with an Outer Saint? Last time in the desert, he had already killed one at a heavy price.

Now, having combined two extraordinary skills, his Heavenly Light Force has undergone an astonishing transformation, its power surging dramatically. He should be even more confident now. With a clang, he swung his bronze staff with all his might, only to have it cleaved in two by the golden-armored youth opposite him with a massive…

Qin Ming’s expression changed. This was a weapon he had carefully selected from the armory of Chixia City. It was made of mixed gold and not real bronze. Yet, it was cleaved in two in an instant.

Moreover, he saw the golden-armored youth sneer, and his spear burst forth with a foot-long burst of light.

Qin Ming was immediately horrified. This large sculpture was already two meters long, and the golden-armored youth’s light could extend a foot beyond it, which was truly astonishing.

You must understand that the aura of the outer saint he killed in the desert couldn’t even penetrate his weapon; it was only about half a foot away from his body. Could this golden-armored youth’s aura really be more than two meters away from his body? That’s truly terrifying.

At this moment, the golden-armored youth revealed a cruel sneer, unleashing a powerful diagonal slash, giving his opponent no chance to change weapons. The sky seemed to surge with light; he intended to obliterate Qin Ming.

Despite the pressure from Li Qingxu and Zheng Maoze, Li Qingyue arrived at the vicinity to come to her rescue.

Qin Ming was indeed quite nervous. At this moment, he was going all out, using his strongest power, and elevating the unified Heavenly Light Force to an unprecedented level. Li Qingyue sensed something in her eyes, and she suddenly stopped, showing a look of surprise, and did not come over.

Qin Ming deflected the large spear with his bare hands, and the weapon didn’t break? His heart sank, but his combat awareness was extremely strong. Seeing the golden-armored youth’s surprise and stiffen, he immediately followed up, closing in on the spear and unleashing the strongest Heavenly Light Force, fused with the Silk Calligraphy.

The golden-armored youth was terrified. What kind of monster was this? The light of heaven couldn’t even be emitted yet, and he could already fight against him, an outer saint, with his bare hands?

His great spear incorporated some jade iron, which was why it could receive his divine light, but just now the divine light on the spear was actually scattered by the opponent with a single hand.

He sensed a grave danger approaching, and could only temporarily release his spear, his hands flashing like tiger claws, unleashing a burst of light to clash head-on with his opponent. “Ah…” In the next instant, he screamed in agony as his tiger claw power dissipated, his finger bones shattered, and flesh flew everywhere. At the same time, his chest was struck by his opponent.

In an instant, his protective golden armor glowed, its runes shimmering, saving him from a fatal blow. Otherwise, he would have been smashed to pieces by his opponent’s bare hands.

Qin Ming was still a little nervous. The Heavenly Light Force, which had been fused into one, was still bursting out continuously. Unable to penetrate the opponent’s golden armor with runes, he then blasted towards the broken palm.

This terrifying beam of light could spread along flesh and blood. The golden-armored youth only had time to let out a shrill cry before his entire body exploded into a bloody mist within the glowing armor. This attack shattered the original stalemate on the battlefield.

“This so-called ‘Outer Saint’ is all talk and no action; he just looks impressive. I don’t seem to be weak at all,” Qin Ming murmured as the tension subsided.