Chapter 361: Blood Qilin, Not Bad
Cultivator at the Innate Realm...
This appellation carries an immense weight.
Among cultivators, those who can refine the five inner energies in their chest and begin nourishing the three blossoms at the crown can truly be considered as accomplished cultivators, embodying the profound essence of Dao.
Wherever one goes in the world, they are entitled to be an honored guest.
And a cultivator who has refined the five inner energies in their chest, nurtured the three blossoms at the crown, has entered the realm of the innate, transcending the mundane, and can truly be said to be superior to all living beings.
Every profound cultivator of innate cultivation is a powerful and influential ruler who commands respect wherever they go.
People have never heard of such a magnificent spectacle where innate cultivators serve as sword servants.
Is this Huo Feng from the Yun Sect of the Fire Pass Country truly so formidable?
Even his sword servant is an innate cultivator?
The cultivators of the Youxiong Country were all shocked beyond words and unable to speak.
They couldn't accept such a thing, but Lie Lao's words clearly implied that this little girl who had beaten everyone to a pulp was an innate cultivator…
The exhilarated cultivators, all fell silent and silently watched Nangong Hao and the little girl in the field, eager to witness the ensuing development.
And as Nangong Hao stepped forward, Xiao Ai furrowed her brows slightly and said, "You want to fight with me?"
She glanced at the crowd present, then her gaze returned to Nangong Hao, as she said, "One defeated, and now another one emerges, it's like stringing candied haws… Can't you just call out the strongest person directly?"
Xiao Ai looked at the innate cultivator before her with disdain, thinking, "I don't want to waste my time on a mere riffraff."
The arrogant words, instantly ignited the previously tranquil courtyard once again.
People stared in astonishment at the little girl before them, wondering if she truly understood the formidable reputation of Nangong Hao.
This is undeniably one of the top innate cultivators in the southern region! Even if you were to look across the entire Youxiong Country, they would still hold a prominent position!
And the meaning behind the little girl's words… was it really that she desired to engage in direct combat with Lie Lao?
At that moment, everyone felt that this little girl had gone mad.
Lie Lao, on the other hand, had long been renowned as an innate cultivator and was among the foremost in terms of strength among all innate cultivators.
Even if this little girl is an innate cultivator, challenging Lie Lao directly seems excessively arrogant and presumptuous.
Nangong Hao's face displayed an expression of anger as he retorted, "You insolent little girl! Has no one ever taught you the concept of etiquette?"
Lu Heng could only laugh and cry, and helplessly spoke, "Why don't you just have a friendly match with City Lord Nangong and not go too far?"
Others may not be aware of Xiao Ai's cultivation, but isn't Lu Heng aware of it as well?
Although relying on the characteristic of constant cultivation day and night without any bottlenecks, as well as the unique cultivation of the combined forces of incense power, heavenly thunder, and demon cultivator, amplified by the multiple nourishment of Hanyu Mountain's peach fruits, and several years of arduous cultivation of the "Tao Scripture," Xiao Ai has already refined the five qi within her chest, even approaching the cultivation of the Three Flowers. She is just one step away from stepping into the realm of innate power.
Her speed of cultivation is terrifyingly fast.
However, the disparity in this final step is like the difference between heaven and earth.
Even relying on the various exquisite divine techniques passed down by Lu Heng in the "Divine Skill," Xiao Ai can barely contend with an cultivator at the innate realm.
However, she can only barely exchange blows with a cultivator who has just entered the innate realm.
Don't even mention Lie Lao, who came from the capital city. Even if Xiao Ai were to fight against Nangong Hao, it would be quite tough.
But this little girl directly challenges Lie Lao… she seems to have become highly agitated, disregarding everything and making up her mind to embarrass this group of people.
After all, as the top cultivator of the Youxiong Country, if Lie Lao were to participate in such a situation, even if he were to instantly defeat Xiao Ai, it would still bring shame upon his reputation.
And as for Lu Heng's words, although they were meant to restrain, Xiao Ai's arrogant remarks have already caused everyone present to feel embarrassed and humiliated.
Nangong Hao's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth in anger, saying, "You little girl! You've crossed the line!"
After this little girl's wild and unfounded remarks are spoken, even if he were to defeat the opponent next, once this matter spreads, both Lie Lao and he himself will have their reputations affected.
Nangong Hao has already ignited his true fire.
Meanwhile, Lie Lao maintained an unwavering expression, coldly gazing at Xiao Ai in the center of the arena, as well as the man in white standing behind her.
Upon seeing this situation, Lu Heng sighed and said, "Forget it, take back what I said earlier, Xiao Ai, do as you please, just make sure nobody gets hurt."
Lu Heng's expression was helpless as he said, "To be honest, it's quite ironic. I was merely invited to have a meal, but now someone insists on putting me on the hot seat. And now, when the heat is insufficient and the roasting is incomplete, they blame us… sigh… being a good person is truly difficult."
Lu Heng's soliloquy made the faces of the cultivators even more unsightly.
While Lie Lao's face turned dark, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret in his heart.
Previously, during the period of collective excitement, he had the opportunity to restrain the anger of the crowd and turn swords into plowshares.
However, due to a momentary lapse in judgment, he ended up following the anger of the crowd.
Now, he has kicked the iron board and lost all dignity.
Once the little girl uttered the final sentence, even if Nangong Hao emerged victorious in this confrontation, both sides would have become irreversibly embroiled in hostility.
Having provoked such a formidable cultivator, Lie Yang couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret deep within his heart.
However, at this point, he could no longer utter another word.
Could only darken his complexion and said, "City Lord Nangong, it's up to you from here."
Nangong Hao let out a muffled grunt, took a step forward, and declared, "Little girl, draw your sword! Today, I shall show you the meaning of inviolable innate talent!"
However, Xiao Ai coldly retorted, "Draw my sword? You are not worthy!"
The even more arrogant words were promptly retorted back.
Nangong Hao, filled with fury, responded with a smirk, saying, "Such an audacious little mouth! Today, I will tear you apart!"
Xiao Ai, with a cold expression, looked at him, unfazed.
The statement Lu Heng made just now already implies that Xiao Ai is allowed to utilize the Heavenly Thunder Sword.
However, once the Heavenly Thunder Sword is unsheathed, it will undoubtedly expose the identity of the Wolf God.
Currently, Sun Yan is still in the clutches of the demons. Xiao Ai, unwilling to attract undue attention, refrains from divulging the news of the arrival of the Wolf God here and will not invoke the use of the Heavenly Thunder Sword.
Furthermore, in Xiao Ai's heart, a mere Nangong Hao certainly doesn't have the qualification to lay eyes upon the Heavenly Thunder Sword.
She stood in place, her body slightly taut, with true energy circulating throughout her being, awaiting Nangong Hao's move.
Xiao Ai is also aware of the immense gap in the strength and realm between both parties, thus she dares not be presumptuous. Although she may exhibit arrogance in her words, it is merely a means to tarnish the reputation of these individuals.
Following beside the Wolf God, she has never been arrogant or conceited due to her own cultivation level.
It was only when this group of individuals verbally besieged the Wolf God that it provoked her, and she retaliated in kind.
Since you deem yourselves so highly and feel insulted, resorting to verbally attacking the Wolf God, then let your words become a reality and your dignity be completely tarnished!
The thoughts within the little girl's heart were, indeed, that simple.
As the true energy circulated around the little girl's body, she focused her attention and waited. Nangong Hao let out a cold snort and said, "I will only use one move… After that, regardless of the outcome, I will not intervene again, to avoid accusations of taking advantage of the younger generation!"
"As long as you can withstand my attack, you are free to strike me down. I, Nangong Hao, will not retaliate!"
Nangong Hao attempted to regain the advantage in momentum, making every effort to salvage the reputation they were about to lose.
As the voice fell, Nangong Hao raised his right hand, revealing a blood-red tattoo on his wrist.
The tattoo depicts a roaring Blood Qilin.
In the Youxiong Country, there is a legend that the esteemed ancestors of the Nangong family had a deep connection with an ancient divine beast, the Blood Qilin.
When the divine beast perished, it left behind a lingering soul to protect the successive heads of the Nangong family.
And Nangong Hao, is the current patriarch of the Nangong family, inheriting the remnants of the Blood Qilin.
As Nangong Hao raised his right hand, the Blood Qilin tattoo on his wrist began to writhe, transforming into a blood-red aura that soared into the air.
The vast and ancient ambience resonates within the Qushui Village.
The enraged Qilin roared, the sound resonating throughout the entire night sky.
Within the Qushui Village, many cultivators felt a subtle tremor in their hearts, as they encountered for the first time the aura of an ancient divine beast, rendering them almost unable to remain calm.
And by Nangong Hao's side, there now stood a semi-transparent, blood-red Qilin.
In the blink of an eye, the presence of the Blood Qilin overshadowed the entire scene, instantly suppressing the aura of the little girl.
Lu Heng's heart, in an instant, soared with anticipation.
Blood Qilin… Nangong Hao's cultivation may not be high, yet he possesses such an eccentric creature as a protector?
In this way, Xiao Ai is simply no match, without wielding the formidable power of the Heavenly Thunder Sword.
Witnessing the dire situation, with a single thought, Lu Heng readied the power of the Requiem Seal at any given moment.
Through the connection between their souls, Lu Heng conveyed, "Xiao Ai, go ahead and take action, there will be no harm!"
The connection between their souls is not just a mere telepathy; apart from Lu Heng and Xiao Ai, outsiders are completely unaware of it.
Upon hearing Lu Heng's voice, Xiao Ai exhibited no visible signs of disturbance.
She continued to gaze coldly ahead at the Blood Qilin, completely disregarding its fierce and intimidating presence.
However, Nangong Hao had already roared in anger, mobilizing all of his True Qi and commanding the Qilin's spirit to charge forward.
"Qilin ancestral spirit, annihilate my enemies!"
"Roar!!!"
A deafening roar of a terrifying beast reverberated throughout this domain.
The ferocious remnants of the Qilin's spirit, with blazing flames, charged directly towards the silver-haired girl with animal ears.
The ferocious bloodlust stained the entire night sky in crimson.
The horrifying momentum left all cultivators trembling with fear, making it indescribable.
The world has long spoken of the unparalleled ferocity of the Qilin remnants from the Southern Palace clan, yet little did they anticipate it to be this terrifying!
Even the spectator, Lie Lao, couldn't help but wear a shocked expression. He never expected Nangong Hao's Blood Qilin's Spirit to be this formidable.
However, in the instant when the blood-red Qilin spirit surged forth and confronted the overwhelming terror akin to the collapse of heaven and earth, the silver-haired girl with animal ears simply let out a casual sigh.
"Exhale…"
A cold gust of wind silently brushed through the courtyard.
As the chilly wind passed by, the ferocious blaze of Nangong Hao's Blood Qilin's Spirit dissipated instantly. Amidst the astonished gazes of everyone present, it transformed into crimson vapor, retracting into the grasp of Nangong Hao.
It transformed once again into the Qilin's tattoo.
Meanwhile, Nangong Hao maintained the posture of fully mobilizing his true energy to execute his technique, standing frozen in place with a bewildered expression.
Unable to comprehend what had transpired at all.
The ancestral spirit of the Qilin… dispersed in a single breath?!
Who is this young girl? What is her background?!
Nangong Hao found himself immersed in a state of bewildered astonishment, the intensity of which was so overwhelming that for a moment, he even forgot his whereabouts and what he was doing.
Just stood there, in a dumbfounded stupor, unable to accept this harsh reality.
Upon the main table, Lie Lao's complexion grew slightly pallid, and his hand, clutching the armrest, trembled ever so slightly.
The majesty of the Qilin ancestral spirit, witnessed by his own eyes, was something he acknowledged even personally, finding it challenging to confront such a move.
However, this terrifying ultimate move, was effortlessly neutralized by the seemingly casual actions of the young girl before him… and remarkably, what appeared to be the most formidable strike thus far, was counteracted with utmost ease…
Lie Lao gazed blankly at the silver-haired, beast-eared young girl, realizing that she must possess some sort of artifact or secret technique specifically targeting spiritual beings, enabling her to dismiss Blood Qilin's spirit with such ease.
Even if he could anticipate such an unlikely occurrence, the sight before his eyes completely shattered Lie Lao's emotional defenses.
Even if it happens to be a secret technique that naturally restrains it! Even if it is a coincidence! To be able to disperse the Blood Qilin's spirit in an instant… Such a coincidence is too fatal!
It's as if heaven intends for the Youxiong Country's side to lose! They want to make them lose all face!
In the courtyard, there was a sudden silence, tranquil as an empty library devoid of any human presence.
The originally impassioned and intimidating cultivators from the Youxiong Country, now became speechless, their expressions filled with confusion, disbelief, and shock.
It wasn't until Xiao Ai's cold words resounded that everyone was jolted awake.
"This Blood Qilin… is not too bad."
With a casual remark, it conveyed a mutual admiration that is often shared between formidable opponents.
However, speaking such words in this context was imbued with a sense of contempt and mockery.
Upon regaining his senses, Nangong Hao, who had just regained consciousness, heard such words and instantly felt his true energy surge uncontrollably, his eyes filled with fury.
"You… ahem…"
Nangong Hao's directly spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood, and his entire body collapsed heavily to the ground.
He fainted on the spot.
And this time, no cultivators from the Youxiong Country dared to speak out or roar in protest. They all remained silent, gazing in astonishment at the silver-haired girl with animal ears standing in the midst of the scene, and staring in disbelief at Nangong Hao's collapse.
As if everyone was sleepwalking.
Upon witnessing such a scene, Lu Heng couldn't help but cover his face, sighing deeply in his heart.
Oh Brother Huo, Brother Huo, it seems that in this lifetime, you probably won't be able to come to the north…
Moreover, in the future, when traversing the Youxiong Country, Lu Heng will also have to adopt a new pseudonym.
In the future, if one were to openly declare oneself as Huo Feng of the Yun Sect, they would likely face an immediate onslaught from all sides.
This Xiao Ai, usually appearing silent and not adept in words, how can her sharp tongue become so venomous when she gets provoked?
After executing a series of continuous techniques, not only did it shame these group of cultivators, but it also caused one innate cultivator to faint on the spot… It's truly terrifying!
Lu Heng believed that in the future, he absolutely must not engage in verbal disputes with this young lady, otherwise, he feared it might provoke a myocardial infarction out of sheer anger.
As he observed the silent crowd, Lu Heng stood up and declared, "The duel concludes, everyone… ahem… farewell, farewell."
Lu Heng had initially intended to deliver a few diplomatic words to ease the atmosphere before departing. However, as soon as he opened his mouth, he noticed that everyone was staring at him with expressions filled with despair, dullness, and numbness.
That gaze, seemingly saying- "Another face slap? How excessive!"
In such a situation, it seemed that whatever words Lu Heng uttered would be perceived as provocation and met with contemptuous disregard.
In order to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control, Lu Heng had no choice but to keep quiet and refrain from speaking.
From a distance, Lu Heng gestured a farewell to Gu Yin at the main table. Then, he firmly took hold of the little girl's hand and swiftly led her away, determined to prevent any further trouble that the young girl appeared to instigate.
If this little girl were to jump again, it is possible that Huo Feng's name would truly become the nation's public enemy of the Youxiong Country.
After all, it is using someone else's name; let's not go too far…