The old fellow, relying on the vast true qi within his body, stamped two footprints on the moist earth. However, Ren Yuanhao's water-attribute true qi showed no sign of stagnation, crashing down like a monstrous tidal wave!
"This is the second move!"
Ren Yuanhao roared and suddenly flipped the blade of his saber. With the saber's back, he executed a heavy 'Splitting Mount Hua'. True qi surged wave after wave, truly like raging torrents and colossal waves, roaring and surging. The old man, having lost his weapon, could only clench his fists and resist with condensed fire-attribute true qi.
The two men's true qi clashed head-on, like a volcanic eruption and a tsunami's surge. Yet, the Five Elements true qi complemented and countered each other, and Ren Yuanhao's water-attribute true qi was not much inferior to his own fire-attribute true qi. Coupled with the assistance of the Wuji Saber, the old man could only withstand it for about five to six seconds before Ren Yuanhao's saber forcefully cleaved through his true qi. It was about to split his skull!
Just then, Ren Yuanhao abruptly retracted his move. The water-attribute true qi returned to his body like a giant dragon absorbing water. White mist dispersed, leaving the surroundings filled with layers of faint fog. The air was thick with the scent of water vapor from complete combustion, and light spots drifted within the mist, creating a dreamlike, illusory scene.
"Water-attribute true qi! Kid, how can one person possess two mutually conflicting attributes of true qi? How did you manage it?"
The old fellow suddenly snapped back from his frenzied state. He wasn't worried about Ren Yuanhao's saber, hanging above his skull, cleaving down and taking his life. Instead, he showed more interest in Ren Yuanhao.
Ren Yuanhao's lips curved upwards. He retracted his saber and didn't rush to answer, "Senior, by this measure, you have lost, haven't you?"
"Lost?" The old fellow was quite magnanimous, laughing heartily, "Lost is lost. Am I, Fang Moyu, someone who can't afford to lose? Rather, you had a clear opportunity to kill me just now, why did you hold back?"
Ren Yuanhao, having gained the advantage, was neither arrogant nor conceited. He cupped his hands slightly and said, "In a duel, I have already resorted to trickery. Moreover, I didn't actually intend to take your life. Also, I was afraid of angering a true lion, in which case I would be the one to suffer. Wouldn't that be too much of a loss, wouldn't you agree?"
"Good kid. Possessing both water and fire energies, yet not arrogant or impatient. Your future achievements will surely be limitless. However, what you mentioned is too bizarre. I must personally question the Sect Master for clarity. I can pretend not to have seen the matter of saving the person, and I don't care whether the person can be rescued smoothly."
Fang Moyu sheathed his long saber. Ren Yuanhao knew it was not the right time to let him see the Sect Master. After all, once these two met and discussed the matter, his whereabouts would inevitably be exposed, and his plan would be revealed in an instant. At that point, the prepared Chi Xiao Sect would not be so easy to deal with.
With this thought, he immediately reached out to stop Fang Moyu.
"What? You want to fight me again?"
Fang Moyu's gaze changed drastically. A powerful pressure suddenly erupted from his entire being. Ren Yuanhao had felt this kind of pressure from Dongfang Ji before.
It was the unique pressure of a cultivator who had entered the Foundation Establishment realm!
"Senior, even if the Sect Master did these things, would he admit it if you went to ask him like this?" Ren Yuanhao's mind flashed with an idea, a hint of cunning in his eyes. He suddenly added, "Instead of questioning the Sect Master, Senior, wouldn't it be better to find that Dongfang Xu and ask him for clarification in person?"
"That's right, kid. We'll meet again if fate allows."
The old fellow flashed away, true qi surging. A black shadow suddenly swept down the mountain.
"Damn it, I've finally seen this esteemed deity off."
Ren Yuanhao did not hesitate for a moment. He took out his phone, immediately brought up the map, and headed towards the marker indicating the Black Water Prison.
...
At the same time, Dongfang Ji and the others had already passed through the waterfall's curtain, truly entering the territory of the Chi Xiao Sect.
Dongfang Ji and the Ji brothers looked around. They indeed found no disciples on night watch in the vicinity. To their sides were blue buildings built into the mountainside. Lanterns swayed with the wind, and under the faint light, the buildings cast dim, dark shadows on the mountain. A sudden gust of wind kicked up dust, and the surroundings seemed to be permeated with a chilling and eerie atmosphere.
Just as everyone was preparing to act according to plan and form ranks, bursts of drum beats, startling as thunder, erupted from the central gathering area.
Upon hearing this sound, everyone felt a premonition of danger and immediately dispersed, hiding among the tall trees and bushes.
"Patriarch Dongfang, could it be that we've been discovered?"
Ji Feng held his breath and whispered in a hushed voice.
"Impossible. However, judging by this scene, they seem to be holding some kind of ceremony?"
Dongfang Ji stared intently. In the assembly area, angry flames suddenly surged into the sky, and brilliant light pillars illuminated the area around the venue as bright as day. Black and red interwoven banners fluttered vigorously in the sky. The cold wind whistled, and the tree shadows swayed.
"What the heck, could it be a celebration for having dealt with us? That's too early to be so happy."
A man from the Dongfang family's retainers, known as the Shadow Assassin, licked his lips, as if he could smell a feast of slaughter.
"It seems the mission needs to be adjusted." Dongfang Ji pondered for a moment, then said to the four leaders, "Since it's an assembly, I assume most of the disciples who should be sleeping in the buildings on the sides are now concentrated in the gathering area. Our 'Grass and Trees are Soldiers' plan can remain unchanged. You four teams will each go to surround it, and I will lead one team straight to the assembly venue. Wait for my command, and remember to make the props you hold for dealing with opponents sound loudly and densely, so as to achieve a deterrent effect!"
"But doing this is too dangerous, Patriarch. Since we are retainers of the Dongfang family, we should be the ones to step forward at this time."
"Exactly. Our existence is to share the burdens of the Dongfang family."
The two men, their bodies almost entirely covered in black robes, were two of the Dongfang family's retainer psychics, one possessing immense strength and the other capable of controlling fire.
"No, I should be the one to stealthily infiltrate the darkness now and slowly approach the Sect Master, perhaps taking him down in one fell swoop when he's caught off guard."
The Shadow Assassin drew two 'fang blades' from above his knees, waiting for Dongfang Ji's command.
"No, you must create a major commotion, preferably to make those disciples flee in all directions and constantly wear them down and restrain them. That way, our group can conserve our strength to face that old fox, and our chances of winning will be much higher."
Dongfang Ji, without waiting for others to speak, led the team belonging to her, carefully climbing the stone steps and heading directly towards the Chi Xiao Sect's mountain gate.
"Let's get to work. The more lively we make it, the more we can deter those cultivators and let them witness our skills!"
The Fire Controller and the Ji brothers, along with the Ouyang family retainer, 'Electric Sword', each led a team and swiftly headed to their destinations according to the map.