With a resounding boom, the Bursting Pill exploded at the barrier, shattering it. The overwhelming aftermath surged in, striking a mountain peak. The peak immediately collapsed in a destructive manner, the entire ground trembled, rocks tumbled, and dust billowed, continuing for a long time.
Shouts and curses erupted into a cacophony.
However, amidst the uproar, many people began to flee.
A large group, including the younger generation of Taihe Sect disciples and their families, departed the Taihe Sect.
"This time, the entire Taihe Sect will be destroyed. Those who do not wish to leave, I will fulfill your loyalty," Mo Qi's resonant voice echoed across the peaks.
More people gradually left.
Mo Qi paid them no mind. He intended to destroy the Taihe Sect itself, not its people.
Yet, a portion of loyal individuals remained, vowing to perish with the Taihe Sect.
Another group believed they could overwhelm Mo Qi with sheer numbers.
They roared, "Charge out together and kill him!"
Light and energy streaked across the sky, a kaleidoscope of colorful divine abilities and techniques rained down upon Mo Qi. Behind these techniques, thousands of figures charged forth.
Just then, Mo Qi's figure above them vanished. As they looked around, they saw a fiery red sun in the distant sky, descending from above. Within the fiery expanse was a human silhouette.
People felt as if the apocalypse had arrived, the sun was falling, and they knew their doom was inescapable. They had already lost the will to survive.
They continued to rush towards the fiery expanse like moths to a flame, fearless and unconcerned.
The fiery mass descended rapidly, its scorching heat like a volcanic inferno brought to the mortal realm. The moisture on the ground evaporated instantly, trees burst into flames, and stones cracked from the intense heat.
The divine abilities were instantly consumed, as were the thousands of figures behind them.
This was merely the beginning!
The fiery mass finally descended without incident.
Peak after peak within the Taihe Sect's domain collapsed with a roar. The massive rocks had no time to roll; they were instantly flattened against the ground, turning the entire area into a sea of fire.
It was unknown how many people managed to escape.
At this moment, those who had escaped watched the sea of fire from afar, grateful for their cowardice that had scared them away beforehand.
Mo Qi's imposing figure stood like a celestial being in the sky, looking down upon all beings.
His booming voice resonated in every corner: "Remember, it was I, Mo Qi, who annihilated the Taihe Sect today. I did it alone, and it has nothing to do with anyone else."
"If anyone seeks revenge, find me, Mo Qi, also known as Mo Xin."
With that, Mo Qi brushed the dust off his clothes and was about to turn away when light and shadow streaked across the sky, and two figures landed before him.
One was Long Zhenhai, and the other was a middle-aged stranger.
Long Zhenhai looked at the sea of fire and was immediately overcome with grief, tears streaming down his face. "My son, my wife, my Taihe Sect..."
In reality, his family had not died. When Mo Qi had repeatedly warned them, they had already escaped with the large group. He simply didn't know.
The stranger looked at Mo Qi, his face filled with shock. "You did this?"
Mo Qi nodded. "There's no way to deny it. I'm the only one here."
"You are truly burdened with sin and deserve to die," the middle-aged stranger said.
"Who are you? Are you a helper they've invited?" Mo Qi asked.
"Murong Huo, Hall Master of the Fifth Tier of the Qionglu Realm, Azure Stone Hall," the middle-aged man replied.
So, he was from the Murong family!
He truly hadn't expected Long Zhenhai to have any connection with the Murong family.
Mo Qi was not intimidated by him at all. He had defeated a Fifth Tier Hall Master not long ago, Nangong Yun, who was in the late Mahayana stage. This Murong Huo was likely also in the late Mahayana stage, at most early Tribulation Crossing.
When Mo Qi defeated Nangong Yun, he was still in the early Mahayana stage. Now, after comprehending the Sun Chasing Star Plucking Art, his cultivation had advanced to the Mahayana stage, which should be enough to contend with Murong Huo.
Murong Huo, upon first seeing Mo Qi turn the Taihe Sect into ruins, felt a twinge of apprehension. Despite his harsh words, he was inwardly hesitant.
Later, he scanned the area with his divine sense and discovered that the opponent was only in the early Mahayana stage, which reassured him.
He assumed that the Taihe Sect must have suffered some natural disaster to result in this outcome, otherwise, with his Mahayana stage cultivation, it would have been impossible for him to achieve this.
Young people enjoyed boasting. They thought speaking this way was cool and rarely considered if such bravado would cost them their lives.
"I'll ask you one more time, did you really turn the Taihe Sect into ruins?" Murong Huo asked.
"If not me, then who?" Mo Qi replied impatiently.
"I'll fight you to the death!" Long Zhenhai roared furiously and lunged at Mo Qi.
Mid-air, his body suddenly split open, flesh and skin instantly rupturing and decaying. A wave of bright red blood surged out, flowing forward and then splitting into countless drops. As they twisted, they formed wriggling, blood-red worms, each dripping blood and emitting a chilling whine, like the cries of lost souls or vengeful spirits.
"Blood Gu Technique!" Mo Qi instinctively retreated, simultaneously forming a hand seal and unleashing a flame divine ability. It surged, engulfing the cluster of worms, burning them with a sizzling sound and releasing a scorched stench into the air.
However, after the flames subsided, the worms had merely shed a layer of skin, turning white and growing wings. They flapped their wings with a rustling sound, still charging towards Mo Qi with lightning speed. From a distance, they extended their sharp mouthparts, appearing ready to suck blood.
Mo Qi retreated rapidly. "Ice and Snow World!" With a hand seal, cold energy surged outwards, and white mist filled the entire space. The mist quickly condensed, forming icicles that encased the white worms and froze them in the air.
Mo Qi felt a sense of relief. He had finally dealt with them!
However, after only a few breaths, he heard a cracking sound that rapidly spread. The icicles were breaking apart.
Mo Qi was greatly alarmed. He unleashed his Earth Arrow spiritual energy from his body, and a massive arrow, connecting heaven and earth, shot out. With a thud, it struck the icicles, shattering them and causing them to dissipate back into white mist.
In the white mist, the white worms were smashed, and the smashed worms transformed into even smaller, finer worms that swarmed towards Mo Qi in the air.
Damn it, why can't I kill them?
Mo Qi began to panic. In his haste, he took out a box from his storage bag and released the small blood figure within. As soon as the small blood figure emerged, it became excited, spewing blood water into the air, instantly forming a sea of blood.
The white worms, as fine as gnats, did not retreat and inexplicably plunged into the sea of blood. The blood sea churned rapidly, and with a few waves, the white worms were swallowed without a trace.
Then, the small blood figure swallowed the sea of blood back into its body. Blood spots occasionally emerged around its belly, and then it would return to its original state, as if the small worms were trying to break out, but ultimately, it calmed down, completely digested by the small blood figure.
The small blood figure's blood-red eyes brightened. Its previously blurry eye sockets gradually formed pupils.
It seemed that this hearty meal had significantly improved it.
Mo Qi immediately put it back into the small box.
He then placed the small box back into his storage bag.
Long Zhenhai was gone just like that?
Murong Huo roared with fury, "Give me your life!"
He formed a hand seal, and a beam of white energy surged outwards. The energy was like a sword, exuding a chilling aura and an infinite sense of bloodlust.
The sword light connected heaven and earth, its killing intent piercing through the firmament.
Murong Huo clenched his fist and suddenly opened three fingers. Three slits appeared on the sword light, from which three sword lights split off.
Murong Huo pointed his hand, and the three sword lights rotated and emerged, forming a crushing vortex and striking Mo Qi fiercely.
At this moment, Mo Qi's Indestructible Golden Body had reached its peak hardness, even without immediate medicinal reinforcement.
However, if he continued to refine the Golden Body Pill long-term, he could still strengthen his golden body.
Therefore, he continued to stuff medicinal pills into his mouth one by one. Although he couldn't increase the intensity during combat, he considered it a form of cultivation, as he had no time to cultivate otherwise.
Moreover, he could also expel relevant medicinal substances as needed to enhance his spiritual power against enemies, sometimes achieving unexpected results.
Seeing the vortex-like sword light rotating and attacking him, he formed a hand seal, and his Earth Arrow spiritual energy surged, spanning heaven and earth. With a wave of his hand, the sword light also began to rotate, expanding forward while sweeping towards the three sword lights that followed. A series of grinding sounds ensued, like the meshing of gears.
The Earth Arrow sword light was halted in mid-air. The latter two sword lights swept past, shattering the arrow light with a boom, but simultaneously, the three sword lights also shattered and dissipated into the air.
Both were repelled and retreated a few steps.
Murong Huo's killing intent intensified. "It seems I underestimated you. This time, I will unleash my full power. Let's see how you can resist."
"I overestimated you. Even if you exert all your strength, you won't be much more powerful than this," Mo Qi said.
Murong Huo suddenly spread his hand, and the sword light that connected heaven and earth split into countless pieces. The first piece swept out horizontally, followed by the second, and then continuously after that, forming an endless, inexhaustible crushing vortex that swirled and attacked Mo Qi.
Mo Qi, seeing the overwhelming momentum and the sparks erupting from the gaps in the sword shadows, felt his heart tremble and dared not underestimate it.
He immediately formed a hand seal, and red light erupted from both sides of his body, as if two large red wings had suddenly sprouted.
Once the red wings formed, they began to rotate and crush. A sweep of red light was accompanied by incessant rustling sounds, a mixture of red and white, with flashes of energy. The white swords were shattered inch by inch, broken into strips.
With another sweep of red light, these strips of white swords turned into mist and dissipated.
The red light left only afterimages, yet it continued to surge towards Murong Huo.
Murong Huo was greatly alarmed and attempted to flee, but the surging red light was too fast, sweeping past his body in an instant.
Murong Huo fell from the sky, landing on the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His body convulsed for a moment, then he gritted his teeth, forcefully pulled himself up, and fled into the distance. He didn't run far before falling from the clouds again.
Mo Qi did not concern himself with his fate and turned to leave.
Mo Qi returned to Muyang Town. Xue Ying was meditating in cultivation. Mo Qi had given her the Spirit Splitting Pill, which she had not yet had time to digest. Seeing Mo Qi leave, she wanted to use this time to improve herself and assist Mo Qi when the time was right.
The moment Mo Qi entered the door, she had already completed a full circulation of her energy, and her cultivation had broken through to the early Mahayana stage.