White light surged forward. As the red light spun, it peeled away the white light layer by layer, instantly clearing the mist like parting clouds, and then vanished in a flash.
Mo Qi and Shi Jinchun stood there, staring at each other. Mo Qi's spiritual power was completely depleted, his body empty. Just as Mr. Feng had said, it was a case of harming the enemy by a thousand, but also damaging oneself by eight hundred. He could no longer launch even the slightest attack. If the opponent were to attack again, all he could do was hope his golden body could withstand it for a while longer.
Shi Jinchun had sustained a minor injury from the red light, but he was terrified. He had never seen such a move before, and it was clear the opponent had only just comprehended it. If he continued to attack, the opponent would become even more adept, putting him in a passive position. Moreover, he had exhausted his techniques and could only repeat his previous moves, which already placed him at a disadvantage.
He also clearly sensed that the opponent's spiritual power had suddenly ceased to flow. However, this person was too sinister; who knew if he was deliberately concealing his spiritual power and preparing another ultimate move?
"Alright, alright, no more fighting," Shi Jinchun waved his hand. "I believe you killed Wu Cunxin, but you can't kill me, and killing you would likely be troublesome for me. I, on the other hand, don't want to be bothered."
Mo Qi thought to himself, if you were to be bothered a little more, I would truly be finished.
All the spectators around were dumbfounded, especially the elders. They truly couldn't believe that this young man in the Nascent Soul stage, though unable to kill Shi Jinchun, could actually injure him and make him somewhat fearful. This was a complete subversion of their understanding; it was as if a mere ant could shake a great tree!
The three undercover individuals were equally shocked, especially Ling Feiyan. She remembered that when she first met him, he hadn't even established his foundation, and in a mere five or six years, his cultivation had become unfathomably deep, possessing the strength to fight a half-immortal. This was truly inconceivable. Thinking back, it was no wonder the Divine Sword Sect and the Taihe Sect had spared no effort to recruit him. It was because he held infinite potential.
Today, Mo Qi had given her too many surprises. His appearance had already surpassed her imagination, and his arrival as an envoy had delighted her even more. The letter she had left for him earlier was merely a moment of emotion, and she had never truly expected him to appear when she was in trouble. Yet, things had turned out so beautifully; he was like her destined hero, descending from the heavens with such heroic spirit! Her heart was filled with shock and emotion.
Shi Jinchun continued, "Look, how about this: you cannot prove you are the envoy from the Southern Continent, and they cannot be easily taken away. I will give them another three years. Within these three years, you go to the Qionglu Realm in the Southern Continent to deliver a message, asking for a responsible person of at least third-tier or above to come for negotiations. As long as they come with a token, regardless of whether the negotiations succeed or fail, I will release them immediately. During these three years, I will not harm a single hair on their heads, and I will even provide them with good food and lodging."
Mo Qi pondered for a moment and said, "This method is feasible, but the time limit should not be three years. Traveling from here to the Southern Continent and to the Qionglu Realm involves too many variables. There are also traitors within the Qionglu Realm causing trouble. I don't know what will happen when I return, and I cannot guarantee that a third-tier or above official will come within three years."
"Then what do you suggest?" Shi Jinchun pondered slightly.
Mo Qi said loudly, "You can detain them indefinitely until we come for negotiations. They pose no threat to you anyway."
"He's gone mad, absolutely mad," people around exclaimed.
"Five years. This is my bottom line," Shi Jinchun stated, his eyes sharp.
As Mo Qi hesitated, Ling Feiyan, from a distance, said with tears in her eyes, "Junior Brother Mo, it's alright. If I don't see you in five years, I don't want to live either." For some reason today, she had been crying. Though her heart was filled with joy, tears kept flowing uncontrollably. She thought, Heaven, after all, had not treated her poorly. In the face of life and death, she suddenly realized that in the end, living a lifetime, whether it was glorious or not, whether one had dignity or not, was unimportant. What mattered was that someone cared, someone remembered.
Shen Lianyun and Kan Qinglei also said, "Brother, let's agree to this. Five years is enough time for effective communication with the Qionglu Realm. Even if we can't get an envoy, living five more years is enough for us."
"Alright, it's a deal," Mo Qi said, looking at Shi Jinchun. "To show your sincerity, shouldn't the sect leader give me a token or write a letter? That way, when I return, the people of the Qionglu Realm will believe our people are still alive, otherwise, I might be making a wasted trip again."
"Alright, I can write you a letter," Shi Jinchun said without hesitation. He then called for brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, quickly penned a letter, and handed it to Mo Qi.
After receiving the letter, Mo Qi straightened his back and said in a booming voice, "I also ask that you keep your promise and do not mistreat these three. I will return within five years. If these three are harmed in any way, I will flatten your Divine Dragon Sect."
If these words had been spoken fifteen minutes earlier, they would have surely been met with laughter. However, at this moment, not a single person doubted his words. Even Shi Jinchun, though inwardly indignant and finding his words a bit arrogant, had to swallow his pride. Upon careful consideration, the other party indeed had the capital to be arrogant.
He knew very well that if he wanted to win, now was the best opportunity. If his cultivation continued to grow rapidly, he might truly be unable to defeat him. However, the current situation was awkward. Although he was confident of victory, he could never inflict fatal damage on the opponent. He was constantly on guard against the opponent's underhanded tactics during the exchange, feeling unable to unleash his full potential, making the fight very stifling. Moreover, winning would be normal, but losing would be too humiliating. Therefore, it was better to endure it; at least, in the current situation, he had not lost.
"You don't need to make such threats. I, Shi Jinchun, keep my word. I guarantee that these three will not be harmed in any way during this period. Your priority is to leave and handle your affairs," Shi Jinchun said after a while.
Mo Qi glanced at Ling Feiyan in the distance, looking at her tear-streaked face and her peerless beauty. Even from afar, she was captivating. However, after just reuniting, they had to part again. But despite a thousand reluctances, he had to turn and leave.
"Sect Leader Shi, could you untie me? I want to say a few words to Junior Brother Mo," Ling Feiyan said earnestly, looking at Shi Jinchun.
Shi Jinchun pondered for a moment, then waved his hand towards Ling Feiyan. The ropes slid down like灵蛇, falling to the ground.
"Junior Brother Mo, come here," Ling Feiyan beckoned to Mo Qi.
Mo Qi flashed and appeared before Ling Feiyan, maintaining a polite distance. He looked at her tear-filled eyes and wanted to reach out to wipe away the falling tears but ultimately restrained himself.
Ling Feiyan gave him a resentful glance, then suddenly stepped forward, tiptoed, and pressed her lips against Mo Qi's.
A warm fragrance instantly filled him. Mo Qi felt as if he had been electrocuted; his entire body relaxed, and his mind went blank.
The surroundings fell silent. Some stared blankly, while others couldn't bear to watch and turned their faces away.
Ling Feiyan lowered her heels, tilted her head, and rested on Mo Qi's chest. Her black hair cascaded freely over his chest and abdomen. She wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling his heartbeat with her heart: "Yes, I heard you."
Mo Qi stood there in a dazed state, his face feeling hot under everyone's gaze.
Afterward, Mo Qi remained in a state of confusion. He didn't even know how Ling Feiyan had left, nor how he himself had left the Divine Dragon Sect. Only Ling Feiyan's words echoed in his ears: "Junior Brother Mo, remember I'll be waiting for you here, until the seas dry up and the rocks decay, until the end of time."
Upon returning to Little Aunt Mountain, Mo Qi was still absent-minded. Sometimes he would chuckle foolishly, sometimes sigh, and sometimes stand like a block of wood.
Ma Wei, Lin Zhentian, and the band of bandits were utterly awestruck by him. A few days prior, he had gone to challenge Wu Cunxin. When he spoke of it upon his return, everyone didn't believe him. Later, news from the Divine Crow Sect confirmed that he had indeed killed Wu Cunxin. Everyone found it incredible. Later, he said he was going to the Divine Dragon Sect to rescue someone. Everyone told him not to go to his death, but he went anyway, and even forbade anyone from accompanying him. Everyone had prepared to collect his corpse, but unexpectedly, he returned.
At this point, everyone thought he had simply returned after a trip to the Divine Dragon Sect. However, later news from the Divine Dragon Sect stated that a person named Mo Qi had indeed exchanged blows with Shi Jinchun, and the outcome was a draw.
A draw was different from an equal footing, but these "bandits" couldn't grasp the difference. They were all immensely impressed by him. However, when they saw Mo Qi's dazed and foolish demeanor, they worried he had been beaten silly.
At this moment, Mo Qi suddenly said to Ma Wei and Lin Zhentian, "I'm leaving."
"Where are you going?" Ma Wei asked in surprise.
"Back to the Southern Continent. I'm originally from the Southern Continent," Mo Qi said calmly.
"Boss, I want to go to the Southern Continent with you," Ma Wei said without hesitation.
"I'm going too," Lin Zhentian added.
Mo Qi felt that if these two went to the Nine Gods Realm in the Southern Continent, with their cultivation, they could definitely dominate a region. However, if they went to the Southern Continent, where would their foothold be? They were also rogue cultivators; it would be better to stay put.
"I'm a homeless person. Will you follow me to drink the wind?" Mo Qi said, recalling his words when he severed ties with the Lingxiao Sect.
"It's fine, if you drink the wind, I'll drink the wind," Ma Wei replied.
"I've already achieved辟谷, so I don't need to drink the wind," Lin Zhentian said.
"Next time. It will be at least three years, at most five years, and I will return," Mo Qi said. "When I go next time, I'll bring you all along. All of you will go."
"Okay, we'll wait for you then," the two said in unison.
These words sounded so familiar. Mo Qi felt a chill run down his spine for no reason.
"By the way, Boss, we found the teleportation array flag you asked us to look for that can cross continents, but it costs tens of millions of spirit stones to buy." Ma Wei said with a beaming smile.
"Oh, that's simple. I'll stay for one more day. Go and buy it for me," Mo Qi said, turning his storage bag upside down. Golden spirit stones poured onto the table with a clatter, soon piling up into a small mountain. Ma Wei's eyes widened in astonishment.