Having already given up on continuing the fight, Ma Haiyang, along with the other two rogue cultivators, stopped their actions and began climbing further up the mountain.
As he passed by Shi Mingxu, he paused briefly, then cupped his hands in salute and said,
"My apologies, Young Master Shi."
Upon hearing this, Shi Mingxu smiled slightly and also saluted towards Ma Haiyang's direction:
"Fellow Daoist Ma, you exaggerate. It was merely normal competition."
Ma Haiyang, standing beside Shi Mingxu, shifted his gaze to Shi Mingxu's hands, which remained in the saluting gesture.
Trembling.
It was clearly noticeable that Shi Mingxu was trying hard to suppress the trembling of his hands, but to no avail.
Shi Mingxu, only at the early stage of the Qi Circulation Realm, going up against Ma Haiyang at the mid-stage of the Qi Circulation Realm, was still a bit too much for him.
Ma Haiyang then turned his gaze towards the figure of the young woman standing not far away.
And that young woman just stood there motionless, as if nothing had happened.
"My apologies... Senior."
Ma Haiyang said.
"......"
Receiving no response whatsoever, Ma Haiyang, feeling awkward, did not linger any longer. Together with the other two rogue cultivators, he strode off towards the mountain.
After those three had gone some distance, Shi Mingxu clicked his tongue lightly, a flash of displeasure also appearing in his eyes.
Normal competition?
Wishful thinking. Today, you donkey, you've provoked me. If you fail to be accepted into the Setting Sun Sword Manor during this Mountain Opening Ceremony, let's see if you dare return to Jincheng.
If you dare come back, if I don't make your life miserable, I won't be surnamed Shi!
Shi Mingxu cursed like this in his heart.
However, if Fellow Daoist He hadn't intervened today, he and Fellow Daoist Bao would most likely not have been able to hold onto this Mystic Steel Sword.
Thinking this, Shi Mingxu shifted his gaze to the tree trunk that had been split in two by a palm strike from He Qingling from a distance.
True qi taking form, at the very least, it indicates cultivation at the late stage of the Qi Circulation Realm.
Cultivators before the late stage of the Qi Circulation Realm can only manage to infuse true qi into their own fists and feet, unleashing offensive power far surpassing that of Body Forging Realm cultivators.
When one's cultivation reaches the late stage of the Qi Circulation Realm, they can achieve true qi leaving the body and taking form, harming enemies with just the released true qi.
But to strike and break a large tree from over three zhang away like He Qingling did... that requires an incredibly advanced level of cultivation.
Therefore, Shi Mingxu turned and saluted towards He Qingling's direction, saying:
"Fellow Daoist He's true qi is profound, and your techniques are exquisite. I, Shi, am truly impressed and offer my thanks for your assistance."
Upon hearing this, He Qingling merely nodded slightly, fully displaying the demeanor of a master:
"It was nothing."
Then, Shi Mingxu looked towards Chen Yan, who was holding the Mystic Steel Sword nearby:
"Fellow Daoist Bao also worked hard. Are you not injured?"
"Just a minor scuffle, I'm fine."
Chen Yan replied.
Shi Mingxu nodded in acknowledgment. Although he was hard-pressed to divert his attention while fending off Ma Haiyang's attacks earlier, he had still managed to glance a few times at the battle between Bao Kai and the two rogue cultivators at the early Qi Circulation Realm stage.
Bao Kai was clearly being besieged quite miserably, even repeatedly exposing openings, and could have been defeated at any moment.
It was precisely because of this that he had hurriedly called for help from He Xiyao beside him.
"You two, since we've already obtained the Mystic Steel Sword, we shouldn't linger here any longer. Hurrying to Xiluo Mountain and the Setting Sun Sword Manor's mountain gate to complete the first round of assessment is of utmost importance."
Shi Mingxu said.
His words were unanimously agreed upon by both He Qingling and Chen Yan.
Because these three people indeed shared the same goal.
That was to ascend to the gates of the Setting Sun Sword Manor.
......
Chenping Continent, Northwestern Region, Qingque Kingdom.
Jiangdao Prefecture, Anjin Mountain.
Dark clouds pressed down upon the land, the air heavy and oppressive.
Several cultivators wearing Kongshan Sect's Yuanhua Mountain daoist robes, along with dozens of young disciples wearing Kongshan Sect's Outer Court Daoist Robes, advanced slowly through the mountain forest.
Their spirits were tense, their true qi circulated, ready at any moment to engage an enemy.
Because for the past few years, this place had been one of the strongholds of that great fiend, Ding Qiu, whose name made the outer court disciples of Kongshan Sect pale with fear.
Anjin Mountain was a rather famous peak within Qingque Kingdom. Although it appeared ordinary, because the spiritual energy on the mountain was more abundant than most places, many rogue cultivators built their cave dwellings on Anjin Mountain.
It wasn't until five years ago, when that Peak Qi Sea Realm cultivator named Ding Qiu, famous throughout Qingque Kingdom and even several surrounding countries, came here, that the situation of this place changed.
Those who submitted to him, lived.
Those who resisted him, died.
It was also here that Ding Qiu broke through to the Passable God Realm.
Over the past dozen or so years, no less than thirty or forty Kongshan Sect outer court disciples had died at Ding Qiu's hands.
This person specialized in ambushing and killing Kongshan Sect's outer court disciples. Elusive, cunning, and resourceful, he caused considerable headaches for the Supervisors of the Enforcement Hall and the External Affairs Hall of Kongshan Sect's outer court.
With just the strength of the outer court, they truly had little way to deal with this Ding Qiu.
The Kongshan Sect outer court had also requested assistance from the inner sect. The Linwu Mountain Enforcement Hall had even dispatched two Qi Sea Realm Protectors to assist the outer court in capturing Ding Qiu, yet the result was still nothing gained.
For Kongshan Sect, dealing with a top-tier sect like the Coiling Dragon Sect, which was like a behemoth, was simpler than sweeping away a small insect like Ding Qiu.
It wasn't until two years ago, when Yun Yichen personally ordered the extermination of the Ding Bandits, that Ding Qiu and his men truly began to feel threatened by Kongshan Sect.
The Kongshan Sect cultivator leading this operation was Li Haowen, who had shone brightly in the campaign to exterminate the Coiling Dragon Sect over two years ago.
Over these two years, Li Haowen had already achieved significant results.
Thousands of cultivators and rogue cultivators related to Ding Qiu had been killed or captured.
And seven immortal cultivation sects related to Ding Qiu had been destroyed.
Now, in the eyes of Kongshan Sect, the Ding Bandits were already a spent force. Ding Qiu himself being slain by Li Haowen's hand was almost a matter of time.
Anjin Mountain, as one of Ding Qiu's possible hiding places, was also about to be purged by Kongshan Sect today.
The dozens of Kongshan Sect disciples currently taking advantage of the night to stealthily ascend Anjin Mountain were the vanguard troops sent by Kongshan Sect to scout the situation.
A cold wind brushed through the leaves of the forest, making a rustling sound.
"Hah... hah..."
A few outer court disciples appeared more nervous than the others, which was only natural.
Over these two years, although Li Haowen had achieved considerable results, the losses were also not small.
This Anjin Mountain was undoubtedly another tough nut to crack.
Boom......
Suddenly, thunder rumbled.
"Continue advancing..."
Just as the Yuanhua Mountain disciple at the Peak Martial Spring Realm in charge of this operation was about to issue the order, his eyes suddenly sharpened.
Because he saw, on the hillside not far away, illuminated by the lightning flash, a small mountain of human heads piled up.