C14 A Sword Cultivator Who Did Not Use His Sword Was the Most Dangerous(1)

"Little brother, you're worrying over nothing. That guy might be strong, but he's only at the peak of Qi Refinement. The gap between Qi Refinement and Qi Control is like walking versus flying. Could a ground-bound chicken like him possibly catch up to us? It's laughable."

Qin Han's words dripped with disdain. He believed that although Xiaoming could defeat opponents above his level, when it came to traveling, Qi Refinement was just Qi Refinement.

"Brother Qu was simply caught off guard. If it came to a real fight, it's anybody's guess who would come out on top."

The sycophantic tone failed to reignite Qu Ke's fighting spirit this time, and neither Xiao Qin nor Duo Er echoed the sentiment. This unusual atmosphere left Qin Han feeling bemused.

"Big brother, that person is very strong. He's the one who killed the Four-eyed Dragon Leopard. There are some things I can't explain to you because you act without thinking."

"Am I really that thoughtless?"

"Yes, you are!" came the unanimous response from the four of them.

Approaching Qingfeng City, the sight of the massive crossbows atop the walls instilled a sense of safety in the group as they hastened towards the checkpoint.

Each city had two types of gates. The narrow side gate was for mortals, with a queue that stretched back to the village beyond. Caravans were common here, and inspections were slow. The guards were lackadaisical, making it tough for ordinary folks who had to pass through before the gates closed for the day.

In stark contrast, the main gate, grand and imposing, catered to cultivators. Here, the scene was desolate in comparison. The city guard lounged in a deck chair, sipping iced plum juice, since cultivators only needed to show their credentials for swift entry. As for inspections, who would dare rummage through a cultivator's storage ring? With little to do, the officials enjoyed their leisure.

As they neared the checkpoint, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky, sounding like distant thunder rolling. The merchants and commoners in line turned their gazes upward, but aside from the blazing sun, there was nothing to see.

However, the group of cultivators spotted a red light unlike any cast by the sun, and it was hurtling directly towards them. By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late.

Boom!

A thunderous crash echoed as the unidentified object slammed into the ground. In a flash, the area in front of the city gate was rocked as if by a magnitude six earthquake, with cracks spreading rapidly like a spiderweb in all directions.

Even the specially reinforced city walls split open with a large fissure. The tremendous shockwave sent the nearby merchants tumbling, and the ordinary people queuing at the gate fled in panic. Cries and screams filled the air in a matter of seconds.

"Devil!" Qu Ke, looking disheveled, leaned on his sword as he gazed into the pit at the pitch-black armor. Struggling, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. He had quickly raised a True Essence Shield to protect everyone from the impact, but he himself had been injured.

"Run! Get to the city, it's safe there!" Qu Ke urged, disregarding the intentions of the assailant. Safety was mere steps away behind the city gates, and surely, no matter how powerful, the demon wouldn't dare to breach the city and confront the city guards.

"Ha, long time no see, everyone! Oh wait, it's only been half an hour."

The sound of the familiar voice left everyone rooted to the spot in shock. As they slowly turned around, their faces registered utter disbelief. The demon behind them was none other than the family disciple they had met less than two hours ago.

Qin Che's mind raced, and everything clicked into place. It made sense now why he possessed such valuable magical items and knew such mysterious martial arts. Only a demon, and specifically one that hunted cultivators, would have such spoils—taken from the bodies of fallen cultivators. A chill ran down his spine. Could he be here for the relics?

"You're actually a demon?" Xiao Qin's eyes were wide with disbelief, struggling to accept the reality before her. Perhaps the suspension bridge effect had overly romanticized her image of Xiaoming.

"Actually, I'm a transmigrator, okay?" Xiaoming corrected with patience. He always maintained his composure, even with those who were no longer living.

"Why do you persist in chasing us when we have no quarrel with you?" In that moment, Qu Ke's only thought was to buy time with his words.

"It's not as if you haven't been involved in the siege of Riverfall City before. You must recognize the marks of the sects that participated—I remember every one of them."

When it came to the siege of Riverfall City, only the senior sisters from the Inner Sect had mentioned it. At that time, they were assigned to the periphery of the battle, while only the elders actually encountered those external demons. They hadn't even caught a glimpse of the demons' faces; to say they were merely extras wouldn't be far from the truth.

"You're a remnant of Riverfall City!" Qin Han blurted out, startling those around him. Qin Che tried to silence him, but it was already too late. Xiaoming, however, seemed unconcerned.

"Mind your language, young man."

Xiaoming realized he couldn't afford to delay any longer. "Fine, keep your secrets—I don't even want to know them anymore. Prepare to meet your end." His tone was as nonchalant as if he were conversing with an old friend.

While they spoke, the merchants and commoners who had been scattering stopped to gather nearby. Unlike the villagers of Big Tiger, who would flee at the first sign of a cultivator's battle, these folks were accustomed to grand spectacles.

Moreover, a battle between cultivators and transmigrators was a sight rarely seen, worth witnessing for the chance to boast about it later.

"Go to hell, you scoundrel." Qin Han, his body thrumming with vital energy, brandished his sword and charged at Xiaoming, oblivious to the disparity in their strength.

"Big brother!" Qin Che was just a moment too late. As the saying goes, old habits die hard.

A two-foot-long, cone-shaped blue flame burst forth from Xiaoming's left arm. He aimed it at Qin Han, who was barreling towards him, and with the flame as his blade, he slashed across Qin Han's left rib and right shoulder, leaving a trail of blue flame.

The blue flame flickered out after a brief moment, Qin Han's clothes unscathed, yet he stood frozen in place.

"Rest assured, I won't torment your souls after your demise." A Qi Cultivator's spirit is not yet awakened, and capturing a soul only yields distorted information. Better to let such secrets vanish into the ether.

"What have you done to my brother!" Qin Che was starting to panic as he realized Qin Han was motionless.

"I simply eradicated his soul," Xiaoming said, his voice still devoid of any emotion.

Hearing that Qin Han's soul had been annihilated sent a buzzing through Qin Che's head. Could it be that his brother was truly gone?

"What?! You erased his soul?! Why wouldn't you at least give him a chance at reincarnation?!" Overcome with rage, Qin Che charged forward like a man possessed.

It's impossible to remain detached when witnessing a sibling's death. Qin Che's brother was more than flesh and blood; he was family. Yet in his grief, Qin Che seemed to be nothing more than a statue brought to life.