"Wutu Bone has three Earthly Seals in his body, and since you saved my brother, all three are yours."

Coming in front of Qi Xiu, the leader of the Daliang Wolf Riders opened his palm to reveal three Earthly Seals, enough to make other examinees' eyes turn red with envy, lying flat in his hand.

Looking at the Earthly Seals that he and Zhu Mo could not find even after digging three feet into the ground, Qi Xiu first lamented the shamelessness of the Shenxiao Sect, then said, "Keep these Earthly Seals for me for now; I have some matters to deal with."

Gazing thoughtfully at Qi Xiu, the leader of the Wolf Riders removed his helmet to reveal a face full of small scars, resolute and mature. "My name is Yan Baizhe. If you're going to teach those two a lesson, I can help."

"Hey hey hey, count me in too." Tapping his feet, Zhu Mo, with his sleeves rolled up, also quickly approached, "I'm good at fighting, let's do it together."

Facing the generous offers from Zhu Mo and Yan Baizhe, Qi Xiu smiled and waved his hand, "I'm just going to attend to some minor business, not looking for a fight. Zhu, wait here for me; I'll be right back."

Having said that, Qi Xiu transformed into a misty Escape Light, vanishing in an instant. His speed was so fast that the terrifying wind cut a parting line through the forest ahead.

"Full-force Escape Light! Qi's truly enraged this time. I reckon those two are done for." Practicing the Five Elements Escape Skill himself, Zhu Mo immediately recognized that Qi Xiu's Escape Light had reached maximum velocity. Moreover, he had abandoned the secretive aspect of the Water Patrol Evasion Skill, only pursuing even greater speed. It was almost like having the word 'murder' written right on his face.

「...」

"Husband, the Daliang Wolf Riders just now weren't that impressive." Cheng Hua was embracing Lin Man'er's waist, her upper body leaning into his arms, her slender, seemingly boneless hands mischievously slipping under his clothes.

"The Daliang Wolf Riders are cavalry; without their mounts, half of their prowess is wasted. Those two Daliang Wolf Riders' mounts, the giant wolves, were heavily injured and couldn't move. That's why they could only stay put and let us attack them. If those two giant wolves hadn't been injured and the Wolf Riders had executed their combined attack technique, it would have been costly for us to take them down. But that's irrelevant now. What interests me more is the ordinary-looking man who intervened to protect the two Wolf Riders. He's young, yet his Gang Qi is so profound it's terrifying. He took a joint spell from you and me head-on, and his protective True Gang didn't even break. Which sect's prodigy is he, that he's come to take part in the Shenxiao Sect examination?"

As Cheng Hua recalled how Qi Xiu had raised his Body-Protecting True Gang to block their spells, his gaze grew deep and pensive. This guy is definitely a formidable opponent in this examination! If there's a chance, it's better to eliminate him sooner rather than later.

And just as Cheng Hua was lost in thought, Lin Man'er, in his arms, suddenly cried out in alarm. The eyes of this voluptuous woman turned a stark white as she pointed ahead. "It's him!"

"Who?" His heart tightened, Cheng Hua frowned and asked.

"The man who fought us just now." Pressing her cheek against Cheng Hua's chest, Lin Man'er exhaled a breath of Divine Marvel. Their vision suddenly connected, and Cheng Hua could see through her eyes.

In the distance, a hundred li away, at the top of a towering ancient tree, a man with ordinary features, hands tucked into his sleeves, stood calmly as if he was waiting for someone.

"Brazen, to think he'd actually catch up." Realizing that Qi Xiu had overtaken them and was prepared to intercept them on their path, Cheng Hua revealed an excited expression.

"This is perfect; we didn't get to have a satisfying fight earlier. Man'er, get ready."

"Yes, Husband."

Two Magic Artifacts quickly rose, emanating dazzling multicolored light. Cheng Hua and Lin Man'er joined hands, and their compatible, homogenous energies flowed between them, doubling their strength in an instant. This was the secret technique of the Cheng Family, a prominent clan from Xizhao: the Heart-to-Heart Joint Technique Scripture.

This True Scripture required a man and a woman, childhood sweethearts, to cultivate together; the man practiced the first half, and the woman practiced the second. Once they reached the Mortal Third Realm, the two could marry. During their wedding night, with the blending of yin and yang, they could step into the Dao-Entering Realm without obstructions.

Cultivating this True Scripture, the couple's auras resonated fully, and the True Gang in their bodies could flow and transfer between them. Even their comprehension, talent, and fate were shared. Therefore, when the Cheng Family chose a cultivation partner for their children, they selected women with exceptional talent and comprehension. In this way, when the couple cultivated the Heart-to-Heart Joint Technique Scripture, their progress would be significantly accelerated.

"Boy, get ready to experience the power of the Cheng Family's spells!" Having been at this Shenxiao Sect examination for more than half a month, Cheng Hua had yet to experience a truly satisfying battle. His eyes brimming with Divine Light, he channeled an endless stream of True Gang into the Magic Artifacts in his hands, brewing an extremely terrifying Five Elements spell.

"You could have lived, but blame your own cleverness. Did pointing out my identity make you feel important?" A cold, indifferent voice suddenly rang beside Cheng Hua and Lin Man'er's ears.

Water Patrol Evasion Skill, a hundred li in a thought! In an instant, Qi Xiu stepped from a hundred li away to stand before Cheng Hua and Lin Man'er. With a fierce hand coming down, his palm opened like a black hole vortex, fierce and endless. Star Absorption Skill!

With murderous intent, Qi Xiu didn't waste any words and unleashed his most lethal and unmatched killing move.

Five Elements Protection! Completely unaware of the horror of this pitch-black hand, Cheng Hua swung his fan, and several continuously rotating Spiritual Lights of the Five Elements attempted to block Qi Xiu.

SMACK—

The moment the Five Elements Spiritual Light touched the Star Absorption Skill, all its power was instantly drawn away. The light dimmed and shattered, revealing Cheng Hua's face of shock and astonishment. "How..."

All nine Mixed Primordial Beads operated at once! The magnitude of ninefold suction was terrifying beyond measure! And how could five hundred years of cultivation be withstood by an ordinary person!

Cheng Hua's Body-Protecting True Gang around his body visibly diminished at a swift pace, becoming thin and brittle.

CRACK CRACK CRACK—

Before Cheng Hua could react, all three layers of his Body-Protecting True Gang had shattered. Only the last layer remained, but it was like a flickering candle in the wind, about to be extinguished.

"What kind of spell is this?!" He had never seen such a terrifying Dharma Gate that could drain a person's strength in the blink of an eye. Cheng Hua, who was initially eager, suddenly became panic-stricken. He truly felt the threat of death.

"Husband!" Seeing her husband on the brink of disaster in the blink of an eye, Lin Man'er quickly reached out to help him, raising her feather fan high with surging multicolored light, ready to strike down at Qi Xiu.

"The two of you are so united in heart; you might as well set off on your journey together." Qi Xiu's expression was emotionless as his other hand pressed directly onto Lin Man'er's Body-Protecting True Gang, his tone cold as ice. He was a man who was cautious, low-profile, and rational. Honest and industrious. But once he decided to kill, there would be no more hesitation.

If you don't remove the roots when cutting the grass, the spring breeze will bring it back to life. If you're going to kill, do it thoroughly. Leave no troubles behind!

"Wait, I am from the direct line of the Cheng Family of Xizhao! Spare my life, and I can..."

CRACK!

With slightly curved fingers crushing Cheng Hua's last layer of True Gang, Qi Xiu grabbed his face with a single hand, "Shh, take a deep breath."

"ARRGH!" With a scream, under the effect of the Star Absorption Skill, Cheng Hua instantly turned into a shriveled husk of skin, which Qi Xiu ignited with a flick of his finger using the Pure Yang Purple Fire. Crushed to ashes, neat and tidy.

Unlike slaying Demons, these scions of great families had to be dealt with cleanly to avoid endless troubles.

"Husband! I'll fight you, you Devil Head!" Having witnessed Cheng Hua being reduced to ashes, Lin Man'er cried tears of blood, raising her feather fan high with eyes full of hatred, recklessly activating the Magic Artifact despite the terrifying cracks that had appeared on it. Self-destruction of the Magic Artifact!

"Devil Head? I don't like this title. I'm sending you to join your husband in the netherworld; I can hardly be called a Devil Head. You should have called me Qi the Great Kindhearted."

Grabbing the feather fan that was about to self-destruct with one hand, the terrifying energy on the verge of going out of control seemed to find an outlet, stabilizing unexpectedly.

BOOM!

Crushing Lin Man'er's Body-Protecting True Gang, Qi Xiu calmly drained the life of the stunning and curvaceous beauty. The Pure Yang Purple Fire blazed, turning her skin to ash.

Collecting the remaining two feather fan Magic Artifacts, Qi Xiu looked around the area before taking off with his Escape Light, as if nothing had happened.

「...」

A round trip, all in less than half an hour.

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting." With a warm smile on his face, Qi Xiu returned to the valley and apologized with a cupped-fist salute.

Seeing Qi Xiu's return, those who had been roasting five or six wild boars, each weighing hundreds of pounds, around a bonfire all stood up at once. Wearing a chef's hat suddenly produced from nowhere, Zhu Mo was handling seasonings in one hand and a kitchen knife in the other, "You're back just in time. In another quarter of an hour, we can start eating."

"Is everything taken care of?" With the sound of clashing armor, Yan Baizhe approached Qi Xiu's side, handing him a wineskin.

"It's done. The couple was quite reasonable. We had a few words, and I sent them on their way home." Taking the wineskin, Qi Xiu took a big swig. The drink, hot as lava but with a strong fragrance, spread through his limbs and body, bringing a prolonged warmth.

"Sent home?" There was a hint of confusion in Yan Baizhe's eyes, but when he saw a speck of ash on Qi Xiu's sleeve, he understood. "Going home is good. Once they're home, they can rest easy."

Qi Xiu looked at him, catching the implied meaning in Yan Baizhe's words. The two exchanged a knowing smile. All was understood without words.

The nine men devoured thousands of pounds of wild boar meat in one night. During that bonfire feast, Yan Baizhe found Qi Xiu to express his desire to continue collaborating to hunt Wutu Bone and obtain Earthly Seals.

Qi Xiu didn't think much about Yan Baizhe's request and agreed right away.

The Daliang Wolf Riders had a hearty disposition and were loyal. They were not the bloodthirsty and cruel fiends rumored in the outside world. Having another friend was preferable to having another enemy. Even if he ultimately didn't pass the Shenxiao Sect's examination, making acquaintances with the Daliang Wolf Riders was not a loss.

In the subsequent examination period, Qi Xiu, Zhu Mo, and the Daliang Wolf Riders extensively hunted creatures like Wutu Bone in the examination area. With Qi Xiu and Zhu Mo setting up formations—the Fu Feng Ding Ding Great Array combined with the Suppression Talisman Seal Skill—not a single creature could escape. Backed by the terrifying onslaught of the Daliang Wolf Riders, these fearsome monsters that other contestants feared and fled from at sight became easy prey for Qi Xiu and his group.

Soon, the nine men had all the Earthly Seals they needed. They immediately set off for Lake Heart Island, ready to start the second trial of the Shenxiao Sect's examination!

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