The new chapter is going to be posted on the public domain twice a week (Tuesday and Saturday), and thrice a week in my Patreon:
==============================================
"Who is it?"
Hearing the voice, Bai Shaowei turned his head in the direction it came from.
Upon seeing the newcomer, his pupils shrank suddenly.
"Li Xun!"
Bai Shaowei squeezed out the name from between his teeth.
Li Xun's reputation was well-known.
Although Li Xun had joined the sect two years later than him, his current cultivation was already on par with Bai Shaowei's, perhaps even slightly superior.
After all, the title of genius wasn't given lightly.
A genius's privilege was to challenge those above their level, and Bai Shaowei knew that in a fight between him and Li Xun at the same level, his chances of winning were slim.
More likely, he would suffer a crushing defeat.
"It's Senior Brother Li Xun!"
"Unexpectedly, Senior Brother Li Xun has appeared today. Could it be that he's here specifically to save Junior Brother Ye Han?"
"Senior Brother Li Xun is someone who will definitely become an inner sect disciple. With him here today, Bai Shaowei won't dare to act recklessly!"
"It's hard to say. After all, Senior Brother Li Xun isn't an inner sect disciple yet, and Bai Shaowei has the backing of a genuine inner sect disciple!"
Li Xun's appearance brightened the eyes of many outer sect disciples in the distance.
Even Ye Han, who was held in Bai Shaowei's grip, opened his eyes with difficulty, showing a glimmer of hope when he saw Li Xun.
Right now, only Senior Brother Li Xun could help him.
"Are you going to help him?" Bai Shaowei squinted his eyes, exuding a dangerous aura.
He glanced at Li Xun, then subtly signaled his subordinates.
Alone, he was no match for Li Xun.
But with his subordinates?
Both he and Li Xun were at the tenth level of the Body Refinement realm.
Even if he wasn't as strong as Li Xun, the gap shouldn't be too wide.
If he could hold Li Xun off with the help of his subordinates, defeating Li Xun today wouldn't be impossible.
"Indeed," Li Xun nodded, continuing to walk forward at an unhurried pace.
He soon closed the distance to within a hundred meters, saying, "Release him, and I'll let you leave unharmed today."
"Haha!"
Bai Shaowei laughed maniacally, as if he had heard the funniest joke.
His eyes were cold as he looked at Li Xun and said, "And if I don't?"
"Then I'll have to act."
Before his voice had even died away, Li Xun took another step.
This simple step defied understanding.
Before his foot landed, he suddenly appeared in front of one of the outer sect disciples.
A punch was thrown!
Boom!
Li Xun's speed was too fast.
No one present could see how he reached the outer sect disciple or how he attacked.
They only heard a dull thud followed by the sound of bones cracking.
Snap—!
The outer sect disciple let out a scream, his body sent flying.
The watching outer sect disciples were wide-eyed with disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
"That person was at the eighth level of Body Refinement. How could he have no power to resist Senior Brother Li Xun?"
"Could it be that Senior Brother Li Xun has already reached the Qi Condensation Realm?"
Compared to others' shock, Bai Shaowei felt more dread.
Li Xun's speed was too fast, and his attacks were sudden.
Even though Bai Shaowei's eyes were fixed on him, he couldn't track Li Xun's movements.
This meant that Li Xun's strength had surpassed his own!
"Attack together!"
Bai Shaowei dropped Ye Han, shouting angrily as he charged at Li Xun.
His palm glowed with a jade-like light.
"Shattering Jade Palm!"
This lower-grade Huang level technique, when mastered, could split mountains and rocks.
As Bai Shaowei attacked, the remaining six outer sect disciples unleashed their martial skills from different directions, all targeting Li Xun.
Facing one at the tenth level of Body Refinement and six others above the fifth level, even a tenth-level Body Refinement expert would struggle.
"Senior Brother Li Xun is too arrogant."
"Why didn't he strike first and incapacitate more of Bai Shaowei's helpers?"
As onlookers worried for Li Xun, he moved.
He raised one hand, fingers forming a sword, and slashed through the air.
A bright sword light emanated from his fingertips, spreading outwards!
Buzz!
The sword light shone like a rainbow, illuminating the night sky within a ten-meter radius, turning night into day.
"He's at the Qi Condensation Realm!" Bai Shaowei's mind screamed.
He tried to retreat but it was too late.
The sword light rapidly enlarged in his vision.
Splatter! Splatter! Splatter!
Blood splattered in the night, and the seven attackers all grunted in pain as their bodies were flung away.
Soon, screams echoed through the forest.
"Ah—! My hand!"
"You actually cut my hand!"
All seven attackers clutched their empty right wrists in agony.
At their feet lay severed hands, motionless.
In the cultivation world, those strong enough could regenerate lost limbs, but such abilities were beyond them now.
For them, a severed hand meant it was gone forever, with no hope of recovery!
"Still not leaving?" Li Xun shouted coldly.
Bai Shaowei looked at Li Xun, wanting to retort, but thinking of Li Xun's Qi Condensation Realm strength, he swallowed his words.
After a moment, he could only utter one word, "Let's retreat!"
He quickly led his subordinates away in defeat.
Watching them go, Li Xun turned his attention back to Ye Han, a gentle smile on his face.
"Junior Brother Ye, how are your injuries?" he asked kindly.