After fully taking control of Baiwa City, Xu Ming noticed something peculiar about its exit. The exit of Baiwa City was like a purgatory.
According to the golden toad's earlier explanation, the exit of Baiwa City was connected to a formation that altered its orientation. Xu Ming figured this must be the case.
He continued to observe the area around the exit of Baiwa City. He saw a group of black-robed cultivators dragging a man into the area and tossing him into the formation. Then, these black-robed cultivators released a demonic beast from within the rock walls.
The beast roared and struggled, but it was eventually forced into the formation along with the man. Xu Ming watched as the black-robed cultivators activated the formation, attempting to fuse the cultivator and the beast. However, the fusion failed. Both the human cultivator and the beast turned into a mist of blood.
Seeing this, Xu Ming furrowed his brows. He had a rough idea of what was going on.
Xu Ming speculated that the black-robed cultivators were from the Black God Sect and had set up a formation connected to Baiwa City's exit. When the light of Baiwa City expelled cultivators from within, this formation would intercept and capture them.
Perhaps they were also waiting for the maturity of the Baiwa Scroll, planning to harvest it for themselves.
There might even be disciples of the Black God Sect currently hidden among the many cultivators in Baiwa City, waiting for a chance to seize this rare treasure.
"Roar! Roar!"
A hopping zombie approached Xu Ming, roaring and gesturing wildly as if trying to communicate something.
The zombie looked incredibly anxious, almost as if it was on the verge of speaking.
"You're saying… you want me to help you rescue someone? That person is near Baiwa City's exit?" Xu Ming guessed, recalling the image of a woman he had just seen in his mind.
That woman was bound in chains, trapped within the molten core cave.
The zombie nodded frantically.
It hadn't expected Xu Ming to understand its meaning so quickly. This was a rare occurrence.
"Don't worry. You've helped me, so I'll help you," Xu Ming promised.
Although the zombie had once chased him down, Xu Ming had also tried to kill it back then. They were even now.
Now that the zombie had saved him, Xu Ming felt obliged to return the favor.
Xu Ming's gaze swept across the hundreds of cultivators in Baiwa City.
To be honest, he felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction toward them.
Xu Ming had left Wudu to broaden his horizons and see what the cultivators of the outside world were really like. Were they the immortal-like figures he had imagined?
But so far, these cultivators seemed extremely self-serving, even more so than ordinary people. To Xu Ming, they were unpleasant to look at.
What annoyed him even more was that he had risked his life to obtain the secrets of the Baiwa Secret Realm, yet these people could simply reap the benefits and leave unscathed. This made him feel even more displeased.
But what could he do? He couldn't stop them from leaving. If these cultivators stayed, they'd only pollute the environment of Baiwa City.
Killing them was also out of the question. He had already offended three sects, and if he slaughtered these people, he might never be able to leave Wudu again. Even the Wu Kingdom would face tremendous pressure.
This left Xu Ming feeling quite disgusted.
However, he suddenly thought of a way to make himself feel a bit better.
Since they wanted to leave, they had to contribute something in return.
With that, Xu Ming waved his hand, moving the original exit to a stream ten miles away.
From now on, residents of the Baiwa Secret Realm who reached the Dragon Gate Stage could leave through this new exit. The molten core cave would no longer serve as the exit.
Then, Xu Ming created a new exit, which directly connected to the formation in the molten core cave.
Everyone could only see Xu Ming wave his sleeve twice, causing a distorted portal to appear in the air. The portal quickly disappeared, only to be replaced by another one. No one knew exactly what Xu Ming had done.
Then, with a single thought from Xu Ming, beams of light descended from the sky above Baiwa City, shining on everyone present.
"Xu Ming, you…"
Before the crowd could voice their shock or fear, thinking Xu Ming had the audacity to eliminate them, they disappeared on the spot without saying a word.
Qin Qingwan blinked at Xu Ming, her eyes full of curiosity. Yu Wenxi, Miao Feng, and the big white goose also stared at Xu Ming in confusion.
Xu Ming pinched Qin Qingwan's cheek and said, "I sent them out. Next, I'll send you all out. Once you leave, head straight back to your sects. Don't come near Baiwa City again."
"Why?" Qin Qingwan tilted her head.
"Don't ask so many questions. Just do as I say," Xu Ming replied.
"What about you?" Qin Qingwan pressed further.
"This hopping zombie saved me, so I'm going to return the favor and settle a karmic debt," Xu Ming said with a smile. "Once everything is over, I'll come to Tianxuan Sect to see you."
Qin Qingwan tugged at Xu Ming's sleeve and said, "Then I'll go with you, and we'll return to Tianxuan Sect together."
"No, you can't come with me," Xu Ming refused firmly.
"You're definitely planning to do something dangerous behind my back!" Qin Qingwan pouted. "I'm going with you!"
"Be good," Xu Ming said helplessly.
"No, I won't!" Qin Qingwan retorted stubbornly.
Xu Ming chuckled and said, "Even if you don't want to listen, you'll have to."
With a single thought, beams of light enveloped Qin Qingwan, Yu Wenxi, Miao Feng, and the Tianxuan Goose. Before they could say anything, they disappeared and were sent to the safe exit.
"Let's go," Xu Ming said to the hopping zombie.
The zombie nodded vigorously.
As beams of light enveloped Xu Ming and the zombie, they were transported to the molten core cave.
When Xu Ming and the zombie arrived, the cave had already descended into chaos.
Xia Donghua and the other cultivators, believing Xu Ming intended to eliminate them, had been teleported out of the Baiwa Secret Realm by the light.
However, before they could rejoice, they were immediately confronted by a group of black-robed cultivators with hostile expressions. Without saying a word, the black-robed cultivators launched an attack.
Naturally, Xia Donghua and the others wouldn't sit idly by.
Caught in a situation where neither side fully understood what was happening, a fierce battle broke out, throwing the entire molten core cave into turmoil.
The chaos intensified when disciples from some sects discovered the belongings of their fallen comrades, realizing that these black-robed cultivators had killed their fellow disciples. Their eyes turned red with rage as they sought revenge.
Amid the chaos, Xu Ming and the zombie flew straight toward the bound woman.
The two landed in front of her.
The woman, Zhao Qiongman, slowly opened her eyes.
Seeing the zombie and the unfamiliar man before her, Zhao Qiongman gave a relieved smile, her entire demeanor relaxing.
Zhao Qiongman knew that Xiao Tiao had succeeded. The Baiwa Scroll must have chosen its owner. Otherwise, Xiao Tiao wouldn't have followed this man here.
She also understood that the formation she had built would no longer harm others or bring more sin.
"Do you know Shen Sheng?" Xu Ming asked the bound woman. From his perspective, the task Shen Sheng had entrusted to him likely had to do with her.
The woman nodded. "I do. He is my husband."
Xu Ming: "..."
The woman's weary eyes looked at Xu Ming. "Young master, do you know my husband?"
Xu Ming nodded. "I do. Eight years ago, I was the one who killed Shen Sheng."
[T/N: Eight? Shouldn't it be Four or Five?]
"…" Hearing Xu Ming's words, the woman fell silent, her gaze dropping softly.
"Thank you," Zhao Qiongman said after a moment, lifting her head.
Xu Ming was puzzled. "I killed your husband, and you're thanking me?"
Zhao Qiongman shook her head. "If it weren't for you, my husband wouldn't have been freed eight years ago. I'm grateful to you for sparing him from the troubles that followed and for ensuring he didn't have to violate his conscience any further.
At the same time, I must thank you for another reason. If not for you, the formation I built would have continued to harm people."
Xu Ming studied the frail woman before him, surprised at how clearly she distinguished right from wrong. "How can I save you?"
The chains binding Zhao Qiongman's hands and feet were made of Tianxuan Iron, and all Xu Ming had was a peachwood sword, incapable of breaking them.
"You don't need to save me. Death, for me, would be a form of release. I only hope you can—"
"Quite a lively scene, isn't it?"
Before Zhao Qiongman could finish her sentence, a deep, resonant voice echoed through the cave.
The voice carried a spiritual pressure that set off alarm bells in Xu Ming's mind and those of the others present.
They all turned to look at the molten core cave's entrance, which had been blocked by Black God Sect disciples. A man stepped out.
Qi Hui calmly surveyed the chaos within the cave, his gaze lingering on the damaged formation at the center.
Even without anyone explaining, Qi Hui understood what had happened. Clearly, the people he'd sent into the Baiwa Secret Realm to seize the treasure had failed.
"Master Qi," a cultivator approached him, whispering something before pointing in Xu Ming's direction.
"Oh?" Qi Hui looked toward Xu Ming with curiosity. "So it's you who claimed the Baiwa Secret Realm. I wonder, would you be interested in joining our Black God Sect?"
Xu Ming chuckled. "Are you dreaming?"
"What a shame," Qi Hui said with a shake of his head. "In that case, I'll have to ensure none of you leave this place alive."
He waved his hand. "Kill them all. No need to take anyone alive."
With Qi Hui's order, the Black God Sect cultivators stopped holding back.
Initially, they had refrained from lethal attacks, as Qi Hui might have wanted to capture these people alive for use as experimental materials. But now that they had clear instructions, they unleashed their full power without hesitation.
Qi Hui began walking toward Xu Ming step by step.
Sensing the spiritual energy emanating from Qi Hui, Xu Ming's expression grew serious. This man was likely at the late-stage Golden Core Realm.
"That man is Qi Hui, the branch master of the Black God Sect," Zhao Qiongman whispered to Xu Ming. "He had once stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm but was injured in a great battle not long ago. His cultivation has likely fallen to the mid-stage Golden Core Realm."
"There should be a Golden Core-level beast in the Baiwa Secret Realm. You can summon it to help you," Zhao Qiongman added.
Xu Ming shook his head with a smile. "The Baiwa Scroll isn't in my possession."
"What?" Zhao Qiongmang was stunned. "The Baiwa Scroll isn't with you? Then how do you plan to defeat him?
Your cultivation should only be at the Sea Observation Realm, right? Since you were able to enter Baiwa City, you can't be stronger than that. Hurry and leave! You're no match for him!"
Zhao Qiongman shouted urgently at Xu Ming.
Crossing two major realms from the Sea Observation Realm to the Golden Core Realm? How could this young man possibly stand a chance against Qi Hui?
"Sorry to disappoint you," Xu Ming turned back and smiled at Zhao Qiongman. "Actually, I haven't even reached the Sea Observation Realm. I've only just stepped into the Cave Mansion Realm."
Zhao Qiongman: "???"
As Zhao Qiongman doubted her hearing, a gust of wind brushed past her face. The young man had disappeared from her sight, launching himself straight toward Qi Hui with a punch aimed at his chest.
"A martial artist?" Both Zhao Qiongman and Qi Hui were equally stunned by this revelation.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Qi Hui had no choice but to raise his hand to block.
Boom!
Qi Hui managed to catch the punch with his palm, but the force behind it sent him stumbling ten meters back.
When Qi Hui finally steadied himself, he looked at his right hand in shock. His entire arm had been shattered, hanging limp and useless at his side.
Xu Ming, however, gave no quarter to his enemy.
Now that his body had recovered to peak condition, and with his breakthrough to the Cave Mansion Realm, Xu Ming was brimming with confidence. After unleashing his "Mountain-Shattering Fist," his understanding of martial arts had deepened even further.
At this moment, Xu Ming was at his most confident. Even against a Golden Core cultivator, he believed he could kill him with a single punch!
Having experienced that devastating blow, Qi Hui quickly realized that Xu Ming was no ordinary martial artist. His strength and physical resilience were nothing short of monstrous.
Qi Hui retreated, swallowing a pill. Instantly, his shattered arm regenerated.
Forming a hand seal, Qi Hui summoned bone spikes from the ground.
Xu Ming leapt into the air, dodging the spikes, and launched another punch toward Qi Hui.
This time, a thick bone shield materialized in front of Qi Hui.
Bang!
Xu Ming's punch blasted a hole through the shield.
Qi Hui took to the skies, bone wings sprouting from his back. With a flap of his wings, he unleashed a torrent of ghostly blue flames toward Xu Ming.
Xu Ming grabbed a nearby longsword, its sharp sword energy cleaving through the flames. Emerging unscathed from the ghostly fire, Xu Ming closed the distance and landed another punch squarely on Qi Hui's chest.
The impact sent Qi Hui crashing into the rock wall, embedding him like a nail driven into wood.
Boom!
Xu Ming followed up with a kick aimed at Qi Hui's chest, but Qi Hui managed to dodge in the nick of time.
Qi Hui raised his hand, conjuring a massive ghostly flame hand that descended upon Xu Ming.
Landing gracefully, Xu Ming brushed off the lingering flames on his body and stood up straight.
"Well, well, turns out you're also a sword cultivator," Qi Hui remarked with a sigh. "What a pity. A genius like you is about to die here today."
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