In the pitch-black desert, heavy night fog surged like waves.
Qin Ming put everything into a single strike, wielding the sharpest blade that cut through the air with a dazzling light, reminiscent of the sun’s blaze. Blood splattered, and it was clear that delicate fingers were severed and fell to the ground.
“Ah…” The woman cried out in anguish, her body, which had been glowing with a faint golden aura, dimming significantly. She quickly retreated, and her veil shook violently in response to her distress.
Qin Ming, stepping through the yellow sand like a gentle breeze, pursued with incredible speed, his grip tight on the immaculate jade-like blade.
At this moment, his face was handsome yet icy, with eyes shining like stars. His dark hair flowed wildly behind him, pushing the "Flying on the Grass" technique to its limits, making him seem as though he flew across the sandy landscape.
The masked woman was filled with fury, shame, and deep resentment. In her eyes, this boy, who was deemed unworthy compared to the golden-armored guardians, had severely injured her right away.
Her slender hand had four fingers severed, leaving only a solitary, bloodied thumb.
Moreover, she bore a wound across her chest and abdomen, freshly inflicted by the white blade, causing her to bleed profusely as she retreated.
This was the most severe injury she had ever suffered in her life.
Even more terrifying was the boy, who now bore the fierceness of a spiritual tiger, silent as he approached with unyielding resolve, his speed deterring her greatly.
A radiant peach blossom bloomed at her brow, an attempt to shield her from the impending onslaught.
The vibrant peach blossom possessed extraordinary power, yet it was still sliced apart by that pristine blade. The edge grazed her body, ripping her already torn black robe and damaging parts of her inner armor, nearly causing her to bleed again.
The masked woman was furious; the unexpected injuries inflicted upon her were too great. How could a boy wandering in remote lands, wielding a blood-stained hammer, possess a blade forged from sheep-fat jade iron?
She could sense that this blade was not made of any alloy but was pure jade iron, its body spotless and free of impurities.
As she opened her mouth, a burst of brilliant light poured forth, transforming into flying knives aimed at the boy, who approached like a gentle wind or a flash of lightning.
Qin Ming exerted his celestial energy to its fullest, enveloped in radiant light. The long blade in his hand vibrated constantly, releasing layers upon layers of white blade light, like crashing waves surging forward.
This rare jade iron weapon had many remarkable qualities, one of which was its ability to carry celestial energy, allowing a newborn practitioner’s power to flow along the blade.
Now, with a fierce aura, Qin Ming unleashed his sword intent, as if he were slicing apart the boundaries between the sea and the sky. White waves erupted, roaring thunderously, sweeping across the night sky and dispersing the oncoming rain of golden light.
The black-clad woman was astonished. How could the boy’s celestial energy be so overwhelming? It was capable of shattering her golden light, akin to flames devouring paper!
Her heart trembled; how was it possible for a boy, raised in such a remote place, to attain such power?
In her memory, only a select few sects along the path of new practitioners wielded the mysterious celestial energy, but it was impossible for someone like him to appear here.
The night mist surged, and Qin Ming advanced with his blade, silent, continuously striking with dazzling light, exuding an aura worthy of a young master, shaking the woman’s very core.
With a soft sound, the blade struck her shoulder again. Though it only grazed her, it penetrated her finely crafted inner armor beneath, as fragile as paper against the jade iron blade.
Blood flowed, and her arm throbbed in agony. In her eyes, the boy shone brightly, his entire being cloaked in a sacred glow, his demeanor transformed, appearing even more transcendent without his violent actions.
Had she been an outsider, she would have been unable to resist glancing over, murmuring words of admiration. But now, she was filled with unrelenting fury, her resentment boiling. This boy, having continuously wounded her, was growing more spirited and confident with each strike!
The masked woman’s eyes brimmed with malice as she fought to catch her breath. At her brow, flames seemed to rise, emitting a blinding light.
This was the manifestation of her willpower, pushing herself to the limit, regardless of the consequences. Even if it drained her energy, she would not hesitate. Then, two objects floated beside her.
A small black shield, scorched and marked from flames, stood in front of her to block Qin Ming's imminent strike.
A dull thud echoed as a terrifying gash appeared on the black shield.
This was a treasured item gifted by an elder of her sect—its very appearance marred!
Her heart ached at this, knowing it was a spirit item that would grow alongside her.
Next to her floated a small black spear, the size of chopsticks, also blackened as if it had endured fire, emanating a faint golden glow as it faced the increasingly radiant boy ahead.
Qin Ming quickly retracted his blade and stepped back several meters, standing still and calm, now in a commanding position.
He noticed that the woman was struggling to maintain control over the two items that looked as if they had just been dragged from the fire. Most importantly, he could see her wounds still bleeding; time was on his side.
From the moment he swung his blade to deliver that powerful strike, and until he followed up with rapid slashes, barely two breaths had passed.
All of the conflicts unfolded at lightning speed; such battles could often determine life or death in the blink of an eye.
After experiencing rebirth four times, Qin Ming's perception heightened significantly. Now, despite the darkness of the desert, he could see clearly within a certain range.
The masked woman, having been heavily injured by a new practitioner, felt a tremendous shame. To her, her peers on this immature path were mere guardians set for her protection, yet she had found herself severely outmatched by one of them.
The pain in her wounds was excruciating, but the humiliation to her spirit felt like a hammer striking her heart.
As a woman, she naturally cared about her appearance. Losing four fingers was a terrible blow!
"This is the darkest and most humiliating day I have ever faced!" She gritted her teeth, feeling her chest wound pulse and glow slightly, temporarily sealing itself.
Her shoulder and the lower half of her body were already stained with deep red blood.
Qin Ming understood her intentions. She looked down upon newcomers. He simply said, “Arrogant, just a mere chick!”
He rarely insulted others, but he certainly wouldn’t hold back against such bitterness.
“You…” The woman’s face warped with rage. Her veil fell away, revealing a beautiful yet ashen face.
Though she was only sixteen or seventeen years old, the words "mere chick" struck her deeply. Pointing at Qin Ming, she said, “You will soon understand the difference between the mortal and immortal realms!”
“Are you praising me?” Qin Ming looked at the finger she pointed his way.
The woman followed his gaze, realizing that her four severed fingers had been staunched with her golden light, leaving only her solitary thumb behind.
Instantly, her defenses crumbled, for it appeared as if she were giving him a thumbs-up.
As someone who thought herself above the ordinary, she now couldn't help but mutter some unpleasant words; otherwise, it would feel like her insides were boiling.
Qin Ming's eyes were profound. He understood that at this level, chaos was unnecessary. While she had broken defenses, she likely intended to buy time.
After all, her golden light, stemming from her willpower, could heal her wounds.
Most critically, there was still a mysterious golden-armored guardian approaching from afar, likely nearing the desert. If they found her here, the situation would change drastically.
“Your severed fingers have been on the ground for barely a moment; they can still be reattached. Don’t you want them?” Qin Ming raised his blade and leaped several meters toward the place where the fingers lay.
The black-clad woman grew anxious. She had lured this boy away precisely to deal with him first before healing her fingers. Who would have thought that this handsome boy would begin to threaten her?
She was still quite young and cared deeply about her body, even regarding it as a matter of life and death. In a flash, with reddened eyes, she charged after him.
With a swift motion, a flash of blade light appeared, and she saw one of her once crystal-clear fingers, now stained with blood and sand, lifted by the boy.
“Put that down!” She glowered, activating her scorched shield and the black spearlike chopstick to attack.
“Alright!” Qin Ming, complying, tossed the finger onto the sandy ground without damaging it, and charged forward with his blade raised against her.
He didn’t need to act rashly. The woman was already in disarray; that was enough. He controlled the rhythm of the fight entirely.
Qin Ming wielded the jade iron blade, capable of slicing through her golden light. Time and again, he struck the black shield with a thunderous crack, shattering it to pieces.
The black-clad woman was terrified; this was a treasured item bestowed by her sect. It had suffered destruction. Not only was the jade iron blade unique, but the boy's celestial energy posed a massive threat to her. Her initial willpower manifestation was cut through effortlessly.
A glow emanated from her brow, as strands of golden mist, like lotus flowers, floated forth to wrap around the black spear, aimed at the increasingly formidable boy.
After several collisions, the black spear dimmed, and the golden strands entwined around it were shattered!
“Clang!”
Qin Ming severed the chopstick-sized spear, causing it to fall to the ground, unable to be wielded again.
“The weapon made from spirit roots that underwent the baptism of celestial energy is destroyed…” The woman’s face drained of color as she stepped back, realizing how thoroughly she had been defeated.
Then, with a sharp sound, her left arm was severed, landing bloodied in the sand.
She forced a bitter smile, knowing she could hardly escape this calamity.
“To think I sought the morning mist and dew, existing in the realm of immortals while desiring to die here.”
The black-clad woman had awakened her spiritual light multiple times within the state of heart meditation, nearing the next grand realm. Not vanquished by her enemies, she was now at the hands of a newcomer; her unwillingness burned fiercely within her.
Comparing her numerous awakenings to Qin Ming’s four, she felt the weight of her situation.
At this moment, Qin Ming was filled with celestial energy. His youthfulness glowed radiant, and every strand of his hair shone brilliantly in that night fog.
“Those still consuming grains dare claim a difference between mortals and immortals?” With a sweep of his blade, he aimed to waste not even a moment’s time.
The woman fought with everything she had, her brow glowing as a lotus flower blossomed, intensely radiant, shooting outward.
Yet even such manifested willpower could not withstand Qin Ming’s blade infused with celestial energy; the lotus flower was shattered as the blade tip grazed her fair forehead, blood splattering forth.
The woman’s complexion turned pale as she collapsed to the ground, her forehead cracked. Fear overcame her as she trembled, “I don’t want to die; can’t I…”
“Who sent you?” Qin Ming inquired.
The woman suddenly fell silent again.
“Then it’s time to say goodbye.” Qin Ming swung his blade, and her head rolled away as blood gushed forth. Her body fell lifelessly into the yellow sand.
“Lord Qin has divine talent and can slay immortals; I suddenly feel… I can persevere until the end!” A figure poked out from the night fog, whispering, “And there’s still a golden-armored guardian. They should be easier to deal with, right?”