Chapter 188: Chapter 187: Sent Flying with One Strike

Ambushed without warning, Qin Feng and his bird were plunged into a deadly crisis within a matter of breaths.

The white-robed youth arrived on the back of a Red-plumed Red Crane. He stood upon its snow-white feathers, his face cold and his eyes grim. The demonic tune from the Jade Flute at his lips grew shriller. Wisps of the mournful, lingering Chaotic Divine Demon Sound bored deep into the souls of both man and bird, exploding like cannonballs within them.

"What a despicable brat!"

Forcing himself to endure the splitting headache, Qin Feng cursed inwardly. ’If my Divine Soul weren’t so powerful, I would have already lost the ability to fight back.’

’However...’

A savage smile flashed in his eyes as countless pages of the Purifying Heart Calming Spirit Secret Technique scrolled through his mind. He was just about to chant the incantation to steady his spirit.

SHIIING!

The Beiming Divine Water Sword on his back suddenly let out a clear ring. The Spirit Sword, acting to protect its master, instantly transformed into a streak of cold light and leaped into Qin Feng’s grasp. He tightened his fingers around the hilt, staring in astonishment at the weapon that had appeared so suddenly. In the next moment, a trace of icy energy flowed from the blade.

The cool sensation enveloped Qin Feng’s Divine Soul, completely blocking out the flute’s chaotic sound.

"Incredible! This Beiming Divine Water Sword has such an ability!" Overjoyed, Qin Feng gripped the sword and rose to his feet.

"Now it’s my turn to fight back! Taste my blade!"

His gaze fell upon the flute-playing, white-robed youth, a cold, blade-like glint flashing in his eyes. Gripping the Beiming Divine Water Sword, Qin Feng poured all his power into the weapon and unleashed a magnificent strike.

With a single slash, a vast wave of sword light tore through the air.

"Not good!" The white-robed youth’s expression shifted the moment he saw Qin Feng stand up. He was just about to pour more power into his flute to reactivate the Chaotic Divine Dao Sound when a terrifying wave of sword light filled his vision.

The sword light locked onto him, and a terrifying, inescapable feeling welled up in the white-robed youth’s heart.

’How is he so strong!’ Feeling the terrifying power contained within that strike, a flash of panic crossed the white-robed youth’s eyes. It was quickly replaced by a savage look as a wild True Power erupted from his body, which he desperately channeled into the Jade Flute at his lips.

The flute’s sound instantly became piercingly shrill!

A thick, invisible barrier of energy formed around the white-robed youth.

BANG!

A tremendous boom!

The peerless sword light descended from the sky, striking the white-robed youth with a thunderous roar. The light shattered his energy barrier as if it were dead wood, its momentum unchecked as it brutally sliced the Red-plumed Red Crane beneath his feet in two.

Blood sprayed as the Red-plumed Red Crane let out a tragic shriek. It had been split in two!

SMACK!

Caught off guard on the bird’s back, the sword light struck the white-robed youth in the chest. His white robes were instantly stained red as he violently spat out a mouthful of blood. His body, like a cannonball, spun as it plummeted down through the clouds!

At the last moment, a piece of Inner Armor he wore had blocked the sword strike, leaving him only severely injured.

However, having lost his mount, the Red-plumed Red Crane, and falling from such an immense height while severely injured, his fate was all but sealed. His chances of survival were slim to none.

Qin Feng was stunned. The power of that strike had far exceeded his own expectations. It was more than twice as powerful as he had anticipated.

It was unbelievably ferocious!

’To think I sent a Top-Grade Foundation Establishment expert of the Condensing Vein Realm, along with his crane, flying with a single strike!’

By Qin Feng’s estimation, the strike should have, at most, killed the Red-plumed Red Crane and only lightly injured the white-robed youth.

But the actual result was that a single strike had grievously injured him. If he hadn’t been wearing that unusually sturdy Treasure Armor, the blow would have been enough to kill him outright.

’This is the amplifying power of a High-level Spirit Sword!’

’It amplified my power by at least two or three times!’

"What a magnificent treasure!"

He caressed the Spirit Sword, unable to put it down, his eyes filled with delight.

With a clear cry, Silly Bird regained its balance. Spreading its wings, it began flying toward Heavenly Red Peak once more.

Qin Feng sat down cross-legged again and began Nurturing the High-level Spirit Sword with his Innate True Qi.

A Spirit Sword needs Nurturing to unleash its true power. If constantly nourished by its master’s essence over time, a Spirit Sword could even grow progressively stronger.

As he circulated his Innate True Qi to Nurture the Beiming Divine Water Sword, Qin Feng’s expression grew pensive. He thought back to the white-robed youth who had ambushed him.

’But who was that white-robed youth? Why did he ambush me?’

As he pondered, Qin Feng recalled Yu Yao’s warning.

’Could he have been Ao Kun? No, that’s not right. Although that white-robed man was an expert at the Condensing Vein Realm, perhaps even on par with Young Emperor Jin, he definitely wasn’t Ao Kun.’

’Whatever. It doesn’t matter who he is. I’ll find him sooner or later.’

As he mulled over the recent events, Qin Feng could clearly feel the presence of a mastermind pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

This mastermind had left behind some clues, and Qin Feng was already investigating in secret. He just needed a little more time to reach a conclusion.

「Several hours later.」

Heavenly Red Peak was now in sight. A towering mountain of ten thousand peaks, it stood like a spine holding up the Firmament itself. Spiritual Qi was abundant, magical herbs released their fragrant essence, and misty energy swirled like dragons. Gazing upon this Divine Peak, Silly Bird let out a joyous cry and spread its wings, diving toward it.

With a thought from Qin Feng, a Token flew out from his waist. The All Stars Token shot a beam of golden light into the mists surrounding Heavenly Red Peak.

The mists churned, and a golden path materialized within them.

Qin Feng leaped, grabbing the Token from the Void. Clad in black robes, he shot down from Silly Bird’s back like an arrow, landing on the Celestial Pool Lakefront.

The moment he entered Heavenly Red Peak, Qin Feng sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere.

The air on Heavenly Red Peak was tense!

Looking around, he saw patrolling Medicine Boys everywhere. The usually lazy attendants now wore grim expressions, their gazes sharp and watchful.

They were even armed with swords and sabers!

Qin Feng watched this scene with a grave expression. The patrols on Heavenly Red Peak had always been frequent, but never this intense.

There were overlapping sentry posts almost everywhere.

A guard every three steps, a sentry every ten!

It was as if they were facing a great enemy!

’Don’t tell me something happened to Heavenly Red Peak in the one day I was gone!’ A flicker of annoyance crossed Qin Feng’s eyes.

"Lord Cave Master! You’ve returned!" A distant Medicine Boy saw the black-robed youth descend from the sky and quickly bowed in respect.

Just then, from a medicinal field beside Celestial Pool Lake, Luan Xiaochuan also spotted Qin Feng’s return. He hastily set down the herb in his hand and hurried over.

"Cave Master!"

Qin Feng pointed toward the dense guard posts along the lake. "Luan Xiaochuan, what’s going on?"

Luan Xiaochuan followed Qin Feng’s gaze and gave a wry smile. "Lord Cave Master, something major happened not long after you left!"

"Someone from the Medicine King Hall came to inform us that the Cave Guardian Spirit Objects from several nearby Spirit Mountain Blessed Lands have been stolen! Specifically, from Yu Shui Peak, Sunset Peak, Purple Mist Peak, Cyan Cloud Cave, and Jade Sea Lake!"

"What? The Cave Guardian Spirit Objects from all those Spirit Mountain Blessed Lands were stolen?" Qin Feng was shocked. The Cave Guardian Spirit Object is the very core of a Spirit Mountain Blessed Land. Without it, these places would be downgraded at best, or become completely barren at worst.

"Who would be so audacious as to steal Cave Guardian Spirit Objects?"