As Qian Duoduo summoned with all his might, the heavens and earth fluctuated, and the two hundred zhang wide grassland before him instantly transformed into a vast swamp.
In the very center of the swirling swamp, a gigantic vortex appeared.
The vortex suddenly trembled, and a mountain-peak-like head emerged from it.
As the Golden Toad's head emerged, the overwhelming seeds of the Blood Puyu were swept away by the mud.
The incoming Magic Treasures and crossbow bolts turned into small bubbles in the mud and vanished.
Affected by Qian Duoduo's rage, the Golden Toad's eyes, as large as a Wood House, glowed with a tangible light, glaring furiously at everything around it.
The Golden Toad abruptly thrust its head upwards, its enormous head crashing towards the three Shengling Sect Disciples on the grassland.
The Artifact Refiner's face turned pale, and he let out a cry of alarm, throwing dozens of Magic Treasures from his Storage Pouch towards the Golden Toad's head.
The Magic Treasures exploded one by one the moment they made contact with the Golden Toad's head.
Even with these explosions as brilliant as fireworks, the Golden Toad's head still struck him.
The Artifact Refiner immediately turned into a cloud of blood mist, like porcelain struck by a heavy hammer.
The crossbow-wielding Disciple had been attacking from a distance, and as soon as the swamp appeared, he immediately tried to flee.
When the Golden Toad struck with its head, one of his feet was already on dry ground.
But how could Qian Duoduo let him escape?
As the Golden Toad rushed out, Qian Duoduo silently chanted “Ten Coins Unite as One” in his heart, and a sharp copper coin instantly appeared at the Disciple’s neck, using the outward momentum to sever his head.
Yu Renjie was right in the center of the swamp, and when the vortex appeared, it began to pull him into it.
However, he performed some kind of Mystic Art, and countless threads shot out from his body, suspending him in the air.
When the Golden Toad appeared, a watermelon-sized blood-colored seed shot out from the top of Yu Renjie's head, launching into the air.
That blood-colored seed had a face identical to his own, and using the strong wind generated by the Golden Toad's emerging head, it fled into the distance, not giving Qian Duoduo a chance to use “Ten Coins Unite as One.”
However, the body Yu Renjie left behind was crushed by the Golden Toad, splitting into pieces like an ugly Spirit Gourd.
The Golden Toad seemed to know the maximum boundary it could currently reveal, glanced around briefly, and slowly sank back into the swamp.
The surroundings returned to calm.
Qian Duoduo sighed softly, took out a box, and picked up as much of Chu Tianqi's recognizable body as possible.
“Tianqi, rest assured! I will avenge this hatred for you. Even if Yu Renjie runs back to the Shengling Sect, I will still take his life.”
After carefully collecting Chu Tianqi's remains, Qian Duoduo continued forward.
Yu Renjie was detestable, detestable in his unscrupulous methods.
In the conflict between the Three Sects, it was permissible for Disciples to capture or kill each other, which was understandable, but no matter what, one needed to treat opponents as people.
If one side had no bottom line, it would lead to the Three Sects also having no bottom line.
Some agreed-upon rules could be broken at any time.
Chu Tianqi was forced to come by the Chu family, only wanting to get through the Secret Realm and return home safely, but because he had an interaction with Qian Duoduo, he was captured by Yu Renjie to be used as bait, and died in the Secret Realm.
If it weren't for Qian Duoduo, relying on the Chu family's resources and staying away from disputes, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to survive until the Secret Realm ended.
As he walked, Qian Duoduo blamed himself, not stinting on Spiritual Qi, expanding his Spiritual Awareness to its maximum.
Qian Duoduo did not want what happened to Chu Tianqi to happen to Wang Longyu again.
Suddenly, Qian Duoduo noticed a person standing perfectly straight between two mountains.
Behind him, a surge of Battle Intent, like a white ribbon, shot straight into the sky.
“Jin Buhuan, I’ve been waiting for you! Do you dare to come and fight?”
The man’s voice was loud, and despite being full of Killing Intent, he was still polite.
He was none other than Zeng Ruohai, the Ba Ling Sect’s foremost Xiong Jun.
His aura was heavy and profound, clearly a Realm close to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
How do these people Cultivate? Do they all have Mystic Art blessings? Qian Duoduo sighed in his heart.
After confirming there was no one else around, Qian Duoduo slowly walked over.
“Brother Bu Huan indeed possesses an impressive demeanor. My first battle at Foundation Establishment will naturally be dedicated to you.”
Zeng Ruohai raised his hand, and a blood-colored sword appeared out of thin air.
Seeing him hold the sword and bow to him, Qian Duoduo returned the gesture.
According to the Sect's information, the Disciples of the Ba Ling Sect were all rude and warlike.
This Zeng Ruohai was probably trying to do the opposite and be a polite person.
However, what kind of person he truly was still depended on his actions.
Seeing Qian Duoduo's caution, Zeng Ruohai spoke, “Brother Bu Huan, rest assured, I will not participate in my Sect’s alliance with the Shengling Sect. There are no other people here, so you can safely use your full Battle Intent.”
After saying that, Zeng Ruohai flicked the blood-colored sword in his hand, and a beam of blood-light pierced through the air.
If it were to strike one's body, it would undoubtedly cause severe injury.
Qian Duoduo held the Golden Rooster Sword horizontally and unleashed a beam of golden light.
The golden light and the blood-light collided in the air, and after a loud bang, they both disappeared.
“Good, very good!” Zeng Ruohai nodded with satisfaction, pulling back his purple-edged blood-robe, “The Refining Spirit Sect still has capable individuals.”
He plunged the blood-colored sword into the Battle Intent behind him, and when he pulled it out again, the blood-colored sword not only grew longer but its blade actually turned silver-white.
Zeng Ruohai held the blood-colored sword and thrust it forward.
The blood-colored sword immediately split into another, flying into the sky, its tip pointed directly at Qian Duoduo.
In the blink of an eye, three swords stood in the air, forming a small sword array.
This sword array echoed the blood-colored sword in Zeng Ruohai's hand, as if another Zeng Ruohai stood in the air.
Qian Duoduo fought one against two, with the Golden Rooster Sword in hand, not falling into a disadvantage in the slightest.
His powerful Spiritual Awareness allowed him to predict in advance, and his abundant Spiritual Qi could support him in freely unleashing sword light.
Zeng Ruohai plunged and pulled the blood-colored sword into the Battle Intent behind him again, and the blood-colored sword actually grew as long as a spear.
He wielded the blood-colored sword and engaged in close combat.
Close combat relies on spiritual power rather than Spiritual Qi, and is mostly the fighting style of Body Cultivators.
Spiritual power comes from muscles and bones, not Spiritual Veins.
Zeng Ruohai's current sword was a long sword, which was actually not suitable for close combat.
However, since he chose close combat, he must have had his reasons.
“Boom.”
When the Golden Rooster Sword and the blood-colored sword's blades met, Qian Duoduo felt the power on the blood-colored sword and only then understood that Zeng Ruohai's spiritual power was actually no less than Dugu Yunshan and Lei Hong.
Qian Duoduo's ability to block the blood-colored sword with his brute strength also surprised Zeng Ruohai.
He smiled slightly.
“Brother Bu Huan hides quite deeply. What does an Artifact Refiner need all this Manli for?”
“I’m also troubled; I’m thin, but I have clumsy feet and hands. However, when moving materials, this Manli does come in handy.”
Qian Duoduo said self-deprecatingly.
He speculated that Zeng Ruohai's Foundation Establishment was not just about opening the Lower Spirit Sea. It was very likely he had also opened the Middle Spirit Sea to possess such profound spiritual power.
But what Spirit Sea was opened, and how many were opened, was a top secret for a Cultivator, not even told to family members.
No matter how honest Qian Duoduo was, he would not tell the truth. Zeng Ruohai was the same.
Zeng Ruohai used his sword as an axe, engaging Qian Duoduo in close combat for dozens of moves.
They were like two barbarians, swords clashing, sparks flying.
If Liu Boli hadn't added a lot of hao gold to the newly refined Golden Rooster Sword, Zeng Ruohai would have indeed taken advantage of his brute strength.
After a prolonged battle, Zeng Ruohai said softly, “No offense.”
He stroked his lower back with his left hand and shouted, “Scarlet Star!”
With that shout, seven large Scarlet Stars appeared on the blood-colored sword, instantly rising into the sky, merging with the sword array, emitting dazzling blood-light, and smashing down towards Qian Duoduo's head.
