Chapter 26: Parting Ways

“What happened in Qingzhu County? The Wuyang Sect is not even as strong as the Leidao Sect; why did they dare to strike at them?” Lu Xiaotian asked after bringing Zhou Lie, Shi Qingshan, and the others to a safe area.

“It is a long story. It probably started about six months ago at the martial arts assembly in Pingwu County. I heard that at the time, a Black Iron Token Holy Envoy had not returned after pursuing an enemy who went missing. The person behind the Black Iron Token was furious and reprimanded every sect that had entered Pingwu County at the time. They mobilized the forces of all martial arts sects to search for the suspicious individual, but they never found them. Then, two months ago, the Sihai Gang and even the strongest Iron Palm Sect were successively massacred. There are rumors that an immortal behind the Black Iron Token is manipulating the situation, and now, it is our Leidao Sect's turn.”

“Thousands of disciples of the Leidao Sect were mostly killed during the siege by the Wuyang Sect, the Seven Poison Sect, and other factions. I fought desperately to lead these people out of the encirclement. If it weren't for your timely assistance, brother, I fear even we would not have escaped. But we are merely clinging to life; now, the entire martial arts world is hunting us down.”

Zhou Lie’s expression was wretched. The bloodbath of the Leidao Sect and the rumored cultivators behind the Black Iron Token weighed upon their chests like an insurmountable mountain, making it hard to breathe.

It was truly shameless of Situ Yong to vent his rage upon these secular martial artists. With the Leidao Sect alone having thousands of disciples, this bloody purge would likely result in over a hundred thousand deaths amidst this chaotic slaughter.

“This matter will be resolved, but your situation is very dangerous. Go hide in the deep mountains for a while. Shi Qingshan, come with me for a moment.” Lu Xiaotian had nothing more to say at the moment. He spoke to Shi Qingshan and walked off to the side alone.

“Senior Brother Shi!” The white-clad young girl pulled at Shi Qingshan nervously.

“It is fine. If he had ill intentions, our heads would have been separated long ago.” Shi Qingshan patted the girl and followed closely behind Lu Xiaotian, clutching his wounds.

“May I ask what your instructions are, Senior?” Having reached a deserted area, the black-clad man stopped. Shi Qingshan, enduring his injuries, bowed to Lu Xiaotian.

“Brother Shi, calling me 'Senior' is more than I deserve.” Lu Xiaotian removed his facial disguise and turned around.

“Xiao... Xiaotian? How is it you? I thought you had been eaten by wild beasts in the back mountains. Where have you been these past two years?” Shi Qingshan first looked incredulous, then his face erupted in wild joy.

“A lot has happened in between; I cannot explain it in just a few words. I will be leaving Liangzhou very soon. Take this bottle of healing medicine; it works quite well. I do not know if I will have the chance to return. Use it sparingly; once it is gone, it is gone.”

Lu Xiaotian took a bottle of healing medicine from his storage bag and tossed it to Shi Qingshan. He had used this medicine himself; even injuries caused by spells could be healed extremely quickly. It would likely be even more effective against the blade and sword wounds of secular martial artists. He truly had no certainty of returning after this trip to Wangyue Immortal City, but no matter how perilous the path of cultivation, he would continue to walk it with unwavering determination.

“What? Where are you going? With your current skills, is there anyone left who could threaten you?” Shi Qingshan asked, utterly bewildered. He had personally seen the one-eyed brute who injured his master be slain by Lu Xiaotian in less than a single move. Such strength exceeded his imagination. Shi Qingshan could not conceive of anyone capable of killing Lu Xiaotian, especially since he had only been missing for two years and had reached such an incredible realm.

“The peak of martial arts is not the limit of humanity. The people hiding behind the Black Iron Token far exceed peerless martial artists,” Lu Xiaotian said, shaking his head.

Shi Qingshan’s eyes bulged. “You... you mean cultivators?”

“It is enough that you know this. Whatever you do, do not speak of it, or it will bring disaster upon you,” Lu Xiaotian warned.

“Senior Brother Shi!” After a while, Zhou Lie, the white-clad girl, and the others, worried about Shi Qingshan, came looking for him. Seeing them, they breathed a sigh of relief.

“Where did that expert who saved us go?” Zhou Lie could not help but ask.

“He had matters to attend to and has already left.” Shi Qingshan sighed, praying in his heart that Lu Xiaotian would return in the future. Although Lu Xiaotian's strength was at an inconceivable level to him, Shi Qingshan could still sense the helplessness in the man's expression. Perhaps the battles between cultivators were even more brutal.

“Master, this is the healing medicine he left behind. It is very effective. Let me try applying it to you.”

Shi Qingshan pulled Zhou Lie aside and applied a small amount of the ointment to his wound. As the milky-yellow ointment passed over the area, the wound originally slashed by blades began to heal at a visible speed.

An explosive force seeped from the ointment into his body. After the continuous fierce battles, Zhou Lie was exhausted both physically and mentally, but after applying the ointment, his body was filled with a surge of powerful energy.

Zhou Lie could not help but let out a long, refreshing cry. Afterward, he looked at Shi Qingshan in utter shock. “What... what kind of medicine is this? Its efficacy is so miraculous!”

“I do not know. That Senior gave it to me.” Shi Qingshan had promised Lu Xiaotian to keep his mouth shut, including regarding his master.

Zhou Lie sighed deeply. “To think there truly exists such a holy medicine in this world that can regrow flesh from dead bone. Let us go. That expert was right; this is no place to linger. We must find a more concealed location to hide from this catastrophe in the martial world.”

“The remnants of the Leidao Sect are over there! Kill them!”

“Stop! You dare run? I'll slaughter you!”

“You Black Horse Gang scum, you all die today!”

At this moment, the entirety of Qingzhu County was in chaos. Help from neighboring counties had also rushed into Qingzhu to seize territory; with the Leidao Sect collapsed, Qingzhu County had become a vacuum. Amidst the bloody fighting of the martial artists, even the thousands of government soldiers in the county did not dare to intervene, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

Many gang members and thugs took advantage of the unprecedented chaos to loot, burn, kill, and rape. Lu Xiaotian rode his horse swiftly through Qingzhu County; whenever he encountered such people, he struck them down directly with his sword. Along the way, he had killed no fewer than two hundred people.

*Boom!* A massive fireball flew out, exploding and killing more than half of the thugs in the courtyard. The remaining dozen or so were engulfed in flames that would not go out; they rolled on the ground screaming in agony before burning to death.

Immediately after, a vine erupted from the ground out of nowhere, entangling several wicked martial artists and strangling them to death on the spot.

“Monsters! There are monsters!”

The unquenchable strange fires and the sudden appearance of man-eating plant demons instantly plunged the county into panic.

Lu Xiaotian removed his disguise. “Those holding the Black Iron Token, listen well! Go back and tell Situ Yong that I am the one who killed Situ Jing! If you have the ability, come find me in Wangyue City! *Giddy up!*”

With a loud shout, Lu Xiaotian and Lyu Bifeng spurred their horses and galloped out of the city simultaneously. It was only because of Situ Jing alone that a catastrophe had been unleashed upon the martial world. However, Situ Yong was a fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator. He appeared to be only two levels higher than Lu Xiaotian, but the fourth layer was already the middle stage of Qi Refinement, possessing a qualitative advantage over those in the early stage. Furthermore, if Situ Jing possessed several spiritual talismans, Situ Yong, as the clan leader, likely possessed even more magical treasures. Lu Xiaotian had no confidence in fighting such a person.

“Are you seeking death? Is it worth doing this for a few secular mortals?” Lyu Bifeng was startled by Lu Xiaotian's actions. After exiting the city, she spoke with a stern face. Throughout their journey, although Lu Xiaotian was young, he had always been cautious and prudent. She did not understand why he would be so foolish this time, essentially pushing the two of them into a fire pit.

“I have my reasons for doing this. Whether we travel together or part ways is for you to decide.” Lu Xiaotian's face remained expressionless, showing neither sadness nor joy.

“I intended to go to Wangyue City with you, but you have brought trouble upon yourself. I have met Situ Yong once; he is unfathomable. The strength of a middle-stage Qi Refinement cultivator is not something the two of us can withstand. I cannot take this risk with you. We part ways here.” Lyu Bifeng's expression flickered indecisively. After weighing the risks, she quickly made her decision. She yanked the reins and galloped away on the other side of the official road. In moments, she was nothing more than a small black dot disappearing in the distance.

This was for the best. Now that he knew the direction of Wangyue City, he could go on his own. As for the specific route, he should be able to ask once he reached the Great Liang Kingdom. Lyu Bifeng knew he possessed Yuanqi Pills, which were undoubtedly a significant fortune for an early-stage Qi Refinement cultivator. He had never fully trusted her. Separating now would save him some trouble later.

Lu Xiaotian abandoned his horse and blended back into the chaotic crowds. He slipped into a private residence, changed into a plain green robe worn by common merchants, took a donkey cart belonging to the household, and left some silver behind.

A moment later, a young man in his twenties who looked honest and simple, with a hint of panic on his face, drove the donkey cart westward, following the crowds of others fleeing the martial world's conflicts, as if he were a refugee.