Chapter 18: Kill them all, and extract their sword bones for me

Jiang Qingyi thrust her sword forward, aiming directly for Xiao Jing's heart.

Xiao Han let out a cold snort and struck out with a fist toward the tip of Jiang Qingyi's sword.

The Grass Word Sword Technique was extremely sharp, and combined with the frigid aura of the Profound Frost Longsword, it surprisingly failed to break through the opponent's fist.

The massive force of the punch sent Jiang Qingyi flying, crashing to the ground.

Jiang Qingyi wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.

As she stood up, Xiao Han's fist descended toward her once more, forcing her to retreat using her Cloud-Treading Steps.

The spot where Jiang Qingyi had just been standing was now a deep crater.

Feeling the opponent's punch force, Jiang Qingyi frowned, knowing she could not afford to underestimate him.

This dual-pupil Golden Core stage cultivator was of a similar quality to her own, perhaps even slightly stronger.

However, this dual-pupil youth lacked combat experience.

After creating distance, Jiang Qingyi performed a sword flourish, causing frost sword qi to continuously spread outward, forming one ice sword after another.

"Fall!"

At Jiang Qingyi's command, the ice swords descended upon Xiao Han like a torrential rain.

"With such petty tricks, you dare to run wild in my Prince Xiao Mansion?"

Xiao Han did not take Jiang Qingyi seriously at all.

Or rather, ever since he began his cultivation, he had never taken anyone seriously.

He had never lost!

The fist technique he practiced was called the Mountain-Shaking Punch, designed to embody that very youthful arrogance.

The more he won, the more his spirit surged.

The more his spirit surged, the greater the power of his fists became.

As the Mountain-Shaking Punch was unleashed, the fist qi destroyed the ice swords, turning them into ice shards that floated in the air, reflecting the sunlight.

"Die!"

Xiao Han struck out violently.

A golden fist print roared toward Jiang Qingyi.

Jiang Qingyi dodged to the side, holding her Profound Frost Longsword vertically.

She slit her fingertip and smeared her blood onto the blade.

Suddenly, Jiang Qingyi held the sword in a reverse grip and plummeted straight down from the sky.

"Boom!"

Jiang Qingyi plunged the longsword into the ground, sending ripples of spiritual energy outward.

With the longsword as the center, the entire front courtyard of the Xiao Mansion was covered in a layer of frost.

However, this frost was red, as if red crystals had been crushed into profound ice.

Red ice spikes erupted from the ground, forcing Xiao Han to retreat continuously.

Wherever he stepped, ice spikes burst forth.

"Damn it!"

Suddenly, Xiao Han seemed to realize something, but it was too late.

Having prepared in advance, Jiang Qingyi performed a hand seal, and several ice pillars erupted instantly, restricting Xiao Han's movements.

On the other side, Xiao Jing was also bound by a cage of profound ice.

"Xiao Jing, I want you to watch with your own eyes as your son dies before you."

Jiang Qingyi hurled her longsword; the Profound Frost Longsword transformed into a streak of white light, piercing toward Xiao Han's heart.

At that exact moment, an old man wielding a great saber struck, knocking away Jiang Qingyi's Hundred-Step Flying Sword. The Profound Frost Longsword struck the ground, emitting a vibrating hum.

With another strike, the old man shattered the profound ice cage binding Xiao Jing and Xiao Han.

With a flick of her finger, Jiang Qingyi sensed the connection, and the Profound Frost Longsword flew back into her hand.

"To be able to cultivate to this level after losing your sword bone, you are indeed remarkable." Xiao Jing walked to his son's side and brushed the ice dust off him, his tone filled with emotion.

"Father, I..."

The near-death Xiao Han tried to explain something.

But Xiao Jing shook his head. "It is fine. You are still young, only fourteen. You have experienced few life-and-death battles. Your strength is not inferior to hers, you simply lack experience. Remember this battle today; no matter who the opponent is, never underestimate them."

"Yes! Father!" Xiao Han nodded in response.

After soothing his son's mental state, Xiao Jing turned to face Jiang Qingyi. "As expected, killing you was the right choice. Perhaps I should have acted sooner, but it is not too late now."

"Elder Ye, I shall trouble you to make a move." Xiao Jing remained composed from beginning to end.

"Rest assured, Your Highness."

Ye Sandao, a Jade Essence Realm protector of the Xiao Mansion, stepped forward, his foot creating a deep crater in the ground.

Before Jiang Qingyi could even see his figure clearly, a wide saber swung down toward her.

"Clang!" Jiang Qingyi blocked with her sword horizontally.

The force of the blow traveled from her thumb through her arm and into her entire body.

Jiang Qingyi felt as if her bones were about to shatter.

"Bang!"

Jiang Qingyi was sent flying into a wall, which collapsed violently, sending rubble tumbling down.

"Pah!"

Jiang Qingyi spat out a mouthful of blood and struggled to her feet.

Is this the power of a Jade Essence Realm cultivator?

Jiang Qingyi hadn't even felt the opponent use his full strength.

"Little girl, this old man will give you a quick end!"

Ye Sandao's saber qi rose sharply.

As he swung the saber, it felt as though he intended to split a mountain in two.

Jiang Qingyi frowned; she knew she could not dodge this strike.

Exhausting all her spiritual energy, Jiang Qingyi unleashed her strongest sword strike—the final form of the Grass Word Sword Technique: the Void-Breaking Style.

Wherever the sword qi passed, illusions of void appeared.

The sword qi collided with the saber qi, and violent spiritual energy swept through the entire courtyard.

However, the gap between their realms was simply too vast.

Jiang Qingyi's sword qi only managed to stall him for half a breath.

As the sword qi dissipated, the saber qi slammed violently toward the space between Jiang Qingyi's eyebrows.

Jiang Qingyi knew she was going to die.

Yet, in her heart, she felt a strange sense of relief.

But just as Jiang Qingyi closed her eyes, calmly awaiting death...

A massive explosion erupted not far away.

The pain did not come.

The young girl slowly opened her eyes, only to see a familiar longsword.

At the hilt of the sword stood a familiar silhouette.

Xiao Jing narrowed his eyes as he looked at the man who had descended from the sky.

Ye Sandao, instead, smiled. "Eldest Young Master, it has been a long time."

Xiao Mo shook his head. "Elder Ye, I am no longer the Young Master of the Xiao Mansion. However, it seems you have remained well."

"I am doing fine, doing fine." Ye Sandao rested the great saber on his shoulder. "Has the Young Master returned this time to visit the Master?"

"Cough, cough, cough..." Xiao Mo coughed several times. "My disciple is inexperienced and acted rashly. I apologize to Elder Ye on her behalf. I hope you can be magnanimous; I will certainly take her back and discipline her properly."

Ye Sandao sighed. "Young Master, if you want that, you must speak to our Prince. Speaking to me is useless."

Xiao Mo turned his head toward Prince Xiao Jing and bowed with respect. "I wonder if Your Highness could grant a favor?"

Xiao Jing looked at this son with whom he had long since severed ties. "Xiao Mo, she has killed many people from my Xiao Mansion."

"Twenty years ago, Your Highness also killed many people from Qingyi's estate," Xiao Mo said calmly.

"Yes." Xiao Jing nodded. "I also killed her parents and her brother. Do you think she will not kill me in the future?"

Xiao Mo's brow furrowed.

Xiao Jing waved his hand and commanded

"Elder Ye, kill them all. Extract the sword bone for me."

"Your Highness, the Eldest Young Master is in the Nascent Soul Realm. The sword bone has merged with his soul. If you force it out, I fear his soul will be scattered," Elder Ye said.

Xiao Jing glanced indifferently at Elder Ye. "And what of it?"