#1022 - perish together?
From the moment the auspicious cloud appeared, a battle between Chu Xianping and Qin Zhengqiu was inevitable.
Moreover, this battle was destined to be decided before they reached the summit of Mount Fangcun.
With the auspicious cloud manifested, the secrets of ascension could descend at any moment.
If they waited until the secrets of heaven truly appeared before taking action, there would be too many variables.
Therefore, both sides would certainly try to kill the other before that happened, and then firmly seize this great opportunity.
In this way, the outbreak of this conflict didn't seem too early.
"Boom!"
"Boom boom boom!!!"
碎Stone fragments collapsed and scattered as a wild wind swept across the land.
Spiderweb-like cracks extended in all directions, the fissures in the ground winding and deep. A hurricane stirred up sand and dust, and the clash of swords and palms was like giant waves crashing against reefs. The deafening roar of explosions filled the air.
At this moment, the battle at the foot of Mount Fangcun was difficult to describe in words.
On one side were the people of the Kui Dragon, along with several eminent monks from Lingmen Temple.
On the other side were gathered the leaders of more than a dozen great sects and religions.
The numbers on both sides were similar, and each was a top-notch Second Grade expert. The momentum generated by the melee was imaginable.
Because they had anticipated this battle, neither side held back at this moment, using their trump cards from the start.
Facing opponents with whom they had no real grudges, their desperate fighting seemed somewhat unbelievable at first glance.
But whenever someone looked up at the auspicious cloud hovering over the mountain peak, the greed in their hearts devoured everything, leaving only the heavenly secrets that were so close, as if within easy reach.
"Get out of here!!"
"Hahahaha! This is exhilarating!!"
"It's mine! This opportunity must be mine!"
"Sect Leader Qin! What are you waiting for?!"
Figures crisscrossed, and roars never ceased.
At the foot of Mount Fangcun, which had become a wasteland in almost an instant, someone roared at Qin Zhengqiu, "Why haven't you quickly killed Chu Xianping?!"
"."
Standing amidst the flying rubble, Qin Zhengqiu, dressed in a black robe, stared expressionlessly at Chu Xianping not far away, not moving because of this person's urging.
Chu Xianping was the same, just looking at him coldly, his sword still in its scabbard.
Behind them, a huge six-winged faceless beast and a ferocious white-haired giant ape faced each other from a distance, their auras almost equal, both surrounded by black mist.
Further away, two crescent moon phantoms flickered in the battlefield, exuding wisps of killing intent above them.
Auspicious Beast of Fortune, Moon Picking Sword.
Leaving aside their cultivation level, the methods possessed by Chu Xianping and Qin Zhengqiu at this moment were exactly the same.
Even their cultivation level...
"Second Grade, an Auspicious Beast of Fortune... I underestimated you."
After calmly glancing at the white-haired giant ape standing behind Chu Xianping, a hint of surprise flashed in Qin Zhengqiu's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by indifference.
If it wasn't too surprising that Chu Xianping had also plundered an Auspicious Beast of Fortune, then the fact that he could soar from Sixth Grade to Second Grade in such a short period of time was something Qin Zhengqiu had never anticipated.
Even if the Moon Picking Sword could help people break through realms quickly, it shouldn't be at such an incredible speed.
"Hehe, Sect Leader Qin is too kind."
On the other side, Chu Xianping sneered, of course not explaining anything to Qin Zhengqiu.
He just slowly took a step forward, and the white-haired giant ape behind him followed suit.
"Roar!!"
A roar that only the two of them could hear burst from the ape's mouth, and the faceless beast did not show weakness, immediately spreading its giant wings in response.
"Sect Leader Qin, don't you think this matter is a bit strange?"
"It seems that Ruhai has also approached you..."
Standing in the chaotic battlefield, Qin Zhengqiu's robes remained motionless.
He stared at the composed Chu Xianping, his eyes somewhat mocking.
"Since you don't believe his words, then why did you come to Mount Fangcun?"
"I never said I didn't believe him, I just had some doubts."
Chu Xianping shook his head, "Sect Leader Qin, the heavenly secrets haven't appeared yet, it's really foolish for you and me to fight to the death right now."
"Why don't we ascend to the summit together first, and wait until..."
"Fight to the death? Hahahaha! It's indeed you who will die!"
Suddenly, Qin Zhengqiu's wild laughter interrupted Chu Xianping's words.
"I will kill you first! And then go see if there are any heavenly secrets!"
"Shua!"
Without any warning, as the last word fell, Qin Zhengqiu instantly drew his blade and slashed a sword at Chu Xianping.
Obviously, he had no patience to waste any more words with Chu Xianping.
Chu Xianping didn't seem surprised, pushing off the ground and transforming into a black shadow, fleeing directly towards the mountain.
"Boom!"
In the next moment, the sword energy wrapped in the Moon Picking Sword's momentum cut the giant rock in half, and Qin Zhengqiu's expression became even more frenzied.
"Escape?"
"Hahahaha! How can you escape from my grasp?!"
"Die!"
"."
Also transforming into a black shadow and shooting out, Qin Zhengqiu had no scruples and directly chased after the direction Chu Xianping was fleeing.
As the only First Grade martial artist today, even if the footwork he practiced was not top-notch, Qin Zhengqiu's speed was not slower than Chu Xianping's at all. After a few breaths, he could already see the latter's back.
He swung several more swords in succession, the extremely fierce sword energy seemed unstoppable, but Chu Xianping was always able to avoid them narrowly.
For an ordinary Second Grade martial artist, this would be impossible.
But perhaps because Chu Xianping also practiced the Moon Picking Sword, or perhaps because of the Heavenly Dao's fortune "warning", in short, he could indeed avoid Qin Zhengqiu's attacks.
However, as the distance between the two grew closer, each of his dodges and maneuvers clearly became much more labored, and finally, after a hundred breaths, a sword qi cut a deep, bone-deep gash on his left arm.
His eyes turned blood-red, and seemingly realizing that he had no way to escape, Chu Xianping suddenly turned around and directly charged back at Qin Zhengqiu.
"Clang!"
The long sword was unsheathed, and the Moon Picking Sword intent instantly permeated the blade.
His eyes lost all clarity, as if he had gone mad, and Chu Xianping fiercely unleashed his first move so far.
Perhaps also his last.
"Hmph, seeking your own death."
With a cold snort, Qin Zhengqiu's expression became extremely mocking when he saw Chu Xianping suddenly turn around to fight him desperately.
After all, since they were using the same moves, there was absolutely no way he, who was a realm higher, could lose.
"This old man will grant your wish!"
"Zheng!"
The sword's cry was ear-piercing, and the gale raged. Qin Zhengqiu did not stop, and at the same time, he swung his sword forward without hesitation.
"Bang!!!!"
The two golden sword qis collided in mid-air almost instantly, and the next second, a strong light exploded, engulfing the surrounding area of dozens of feet.
"Boom boom boom!"
Ancient towering trees were snapped in two at the waist, and huge rocks shattered and burst open.
When the "Moon Picking Sword" met the "Moon Picking Sword" for the first time, the shock it caused alone caused countless rocks to fall from high places, just like a "stone rain".
Then, a figure was seen flying out of the light ball, dragging a long line of blood and crashing heavily into a broken ancient tree, then falling to the ground like a broken sack.
Without a doubt, it was Chu Xianping.
"Overestimating yourself."
Walking slowly out of the still undissipated light ball, Qin Zhengqiu did not have a speck of dust on his body.
He walked step by step towards the place where Chu Xianping fell, and the long sword in his hand had also been sheathed.
Although he was very confident that he would never lose, Qin Zhengqiu was still somewhat afraid at first because he knew that Chu Xianping was no ordinary person.
But he didn't expect the former to be nothing more than this, and he was defeated in just one move.
Feeling the faint aura not far away, Qin Zhengqiu shook his head and raised his palm slightly.
To be honest, if Wei Changtian was there at this moment, he might have hesitated for a moment.
But even though he also had some "old feelings" with Chu Xianping, Qin Zhengqiu did not hesitate at all at the moment, and was ready to send the former to the west.
But just at this moment...
"Huh?"
Qin Zhengqiu suddenly narrowed his eyes and stopped.
Because just a moment ago, a sea of white mist suddenly seeped out from the vast mountains and forests around him that had not been destroyed by the sword energy.
This white mist was very thick, and it rose from the forest without any warning, rolling towards him from all directions.
And as the mist got closer and closer, pairs of eyes, either red or green, also appeared in the mist, densely packed as if they were endless.
"Heh heh..."
A chilling chuckle came from in front of him, filled with madness and gloom.
Chu Xianping, covered in blood, struggled to stand up with his sword, his face covered in mud and grass, and his legs were trembling slightly.
But his eyes made Qin Zhengqiu feel threatened for the first time.
"Sect Leader Qin, cough, cough cough..."
Coughing up a few mouthfuls of blood, Chu Xianping smiled like a ghost in Qin Zhengqiu's cold gaze.
"This is just the beginning..."
"
Zhu Yan, the Way of Military Strategy, can control mountain ghosts.
As the ape and monkey, the "King of the Mountains and Forests", the depths of this Fangcun Mountain seem to be its best battlefield.
And Chu Xianping led Qin Zhengqiu to this place, using the Heavenly Dao Divine Power to summon endless "mountain ghosts", which must have been planned long ago.
The so-called mountain ghosts are actually the remnants of the souls of animals that died in the mountains.
These remnants of souls are not strong in combat, but they cannot withstand the extremely large number.
After all, no one can estimate how many animals have died in the vast Fangcun Mountain over the millennia.
Faced with the almost "endless" mountain ghosts, can Qin Zhengqiu escape?
Faced with the Moon Picking Sword that has the ability to pursue across space, can Chu Xianping escape?
These questions will definitely have answers.
It's just that for Wei Changtian, who is still hiding on the top of the mountain at this moment, he doesn't know anything at the moment, and can only hear the sound of constant fighting getting closer and closer to him.
From morning to afternoon, this great battle lasted a long time.
But the auspicious clouds above his head did not change much, and were still so colorful and gorgeous.
Then, just as Xu Suisui took the fifth Qi and Blood Pill, the rumbling sound that had lasted for four hours finally gradually stopped...
His expression changed, and Wei Changtian knew that the result had already been fought out.
"It seems like it's over."
Beside him, Xu Suisui curled up in the cotton robe that had already been pierced, and asked in a low voice: "Who won?"
"...We'll know soon."
Wei Changtian glanced at the only mountain road through the cracks in the rocks, feeling a little complicated.
In his opinion, since there was already a result, it meant that Chu Xianping and Qin Zhengqiu had most likely already killed one of them.
If Wei Changtian hoped who would die and who would live... it's hard to say, maybe there is no answer at all.
Even in Wei Changtian's heart, he still hoped that neither of these two would die.
But if the two were both alive, or even joined forces, then he would not be a match...
Rubbing his forehead somewhat conflicted, Wei Changtian stopped talking and silently watched the mountain road.
Then, after an unknown amount of time, a lonely figure finally appeared in his sight.
It was Qin Zhengqiu.
