Chapter 286: Natural Antagonism, Reflecting on Gains

“What… how is this possible?” The figure stared in disbelief at the massive hole in his chest.

He hadn’t sensed a single attack—yet his heart was gone.

“Fourth Brother, what’s wrong?” His companion, noticing the sudden stillness, called out urgently.

“He’s dead!”

Before the words were even out, Lu Qing’s blade flashed forward—crimson and swift—slicing the corpse in two.

“Fourth Brother!” The remaining two assassins screamed in horror, eyes wide with terror as they stared at their fallen comrade’s gaping chest.

A chill ran through their bones.

They still didn’t know who had come—yet two of their own were already dead.

Worse still—no resistance had even been offered. The two had fallen without a single meaningful countermove.

How had their hearts vanished? This man hadn’t even come close.

The two survivors trembled, their minds reeling.

They were both Xian Tian Jing Mastery cultivators—elite warriors by any standard.

Yes, they’d taken shortcuts in their cultivation, sacrificing their long-term potential to reach their current level.

But even with that, they were still true masters of the Xian Tian Jing.

And yet—this mysterious black-robed figure had cut them down like vegetables.

Even Xian Tian Jing Wan Man masters couldn’t have done this so easily.

Who—or what—was this man?

Just as the two Wu Jian Lou assassins stared at Lu Qing in frozen dread, Lu Qing himself felt a flicker of surprise.

Earlier, he’d sensed something odd.

Though the assassins were clearly Xian Tian Jing Mastery, their auras felt hollow—overblown, unstable, like a fragile illusion.

Now, the truth was clear: they hadn’t fought with the power of real Xian Tian Jing.

Their strength was barely above that of the assassins who’d attacked the small courtyard earlier—barely stronger, and that by a hair’s breadth.

They were nothing compared to a true master.

Not even close to the Xuan Nu monk Lu Qing had wounded earlier.

Still, despite the oddity, Lu Qing didn’t hesitate.

He sensed something strange—rippling energy pulsing from the chests of the remaining two.

Their auras were surging, rising rapidly.

“Trying to use a desperate, life-forcing secret technique?”

Lu Qing recalled what Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou had mentioned earlier.

With a sharp mental call, he activated Spirit Soul Transmission:

“Xiao Li!”

The moment the words left his lips, Xiao Li erupted from the space before the two assassins—claws outstretched, lunging toward one’s chest.

What in the world?!

Now, with their minds stretched to the breaking point, the two assassins finally perceived Xiao Li’s presence.

But it was too late.

Xiao Li’s claws—sharpened by multiple bloodline transformations and refined through the cultivation of his inner heritage—were now razor-fierce.

Even a Divine Weapon could be shattered with a single stroke.

The assassin reacted fast—slamming his short blade up in defense.

But against Xiao Li’s Invincible claws, it was futile.

A flash of cold light.

The Divine Weapon snapped in half, the blade piercing straight through the man’s chest.

As Xiao Li tore out his heart, the assassin froze—his eyes wide with utter terror.

Then Lu Qing’s blade came down.

A single slash.

His head separated from his body.

“AAAAHHH!”

The second assassin, mid-casting his secret technique, saw his comrade fall—his mind shattered.

He didn’t care anymore.

Even if the technique was incomplete, he poured every ounce of strength into a desperate lunge—his sword thrusting forward.

He couldn’t wait.

If he didn’t strike now, he’d never get another chance.

But before the blade could fully extend, a searing pain shot through his chest.

His body locked up.

He looked down.

There, right where his heart should be—was a gaping hole.

He felt his life force slipping away.

A bitter, hollow laugh escaped him.

He knew—he was dead.

Without a heart, even a Xian Tian Jing Wan Man master couldn’t survive.

But before he died, one thing had to be answered.

Or else, he’d never rest in peace.

His eyes locked onto Lu Qing’s ghostly mask.

“Who… who are you? Why are you attacking us?”

“Wu Jian Lou remnants. Every one of them deserves death.”

Lu Qing’s voice was low, cold.

The assassin’s eyes widened.

They knew their identity.

They’d come for them on purpose.

His mouth opened slightly—about to ask more—

But Lu Qing didn’t give him the chance.

A flick of the blade.

The head flew off.

The body twitched once, then collapsed like a felled tree.

“Confirmed,” Lu Qing murmured, activating his abilities to scan the corpse.

A few scrolls floated up from the body.

He read them swiftly.

His expression darkened.

These Wu Jian Lou assassins—though they claimed Xian Tian Jing Mastery—had achieved it by consuming their own potential, using forbidden Wu Jian Lou techniques.

They had Jingjie, but no real foundation.

Their strength was barely above that of a Xian Tian Small Achievement cultivator.

They weren’t true masters—just fake Xian Tian Great Achievers.

“Still, Xuan Kong Shan… your audacity is truly astonishing.”

Lu Qing stared at the final scroll, his eyes glacial.

The message revealed that Xuan Kong Shan had not only sent these assassins—but was likely hiding even darker secrets.

Suddenly, a flicker passed across his face.

“Someone’s coming. Xiao Li, we’re leaving.”

He immediately sealed his aura.

Xiao Li vanished into thin air.

Before they disappeared, Lu Qing swiftly collected the assassins’ weapons.

Not that he cared for ordinary Divine Weapons—but the materials used to forge them were rare.

He might find use for them later.

Just as Lu Qing and Xiao Li vanished, a towering figure appeared atop the wall, his presence radiating power.

He stared at the wreckage below—his pupils contracting.

Then, more powerful figures arrived, landing one after another.

They took in the ruined house, the scattered corpses—shocked.

“Fang Brother,” one asked, “you arrived first. What happened?”

“I don’t know,” the first man replied. “I only got here a few breaths before you. This was already the scene.”

“Someone fought here,” another muttered.

He stepped down, kneeling beside one corpse, examining it.

The others followed suit.

After a moment, their expressions turned grim.

“These bodies… their auras were strong. At least Xian Tian Small Achievement level.

Yet they were cut down—without a single defense.”

They looked at the still-warm corpses.

The fight had just happened.

In mere moments—four Xian Tian Small Achievement masters, all powerful, slain.

Who could do that?

A chill crept through them.

They regretted coming so recklessly.

If the killer was still nearby…

They scanned the surroundings, tense, alert.

After a long silence, with no sign of danger, they finally exhaled.

The killer had left.

“Who were these men?” one asked. “When did Sheng Cheng gain so many Xian Tian Jing Qiang Zhe?”

He continued searching, then froze—staring at a half-body, where a distinct tattoo burned on the chest.

He frowned.

He knew that mark.

But why couldn’t he recall it?

He stared.

Thought.

Then—lightning struck.

His eyes widened.

“Wait… is that…?”

---

Lu Qing didn’t know what came after.

Once he sensed someone approaching, he’d already vanished with Xiao Li.

Whether the newcomers uncovered the assassins’ identities?

He didn’t care.

Let Wu Jian Lou be hunted by all.

If other factions discovered its continued existence, it would only weaken Xuan Kong Shan—and that was exactly what he wanted.

Back at the small courtyard, Old Doctor sat in Lu Qing’s room.

Xiao Yan slept soundly in bed—her slumber as peaceful as ever.

Even the earlier chaos hadn’t disturbed her.

“Mission complete?” Old Doctor asked as Lu Qing and Xiao Li returned.

“Mm.” Lu Qing nodded.

“Then I’ll retire.”

Old Doctor didn’t press. He knew Lu Qing had his reasons.

Their bond was absolute—no need to explain every move.

Once the master left, Lu Qing sat cross-legged on his bed.

Tonight had been too much.

He needed to think. To sort it all out.

First—Wu Jian Lou’s sudden appearance.

Lu Qing wasn’t truly afraid of them.

After this battle, he’d realized: he and Xiao Li had a natural advantage over Wu Jian Lou assassins.

They specialized in stealth—hidden attacks, sudden kills.

But they were weak in direct combat.

And their stealth techniques?

Useless against Lu Qing’s overwhelming Spirit Soul Sensing, and Xiao Li’s unnatural intuition.

Even worse—Lu Qing, with his Shen Hun Fu Lu, and Xiao Li, with his innate gift, could hide their presence far better than Wu Jian Lou ever could.

In every way—Lu Qing and Xiao Li had utterly dominated them.

They were no threat.

But Xuan Kong Shan—that was different.

To command Wu Jian Lou, a sect thought extinct for centuries…

That meant Xuan Kong Shan was far deeper, far more powerful than he’d imagined.

And that hidden place?

Who knew what monsters still lurked within?

Now they were sworn enemies.

Lu Qing would have to be on guard—watching for traps, schemes, ambushes.

But one thing remained: he didn’t know Xuan Kong Shan’s true location.

If he did… he’d have taken the chance to strike hard.

Besides Xuan Kong Shan, there was his own cultivation.

Tonight’s breakthrough had been unexpected.

He’d always believed his Xian Tian Jing breakthrough would be the easiest part.

But it was his foundation—too solid, too deep—that had held him back.

Now, he’d cultivated true qi—his strength had risen.

But his body hadn’t yet transformed into Xian Tian form.

The qi lacked soul, life hadn’t changed.

Most tellingly—his lifespan hadn’t extended.

He still only had a hundred and twenty years to live.

True Xian Tian Jing cultivators lived three hundred years.

So long as he remained Hou Tian Jing, even if he could now cut down Xian Tian masters with a single blade…

When the limit came, his body and soul would rot.

He’d die.

“Hou Tian and Xian Tian aren’t just about strength.

They’re about life itself.”

After tonight, Lu Qing understood that deeper than ever.

“I can feel it—when the next Heaven and Earth Dao Yin sounds, the laws will be ready.

And it won’t be long now.”

He sat motionless, his spirit soul attuned to the world’s pulse.

Though not yet Xian Tian, the cultivation of true qi had already strengthened his body and spirit.

If he’d had this power earlier…

That Xuan Nu monk wouldn’t have just been wounded.

He’d have been cut in half.

Lu Qing believed—without a stronger secret, one slash would be enough to shatter the monk’s Golden Body.

One cut.

No more.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end