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Qing Xuanling smiled bitterly as she saw the sudden influx of reinforcements. She truly hated it when her instincts proved right.
The battles around her also halted at the arrival of these new forces.
Qing Wentian brought a hand to his mouth in shock. "Impossible! The Ink Sword Sect shouldn't be able to send reinforcements yet—did something happen to the main army?!"
Qing Xuanling shook her head slightly. Though she couldn't be certain, this didn't seem like last-minute reinforcements. She narrowed her eyes as she studied the newcomers—all dressed in black robes that shimmered faintly in the first light of dawn breaking over the horizon.
To her utter surprise, she recognized a familiar figure. "Cheng Yogun!"
The psychopath who'd started a massacre purely for his own amusement during her infiltration of the Ink Sword Sect's territory in the city! That appearance, both attractive and chilling, was hard to forget!
Cheng Yogun seemed to notice her gaze, turning toward her with a faint smile. Apparently, he was commanding these reinforcements—his troops moved the moment he waved his hand.
Fortunately, they didn't attack immediately.
Instead, they began encircling the Crimson Sky Platoon with smug or arrogant expressions. Cheng Yogun had a serene and calm smile, but that absolute confidence that the situation was totally safe gave him an arrogant and annoying air.
The platoon instinctively bunched together cautiously, ready to strike at any moment—but they had no intention of attacking first, not yet. Instead, they looked to Instructor Huan for orders.
Instructor Huan gave a bitter smile under his subordinates' expectant gazes and turned to Cheng Yogun. "It's quite surprising to see someone as young as you leading such a large force. You're not even eighteen, are you? You must be someone truly important in the Ink Sword Sect—or exceptionally talented."
"Not at all," Cheng Yogun replied amiably. "I'm just a poor sect disciple whose master was recently killed. In fact, some of your juniors here had something to do with that. Ah, right—my master was in charge of the clandestine auction. Perhaps that refreshes your memory."
Qing Xuanling's expression froze as she felt Cheng Yogun's gaze land on her—but understanding struck her quickly. She remembered the day she returned from the painting of the immortal market after saving the children. That time, Su Meiren's face had been unusually pale.
At the time, she hadn't thought much of it, assuming Su Meiren had simply faced a tough fight. But now it seemed she'd killed Cheng Yogun's master—the very man in charge of the clandestine auction!
She swallowed hard, wondering if Cheng Yogun had brought so many men purely for revenge…
Yet Cheng Yogun didn't look at her again, focusing instead on Instructor Huan. "IIntroductions aside, I have to say it is an honor to meet someone as distinguished as Qing Huan, the hero of the Qing clan. Even in my sect, tales of your exploits twenty years ago are still whispered."
Instructor Huan wasn't fooled by Cheng Yogun's apparent flattery.
"It's pleasant to be praised so by a youth—though this hardly feels like admiration from a junior to a senior, does it…?"
"You do enjoy jokes, senior Huan," Cheng Yogun grinned widely, his eyes gleaming with sadism. "My admiration is because you'll make a fine addition to my list of strong people I've killed. Even if you're not as powerful as you once were, your past glory alone will make your death one I can boast about for a long time!"
The Crimson Sky Platoon glared murderously at Cheng Yogun—it was an insult to the entire Qing clan to speak so rudely to a hero like Instructor Huan. But the man himself seemed unfazed, calmly studying Cheng Yogun.
A strange glint appeared in Instructor Huan's eyes. "Heh… I don't think I've ever seen a child as sinister as you. How can you fake arrogance and sadism so well when your heart is a frozen hell of pure indifference? You should try acting for a living—you'd do well."
Cheng Yogun's face froze for an instant before his smile vanished entirely, replaced by cold indifference. "How did you see through me? Not even my sect elders—who've watched me since I was nine—ever noticed that."
Qing Xuanling watched in disbelief as even Cheng Yogun's voice changed completely. She'd been stunned by Instructor Huan's words—but utterly dumbfounded when they proved true!
Cheng's shift in demeanor was simply too drastic.
Instructor Huan smiled faintly. "You're not the only one with such a twisted personality—I've met someone just like you before. But that person was already old; seeing this in someone your age is both surprising and disturbing…"
Cheng Yogun bowed his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What's so disturbing?"
Instructor Huan didn't answer immediately, glancing subtly at Qing Linxi and Qing Ziyi. "Don't play dumb—you know perfectly well how unsettling your absolute contempt for life is to ordinary people…"
"…Sigh. You really have seen through me," Cheng Yogun admitted. "I suppose I'll need to act better." He paused. "By the way, are you done buying time?"
Instructor Huan laughed heartily. "Yes—thank you for allowing us that." He took a deep breath and roared: *"Attack now!"*
Qing Ziyi pulled dozens of talismans from her storage pouch, floating them around her as she activated them simultaneously. Attacks of every element and form shot toward Cheng Yogun's reinforcements.
At the same time, Qing Linxi surged forward, wielding a warhammer larger than her body. She leapt straight at Cheng Yogun!
Even he—always composed—was slightly startled by Qing Linxi's sudden assault, especially as her blows carried the weight of a mountain behind them.
The rest of the Crimson Sky Platoon clashed with the Ink Sword Sect's original mine guards and the reinforcements immediately.
Qing Xuanling exchanged glances with her squad, and they instantly began forming hand seals perfectly synchronized. Lines of energy extended from their dantians to an golden cauldron hovering above them—an invisible phenomenon to others.
The cauldron continuously absorbed spiritual energy from heaven and earth, converting it into attributeless Qi that was easily absorbed. With this endless reserve of pure, simple Qi, running out of energy was nearly impossible.
As soon as Qing Xuanling's comrades realized they had more Qi than they could spend, they went wild. Qing Wentian and Qing Muyu stood out most dramatically—both wreathed in intense flames as they assaulted enemies.
Qing Xuanling grew excited too, quickly grabbing the Ghost-Catching Lasso with her left hand and flinging it at two foes. Under her exquisite control, it ensnared both instantly. She yanked them toward her and sliced them in half without hesitation.
Memory was wrapped in the maximum Sword Qi her body could generate, making every cut terrifyingly sharp.
She smiled—she'd never expected activating the Golden Cauldron Formation to be this effective! Yet large-scale combat differed greatly from individual duels.
Her outstanding performance—and that of her squad—drew immediate enemy attention. Attacks naturally concentrated on them!
Five enemies surrounded Qing Xuanling before she even noticed—but even then, she felt no pressure and even mocked them.
At least, until a sixth figure suddenly lunged at her—literally throwing himself at her! The madman crashed into her out of nowhere!
Instinctively, she cleaved him in two—but the other five seized the opening, launching simultaneous strikes. Five black sword lights, each uniquely shaped like beasts or demons, flew at her with ferocity.
The sudden combo overwhelmed her. With no other choice, she activated her Five Elements Bracelet at full power. A five-colored membrane instantly enveloped her body.
"Gah!"
All five attacks struck Qing Xuanling directly, shaking her entire frame. She covered her mouth, swallowing the blood rising in her throat.
Even the Five Elements Bracelet—a high-grade artifact—couldn't fully shield her from five max-power strikes by cultivators at her level.
Qing Xuanling gritted her teeth, eyes burning with hatred.
'Fine, fine—if dirty tricks are what you want, I can play too!'
She laughed, pulling three talismans from her sleeve and tearing them instantly! Three lightning bolts shot toward her enemies.
Three of the five attackers recoiled. Seizing the moment, she whipped the Ghost-Catching Lasso at one foe, wrapping him like a mummy.
A wicked smile spread across her face as veins bulged on her arm. She tightened her grip and spun violently. The lasso's victim slammed into the others immediately.
After several more rotations, she released her captive and used the Lifeless Step—appearing before another enemy in an instant. Her left foot, wreathed in pink fire, smashed into his head, exploding it like a watermelon.
She smirked—but before she could savor it, five more enemies charged her with murderous intent!
Qing Xuanling swallowed hard, stunned. She genuinely didn't understand what was happening!
Again, she found herself trapped in a fight where every move drew three or four enemy attacks, making her want to tear her hair out in frustration.