Chapter 7

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Pei Ling’s hair stood on end. However, at the critical moment, it stimulated the innate potential inside him. He hurriedly rolled on the ground and avoided this strike at the last moment.

Wu Tingxi could not help but be flabbergasted when his killing shot missed. However, he was from a large sect after all, and his reaction was extremely quick. He originally planned to stand with his hands behind his back to mock Pei Ling’s corpse, but he quickly adjusted his posture. As his feet stomped the ground, he took off.

The next moment, his fist landed heavily on Pei Ling’s face.

Bam!

Pei Ling felt his head spinning from this punch, but he was elated. He was only at the third level of Qi Refinement and had not learned any offensive techniques at all. If Wu Tingxi continued to use the Five Poison Finger, then even if he dodged the attack just now, he would still die without a doubt.

Now that Wu Tingxi was only using fists and feet, it meant that his injuries were severe, and he was not better off compared to Pei Ling.

He immediately circled his legs around his opponent’s body to prevent him from pulling away to use other means. At the same time, he raised his right fist and punched his opponent’s chin.

This was the full attack of a third-stage Qi Refinement Supreme-grade Iron Bone cultivator. In the past, Wu Tingxi would not have cared about such an attack at all. However, his injuries were too severe. Not only was he unable to avoid it, but his face was also slapped to the side while a faint scent of blood rose from his mouth.

“Bastard!!!” Wu Tingxi’s eyes widened in rage as he suddenly threw a headbutt at Pei Ling’s head! Pei Ling instantly felt a bout of dizziness as Wu Tingxi took the opportunity to get up, grab a rock by the side, and smash it at Pei Ling without any explanation.

Pei Ling heard that the wind was not right and hurriedly rolled to the side. At the same time, he picked up a handful of dust from the ground and threw it towards Wu Tingxi.

Wu Tingxi subconsciously closed his eyes, but Pei Ling grabbed him by the waist and threw him to the ground.

“Cough, cough, cough…” Wu Tingxi’s internal organs were already severely injured, but with the addition of Pei Ling’s pressure, blood seeped out of the corner of his mouth again.

He knew that something was wrong. While they were fighting, his fingers fumbled around in his sleeve a few times and nimbly took out the pellet that he had held in his hand when the rat passed by.

The only issue here was that the pellet was left behind by his master along with the cultivation technique jade slip. It was also the final trump card of his master’s line. It was already wasteful to use it against Zheng Jingshan, and Pei Ling was only a piece of trash at the third level of Qi Refinement…

Wu Tingxi only hesitated for a moment before he suddenly felt pain in his wrist. It was Pei Ling who had sensed an opportunity and grabbed his wrist to smash it against the rock beside him several times, risking it all.

Wu Tingxi felt the pain as the pellet in his hand fell to the ground uncontrollably.

He was shocked, angry, and regretful, losing his spirit. On the other hand, Pei Ling’s ferocious nature was triggered, and he became more and more valiant the more he fought. In an instant, the difference between them was apparent, and Pei Ling seized the opportunity to smash him to the ground with a rock.

Worried that this fellow from the sinister Sect would feign death and launch a sneak attack, even if Pei Ling felt that the man was no longer moving, he did not dare to be the slightest bit careless. He continued to smash more than ten stones and confirmed that Wu Tingxi’s head was already crushed on the ground and that his corpse had turned cold. Only then did he stop while panting, and he wiped his face with lingering fear… He had won!

He had killed Wu Tingxi!

He was still in danger and Pei Ling only rejoiced for a moment before he hurriedly got up. He did not care about his pain as he first gave the system a one-star rating before looting Wu Tingxi. Thinking of the pellet that this person could not bear to use just now, he also found it nearby and kept it in his pocket. In the end, he destroyed the evidence and endured his dizziness as he supported himself against the mountain wall and staggered away.

Now that Wu Tingxi was no longer obstructing him, Pei Ling spent some time finding a path to the bottom of the mountain through the spider web-like passageway.

Thanks to his terrible father and stepmother, he had to enter Yuanlao Mountain to pick herbs and hunt to feed himself since he was a child. He was familiar with the areas outside the depths of Yuanlao Mountain. After finding his direction, he hurriedly got onto a remote path down the mountain.

On the way, he also met one or two Pei Clan disciples. Fortunately, they recognized him from the Pei Estate’s main hall when they received the order. Although Pei Ling seemed to be in a sorry state now, his clansmen did not suspect anything when he said he was attacked by a wild beast.

There was even a kind cousin who threw a bottle of Styptic Powder at him.

Pei Ling received it gratefully and excused himself to find a doctor in the city.

After leaving Yuanlao Mountain, he recalled that Wu Tingxi had previously told him to head west. He decisively chose to head east.

However, before long, Pei Ling sensed that someone was secretly spying on him.

To exacerbate the situation, the pain in his left arm gradually disappeared and became numb.

There was no one in sight, but eyes on him grew in size… Pei Ling’s footsteps became slower and slower, and his face turned livid!

He knew that he was in trouble. Not only had the Scarlet Bone Rakshasa Painting come knocking on his door again, but the worst part was also that he was poisoned evidently from the wound he got from Wu Tingxi.

Pei Ling searched through the items left behind by Wu Tingxi. Perhaps it was because this fellow had been pursued all the way here, he did not have much medicine left with him. As for the remaining jade bottles, besides the Qi and Blood Pills, he did not know what they were.

If this continued, he might not be able to survive even if he used the system to fend off the painting’s curse temporarily.

Moreover, this retarded system had brought him to steal Zheng Jingshan’s Bone Tempering Pill during his first cultivation and provoked the Rakshasa Painting. In his second cultivation, it had brought him to snatch Wu Tingxi’s Blood Qi Pill and only barely survived after a desperate struggle. Who knew what kind of situation he would get sent into in the next one?

Pei Ling’s mind raced as he looked at the pile of Wu Tingxi’s belongings in his hand. He looked uncertain for a moment before he gritted his teeth and turned around and walked back towards Deer Spring City.

Half a day later, in the Pei Estate in Deer Spring City, the head of the Pei family, Pei Xuan, looked at the ragged and miserable Pei Ling in front of him in surprise. “You’re saying that you found Wu Tingxi? Then why didn’t you send out the clan signal?”

“Master, I was heavily injured at the time. I was afraid that the signal would attract Wu Tingxi’s attention. If that happened, I wouldn’t be able to come back.” Pei Ling gasped for breath and asked, “Master, may I know where Immortal Master Zheng is? I would like to report to him in person.”

Pei Xuan’s gaze flickered as he said, “Thank you for your hard work. Fellow Daoist Zheng isn’t in the residence now. How about this? I’ll get someone to bring you down to recuperate first. Tell me where Wu Tingxi is located, and I’ll let Fellow Daoist Zheng know on your behalf.”

“That place is complicated.” Pei Ling refused immediately. He had taken the risk to come back because he wanted to negotiate with Zheng Jingshan in person. How could he let Pei Xuan be the middleman? He immediately said, “I’m afraid that even if I tell you, you wouldn’t understand. If we delay Immortal Master Zheng’s matter, the entire Pei family might not be able to bear the responsibility.”

Pei Xuan’s face sank as he glared at Pei Ling.

However, seeing that this nephew of the side family was not afraid and even seemed ready for a life-and-death struggle, he thought about it and switched to a smile. “Fine. However, Fellow Daoist Zheng is indeed not in the residence now.”

Pei Ling became worried when he heard this. Is Zheng Jingshan at Yuanlao Mountain now?

Indeed, after sending so many disciples of the Pei family to the mountains to search, Zheng Jingshan would be waiting for the signal nearby. It was the easiest way to intercept Wu Tingxi at the fastest speed… What should he do? His situation was already precarious, and he might not have had the time to wait for Zheng Jingshan to return.

Just as he was about to ask if the family head had any means to inform Zheng Jingshan immediately, and how long it would take for Zheng Jingshan to return, he heard Pei Xuan say, “Let’s do it this way. Although Fellow Daoist Zheng has gone to Yuanmu Mountain, it’s a good thing that Fairy Li is still cultivating in the Jade Parasol Compound. I’ll bring you to see Fairy Li now.”

Fairy Li?

Pei Ling was startled for a moment before he realized. It should be the disciple of the Deep Sea Sect who had come to Deer Spring City with Zheng Jingshan. It was just that this person was too low-profile. These days, he had been hearing about Zheng Jingshan’s deeds and subconsciously ignored the other disciple.

“Master.” Pei Ling could not help but ask, “How does this Fairy Li compare to Immortal Master Zheng?”

If that disciple was just a nobody who could not help him, then it would be useless!

“Pei Ling, remember this!” Unexpectedly, just as his voice fell, Pei Xuan’s expression suddenly changed as he instructed solemnly, “Although this Fairy Li keeps a low profile, her cultivation level, status, and future are far from what Fellow Daoist Zheng can compare to.”

“She is the Deep Sea Sect’s true inheritor!

“If nothing goes wrong, she’ll be the next Saintess of the Holy Sect!”

“When you meet her later, you must be more respectful than you are to me and Fellow Daoist Zheng, understand?!”

Pei Ling felt a jolt of joy and hurriedly said, “Yes!”

“And are you sure that you know Wu Tingxi’s hiding place and won’t let Fairy Li go there for nothing?” Pei Xuan seemed to be extremely wary of Fairy Li. He had already walked halfway forward, but he was still worried. He stopped and warned sternly, “This is a serious matter. If Fairy Li thinks that our family is mocking her, it won’t be a joke.”

“Don’t worry, master!” Pei Ling hurriedly said. “If I didn’t have absolute confidence, how would I dare to lie to you? Besides, I have a favor to ask of the Immortal Master of the Deep Sea Sect.”

Pei Xuan gave him a deep look. “Let’s go!”

He quickly led Pei Ling into the Jade Parasol Courtyard, but he did not proceed to the upper room in the front. Instead, he took a small path to the back.

It was the first time Pei Ling had come to this place. After all, it was a place used to receive important guests. With his status in the family, he had always been told to avoid here.

At this moment, he was concerned about his injuries and the upcoming negotiations. He did not have the mood to appreciate the Pei family’s painstaking decorations while he secretly clenched the pellet in his palm.

After a moment, Pei Xuan stopped for a moment and instructed softly, “Don’t look up later, don’t look especially at the wind chimes in the corner.”

Only then did he continue forward and arrive in front of a fine temple. He bowed deeply. “Pei Xuan of the Pei family pays his respects to Fairy Li.”

Seeing that Pei Ling was rather slow at bowing, he frowned and berated, “Kneel before the fairy!”