Just as Qin Xiao had been meditating for about half an hour, he heard movement outside.
"Senior Brother, we've been searching for a long time. Could they have changed direction?" Li Cheng asked in confusion.
"That's impossible. That kid hasn't changed direction. Do you think I approached him earlier just to exchange a few words? I knew that kid wouldn't stay put, so I secretly left a trace of aura on him. It is extremely faint, and impossible to detect without intent," Yao Kaidong said with total confidence.
"As expected of the Senior Brother. This junior brother would never have thought of such a trick," Li Cheng praised, marveling at how many methods his Senior Brother possessed.
"However, Senior Brother, with just the two of us, I'm afraid we might not be able to handle Yun Man. What if we fail?" Li Cheng remained somewhat uneasy, especially since both of them had previously suffered defeat at Yun Man's hands.
"Trash. I admit Yun Man is formidable. Back when we were both in the late Golden Core stage, I was indeed slightly inferior to her. But now I have reached the peak of the Golden Core stage. How could Yun Man possibly be my match? Do not be careless either. Last time you foolishly engaged in close combat with Qin Xiao, and you must not repeat such folly today." Yao Kaidong dared to pursue them precisely because he was confident. As long as this idiot Li Cheng did not botch things, failure was impossible.
"Senior Brother's lesson is well-taken. I will make Qin Xiao pay a hundredfold for last time's humiliation." Li Cheng lowered his head in shame, burning with hatred as he recalled his previous blunder.
"You two are in high spirits. Could it be that you're looking for me?" Qin Xiao walked straight out of the stone cave. These two fools had loitered right outside without even bothering to search the cave properly, choosing instead to gossip.
"Good! I was worried I wouldn't find you, yet you walked right out yourself." Seeing Qin Xiao nearby, Yao Kaidong felt deeply relieved. There was no need to waste more time hunting; lingering too long in this area carried its own risks.
"Where is Yun Man? Let her come out. Today, this Holy Son is feeling merciful and will let master and disciple keep each other company on the road to the netherworld." Dropping all pretense, Yao Kaidong drew his weapon, unleashing his cultivation aura as he prepared to strike.
"I say, we may have some grievances, but we are still fellow disciples. Surely there is no irreconcilable blood feud between us?" Qin Xiao remarked calmly.
"Save your breath. Fellow disciples? Once you are dead, how could this Holy Son share such a title with a corpse?" Yao Kaidong's killing intent flared fiercely.
Because of Qin Xiao, Immortal Sword Peak had repeatedly suffered setbacks and lost face. Because of Yun Man, his dignity as a Holy Son had been trampled into the dust. For either reason alone, he had to eliminate both of them. The majesty of Immortal Sword Peak could not be provoked, nor could his own pride.
"So there really is no room for discussion? Someone has to die today?" Qin Xiao had initially considered showing leniency. While these two fools were irritating, their offenses did not strictly warrant execution, given that they shared the same sect.
"Stop chattering. If Yun Man does not come out, this Holy Son will execute you first." Yao Kaidong had delayed striking solely out of wariness toward Yun Man. Though his own cultivation had surged and he no longer feared her in a direct confrontation, an ambush from her remained troublesome.
"Disciple, come out. If you don't show yourself, they won't dare make a move," Qin Xiao called out, realizing negotiation was pointless.
"Master, we are really going to kill them?" Though Qin Xiao had mentioned it previously, Yun Man still felt a trace of hesitation.
"Otherwise? They came here to kill us. Should we invite them over for tea? Don't worry, your master will bear the consequences of whatever happens."
"Ridiculous! You still talk of killing us? I have attained the peak of the Golden Core stage, and with the Low Grade Dharma Treasure in my hands, I can even contend with Lin Shimeng of the Nascent Soul stage. Where do you two get your misplaced confidence?" Yao Kaidong laughed aloud at their audacity.
"Utterly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. Killing you now is as effortless as crushing an ant, Senior Brother. Don't think that sheltering under Ling Wushuang's wing will save your lives. Only the four of us are present in these parts; when you die here, no one will ever know who did it." Li Cheng sneered, confident that his Senior Brother could instantly overpower Yun Man while he himself dispatched Qin Xiao with ease.
"Disciple, you heard them. They are the ones seeking our lives, not the other way around."
"This disciple understands."
"Go on then. Their strength isn't even sufficient to temper my Body Refinement, so I'll leave the rest to you," Qin Xiao said with a stretch as he stepped back.
"Afraid for your own skin, so you push your disciple forward? Rest assured, once Yun Man is dead, you won't escape either." Yao Kaidong had originally planned to split their targets, but a two-on-one convergence made the outcome entirely certain.
Without a word, Yun Man drew a Low Grade Dharma Treasure and advanced steadily toward them.
"Brave words, yet you court your own doom. Yun Man, I will give you one final chance: kill Qin Xiao and pledge yourself to Immortal Sword Peak. You shall become our second Holy Maiden and perhaps even rival Lin Shimeng one day. Do not ruin your own future." Yao Kaidong still harbored designs on her; her Heavenly Spirit Root made her too valuable to waste.
"Does your Immortal Sword Peak even deserve such loyalty?"
Releasing her suppressed aura, Yun Man let loose the full might of her early Nascent Soul stage cultivation.
"What? Early Nascent Soul stage? Impossible! Barely a month has passed, how can this be?" Yao Kaidong stood frozen in utter disbelief.
Though not a Heavenly Spirit Root, he possessed a Top Earthly Spirit Root and considered himself second to none. He had spent the past month capitalizing on his peak late Golden Core foundation to finally break through to the true peak of the realm.
Yet Yun Man had been newly advanced to the late Golden Core stage a mere month ago. How could anyone leap across two major tiers within such a timeframe? It defied all reason.
"Senior Brother, run! I will stall her. Please, ensure the Li Family is looked after!" Realizing the dire truth, Li Cheng stepped forward to block Yun Man, knowing his sacrifice was the only way to secure protection for his kin.
"Hold her off for a moment, Junior Brother. Your family will be cared for!" Seized by panic and unwilling to risk his Dao Heart in a hopeless fight, Yao Kaidong turned and fled without a backward glance.
Li Cheng steeled his gaze and braced himself against the incoming pressure.
"A truly loyal dog-what a pity," Qin Xiao muttered, finding the gesture utterly meaningless.
"You think you can stop me?" Unwilling to let Yao Kaidong escape, Yun Man swung her sword directly at Li Cheng.
Before he could react, the blade swept through him, cutting him down instantly without buying even a single breath of time.
Having fled only a short distance, Yao Kaidong found himself intercepted before he could get far.
"Yun Man, I admit I was in the wrong! Spare me, and I swear this matter will go unmentioned. Immortal Sword Peak shall henceforth be bound in friendship with Seven Stars Peak! My father is a Great Elder, and my grandfather is a Supreme Elder-you cannot kill me!" Terrified, Yao Kaidong desperately invoked his lineage.
"Noisy."
With a flick of her wrist, Yun Man brought down her sword.
"I refuse to accept this-"
As the blade fell, Yao Kaidong's final protest was cut short, his eyes closing in eternal darkness. The proud Holy Son, son of a Great Elder, grandson of a Supreme Elder, and foremost among peers beneath the Holy Maiden, vanished like smoke.
"Take their Storage Bags and destroy the corpses." Leaving those instructions behind, Qin Xiao turned and strolled back into the cave, content to let his disciple handle the cleanup.
Before long, the disappearance of Yao Kaidong and Li Cheng became known throughout the area.