When Qin Xiao saw the other party produce a Formation-Breaking Flag, he knew trouble was brewing.
"Master, do not panic. This type of Formation-Breaking Flag cannot breach this Formation."
Noticing Qin Xiao's unease, Yun Man spoke up reassuringly.
"Is that so? Then this master can rest easy. Let us adjust our condition and prepare to fight them to the death."
Assured that there was no issue, Qin Xiao let out a breath. They were not fully prepared yet, primarily because Yun Man needed to recover the Spiritual Qi consumed during their Sword Flight. Lin Shimeng was fine, and Qin Xiao himself required no replenishment.
The Tian Family Head casually tossed the Formation-Breaking Flag in one direction, but it yielded no reaction whatsoever. He then tried several other spots.
After busywork that tested the entire perimeter, the flag remained completely inert.
"Could this compass truly be broken? What are we to do? The City Lord gave strict orders to execute that brat and bring the two women back. If we lose their trail, how are we to answer for this upon our return?"
Panic began to creep into the Tian Family Head. If he botched this tracking assignment, the Tian Family's dream of rising to prominence would shatter before it even began, and he might even incur the wrath of the City Lord.
"Old dog, you still dare harbor thoughts toward my disciple. It seems I must find an opportunity to end you."
Hearing that the man was still targeting his disciple, Qin Xiao's fury flared instantly.
"Yun Man, how are your preparations?"
Consumed by rage, Qin Xiao could barely contain himself.
"Master, this disciple is ready."
Yun Man opened her eyes. Replenished by the Spirit Liquid, her recovery had been swift.
"Then drop the Formation and slaughter these lackeys."
Qin Xiao instructed Yun Man to dismiss the barrier.
Without hesitation, Yun Man dissolved the Formation, revealing the three figures.
"Family Head, they are right there!"
One of the subordinates shouted the moment they appeared.
"Brat, if you had continued hiding, it would have cost me considerable effort. I never expected you to march out and court death of your own accord."
Beaming at their sudden appearance, the Tian Family Head's mood brightened.
"Save your breath, Chen Lou's lackey. Who is courting death remains to be seen."
Locking his gaze on the Tian Family Head, Qin Xiao surged forward in a swift charge.
"Trouble Junior Sister with the two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. I will handle the early-stage ones."
With those words, Yun Man intercepted the two early-stage Nascent Soul opponents.
Though momentarily stunned, Lin Shimeng did not dwell on it. Drawing her sword, she engaged the remaining two mid-stage Nascent Soul elders.
"This brat is certainly unusual. He displays no Spiritual Qi fluctuations, yet his movement is remarkably swift."
Wary of Qin Xiao's approach, the Tian Family Head did not lower his guard, knowing such velocity was beyond ordinary mortals.
Just as Qin Xiao closed in to strike, the Tian Family Head sidestepped. Being a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator with sufficient distance, he had ample time to evade.
Qin Xiao had never intended for that single punch to land; he was merely gauging the speed gap between himself and a late-stage Nascent Soul practitioner.
"Interesting, brat. Not only do you refuse to flee, but you dare take the initiative. It has been a long time since this old man took a life. Today, I shall nourish my sword with your blood."
Drawing his personal sword, the Tian Family Head allowed the blade's chilling light to gleam. Clearly no ordinary Spirit Weapon, it was unmistakably a Middle Grade Dharma Treasure.
"Who said I intended to trade blows with you? If you wish to claim my life, feel free to try."
From that brief exchange, Qin Xiao confirmed that his speed was by no means inferior to his opponent's, leaving him entirely devoid of fear.
"Do not mistake speed for immortality, boy. I can afford countless mistakes, but you can only afford one."
With that declaration, the Tian Family Head brandished his sword and attacked.
Qin Xiao remained intensely focused. Facing a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, the oppressive pressure rivaled the peak Nascent Soul giant ape in the second layer of the secret realm.
As the sword tip lunged forward, Qin Xiao sidestepped at the last fraction of a second.
For a time, the exchange of attack and evasion reached a stalemate.
Meanwhile, Yun Man's battle had already concluded. The two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators failed to last ten moves under her onslaught, perishing before they could even utter a final threat.
Lin Shimeng, by contrast, was hard-pressed. Two mid-stage Nascent Soul experts joining forces far exceeded the capabilities of a single early-stage practitioner. Only because Chen Lou had issued strict orders to capture them alive without causing severe injury was Lin Shimeng able to hold on this long.
Seeing Lin Shimeng driven steadily backward, Yun Man struck, forcing the two mid-stage opponents back with a single sword slash.
"Junior Sister, it appears you need to apply yourself."
Without missing a beat, Yun Man engaged one of the mid-stage opponents.
"Insufferable!"
Glancing at the fallen early-stage foes and then at her own retreat, Lin Shimeng fumed with frustration. Having no other choice, she raised her sword to pressure the remaining mid-stage elder.
In truth, this had been planned beforehand by Qin Xiao and Yun Man. Whether splitting opponents evenly or having Yun Man tie down the mid-stage pair, a prolonged war of attrition carried risks. By leaving the two mid-stage cultivators to Lin Shimeng while Yun Man swiftly eliminated the weaker pair, they executed what Qin Xiao termed the Tian Ji horse-racing strategy.
They had kept Lin Shimeng in the dark, not out of distrust regarding loyalty, but because Lin Shimeng ultimately retained stronger ties to the Sect, whereas Yun Man was entirely devoted to him.
Consequently, Qin Xiao instinctively bypassed Lin Shimeng for certain decisions-not out of malice, but from the habit of coordinating solely with Yun Man.
Unaware of the developments elsewhere, the Tian Family Head grew increasingly astonished. The boy's footwork, though unconventional, was blazing fast, occasionally shifting by half a beat to cause his sword to strike empty air.
It defied conventional combat logic. The youth slipped about like an elusive loach, evading every strike by a hair's breadth.
"What movement technique is this, boy?"
Ceasing his attacks, the Tian Family Head realized further blind strikes were pointless. Moreover, he found himself coveting the youth's agile footwork.
"Oh? You have developed an interest in my footwork?"
Seeing his adversary pause, Qin Xiao halted as well.
Beneath his composed exterior, his mind was racing at high capacity, calculating counter-predictions and maneuvers until his brain felt on the verge of overloading.
"Surrender your movement technique and your boots, and I shall grant you a swift death."
The Tian Family Head had deduced that the youth's miraculous evasions stemmed not only from strange footwork but primarily from the Middle Grade Dharma Treasure boots granting such velocity.
"Grant me a swift death? Did I mishear?"
Qin Xiao found himself amused. The man had been reduced to a Commander Without Troops, yet he still attempted intimidation.
"Naturally. My Tian Family elders are dispatched alongside myself-five Nascent Soul experts in total. What hope do you have of escaping? Your fate is sealed. Those two women may be spared, but you must die. You may choose your end, however: a clean death or lingering torture. Surely you understand the difference."
The Tian Family Head spoke with absolute confidence.
"Elders? Which elders? Care to look behind you?"
Qin Xiao gestured toward the rear, inviting him to inspect the empty space.
"Do not attempt such crude tricks, boy. This old man will not fall for it."
Refusing to turn his head, the Tian Family Head suspected Qin Xiao might use the moment of distraction to launch a high-speed ambush with his bizarre attack methods.
Following a brief exchange of glances with Yun Man, Qin Xiao charged forward.
Anticipating the assault as a feint to make him turn around, the Tian Family Head assumed a defensive stance, waiting for an opening to deliver a fatal counter-strike.
Yet just as he congratulated himself on his cleverness, a chilling sensation pierced his back. Abandoning his focus on Qin Xiao, he hastily whirled around to raise his sword in defense.
The attacker was Yun Man. Delivering a strike without holding back, she forced the Tian Family Head to commit his full strength to the block.
In doing so, he neglected his front.
Sure enough, a tremendous impact struck his lower back. Propelled forward like a severed kite, he crashed violently into a stone wall before coming to a halt.
The terrifying force of the blow had bypassed his lower back and surged straight into his Dantian. Throwing up a mouthful of blood as his Dantian churned violently, he was left with only one recourse.
"Ancestor, save me!"