"Let's go and take a look!"

Qi Qingshan knew he had to face whatever was coming, for good or ill. He immediately stood up and went outside with Su Xuan.

Yan Peng hesitated. The men from Flying Wolf Villa were here for the Floating Cloud Sect, not him. Should I get involved? But a single glance at Qi Qingshan's retreating figure was enough to make up his mind, and he decisively fell in line behind him. Now that they had reconciled, the Floating Cloud and Spirit Taming Sects were like lips and teeth; they had to support one another. He couldn't just stand idly by.

"Su Xuan, the master of Flying Wolf Villa is named Ji Yangping," Qi Li said, keeping pace beside him. "His cultivation has reached the Late Stage of Heaven Severing, and he's a master of the blade. Unless it's absolutely necessary, you should avoid fighting him."

"Understood," Su Xuan nodded.

By the time the group arrived at the sect gate, Qi Qingshan had already summoned the Elders and Hall Masters of the Floating Cloud Sect to join them.

Outside the gate stood three or four men, led by a middle-aged man in a black robe. "Sect Leader Qi," the man called out, "are you gathering this crowd to fight me?"

"Hehe, of course not," Qi Qingshan replied, his face a mask of polite smiles. "Hearing of Villa Master Ji's visit, I felt I had to show some ceremony. It would be rude not to!"

He was puzzled, though. Ji Yangping must be furious that the Floating Cloud and Spirit Taming Sects have made peace, so he's definitely here for the ore vein. But why bring only three or four men? Does he have a trump card?

"Late Stage of Heaven Severing cultivation," Su Xuan whispered to Qi Li after a quick glance at Ji Yangping.

Since his eyes had transformed, he could easily see the hidden fluctuations of Qi within a person's body and deduce their cultivation realm. Even if they deliberately suppressed their aura, they couldn't hide from his sight.

"What?" Qi Li's brow furrowed. Ji Yangping was at the Mid Heaven Severing Stage… has he already broken through to the Late Stage? And what did the Late Stage of Heaven Severing imply? It meant his combat strength completely suppressed every expert present, including Su Xuan! Just last night, Su Xuan had absorbed those strange butterflies to enter the Heaven Severing Realm. At best, he was only at the Mid Heaven Severing Stage!

Qi Li couldn't help but murmur, "No wonder Ji Yangping is so confident."

"Alright, enough small talk." Ji Yangping was clearly full of confidence and got straight to the point. "I've heard an ore vein was discovered on the border between your two sects. My Flying Wolf Villa is not far, so we can offer our assistance in mining it. I hope Sect Leader Qi won't spurn my kind offer."

"Oh, Sect Leader Yan is here as well!" Ji Yangping's gaze shifted to Yan Peng. "It seems your two sects have reconciled for the sake of the ore vein. Excellent."

"Flying Wolf Villa is more than twenty li away. You have no right to interfere in our sects' affairs," Yan Peng, ever the straight-shooter, declared. "Please go back, Villa Master Ji!"

"No need to be so hasty," Qi Qingshan smiled. "Villa Master Ji, you've come all this way. You can at least stay for a cup of tea."

"Very well." Seeing neither of them was intimidated, Ji Yangping let out a cold chuckle and laid his cards on the table. "Let me be frank. Once news of this ore vein gets out, your two sects won't be able to protect it alone. But with my Flying Wolf Villa involved, no one else will dare to covet it. I *will* have a hand in that vein today!"

"Villa Master Ji, allow me to be frank as well," Qi Qingshan said, his smile vanishing. "We surveyed that location last night. It's not an ore vein at all, but a small tomb. The burial goods inside are worthless."

"A joke?" Ji Yangping scoffed, his voice dripping with cold disdain. "I had my men scout the area long ago. It's overflowing with Spiritual Energy—the clear sign of a major ore vein! My visit today was just a courtesy call. Know what's good for you!"

With that, Ji Yangping waved a hand and started down the mountain with his men, clearly intending to inspect the ore vein himself, brazenly and openly.

CRACK!

Seeing this, Qi Qingshan could no longer maintain his composure, his fists clenching so tightly they audibly cracked. The recent unrest in the sect was all thanks to this Villa Master Ji! And now he dares to walk all over us? Unacceptable!

"Brother Qi, what should we do?" Yan Peng was equally furious, his Qi flaring around him.

"Villa Master Ji, please hold on," Su Xuan suddenly called out to the departing group. "I have something to say to you."

"Heh!" Ji Yangping turned around, sizing up Su Xuan. "And who might you be?"

In fact, he had noticed Su Xuan earlier, struck by his good looks. How have I never heard of such a handsome man? My daughter would definitely be taken with him! She enjoys 'tormenting' good-looking men; how could she have missed this one?

Seeing Su Xuan step forward, Qi Qingshan felt a wave of relief. As Ji Yangping scrutinized the young man, a proud expression filled Qi Qingshan's face. "He is the Protector of our Floating Cloud Sect!"

"A mere Protector is qualified to speak to me?" Ji Yangping's expression turned icy again. "Don't tell me you intend to…"

"Cut the crap," Su Xuan said. As an old hand in these matters, he knew the quickest way to end this trouble was to display his strength and make the other party back down. "Take one step toward that ore vein, and I guarantee you will regret it."

"Arrogant!" Ji Yangping dropped the pretense. His Qi suddenly erupted, revealing the full might of his Late Stage of Heaven Severing cultivation! He had only broken through to this level two days ago.

Before the word was even out, his figure shot up from the ground like a fierce hawk, talons extended as he dove toward Su Xuan. The sheer force of his approach sent a gust of wind tearing at Su Xuan's clothes before he even arrived.

"We'll face him together!" Qi Qingshan shouted.

"Together!" Yan Peng agreed. Both sect leaders immediately mobilized their power, moving to protect Su Xuan.

But then, something unexpected happened. Su Xuan had no intention of relying on their help. His body shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, leaping into the air to meet Ji Yangping head-on!

The two figures collided in midair, then separated just as quickly.

THUD!

Su Xuan landed back where he started. A terrifying wave of Qi emanated from him for a brief moment before he retracted it completely.

Qi Qingshan and Yan Peng exchanged shocked glances, blurting in unison, "Late Stage of Heaven Severing!"

That's right. Su Xuan had also reached the Late Stage of Heaven Severing. What none of them, not even Qi Li, knew was that when Su Xuan had returned to his room to rest after leaving the tomb, he hadn't actually slept. Instead, he had taken a massive amount of Moon Profound Stones from his spatial sachet and slept on a pile of them. He had absorbed nearly ten thousand Moon Profound Stones in total, causing his cultivation to skyrocket from the Mid Heaven Severing Stage directly to the Late Stage!

PFFT!

After Ji Yangping landed, he staggered and violently spat out a mouthful of blood, his face a mask of utter disbelief…

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