Chapter 133: The Foolish Character

However, Qin Fengxian had no intention of killing Xia Jiuxuan outright. He merely wanted to wound him and take him captive. As the Profound-grade true sword was about to cleave into Xia Jiuxuan’s fist, Qin Fengxian wore a look of triumph; this strike would, at the very least, shatter the opponent's arm.

Clang!

A crisp sound echoed as the sword collided with the fist. Thunderous energy erupted, spiritual power scattered, and the very space around them shook violently.

Puff!

Qin Fengxian felt a massive force surge from the blade into his lungs. A sweetness rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His eyes were filled with horror as his body was sent flying uncontrollably.

"You are also in the Saint-Entering Realm!" Qin Fengxian roared in shock. He could not believe that this boy from a mortal kingdom had grown so powerful. How much time had passed? At most, a few months. Not long ago, this brat was nothing more than a lowly ant in the Innate Realm. To think that in such a short time, he had reached a level capable of rivaling him! It was truly unbelievable.

Seeing this, Qin Lingyuan, who had been standing back, was also stunned. "Grandson, lift the space seal! Let Grandfather kill him!" he shouted.

"No! I refuse to accept this! I will kill him myself to avenge my brother!" Qin Fengxian was driven to madness; he could not accept that he was no match for Xia Jiuxuan.

"Grandson, don't be impulsive!" Qin Lingyuan cried out in alarm, but Qin Fengxian was beyond listening.

"Die!" He channeled the spiritual energy within him, unleashing a Profound-grade sword technique as he lunged toward Xia Jiuxuan. "Thunderous Sword!"

Lightning surged across his blade, a blinding light that made it impossible to keep one's eyes open. This strike drained every ounce of spiritual power from his body. It was a strike to decide life and death.

Feeling the violent intent of the lightning sword, Qin Lingyuan breathed a sigh of relief. With such sword intent, even a high-level Saint-Entering expert might not be able to withstand it, let alone a boy whose body was merely comparable to that realm.

In an instant, Qin Fengxian appeared before Xia Jiuxuan. Xia Jiuxuan remained motionless. Suddenly, he raised his palms and pressed them together before his chest.

Clang!

With a sharp ring, Qin Fengxian’s sword was caught between Xia Jiuxuan’s palms, unable to budge an inch.

"Lightning Strike!" Qin Fengxian shrieked madly. Tendrils of lightning coiled and surged into Xia Jiuxuan’s consciousness. This sword technique carried a soul-based attack—that was the true power of the Thunderous Sword. How laughable that this boy dared to block it with a conventional move!

The wild electricity invaded Xia Jiuxuan’s body, yet it stirred not a single ripple. Xia Jiuxuan looked up, his eyes pitch black, a haunting smile playing on his lips.

"How is this possible!" Qin Fengxian’s face turned deathly pale. Having been struck by the Thunderous Sword, his soul should have shattered! Why was he completely unaffected?

"My turn," Xia Jiuxuan said calmly. He gripped the blade and yanked it violently backward. Qin Fengxian was pulled forward and crashed into him.

Smack!

Xia Jiuxuan struck his shoulder with a palm. Instantly, the shoulder disintegrated into blood, bone, and flesh.

"Ah!" Qin Fengxian screamed in agony.

"Xian'er, retreat!" Seeing this, Qin Lingyuan rushed forward. Xia Jiuxuan kicked out, sending Qin Fengxian flying into Qin Lingyuan. The two tumbled through the air and slammed heavily against the spatial barrier.

"Run!" Qin Lingyuan grabbed Qin Fengxian, desperate to escape the sealed space. Once outside, his strength would no longer be suppressed. With his Sea-Splitting cultivation, he could surely annihilate Xia Jiuxuan!

Boom!

But to their surprise, they slammed into the spatial barrier again and were repelled back.

"Grandson, lift the seal quickly!" Qin Lingyuan roared.

Qin Fengxian was in excruciating pain. His face twisted as he struggled to speak, "Grandfather, I already lifted the seal!"

Hearing this, Qin Lingyuan felt a strange tremor in his heart. He turned to see the youth standing ten yards away with his hands behind his back, wearing an unsettling smile.

"Interesting. You like sealing space, don't you? What will you do now?" Xia Jiuxuan said calmly.

Qin Lingyuan’s expression changed drastically. "It’s you! You’re the one behind this!"

Xia Jiuxuan arched a brow. "It seems you aren't entirely stupid."

Hearing this, the grandfather and grandson turned ashen.

"Impossible! This treasure was given to me by a great figure in the Holy Land. It only obeys me! How could you possibly seal the space?" Qin Fengxian roared, unable to accept the reality.

"I ask you, is it painful?" Xia Jiuxuan opened his palm and beckoned to the flag. The flag instantly flew out of Qin Fengxian’s robes and landed in Xia Jiuxuan’s hand.

"Old friend, long time no see," Xia Jiuxuan whispered, staring at the flag.

This flag had been forged by Xia Jiuxuan himself! Back then, he was only twenty years old, and it was a practice piece created after he had learned a high-level artifact-refining technique. He never expected it to be so useful, helping him escape peril and kill enemies time and again. Later, as his strength grew, the flag’s utility waned. Centuries later, after he had condensed his own inner world, he tossed away items he no longer needed for the benefit of the cultivators born within that world. That was the origin of this space flag.

If Xia Jiuxuan hadn't forged it himself, no matter how powerful his soul was, he could never have seized an item that had already been claimed by another.

"You!" The pair were clearly unable to comprehend this. A bound Profound artifact could actually be stolen? Especially one that came from the Holy Land!

"Xia Jiuxuan, you go too far!" Qin Lingyuan bellowed.

"Old cur, what nonsense are you spouting? I go too far?" Xia Jiuxuan sneered at the old man's shamelessness.

"If you have the guts, fight me fair and square! Let’s settle our grudge with real strength!" Qin Lingyuan shouted.

Xia Jiuxuan looked at him with disdain. "How old are you, still playing these petty goading tricks?"

"What, are you afraid?" Qin Lingyuan scoffed, continuing the provocation: "My grandson died at your hands, that was his ill fate. But he didn't live in vain; I heard he toyed with your sister-in-law for hours. How satisfying that must be, hahahaha!"

Few could stir Xia Jiuxuan’s state of mind, but his murdered brother and sister-in-law were his weak spot. Upon hearing this, Xia Jiuxuan felt as if his heart were being seared by magma.

"You old filth, you take pride in your shame. Today, I will teach you how to be a human and ensure you never find peace!"

"You want to fight with strength? I will grant your wish and shatter your Dao heart!"

Xia Jiuxuan could kill them both easily right now, but that would be too merciful. He had to make them suffer—suffer immensely.

"Seal, open!" Xia Jiuxuan commanded. The hundred-foot spatial barrier instantly dissolved.

"Finally, he took the bait. This little brat is too young after all!" The stone in Qin Lingyuan’s heart fell. As long as he wasn't trapped in the sealed space, he could unleash his full power and kill Xia Jiuxuan in one blow! He felt fortunate that Xia Jiuxuan was such a foolish, naive character.