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“Boom!”
In the clash of blade energy, Sudden Rain was swept away by Cicada Wing, while the Spring Tiger in Xu Taiping’s hand sliced through the demonic cultivator Qingyu’s true form.
If it had been an ordinary blade, Qingyu’s demonic body could have easily regenerated. But what struck him was the “Demonic Severing Blade.”
This was the life’s work of Duan Tianya, a technique specifically designed to counter demonic cultivators.
When Qingyu realized that his body couldn’t regenerate due to the blade energy of the Demonic Severing Blade, his previously arrogant eyes suddenly showed a look of fear.
“Boom!”
He forcibly activated the demonic energy within him, transforming into a pool of blood, attempting to dive into the pond below.
His demonic body thrived in water; as long as he could return to it, he was confident he could continue to tangle with Xu Taiping.
But Xu Taiping wouldn’t leave such an opening.
“Whoosh!—”
Before Qingyu could dive into the water, Xu Taiping exhaled a breath of cold air towards the icy pond.
In an instant, the water surface froze.
If Qingyu hadn’t reacted in time, his pool of blood would have been frozen solid.
This was the power of the Ice Breath Technique.
More accurately, the technique Xu Taiping used at this moment should be called the Frost Breath Technique.
Because the Ice Breath Technique was originally modified from the Frost Breath Technique by Fairy Lingyue to make it easier for him to use.
Now that Xu Taiping had reached the Great Completion of the Gazing Abyss Realm, practicing the Frost Breath Technique was no longer a challenge.
“Boom!”
At this moment, Xu Taiping slashed out another blade.
The blade energy of the Demonic Severing Blade formed a cage, trapping Qingyu within.
At the same time, he took out a True Fire Talisman.
“Who sent you to kill my master?”
Xu Taiping walked up to Qingyu, holding the True Fire Talisman.
Qingyu was initially stunned, then frowned and said:
“You actually know it was my master who sent me to kill you?”
Xu Taiping didn’t waste words with him and directly threw the True Fire Talisman in.
In an instant, a burst of True Fire enveloped Qingyu.
The pain of being burned by the True Fire made Qingyu scream continuously, but even so, he stubbornly refused to reveal anything.
“I know a single True Fire Talisman can’t kill you, but fortunately, I have many. I can burn you slowly.”
As he spoke, Xu Taiping took out four or five more True Fire Talismans.
Although he wasn’t wealthy due to the constant need for elixirs, he could still afford a few True Fire Talismans.
Seeing the True Fire Talismans in Xu Taiping’s hand, Qingyu, who had reverted to his original form, showed a deep look of fear in his eyes.
Just as Xu Taiping was about to throw another one in, he suddenly noticed Duan Xiaoyu stumbling over while chewing on dried meat.
“You can walk already?”
Xu Taiping was a bit surprised.
“Mm!…”
Duan Xiaoyu nodded, her cheeks bulging like a little hamster, still chewing as she spoke.
“Want to give it a try?”
Xu Taiping handed her a True Fire Talisman.
“No need, no need.”
Duan Xiaoyu waved her hands repeatedly.
Just when Xu Taiping thought she was too soft-hearted to do it, she suddenly pulled out a stack of True Fire Talismans from her bosom.
“I have my own.”
She waved the True Fire Talismans in her hand and grinned at Xu Taiping.
Xu Taiping was speechless.
He silently stepped back and made a gesture of invitation to Duan Xiaoyu.
For someone like Qingyu, Xu Taiping felt no discomfort using any form of torture.
Setting aside his identity as a demonic cultivator, the slaughter of other sect’s cultivators, the brutal killing of his close Senior Sister, and what he had just done to Duan Xiaoyu, all far exceeded Xu Taiping’s definition of evil.
So, he and Duan Xiaoyu, like adding fuel to a fire, continuously threw True Fire Talismans into the blade energy cage.
At first, Qingyu continued to be stubborn, but as the True Fire Talismans’ flames grew more intense, he finally gave in.
“Stop, I’ll talk…”
Qingyu raised his hand in humiliation.
“Who exactly is your master, and why does he want to kill me?”
Xu Taiping held back Duan Xiaoyu’s hand, which was about to throw another True Fire Talisman, and asked Qingyu again.
“I don’t know much about my master’s identity. I only occasionally heard other disciples speculate that he might be the former Sword Champion of the Nine Mansions, Suchan.”
Qingyu said with a trembling voice.
Hearing the name “Suchan,” Xu Taiping felt a sudden pang of unease.
“Why does he want to kill me?”
Xu Taiping asked again.
“I don’t know. Master only ordered me to kill you but didn’t say why.”
Qingyu shook his head with difficulty.
“Second question, was the chaos you caused in the Immortal Gourd Cave premeditated?”
Seeing that Qingyu truly didn’t know, Xu Taiping didn’t waste any more time and asked the second question.
“Years ago, we disciples were sent to the various sects of the Nine Mansions by the Nine Abyss, all for today’s uprising.”
Qingyu nodded.
“Just to kill a few disciples of the Nine Mansions’ sects?”
“I don’t know about that. Our orders were to kill all the sect disciples participating in the Immortal Gourd Cave trial.”
Hearing this, Xu Taiping nodded secretly.
These things matched what Oriole had said.
“Boom!”
At this moment, a huge rune suddenly lit up on the icy pond in the Ice Crystal Cave, followed by a beam of light shooting into the sky.
An old man with white hair and a youthful face in purple robes emerged from the light beam.
“Has the teleportation array been repaired, and the people from the Nine Mansions arrived?”
Xu Taiping stood up warily.
As a familiar figure stepped out of the teleportation array, his mood instantly relaxed—Oriole.
“Taiping, my young friend, long time no see.”
At this moment, the old man with white hair and a youthful face suddenly smiled and cupped his hands towards Xu Taiping.
“And you are?”
Xu Taiping looked at the old man in confusion.
“Taiping, this is Liu, the head of our Nine Mansions. He has urgent matters to discuss with you today.”
Oriole stepped forward and introduced the old man to Xu Taiping.
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