"Bai Zihhe!"
"Bai Zihhe is back!"
"Hahaha... we are saved."
Qian Yuanshan, Dongfang Tuo, and the other surviving elders cried out with joy upon seeing Bai Zihhe return.
As for Qin Jian...
He was initially puzzled, wondering who this master was.
Upon hearing the elders' exclamations, he first froze, then a look of ecstatic joy spread across his face, akin to an ordinary person winning millions.
Bai Zihhe...
Bai Zihhe!
Wasn't this the very person their Tianshan Sword Sect's Third Elder, Qin Changkong, had placed a bounty on?
It was truly a case of searching far and wide only to find something right at home.
He had initially thought dealing with the War Department was a minor task, but it had unexpectedly delivered such a grand prize...
It was as if heaven itself was feeding him.
"You are Bai Zihhe?"
Qin Jian stared intently at Bai Zihhe, his eyes burning with eagerness. He was afraid Bai Zihhe would flee then and there; this was a monumental contribution!
He must not escape.
Absolutely not.
"Who are you, and why are you attacking the War Department?"
Bai Zihhe looked at the man expressionlessly, his voice as cold as frost and snow.
He was currently in the Integration stage, his divine sense exceptionally strong. Thus, upon entering the territory of Great Xia, he had been continuously releasing his divine sense to survey his surroundings.
Initially.
It had been relatively calm.
However.
Upon entering the capital.
Bai Zihhe quickly detected several incredibly powerful divine senses.
Among them were those at the Core Formation stage, Nascent Soul stage, and one exceptionally terrifying aura at the Deity Transformation stage.
However...
That Deity Transformation stage aura was situated within the forbidden imperial city, showing no fluctuations for the moment. It was likely in cultivation or dormant.
As for the Nascent Soul stage aura...
It was at the War Department's headquarters, and it was engaged in a fierce battle with many Grandmaster-level auras.
Bai Zihhe immediately sensed that something was amiss.
Therefore, he arrived at the scene immediately via sword flight.
At the critical moment, he saved Qian Yuanshan.
"Who I am..."
Qin Jian looked at Bai Zihhe and gave a sinister smile, "After I capture you and collect my reward from the Tianshan Sword Sect, you'll know who I am!"
Reward?
Bai Zihhe furrowed his brow slightly, recalling the matter of Qin Changsheng.
He understood.
This person was likely from the Longevity Gate sect.
"Then come and try to capture me!"
Bai Zihhe also grinned, a radiant smile.
"Swish!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Qin Jian thrust his sword forward without hesitation.
"Bai Zihhe, be careful!"
Qian Yuanshan, seeing this, quickly reminded him.
In his impression.
Although Bai Zihhe was powerful, Qin Jian before him was also considered a formidable expert, and it would be difficult for Bai Zihhe to deal with him.
However...
What happened next was enough to leave Qian Yuanshan stunned.
Not just Qian Yuanshan.
All the elders of the War Department changed their expressions at that moment.
They saw Qin Jian's phantom-like sword strike, which was about to pierce Bai Zihhe, being caught between two of his fingers.
That Autumn Water Precious Sword...
Clearly glinting with cold light, clearly possessing peerless power.
Yet, between Bai Zihhe's fingers, it could not budge an inch, which was utterly unbelievable.
"Hmm?"
Qin Jian's expression couldn't help but change.
Although that sword strike was casual, he was a Nascent Soul stage expert. What was Bai Zihhe's origin?
"Rise!"
With no time to think.
Qin Jian let out a loud roar, his true essence surging forth and gathering on the Autumn Water Precious Sword, trying to wrench it free from Bai Zihhe's grasp.
However...
The precious sword remained immobile.
It was as if Bai Zihhe's two fingers were two great mountains, firmly pinning it down, making it impossible for him to resist.
"Is this your supposed... attempt to capture me?"
Bai Zihhe gazed at Qin Jian, the corner of his mouth curving into a disdainful arc.
"Clang!"
The next moment.
He applied a slight bit of force with his fingers.
The Autumn Water Precious Sword let out a faint clang and was snapped in two on the spot.
"Pfft..."
This was Qin Jian's life-bound magic treasure.
With its destruction, Qin Jian was also severely wounded, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"You..."
With his magic treasure destroyed, Qin Jian became enraged. His eyes widened, his eyeballs almost protruding, a truly terrifying sight.
"Bai Zihhe, I will kill you!"
In his fury, Qin Jian abandoned his sword and charged forward.
With both hands, he unleashed a powerful palm strike, majestic as mountains, surging like ocean waves.
Before the palm force even arrived.
The floor where Bai Zihhe stood instantly cracked into countless fragments.
An eighth-level gale erupted from the ground, instantly kicking up dust and debris, as if the end of days had arrived, making everything around howl.
The terror of a Nascent Soul stage expert!
"Be careful!"
"Bai Zihhe, be careful!"
"Bai Zihhe..."
Qian Yuanshan and the others watched, their hearts pounding for Bai Zihhe.
Even without his sword, Qin Jian possessed such might; it was truly astonishing and terrifying.
"Courting death!"
Bai Zihhe's expression remained unchanged as he coldly spat out two words.
"Swish!"
The next moment, he also struck out with a palm.
In his anger.
Bai Zihhe's speed increased slightly.
In mere moments, his palm met Qin Jian's.
"Rumble..."
With a resounding explosion, a figure was abruptly sent flying.
It tumbled dozens of times in mid-air, tracing a perfect parabola before crashing heavily onto the ground.
The force of its impact...
Caused it to slide dozens of zhang across the floor before finally coming to a halt against a large rock at the far end.
It was the incredibly arrogant Qin Jian.
At this moment.
Qin Jian's hair was disheveled, his body covered in blood, and blood flowed incessantly from his lips.
His eyes stared intently at Bai Zihhe, filled with extreme dread. "You, you... Bai Zihhe, you've surpassed the Nascent Soul stage!"
Bai Zihhe had only used twenty percent of his strength in that palm strike.
Yet, it was still something the Nascent Soul stage Qin Jian could not resist.
Thus, he mistook Bai Zihhe for a Deity Transformation stage expert and appeared extremely terrified.
"Why did you attack the War Department?"
Bai Zihhe offered no comment, merely walking slowly towards Qin Jian.
He did not walk quickly.
But.
He walked with great determination.
Each step landed on a peculiar node, and with every step, his aura became more surging and vast.
A chilling killing intent had long since swept out like an invisible dragon, ravaging and washing over this space.
"Because..."
Qin Jian grinned, blood constantly trickling from his lips, "The Tianshan Sword Sect has acted... Those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish!"
"Is that so?"
A cold glint flashed in Bai Zihhe's eyes.
This Tianshan Sword Sect...
Was truly outrageously arrogant and overbearing.
Merely for their refusal to submit, they intended to destroy the War Department of Great Xia.
How could Bai Zihhe tolerate this?
"Swish!"
The next moment, Bai Zihhe's figure flickered, and he suddenly appeared before Qin Jian.
His right hand extended like a dragon's claw, easily seizing Qin Jian's throat.
"To seek an explanation from you..."
Bai Zihhe stared coldly at Qin Jian, his chilling killing intent undisguised, his star-like eyes devoid of any pity. "Can I now also..."
"Follow me and prosper, oppose me and perish?"
Such murderous words.
Qin Jian, however, showed no fear. Instead, he grinned and said, "You cannot kill me!"
"Oh?"
Bai Zihhe's eyes flickered as he suddenly noticed something in Qin Jian's hand.
It was a...
Communication jade slip.