Momentarily.
Qin Jian, repelled by Bai Zihe's move, knew he was no match and immediately sent a distress signal for reinforcements.
Bai Zihe's pupils contracted slightly.
"Hum..."
Just then, the divine sense released by Bai Zihe suddenly detected a powerful aura flying from the forbidden area of the imperial city.
The speed...
It was extremely fast, surpassing even an airplane.
It was sword flight.
This person was the existence he had sensed earlier in the forbidden area of the imperial city!
"Bai Zihe..."
Qin Jian stared at him coldly, ferocity flashing in his eyes. "You are indeed strong!"
"As a genius in the secular world, breaking through to Grandmaster and entering the Nascent Core stage among cultivators is already remarkable."
"And you..."
"Actually cultivated all the way to the Soul Transformation stage. I must say, you are a rare genius."
"But..."
"Genius is prone to early demise."
"Once you perish, you'll be nothing, just a fool!"
As he spoke, a triumphant smile spread across his face, as if he was certain Bai Zihe couldn't kill him.
"Is that so?"
A cold glint flickered in Bai Zihe's eyes. He looked in the direction of the approaching figure and said indifferently, "Do you think... the person flying from the forbidden area of the imperial city can save you?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Jian's expression changed drastically.
He stared intently at Bai Zihe, his face shifting with emotions. "You... you had already sensed his existence?"
Qin Jian's heart was churning with immense waves.
The one in the forbidden area of the imperial city was named Chen Bao, an elder of the Tianshan Sword Sect and the highest leader controlling the mortal realm of Great Xia for this expedition.
These were not the main points.
The key was...
Chen Bao was a late-stage Soul Transformation realm expert.
Moreover, he possessed a Xuan-grade sword – the Cangming Sword. His strength was extraordinary, ranking within the top twenty of the entire Tianshan Sword Sect.
However.
Bai Zihe could sense his presence.
Doesn't that mean...
Bai Zihe's strength was at least late-stage Soul Transformation realm?
This.
Qin Jian's heart was in turmoil.
But after a moment, Qin Jian snorted coldly, "Bai Zihe, you have some skills, but... your divine sense perception doesn't represent your combat power!"
"When Elder Chen arrives, it will be your death day!"
Bai Zihe chuckled.
A laugh of disdain and contempt.
"Crack..."
Then, he tightened his grip on Qin Jian's neck, applying more force.
Qin Jian's soul was instantly terrified.
Although he was in the Nascent Soul stage, his Nascent Soul had not fully formed. If his head were crushed, his primordial spirit would have no place to reside, and he would still die!
"You!"
"Bai, Bai..."
In the face of death, all beings are equal.
Qin Jian felt a strong sense of suffocation, breaking out in a cold sweat. He frantically tried to speak, wanting Bai Zihe to spare his life.
However...
Bai Zihe's cold smile remained on his face, and the force in his hand showed no sign of weakening, only increasing.
At this rate...
In just a few seconds, Qin Jian's head would be severed.
And he himself would be irrevocably dead.
"Insolent pup, how dare you!"
Just then, a furious roar echoed from the sky.
The voice resounded through half the capital.
Initially, it was a thousand feet away.
As it descended, it was already close at hand.
"Swish..."
As the voice fell, an aged figure suddenly appeared behind Bai Zihe. With white hair and a youthful face, it was Chen Bao, the elder of the Tianshan Sword Sect!
However, Chen Bao was now full of fury and murderous intent.
On the spot, he unleashed a sword qi, slashing towards Bai Zihe.
"Be careful!"
"Elder Bai, be careful!"
"Old man, sneak attacking is too shameless!"
Qian Yuanshan and others shouted warnings or curses at him.
Bai Zihe remained unperturbed.
Because he had already taken everything into account.
"Swish!"
At the last possible moment, Bai Zihe suddenly dodged to the side.
The sword qi swept past him, leaving a deep ravine on the ground, and continued for another hundred feet before finally striking a building.
"Rumble..."
The skyscraper instantly collapsed.
This sword was truly powerful.
Seeing this, Bai Zihe's eyes narrowed slightly.
The current cultivators...
Their strength was too immense. Once they acted, it was a devastating blow to the secular world.
Furthermore, these people were reckless and disregarded human lives, so they had to be restrained.
"Your Excellency Elder, he is Bai Zihe!"
While Bai Zihe was momentarily stunned, Qin Jian shouted frantically.
"Bai Zihe?"
Chen Bao's face immediately lit up with joy. "Qin Jian, you're saying... he's the Bai Zihe the Third Elder has a bounty on?"
"Yes, it's him!"
Qin Jian quickly replied.
Chen Bao laughed.
He laughed brilliantly, he laughed with great joy.
Clearly, like Qin Jian before him, he assumed Bai Zihe was an easy target.
As long as he apprehended him...
He could return to claim the substantial reward from the Third Elder, and from then on, he would have abundant cultivation resources, making further progress effortless.
Even.
He could curry favor with the Third Elder, which would be immensely beneficial.
"Bai Zihe!"
Chen Bao stared at him with a smile, baring his teeth. "Now, cripple your own cultivation, kneel down, and kowtow to me a hundred times. I will grant you a dignified death."
"Otherwise..."
Bai Zihe spoke coldly, "There's no 'otherwise.' You can help him collect his corpse first."
With that.
He slightly tightened his right hand.
"Crack..."
Before Qin Jian could react, his neck was instantly snapped.
"Whoosh..."
Simultaneously, Bai Zihe flicked his finger, sending a stream of energy into Qin Jian's dantian, shattering it thoroughly.
Nascent Soul stage...
Once a Nascent Soul is formed, even if the body is destroyed, as long as the primordial spirit can escape, there is a chance to start anew.
Previously, Qin Changsheng.
His soul was destroyed by Bai Zihe, leaving no possibility of recovery.
"Clang."
Then, Bai Zihe tossed Qin Jian's corpse aside.
Chen Bao finally reacted.
"Good boy..."
His eyes, like ice and fire, fixed on Bai Zihe, almost spewing flames. "You dare slaughter my Tianshan Sword Sect disciple right before my eyes? You deserve to die!"
As his voice fell.
Chen Bao transformed into a long dragon, charging at Bai Zihe.
"Whoosh..."
A formidable sword qi also attacked him instantly.
"Swish!"
Bai Zihe's mind moved, and the Zhu Tian Sword, which he had refined, suddenly appeared in his hand. He then raised his sword and unleashed a strike.
The sword qi was like a beam of light, arriving in an instant.
"Eh?"
Seeing this sword strike, Chen Bao's expression tightened.
He felt a threat from it.
"Rumble..."
The next moment, the sword strike unleashed by Chen Bao collided with Bai Zihe's.
After a roar of thunder.
Bai Zihe's sword strike proved superior and continued to surge towards Chen Bao.
"Impossible!"
Chen Bao's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.