He knew Bai Zihe's many secrets.
Regarding the battle with Bai Zihe, Qin Changkong had absolute confidence.
His only worry was that Bai Zihe might reveal his secrets in his dying moments.
Whether it was the spirit stone vein, the powerful magical treasures he possessed, or his return from Dragon Island...
He didn't want these secrets to leak out.
He wanted to enjoy them all by himself.
Just imagine.
If the two of them were to fight outside the Tianshan Sword Sect, it would inevitably attract countless onlookers.
Although this would leave Bai Zihe with no escape,
if Bai Zihe, in desperation, revealed the secret of the spirit stone vein, then he would have to share it with the entire sect.
Even...
after Bai Zihe's death, upon seeing those powerful Heaven-tier magical treasures, other elders, and even the Sect Master of Tianshan Sword Sect, would be unable to resist snatching them.
This was his biggest worry.
Therefore.
He waited on Bai Zihe's path, which was the best course of action.
This place was far enough from Tianshan Sword Sect.
It was also sufficiently distant from other Longevity Sects in Great Xia. Coupled with its remote location, it was a place where people rarely appeared.
It was the best place for murder and plunder!
"Whoosh..."
In a short while, a stream of light approached from afar.
This aura...
Qin Changkong was unfamiliar with it, but also pleasantly surprised.
When cultivators reach a certain level, they can discern identities based on their aura alone, without needing to meet face-to-face.
And a strange yet powerful aura...
It was highly likely Bai Zihe!
"Rumble!"
Thus, Qin Changkong also proactively unleashed his aura.
The aura of the Tribulation Crossing realm...
It was like a mountain-toppling, vast and mighty torrent!
Simply by releasing it, it immediately caused a drastic change in heaven and earth.
Originally...
the clear sky, free of clouds for thousands of miles, suddenly became overcast and gloomy.
Dark clouds formed in an instant, like a pressing town about to collapse, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure.
At the same time.
Strong winds radiated outwards from him as the center.
Trees within a radius of ten miles were instantly broken, and sand, rocks, soil, and wood turned into powder, vanishing into nothingness in the gale.
This was the power of a Tribulation Crossing realm expert!
Terrifying indeed!
"Hmm?"
In mid-air, Bai Zihe also noticed Qin Changkong.
"Such a big commotion..."
"Is he trying to intimidate me?"
A cold sneer curved Bai Zihe's lips, and he plummeted down rapidly.
The two were already mortal enemies.
The moment Bai Zihe killed Qin Changsheng, Qin Changkong had been thinking of killing Bai Zihe and reducing him to ashes.
And...
when Qin Changkong made a move against Bai Zihe's father and younger sister, Bai Zihe had never thought of sparing Qin Changkong!
This was a fated outcome!
"Swish..."
During the descent.
Bai Zihe beckoned with his right hand, and a treasure sword appeared.
It was none other than the Heaven-Slaying Sword!
"Hum..."
As soon as the Heaven-Slaying Sword appeared, powerful sword intent began to condense on it, soaring into the sky in an instant, striking terror into people's hearts.
After a moment.
Bai Zihe arrived within a hundred feet of Qin Changkong.
And the Heaven-Slaying Sword...
The light it condensed had already overshadowed everything.
Even the sun in the sky dimmed, appearing like dust.
"Bai Zihe!"
Facing this sword strike, Qin Changkong showed no fear, a cold smile on his face. "You killed my junior brother, slaughtered my disciples, and today you dare to attempt to attack me?"
He stood with his hands behind his back, his face full of arrogance, not taking Bai Zihe's sword strike seriously at all.
Indeed.
Tianshan Sword Sect was, among the Longevity Sects, the most skilled in swordsmanship, second only to the Shu Mountain Sect!
Whether it was sword techniques or the comprehension of sword intent...
Through thousands of years of refinement, they had already reached their peak, capable of killing with a casual strike!
"Enough nonsense!"
Bai Zihe swooped down rapidly, a sharp glint flashing in his star-like eyes. "Qin Changkong, the moment you attacked my family, your life entered a countdown."
"Today..."
"is the day you perish!"
After speaking.
Bai Zihe channeled his true essence into the Heaven-Slaying Sword.
The light on it became even more brilliant and dazzling, making it impossible to look directly at.
To the extent that...
Every pore on Qin Changkong's body was illuminated, revealing every detail with astonishing clarity.
"Hahahaha..."
Upon hearing Bai Zihe's words filled with killing intent.
Qin Changkong laughed in extreme anger, his laughter arrogant and resounding through the sky.
Only when...
Bai Zihe was within striking distance.
Did Qin Changkong coldly exclaim, "Bai Zihe, I must admire your courage!"
"Do you know..."
"Even the foremost expert in the Longevity Realm, the Palace Master of Xuanyuan Palace, Ji Xian Yuan, may not have dared to claim she could kill a Tribulation Crossing realm expert when she was in the Mahayana realm!"
"And you..."
"are merely a mongrel from the mortal world, relying on some fortuitous encounters and obtaining a few treasures, yet you dare to claim I will perish here?"
"It's a laughable absurdity!"
As his words fell.
Qin Changkong leaped from the ground.
"Whoosh..."
Without any apparent movement, he simply shot straight up into the sky.
However.
As he rose, the sky above let out a roar of thunder, and the boundless dark clouds abruptly parted, immediately dispersing to the sides.
It was as if...
Qin Changkong himself was a giant human sword, intending to cleave through the heavens.
"Hmm?"
Bai Zihe's gaze narrowed slightly.
This Qin Changkong, as expected of a sword cultivator in the Tribulation Crossing realm.
His comprehension of sword intent had already reached the point of "unity of man and sword."
Therefore.
When he made his move.
He appeared to have no sword in hand.
In reality, he himself was the sharpest sword, capable of cutting through anything in the world!
How terrifying!
"Unity of man and sword?"
Bai Zihe's lips curved slightly.
To him, such sword intent was not a cause for concern.
This was because.
In the Tongtian Tower, there were far too many opponents who had comprehended the unity of man and sword, and they were not worth Bai Zihe's attention!
Initially.
Bai Zihe indeed found it difficult to fight against opponents who had achieved the unity of man and sword.
However, with each successive battle, and with the Tongtian Tower being the best teacher and companion, the profound mysteries of the unity of man and sword were naturally revealed.
Therefore.
Bai Zihe gradually comprehended the unity of man and sword.
Thus...
Since the sword intent did not pose a suppression to him, there was nothing to fear.
"Rumble..."
In the next moment, Bai Zihe's Heaven-Slaying Sword collided with Qin Changkong.
This was their first clash.
A brilliant radiance instantly erupted, spreading across dozens of miles in the blink of an eye.
Within this area...
walking stones and flying sand, heaven and earth turned upside down, could not adequately describe it.
The two figures froze in mid-air at that moment.
Bai Zihe's expression was blank.
Qin Changkong was utterly shocked.
He stared intently at Bai Zihe and managed to gasp out a few words: "Bai Zihe, you, you have also comprehended the unity of man and sword!"