Chapter 97: Inevitable Doom

Xu Qing, of course, was unaware of the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch's lament and sigh. At that moment, Xu Qing, familiar with the scavenger camp, easily purchased a dwelling for his temporary rest.

Although the scavenger camp had certain requirements for outsiders to reside there, if one possessed considerable strength, then all rules ceased to apply. Thus, after Xu Qing's third-level Qi Condensation spiritual energy spread out, he successfully bought a wooden house. His apparent wealth also attracted two ill-intentioned scavengers. Their heads were quickly and expertly hung by Xu Qing at his doorstep.

In this way, everyone in the scavenger camp accepted Xu Qing's arrival. As days passed, even if some initially paid attention to him, Xu Qing's daily behavior was indistinguishable from that of any other scavenger. Whether it was killing, undertaking missions, buying white pills, or even the instinctive wariness and caution ingrained in his soul when walking through the camp, everything proved he was a true scavenger. Gradually, no one paid excessive attention to him as an outsider. After all, unfamiliar scavengers were common in the wilderness, and it was natural for some who had spent a long time outside to seek a place to rest and recuperate.

While concealed, Xu Qing went out daily to carefully observe the vicinity of the Golden Vajra Sect. During this period, he also saw some Golden Vajra Sect disciples descend the mountain to find entertainment in the scavenger camp. Their appearance left the scavengers simmering with unspoken anger, most adopting fawning expressions. Xu Qing found a few of these descending disciples somewhat familiar. From memory, he had probably seen them when he was previously setting poisons and fires. Although each of them entered the scavenger camp with an air of arrogance, Xu Qing still detected the hidden bewilderment and helplessness in their eyes.

Furthermore, as time passed, Xu Qing gradually uncovered more information about the Golden Vajra Sect. As a sect that had recently relocated, its every move naturally drew the scavengers' attention. Thus, after half a month, Xu Qing had gained considerable knowledge of the Golden Vajra Sect's current situation.

"The sect has fewer than a hundred people left."

"Four of the seven elders have left, leaving only three. Besides them, there's also the Sect Master. So, the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch now commands four strong individuals."

"They are affiliated with and protected by the Litu Sect..."

Xu Qing sat cross-legged in his dwelling, analyzing the information he had gathered over the past half-month. He was very patient, especially when facing a Foundation Establishment realm expert. Even though he felt his combat strength could currently overcome such an opponent, he had never actually fought one. Therefore, Xu Qing remained as cautious as ever. Even after analyzing these clues, he did not act, but continued to wait. Another half-month passed before he inadvertently overheard a conversation between two descending Golden Vajra Sect disciples, discovering a piece of information that made his eyes gleam.

"The Patriarch is really making a mountain out of a molehill... Every time someone he invites arrives, he makes us descend the mountain every few days, pretending to casually spread some sect information to the surrounding scavenger camps. What's the point?"

"Exactly, it's been half a year, and no 'kid' has taken the bait. Sigh, especially with the Patriarch frequently inviting friends—often, just days after one leaves, another arrives. We're spreading information far too often."

"No choice... Who dares disobey the Patriarch's orders?"

This was a conversation Xu Qing secretly overheard one night while trailing two Golden Vajra Sect disciples as they were about to ascend the mountain. After hearing this, Xu Qing calmly returned to the camp. In the following days, he became even more cautious and observed with greater detail.

After residing in the scavenger camp for a month and a half, Xu Qing, who had been covertly investigating near the Golden Vajra Sect, finally saw a long rainbow, a figure stepping into the air and flying far away from the sect's mountaintop in the distance, at dusk on that particular day. Faintly, it seemed someone was seeing them off on the mountaintop. Xu Qing's gaze sharpened slightly, then he reined in the sharpness in his eyes, turned, and returned to his dwelling in the camp. He began to organize his weapons and poisons, then watched the darkening sky outside, waiting silently.

Meanwhile, outside the main hall on the Golden Vajra Sect's mountaintop, the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch sighed inwardly as he watched his departing fellow Daoist. After all, it wasn't good to keep someone there for too long. As he turned to walk back into the hall, he began to ponder whom to invite next.

"It won't be much longer now; the pill is about to form. Once I consume it, I'll break open the thirtieth Dharma Aperture, form my first Life Fire, and gain the ability to activate the Profound Radiance State. By then... I can finally relax."

Murmuring to himself, the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch stepped into the main hall, his figure disappearing.

Outside, as dusk deepened, the sky grew increasingly dark. A cold wind began to howl, sweeping across the scavenger camp, growing stronger and stronger. The ground's dust, hardened by the cold weather, could not be stirred up. Only some scraps of trash tumbled and rolled in the wind, rustling, while the biting wind also fell upon some cowering children in the camp. It was as if the wind had turned into sharp blades, intent on tearing apart all that was weak. Soon after, snowflakes descended from the sky, not to be outdone, scattering across the entire Crimson Plains and covering the visible land. Tonight, the snow was heavy. The scattered snowflakes quickly turned into large flakes, layering the ground and causing those in the scavenger camp who had no shelters and had to sleep outside to shiver, their eyes filled with despair and numbness. This winter seemed colder than usual, likely to freeze more people to death.

Amidst the wind and snow, Xu Qing, who had prepared everything, walked out of his wooden house. He looked at the snow in the sky, felt the coldness of the world, pulled his collar tighter, then glanced at the shivering children in the camp. After a moment of silence, he walked forward, but did not close his door. Inside the house, the residual warmth of the bonfire, contrasting with the outside temperature, created wisps of white mist that diffused, attracting the attention of nearby children. The despair in their eyes seemed, in that instant, to rekindle hope.

In the wind and snow, Xu Qing's figure moved further and faster, eventually seeming to merge with the wind itself, transforming into an afterimage as he steadily approached the Golden Vajra Sect's mountain gate. The qi and blood in his body were boiling, his Sea Transformation Scripture was circulating, and purple light flowed throughout his body, gathering at his head, where the faint silhouette of a Celestial Blade was rapidly forming.

Just before arriving, Xu Qing looked up at the Golden Vajra Sect, shrouded in heavy snow. The moonlight, torn by the snow, should have cast mottled patterns upon the Golden Vajra Sect, but the surrounding snow refracted the moonlight, as if piecing it back together. This made the sect under the moonlight remarkably clear. The clear image of the sect imprinted itself upon Xu Qing's eyes, transforming into killing intent and sharpness. The next instant, Xu Qing's body abruptly soared!

The flying talismans on his legs shone brightly, and his figure, like a flash of a blade, shot straight into the sky, cutting through the wind and snow, hurtling towards the main hall on the mountaintop. Faster and faster he went, until in an instant, his figure was in mid-air near the hall. Without hesitation, he raised his right hand and violently slashed towards the main hall on the mountaintop. The moment he slashed, the heavens and earth roared behind him. A colossal silhouette of a Celestial Blade manifested directly above the firmament. Although the wind and snow were strong, they could not shake the Celestial Blade in the slightest at that instant. Purple light permeated the air, and guided by Xu Qing's hand, the Celestial Blade howled, cleaving through the wind and snow, descending towards the main hall on the mountaintop.

From a distance, the Celestial Blade, dozens of meters long, was incredibly striking. As it descended, its momentum was even more ferocious, as if everything before it would be directly cut in half. Its speed was so great that it landed on the main hall in the blink of an eye. A deafening crash shook the entire mountain. The hall, unable to withstand the blade's gleam, crumbled, splitting directly into two from the middle. Through the shattered fissures, the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch was revealed, retreating continuously after resisting the strike, his expression shifting. He saw Xu Qing, but before he could speak, Xu Qing, standing in mid-air, delivered a second slash!

The improvement in his cultivation allowed Xu Qing's blade, which he had comprehended from the divine temple, to strike multiple times. Especially since he had been accumulating power on his way here, there was no hesitation. A second silhouette of a Celestial Blade suddenly materialized behind him, descending once more towards the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch. The earth-shattering roar continued as the purple Celestial Blade descended again, directly colliding with the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch amidst his low growl. Amidst the clamor, the main hall on the mountaintop completely collapsed. The Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch roared, resisting these two consecutive blade strikes. His qi and blood surged within him, and his body abruptly retreated a hundred *zhang* away. With a wave of his hand, the illusory image of a Wrathful Vajra appeared beneath him, its aura erupting. However, his hair was disheveled, and a trace of blood stained the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating that Xu Qing's two slashes felt extremely perilous to him!

"Fellow Daoist, you..." Although the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch had already guessed some things inwardly, he was still largely incredulous at the power of the person before him. He quickly spoke, attempting to confirm his suspicions. But before he could finish his sentence, his expression suddenly changed drastically. He retreated with all his might, yet it was a moment too late. Unnoticed by anyone on the ground, a shadow, hidden in the darkness, had already rapidly approached under Xu Qing's control, instantly landing on the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch, just about to constrict. Although the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch reacted extremely quickly and evaded, his arm was still grazed. Instantly, his arm became heavily corrupted, turning greenish-black, which filled him with extreme horror. Simultaneously, Xu Qing, in mid-air, coldly watched the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch. Without a word, he unleashed his third blade strike, which he had been accumulating power for along the way.

In an instant, purple light surged to the heavens, the blade's silhouette materialized, cutting through the wind and snow, cleaving in all directions, and descended once more upon the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch, who was currently retreating to avoid the shadow. Amidst the roar, the Vajra's illusory image beneath the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch let out a growl, raising its hands to block with all its might. In the deafening crash, the Vajra's arms crumbled, and blood once again spilled from the Golden Vajra Sect Patriarch's lips as his body was continuously forced back by the impact. However, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even if he hadn't ascended through a major sect's cultivation method, Foundation Establishment was still Foundation Establishment; his inherent combat power was extremely strong. At this moment, after three blade strikes and a shadow sneak attack, he was merely injured. As he continuously retreated, he suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, and gritted his teeth as he spoke to Xu Qing.

"You are the kid!"

At the same time, the disciples within the Golden Vajra Sect were all aghast. The Sect Master, elders, and others all rushed out, their expressions changing dramatically as they looked up at the firmament. In the sky, Xu Qing's long hair fluttered, his scavenger attire further enhancing his killing aura. Under the moonlight, amidst the wind and snow, he resembled a lord of the underworld, controlling life and death.