Chapter 2424: Retreating the Enemy

Peng Tianyu's gaze was dark. When he first received the news, he did indeed want to destroy the Qianyang Sect, but he had calmed down now.

Given the current strength of the Peng family, they couldn’t destroy the Qianyang Sect, which had over ten Spirit Transformation cultivators. While the Wang family had the power to do so, they wouldn't eliminate the Qianyang Sect just for the Peng family.

Even if the Wang family were willing to destroy the Qianyang Sect for the Peng family, True Monarch Wufeng could still wipe out the Peng family.

The Peng family needed time to develop, to endure hardship and bide their time. It wouldn't be too late to destroy the Qianyang Sect once the family grew stronger.

To be honest, Peng Tianyu somewhat envied those high-level rogue cultivators who could seek revenge when wronged and flee if outmatched, only to return for revenge after their cultivation greatly improved. But he couldn't do that; he had to consider the more than seventy thousand members of his entire clan.

"Sever one arm? Hmph, does Fellow Daoist Wang think we are your subordinates?"

The golden-robed old man sneered. Are you joking? If the Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Wang family told him to sever an arm, he would just do it? Would he have no dignity?

"If you don't act, then I will."

Wang Lihe's expression turned cold. The Peng and Wang families had already become in-laws, and Peng Tianyu had promised to reclaim this Silver Gangstone mine and hand it over to the Wang family for exploitation.

Whether it was for the Silver Gangstone mine or to support the Peng family, he had to act.

The Wang family rarely made enemies inland, but now they were going to break that rule.

Wang Lihe performed a sword incantation, and three blue, flickering flying swords flew out from his sword box, hovering in mid-air.

He soared into the air, and with another sword incantation, the three blue flying swords emitted loud sword hums and trembled. Streaks of hazy blue sword qi swept out like surging waves, spreading in all directions. Wherever they passed, trees and mountains were pulverized by the dense sword qi.

Five breaths later, tens of thousands of hazy blue flying swords floated high in the sky, creating a terrifying momentum.

"I'd like to experience Fellow Daoist Wang's high-level techniques. If I lose, the Silver Gangstone mine will be yours, and we will sever an arm and leave. If I win, the Silver Gangstone mine belongs to our Qianyang Sect."

The golden-robed old man proposed.

"Belongs to us? What a joke. It was originally the Peng family's Silver Gangstone mine. When did it become yours? Regardless of win or loss, the Silver Gangstone mine belongs to the Peng family. If you defeat me, you may leave. But if you lose to me, all Qianyang Sect disciples involved in this matter will sever an arm and leave this place."

Wang Lihe retorted unceremoniously. What a joke! The Qianyang Sect didn't even have a single Void Refinement cultivator. Did they think they could negotiate with him?

The golden-robed old man's face was grim. He indeed lacked the confidence to negotiate with Wang Lihe, but Wang Lihe's conditions were too harsh. To seize the Silver Gangstone mine, the Qianyang Sect had lost several high-level cultivators, including a Spirit Transformation cultivator.

"What? You don't agree? That's fine, then it's a fight to the death."

Wang Lihe's expression turned cold, his face full of killing intent.

"Alright, as you wish. If I lose to you, we will sever an arm and leave."

The golden-robed old man gritted his teeth and agreed. It wasn't that he was afraid of Wang Lihe; if he truly killed Wang Lihe, True Monarch Wufeng probably wouldn't be able to protect him, and he would have to flee everywhere, becoming a rogue cultivator.

The golden-robed old man opened his mouth, and a golden light flew out, transforming into several flickering golden banners, each with a golden python pattern on its flag surface.

He performed an incantation, and the void vibrated and twisted. Suddenly, countless streaks of crimson fire light emerged, blurring into numerous crimson fireballs.

The fire spiritual energy within a hundred-mile radius suddenly converged here, and the temperature sharply increased. A massive crimson fire cloud floated high in the sky, emitting terrifying heat that warped and distorted the void.

Tens of thousands of crimson fireballs smashed towards Wang Lihe, seemingly about to engulf his figure.

Wang Lihe performed a sword incantation, and tens of thousands of blue flying swords met them head-on.

The crimson fireballs and blue flying swords collided, erupting in powerful air currents, with flames scattering everywhere.

Ripples appeared in the void above Wang Lihe's head, and a golden fire palm several hundred feet in size materialized out of thin air, emitting terrifying heat as it clapped down towards Wang Lihe.

Wang Lihe had anticipated this. With a flick of his sleeve, a flickering blue orb flew out, spinning rapidly around him. After its spiritual light greatly increased, it transformed into a solid blue water screen, enveloping Wang Lihe's entire body.

The golden fire palm struck the blue water screen, producing a muffled thud. The golden fire palm burst open, turning into a rolling golden flame that submerged Wang Lihe's figure.

The golden-robed old man shook his sleeve, and a flickering golden longbow appeared in his hand, along with four red arrows. The arrowheads were miniature snake heads. He drew the bow and nocked an arrow.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" sounds of air being torn filled the air as four red arrows shot out. After a blur, they transformed into four crimson fire pythons, over a hundred feet long. This was a manifestation of magical power, but the drawback was that the arrows were only spiritual treasures, not Heaven-reaching Spiritual Treasures.

He shook his sleeve again, and a small, golden square seal flew out, emitting terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations, clearly a Heaven-reaching Spiritual Treasure.

The golden small seal suddenly emitted a brilliant golden light and disappeared.

At this moment, the golden flames slowly dissipated, and Wang Lihe, covered by a solid blue water screen, was unharmed.

The four crimson fire pythons lunged forward, each spewing a stream of crimson flames that submerged the blue water screen. At the same time, they slammed into the blue water screen, producing a muffled thud.

A golden light flashed, and a flickering golden square seal appeared in the void above Wang Lihe's head. It instantly enlarged and smashed down.

Peng Tianyu's expression tightened, ready to act at any moment.

A hazy blue sword qi suddenly swept out from the sea of fire. It abruptly condensed into two towering blue sword lights. One of them struck the giant square seal, sending it flying, while the other slashed at the four crimson fire pythons. They let out a mournful cry, suddenly transforming back into four red arrows, which flew backward.

The golden-robed old man was still about to use other methods when a sword hum that echoed through the heavens and earth sounded. The three hazy blue flying swords suddenly merged into one, forming a towering giant sword over a hundred feet long.

The towering giant sword slashed at the golden-robed old man in the void. Dense blue sword qi swept out like a majestic peak, fiercely rushing towards him.

Wherever the sword qi passed, air currents rolled, and the void warped and distorted.

The golden-robed old man's face changed. He performed an incantation, and the golden banner immediately burst into golden light, releasing a golden flame that transformed into a golden wall of fire, blocking the incoming sword qi.

Rumbling explosions sounded. The dense blue sword qi shattered the golden wall of fire. The golden banner fluttered in place for a moment, transforming into a golden giant python over a hundred feet long.

The golden giant python opened its gaping maw, inhaled sharply, and swallowed all the incoming blue sword qi.

A towering giant sword slashed down, striking the golden giant python's body. The golden giant python let out a mournful hiss, its body splitting into four pieces, transforming into a flickering golden banner with several small cracks on its flagpole.

The towering giant sword continued straight for the golden-robed old man, looking as if it intended to kill him.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, stop! I admit defeat!"

The golden-robed old man shouted while simultaneously conjuring a gleaming golden shield, which enlarged and blocked in front of him.

With a muffled thud, the golden shield, being merely a spiritual treasure, couldn't withstand the attack of a set of flying swords at all.

Small cracks appeared on the golden shield's surface. The cracks grew larger and larger, and the golden shield finally shattered into pieces.

The towering giant sword swept past, severing the golden-robed old man's left arm.

Clearly, Wang Lihe had shown mercy. If not for his apprehension of True Monarch Wufeng, the golden-robed old man would have lost his life.

Seeing this, the golden-robed young woman was startled. Without a word, she conjured a golden flying sword and cut off her own right arm.

Wang Lihe possessed a complete set of Heaven-reaching Spiritual Treasures, including defensive ones, and was also a sword cultivator. She couldn't even defeat Wang Lihe in a sparring match, let alone a fight to the death.

At this moment, the flames dispersed, and Wang Lihe stood unharmed, his expression indifferent.

The golden-robed old man endured the severe pain and ordered his disciples to sever an arm. He then led his disciples away in a dejected manner.

Having witnessed the entire battle, Peng Tianyu and the other Peng family cultivators were filled with admiration.

As expected of a Wang family disciple, his personal divine abilities were considerable, and he possessed many treasures, which truly made them envious.

"Fellow Daoist Peng, send people to collect the bodies. I will remain here until my clansmen arrive."

Wang Lihe instructed.

Peng Tianyu agreed and sent people to repair the array formation and collect the bodies of the deceased clan members.