Chapter 3131: Deng Tianqi's Death

She had assumed Long Qingfeng belonged to the Wang family. On the entire Xuanling Continent, everyone knew the Wang family bred flood dragons. If he truly were a member of that family, Bai Yao would be consumed by regret. Even with ten times her courage, she wouldn't dare kill a Wang family cultivator. Significant benefits might change her mind, but the compensation Deng Tianqi offered was insufficient for her to murder someone from the Wang family. Reputation precedes a person. Given the Wang family's influence on the Xuanling Continent, incurring their deadly enmity would make it impossible for Bai Yao to remain there.

"I can confirm he is not a member of the Wang family," Deng Tianqi transmitted, his face etched with confusion. He couldn't fathom how Long Qingfeng was connected to the Wang family. Were they merely passing by, or had they deliberately come to rescue him? He cast a suspicious glance at Wang Mengshan. Bai Yao and Qin Hao were rogue cultivators; Qin Hao was already dead. Bai Yao's obvious fear of the Wang family suggested no connection to them. If Wang Ruyi had received a message and rushed to rescue Long Qingfeng, the informant was very likely Wang Mengshan.

"Fellow Daoist Deng, why didn't you inform me that this person was connected to the Wang family?" Wang Mengshan transmitted, a displeased expression on his face. He breathed a sigh of relief. If Wang Ruyi had arrived even a moment later, Long Qingfeng might have been captured by Deng Tianqi.

"I don't know either; there shouldn't be any relation!" Deng Tianqi replied, shaking his head. He wasn't certain of Long Qingfeng's connection to the Wang family, but if he had known, Deng Tianqi would never have targeted him.

Wang Ruyi formed a hand seal, and a red lotus platform descended before Long Qingfeng. She then retrieved a Green Marrow Pill and offered it to him. "I've been poisoned by Seven-Star Begonia; the Green Marrow Pill won't help me," Long Qingfeng said, his voice weak. "Be careful, their strength is considerable." He coughed several times, expelling a large mouthful of blood.

Wang Ruyi flicked her sleeve, and a gleaming golden metallic orb flew out, instantly transforming into a golden armored warrior. It held a golden longsword, its body covered in mysterious spiritual patterns, clearly a sixth-tier puppet beast.

"Three fellow Daoists, are you intending to oppose our Wang family?" Wang Ruyi asked in a deep voice. She was aware that fighting one late-stage Void Refinement cultivator and two mid-stage Void Refinement cultivators to the death would mean she couldn't protect Long Qingfeng.

"Immortal Wang, you've misunderstood," Bai Yao said, feeling a strong urge to retreat. "We had no idea this person was connected to your Wang family." Bai Yao had heard that True Monarch Taihao personally instructed Wang Ruyi in artifact refining and Green Lotus Sword Sovereign taught her sword control. She certainly didn't want to provoke the Wang family.

"Do you think simply retreating will make everything alright?" Deng Tianqi transmitted, his face filled with murderous intent. "If she leaves here alive, the Wang family will immediately issue a warrant for us. At this point, we have no choice but to fight to the death. Kill them, and no one will ever know it was us." He argued that given Wang Ruyi's attitude towards Long Qingfeng, their relationship was clearly significant. If they left now, the Wang family would still pursue them. The only option was to kill Wang Ruyi, as dead people tell no tales.

"I'm only after wealth, not seeking death, Fellow Daoist Deng. My apologies." With these words, Bai Yao transformed into a streak of white light and vanished into the sky. Deng Tianqi was right; the Wang family would undoubtedly issue a warrant for them. However, the Xuanyang Realm was vast, not just the Xuanling Continent; they could simply leave. Killing Wang Ruyi, however, would invite relentless pursuit from the Wang family. Bai Yao wasn't willing to take such a massive risk for the paltry rewards Deng Tianqi offered.

Deng Tianqi's face showed hesitation; with Bai Yao gone, he considered abandoning the fight. Wang Ruyi's lips moved subtly, as if transmitting a message to someone.

"Fellow Daoist Deng is correct," Wang Mengshan transmitted to Deng Tianqi, a greedy look on his face. "However, if we eliminate them, I get first pick of their treasures. Our Guangyuan Sect lost two Void Refinement cultivators; their deaths cannot be in vain." Upon hearing this, Deng Tianqi felt somewhat relieved. After a brief consideration, he nodded in agreement.

The golden armored guard strode forward, brandishing its golden longsword. A shimmering golden sword light swept out, slashing towards Wang Mengshan and Deng Tianqi. Deng Tianqi quickly summoned a green shield to defend, simultaneously casting several defensive spells on himself, and activating his Dharmic Form to engage Wang Ruyi. Regardless of whether he managed to kill Wang Ruyi, he knew he couldn't remain on the Xuanling Continent. If he succeeded in killing her and capturing Long Qingfeng, he could still make a deal with the Nine Dragon Palace and take refuge in the Cyan Glaze Sea Region. If he failed to kill Wang Ruyi, he wouldn't be able to leave the Xuanling Continent at all. Resounding explosions filled the air, and various spiritual lights fiercely intertwined.

A thousand miles away, Bai Yao heard the explosions and shook her head. "Two greedy fools," she murmured. "Deng Tianqi's stupidity is one thing, but for Fellow Daoist Wang, a sect master, to be so foolish..." The light around Bai Yao's body intensified, and she vanished into the horizon.

Deng Tianqi was activating his Dharmic Form to attack Wang Ruyi. Her strength was not to be underestimated, but fortunately, Wang Mengshan was assisting him. The golden armored guard swung its golden longsword, sending the green shield flying. It then opened its mouth and unleashed a thick beam of golden light, which struck Deng Tianqi's protective spiritual aura, causing it to flicker. Just as Deng Tianqi was about to employ another technique, his divine sense detected a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation behind him, accompanied by a piercing saber hum. Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, a loud masculine roar erupted—the Soul Suppressing Roar. Deng Tianqi's body trembled, his features contorted, and he felt as if his sea of consciousness was being ripped apart. Dense yellow saber energy struck Deng Tianqi's protective spiritual aura with muffled thuds, causing it to dim. Then, a long saber, shimmering with yellow light, shot forth, shattering Deng Tianqi's protective aura with ease, as if slicing through vegetables.

With a scream, Deng Tianqi was cleaved in half. He had already used his substitute-calamity talisman when dealing with Li Yihong and possessed no other such treasures. The moment a miniature nascent soul emerged from his body, a large, reddish hand materialized out of thin air and seized it. Wang Ruyi soared over, gripping Deng Tianqi's nascent soul in her right hand and initiating a soul search. The miniature nascent soul let out a pained shriek before lapsing into unconsciousness. After a moment, Wang Ruyi retrieved a silver talisman, affixed it to the miniature nascent soul, and placed it inside a red jade box. Wang Ruyi offered a slight bow. Had Wang Yihong not previously alerted her, she wouldn't have known that the Guangyuan Sect Master was an ally.

"I'll leave this place to you," Wang Mengshan instructed. "Immediately send out warrants for Bai Yao and me. I'm leaving now; this person cannot be allowed to live; it's better to kill him quickly." With that, a burst of yellow light enveloped Wang Mengshan, and he burrowed into the earth, disappearing. Had Wang Ruyi not transmitted to him and revealed his true identity, Wang Mengshan would never have suggested that Deng Tianqi confront her. Leaving Bai Yao alive served as a witness, preventing suspicion from the Cold Flame Sect and solidifying the impression that Wang Mengshan dared to challenge a Wang family member. If Wang Mengshan had been the sole survivor, it would have been difficult to explain and would have aroused the Cold Flame Sect's suspicion.

Long Qingfeng was dumbfounded. He had expected a brutal battle and had been prepared to fight to the death to assist. Instead, the enemies had turned on each other—or rather, strictly speaking, Wang Mengshan must have been from the Wang family all along. The Wang family's power was truly overwhelming!

"Fellow Daoist Long, please come back with me to Green Lotus Island to recover," Wang Ruyi said sincerely. "Seven-Star Begonia is one of the ten most potent poisons, and you'll find it extremely difficult to acquire an antidote on the market."

"Then I shall trouble you," Long Qingfeng replied. Long Qingfeng was currently very weak; if Wang Ruyi intended to kill him, he would be powerless to resist. He had no choice but to agree.

Wang Ruyi collected Deng Tianqi's possessions, burned his corpse, and then departed the area with Long Qingfeng.