One more catty, one more attribute point

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Whoosh!

A desolate cold wind blew past, causing the wild grass to sway.

Su Heng extinguished the chaotic thoughts in his mind and carefully put away the Seed of Destruction, which pulsed like a heart, tucking it into his chest.

The wildfire at his feet died out, black smoke dispersed, and the faint sounds of stones shattering echoed in the air.

Amidst the sharp, piercing sounds of the air being cleaved,

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two figures descended and then rose, appearing before Su Heng.

It was Li Hongxiu and Qin Shunying. The little golden crow that had just hatched was also circling in the sky. It let out a loud, clear cry before it landed on Li Hongxiu's shoulder, scratched its feathers with its claws, and then, cocking its head, seemed quite interested in Su Heng.

Though the golden crow had only been born a short while ago, it was very smart, its intelligence by no means inferior to that of an ordinary adult.

The little guy sensed a familiar aura coming from Su Heng.

It was their first meeting,

but it knew that during its critical hatching process, when it was on the brink of death, it was Su Heng who had provided help and energy.

The interrupted hatching process had restarted, which allowed it to be born successfully. However, Su Heng had just fought a great battle with an imperial Heavenly King, and his body was permeated with a persistent, murderous aura.

This made the little golden crow somewhat frightened, and now it rested on Li Hongxiu's shoulder, appearing a bit restless.

"Your aura is a bit scary to it," Li Hongxiu said, looking up calmly.

"Is that so?"

Su Heng took a deep breath and raised his eyebrows.

The agitation in his blood slowly calmed, and his gaze became serene. Strands of golden sunlight fell upon him, making him resemble a solemn and majestic statue in a temple.

Su Heng reached out, and the golden crow tilted its head before flapping its wings and landing on his sturdy knuckles. It gently rubbed its obsidian beak against Su Heng's fingertips, showing a rather affectionate behavior.

Su Heng thought for a moment.

He took out the Tribulation Crossing Lotus he had brought from the temple.

This lotus had a medicinal power of at least two to three thousand years and was enough for many people to refine and absorb.

The golden crow was considered a rather important force in battle, and because it was born prematurely, it had an innate deficiency. The special medicinal properties contained within the Tribulation Crossing Lotus might be able to make up for it, definitely worth the value.

The black Tribulation Crossing Lotus had twenty-four petals in total.

Su Heng plucked one and fed it to the golden crow, which sniffed it lightly before directly tilting its head back and swallowing it whole.

Squawk!

Accompanied by a piercing cry that could split the clouds,

Black flames rose from the body of the golden crow, crackling sounds emanated from the void, and its eyes sparkled vividly as it appeared even more majestic.

"An elixir of legendary grade indeed has extraordinary effects," Su Heng marveled.

He plucked another two petals from the Tribulation Crossing Lotus and handed them to Li Hongxiu and Qin Shunying, respectively. With a wave of his hand and a smile, Su Heng said, "For you two, no need to be polite."

Li Hongxiu took a small bite and found it sweet.

The corners of her eyes immediately curved up, and a subtle smile flashed across her face as she swallowed the petals in a few bites.

The cherry-red foxfire in her pupils burned bright, and two flame-engulfed fox ears emerged from her soft, jet-black hair. After a violent fluctuation in her aura, it gradually calmed down. It seemed that the fearsome ghost "Yingying" that resided within Li Hongxiu also benefited, as some of its power manifested.

Qin Shunying, on the other hand, appeared a bit restrained as she took a petal, "Thank you."

However, Qin Shunying didn't immediately gulp it down and instead planned to save it for when she was in secluded cultivation, taking her time to adjust her breath in order not to waste the medicinal power.

"I heard that Baihua County was attacked," Su Heng said in a low voice.

"Indeed," Qin Shunying nodded and replied, "It was people from the Yiluan Bureau. Thankfully, the little golden crow showed its divine might, otherwise, we would have really been in danger."

"The golden crow could sense the aura emitting from you, so we followed," Li Hongxiu added.

"What about the demon god..." Qin Shunying seemed particularly worried. She was at a loss now; the golden crow first led them toward Skull Plain, but then halfway through, they switched direction toward Qing State. Qin Shunying couldn't keep up with Su Heng's cultivation speed, and it was a tough chase all the way.

When they arrived at the border of Qing State and Qimu State, what they saw was the aftermath of Su Heng's battle with the Heavenly King.

She still didn't know what had happened on Skull Plain.

"You mean the Corruption Demon God Marpa?" Su Heng sighed, "That guy has been slaughtered by me. But the more troublesome matters are still to come."

He briefly shared the events that unfolded in the temple with the two.

Qin Shunying's smile froze, and she paled slightly. Pressing her lips together, she clenched her fist, and very seriously said to Su Heng, "Although I am of little influence and might not be of much help, whatever decision you make, I will support you."

"Don't worry, girl from the Fiery Sun Sect," a hearty laugh sounded, and everyone looked towards the source of the voice, only to see the master of the Wuji Sword Sect approaching with a swagger.

He appeared to be in his forties, with a robust and tall physique. His features were rugged, his demeanor dashing, a scar trailing down over his left eye, and his collar slightly open, revealing a swathe of bronze skin as the mountain winds howled.

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The blade of grass in his mouth spat out, the sheathed long sword planted in the ground, his posture breezy and carefree.

"Even if the sky falls, there are tall ones like us to stand firm in front." Meng Huan took off the bamboo hat on his head, his black and fine hair tied into a short braid at the back of his head. He tilted his head slightly and said with a smile, "You're so young, and there's plenty of good times ahead, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"I've made a fool of myself in front of Mentor Meng." Qin Shunying said with a hint of red on her face as she bowed to Meng Huan.

"Mentor?" Su Heng was somewhat surprised; he had thought the leader of the Wuji Sword Sect was some old monster from hundreds or even a thousand years ago.

"Mentor Meng and Uncle Wu Cuicheng are contemporaries, they were good friends when they were young," Qin Shunying explained, seeming to understand Su Heng's thoughts, "But for a hundred years thereafter, Mentor Meng travelled around Changyue and Linjiang, and by the time he returned to Jiang E, he was already a Cultivator above Heavenly Deceit."

"Impressive," Su Heng's expression became slightly more solemn.

By this account, Meng Huan's cultivation journey amounted to no more than over two hundred years.

And that sword he had just slashed was breathtaking, he must be a standout even if not a Heavenly King, definitely superior to the likes of Kasyapa Buddha and Marpa the Three-Worlds King, the Great Zhou Dynasty surely is a den of crouching tigers and hidden dragons.

"I did have some undeserved reputation when I was young, but it seems laughable compared to you, my young friend," Meng Huan waved his hand dismissively.

Although he was the leader of the number one immortal sect in Jiang E.

He didn't put on airs at all, and his whole demeanor was quite amiable.

"My visit this time, apart from breaking up the fight, is also to have a chat with you about the Mythical Battlefield," after exchanging pleasantries with Qin Shunying, Meng Huan lifted his head to look at Su Heng, the smile on his face fading, a lot more somber.

"Of course," Su Heng said seriously, "the Mythical Battlefield, realms above Heavenly Deceit and cultivation, I indeed have many confusions that I wish to resolve. If I could have a detailed discussion with my senior, that would be more than great."

"This isn't a good place to chat." Meng Huan surveyed the area, then invited with a smile, "We're not far from the Sword Sect, if you don't mind, how about a visit to my place?"

"Thank you for the invitation, Senior," Su Heng nodded, with no objections.

"What about you two..." Meng Huan's gaze fell on Qin Shunying and Li Hongxiu.

Li Hongxiu shook her head.

The immense medicinal power of the Tribulation Crossing Lotus dissipated in her body.

Her constitution was ordinary, not as exceptional as the divine beast like the Golden Crow; her eyes were already clouding over, feeling somewhat sleepy.

"Then I'll escort sister Hongxiu back," Qin Shunying said.

So quickly she started calling 'sister, sister'... Su Heng sneered internally; these two women had only known each other for a few days, but their relationship seemed quite good.

"That would be good." Su Heng lightly lifted his hand, and the Golden Crow landed on Qin Shunying's shoulder with a flap of its wings, "Let the little Golden Crow accompany you back, just in case, better safe than sorry, to avoid any mishaps in Baihua County again."

"Sure!" Qin Shunying nodded, then bowed to Meng Huan.

The two women, accompanied by a Golden Crow, turned into a streak of fiery light and vanished over the distant mountains.

"That girl is very fond of you," Meng Huan, watching the two depart, suddenly spoke to Su Heng with a smile.

"Who, Qin Shunying?" Su Heng wasn't a block of wood; of course, he could sense Qin Shunying's favorable impression of him.

"Nowadays the world is in turmoil, calamity is coming, there's no room to talk about these romantic matters," Su Heng shook his head.

"Haha, you're right," Meng Huan seemed to recall something, his eyes showing a hint of melancholy, filled with reminiscence. He let out a wry laugh and said quietly, "But as one goes through more and more, and keeps growing, some things, if missed, will never feel the same as they did... there will always be regrets."

"I apologize," Meng Huan shook his head, snapping back to himself.

Speaking too deeply for a shallow relationship is a major taboo, he naturally understood this.

"Ignore my foolish words," Meng Huan uncorked the wine gourd hanging at his waist, took two swigs, then cupped his fist in salute toward Su Heng, the smile on his face apologetic.

"It's fine," Su Heng nodded, quietly shifting his gaze away from the direction of the distant mountains where the two had vanished.

"Without further delay, let's set off too, no need to waste time here," Meng Huan spoke to Su Heng, taking a step forward, arriving at the cliff's edge. Facing the rustling cold wind, he threw the sword in his hand, the blade glowing green as it hung in mid-air.

Meng Huan leaped gracefully, landing firmly on the flowing green glow of the sword blade.

Whoosh!

Accompanied by a long, resonant cry.

The sword, cleaving the air, vanished into the clouds carrying Meng Huan.

"Sword Cultivators really do it in style," Su Heng said quietly with a smile, watching Meng Huan's receding figure, his face showing rare envy.

When he was young, he had his fair share of aspirations towards being a Sword Immortal.

But with the reinforcement of his mask, Su Heng's path became increasingly crooked, strength so great bricks flew – clearly nothing like the light and ethereal image of a Sword Immortal.

No matter though, he had long gotten used to it, it was just a moment of reflection.

Rumble!

With a forceful step from Su Heng, the mountains crumbled.

Massive dark dragon wings unfurled behind Su Heng in a 'swoosh,' stirring up rolling thunderstorms, and he followed in Meng Huan's wake.

Being highly skilled, their speed was incredibly fast, and it didn't take long before Sword Casting Peak, location of the Wuji Sword Sect, loomed into view ahead.