Dogged Pursuing

Dogged Pursuing . . .

Qin Wentian's aura underwent a dramatic transformation, enveloping him in a radiant white blaze tinged with runic inscriptions. What sent shivers down everyone's spine was the emergence of a formidable layer of sword qi, coursing through his body as his energy burned with an unrivaled sword's might.

Ji Lanfeng's face contorted with puzzlement as he observed Qin Wentian. The intensity of Qin Wentian's aura continued to rise, surpassing all previous limits. The supreme sword's might, in particular, grew more ferocious with each passing moment.

"What's happening?" The members of the God Extermination Palace were baffled as they watched Qin Wentian's astounding transformation.

"Bark, bark!" Little Rascal, perched on Qin Wentian's shoulder, bared its fangs and claws while letting out fierce barks. In its baby-like voice, it exclaimed, "These bunch of bastards, let's annihilate them!"

Hovering above Qin Wentian, Purgatory unleashed a series of blood-curdling shrieks, circling above him before transforming into a crimson beam of light that entered his body.

Qin Wentian felt Purgatory's intent and was touched by its loyalty. Purgatory, now endowed with spiritual intelligence and nurtured by his bloodline, harbored boundless gratitude towards him. Realizing that Qin Wentian was expending his own energy, it offered its own strength as fuel.

"I can't use your strength like this," Qin Wentian thought inwardly. With that, a crimson beam shot forth, expelling Purgatory from his bloodline. Qin Wentian couldn't bear to sacrifice it. Unlike before, he was no longer the weakling who risked his life with every move. His bloodline's power had grown exponentially, affording him ample energy for this strike.

"You're burning your entire energy reserve for a devastating attack," Ji Lanfeng comprehended the gravity of the situation. He frowned as he witnessed Qin Wentian's immense strength. Qin Wentian was utilizing a sacrificial technique, a double-edged sword that weakened him significantly before unleashing a crippling attack. People rarely resorted to such desperate measures unless they faced utter despair.

Was this young man willing to risk everything for victory?

The wind howled as an abundance of sword qi converged upon Qin Wentian's body. He extended his sword finger, conjuring an invisible blade forged from the sword qi, solidifying through the supreme sword's might. The lethal aura it emanated seemed capable of tearing through the fabric of space itself, enveloping the entire area. The members of the God Extermination Palace could feel the overwhelming power of destruction.

Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan were awe-struck by the revelation of this formidable innate technique. They had no inkling that Qin Wentian possessed such a potent skill.

Returning to his normal stature, Qin Wentian was clad in flowing runic armor, golden wings sprouting from his back as he locked eyes with Ji Lanshan.

"The pinnacle strike just shy of immortality," Ji Lanfeng declared, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Qin Wentian. "Even if you expend every ounce of your energy and essence to amplify your attack to its limits, you cannot breach the threshold of immortality. Those below it are mere mortals. Meanwhile, I, standing at the ninth-level of Celestial Phenomenon, have reached the zenith of mortality. Though your attack may approach its pinnacle, it cannot threaten my life. Moreover, you're rapidly depleting your energy, a futile endeavor."

The realm of immortal-foundation acted as an insurmountable chasm that separated immortals from mortals. Mortals, no matter how they harnessed the power of secret arts or innate techniques, could never ascend to the immortal rank. Their attacks could reach only the highest point within the realm of mortality.

The Immortal Vanquishing Swordplay was an immortal art, meant to be unleashed to its full potential only by those who had achieved the immortal-foundation realm. Since Qin Wentian hadn't reached that exalted state, he couldn't harness the art's complete might.

Ji Lanfeng's assessment held merit. As a member of the Immortal Ascension Rankings, he was regarded as a peak genius within the immortal realms. He had already scaled the zenith of mortality, an achievement reflected in his ranking.

In this moment, Ji Lanfeng's aura surged frenetically. His thousand talisman constellation reconfigured into a shield, enveloping him as if in readiness for Qin Wentian's impending attack. Simultaneously, the thousand talisman sword returned to his grasp. He locked his gaze onto Qin Wentian and urged, "Surrender now."

Qin Wentian remained resolute. "I won't surrender unless I'm unconscious. I can't fully control the power of this strike. You mentioned one of the City of Ancient Emperors' rules is the prohibition of immortal-ranked weapons. I accept that condition. However, as I've stated, I can't entirely control this attack's potency. If you force me to unleash it, the question becomes: are you absolutely sure you can withstand it?"

Qin Wentian's words hung in the air as the energy within him continued to blaze. The stifling sword's might pervaded the area, an undeniable embodiment of the ultimate peak short of immortality.

Though Ji Lanfeng was on the brink of immortality, he still lagged behind the true masters at the pinnacle short of immortality, as evidenced by his ranking at #321. Sharp, grating sounds filled the air as Qin Wentian's sword intent relentlessly gnawed at the radiance emanating from Ji Lanfeng's thousand talisman constellation. This disconcerting noise silenced Ji Lanfeng.

Qin Wentian's outstretched finger remained fixed, poised to unleash the sword's supreme might that would bring utter devastation.

"I can engage you in a battle of attrition, but how long can you sustain this energy burn?" Ji Lanfeng retorted coldly.

"Both of you, mount Little Rascal's back. I can communicate telepathically with him, and he'll understand my intentions," Qin Wentian transmitted his message to Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan. They nodded and positioned themselves on Little Rascal's back.

With a brisk "buzz," Qin Wentian advanced steadily toward Ji Lanfeng. This unexpected move caused Ji Lanfeng to furrow his brows. As Qin Wentian drew closer, Ji Lanfeng inexplicably took a step back. A moment later, an icy smile graced Qin Wentian's face.

A fierce gust of wind swept through the area, heralding the arrival of a golden roc's image emerging from within Qin Wentian. In the blink of an eye, he shot towards a member of the God Extermination Palace.

"Watch out!" Ji Lanfeng's urgent shout fell on deaf ears as Qin Wentian's speed was nothing short of astonishing. He materialized before his target, and with a swift movement, his finger lunged forward. In an instant, the unfortunate soul felt an overwhelming surge of sword intent enveloping him. A simple push from Qin Wentian's finger would spell his doom.

Little Rascal, the telepathic communicator, had acted swiftly. It had followed Qin Wentian's lead and positioned itself alongside him, preventing the other members of the God Extermination Palace from intervening.

"This is a robbery; surrender your interspatial rings," Little Rascal chimed in with its endearing baby voice. Its fluffy white form halted before Qin Wentian's chosen target, extending a paw. The scene was a bizarre juxtaposition of adorable and menacing, but the beleaguered expert facing Little Rascal wasn't in the mood for amusement; his life hung in the balance under Qin Wentian's control.

Behind Qin Wentian, numerous formidable auras approached. He didn't turn around, but his voice carried a clear warning, "I'd rather not unleash this strike. Don't test my limits, or the consequences may be beyond your imagination."

As his voice echoed, Ji Lanfeng and the God Extermination Palace experts hesitated, forced to halt their advance. The threatened expert, pale as a sheet, surrendered his interspatial rings, placing them gingerly on Little Rascal's paw.

"Why so gullible?" Little Rascal berated the expert lazily, its other paw smacking him with force, sending him hurtling through the air, the sound of breaking bones accompanying his fall.

"Insolence!" Ji Lanfeng thundered. Little Rascal turned its attention toward him, remarking casually, "Who told you to bully my baobao?"

"That little demon-beast is quite the character," chuckled the spectators below.

Qin Wentian's gaze remained fixed on the God Extermination Palace members, observing their surging auras as if they prepared to fend off more sneak attacks.

"Even at this point, you're still provoking us? Are you truly that foolish?" Ji Lanfeng's voice dripped with disdain, but Qin Wentian appeared unperturbed. He mounted Little Rascal, which soared through the air at breakneck speed. The supreme sword might continued to emanate from him, enveloping the surrounding space.

"Think you can escape?" Ji Lanfeng sneered. He and his companions surged forward, chasing after Little Rascal relentlessly. Ji Lanfeng wanted to see how long Qin Wentian could endure the energy drain.

A group of experts ascended rapidly into the skies above the City of Ancient Emperors. Qin Wentian's energy continued to burn, while his pursuers were ready for combat, their constellations poised in the air.

"A member of the Immortal Ascension Rankings is using his sect's full might to chase down three newcomers? Have they no shame?" Qin Wentian taunted, his voice resounding and echoing through the city below. Heads turned, and countless gazes were drawn to the spectacle.

"Ji Lanfeng, Ji Lanfeng from the Immortal Ascension Rankings is actually chasing after a few newcomers and seems hesitant to act," murmured many experts in the City of Ancient Emperors as they ascended to watch the drama unfold.

Ji Lanfeng's expression soured. The crowd around them grew, and he felt the sting of shame in his heart.

"If you persist in fleeing, I won't hold back once you're completely drained of strength," Ji Lanshan roared in fury, his voice laced with a menacing threat.

Perched on Little Rascal's back, Qin Wentian positioned himself to face their relentless pursuers head-on. His features were etched in determination, his eyes gleaming with a steely resolve. He had hardly expected to encounter these tenacious members of the God Extermination Palace so soon after his arrival.

"Today, I'm going to shatter the myth of your God Extermination Palace," Qin Wentian declared icily. "Little Rascal, it's time to take the stage."

Little Rascal descended gracefully, touching down in a vast, desolate expanse. The spectacle intrigued the onlookers. Could it be that this young man, who was willingly burning his own energy, harbored even more formidable hidden cards yet to be revealed?