Dead or alive

Inside the Golden Lotus restaurant, the two were famished as they ordered their food.

The Golden Lotus was a unique establishment founded by a cultivator who had a passion for cooking. He believed in preparing dishes that could cleanse the meridians and invigorate the body of cultivators. As a result, the restaurant had gained quite a reputation and had always welcomed all kinds of cultivators, both righteous and demonic.

Ever since its inception, the restaurant had maintained peace and harmony, thanks to the protection of a supreme stage cultivator. No one dared to cause any trouble or engage in fights, for the fear of invoking the wrath of such a powerful individual.

Xiao Feng decided to order some steamed soup dumplings, while Xuan Ping opted for a large pork and vegetable meatball. The Netherworld Sect Master, observing their choices, couldn't help but wonder about their peculiar palates. They seemed reckless and carefree on the outside, but upon careful observation, they remained vigilant even as they savored their food and wine.

Although he could have attacked them within the confines of the restaurant, the Netherworld Sect Master knew better than to engage in a clash with another supreme stage cultivator. "That old man would have sensed me by now," he thought.

"Netherworld Sect Master, I know it's you," the old man telepathically transmitted his voice from the top floor of the restaurant, assuming a cross-legged position with closed eyes.

"Well, you caught me," he transmitted back.

"I sense trouble whenever you're around, so be on your guard. Even though it's you, I won't show any mercy."

"Not here, rest assured. I don't intend to cause any trouble," he replied.

"Good," the old man continued with his meditation.

Hmph, old geezer. If it weren't for the circumstances, fighting you wouldn't be a problem. It's not like I would lose to you.

The Netherworld Sect Master continued his observation, unaware that his identity was barely known within his own sect.

"Brother Xiao, this place is incredibly popular. Even cultivators come here to enjoy a meal. It's as if this place was designed specifically for cultivators," remarked Xuan Ping, his words slightly muffled due to his full mouth.

"Yes, it's the first time I've seen so many cultivators gathered peacefully in one place," replied Xiao Feng.

"Exactly! It feels like there's a supreme powerhouse overseeing this place, much like the one monitoring us since we entered," added Xuan Ping.

"Oh... you noticed?"

"How could I not? I'm stronger than you, after all... hehe."

"Annoying brat," Xiao Feng playfully stretched his hand and lightly knocked Xuan on the head.

"What!" Xuan exclaimed, twitching his mouth.

The Netherworld Sect Master watched as they continued their mischievous banter throughout the meal.

"Now, about the real matter at hand, I think we need the combined powers of an entire sect to deliver a significant blow," Xiao Feng mentioned, staring at Xuan Ping.

"We already started with our beloved Xu Xin," Xiao said, causing Xuan Ping to blush upon hearing the name of his loved one.

"I hope you're taking care of yourself and not pushing too hard," he thought of Xu Xin.

He grabbed both of Xiao Feng's shoulders and shook him vigorously. "Brother Xiao, I told you to keep things low-key. Your intimidating words... If anything happens to Xu Xin, I won't be happy, you know?"

"Hehe, maybe my mind will be a bit more at ease then."

"Should we eliminate him discreetly?" Xuan Ping whispered as he continued shaking his brother's shoulder.

"Do you think he's someone we can easily handle? Just by looking at him, I can feel the pressure. He's probably restraining himself because of the powerhouse protecting this restaurant."

"So, should we fight him?" Xuan Ping asked.

"Obviously! Don't you want to become stronger? This might be our chance."

"But what if we die?"

"Xu Qing will still be safe in the small world," Xiao Feng reassured him.

Hmm, a fifty-fifty chance.

After finishing their meal and settling the bill, the two left the restaurant, followed closely by the Sect Master.

Finally, they reached a secluded spot and came to a halt.

"Hmm, I knew you two were clever, and it seems you noticed my presence ever since you left the restaurant," the voice drew closer.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" Xiao Feng inquired.

My identity is not important, so we can skip that part.

"In that case, we'll take our leave then," Xuan Ping said as they began to walk away.

Hahaha! The Netherworld Sect Master laughed heartily and instantly appeared in front of them. "You think I'm here to play, right? I want both your lives in exchange for my fifth," the Netherworld sect master declared, sending a wave of fear through Xuan Ping and Xiao Feng.

Reacting quickly, they dispersed, grateful for the teachings of Xuan's heaven secret movement. As they fled, fear gripping their hearts, Xuan Ping couldn't help but wonder why the old man was chasing them so relentlessly. "Brother Xuan, why is this old man so fast?" he asked.

"It seems he plans to chase us for a month. And who is this 'fifth' he mentioned?" Xuan Ping replied, trying to piece together the puzzle.

"For now, let's focus on escaping. Splitting up in this situation would be too dangerous. If one of us gets caught, it means certain death," Xiao Feng advised, his eyes scanning the distance between them and their pursuer.

Xuan Ping glanced back and saw the old man closing in on them. "Brother Xiao, we have to do something. He's getting closer," he said, panic evident in his voice.

"What?! And why must I be the one to do something?" Xiao Feng protested, frustration mixing with his fear.

"Because you are the senior brother, obviously!" Xuan Ping retorted, giving him a stern look.

"Well, once we get away from this, I'll deal with you and Xu Qing seriously," Xiao Feng muttered, his gaze sweeping over their surroundings.

Suddenly, Xuan Ping's despair turned to realization. "Brother Xiao, we're trapped," he said, his voice filled with defeat.

"Trapped? What do you mean?" Xiao Feng asked, finally noticing the tall hill that loomed ahead of them. "So we were being led into a trap," he muttered, anger simmering in his eyes.

Xuan Ping and Xiao Feng stood together, watching as the mysterious old man slowly approached them. "You know, I actually intended to come alone, but I was later convinced to bring along five core disciples," the old man chuckled.

"He's referring to us. This is unlike him. It seems it's time for you to come out and face us. Let's test the extent of their power," Xiao Feng said, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and determination.

Nodding in agreement, Xuan Ping realized that their best chance was to deal with the core disciples first. "If we exhaust ourselves fighting them, we won't stand a chance against their sect master. We need to strategize. The one I fought with before seems even stronger now. And he appears to be the weakest among them," Xuan Ping observed.

"Brother Xuan, it's decided. I will face off against the lady with the whip and the other two. But remember, we shouldn't go all out. We should save some energy to deal with their sect master or make an escape. Plus, try to render them incapacitated rather than killing them. Killing them would only enrage the old man further," Xiao Feng explained.

"Why should I do that when they're after my life?" Xuan Ping protested, frustration evident in his voice.

"Brother, read the situation. Once we kill them, even accidentally, the old man will be furious. We can use that to our advantage," Xiao Feng reasoned.

"Hmm, I guess it's an impressive plan. And I must admit, it's good to see you doing something for a change," Xuan Ping teased, a small smile playing on his lips.

Standing on a cliff, Xiao Feng took a deep breath, drawing his sword from his spatial ring. He tightened his grip on it, preparing himself for the challenge ahead. This would be the first time he faced three core cultivators in the nascent soul realm, and he knew it would be his greatest challenge yet.

The first cultivator, a tall and muscular man with a deep voice, sneered, "This time, things will be different. I won't be the one losing."

"Oh, so you mean when it's three against one?" Xiao Feng taunted him, his eyes filled with determination. He had already realized that they had planned this ambush, knowing that he posed a greater threat than Xuan Ping.

Without hesitation, the muscular man charged at Xiao Feng, aiming for his neck with a thrust. But Xiao Feng dodged the attack swiftly, countering with his own strike. The muscular man stumbled back in surprise, realizing that Xiao Feng had held back during their previous encounter.

Meanwhile, Xuan Ping, a physical body cultivator, found himself facing off against two sword-wielding fanatics from the Netherworld sect. They attacked relentlessly, not giving Xuan Ping a chance to catch his breath.

The first man was a tall and lean figure, with long hair and piercing eyes. He carried his sword with a fluid grace as he launched a powerful lunge towards Xuan Ping. The second combatant was a dark-haired lady, her determined look matching her fierce demeanor. She spun her sword expertly, unleashing a flurry of deadly strikes that left Xuan Ping reeling.

"They want to use my death to impress their sect master, and you think I'll let you? What a meager way of thinking!" Xuan Ping roared with anger, charging at both his opponents. With an immense amount of Qi, he punched the air, creating a gust of wind that threw them off balance.

Xiao Feng momentarily diverted his attention from his own fight upon hearing the loud noise made by Xuan Ping. "Still have the guts to stare away while a fight is going on?" said the lady, lunging at him with a whip. Xiao Feng skillfully avoided the sharp edges of the whip by twisting and turning his sword defensively.

As the fight continued, only two of the three opponents engaged Xiao Feng directly, while the third, a sly-looking man, held back with a wicked smirk on his face, patiently waiting for an opportune moment to strike. Although subtle, Xiao Feng didn't fail to notice his presence.

Without faltering, Xiao Feng squared off against the two core cultivators simultaneously, making sure not to miss any chance to learn and improve his skills. He skillfully deflected their attacks while continuously searching for an opening to strike. Dealing with the lady proved particularly challenging, as her whip possessed a long reach and could move in unpredictable directions.

Suddenly, the previously idle third combatant decided to intervene. Using his sword, he conjured a dense mist that shrouded Xiao Feng's vision. Reacting instinctively, Xiao Feng raised his sword to defend himself, but the mist was too thick to see through clearly. Fortunately, Xiao Feng never let his guard down. Having already marked the positions of the muscular man and the lady, he charged forward, aiming for their weak points. With a swift slash, he rendered them unable to move.

"Crafty guy, now it's your turn," Xiao Feng declared, acknowledging the cunning of his remaining opponent.

Dead or alive, not only was he domineering, but also clever in his tactics.