**Chapter 54: Jiang Kun's Last Stand**

On the other side. 

Jiang Kun and his father, Jiang Minshan—the current Elder of the Punishment Hall of the Spirit Feather Sect—were rushing out aboard a flying vessel. 

Suddenly! 

Both of their communication talismans simultaneously received a message from Elder Zhuang Xiran. 

"Kun, I must go ahead immediately to support Elder Zhuang. You stay behind with your men and provide backup. These bandits are no ordinary foes. Do not act rashly. Do you understand?!" 

Jiang Minshan turned around and spoke sternly to Jiang Kun. 

Jiang Kun quickly nodded in agreement. 

After finishing his instructions, Jiang Minshan soared into the air at an incredible speed, disappearing into the horizon as he rushed toward the marsh where Elder Zhuang and the black-robed cultivators were battling. 

Subsequently. 

Jiang Kun, along with over ten elite members of the Punishment Hall on the flying vessel, slowed their pace and began to maintain vigilance while contacting nearby sect members. 

However, what Jiang Kun didn't know was that four masked, black-robed bandits were currently speeding toward him. 

… 

Above the marsh. 

Elder Zhuang was casting spells to bombard the ground, attempting to break through the illusion formation by sheer force. 

At that moment! 

Suddenly. 

A long arc of black energy shot out from the marsh below, slashing directly toward him! 

Elder Zhuang's eyes narrowed in alarm, and he immediately tried to dodge. But then, he felt a chill run down his spine. 

Behind him, countless streams of black energy surged forward, aiming to crush him completely! 

For a moment, there was no way to evade. 

He quickly formed a hand seal, and a square white barrier instantly appeared in the sky, protecting him. 

Countless black energy streams struck the barrier but failed to penetrate it, dissipating one after another. 

By now, Elder Zhuang had already seen his opponent. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes as he slowly said, "I thought you were some formidable foe, but it turns out you're just an early Foundation Establishment cultivator." 

"Oh? Whether I'm strong or not, let's see in action," the black-robed cultivator wearing a Buddha mask replied in a calm tone. 

Just then. 

A streak of light approached from afar, gracefully arriving before them in an instant. 

It was none other than Jiang Minshan, who had come to reinforce them. 

Upon arrival, Jiang Minshan wasted no time talking. He immediately unleashed a powerful spell, hurling it toward the enemy. 

Even against two Foundation Establishment cultivators working together. 

The black-robed cultivator wearing the Buddha mask remained unfazed. With his pale hands, he formed a strange hand seal. 

BOOM! 

A torrent of black flames erupted around him, and his presence surged from early Foundation Establishment to mid-level Foundation Establishment in an instant! 

In that moment. 

The three Foundation Establishment experts clashed fiercely above the marsh. 

Powerful spells erupted continuously, colliding violently and creating terrifying shockwaves. 

… 

In the air. 

Qin Ming's expression was grim as he spared no expense in magical energy, pushing his Spirit Light Flying Shuttle to its maximum speed, heading toward Green Sun Market. 

'Damn it all!' 

'Why did they have to attack now, of all times?' 

Qin Ming was deeply frustrated. He had finally managed to obtain a jade token, but before he could secure Elder Zhuang's recommendation, his plans had fallen apart. 

All he wanted now was to return to Green Sun Market as quickly as possible. 

'Next time, I won't leave unless I've reached the Foundation Establishment stage.' 

'The outside world is too dangerous.' 

'People are breaking through second-tier formations left and right. How can anyone handle this?' 

With his mind made up, Qin Ming focused entirely on piloting the Spirit Light Flying Shuttle beneath his feet. 

Suddenly. 

As Qin Ming sped forward, a disheveled-looking cultivator flew toward him, nearly causing a collision. 

"Are you drunk or something? Watch where you're going!" 

"Holy crap! It's Brother Jiang." 

At first glance, Qin Ming was so shocked he almost couldn't speak. 

Jiang Kun was in a pitiful state, far from the proud core disciple of the Spirit Feather Sect he once was. His body was covered in severe injuries, and his entire left arm was missing. 

Jiang Kun was initially startled, but upon seeing that it was Qin Ming, the tension on his pale face eased slightly. 

"Brother Jiang, what happened to you?" Qin Ming feigned a look of utter shock. 

Jiang Kun took a pill from his pocket, swallowed it, and after catching his breath, said, "It's Fellow Daoist Qin. This isn't the place to talk. I have pursuers behind me. Let's discuss this back at the sect." 

"I've already sent a message to my fellow disciples." 

Qin Ming was momentarily stunned. He didn't need to ask to know who could have reduced Jiang Kun—a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refinement—to such a miserable state. 

Aside from those bandits, who else could it be? 

"Ah? What about the others?" Qin Ming suddenly asked. 

Jiang Kun froze at the question, his voice turning cold. "Fellow Daoist Qin, what do you mean by that?" 

Qin Ming chuckled awkwardly. "Nothing, just asking casually. I won't be returning to the Spirit Feather Sect." 

"Brother Jiang, farewell." 

With that, Qin Ming gave a slight bow and pretended to leave. 

Jiang Kun frowned deeply. A strong sense of foreboding arose in his heart, and he sensed something amiss. 

Something about this Qin Ming wasn't right! 

He immediately prepared to activate his flying vessel and leave. 

But just as he was about to channel his magical energy, Qin Ming's figure vanished from sight! 

Jiang Kun's heart jolted, and he instantly crushed a high-grade protective talisman. A blue barrier enveloped him in an instant. 

BANG! 

A violent collision echoed out! 

CRACK! 

Jiang Kun looked up in shock and anger. 

There stood Qin Ming, his aura surging wildly as he wielded a black longsword, its blade wreathed in flaming energy. 

This Jiang Kun had tried to kill him multiple times. Now that he was weakened, Qin Ming decided to strike while the iron was hot! 

With a single slash, he nearly shattered the high-grade talisman's barrier! 

Jiang Kun instantly realized the danger he was in, his entire body trembling with fear! 

"A Body Cultivator!" 

Without needing further explanation, he now understood how Chen Zi'ang and the others had died. 

A cold glint appeared in Qin Ming's eyes. Without wasting words, he quickly pulled out two high-grade offensive talismans. 

One was a high-grade Thunder Arrow Talisman, and the other was a high-grade Blazing Sun Talisman. 

He hurled both at Jiang Kun simultaneously. 

In an instant. 

Terrifying lightning flashed, accompanied by fiery bird-shaped flames, slamming into Jiang Kun's position. 

BOOM! 

A deafening explosion rang out. 

Jiang Kun stumbled backward, blood spurting from his mouth. Beside him floated a faint purple pearl, emitting purple threads that surrounded his body. 

It managed to neutralize most of the spell's power. 

If he were at full strength, he wouldn't fear Qin Ming. But now, having reached his limit, he knew he couldn't win this fight. 

Jiang Kun acted decisively. He took out a glowing blue talisman, slapped it onto himself, and transformed into a streak of light, fleeing at top speed. 

Qin Ming was genuinely surprised. Even in such a critical state, Jiang Kun still had so many life-saving tools. 

He immediately activated the Spirit Light Flying Shuttle to chase after him at full speed! 

WHOOSH! 

At its maximum speed, the Spirit Light Flying Shuttle rivaled the flight of a Foundation Establishment cultivator at full power. 

In an instant, Qin Ming closed the distance between them. 

Feeling Qin Ming closing in from behind, Jiang Kun's soul nearly fled his body in terror! 

An exceptional flying artifact! 

How did this kid get his hands on something like that? 

Once Qin Ming got close, he unleashed his blood and qi energy, sending a blazing flame blade slashing toward Jiang Kun! 

In a panic, Jiang Kun raised a green longsword in his right hand. Gritting his teeth, he poured the last of his magical energy into a sword technique. 

The sword gleamed. 

SWISH! 

CLANG! 

The green longsword unleashed several sharp sword beams, barely managing to block Qin Ming's fatal strike. 

Not only that. 

One of the sword beams pierced through the flame blade, striking the 'Glazed Treasure Armor' formed by Qin Ming's condensed blood and qi energy.

It broke through the defense, leaving a gash on Qin Ming's arm. 

"An exceptional artifact!" 

Pain surged through Qin Ming, shocking him. Despite strengthening his body for so long, this was the first time he had been injured by an artifact. 

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he unleashed the full power of the *Burning Blood Blade Technique*. The area around Jiang Kun was instantly engulfed in dense flames. 

SHLICK! 

"AAH!" 

The blade flashed, severing Jiang Kun's left calf. 

Qin Ming leaped forward, pinning him down with a stomp. 

"Cough! Cough! Cough!" 

"Fellow Daoist Qin, listen to me…" Jiang Kun's face was covered in blood, his pupils dilating in shock. 

SWISH! 

A cold glint flashed in Qin Ming's eyes. Without hesitation, he delivered a ruthless strike, slicing through Jiang Kun's neck. 

Jiang Kun's head rolled to the side, his eyes frozen wide open in disbelief even in death. 

Qin Ming collected Jiang Kun's green longsword and storage pouch, then flicked a black spirit seed toward the corpse, casting the Thorn Technique. 

Black vines instantly engulfed Jiang Kun's body, reducing it to a desiccated husk within moments. 

Qin Ming picked up the blood pearls from the ground and launched a fireball to obliterate the remains. 

Just as he finished. 

Suddenly, he sensed four powerful presences rapidly approaching from afar. 

Qin Ming's heart tightened, and without delay, he activated the Spirit Light Flying Shuttle, vanishing from sight. 

(End of Chapter) 

---