Li Yuanmo

After absorbing the spiritual energy from the cave, Lu Xian's body glowed softly in a golden glow. His hands were still in the meditation mudra position, his body trembling lightly as the meridians continued to open, forming a steady and strong flow of Qi towards the center of the Dantian. The light from his body began to dim slowly as the cultivation was completed.

"Finally, you did it!" Qin Chang'er praised.

Lu Xian opened his eyes slowly. The look in his eyes was different now, deeper, sharper—like a sword that had been sharpened to perfection. He had reached the 4th level of Qi Creation, or what was known as the Half-Perfect Qi stage. This stage was the point of the gamble. If he managed to break through to the 10th level of Qi Creation, he would reach Perfect Qi, but if he failed… his path as a cultivator could end in vain.

But before they could speak further, footsteps echoed from the spiritual cave's passageway. They were steady, slow but clear. Someone was heading towards them.

"Don't make a sound, someone is coming." Qin Chang'er whispered quickly.

They quickly hid behind a large rock at the side of the room. The sound of footsteps grew closer. An old man in a gray robe slowly entered the room. His eyes narrowed, his brows furrowed.

"I feel someone here…" he said softly.

Lu Xian held his breath, even his heart seemed to stop beating. Qin Chang'er whispered very softly in his ear, "Impossible… this person has reached the 7th level of Soul Refinement. In such a short time?"

"Then what should we do?" Lu Xian asked. "Are we going to stay like this forever?"

"We stay here. Don't move… until he leaves." Qin Chang'er replied, anxious.

Suddenly, the old man stopped in his tracks. His eyes were directed straight at the large rock where they were hiding. He smiled coldly.

"Not coming out?" he said sharply.

He suddenly drew spiritual energy from the surroundings, then shouted one word that shook the air…

"Get lost..!!!"

A wave of energy hit their hiding place. Lu Xian and Qin Chang'er were thrown back hard and rolled onto the stone floor. Their bodies shook violently, but they quickly got up and got ready.

"Finally you appeared." the old man said, full of arrogance.

Qin Chang'er squinted, trying to recognize the old man's face. But he was unfamiliar.

"Who is he? I've never seen him in the Qinlin sect. Could it be…" she muttered.

"Why?" Lu Xian asked.

"He definitely isn't a member of the Qinlin sect." Qin Chang'er replied firmly.

"Then we must immediately report to the sect master!"

"No! If we report him, you could be accused of sneaking into the cave without permission. Your punishment will be much more severe."

"Then what should we do?"

"We have to fight him!"

"Are you crazy?! He's much stronger than us. We could die!"

Qin Chang'er didn't have time to answer. A sudden attack hit Lu Xian and sent him flying into the wall of the room.

"Xiao Xian!" Qin Chang'er shouted.

She stared at the old man sharply. "Who are you?! You must not be a disciple of our sect."

The old man merely smirked.

"My name is Li Yuanmo. I am indeed not from this sect. I only came to take something that should not be guarded by a lousy sect like this. The spiritual energy in this place is too precious for a weak sect like you to have. So I will absorb it all… and leave this sect in ruins."

Without giving any time, Li Yuanmo immediately launched an attack on Qin Chang'er. Qin Chang'er blocked the attack quickly, but the old man's attack was too powerful. In a few moves, she was sent flying and fell to the floor.

Lu Xian, who had gotten up, gripped his sword tightly. His eyes shone sharply. "If you want to fight… let's do it!"

Li Yuanmo laughed coldly. "A kid at the Qi Creation stage dares to challenge me? Do you think you can win just by acting like a hero?"

Lu Xian did not answer. He immediately launched his sword at Li Yuanmo. But the sword was blocked by Li Yuanmo's two fingers as if it had no weight at all.

"You think you can hurt me with this lousy sword?" he taunted.

Lu Xian only smiled faintly. "Of course i can."

Li Yuanmo frowned. "Huh, don't get too cocky."

Lu Xian pointed his index finger upwards. "Look up. There's a big rock about to fall."

Reflexively, Li Yuanmo looked up. But there was nothing.

That was the moment Lu Xian had been waiting for. In a split second, he leapt forward with a swift movement and stabbed his sword towards Li Yuanmo's stomach.

"Feel the pain of my Dao Sword!"

Li Yuanmo was shocked, but managed to block the sword with his left hand. They were at each other's throats, but Lu Xian continued to press with full force. Golden aura flowed from his body along the sword.

"Arrggh… Damn brat!" Li Yuanmo screamed as the sword finally pierced his stomach.

Blood spurted and soaked the stone floor.

"This is what intelligence means in cultivation. Relying on deception to fight against a cultivator of a higher cultivation level." Lu Xian said coldly.

Li Yuanmo fell to the ground, lifeless.

Qin Chang'er slowly opened her eyes. She looked at Li Yuanmo's unmoving body, then looked at Lu Xian who was still standing holding his sword.

"You managed to defeat him… alone?"

"Of course." Lu Xian replied with a small smile.

"You are truly amazing, I fully acknowledge your abilities."

That night was the starting point for Lu Xian. The night when the True Dao Sword first showed its fangs.