Tang Xun couldn''t understand what he was seeing. The person before him was definitely not consecrated by the altar, but possessed such power, surpassing the norms. All his techniques were deadly, and even that strange technique could stop his movements.


    Despite Tang Xun managing to seriously injure Xie Qing, his own condition was also not simple. This guy had the Will of the Empress of Swords, and together with it, the small golden swords were hindering his wounds from healing, and the flow of Qi was impeded.


    "Tsk. That''s why I hate sword masters," Tang Xun thought. However, he then confidently smiled: "However, he cannot ovee the limitations of cultivation. He is only at Spiritual Ascension. He may have power, but that''s all. This brat is incapable of more."


    Confidence. Arrogance. Joy. Tang Xun felt exactly these emotions.


    What he had loved since childhood was humiliating the talented and showing them their ce. Although he loved geniuses, he also hated them. Because he was very petty.


    If someone who possessed talent greater than his did not be his subordinate or disciple, then… most likely, Tang Xun would humiliate them and eventually kill them. That was his character. His creed.


    Step by step, he began to approach Xie Qing. His stride was confident. Each of his steps was apanied by a burst of me, and the ground beneath his feet turned ck.


    The smell of scorched earth filled the air, and the pressure of a cultivator at the Divine Transformation stage was unbearable.


    The man had a slight smile on his face. The sight before his eyes was simply beautiful.


    The youth kneeling before him was younger and far more talented. Nevertheless, the only thing he could do was to ept his fate. The fate of being another stepping stone for Tang Xun.


    "You are tired. You have no more strength. Your regeneration cannot cope with the wounds, and your spirit is broken. It''s so pathetic. And yet, half an hour ago, you were not shy in your expressions, insulting me and acting arrogantly," Tang Xun smirked and step by step began to approach Xie Qing. He squatted down andughed loudly: "How do you like it?


    Funny, isn''t it? Fate is such a bitch. If you were a bit smarter and stronger, perhaps I would have had a hard time. I would probably have lost my life trying to defeat you. But you know what? In reality, it''s pointless to specte ''what if.'' Understand?"


    Tang Xun behaved extremely arrogantly – whether it was in his gestures, words, or facial expressions. He enjoyed the pitiful sight of Xie Qing, who was on his knees trying to recover.


    Grabbing the youth by the throat, he lifted him into the air. Tang Xun smirked.


    "That''s it. Your path ends here. It''s a pity, a great pity. If you were a bit smarter… you would have survived. Say yourst words."


    Xie Qing coughed. He looked at Tang Xun and with a suffering voice said, "P-please… spare my family…".


    "Oh? You have family?" Tang Xun''s eyes gleamed – he was clearly up to no good. But outwardly, the man smiled: "Fine. You''ve amused me. Tell me their names and I promise not to touch them."


    "Zhang Xin… kha kha… and… kh… Zhang Hong… I value them greatly… kha kha… p-please…"


    "Hahaha. Good. Zhang Xin and Zhang Hong, right?" Tang Xun smirked and suddenly, with a devilish expression, said, "I''ll make sure they turn to ashes! They will suffer before they die! And I''ll start my revenge with you!"


    "N-no…"


    Tang Xun''s eyes gleamed, and starting from his shoulder, fire began to spread down his right arm. Slowly but surely, the fire reached his palm. And soon…


    The firepletely engulfed Xie Qing''s body.


    Tang Xun smirked, expecting screams, but… he suddenly widened his eyes. His fire instantly dimmed. When the fire disappeared…


    "This…"


    The man, speechless, looked at the straw dummy in his hand. The dummy''s throat was burned, and on its chest was a note with the inscription:


    [Fuck yourself in the ass, son of a cheap whore].


    "…"


    Tang Xun''s eyes twitched. He couldn''t believe what was happening. All the words he was about to say vanished instantly.


    "How… is this possible?" Tang Xun frowned. Then his face flushed with anger and shame: "You can''t hide from me!"


    Tang Xun activated his curse. This way, he could track where Xie Qing was. And when he tried to do so…


    "…"


    The man turned his head to the straw dummy. The trace of his curse emanated from it.


    "..."


    ***


    "Kha… kha!"


    Xie Qing coughed, clutching his stomach. Barely standing, he dragged his exhausted body into a cave on the mountain. Landing on the cold and hard floor, he sighed wearily.


    His body was covered in countless wounds – from the smallest cuts to deep gashes where bones were visible.


    Almost his entire body was filled with burns – it was not easy to stand against a cultivator who could use fire. Xie Qing gritted his teeth.


    "Fire… no, the Law of Fire. Divine Transformation allows one to obtain one of the six attributes…"


    Xie Qing sighed. Attributes. Perhaps this was something one was born with, or obtained during Divine Transformation.


    Unfortunately, he was not so lucky. He had no affinity for any attribute. Therefore, he could only hope for a breakthrough.


    Assessing his condition, Xie Qing couldn''t even make a cynical joke. For the first time in a long time, he had been beaten one-sidedly.


    If it weren''t for his caution, today could have been his end, as Tang Xun had said.


    Remembering that guy… Xie Qing narrowed his eyes.


    "I won''t forget this, Tang Xun. Wait for the day when Ie for you and personally kill you, putting an end to this karma."


    Hatred. Anger. The strongest emotions Xie Qing felt at that moment. He had never before experienced such dark emotions, not so intensely.


    An abyss of emotions and a vivid feeling – helplessness. At his level of cultivation, Xie Qing truly was not all-powerful. Today had been a lesson for him.


    "I have no more lifesaving items. That was thest one," he thought, gritting his teeth so hard that they creaked. "I must be cautious. There won''t be a second chance. If I lose this time… perhaps, this is where I will meet my end."


    Sure, here is the tranted text adhering strictly to the glossary provided:


    It was difficult. Xie Qing would have had to work hard. His next destination was the sect of Hao Shen – the Sect of Shadowed des.


    "After this incident, it will be difficult. Very difficult. Ma Lu must have suspected that there is a traitor within the sect. Tang Xun will also talk about me. I need to change my appearance and find a way to harm the altar…" Xie Qing became serious.


    He tried to stand up, but a sharp pain instantly struck him, forcing him to copse to the ground with a contorted face.


    "Ah," he sighed helplessly, taking out pills and healing ointment. "I need to heal first…"


    ***


    And while Xie Qing was spending time healing… the Sect of Bone Circle was in utter chaos.


    "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"


    Outer court. Disciples who looked even slightly suspicious were instantly killed, without anyone bothering to listen to their pleas.


    Screams, pleas, prayers – all of it blended into a monstrous and chaotic melody that pleased the ears of the elders of the main court.


    "Do not me us. This is the Sect master''s order," an elder said indifferently, gripping a disciple''s throat. Then he applied some force and crushed it.


    Ma Lu''s order was simple – conduct a purge. The other details would be decided by the elders on the spot.


    And as soon as Ma Lu''s words left his mouth, the outer and inner courts turned into chaos. The number of those killed exceeded ten thousand, and this number only increased with time.


    The incident with the poisoning and the new injuries to Ma Lu filled him with great anger. Therefore, he decided to thoroughly deal with all the spies this time.


    Sure, here is the tranted text adhering strictly to the glossary provided:


    However, what Ma Lu did not know was that there were no spies from the righteous sects within the Sect of Bone Circle. Therefore, this entire spectacle was pointless.


    "P-please wait…"


    A pleading voice was heard. It was a disciple kneeling before two elders.


    "E-elders, this disciple has never vited the sect''s rules and cannot possibly be a traitor! P-please, have mercy!"


    "Hmph, do you think your words can convince us? You sound just like a spy!" one of the elders snorted, looking at the disciple with contempt.


    "Hah. Alright, exin yourself. First, tell us your name."


    "I-I… I am Zhang Xin, elders!"


    A familiar name. The man bowed to the ground and began to tter. Due to his posture, he did not notice the strange look on the faces of the two elders.


    "Zhang… Xin, you say?" one of them said in a strange voice.