Chapter 23
Having captured the hostage, Tian Tao laughed wildly and shouted: "If you still want his life, then give the Scarlet Flame Fruit to This Old Man, and I will return him, otherwise... This Old Man does not guarantee that he will not be injured! "
The person who was grabbed by the neck was young and handsome, his eyes had not opened yet. He seemed to be only twelve or thirteen years old, so he was really weak. His expression was slightly panick-stricken, but he was not flustered. He just raised his head slightly to avoid it, and he did not seem to be pleading.
It's just that Tian Tao is proud of himself, but the people of the Xu Family are looking at each other in dismay. In the end their expressions were a little strange.
Only a sloppy old man pleaded: "Senior Tian, the young child is innocent, I hope you will be magnanimous!"
Seeing that he is only a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator, how could Tian Tao care about him? Just looking at Xu Zifeng, his hand tightened a little: "Xu Family boy, if you don't hand over the spiritual fruit, I will break his neck. See how you explain to Xu Zhengtian!"
Xu Zifeng frowned slightly: "Why should I explain to the Patriarch?"
Tian Tao smiled grimly and said: "Because of you, Xu Zhengtian's youngest son died. Why don't you explain it!"
Xu Zifeng glanced at the young man, but was unmoved: "This junior is a worker in Baicaoyuan, not the youngest son of the Patriarch. Fellow Daoist Tian, you are wrong."
It turns out that the unlucky ghost who was being strangled was Xu Ziqing.
He stayed by Old Man He's side for a long time, and was protected by him. He didn't even dare to provoke those ash-gray butterflies, he was just guarding himself. He never expected to suffer an unexpected calamity. For no reason at all someone seized him by the throat. Old Man He reacted, but he couldn't stop the other person.
Xu Ziqing was naturally nervous, but fortunately, the people in this cave were cultivators from Five Families. Thinking that he would not die easily, he was not terrified. When he heard what Tian Tao said, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
In his previous life, he naturally had a precious identity, and there were many people who wanted to use him to threaten his parents and brothers. But he really has no status in this life, and using him as a threat would be a joke.
No wonder Tian Tao misunderstood. Xu Ziqing's cultivation is only on the first layer of Qi Refining Stage. If his identity was ordinary, he would definitely not be able to enter the secret realm of Lin Yuan. And all the families know that the Patriarch of the Xu family, Xu Zhengtian, has a youngest son with double spiritual roots. He is not yet an adult, and he has just stepped into the Immortal Path about a year ago. His cultivation is at the first level of Qi Refining, but he really has an extraordinary talent.
Xu Ziqing looks like this, and is very calm. Wouldn't it make people confused?
Now that Xu Zifeng was exposed, Xu Ziqing was between laughter and tears, and he worried about his own life. He observed that the Tian Family had always been arrogant and overbearing, and that Tian Liang, whose cultivation is only at the fifth level of Qi Refining Stage, could rely on his family background to flog other people. This Tian Tao is already at the Foundation Building Stage, if he flies into a rage out of humiliation will he kill Xu Ziqing?
But Xu Ziqing didn't want to die, so he raised his eyes and send a requesting for help look to Old Man He. He also secretly turned and used spiritual power within his body. If it came to the final moment, he will do everything he can to fight hard.
Tian Tao wasn't convinced at all.
He just wanted to ask, if this young man doesn't have a respectable status, what virtue did he use so he could come to the secret realm with such a low cultivation? Not to mention that there is also the old man on the ninth level of Qi Refining, who plead leniency and has a close relationship with him. Thinking like this, even if he is not Xu Zhengtian's son, he may still be useful .
Not all Xu Family's members know Xu Ziqing's identity. However, all of them are the outstanding talents of the Xu family, and the young son of the Patriarch naturally knows it. Therefore, everyone seemed to just sneer and laugh at what Tian Tao did.
On the other hand, Old Man He was very anxious. He looked at Xu Zifeng with a complicated expression.
Xu Zifeng was already at the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the people below him are just tiny individuals with no power, and he look down on them. It's just that he remembers Old Man He has good social relationships, and since Old Man He is skilled in managing spiritual grass, he has no need to rely on. So he will give him some face.
Immediately, he said, "Although he is not the youngest son of the Patriarch, he is also a descendant of my Xu family. You might as well stop here, so as not to hurt the relationship between the two families."
His tone was very dull, and he there wasn't much sincerity in it. Tian Yuan, Patriarch of the Tian Family, and Xu Zhengtian, the Patriarch of Xu Family, have already shed all pretense of cordiality , and now there are not many empty answers on surface. But as a cultivator on the same level as Xu Zifeng, if Tian Tao isn't a fool, he would have to be a little bit more cautious.
The Old Man He was very grateful to Xu Zifeng. Xu Ziqing had no weight in the eyes of these individuals, it was a great blessing to have a Foundation Building cultivator say a word for him.
Xu Ziqing's breathing was very thin. He also hoped that Tian Tao would stop at this point. He did not want to die for unnecessary things. He was somewhat grateful to Xu Zifeng and Steward He, but before his life was saved, everything was just an empty talk.
When Tian Tao saw Xu Zifeng speaking, he even thought that he had a great plan. He laughed loudly, grabbed Xu Ziqing and went out of the cave. Old Man He was worried about the young boy who was going to take over from him in the future, and immediately flew to follow. Seeing that Tian Tao didn't give him face, Xu Zifeng frowned and left with the sword light. The rest of the people looked at each other in dismay, especially Meng Wanqin, who didn't know what to think, and followed.
As a result, all the cultivators used their strategies and left the cave. This time, they couldn't find treasures in the cave dwelling. Most of them just "tried to gain advantage, but ended even worse "(1). But now, seeing that the Xu and Tian Families seemed to have a disagreement, plus there may be other schemes and conspiracies, they all became interested.
That Tian Tao didn't go far. He was worried that in the narrow cave others would be like a tiger watching his prey, and that the clan couldn't help him. So he went to the spacious place outside the cave and acted as he sees fit.
Not long after, everyone from the Tian family was around Tian Tao, and the people from the Xu family confronted him. On both sides, there were also three families, the Meng Family, the Wei Family, and the Luo Family. It was very lively.
Xu Ziqing always just wanted to practice silently and accumulate strength. He never expected that after he come to a secret realm, because of this situation he became the focus of everyone's attention. He doesn't know how he feels right now, but since he hasn't reached the dead end, he is still calm. It's unknown how this matter will develop in the future, so he could only tightly clench his fists and find an opportunity to take advantage of.
When the two sides confronted each other, Tian Tao smiled with a grim expression: "Fellow Daoist Xu, This Old Man never likes to talk about nonsense. You also don't want to have a close relationship with me and speak about friendship." He sneered when he said that, " When the Family Patriarch will know what This Old Man did he will definitely be happy. "
Xu Zifeng's face was sinking like water. He was refuted and lost his face. He didn't take his anger on the Old Man He, but he had murderous intentions towards Tian Tao. The Tian Family and the Xu Family have shed all pretenses of cordiality. After all, this person has a Foundation-Building cultivation .
Tian Tao clutched Xu Ziqing's neck even harder, opened his mouth and said, "Xu Zifeng, do you want to exchange?"
Xu Ziqing's face turned blue, and it became difficult to breathe. He was tearful and drenched in sweat. He secretly gathered the spiritual power of his whole body. When everyone was watching Xu Zifeng, he quietly squeezed the remaining Flame Talisman in his right hand, and the Green Talisman in his left hand. He only waited for an opportunity to make his move!
Xu Zifeng had killing intent towards Tian Tao, so naturally he refused to speak. He only stood there and delayed for a while, but in fact he was gathering his spiritual power. He wanted to one again release his sword energy and behead this beast directly!
Xu Ziqing looked at Old Man He full of hope. Old Man He also felt something was wrong, so he inquired Xu Zifeng again. It's just that Xu Zifeng lifted his hand and waved to sygnalize , that there was nothing he could say or do.
Old Man He knew that he would definitely not be able to exchange the Scarlet Flame Fruit for Xu Ziqing. Not because this Scarlet Flame Fruit was precise and useful, but because with it, a unique talent with single spiritual root can be created. It is a great help to the Xu family. Although Xu Ziqing looks good now, and is also a good candidate to inherit the Baicaoyuan, but he has not yet grown up, so it is not worth the cost.
Thinking of this, the Old Man He has been loyal and devoted for more than a hundred years. But now he was unable to help Xu Ziqing.
Xu Ziqing caught a glimpse of Old Man He's expression changing from eagerness to silence and then apology. Knowing his choice, the little hope he had just now turned into despair. It is already impossible to have others to help.
Xu Ziqing closed his eyes. Now that it's the dead end, he can only...
Besides, Tian Tao laughed for a while. When he also noticed the aura of Xu Zifeng, his expression became solemn. At this moment, he only heard a sound of explosion coming from next to his body. Although there was no pain, he was a little surprised. He looked down and saw a green light flashing. The young boy who had been restrained by him actually used a Light Escape Talisman and moved several meters away in an instant!
But Tian Tao was a dignified Foundation Building cultivator, how was it so easy to escape from him? But unexpectedly a junior on the first layer of Qi refining managed to ran a few steps sway from him! It could even be said that it was extraordinary shame and humiliation. At that time, he no longer bothered with Xu Zifeng. With a hand behind his back he grabbed and with a strong attraction force Xu Ziqing was brought back !
Xu Zifeng's eyes turned cold. When he got a chance, he immediately held up his sword and slashed at Tian Tao - since he wanted to kill this person, he couldn't be soft-hearted!
Tian Tao didn't expect Xu Zifeng to take action at this time, and he was really shocked and angry. He didn't do much, he just smashed Xu Ziqing's dantian with one palm, threw the person backwards, and immediately turned sideways, trying to avoid the dense sword energy. Xu Zifeng struck while the iron was hot, and did not give him a chance to adjust his breath for a moment. Three swords come again and again. Tian Tao was forced to back out, and accidentally lifted his arm, which was a bone-shattering injury.
Both of them are on fire, and by this time, they are fighting a life and death combat!
None of the cultivators caught sigh of the person who was thrown out by Tian Tao and fell straight into the lake behind.
Besides, Xu Ziqing could not escape, and when he was attracted by force and grabbed by Tian Tao, he knew that it was the end. After that his Dantian was broken, and after the endless pain, he was thrown up high. When he fell into the water, it was cold all over his body.
The ice-cold lake water poured into his mouth and nose. Xu Ziqing struggled and waved his limbs, trying to swim. But he had never learned how to swim, and he was also seriously injured, so he could only let himself sink slowly. After a while, he was surrounded by water from all sides...
It was getting more and more cold inside his heart and the consciousness was gradually becoming blurred. Xu Ziqing has not given up, but in the end, he has sunk down.
Probably this time, I won't be able to live again...
No one understands the feeling of death better than him.
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(1)偷鸡不成蚀把米
• to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it
•to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off