Volume 3 Chapter 36

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Volume 3 Chapter 36: Gloom

Watching as the mysterious cultivator using the "Explosive Spirit Technique" was about to crash into Wang Qingjun’s "Water Whirlpool," Xu Qingfan and the other three, who were already far away, held their breath, feeling as if time had slowed to a standstill. Every inch the cultivator advanced seemed incredibly prolonged in their eyes.

Although it appeared slow and they were anxious, Xu Qingfan and the others found themselves unable to move, seemingly stunned by the extraordinary event before them and unable to offer any assistance.

Finally, the two forces collided.

"Boom…"

A deafening roar suddenly rang out. Even though Xu Qingfan and the others were at the Lingji Stage of cultivation, the explosion still made their eardrums ache and churned their insides. As the roar sounded, the dazzling light from the explosion illuminated the entire Huandao Island, making the once dark world as bright as day.

As the explosion occurred, everyone on Huandao Island, whether they were six sect disciples meditating and resting or cultivators from Penance Valley patrolling the island, felt a slight tremor in their bodies. Though the explosion and the resulting Spirit Qi ripple were far smaller than the one during the day, its power and scale were not insignificant. Could something have happened again on Huandao Island?

With this in mind, the cultivators from Penance Valley didn’t hesitate and swiftly flew toward the location of the explosion. The six sect disciples, after a brief pause, also quickly made their way to the same spot.

…

After the explosion, a massive cloud of smoke and dust arose, obscuring everything from view. The strong winds generated made Xu Qingfan and the other two sway unsteadily in the sky, and the weakest among them, Lv Qingshang, nearly fell as he struggled to maintain the flight barrier.

Once Xu Qingfan and the others managed to stabilize themselves, they anxiously watched the scene in front of them but dared not move any closer. They were unsure of the explosion’s aftermath and feared that rashly going forward might only complicate matters. They were also worried that another unknown cultivator might suddenly appear and attack with the "Explosive Spirit Technique," and they might not evade it in time. Even the aftermath of such a blast could heavily injure the three of them.

Although the smoke in front of them blocked their view, a strong sense of foreboding enveloped Xu Qingfan and the others’ hearts.

Judging by the Spirit Qi fluctuation from the unknown cultivator who had just used the "Explosive Spirit Technique," this person was likely at least in the early stage of the Lingji Stage.

It’s important to know that even a cultivator at the early stage of the Qi Refining Stage using the "Explosive Spirit Technique" could heavily injure someone at the late stage of the Inedia Stage. If a Lingji Stage expert unleashed the "Explosive Spirit Technique," its power would be extraordinary. Wang Qingjun had only used a hastily cast "Water Whirlpool Technique" to defend himself, which might have been a fatal mistake.

Not only that, even Feng Qingtian, who was behind Wang Qingjun, was too close to the explosion. Since he was using the "Flame Phoenix" technique with no Spirit Qi to protect him, he might be in grave danger.

As Xu Qingfan and the other two waited anxiously, the endless smoke in front of them finally settled, and their view cleared. The sky and surroundings of Huandao Island returned to their original dim and quiet state, and the scene after the explosion finally appeared before their eyes.

In the sky where the explosion occurred, no one remained. On the ground below, Feng Qingtian had fallen motionless. His face was pale as paper, blood flowed from his orifices, his clothes tattered, and his body covered with injuries. His eyes were shut tight, as if he had lost all signs of life.

Both Wang Qingjun, who shielded Feng Qingtian earlier, and the unknown cultivator who used the "Explosive Spirit Technique" were nowhere to be found.

Could it be…

With a sudden realization of a possibility, Xu Qingfan and the other two turned pale and immediately rushed towards the fallen Feng Qingtian.

"Everyone be careful, there might be a hidden attacker," Xu Qingfan warned the other two while hurrying towards Feng Qingtian.

Surprisingly, the first person to reach Feng Qingtian was Jin Qinghan, who usually did not see eye to eye with him. Jin Qinghan’s face was filled with urgency. Upon arriving, he checked Feng Qingtian’s pulse with Spirit Qi and frowned. Without hesitation, he propped Feng Qingtian up, placed his hands on Feng Qingtian’s back, and quickly channeled his Spirit Qi into him. Clearly, Feng Qingtian’s internal injuries were severe and critical, putting him on the brink of life and death.

Seeing Jin Qinghan start to heal Feng Qingtian, Xu Qingfan and Lv Qingshang, who arrived shortly after, exchanged glances and began a swift search around where Feng Qingtian had fallen, hoping to find Wang Qingjun and dismiss their previous grim assumptions.

Before searching, Xu Qingfan put a few healing pills into Feng Qingtian’s mouth to help Jin Qinghan heal his wounds.

But after searching for a long time, Xu Qingfan still couldn’t find any trace of Wang Qingjun, and a sense of foreboding grew stronger as time passed.

Could it be that Wang Qingjun is really…

After Xu Qingfan searched everywhere he was responsible for, he still found nothing and had to quickly return to where Feng Qingtian and Jin Qinghan were healing.

There, Lv Qingshang, who had been searching for Wang Qingjun with him, was already waiting, looking gloomy.

The item in Lv Qingshang’s hands made Xu Qingfan’s heart suddenly sink. Although he had already vaguely sensed it before, seeing the scene with his own eyes was still shocking, causing his heart to jolt.

In Lv Qingshang’s hands was half of a blood-stained arm, appearing in Xu Qingfan’s view. This half arm still had a few torn cloth strips hanging, as if they were part of the clothes its owner wore when alive, and the style seemed to match the clothing from Jiuhua Mountain.

Could this half arm belong to Wang Qingjun?

Could Wang Qingjun have been blown into pieces in the recent explosion?

Earlier, Xu Qingfan and the others had already considered this possibility. With the explosion being so fierce, it was not surprising that Wang Qingjun would be blown to pieces. But even though they thought of this possibility, Xu Qingfan and the others did not want to admit it. This possibility was too heartbreaking.

Yet, this half-arm shattered Xu Qingfan’s previous illusions and false hopes.

Seeing this blood-soaked limb, Xu Qingfan’s mind blanked at first, then a wave of emotions surged through his mind—anger, sadness, guilt, and self-blame.

Who could repeatedly attack the disciples of different factions on Huandao Island? And now, a sudden strike on them, causing Wang Qingjun’s death and Feng Qingtian’s injury?

And that Wang Qingjun, who was always quietly helping them, both mysterious in thoughts and skill, who mastered the water technique so brilliantly and was destined to shine in the future, just died like that? Not only died, but was blown to pieces with no body left?

Thinking of this, the anger and sorrow in Xu Qingfan’s heart intensified.

But more than anger and sadness, Xu Qingfan felt self-blame and guilt. He was the leader of the five disciples from Jiuhua Mountain participating in the Newcomer Competition. Wang Qingjun’s and Feng Qingtian’s fates were partly due to his poor leadership. He had sensed possible danger but failed to warn the others in time, indirectly causing this tragedy.

More importantly, when Feng Qingtian was in danger, Xu Qingfan felt he should have stepped in to shield him. Although he lacked effective defenses, as the leader of the Newcomer Competition team, he should have been responsible for everyone’s safety, but he hesitated then.

In the end, it was Wang Qingjun who stepped in front of Feng Qingtian, without hesitation, seemingly never considering his own safety.

As for Wang Qingjun, Xu Qingfan had previously doubted him again and again, constantly worried and cautious. But now Xu Qingfan realized that Wang Qingjun was a good teammate, and he himself was not as good as him.

At that moment, Xu Qingfan had a strong urge to slap himself in the face.

"Junior Brother Xu…" Lv Qingshang saw Xu Qingfan’s distracted expression and couldn’t help but quietly express his concern.

Xu Qingfan snapped back to reality at the sound of Lv Qingshang’s voice, and slowly asked in a low voice, "Is this… is this Martial Brother Wang’s remains?"

Seeing Xu Qingfan’s eyes clear up, Lv Qingshang relaxed slightly and replied in a low tone, "Yes, but I’ve searched everywhere around and only found this much."

Hearing Lv Qingshang’s words, Xu Qingfan’s heart sank again, just as he was about to say something, Jin Qinghan, who was healing Feng Qingtian nearby, suddenly opened his eyes. With a flash of disappointment and sadness, he slowly said, "I’m afraid Feng Qingtian won’t make it either."

At Jin Qinghan’s words, the heaviness in Xu Qingfan’s heart plunged into a deep abyss from which there was no escape.

The solitary, untouchable Feng Qingtian, who seemed undefeatable, the first genius of Jiuhua Gate, the hope for the future—could it be that like Wang Qingjun, he too would die?

Two days ago, Xu Qingfan and his party of five confidently arrived at Huandao Island. But now, only three remained, and they were all battered and bruised.

Thinking about this, Xu Qingfan suddenly couldn’t speak anymore because he felt it was all his responsibility. His heart was filled with incredibly complex emotions, but under the sadness and self-blame, he had lost the ability to organize his thoughts. It was as if his mind was blank, and all ideas and emotions had faded away after the continuous blows.

In the midst of these complicated emotions, Xu Qingfan suddenly seemed to feel something. His body shivered slightly, and his gaze regained sharpness as he turned to Jin Qinghan and Lv Qingshang, saying in a low voice, "Let’s go."

Seeing their puzzled expressions, Xu Qingfan quickly explained, "I sense that Deng Tianao is quickly approaching us."

Although Xu Qingfan had the hidden advantage of the "Giant Spirit Flower" and was no longer afraid of Deng Tianao, at this moment, Feng Qingtian and Wang Qingjun were one injured and one dead. The Spirit Qi of the other three was also greatly depleted. Even if they could deal with Deng Tianao, they were certainly not a match for Chou Xuan and the other three disciples of the Liuhe Gate. So feeling the pollen from the "Giant Spirit Flower" he had created moving swiftly towards them, Xu Qingfan didn’t hesitate and decided to lead the other two to escape far away.

Feng Qingtian and Wang Qingjun’s situation was indeed heartbreaking, but it was precisely because of this that Xu Qingfan was even more determined to ensure the safety of the other two.

Saying this, Xu Qingfan picked up Feng Qingtian from the ground and swiftly headed into the distance.