Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 57

Volume 7 Chapter 57: You Have No Choice

Xu Hui’s impression of Xu Qingfan still stayed on that fight in Blood Valley from years ago.

In Xu Hui’s opinion, over the past fifty years, no matter how much Xu Qingfan has grown, he could never reach his current height. Without Bo Guangyan’s help, it would have been very easy to defeat Xu Qingfan.

Furthermore, through their battles, Xu Hui learned the skill to control his mind from Bo Guangyan long ago. Over these years, combined with his own "Sun Moon Control Technique," although his level has not changed, his strength is much greater than before.

"I didn’t come to find you, yet you came to find me first. Are you looking for trouble? Fine, I will grant your wish."

This was Xu Hui’s first reaction after hearing Xu Qingfan’s words.

The only thing that made Xu Hui worry was that even though he heard Xu Qingfan’s voice and knew he was up there, he couldn’t sense Xu Qingfan’s aura and couldn’t find his exact location.

"Could this kid Xu Qingfan have some sort of hidden tool to conceal himself, waiting to ambush me?"

Thinking of this, a cold smile crossed Xu Hui’s face, but he felt no fear at all.

To set a trap for himself in his own place, is Xu Qingfan really that foolish?

As Xu Hui thought this, his cold smile grew wider. He slowly stood up from the throne in the hall, making hand gestures, and suddenly, the hall began to shake violently and continuously.

…

At the same time, Xu Qingfan stood alone on the sandy ground above the buried palace, his hands behind his back.

Compared to the Demon Ancestor, it was much easier to find Xu Hui’s location. The places where the wicked masters of the world used to gather had already been discovered by the "Ming" organization most of the time, and the secret of Liu Ziqing from "Ming" had uncovered about half of the information, including Xu Hui’s location.

Xu Qingfan did not bring Niu Wenxing here because Niu Wenxing’s health was too poor. Xu Hui’s ability to control his spirit was silent and without warning. Xu Qingfan’s strength far surpassed Xu Hui’s, and if Xu Hui were to ambush Niu Wenxing, Xu Qingfan would still be unable to fully protect him.

Niu Wenxing is a treasure, and Xu Hui cannot treat him like an ordinary golden core cultivator.

After Xu Qingfan finished speaking, he quietly stood there waiting for Niu Wenxing to appear, but a long time passed with no sound.

Suddenly, the ground shook violently, and a fierce wind rose. The previously clear sky instantly turned into a storm of yellow sand.

A terrifying sandstorm quickly formed around Xu Qingfan, with fierce winds carrying endless yellow sand. In that dreadful force, every grain of sand struck Xu Qingfan with the power of iron, carrying immense piercing strength.

Instantly, a hellish scene unfolded within dozens of miles, with nowhere to hide.

However, even though the sandstorm was terrifying, Xu Qingfan did not care at all; he just stood there quietly without making any movements. Yet, when the sand and wind blew around Xu Qingfan, they suddenly vanished. In the wild world of wind and sand, a space three feet around Xu Qingfan was incredibly calm.

The sand and wind seemed to rage for a long time, but when Xu Hui was sure that Xu Qingfan could not hide or attack from above, he finally showed himself.

Suddenly, in front of Xu Qingfan, the sandy ground quickly turned into fast-disappearing quicksand, sinking down below. In just a moment, a city buried under yellow sand appeared before Xu Qingfan’s eyes.

In the center of the abandoned city stood a palace that still looked magnificent. In the middle of the palace was a grand hall, and inside the hall was a luxurious throne. Sitting on the throne was Xu Hui, who had not seen Xu Qingfan for nearly fifty years.

This entrance was truly impressive, instantly making Xu Hui’s presence on the throne rise to its peak.

However, when Xu Hui looked at Xu Qingfan, his expression suddenly changed. The proud look on his face vanished, replaced by a serious demeanor. He slowly stood up from the throne and gazed intently at Xu Qingfan.

Originally, Xu Hui planned to use the changing colors of the sky at his entrance to shock Xu Qingfan and shake his spirit with the "Sun Moon Control Technique," spreading fear within him.

However, when he tried to influence Xu Qingfan’s mind, he found that Xu Qingfan’s spirit was unexpectedly strong and stable at that moment. His attack felt like a wisp of smoke crashing into a giant mountain, instantly fading away.

Meanwhile, Xu Qingfan stood there quietly, his aura contained, making it impossible for Xu Hui to judge his strength. It felt as if Xu Qingfan were a tall mountain, making Xu Hui feel small and in need of looking up.

Under Xu Qingfan’s deep and calm gaze, Xu Hui felt as if the air around him and the world above and below were turned into a heavy pressure, forcing him to avoid it.

Even though Xu Hui tried hard to hide it, the surprise and panic in his eyes were impossible to conceal.

This kind of invisible and powerful influence is truly terrifying. What level has Xu Qingfan reached now? Nascent Soul? Out-of-Body? Or even higher? How could Xu Qingfan’s power have grown so much in less than fifty years?

This thought quickly flashed through Xu Hui’s mind, and then he began to think quickly about why Xu Qingfan had come here and how he should respond.

As for running away, Xu Hui never considered it. Although he couldn’t see the full extent of Xu Qingfan’s power, he was sure it was at least at the Nascent Soul Stage. With Xu Hui’s abilities, facing a master like him, there was no chance to escape.

"Taoist Friend Xu Hui, it’s been a long time. How have you been? Although the Shenzhou Continent is chaotic, this place is peaceful with few people around, making it a good spot for safe cultivation."

Xu Qingfan slightly bowed to Xu Hui and said with a light smile.

Xu Hui’s expression became serious, his eyes took the shape of sun and moon, and slowly floated into the air. Ignoring Xu Qingfan’s polite words, he said coldly, "Xu Qingfan, stop talking nonsense. What do you want with me? Although we fought in Blood Valley long ago, neither of us was seriously harmed. You lost a few disciples, but you also killed my brother. We owe each other nothing, so why have you come to find me?"

Saying this was almost like admitting weakness.

However, Xu Qingfan seemed not to notice at all. He simply smiled slightly and said, "Dear friend, you have lived in the depths of the Western Desert for many years and do not really know the current situation in the Shenzhou Continent. I have already been cast out by the Jiuhua lineage and now reside quietly on the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands in the Eastern Sea. I owe you a debt of gratitude, and that is why I often feel uneasy. I would like to invite you to stay with me on my Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands for a while, to show my apology. What do you think, dear friend?"

Xu Hui was momentarily taken aback. After looking at Xu Qingfan for a moment, he suddenly burst out laughing and pointed at Xu Qingfan, saying, "It’s only been fifty years since we last met, yet you are even more hypocritical now."

Xu Qingfan replied calmly, "When I was young, I hated hypocrisy. Many years have passed, and yet I have intentionally delved into hypocrisy. Please forgive me, dear friend, but you have not yet responded to my request."

The shapes of the sun and moon in Xu Hui’s eyes grew even brighter as he coldly said, "Xu Qingfan, you are not just inviting me to visit your Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, are you?"

"Indeed, I cannot hide it from you, dear friend," Xu Qingfan laughed. "I have a disciple whose innate spiritual sense is very strong. Although he is currently only at the late stage of the Real Golden Core Stage, his spiritual sense has reached the peak of the Golden Core Stage. He is a genius that appears once in a thousand years for a cultivator who specializes in Original Soul. However, I do not practice the path of spiritual sense cultivation, so I would like to ask you for some guidance."

Xu Hui snorted coldly and said, "The ‘Sun Moon Control Technique’ was created by me. I once vowed not to pass it on to anyone but my Xu family descendants. I cannot fulfill your request. Please leave."

Xu Qingfan was not angry at all and simply said softly, "I’m afraid you cannot refuse."

"Are you going to force me?"

"It seems that I have no other choice."

However, before Xu Qingfan could finish his words, Xu Hui suddenly disappeared, and the next moment, he appeared right behind Xu Qingfan, his right hand producing a transparent seven-inch dagger, which he fiercely aimed at Xu Qingfan.

Besides the "Sun Moon Control Technique," close combat and swift movement were also among Xu Hui’s powerful skills.

As the dagger was about to stab into Xu Qingfan’s neck, Xu Qingfan still stood there as if unaware, and a glimmer of joy flashed in Xu Hui’s eyes, as if he could already see Xu Qingfan dying before him.

However, in the next moment, Xu Hui’s expression changed dramatically.

He saw that the originally back-facing Xu Qingfan had somehow turned around to face him, their eyes locking in a gaze that was deep and calm. As Xu Hui’s dagger was about to pierce, Xu Qingfan even had the time to give Xu Hui a slight smile.

Then, Xu Hui felt his body tremble, as if the air around him had turned solid, trapping him inside. Though he exerted all his strength, he could not advance even an inch.

"I told you, it is not up to you."

Xu Qingfan whispered softly.

As he spoke, Xu Qingfan pressed down slightly with both hands and murmured, "Formless in all directions, I stand in for heaven! Press!"

As Xu Qingfan’s voice faded, Xu Hui felt an immense pressure from the sky above him, and he fell to the ground without any power to resist, being crushed there, unable to move.

"Now that it has come to this, will you not reconsider, my Taoist friend?"

Xu Qingfan chuckled lightly and asked again.

However, Xu Hui’s reaction was unexpectedly strong.

"Hahaha…" Xu Hui said with a bitter laugh, "I, Xu Hui, am powerless and have no words to say, but don’t think you can learn the ‘Sun Moon Control Technique’ from me, Xu Qingfan."

As he spoke, an incredibly fierce aura suddenly radiated from Xu Hui, as he was actually reversing his Spirit Qi, preparing to self-destruct in order to resist Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan’s eyes flashed with surprise and admiration, but his expression remained unchanged.

At the same time, Xu Hui’s expression changed because he suddenly realized that the Spirit Qi in his body was encountering an enormous blocking force, becoming extremely obscure.

In this way, the Spirit Qi could not reverse, which meant he could no longer self-destruct…

"Substitute for Heaven!"

Xu Hui roared unwillingly.

Xu Qingfan flew to Xu Hui’s side, raised his hand, and made Xu Hui’s body float down onto a cloud below Xu Qingfan’s feet. Then, Xu Qingfan carried Xu Hui and flew towards the place where Niu Wenxing and Little Black were waiting.

On the way, seeing Xu Hui’s unwilling expression, Xu Qingfan said calmly, "I told you, it’s no longer up to you. Even if you want to end your life, you must get my permission first."

Although Xu Qingfan was speaking to Xu Hui, his gaze became distant, looking towards a place in the Shenzhou Continent, silently thinking, "Everything is ready now, next, we should prepare to compete for the Azure Crystal Treasure House."