Chapter 192

Chapter 192: Do You Like Ming? (4000 words, two-in-one)

“Several of you should not proceed any further.”

A middle-aged man stood in front of Ming and his companions.

This middle-aged man wore loose pajamas, with a deep V-neck exposing his chest and abs.

He might have thought he looked handsome this way.

The middle-aged man’s gaze swept over Zhu’er beside Ming, and his eyes immediately fixated on her.

“Rumors say the Holy Maiden of the Black Lotus Sect is as beautiful as a celestial fairy. Today I see it, and indeed, it’s true! All the women I’ve seen before pale in comparison to your beauty.” Cui Renwang licked his lips, looking thirsty, his eyes radiating an unmistakable meaning.

Seeing this man blocking her path, Zhu’er felt nauseous.

Although Ming occasionally tortured her—dripping candles on her, making her grill meat—compared to this man, Ming was far better.

The simplest point being that when Ming looked at her, there wasn’t that predatory stare like a wild beast.

“Are you the Master of the Hehuan Sect?” Ming asked.

Judging by the oppressive aura emanating from this man, Ming estimated he was likely at the Nascent Soul Stage.

And according to what Zhu’er said, the current master of the Hehuan Sect was indeed at the Nascent Soul Stage.

“It’s me,” Cui Renwang replied respectfully with a bow, “I am Cui Renwang, the master of the Hehuan Sect. Greetings to the Crown Prince Consort. Rumors say the Crown Prince Consort is exceptionally handsome, and today I see it’s true.”

“I wonder why Master Cui has sought us out,” Ming asked knowingly.

“There’s nothing much, just wanting to invite both of you to my Hehuan Sect for some drinks, to properly entertain you,” Cui Renwang smiled, “Otherwise, if word gets out, others might think we don’t know how to treat guests.”

“Master Cui is too kind, but we are in a hurry to travel. Maybe next time,” Ming responded.

“No next time. When will next time be? Just this once, this one is the best.”

As Cui Renwang finished speaking, the disciples of the Hehuan Sect surrounding Ming took another step closer.

Ming scanned his surroundings, “It seems the Master intends to force an invitation. If this gets out, it won’t look good, right?”

Cui Renwang laughed, “Indeed not good, but who would know tonight? It won’t get out.”

Ming smirked coldly, “Looks like the Hehuan Sect really knows how to entertain.”

Cui Renwang stroked his chin, “We in the Hehuan Sect don’t have much, but we do know how to entertain.”

“Is that so?”

Just as Ming finished speaking, Cui Renwang’s pupils contracted sharply.

In an instant, Ming appeared in front of Cui Renwang, delivering a powerful kick directly toward him.

Even though Cui Renwang was at the Nascent Soul Stage, his physical strength couldn’t compare to Ming’s. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Cui Renwang was kicked flying down, kicking up several meters of dust in the forest.

“Let’s go!”

Ming shouted to Zhu’er.

Zhu’er reacted, following Ming as they fought their way forward.

But at that moment, black clouds in the night sky transformed into a giant hand reaching toward Ming and his group.

Zhu’er frowned, waving her sleeve, turning the evening breeze into a wind dragon that shredded the black cloud hand completely!

“Younger Female Fellow Practitioner, it’s been a long time since we last met.”

A man stepped onto the black clouds, followed by an old servant.

“Ho ho,” Zhu’er chuckled coldly, “I wondered why the Hehuan Sect would bother coming after me, turns out it was Elder Brother’s idea.”

“Eh? That’s not how things should be said,” Wuming shook his head, “I actually don’t even know what happened; I just arrived.”

“Just arrived and attacked me? Elder Brother sure is eager,” Zhu’er’s eyes curved.

“Did I attack Younger Female Fellow Practitioner just now? Sorry, sorry, I must have mistaken someone. Actually, I wanted to help Younger Female Fellow Practitioner,” Cui Renwang apologized with a bow.

Zhu’er didn’t say anything more, just quietly told Ming, “This person is one of the Holy Sons of the Black Lotus Sect, Wuming.”

Hearing this name, Ming’s eyebrows twitched, wondering if he had a brother named Ji Wubing.

“The Crown Prince Consort is truly rude. I invited you as a guest, yet you kicked me. Is the Wu Kingdom’s Zhuangyuan Lang really so disrespectful?”

Cui Renwang flew over, brushing off the dust on his clothes.

“Here!”

Ming didn’t say much, leading Zhu’er to fight through in another direction.

“Everyone, attack! Whoever captures these two will be rewarded with a hundred high-grade Spirit Stones. The Crown Prince Consort can serve as a cauldron for female cultivators, while male disciples have the chance to enjoy Mo Zhu’er!”

With Cui Renwang’s command, it was clear there was no need to pretend anymore.

Disciples of the Hehuan Sect rushed toward Ming and his group.

Female cultivators of the Hehuan Sect had been craving Ming’s rich blood energy for quite some time.

“Looking for death!”

These disciples of the Hehuan Sect were no match for Ming. After using his fists to kill a few, the cowardly Hehuan Sect disciples dared not move forward.

The main problem was still Cui Renwang and Zhu’er’s elder brother.

Ming broke through the encirclement of the Hehuan Sect, but Cui Renwang and Zhu’er’s elder brother kept pursuing, unable to shake them off.

“Sheng Sheng, go first! Fly straight ahead, go to Xuan Yue City!” Ming said to Shen Shengsheng.

“Awooo…” Shen Shengsheng tightly hugged Ming’s neck, shaking her head.

“Listen to me,” Ming gently rubbed her little head, “You’re not deserting me in battle; you’re going to Xuan Yue City to bring reinforcements. Whether I live or die depends on you!”

“…” Shen Shengsheng seriously looked at Ming.

Despite not wanting to leave Ming, seeing his serious and solemn expression, Shen Shengsheng knew she might really be the only one who could save him.

Shen Shengsheng clenched her fists in front of her, gritting her teeth, and a pair of black wings grew out of her back, tearing through her clothes.

Shen Shengsheng flew toward Xuan Yue City, moving extremely fast.

Cui Renwang tried to intercept Shen Shengsheng, but Ming’s big foot was already in front of his eyes.

“Boom!”

Cui Renwang blocked with his arm, getting kicked several meters away by Ming.

“Could you really think you can hold out until people from Xuan Yue City arrive?” Cui Renwang smiled, “And why would they come out to help you?”

“Who knows?”

Ming tilted his head, his blood energy surged, enveloping his entire body. His Dao Pattern Eye reappeared.

Ming lunged forward, delivering a massive punch aimed at Cui Renwang’s forehead.

Cui Renwang used Spiritual Energy to protect his arms and forcefully intercepted Ming’s punch, though his tiger mouth went numb.

Cui Renwang formed a hand knife shape with his other hand, slicing toward Ming’s waist.

Ming kicked him in the chest, using the force to pull away and dodge this strike.

The wind blade formed by the hand knife sliced off a small mountain peak.

Cui Renwang chanted incantations, nine female illusions surrounded Ming, laughing flirtatiously.

But Ming remained unmoved, leaping up and wielding a long sword, striking down at Cui Renwang’s head with one slash.

Cui Renwang dodged this strike, yet an entire mountain peak was split in half by Ming’s sword.

“Such sharp Sword Qi,” Cui Renwang praised.

This Ming’s Sword Qi was unlike any ordinary Cavern Realm practitioner. Even Cui Renwang was puzzled why Ming could fight evenly with him at the Nascent Soul Stage?

However, this was all Ming could do.

In the face of absolute power, no matter how talented Ming was, it wouldn’t matter! Cui Renwang brought out his life-bound Dharma Instrument, which was a jade flute.

As the flute sound played, wind blades blew toward Ming. Ming punched them apart, but the wind blades cut several bloody slashes on his fist.

Ming frowned, gripping the Nine Heavens Cloud Lightning Sword. The Sword Qi turned into surging waves, slashing down with one stroke, tidal waves rushing toward Cui Renwang.

Cui Renwang’s flute music grew more intense, breaking through Ming’s Sword Qi.

The Heaven Opening Fist arrived.

Ming delivered a mountain-shaking punch to Cui Renwang’s chest.

Cui Renwang held up his flute to block the punch.

Spiritual Energy collided with Martial True Qi, and both Ming and Cui Renwang were sent flying backward.

Cui Renwang quickly stopped, while Ming flew over a hundred meters, feeling tightness in his chest, sweetness in his throat, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

“At your level, to be able to fight me for ten rounds is already quite remarkable,” Cui Renwang looked at Ming curiously, “If given enough time, who knows what kind of world you’d conquer.”

Ming smiled, “Then why not let me go?”

Cui Renwang tapped his jade flute, “You’re overthinking it.”

“Then there’s no way around it,” Ming sneered.

Martial True Qi and Spiritual Energy surged around Ming.

Evening breezes swept through the night sky, blowing toward Ming.

Around Ming, an invisible vortex formed!

On the other side, Mo Zhu’er kicked Ji Wuming and his old servant away, looking toward Ming’s direction, trembling, shouting, “Xu Ming! Are you crazy?”

“Mo Girl is indeed correct, are you insane?” Cui Renwang looked at Xu Ming, “You actually want to break through to the Heroic Soul Realm and Sea Observing Realm simultaneously. Even if you succeed, what then? Do you think you can kill me with your newly attained realms? Moreover, your foundation isn’t stable. Forcing your way in will likely damage your bones, making it hard for you to ever reach the Nascent Soul Stage.”

“So what?” Xu Ming smiled, “Rather than dying here, I’ll fight to the death. Otherwise, where’s the future? Am I really waiting for someone else to save me?”

As Xu Ming spoke, Martial True Qi and Spiritual Energy around him continuously intertwined.

Cui Renwang could only watch dumbfounded.

This wasn’t because Cui Renwang was waiting for Xu Ming to breakthrough so they could have a fair duel.

It was because the Martial True Qi and Spiritual Energy swirling around Xu Ming had reached a terrifying level.

Even Cui Renwang dared not approach easily, fearing severe injury.

“Younger Female Fellow Practitioner is indeed worried about him,” Ji Wuming laughed, looking at Mo Zhu’er, “Could it be that Younger Female Fellow Practitioner secretly favors him?”

“Get lost!”

Mo Zhu’er raised her soft sword, which slithered like a snake toward Ji Wuming, forcing him to dodge.

“Younger Female Fellow Practitioner is angry,” Ji Wuming fanned himself with a fan, “What charm does this man possess to make Younger Female Fellow Practitioner secretly favor him?”

Mo Zhu’er ignored Ji Wuming, focusing mostly on Xu Ming.

To others, the only consequence of Xu Ming forcibly entering the Sea Observing Realm and Heroic Soul Realm with an unstable foundation would be damaging his base, affecting his great path.

But Mo Zhu’er knew there was an even worse situation.

Xu Ming’s Martial True Qi and Spiritual Energy inside his body were already incompatible, and his body’s endurance was nearing its limit.

Now, Xu Ming’s Martial Artist realm and Cultivator realm were advancing further. Could his body withstand it?

Even if Xu Ming didn’t explode, he’d be lucky.

This wasn’t because she liked this dog of a man.

If Xu Ming died, she would be in even worse shape.

Moreover, it would be a pity if this man died.

Though he was annoying, such people were rare in this world.

“You deal with your elder brother, no need to worry about me.”

Xu Ming said to Mo Zhu’er.

“Boom!”

The next moment, with a loud explosion around Xu Ming, Martial True Qi and Spiritual Energy spread simultaneously, ascending endlessly into the sky.

Xu Ming exhaled deeply.

He flexed his fists, never feeling so full of strength.

He could even sense the strength of his soul, making common wandering ghosts likely avoid him.

Any soul-targeting spells would struggle to affect him.

This was the Heroic Soul Realm, where the soul became mighty.

Xu Ming felt like a rock from within and without.

Additionally, he noticed his sea of consciousness had expanded from a lake to an ocean, with his spirit manifesting as a small figure standing on the shore, gazing at the vast sea.

The Sea Observing Realm.

Compared to the Cavern Realm, the greatest improvement was the quality of Spiritual Energy.

Xu Ming carefully sensed every change in his body.

Cui Renwang, standing in front of Xu Ming, furrowed his brows.

If before Cui Renwang was concerned about being affected by the Martial True Qi and Spiritual Energy during Xu Ming’s breakthrough,

now Cui Renwang hesitated to move forward entirely due to the terrifying aura emanating from Xu Ming.

Cui Renwang didn’t want to admit it, but he genuinely felt he might be killed by this man! By the way, has there ever been a Martial Artist who simultaneously reached the Heroic Soul Realm and Sea Observing Realm?

“Try it?” Xu Ming looked at Cui Renwang and asked.

“Hmm?”

Just as Cui Renwang questioned, Xu Ming appeared in front of Cui Renwang.

“Bang!”

A swift kick struck Cui Renwang, so fast he only saw a shadow, followed by an intense pain throughout his body! “Boom!”

Cui Renwang was kicked toward a small mountain, shattering a large rock on the hilltop.

“What exactly is this…”

“Master!”

Ji Wuming suspected he was dreaming when Xu Ming was already in front of him.

Xu Ming swung his sword down at Ji Wuming.

Ji Wuming sidestepped.

The sword originally intended to split Cui Renwang in half severed Ji Wuming’s arm instead.