Chapter Nineteen: The Heavenly Ice Flower Secured

The snow leopard suddenly spun around, evading Li Er’s attack. Its long tail whipped out fiercely like a thick steel whip, sweeping toward Li Er’s waist!

Li Er and the snow leopard clashed fiercely, their battle evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand.

Having successfully driven away the wolves and tigers, Qin Lang, hidden behind a massive boulder, showed no sign of joy. He immediately swallowed a Qi Recovery Pill to restore his spiritual power, then fixed his gaze on the Tianbing Flower not far away.

At this moment, more than half of the topmost buds of the Tianbing Flower had bloomed, releasing a faint, refreshing fragrance that radiated outward from the flower, filling the air with an invigorating scent that lifted the spirits.

After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the topmost buds of the Tianbing Flower were fully open, and the fragrance in the air had reached its peak—rich and intoxicating.

“The Tianbing Flower has finally matured!”

Qin Lang’s eyes burned with desire as he stared at the perfectly blossomed flower, his breath quickening, eager to seize it immediately.

But reason told him the time was not yet right.

Only when Li Er and the snow leopard were both exhausted or severely wounded would be the optimal moment for him to snatch the Tianbing Flower.

Qin Lang waited silently for another hour. Li Er and the snow leopard had fought hundreds of rounds, their battle reaching a fever pitch. Both had begun unleashing their ultimate moves, desperate to win.

A roar echoed as the snow leopard summoned a spectral image of itself above its head—its martial soul—which then darted toward Li Er with lightning speed, its power several times stronger than before.

Li Er’s expression grew grave. He also unleashed his martial soul: an immense phantom sword materialized above his head, slashing directly at the snow leopard.

The clash of the sword and the snow leopard’s martial soul sent violent spiritual energy swirling, fiercely entangling and rapidly draining each other.

After a tense standoff lasting fifteen minutes, a tremendous explosion erupted where the two martial souls collided. The last remnants of their soul power detonated simultaneously, sending a violent wave of spiritual energy sweeping outward at a visible speed, obliterating all in its path.

Fortunately, the Tianbing Flower was far enough away from the battle to remain untouched by the destructive force.

Li Er was struck by the wave of spiritual energy, spitting a mouthful of blood as his body crashed heavily backward, grievously wounded.

On the other side, the snow leopard lay on the ground, its belly turned upward, blood gushing out—it was clearly on the brink of death.

Their desperate clash ended with both sides severely injured.

“Now is the time!”

Qin Lang’s eyes gleamed. This was the best moment to act.

He slipped out from behind the boulder and quickly plucked the Tianbing Flower, carefully tucking it into his chest. Only then did he step toward Li Er.

“It’s thanks to your help that I’ve obtained this Tianbing Flower!”

Looking down at Li Er lying on the ground, breathing only out but not in, Qin Lang smiled coldly.

“So you deliberately lured me here!”

At that moment, Li Er finally understood that, as a proud martial artist, he had been used by a mere martial apprentice like Qin Lang as a free pawn!

Seething with rage, Li Er’s chest heaved violently. He spat blood and swallowed his last breath unwillingly, his eyes wide open in death’s refusal.

Qin Lang picked up Li Er’s long sword and approached the snow leopard. The ground was stained red with blood. The snow leopard’s body twitched violently, emitting mournful cries, clearly enduring immense pain.

“I’ll send you off.”

Qin Lang drove the sword straight into the snow leopard’s heart, ending its suffering.

The inner core of a third-tier demon beast was worth tens of thousands of silver taels. Qin Lang naturally wouldn’t let such treasure go to waste and immediately extracted the snow leopard’s core.

Qin Lang was disappointed to find that Li Er, a formidable martial artist, carried only a few cheap first-grade spirit pills and a few hundred silver notes.

But he quickly dismissed his disappointment.

After all, Li Er was merely a guard in the Wang family, holding no high status or backing. His access to cultivation resources was limited.

“The pen is poor, the sword is rich.”

This saying was spot on.

Cultivating as a martial artist truly required immense wealth.

Qin Lang knew this well.

“That brat Wang Chuan should be quite wealthy.”

Here in Tianfeng Mountain for training, and with a guard like Li Er always protecting him, such a delicate young master surely wouldn’t be without treasures.

Wang Chuan had tried repeatedly to humiliate Qin Lang and even attempted to kill him. Qin Lang was no saint and certainly wouldn’t let Wang Chuan off so easily.

In a snowy mountain hollow of Tianshan Mountain, Wang Chuan hid behind a huge rock, his face full of displeasure.

“Damn it, this cursed place is unbearably cold!”

Wang Chuan wanted nothing more than to leave Tianshan immediately. But his strength was weak, and with his right arm disabled, he couldn’t even defeat a first-tier demon beast. He dared not travel alone and had to wait here for Li Er’s return.

“Damn Li Er, why is he taking so long! Hmph, when he comes back, I’ll teach him a lesson!”

Wang Chuan grumbled angrily.

“No need to wait anymore!”

A voice rang out. Startled, Wang Chuan turned to see a fair-faced young man standing before him, an amused smile playing on his lips as he regarded Wang Chuan.

“Qin Lang! How could it be you?”

Seeing the youth clearly, Wang Chuan was filled with shock.

He had expected Li Er to return carrying Qin Lang’s head, but instead, Li Er was nowhere to be found. Qin Lang had come back alone!

Could it be that Qin Lang had killed Li Er? Was he already dead?

Wang Chuan’s heart leapt in fear, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

Li Er was a fifth-tier martial artist, while Qin Lang was only an eighth-tier martial apprentice. The gap in their strength was vast. Even ten Qin Langs together couldn’t kill Li Er!

What an idiot!

Unable even to catch an eighth-tier apprentice! Absolutely useless!

Thinking this, Wang Chuan raised his voice and shouted, “Li Er, you fool! Hurry back to me!”

Since Qin Lang had appeared, Li Er shouldn’t be far away. That meant Wang Chuan no longer needed to worry about his own safety.

“Qin Lang, I never expected you’d dare come back. You truly don’t know your place! When Li Er returns, you will surely die!”

Wang Chuan shook his head arrogantly, looking at Qin Lang with disdain.

“If I dared come back, do you think Li Er is still alive?”

Qin Lang sneered coldly.

“What do you mean? Where is Li—Li Er?”

Wang Chuan was stunned, a foreboding feeling surging within him. He looked up at Qin Lang, his trembling voice starkly contrasting with his previous arrogance.

“Li Er’s sword is already in my hands. Where do you think Li Er is?”

Twirling the long sword, Qin Lang’s face was full of mockery.

Did Wang Chuan think he was a fool to ask such a stupid question?

“You killed Li Er?! That’s impossible! Li Er is a powerful martial artist. How could you possibly kill him?”

Seeing Li Er’s sword in Qin Lang’s hand, Wang Chuan was incredulous. Qin Lang was only an eighth-tier martial apprentice; even ten of him together wouldn’t be Li Er’s match.