In a breath, he vanished from sight.
Many in the martial world remained silent, watching the figure disappear.
In the quiet, quite a few felt a mix of embarrassment and shame.
Among the crowd, a young man couldn't help but look at his master and whispered in confusion, "Master, is Li Daoqiang just taking Lü Tengkong away like that? How can a bandit be so reckless?"
Those nearby who heard this immediately cleared a wide berth.
Glances cast his way carried a chill and mockery.
The young man sensed it, but before he could say more, his master's face changed, and he reached out to smack his disciple on the head.
Frustrated and angry, he scolded, "You don't know your place, blabbering nonsense! What's there to say?"
The young man felt wronged but dared not argue in front of his master.
This incident was just a minor episode. Han Xun and the Diancang Sect, however, were truly furious and humiliated.
At the doorstep of a renowned sect elder's home, a bandit had acted with impunity, and they dared not speak up.
They had no face to say anything more, casting cold glances at the martial crowd before returning to their residence.
Zhuiming was slightly better, only mildly displeased, but more worried and troubled.
Such a reckless top-tier expert was bound to be a major headache for their Divine Marquis Mansion.
He sighed softly, feeling a bit better.
Well, Li Daoqiang taking Lü Tengkong away was actually a good thing, solving the trouble here.
As for the Heavenly Demon Qin matter, he'd leave it to his master to fret over.
With that thought, his figure flickered and vanished.
Seeing Zhuiming disappear, the martial crowd could no longer hold back and began discussing animatedly.
"In my view, Lü Tengkong's family has nothing to do with the Heavenly Demon Qin."
"I think so too. I reckon the Six-Finger Handprint is the problem."
"Exactly, the Six-Finger Handprint is definitely suspicious."
......
Amid the chatter, the martial crowd, each with their own schemes, began to disperse.
The true experts also started to leave.
In a tavern, Bian Bufu glanced warily in the direction Li Daoqiang had gone and said cautiously, "Senior Sister, Lü Tengkong and his wife have been taken by Li Daoqiang. What about the Heavenly Demon Qin?"
Zhu Yuyan's brow was slightly dark. She replied coldly, "Lü Tengkong's family likely has nothing to do with the Heavenly Demon Qin; they're just pawns. Otherwise, even Li Daoqiang couldn't have taken them so easily."
"And next?" Bian Bufu nodded in agreement.
"To the Six-Finger Manor. The Heavenly Demon Qin—I must have it." Zhu Yuyan's gaze sharpened, her presence imposing.
"Yes."
......
A figure in black, exuding a sinister aura, said nothing and turned to leave in one direction.
Other hidden figures also departed at top speed.
Over two hundred li from the city.
A figure in fiery red robes streaked through the air like a flame.
Wherever it passed, the air within several zhang seemed to boil, scorched by its presence.
The figure stopped, coughed up another mouthful of blood, and its red face turned pale.
The scorching energy within surged, charring the ground for several zhang around, as if roasted by fire.
After a few breaths, the terrifying power subsided.
The figure took a deep breath, its face regaining its red hue, but its brow was dark and grim.
"Li Daoqiang."
He gritted his teeth, spitting out the three words with a chill and deep wariness.
"This palm today—one day, I'll repay it twofold."
He swore coldly, his eyes firm.
" The Heavenly Demon Qin—I must obtain it. Only with it can I avenge this palm strike."
As his voice faded, a sudden, extreme sense of danger surged over him.
The breath of death chilled him to the bone.
His heart pounded in terror. He had fled over two hundred li, yet someone still pursued him.
Without time to think, his true essence erupted in a life-or-death crisis.
Flames burst from him, turning him into a massive fireball burning in place.
Within hundreds of zhang, the temperature soared, instantly killing all plants and animals, leaving a charred wasteland.
The next moment, a transparent line of light shot through the air.
Silent, as if nothing could block it.
The thread-like light sliced through the fireball.
In an instant, all fell silent. The blazing fire died, and the figure stood frozen, face filled with terror and disbelief, staring ahead.
"Ding~!"
Only then did a faint, lingering sound of a zither drift over.
"You—"
The figure raised a hand, realization dawning, mixed with unwillingness.
A hundred zhang away, a stunningly ethereal figure had appeared.
Clad in a deep blue gauze dress, tall and slender, she was like a dream, yet more like a block of ice from hell, set to destroy everything.
Her beautiful face showed no emotion, cold and aloof as she looked at the figure.
In her arms rested a zither, ancient yet radiating a strange, magical allure.
"You won't obtain the Heavenly Demon Qin; you'll only die beneath it," the woman said coldly.
The fiery figure struggled to ask, "Who are you?"
"Sixteen years ago, you killed my family. Today, one by one, you all must die," the woman said, ice-cold.
"You—you're that little girl from back then!" The fiery figure suddenly understood, swaying.
The woman said nothing, but the figure was certain. He burst into bitter laughter. "I never thought I'd still die under the Heavenly Demon Qin."
He then sneered, "But I'll wait for you. If you want revenge, your enemies will be far stronger than you imagine."
"Besides your six factions, who else?" The woman's eyes flickered with a trace of emotion, her tone cold.
The fiery figure laughed again, unhesitating: "Countless want the Heavenly Demon Qin. The six on the surface are just puppets. As for who's in the shadows, I can only say they're unimaginably powerful."
"Who exactly?" The woman's brow grew colder.
"I don't know. I don't know who they are. I'm telling the truth. I only hope you'll spare the others in the Blazing Flame Palace. My grudge is mine alone; they have nothing to do with it," the figure said honestly.
The woman was silent, showing no other emotion.
The fiery figure sighed softly. Suddenly, with a "bang," his body shattered into pieces.
Blood sprayed, a brutal sight.
The woman remained unmoved, casually waving her hand.
The cleanly split remains, as if cut by a divine sword, turned into a pile of minced flesh.
Ignoring the even bloodier scene, she stood with the zither, her whole being seeming colder.
"No matter who it is, I'll find you all one by one."
Her resolute, cold voice rang out, tinged with a demonic intent that blended seamlessly with the zither in her arms.
......
Black Dragon Stronghold.
Li Daoqiang flew back to the stronghold at top speed with Ximen Yiniang.
As for Lü Tengkong, he had set him down as soon as they left the scene, letting him return with Blood Saber Ancestor and the others.
Carrying an extra person would have drained his energy and slowed him down.
Ximen Yiniang's injuries couldn't wait.
"Brother Ding, take a look. Can she be saved?" Back at the stronghold, Li Daoqiang found Ding Dian.
Ding Dian didn't hesitate. After examining her, he said seriously, "Her heart is severely damaged. She's only alive thanks to your true essence keeping her going. It's serious, but she can still be saved."
Li Daoqiang nodded with a smile, satisfied.
As expected, Ding Dian and the Divine Illumination Scripture didn't disappoint.
He had no way to treat Ximen Yiniang's injuries himself; at best, he could prolong her life.
But with Ding Dian and the Divine Illumination Scripture, it was different.
Lately, even without practicing it, he had come to understand its power.
It truly lived up to its name as a divine skill.
In terms of combat effectiveness at the same level, it couldn't match the Dragon-Elephant Vajra Art.
But for healing and recovery, the Dragon-Elephant Vajra Art was no comparison.
Ding Dian had been tortured by Ling Tuisi for years, yet thanks to the Divine Illumination Scripture, his body remained intact, and his strength even grew.
In the original story, Di Yun was already dead but was still revived.
In this clearly high-martial world, the Divine Illumination Scripture's effects were even greater.
Li Daoqiang suspected that at a certain level, even regrowing limbs wouldn't be impossible.
So when he saw Ximen Yiniang on the brink of death from a palm strike, he was tempted.
"Good, then I'll trouble you, Brother Ding." Li Daoqiang said bluntly.
Ding Dian didn't hesitate and began treatment.
Green true essence rose, flowing into Ximen Yiniang's body.
Li Daoqiang stepped back to guard them.
Meanwhile, he pondered recent events.
Unless they were fools, everyone should understand that the Heavenly Demon Qin matter had nothing to do with Lü Tengkong's family—99% certain.
The remaining 1% wasn't worth making an enemy of him.
That's why he could take Lü Tengkong and his wife so easily.
Of course, the palm strike that wounded the instigating Blazing Flame Ancestor, showcasing his strength, was also a key factor.
Under these circumstances, he could so effortlessly take Lü Tengkong and his wife from among the many hidden experts.
Next, barring surprises, it would be the Six-Finger Manor.
The Heavenly Demon Qin's allure had exceeded his expectations.
Many experts had come this time, but they hadn't shown themselves without seeing the qin.
At the Six-Finger Manor, even more experts might appear.
After all, news spread through the martial world slowly, and travel took time.
Many experts might not have arrived yet.
Of course, many would hold back due to pride or other reasons, not going to the Six-Finger Manor.
After all, the Heavenly Demon Qin hadn't truly surfaced yet.
Some rumors weren't enough to make them personally travel.
In fact, such experts might even be the majority.
Ultimately, most experts had their own affairs; why would they run around based on uncertain news?
Those who did were either determined to get the Heavenly Demon Qin or had other motives.
But no matter what, the Six-Finger Manor would become a massive vortex.
(Thanks for the support, please keep it coming.)
......