Chapter 596

Chapter 596

I Can See Through Everything

"Someone from the Qiankun Sect is making a move!"

"Why is there only one person entering the plains, and judging by their aura, they’re only at early-stage Golden Core?"

"Early-stage Golden Core entering alone? Is he looking to die?"

"That face seems unfamiliar… doesn't look like a disciple of the Qiankun Sect."

"Could it be the Qiankun Sect forced a rogue cultivator to scout ahead for them?"

"That’s possible. But Qin Zheng has always had a decent reputation—he doesn’t seem the type to do something like that."

"That was before. How many people out there are good at pretending? In this secret realm, things are different. You never know who might show their true colors!"

"Even so, I still don’t think the Qiankun Sect would stoop so low. If they were that shameless, they wouldn’t have been outmaneuvered by the Gongshu Clan a few days ago."

"Whatever the truth is, let’s keep watching. A lone early-stage Golden Core stepping into the plains is almost certain death… unless he’s hiding his true cultivation."

…

While many whispered and speculated within the dense forest, in a hidden corner, a woman exclaimed in surprise, "A’Yu, isn’t that one of the two people we met not long ago?"

"Yes, it’s that same person," Gongshu Yu nodded, equally surprised.

"Weren’t they claiming to be rogue cultivators? Why are they with people from the Qiankun Sect now? Could they be disciples after all?"

"Perhaps."

"If I had known they were from the Qiankun Sect, we should’ve captured them on the spot! Hmph, the Qiankun Sect has betrayed our trust—we haven’t even settled that debt yet!"

"Full of lies, just like you’d expect from the Qiankun Sect."

"And now he dares walk into the plains alone? Is he insane?"

"Overestimating himself. A’Yu said he might be hiding his strength… maybe he thinks he can handle those guardian beasts. Let’s just watch and see how he gets torn to shreds!"

"Let’s place bets. How many strikes can he withstand from a guardian beast?"

"Two hits!"

"I say three at most!"

"No way he’s hiding his strength—I bet he gets smashed with one blow!"

…

While his clansmen mocked gleefully, Gongshu Yu frowned deeply.

Based on Lu Qing’s previous cautious behavior, he didn’t seem like the reckless type.

So why would he step into the plains alone?

Could it be that Qin Zheng and the others hadn’t warned him about the ferocity of the guardian beasts?

If so, maybe these two really weren’t from the Qiankun Sect.

But even that didn’t quite add up.

Gongshu Yu’s mind raced—his gaze suddenly landed on Ye Qingzhu and Zixiao, and he paused.

If he remembered correctly, those two had recently been severely injured by a beast attack—almost beyond saving.

And yet now, barely any time had passed, and they were fully healed. Where had the Qiankun Sect gotten such powerful healing elixirs?

"Look! That person is about to enter the territory of the outer guardian beasts!"

As Gongshu Yu was still caught in confusion, a clansman beside him shouted.

He looked up and saw Lu Qing drawing near the outermost guardian beast.

"Senior Sister Ye, do you think Brother Chen will be okay?"

Watching Lu Qing approach the first guardian beast’s territory, Chu Xiaojing’s voice trembled with anxiety.

Based on their earlier encounters, once any living being entered a guardian’s domain, the beast would instantly go berserk and attack.

"Don’t worry. Fellow Daoist Chen’s cultivation is deep, and his swordsmanship is extraordinary. These are just the outer zones—they shouldn’t be able to stop him."

Though Ye Qingzhu was also concerned, she tried to comfort her.

"Look, Fellow Daoist Chen is almost in the first guardian beast’s territory!"

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Lu Qing as he neared the beast.

But instead of entering right away, he came to a halt, calmly observing the creature.

It was a massive black wolf-like beast, towering over three zhang tall.

Beside it stood two similarly sized black wolves—likely of the same species.

"According to Qin Zheng, once someone enters a guardian’s territory, only one beast attacks at first.

But if it fails to kill the intruder, the others join in to surround them."

Lu Qing carefully sensed the black wolf’s aura.

It stood statue-still, like a sculpture, yet the force it exuded was overwhelming.

Although only at early-stage Golden Core, its physical strength alone outclassed even late-stage Golden Core cultivators.

"A’Qing, are you after the bloodline in those beasts?"

Xiao Li poked her head out from Lu Qing’s robes and perched on his shoulder.

She knew him well—once he proposed going in alone, she guessed his goal right away.

"Yes. These beasts also have that strange bloodline. If we hunted them as a group, splitting the spoils would be troublesome."

Lu Qing didn’t deny it. One of his goals was indeed the Witch Bloodline Essence in these Golden Core-level beasts.

The blood of Foundation Establishment beasts was no longer useful for him or Xiao Li.

So these Golden Core beasts couldn’t be missed.

Moreover, when he used his Spiritual Powers to probe them earlier, he discovered another fact—

The three strongest beasts deeper in the plains actually carried Realm Exit Pearls within them.

If they couldn’t pass the ancient tower’s trial and obtain the secret token to enter and leave the realm, they would need to kill those beasts.

That meant he had to first gauge the strength of these Golden Core beasts.

With that thought, Lu Qing finally took a step forward and entered the black wolf’s territory.

In that instant, the wolf—previously motionless like a statue—suddenly stirred.

Its blood surged wildly, releasing waves of heat, and it howled skyward.

"He really dared to provoke the beast!"

"This guy’s got guts."

"Let’s see if he’s bluffing or if he’s got something up his sleeve!"

As the earth-shaking howl rang out, every cultivator watching from the shadows was shocked to attention.

"A creature that reaches Golden Core through body cultivation… no wonder it's so powerful."

Being closest, Lu Qing could most clearly sense the force of the black wolf’s outburst. Even Wuxing, known for his physical prowess, paled in comparison.

With a deep breath, Lu Qing began to prepare.

With a tap of his foot, yellow light shimmered as the Earth Vein Magnetism Field unfurled. The magnetic force of the land within several li instantly came under his control.

At that moment, the black wolf’s howl ended. Its gaze turned sharp, and in a blur, it charged.

Mouth wide, it lunged to devour Lu Qing whole.

Its speed was astonishing—its enormous size did nothing to hinder it.

"Good!"

Rather than dodge, Lu Qing’s eyes flashed with battle intent.

With a twist of his body, a step, and a punch—all in one breath—

A dragon’s roar and tiger’s howl echoed from within him.

The air before him compressed under the force of his fist and burst outward.

Boom!

Man and beast collided. Explosive force surged, white mist roiled, and their figures were engulfed.

"He’s fighting bare-handed?!"

"This kid’s insane!"

"Does he think he can beat a beast like that with just his fists?"

"He’s got more guts than me!"

"Brother Chen!"

…

Everyone watching was stunned that Lu Qing had chosen to fight the beast head-on with his body.

Chu Xiaojing, Ye Qingzhu, and the others held their breath in horror.

But what happened next shocked them even more—

From within the mist, a massive figure was flung into the air. Its head thrown back, jaw shattered, eyes dazed.

It was none other than the black wolf.

Lu Qing had smashed its jaw with a single punch and sent it flying!

"Roar!"

The wolf’s physical strength was indeed extraordinary. Though disoriented, it regained clarity in moments.

With a furious roar, it twisted in midair, trying to land and charge again.

"Trying to run? Come back here!"

But just as it spun, it suddenly froze.

An invisible force bound its body and pulled it back toward Lu Qing.

With no footing in midair, the black wolf was dragged helplessly toward the mist-shrouded figure.

Bang!

As the wolf drew close, the white mist burst apart, revealing Lu Qing’s stance once again.

He had assumed a martial pose, ready to strike.

The mist was dispelled by the surge of force around him.

Sensing the danger from Lu Qing’s aura, the wolf’s eyes finally showed fear.

But no matter how it struggled, it couldn’t escape the strange force pulling it in.

As it was drawn forward, it saw Lu Qing’s fist fly again.

Another thunderous roar like a dragon and tiger filled the air—Lu Qing’s second punch slammed straight toward its head.

Bound by the Earth Vein Magnetism, the wolf couldn’t dodge.

It could only watch as the punch landed on its skull.

Its vision went dark, and it lost all consciousness.

To the stunned onlookers, the scene was earth-shattering—

A black wolf, several zhang tall, had its skull shattered by a single punch from Lu Qing.

Its powerful life force vanished rapidly.

Lu Qing had killed a Golden Core beast with just his bare hands!

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

The death of the first black wolf triggered the response of the others.

Two more wolves howled and charged toward Lu Qing.

But having succeeded in one blow, Lu Qing didn’t plan to stay.

In a flash, he retrieved the black wolf’s body—down to the splattered blood—without wasting a drop.

Then, with lightning-fast movement, he vanished from the plains before the other two wolves could reach him.

"Let’s go!"

Lu Qing didn’t stop but shouted back as he sprinted into the forest.

"We’re leaving!" Qin Zheng responded quickly. Though equally shaken, he led the Qiankun Sect disciples after Lu Qing.

In the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the woods.

The only ones left were the stunned observers hiding in the shadows, still trying to process what they had just seen.