The Cycle of Reincarnation in the Four-Courtyard House: A Journey Through the Heavens

Wang Yuyan recovered from the shock of the sudden commotion. She looked up at Li Xiao with a puzzled yet concerned expression, "Brother Li, what's wrong?"

Li Xiao looked down at the corpses scattered on the ground and sighed in frustration, "I was so focused on attacking that I forgot to use the Northern Darkness Divine Art to absorb their internal energy. These people are all experts from the First-Class Hall, especially Helian Tieshu, whose internal energy is extremely profound. I don't know if it's too late to absorb it now?"

As he spoke, he immediately squatted down, placed his palm directly on Helian Tieshu's dantian, and circulated the Beiming Divine Art, trying to use his internal energy to explore the remaining true qi in the other's body.

But the sensation from his fingertips only made him more disappointed. After these people died, the internal energy in their dantian had long been unrestrained and dissipated rapidly like water bursting its banks. In just a short while, more than 70% of it was lost.

Even if he immediately activated the Northern Darkness Divine Art to absorb it, less than 30% of the internal energy would eventually flow into his body; most of it would dissipate into the world, which was a real pity.

Li Xiao withdrew his hand, his face showing even greater frustration. He shook his head repeatedly, "It was too late. Such a good opportunity was wasted."

Then, he fumbled around on Helian Tieshu's waist for a moment and pulled out a delicate little porcelain bottle.

A label on the bottle reads "Antidote".

Inside was the antidote for Bei Su Qing Feng, and he immediately took the antidote and walked towards Wang Yu Yan.

Half an incense stick later, Li Xiao took Wang Yuyan back to the apricot grove.

He had originally decided not to meddle in the Beggars' Sect's affairs, but since the Western Xia First-Class Hall dared to provoke him, he was not one to swallow his anger. Today, he would get his money back with interest.

More importantly, he had another purpose in returning this time—to find Azhu and Abi.

Li Xiao had never liked a hypocrite like Murong Fu, but he always felt sorry for the fate of these two loyal and love-obsessed women.

A'Zhu, so clever and intelligent, fell in love with Xiao Feng. Their love story was full of hardships. In the end, to protect her father Duan Zhengchun, she disguised herself as him to meet Xiao Feng, only to be mistakenly killed by the one she loved.

Abi, on the other hand, remained devoted to Murong Fu throughout her life, staying with him in seclusion in Langhuan Paradise after he went mad, and died alone. Only her musical skills were passed down, and she became the music teacher of "Eastern Heretic" Huang Yaoshi decades later.

As Li Xiao approached the edge of the apricot grove, he gestured for Wang Yuyan to wait a moment, and then quietly ventured into the grove.

Chaos was in full swing in the forest. About fifty disciples dressed in the attire of the Western Xia First-Class Hall were methodically binding the Beggar Clan disciples and elders who were slumped on the ground with their internal energy sealed, one by one with thick hemp ropes. Their movements were rough, and shouts were interspersed among them.

Although the Beggars' Sect members were unwilling, they were powerless to resist due to the poison, and could only watch helplessly as they were bound, their eyes filled with humiliation and resentment.

Li Xiao's gaze swept quickly across the crowd, and he soon locked onto A Zhu and A Bi, who were being supported by two disciples of the First-Class Hall. The two were pale-faced, but still leaned on each other, their expressions showing a bit of stubbornness.

Li Xiao made up his mind that now that he had transmigrated to this world of Tianlong and possessed the ability to change everything, he was unwilling to watch these vibrant characters repeat the mistakes of the original story.

He wanted to try to rewrite the tragedy of Azhu and Abi, so that his journey through time would not be in vain.

He slowly tightened his grip on the alloy spear, his gaze turning cold as he looked at the Yipintang members in the forest. A new battle was about to unfold once again in the Apricot Grove.

The disciples of Lin Zhongyi Hall were so focused on binding the Beggar Clan members that none of them noticed the new menacing figure at the edge of the woods.

Li Xiao lightly touched the ground with his toes, landing steadily in the forest clearing. He then channeled his Northern Darkness True Qi into his throat and shouted at the members of the First-Rank Hall in the forest, "Listen up, members of the First-Rank Hall! Your Hall Master, Helian Tieshu, is dead! Surrender now!"

His loud shout was deep and domineering, carrying internal force that resounded throughout the entire apricot grove, causing the branches and leaves to rustle. Even the Beggar Clan disciples who were slumped on the ground couldn't help but tremble.

The disciples of Yipintang, who were busy binding the Beggars' Sect members, were all startled by the sound and stopped what they were doing, turning their heads sharply to look at the source of the sound.

More than fifty people instantly formed a circle, gripping steel knives tightly in their hands, their expressions wary and somewhat suspicious.

The leader, a man around thirty years old, frowned and shouted sternly, "Stop talking nonsense! General Helian's martial arts are unparalleled; how could he die so easily? You madman, how dare you spread rumors and mislead the public!"

Although he spoke toughly, his eyes unconsciously flickered.

Helian Tieshu had just led several of his men to pursue the enemy, but they hadn't returned yet, which was already strange. This shout further disturbed them, making them feel uneasy.

Hearing the sound, Wang Yuyan, who was standing at the edge of the woods, also moved her lotus-like steps closer to the entrance of the woods, her gaze fixed on Li Xiao.

After spending these past few days together, she had unknowingly developed a vague fondness for this man. This feeling was subtle and delicate, and she probably hadn't even realized it herself.

Looking at that tall and straight figure, the young man not only had an extraordinary temperament but also a decisive and ruthless air, and his handsome face was full of calm and composure.

The aloofness that had been in her eyes had long since vanished, replaced by an unconcealable worry, and even more so by an indescribable certainty—this was her recognition of Li Xiao's extraordinary skills.

Li Xiao glanced at the blustering but cowardly leader, a cold smile playing on his lips. He tossed half of his spear from his waist, the tip embedding itself in the ground and kicking up a few specks of dirt: "Nonsense! Helian Tieshu's body is right outside the forest on the official road. If you don't believe me, go and verify it!"

"Today you have offended me and committed evil deeds here. You must either obediently submit to my bondage, or follow in the footsteps of Helian Tieshu!"

These words struck at the heart of the matter, and the disciples of Yipintang were immediately filled with unease. Many of them looked at each other, their previous arrogance gone.

Seeing this, the leader knew he couldn't let the enemy disrupt morale any further. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Brothers, don't be fooled! This kid must have used a trick. Let's charge together and kill him!" With that, he brandished his sword and charged at Li Xiao. Although the other disciples hesitated, they had no choice but to follow.

Seeing the crowd swarming towards him, Li Xiao did not draw his gun to meet the enemy.

This time, he deliberately changed his fighting style, not using any weapons. The Northern Darkness True Qi in his dantian circulated rapidly, and his figure instantly transformed into a pale blue illusory shadow. Using the exquisite Lingbo Weibu technique, he quickly shuttled among the more than fifty members of the First-Class Hall.

His figure was incredibly fast, leaving only afterimages flashing through the forest. Amidst the howling wind, no one could see his exact location, let alone harm him in the slightest.