With a cold smile, Mu Qingling curled her lips and said, "You old geezer, if you have the guts, come at me! As long as I'm here, you won't lay a finger on Xin Ci!"
Within the space of consciousness, Xin Ci heard Mu Qingling's words, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.
Mu Qingling had helped him more than once, and he had long regarded Mu Qingling as his closest person.
Since Qingling was his second personality, Xin Ci trusted her unconditionally.
"You're ungrateful! Do you really think I dare not kill you!"
Seeing Mu Qingling's defiance, Xin Tu became enraged and immediately activated the true essence within his body.
With a single punch, the space itself seemed to twist.
Experts at the Saint Emperor realm could already control the power of space.
A punch like this, if it landed on a cultivator below the Saint Emperor realm, would be enough to obliterate their body and soul!
Mu Qingling's expression turned slightly solemn. To deal with her, Xin Tu even resorted to using the power of space, which showed the extent of his anger.
"Mingguang Mirror!"
Mu Qingling let out a low cry, and the Mingguang Mirror, one of the five true artifacts she had obtained in the Tiankeng Secret Realm, was summoned from her Sumeru Ring.
The Mingguang Mirror hovered in front of Mu Qingling, emitting a dazzling radiance.
However, against Xin Tu's punch imbued with the power of space, the defense of the Mingguang Mirror offered little protection.
With a "bang," the Mingguang Mirror shattered.
Mu Qingling was impacted by the residual force, her body trembling violently, but she quickly stabilized herself.
The mid-grade true artifact, the Mingguang Mirror, was destroyed by Xin Tu's single punch. This demonstrated the terrifying power of a Saint Emperor!
Mu Qingling was inwardly shocked.
Xin Tu was only a one-star Saint Emperor, and his mastery of space was not as effortless as that of a Star Emperor.
Peak Saint Emperors like Star Emperors could even use the laws of space to create entire star realms.
"What a pity, my Mingguang Mirror. That was a mid-grade true artifact. I wonder how many spirit stones it would fetch?! I've lost so much."
Mu Qingling muttered to herself, looking at the shattered Mingguang Mirror floating in the air.
"Instead of thinking about your broken mirror, you should worry about your own life, you brat!"
Xin Tu sneered.
"You old geezer, what are you showing off about? You just broke one of my mirrors, and you act like you've conquered the heavens?"
Mu Qingling pouted.
"Well said, you sharp-tongued brat! Today, I will teach you a lesson!"
Xin Tu roared with fury and attacked Mu Qingling again.
Mu Qingling was not idle either. The Xuanyang Sword and the Sixteen Star Moons, two true artifacts, materialized around her.
"Two true artifacts, is that your confidence? Foolish!"
"Wrong, it's six!"
Immediately after, the Poyun Spear, the Xuanming Saber, the Chi Yan Cauldron, and the Bing Hun Bead, four more true artifacts, appeared.
These were all true artifacts collected by Mu Qingling and Xin Ci on their journey.
With the power of the six true artifacts, Mu Qingling and Xin Tu fought fiercely, locked in a stalemate.
The people from the Four Symbols Academy watched, dumbfounded. Where did this mysterious girl in the sky get so many true artifacts?
Moreover, their quality seemed to be high, each one enough to make the major powers of the Eastern Continent covet and fight over.
Even though he had used the power of space, why couldn't he defeat this wild girl who appeared from nowhere?
Xin Tu grew more shocked with every exchange.
The woman had far too many true artifacts.
"Hmph, no matter how many true artifacts you have, you will die by my hand today!"
Xin Tu snorted coldly, his true essence erupting, causing ripples to appear in the surrounding void.
Xin Tu simply extended a finger, and an invisible force of space instantly enveloped Mu Qingling.
Xin Kun and Xin Yan, watching from a distance, were startled. "I didn't expect this woman to force Elder Xin Tu to use True Intent!"
True Intent was divided into five levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Top-tier, and Supreme.
What Xin Tu unleashed was the Xin family's Advanced True Intent, the Star-Shattering Finger!
The power of the Star-Shattering Finger was terrifying; a single strike was enough to pierce mountains and destroy the heavens and earth.
"This is the might of the Xin family. Before me, you are all merely ants."
A sinister smile appeared on Xin Tu's lips.
He was confident that even a top-grade true artifact might not be able to withstand his Star-Shattering Finger.
Mu Qingling's expression was grave as she felt the immense power contained within Xin Tu's Star-Shattering Finger.
It could be said that Xin Tu was the strongest opponent she had ever encountered.
Indeed, the gap between a Heavenly Venerate and a Saint Emperor was too vast; they were in different leagues.
Even with six true artifacts in her possession, she was no match for Xin Tu.
However, Mu Qingling had a trump card.
Just as Xin Tu's Star-Shattering Finger was about to strike Mu Qingling, a magnificent palace suddenly materialized out of thin air.
When the Star-Shattering Finger hit the palace, it did not cause even the slightest damage.
Xin Tu's pupils contracted sharply.
"Impossible! Even a top-grade true artifact couldn't block my Star-Shattering Finger. How is this possible?!"
Xin Tu's expression shifted wildly, his face filled with horror.
"If a top-grade true artifact can't block your attack, what about a Saint Artifact?" Mu Qingling's lips curved into a mocking arc.
"What, this palace is a Saint Artifact?!"
Hearing Mu Qingling's words, Xin Tu's face changed again.
This girl possessed not only top-grade true artifacts but also a Saint Artifact!
An artifact of such rarity as a Saint Artifact was rarely possessed, even by those at the Saint Emperor realm.
Although the Xin family had Saint Artifacts, he had not been fortunate enough to acquire one.
After all, he was merely a one-star Saint Emperor who had recently been promoted to elder of the Xin family; only the more seasoned elders of the aristocratic families possessed Saint Artifacts.
Thus, his gaze towards Mu Qingling turned greedy.
If he killed this wild girl, he would gain her Saint Artifact and his strength would skyrocket.
Mu Qingling, naturally aware of Xin Tu's thoughts, said coldly, "You old geezer, you're ugly enough, but your thoughts are even more preposterous. You want to steal my Saint Artifact? Dream on!"
Hearing Mu Qingling call him ugly, Xin Tu trembled with rage.
"You insolent brat! How dare you insult me? You're seeking death!"
Xin Tu unleashed the Star-Shattering Finger again, attacking Mu Qingling.
"Rumble~"
Xin Tu's attack struck the magnificent palace, emitting a series of loud roars.
However, the magnificent palace remained unharmed, not even a single trace left behind.
This made Mu Qingling yawn out of boredom. Xin Tu's attacks could not break through the defenses of the Xuanyang Palace; they were simply futile.
"Old geezer, didn't you eat breakfast? Try harder, maybe you can break through the Xuanyang Palace's defenses."
Mu Qingling said with a playful laugh.
"You audacious brat, don't be too arrogant!"
"Hehe, so what if I'm arrogant? Come inside and hit me if you can."
Mu Qingling grinned at Xin Tu, a mocking smile on her face.
"Damn you, brat! Today, I will make sure you turn to ashes!"
Xin Tu was filled with hatred. The girl's attitude had completely enraged him.
He could no longer bear it and even brought out his top-grade true artifact, the Qingtian Spear.
However, after several attempts, he still could not break through the defenses of the Xuanyang Palace.