The knife was small, half the size of an ordinary dagger. He held it in his palm, and under the control of his spiritual energy, it was about to pierce through Lin Xiao's body.
At this distance, and with Qi Tian making the move, even if Lin Xiao reacted, Qi Tian was confident he would leave a gaping hole in Lin Xiao's body.
However…
The smile on Lin Xiao's face didn't diminish, and his two fingers had already clamped onto the knife.
"Young Sect Master Qi, I believe our transaction is still on, isn't it?" Lin Xiao asked, staring at Qi Tian with a grin.
Ever since Qi Tian had descended earlier, he had noticed a subtle difference in Qi Tian's aura.
Moreover, he could distinctly sense Qi Tian subtly sizing him up.
Though there was no hostility or killing intent, as someone who had toughed it out in the harsh Northern Frontier, he immediately felt Qi Tian's difference.
Qi Tian, after all, was merely a transactional partner, not a comrade.
"Of course, it's still on."
Qi Tian narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected to be able to deal with Lin Xiao at this moment. If he truly did, then Lin Xiao would have been doing him a disservice after a month of cultivation.
No one in this world knew Lin Xiao's strength better than he did.
"So, who is it that you've struck a deal with this time?" Lin Xiao couldn't fathom a reason for Qi Tian to attack him. If there was one, it had to be that he had once again struck a deal with someone.
And, he felt, this deal was most likely with the Pretty Country.
Only the Pretty Country could offer something that Qi Tian now considered valuable enough.
Even more valuable than the cultivation technique he had given.
"Oh, since you know it's a transaction, you should also know that it's inconvenient for me to say." Qi Tian stared at Lin Xiao. He didn't retreat, and the small knife floated between them, creating a stalemate.
Their gazes met in the air, constantly clashing.
"Then, if you succeed, what will you gain?" Lin Xiao wasn't in a hurry, talking as if with a friend. Originally, he had started to see Qi Tian as a friend, but alas...
"Nothing much, just that my artifact refining techniques can reach a higher level, even something that can surpass the Divine Realm." Qi Tian said.
Surpassing the Divine Realm.
Lin Xiao's eyes flickered. If the stakes were this high, Lin Xiao would accept it. He believed he still couldn't compete with the temptation of surpassing the Divine Realm.
"It seems you understand. Then I believe you'll be very willing to cooperate with me?" Qi Tian stared at Lin Xiao. "I can enter into another transaction with you now. After obtaining those things, I guarantee that your family, your wife and daughters, will be absolutely safe. I will protect them with my life."
"This transaction sounds rather good?" Lin Xiao chuckled. The terms Qi Tian offered were indeed quite good, except for taking his life.
"Since that's the case, why don't we complete the transaction first?" Qi Tian seemed very happy upon hearing Lin Xiao's words. He flicked his finger, and the small knife traced an arc, returning to his hand.
It was a pity that as soon as the knife landed in his hand, it turned to dust.
A weapon that could remain intact under the immense pressure from both of them... only a divine artifact could do that, right?
Lin Xiao nodded. "Let's sign the contract first."