Once Xie Tinglan confirmed that the man before him was Zhou Shuoyi—the one the dwarf old man had ordered him to kill—he didn’t bother with greetings and immediately hurled two explosive talismans.
“Boom! Boom!”
The explosive talismans detonated right beside Zhou Shuoyi, who was dressed in a deep crimson sect robe. A massive mushroom cloud of dust and debris rose into the air, the thunderous roar echoing for miles.
Xie Tinglan’s fingers moved in rapid succession, forming hand seals. Without waiting for his opponent to emerge, he unleashed a lethal strike, slamming his palms together with immense force.
A ring of light rapidly expanded and rotated, launching countless sharp ice crystals into the swirling dust of the mushroom cloud.
“Thud—”
The sound was deafening as the ice crystals shattered against a spectral blue circular array, three meters in diameter, that blocked the assault. A figure emerged from behind the light.
“A sneak attack? It seems you’re just some petty scoundrel, a rat so used to skulking in the shadows that you can’t show your face in the light.”
Zhou Shuoyi, a handsome and upright youth, channeled spiritual energy with one hand, his posture radiating arrogance.
“Since you dare to provoke me today, I’ll leave your corpse to rot in the wilderness under the scorching sun!”
With a cold expression, he slapped his storage bag and released his bred venomous insects.
Instantly, the air was thick with bizarre insects, their sheer numbers nearly blotting out the sky above them.
“Kill him.”
Zhou Shuoyi waved his hand. A swarm of locust-like insects—bristling with fangs, poisonous stingers, and sharp claws seeping with venom—surged forward. They moved in an orderly formation, surrounding Xie Tinglan from all sides.
“You’re not worthy of killing me.”
Xie Tinglan knew that as a poison cultivator, his opponent would certainly rely on venomous creatures. He unhurriedly formed hand seals and ignited a talisman with a flick of his fingers.
He summoned his refined demon fire, which formed a long ring that transformed into a protective shell around him. The flames continued to expand and burn, charging directly into the swarm of insects.
However, to his surprise, the insects were not afraid of the fire!
Zhou Shuoyi chuckled, his eyes filled with cold contempt. “Did you really think the insects I breed would fear fire like common pests?”
“Tell me your name. I should at least know the name of the soul that fell by my hand. I won't remember you, but you’ll be added to my list of kills to bolster my reputation.”
“My name... is Your Daddy.”
Xie Tinglan sneered, his smile more arrogant and provocative than his opponent’s. If fire didn’t work, then he would try water.
He planted small flags all around him, beginning to remotely manipulate the nearby water sources.
Zhou Shuoyi’s expression darkened at the insult, and the killing intent in his eyes solidified. “In that case, go to hell.”
He didn't care which sect this person belonged to. Since they dared to challenge him and strike first, he wouldn't show mercy.
In terms of sect foundation, his Xuandu Sect feared no one.
The two exchanged ultimate moves, neither gaining the upper hand. Zhou Shuoyi excelled in poison, while Xie Tinglan specialized in arrays and close-quarters combat; they were evenly matched.
Fifty li away from the battle, someone was approaching on a flying sword.
“I bought a hundred durians. That should be enough for her, right?”
Yao Dai was eating a piece of durian herself when she suddenly sensed two fluctuating surges of power to the northwest. From a distance, she could see dust and debris rising into the sky.
“Huh, someone’s fighting.”
Adhering to her principle of avoiding trouble to live longer, Yao Dai immediately changed her course to go around them.
Based on that disturbance, it was clearly a fight between Golden Core cultivators. Why would she, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, go looking for death? She didn't have her Master’s courage—her Master would dare to scavenge for benefits regardless of her Foundation Establishment level. Last time she had tried to scout something out, she was nearly caught and killed; she only survived because she had claimed to be from the Xuandu Sect.
Time to go, time to go.
Yao Dai headed off in a different direction.
...
Southern Province.
Tingyin Pavilion.
“Morning.”
Wen Li, who had been staying here for three days, stretched as she walked out of her cave dwelling, greeting Xin Feiliu, who had been waiting for a long time.
“It’s not early. I came to find you.”
Wen Li asked, “What is it?”
“I want to know where Wangquan Chumo is.”
“Are you going to kill him?” Wen Li’s expression paused.
Xin Feiliu fell silent, clearly confirming the suspicion.
“That won't do.”
Wen Li refused to tell her. After all, Gu Linshu was still with Wangquan Chumo. If he died, who would mentor her disciple? Would Xin Feiliu do it? Although her swordsmanship was decent, it wasn't suitable for Gu Linshu.
Xin Feiliu frowned and took a step back, explaining, “I won't necessarily kill him. I just want to know the truth of what happened back then. Even if everyone saw him kill my sister with their own eyes, I still want an explanation from him.”
Back then, Xin Yingru and Wangquan Chumo had gotten together during the Aptitude Battle. Everyone who saw them called them a match made in heaven. It was obvious they had deep feelings for each other; even if their relationship changed, it shouldn't have led to murder. Furthermore, Wangquan Chumo had also killed the other disciples from the Southern and Eastern Provinces who had gone to the Central Province that year.
The sudden turn of events was simply too suspicious.
Wen Li left her with one sentence: “He is in the Eastern Province. If he wants to see you, he will let you find him. If he doesn't, it’s useless even if you go.”
With that, she flew away.
Xin Feiliu remained where she was, filled with a mixture of sorrow and resentment. Refuses to see me? He killed my only sister and now he can just refuse to see me? By what right!
On her way to find Zongzheng Huangyue and Hua Cishu, Wen Li encountered four people.
It was Shengji, Linghu Ci, Yang Yankuan, and Huo Yuntian, who had been waiting through her three days and nights of beauty sleep.
The four young men of the past were now in their twilight years.
Yet she remained as young as she had been a thousand years ago.
Wen Li wasn't as close to these four as she had been to Xin Feiliu and Xin Yingru, but they were among the disciples she had saved during the Aptitude Battle a thousand years ago. She crossed her arms and stopped in mid-air, looking at them with resignation.
“Just say what you want.”
The four looked at each other and immediately cupped their fists, bowing deeply.
“We ask for Senior’s guidance.”
Linghu Ci explained, “Senior, we have been stuck at the Early-Stage Soul Formation realm for several centuries. We only have about two hundred years left before our lifespans run out. If we cannot break through, this will be the last time we see you in this life. We would at least like to have no regrets.”
They were well aware that although Wen Li currently only possessed the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, her abilities far exceeded that. The fact that the Supreme Elder had sought her out to entrust his legacy was proof enough that she possessed power they couldn't comprehend.
When they met her a thousand years ago, she had single-handedly saved all the disciples from the Southern and Eastern Provinces who participated in the Aptitude Battle. She was at the Soul Formation realm back then, and she was still just as young now.
She likely possessed power far beyond the Soul Formation realm.
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