The gentle breeze rustled through the leaves.
Above the forest, a man and a woman flew side by side.
They were none other than Elder Xue Yun and Elder Peng Shan.
"Hmph! It’s been over a month. That boy’s bones have likely been picked clean by Demon Beasts, yet they still have us searching for his trace! What could the higher-ups be thinking?"
"At the end of the day, he’s just an Outer Disciple with a Wasted Martial Soul—destined to be useless sooner or later. Dead is dead. Is it worth making such a fuss?"
Xue Yun’s gaze was filled with irritation, and her tone was one of impatience.
Ever since Luo Cheng’s disappearance, they had been tasked with searching for his whereabouts. A long time had passed already.
Elder Peng Shan said, "This is Yun Mengli’s order."
A flash of jealousy passed through Xue Yun’s eyes as her tone turned chilly:
"And so what if it’s her order? Does she truly think Luo Cheng could have survived being hunted by the Blood Eagle? What a joke!"
Elder Peng Shan sighed, "Yun’er, you should show some respect. Yun Mengli has recently awakened her Earth Level Martial Soul, and her cultivation has surged. There’s even talk that she’ll pete with Nangong Jue for the position of Sect Master, and even the Saint Heir of the Extreme Dao Sect of the Great Chu Dynasty has shown favor toward her."
"Currently, Yun Mengli’s standing within the sect is pletely different from before. Her opinions are carefully considered even by the Sect Master and the others."
Hearing this, Xue Yun pursed her lips tightly, clearly upset.
Both were women, and she was also quite attractive. Why was Yun Mengli the one destined to bee a chosen favorite? Previously, princes and geniuses from the Great Yue Dynasty had vied for her favor.
And now even the Saint Heir of the Extreme Dao Sect regarded her with admiration.
Meanwhile, she was relegated to being just a regular Outer Sect Elder!
The associates around her were all unexceptional nobodies.
Her gaze flicked toward Elder Peng Shan, and a wave of frustration surged in her heart, leaving her even more unhappy.
Elder Peng Shan tried to console her, "Be patient. We’ve been searching for so long without any results. Surely, we’ll be able to return in a few days."
Xue Yun scoffed, "And what then? I’ll still be a mere Outer Sect Elder, ordered around like a servant."
Elder Peng Shan frowned, "But haven’t you already succeeded in joining the Crown Prince Hall?"
"How dare you bring that up!"
Xue Yun’s eyebrows arched angrily.
Jin Min had initially promised that by helping her succeed, she wouldn’t just gain entry into the Crown Prince Hall but would also receive other benefits—including three Meridian Opening Pills.
With those three pills, she would have a chance to break through to the Middle Stage of the Awakening Vein Realm!
But instead, Jin Min claimed that Luo Cheng had been killed by the Blood Eagle, absolving her of involvement and merely allowing both her and Peng Shan to enter the Crown Prince Hall.
As for the other promised benefits? Not one had e to fruition!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She glared at Peng Shan, her fury unrestrained: "This is all your fault! If you’d listened to me back then and personally killed Luo Cheng, Jin Min wouldn’t have had any excuse to back out! Now, the task is done, but we haven’t received a single bit of the reward!"
Elder Peng Shan anxiously glanced around and lowered his voice:
"Hush! Be quiet. If anyone finds out this matter involves us, we will face utter ruin! Yun Mengli is someone who tolerates no promise."
Xue Yun cast a cold glance at Elder Peng Shan.
"Hmph! Timid and indecisive—destined for mediocrity! I refuse to end up like you, stuck as an Outer Sect Elder for life!"
Whoosh!
She turned and sped up.
At that moment, a clear voice came from ahead.
"It seems you truly regret not killing me yourself..."
Upon hearing the voice, both Xue Yun and Peng Shan’s expressions drastically changed. They quickly looked in the direction of the sound.
A verdant mountain loomed before them.
On a cliff face, a lone figure stood calmly.
Their blue robe rippled gently, a narrow treasure sword hung at their waist. The unadorned sword sheath was etched with a few sparse flame-like patterns. Standing there aloof, the figure appeared otherworldly. A young man, with eyes as cold as ice, gazed indifferently at Elders Xue Yun and Peng Shan.
"Luo Cheng!"
Xue Yun and Peng Shan both gasped in shock.
Xue Yun’s face was filled with disbelief, as if she’d seen a ghost. "You! You’re still alive! You were being hunted by the Blood Eagle—how did you survive? Did the Blood Eagle lose your trail?"
Impossible!
Even as the words left her lips, Xue Yun immediately dismissed the thought internally.
The Blood Eagle was a Fourth Layer Awakening Vein Realm expert. Losing a target was out of the question!
"The Blood Eagle? He’s already been killed by me."
Luo Cheng’s tone was flat.
Upon hearing this, a mocking laugh crept onto Xue Yun’s delicate face: "Haha, you claim to have killed the Blood Eagle? A Fourth Layer Awakening Vein Realm expert? You really think highly of yourself."
Luo Cheng chuckled, "Speaking of which, I have to thank you for the Green Essence Blood Activating Pill you gave me."
Xue Yun’s expression shifted dramatically. "You... you know about the Green Essence Blood Activating Pill! Impossible! How could you know about it?"
She froze briefly, and then realization struck: "No wonder you never succumbed to the poison! You figured it out long ago! When? How did you know?"
"If you don’t want others to know, then don’t do it. But none of that matters anymore."
Luo Cheng gently shook his head, resting his right hand on the hilt of his sword, his tone indifferent:
"Didn’t you regret not killing me yourself? I’ll give you another chance."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yun’s expression twisted into one of ferocity, her eyes brimming with storm-like killing intent:
"Haha, giving me another chance? Such arrogance! Do you think that winning first place in the Three Sects Martial Arts petition makes you invincible? True Awakening Vein Realm experts are far beyond your reach."
"Fine. Today, I’ll personally send you on your way. Then, I’ll deliver your head to Jin Min! Let’s see what excuse he has left!"
In Xue Yun’s eyes, Luo Cheng was already a dead man walking.
Both she and Peng Shan had Third Layer Awakening Vein Realm cultivation—either of them could easily kill him!
"Be careful, this kid is full of surprises!"
Peng Shan’s gaze was serious.
That Luo Cheng knew about the Green Essence Blood Activating Pill, yet dared to appear before them, unnerved him deeply.
Still, now that Luo Cheng was aware of the pill, there was no turning back.
Peng Shan slowly unsheathed his long saber, preparing to join forces with Xue Yun.
"Hmph, no need for you to step in. I’ll handle him myself."
Xue Yun had no respect for Peng Shan’s overly cautious nature.
She had already resolved that, starting today, she would climb the ranks of the Crown Prince Hall on her own strength!!
She took a step forward, and a massive black fish shimmering with five radiant stars appeared behind her.
Boom!
A surge of Essence Energy erupted, and Xue Yun fixed her icy gaze on Luo Cheng:
"Luo Cheng, you were lucky—the Green Essence Blood Activating Pill failed to affect you! And you escaped the Blood Eagle’s pursuit! But luck won’t save you this time. Die!"
"Bibo Slash!"
Xue Yun showed no mercy, her palm glowing with an intense dark radiance as she unleashed a killing move, slicing through the air at a distance.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The air rippled as layer upon layer of black waves surged forward, each wave brimming with lethal Cutting Force, blotting out the sun and surging toward Luo Cheng like a tidal wave!
Clang!
The Flame Trace Sword was unsheathed.
With one swing, winds howled, clouds churned, and thunder roared!
A single dazzling sword light, breathtakingly radiant like the first glimmer of dawn, banished the darkness and obliterated the layers of Cutting Force instantly.
Thud!
Xue Yun didn’t even have time to react before the Sword Qi pierced through her Protective Essence Energy, shredding her right hand—and along with it, her entire right arm and shoulder—into a mangled mess. Blood gushed wildly as she screamed in agony, sending her flying backward!
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