The three Cave Heaven cultivators glanced dismissively at Mei Xue. If not for her ties to the Clearwater Sect, they would never have bothered listening to her orders.
One of the Cave Heaven cultivators in the center addressed Ling Yun, "Young man, there's no deep grudge between us. How about we make a deal?"
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"Hand over that soul technique of yours, and we'll leave immediately. We won't interfere any further," the middle cultivator said with a sly smile.
To them, Ling Yun was cornered. Trading a technique for his life was a bargain he couldn't refuse.
Unfortunately, they underestimated Ling Yun.
"That's quite the cunning plan, but I refuse," Ling Yun replied coldly.
Even if he wanted to hand over the technique, he couldn't. The system-bestowed techniques were uniquely his, directly integrated into his consciousness. There was nothing he could physically hand over.
"Then, I'm afraid you must die."
Without another word, the central cultivator unleashed a powerful palm strike toward Ling Yun.
'Too fast! I can't dodge—I'll have to block it!' Ling Yun quickly raised his arms to defend.
Boom!
The force of the attack sent him flying several meters, his clothes shredded by the blast, leaving his arms exposed.
The power disparity was staggering. The sheer might of a casual strike from a Cave Heaven cultivator was something Ling Yun could barely withstand. If not for his Divine Mountain Unyielding Body, his bones would have been crushed.
"Hehehe, such a beautiful man—what a shame to kill you. Don't worry, we'll enjoy every inch of you after you're dead," the female Cave Heaven cultivator licked her lips, her gaze filled with wicked desire.
Whoosh!
At that moment, Ling Yun's Venomous Needle shot toward the woman's heart at blinding speed.
"Such a petty trick!" she sneered, channeling her spiritual energy as six multicolored realms materialized above her.
Cave Heaven Sixth Level!
The Venomous Needle, which had always pierced its targets effortlessly, hovered just inches from the woman's heart, unable to penetrate her defenses.
For the first time, the Cave Heaven cultivator sensed genuine danger from the silver needle.
"What a fine treasure! It's mine now!" She extended her hand, her spiritual energy forming a massive claw that grabbed at the needle, intending to claim it.
However, the Venomous Needle quivered violently before piercing through her spiritual claw, returning to Ling Yun's side.
Realizing he had no choice, Ling Yun retrieved a silver pill from his system storage. "Before I left, my master gave me this as a last-resort defense. Care to try it?"
The silver pill, about the size of a pearl, gleamed ominously, intricate runes etched on its surface.
Thunderstorm Pill: When activated, its destructive force is equivalent to a full-strength strike from a ninth level Cave Heaven cultivator.
Sensing the lethal threat emanating from the pill, the three Cave Heaven cultivators immediately retreated a few steps, fear evident in their eyes. This was not something they could survive.
"Now, now, let's not be hasty. We were just kidding," the central cultivator forced a smile.
"Too late," Ling Yun said, his voice cold as he infused the pill with spiritual energy and hurled it toward them.
"Defend yourselves!"
The three Cave Heaven cultivators summoned their realms, massive barriers of spiritual energy forming around them. Defensive treasures also flew from their storage rings, floating in front of them in a desperate bid to block the impending explosion.
Boom!
In the dead of night, a mushroom cloud bloomed on the horizon, illuminating the surrounding ten miles in a flash of fiery light, turning night into day.
"What's going on? What was that explosion?"
"Could it be a treasure being born?"
"Let's check it out!"
…
In no time, nearby cultivators began converging toward the site of the blast.
Cough, cough
Ling Yun, who had thrown himself to the ground the moment the pill detonated, coughed violently. Despite his precautions, his ears were ringing, the only sound he could hear was a high-pitched whine.
After a few minutes, Ling Yun sat up, still feeling dazed from the explosion.
He returned to the battlefield to find a massive crater over ten meters deep. The area had been scorched clean—nothing survived, not even the grass.
The three Cave Heaven cultivators had been obliterated, their remains scattered like slime across the ground.
Mei Xue and Bi Gouyu, who had been standing further back, were merely knocked unconscious by the shockwave.
Suddenly, a wave of weakness washed over Ling Yun. His once vibrant skin began to shrivel, turning gaunt and wrinkled.
'The Bloodburst Pill's side effects.'
Wasting no time, Ling Yun approached the nearest corpse and activated the Blood Refining Technique.
Thin red threads of life essence floated out from the bodies, flowing into Ling Yun.
His withered skin quickly regained moisture, becoming even smoother and more supple than before.
Ling Yun exhaled slowly, releasing a cloud of murky air. The corpses had been drained dry, reduced to shriveled husks.
Turning to Mei Xue and Bi Gouyu, Ling Yun walked over with grim determination.
Sensing his approach, Mei Xue scrambled to her knees, clutching his leg and sobbing.
"Please spare me, Daoist Ling! I was wrong—I was blinded by greed. Have mercy, just this once!"
Having witnessed the destruction Ling Yun had wrought, all the fight had drained from her. She no longer had the will to resist.
"I told you, you'd see your own brain," Ling Yun said coldly, delivering a crushing palm strike to the top of her head.
Blood and brain matter splattered everywhere as Mei Xue died instantly.
Kicking her body aside, Ling Yun then turned his gaze to the trembling Bi Gouyu, who had curled into a ball in fear.
"Brother Ling… please don't kill me. I was forced into this!" Bi Gouyu stammered.
Bi Gouyu's regret ran deep. Initially, his mother had hesitated, unwilling to betray Ling Yun. But Bi Gouyu had persuaded her, convincing her that it was the only way to protect the family.
Now, looking at the carnage, he realized he had made a fatal mistake. His envy of Ling Yun's beauty had led to this catastrophe.
"Don't worry. I'll leave you with a whole corpse," Ling Yun said, drawing the Biwater Glazed Sword.
With one swift stroke, he slashed Bi Gouyu's throat.
Clutching his severed throat, Bi Gouyu glanced toward Moon Spirit City, feeling a mix of regret and sorrow before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
Ling Yun then walked over to the little girl's body, standing silently over it for a long, long time.
…
The next morning, dozens of Cave Heaven cultivators flew out of Moon Spirit City, scouring the area for any trace of Ling Yun.
The Bi and Mei families had gone mad with rage, deploying their forces everywhere in a frantic search.
Throughout the city, Ling Yun's wanted posters covered every available surface.