My Core is the Boss-Chapter 142.2: Stealing Little Brides Snacks? Courting Death!
Yet Qi Yuan remained calm, almost bored. "I only came to deal with some petty thieves. Why are the big idiots tripping over themselves to die?"
Ji Chu and Ji Mingqiu paused for a heartbeat, thrown off-balance.
Ji Mingqiu recovered first, snorting coldly. "So the rumors were true. You really are insane."
He attacked without hesitation, unleashing his full power. It was a vast, crushing power, impossible for a mere Core Formation cultivator to withstand.
Liu Guan felt ice crawl down his spine. Even if Qi Yuan was the mysterious prodigy, their opponents were a far cry from the Black Rooster Demon. One was a mid-stage Nascent Soul, just like the Divine Radiance Sect Master.
However, facing such a deadly strike, Qi Yuan only yawned. "Just as I thought. Backwater Nascent Souls can't compare to the ones from real sects."
He could clearly sense the difference, these two were far weaker than the Bright Palace Nascent Souls he had killed at Lingfeng Ferry.
Weaklings.
Qi Yuan flicked his finger. A broken sword materialized in the air, its edge humming with restrained sharpness. As Ji Mingqiu's attack thundered toward him, the broken sword simply drifted forward, almost lazily.
"To kill you, I don't even need a divine technique."
As the words fell, the sword tore through Ji Mingqiu's attack as if it were paper. Without stopping, it slammed straight through his protective aura, assaulting his Nascent Soul. His soul shattered instantly, as though it was nothing but soap bubbles.
Ji Mingqiu's eyes widened. He didn't even realize it was all over. As a mid-stage Nascent Soul, he was considered one of Great Shang's strongest, but he died just like that.
Ji Chu's pupils constricted violently. "You're not Qi Yuan!"
The scene was so absurdly terrifying that he was in denial. He reacted immediately, activating his divine technique to flee.
Yet to Qi Yuan, he was no faster than a tortoise crawling.
"Die," Qi Yuan said, and the world obeyed.
Ji Chu exploded into a mist of blood.
In the span of a breath, both Nascent Souls had fallen.
Ji Ruxue's face was drained of all colors. Terror twisted her features as she stumbled backward. Her neck snapped at an unnatural angle, and she collapsed lifelessly.
Three enemies were gone in an instant. The whole thing happened so abruptly and cleanly that it hardly felt like Nascent Soul True Lords had died. More like a few Foundation Establishment nobodies.
Behind Qi Yuan, Liu Guan stared with eyes wide enough to tear. He couldn't believe what he'd just witnessed. Wasn't Qi Yuan a disciple of Seven-Colored Peak? How did he suddenly kill two Nascent Souls? Not even the Divine Radiance Sect Master was capable of such a feat!
Liu Guan trembled, unable to comprehend anything. Duan Qianrou had collapsed on the ground, apparently knocked unconscious by the shockwaves.
Qi Yuan shot her a glance. "Alright, they're dead. Time to go. Stop pretending to be unconscious."
What kind of terrible acting was that?
Duan Qianrou flinched and sat up. She stared at Qi Yuan with abject terror.
"S-Senior..." she said, her voice quivering.
"Senior? Do I look that old?" Qi Yuan said lazily. "Call me Young Master Qi Yuan."
Her gums practically shook. She had no idea what fate awaited her. Anyone who witnessed such a scene could very well be silenced forever.
Qi Yuan turned to Liu Guan. "You're a good guy."
Back when they were hunting the Black Rooster Demon, only Liu Guan was willing to team up with a mere Qi Refinement cultivator like Qi Yuan.
Liu Guan's heart leapt. Could it truly be... him?
"You two can relax. I'm not some mindless butcher," Qi Yuan said casually. "Just swear by your inner demons that you won't breathe a word of what happened today, and it's over."
After all, the Bright Palace hadn't been wiped out yet. He still had to keep his identity under wraps.
"If I reveal even a single detail of today, may I die a miserable death!" Liu Guan blurted out, immediately swearing his oath. Duan Qianrou followed right after.
Both of them felt as if they'd just escaped the executioner's blade. When they looked up at Qi Yuan again, their eyes held nothing but deep, awed reverence. What had just happened felt like a dream.
"Well, it's over now. I'm heading back to the peak." Qi Yuan said, and started walking off with Little Bride. Just before leaving, he glanced at Liu Guan. "You're not as frail as you used to be. If you'd fainted today, I'd have had to carry you back."
With that, he and Little Bride vanished from sight.
Leaving Liu Guan and Duan Qianrou standing in stunned silence, unable to calm their racing hearts.
After a long moment, Duan Qianrou whispered, "Grandfather, is it really him?"
Liu Guan's eyes burned with excitement. "Yes, without a doubt!”
Qi Yuan killing a late-stage Core Formation cultivator could still be attributed to monstrous talent. What happened today, however, shattered that notion entirely.
Could Qi Yuan be the reincarnation of some divine being? What other explanation could there be? What terrifying, heaven-defying fortune was this?
Liu Guan’s heart was still trembling from the shock, and it took him a long while before he finally calmed down. "Qianrou, forget about relocating. Don't bring it up again. From today onward, we live and die with Great Shang. Gather more blood crystals, next time, I'll deliver them to the Divine Radiance Sect myself!"
With such a heavenly fortune, how could he not cling to it for dear life?
***
Upon returning to the Seven-Colored Peak, Qi Yuan was summoned by the sect master.
Standing in the grand hall, Qi Yuan calmly asked Lord Withered Tree, "Sect Master, why have you called for me?"
As he spoke, he glanced at Kang Fulu, who stood at Lord Withered Tree's side. Kang Fulu had already stepped into the Core Formation realm, which genuinely surprised Qi Yuan.
"Do you still remember the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle I mentioned earlier?" Lord Withered Tree asked.
"Of course."
"It has been abruptly moved forward, and will begin in a month or two at most. This time, you and Kang Fulu will go together."
Qi Yuan blinked. That fast?
"How long does this Prodigy Battle take before results come out?" he asked.
After all, he still had a major task ahead of him: destroying the Bright Palace. Where would he find time for a Prodigy Battle?
"It could be half a month, or it could take several years. There's no fixed duration."
Qi Yuan's face immediately darkened. "Can I not go?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Lord Withered Tree froze. He wordlessly stared at Qi Yuan, his expression as black as ink.
Kang Fulu stepped in gently, "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, are you facing some difficulty? Tell us, we can help."
"I'm preparing to wipe out the Bright Palace. I don't have time for a Prodigy Battle," Qi Yuan said casually.
No one ever believed what he said anyway, so he might as well tell the truth.
Sure enough, Kang Fulu’s warm smile froze instantly. What kind of nonsense is that?! You really dare say it out loud!?
Lord Withered Tree merely said coldly, "This year's tournament will be held on Cuiyun Continent. It is not far from the Bright Palace. It won't delay your extermination of the Bright Palace."
He deliberately emphasized the last two words, unable to hide his tone.
Qi Yuan's eyes lit up. "If that's the case, then don't worry, Sect Master. On my way to destroy the Bright Palace, I'll drop by the tournament and get us a good ranking!"
If it's on the way, then it won't interfere at all!
Lord Withered Tree stared at him, utterly helpless. "The tournament being moved forward is unexpected for me as well. You’ve only just entered Foundation Establishment, and your cultivation hasn't had much time to grow. Don't focus too much on results, just do your best."
Originally, the Prodigy Battle shouldn't have been so soon. With enough time to raise his cultivation, Qi Yuan could have had real potential. However now, with his limited growth, even entering the top hundred was unlikely. All the Sect Master could do was pin his hopes on his son-in-law, Kang Fulu.
Qi Yuan, however, was full of confidence. "Rest assured, Sect Master. The treasure you gave me last time has helped me immensely. This time, no matter what, I'll bring back the treasure of your clan!"
Lord Withered Tree smiled helplessly. "When you head to the Eastern Lands, make sure you don't reveal your identities. There's a Nascent Soul steward in the Bright Palace who seems hostile toward you two."
Qi Yuan nodded.
He means True Lord Windrage, right? He is already dead. Give it a few days, and word will spread.
