Flowers carpeted the ground, untouched by human footsteps for who knows how long. The vibrant myriad of colors was indeed very beautiful. However, amidst this endless sea of flowers stood two young men. One of them wore a deep teal robe, with blood at the corner of his mouth.

Across from him, the man in a striking golden-yellow robe sneered at the man in the teal robe.

"Master, from what they were saying earlier, I thought there was a huge gap in their power levels. But now having looked..." Mo Qilin smacked his lips and spoke indifferently, "It turns out one is at the Golden Core Late Stage and the other is at the Early-stage Nascent Soul. The gap in strength isn’t that big after all."

Xuanbing Lion Beast Shi Xin laughed, "Ah Mo, you should think about it—if the difference in their strength was really that large, how could that man in the golden robe, called Wang Yuan, still not have seized the Top-Grade Ore after such a long time?"

"True." Mo Qilin suddenly realized.

Qin Yu and his brothers Hou Fei and Hei Yu were instead focused on the conversation between Li Xin and Wang Yuan.

Li Xin’s eyes were full of determination.

"Yes, my Lianhua Sect is a small sect. Among the cultivator sects, it doesn’t even rank in the top thousand. It’s the smallest of sects. Your Qingxu Temple is a major sect, the number one sect among cultivators. Wang Yuan, when you were in the countryside, you were more talented than I was, and my talent was extremely low."

Li Xin’s words contained traces of resentment as he seemed to recall that scene from the past.

"I sought many sects, but all of them rejected me. Only Lianhua Sect took me in! Yet, you were accepted by Qingxu Temple. You had high talent, a good sect, and good cultivation methods. My talent was low, my sect was poor, and my cultivation methods were inferior. But now, it seems you are only a little higher than me. I’ve reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core Late Stage and am only a step away from the Nascent Soul Stage."

Li Xin looked coldly at Wang Yuan, "I wonder if you have been sincerely cultivating these years. All your time must have been wasted on cunning schemes, murder, and looting."

"You..."

Wang Yuan, with his finger angrily pointing at Li Xin, was so furious that he was lost for words.

Wang Yuan’s talent was outstanding. Among the many disciples of Qingxu Temple and the multitudes of mortals, Wang Yuan being taken as a disciple clearly showed his talent. However, throughout these years, he was only slightly better than Li Xin, whose talent was extremely low and who came from a weak sect.

"If you’re so capable, keep running. Why don’t you run now?" Wang Yuan suddenly scoffed.

"I’m not running anymore," Li Xin said with a smile. "If I keep running, my power would probably be exhausted, and then you’d easily capture me. But now... I still have enough strength to fight you, or even self-explode!" A bright light suddenly burst from Li Xin’s eyes.

Wang Yuan’s expression subtly changed.

He was only one level above Li Xin. If Li Xin really decided to self-destruct at the crucial moment, Wang Yuan would most likely lose his life, since a disciple at the Nascent Soul Stage could not yet separate his Nascent Soul from his body.

From a distance, Qin Yu began to feel a sense of admiration for this Li Xin.

In Qin Yu’s heart, while talent and cultivation methods were important in cultivation, character was also very important.

Li Xin, having endured innumerable hardships, had fostered an extraordinarily resolute character. In contrast, Wang Yuan, who had always had smooth sailing, did not cultivate a good temperament; no wonder he was only slightly better than Li Xin.

...

"Li Xin."

A voice suddenly rang out inappropriately, causing both Li Xin and Wang Yuan, in the midst of their contention, to involuntarily turn towards the source of the sound. They saw... a man wearing a black robe descending from the sky, his demeanor cold.

Wang Yuan felt a sudden jolt in his heart: a master, his aura much stronger than that of my master.

Wang Yuan’s Master was only at the Late-stage Cave Void, which was far inferior to Qin Yu.

"Li Xin, I have something to ask you," Qin Yu said, looking toward Li Xin.

Li Xin felt a surge of joy, aware that the person before him far exceeded their abilities. He immediately bowed and said, "Senior, I am currently being pursued by this thief, who covets the top-grade ore I possess. With this thief standing here, it is very difficult for me to calm my mind and answer questions."

Qin Yu merely looked toward Wang Yuan.

Wang Yuan struggled internally. "Senior, I am a disciple of Qingxu Temple. A few days ago, I was fortunate enough to find a piece of top-grade ore, but en route, this youngster snatched it away. I sincerely hope you would uphold justice, and I would be forever grateful," he said.

Wang Yuan, in turn, accused Li Xin, but he did not know that Qin Yu had witnessed everything from nearby just moments ago.

"You, shameless," Li Xin said coldly.

However, Wang Yuan righteously responded, "Li Xin, wasn’t it I who personally mined this top-grade ore? You still want to frame me. I have never seen anyone more shameless than you, trying to invert right and wrong..."

"Enough!"

With a wave of his hand, Qin Yu unleashed a golden energy from the True Solar Core directly onto Wang Yuan, who instantly vanished into nothingness.

Li Xin’s heart skipped a beat.

He never expected that Wang Yuan, in the Nascent Soul Stage, would die just like that.

"Senior, please ask anything you wish, I will certainly tell the whole truth," Li Xin said as he bowed, extremely respectful.

Qin Yu spoke indifferently, "I want to ask, from some time ago till now, Yin Yue Palace and Qingxu Temple began summoning Loose Cultivators to gather at their Sect. Since that time, what exactly has been happening? I seemed to hear you mention hundreds of Independent Immortals died. What exactly happened?"

"Senior must have just returned from overseas," Li Xin said with a smile, "For some unknown reason, both the Independent Demons and Independent Immortals started gathering at Yin Yue Palace and Qingxu Temple. But later on... people started being killed there."

Qin Yu raised an eyebrow.

"Initially, it was only ordinary disciples who died, but as time went on, Independent Immortals died, many from First Tribulation, Second Tribulation, and Third Tribulation, even those above Fourth Tribulation were killed. Not just Qingxu Temple’s Independent Immortals, but many Independent Demons from Yin Yue Palace were also killed," Li Xin suddenly frowned.

"But the deaths of these Independent Immortals were very strange; some mysteriously disappeared while others died fighting with Independent Demons. There were many cases... Under careful observation, it became clear that Independent Immortals and Independent Demons began testing each other," Li Xin said smilingly.

"Testing?" Qin Yu inquired further.

Li Xin explained, "It’s quite simple. Why else would Yin Yue Palace gather so many Independent Demons and Qingxu Mountain gather so many Independent Immortals? Not just to feast and waste time, of course, but to fight each other. Right now, it’s only initial testing."

"Hmph, only a few hundred have died, but the gathered Loose Cultivators at Yin Yue Palace and Qingxu Mountain exceed ten thousand. A few hundred - what does that account for?" Li Xin scoffed, "I think it won’t be long before blood floods the Tenglong Continent."

Qin Yu nodded.

"Do you have a map of the Tenglong Continent? Give me one," Qin Yu demanded coldly.

Li Xin felt puzzled why such a senior might lack even a map, but he did not voice this thought. Instead, he respectfully handed over a jade scroll to Qin Yu, who scanned it with his Spiritual Sense and clearly understood the layout of the Tenglong Continent.

"Very well." He flipped his hand and produced a top-grade Gold Attribute ore. "Consider this your reward."

Qin Yu tossed the top-grade ore to Li Xin and then vanished into thin air right in front of Li Xin’s eyes. Giving Li Xin a piece of top-grade ore was actually because Qin Yu had a good impression of him; for Qin Yu, who possessed ores from the Immortal Realm, such an ore was nothing at all.

"Top-grade ore!" Li Xin looked at the ore he received and was thrilled. But by the time he looked up, Qin Yu had already disappeared.

******

In mid-air, Qin Yu, Hou Fei, Hei Yu, the three brothers of the Xuanbing Lion Beast, and Mo Qilin—all seven were flying.

"Big Brother, I think that Golden Core Stage youngster was right. The Independent Immortals and the Independent Demons are just testing each other. Killing a few hundred Loose Cultivators really doesn’t matter," Hou Fei also said.

Qin Yu slowly shook his head.

"It doesn’t seem like a mere test. I always have that feeling," Qin Yu said uncertainly.

Then Qin Yu shook his head, smiling, "If we can’t figure it out, then let’s not think about it."

"Big Brother, let’s go on a killing spree. Why bother with so much, especially when we have the Qingyu Immortal Mansion? After we kill, we can just hide immediately in the Qingyu Immortal Mansion. Once the search outside relaxes, we can go on another spree. Wouldn’t that be delightful?" Hou Fei’s eyes gleamed.

Hei Yu said nothing, but his eyes shimmered as well.

"Master, that’s not appropriate," Shi Xin spoke up.

"Damn it, what’s inappropriate? With the Qingyu Immortal Mansion, even a Twelve Tribulations Independent Immortal can’t break through. What is there to fear?" Hou Fei said angrily.

"Feifei," Qin Yu stopped Hou Fei. "Shi Xin, continue."

Shi Xin nodded and said, "Master, as I see it, since both the Independent Immortals and the Independent Demons have already lost several hundred, they must be at each other’s throats, perhaps even... There must be a Heaven and Earth Net laid out in their strongholds waiting for the other side to come and kill. If we go, we might very well fall into a trap."

Qin Yu nodded in agreement.

Qin Yu had thought of this too; at this time, Qingxu Temple and Yin Yue Palace were definitely on high alert, perhaps even having set up a Heaven and Earth Net.

"Heaven and Earth Net, Shi Xin, you idiot, of course I know about traps. But you aren’t thinking about how even the most formidable Heaven and Earth Net can do nothing against Big Brother’s Qingyu Immortal Mansion," Hou Fei seemed a bit impatient, eager to go on a killing spree.

Qin Yu pondered for a moment.

"Alright, like this, you guys first enter the Qingyu Immortal Mansion to rest for a while, and I alone will go to the Qingxu Temple disguised as an ordinary cultivator to investigate. Feifei, don’t worry, after I have checked it out, I will definitely let you have a delightful spree," Qin Yu said.

Hou Fei and the others vanished into thin air, entering the Qingyu Immortal Mansion.

Thinking about how the Qin Family was almost annihilated, and recalling his beloved maids and loyal guards in the Rui Prince Mansion who had died, Qin Yu could not help but feel a surge of homicidal intent.

"Wu Kongxue, Ming Liang, the calamity that happened back then was your doing; you shall taste this bitter fruit," Qin Yu muttered.

Qin Yu transformed into a streak of light, directly flying toward the Qingxu Temple.

...

The Tenglong Continent is vast, with summer still lingering in its northern parts while the southern parts might already be in winter.

Qingxu Mountain lay in the distance.

At this moment, the world was blanketed in white. An endless snow fell like feather down, and Qin Yu was but a tiny black dot among the boundless snowflakes in the sky. As he approached Qingxu Mountain, Qin Yu’s speed of flight had already begun to slow.

Suddenly, Qin Yu was drawn to a spot of firelight below.

"That old man is a master," Qin Yu sensed that the white-haired elder was extraordinary.

Beneath Qingxu Mountain, under a dense, large tree, there was a campfire. By the fire sat a burly young man and a white-haired old man.

"Elder, here," the burly young man handed a cooked thigh to the white-haired elder, "This is a white deer I just hunted; the meat is fresh."

The white-haired elder had the appearance of a crane-haired youth and smiled as he accepted the deer meat, savoring a bite, "Mm, the taste is indeed very good. Young brother, I see you underneath Qingxu Mountain, could it be that you are a disciple of the Qingxu Temple? But why is your cultivation so low, not even reaching the Golden Core Stage?"

The burly young man gave a bitter smile, "How could I qualify to enter Qingxu Temple? I reached the Innate Realm only through a partial cultivation method left by my father. Moreover, I am already very old, and no sect is willing to accept me."

The white-haired elder nodded approvingly at the burly young man in front of him.

"You have a good temperament, young brother. Having eaten your deer leg, I can’t just not help you. Take this token, then go straight to the Purple Sun Sect, show them this token, and tell them you wish to be their disciple, and Purple Sun Sect will surely accept you."

The burly young man was overjoyed; he could tell that the white-haired elder before him was likely a senior from the Purple Sun Sect.

"Mm, this token can only get you into the Purple Sun Sect, well, old man, I see you are very pleased. Back when I was cultivating, I had a Spiritual Artifact. Today, I will give it to you," the white-haired elder said with a smile, and a flash of light appeared in his hand.

This elder was no ordinary person; he was from the Purple Sun Sect and a peer of True Master Chi Yang, True Master Chi Yan. Now, he was a Ten Tribulation Independent Practitioner, a most venerable status that needed no further mention.

"Oh, someone is coming?" The white-haired elder’s gaze swept towards Qin Yu in the sky, and Qin Yu’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.

However, just then—

An indistinct shadow suddenly appeared.

"Puchi!"

A hand pierced through the abdomen of the white-haired elder, True Master Chi Yan; the burly young man saw the blood-covered hand emerge from the elder’s abdomen and was so shocked he froze. The blood-soaked hand was holding a Nascent Soul, that of True Master Chi Yan.

"Wu Hei, you dare kill me?" True Master Chi Yan’s Nascent Soul spoke.

The attacker was Wu Hei, who, holding the Nascent Soul of Chi Yan, chuckled, "Nonsense, who wouldn’t I dare to kill? A Nascent Soul of a Ten Tribulation Independent Practitioner, it’s quite a nourishment," saying so, he threw it in his mouth and with two crunching sounds, he directly ate the Nascent Soul. This left the burly young man completely dumbfounded.

Wu Hei gave Qin Yu in the distance a disdainful glance: "Mid Tribulation Crossing Stage, too low," and then laughed aloud, "Qingxu Temple is timid as a mouse. Today, I’ll start by eating a Ten Tribulation Independent Practitioner’s Nascent Soul. Next time, it will be for the Eleventh Tribulation, ha ha..." With that, his body moved and turned into a black light, flying towards the distance.

Wu Hei was audacious; although he had the ability for instantaneous movement, he was flying. Clearly, he was giving his opponent a chance to pursue.

"Wu Hei, don’t you run away!"

A roar came from Qingxu Mountain, a red light rushed down, and the snow on Qingxu Mountain completely melted wherever it passed. Meanwhile, seeing all this from the sky, Qin Yu frowned, "What’s going on? How did things develop differently from what I thought? It shouldn’t be, Wu Kongxue and Ming Liang should know the secret of the Sky-breaking Map, and not be so foolish. But what’s up with this Wu Hei?"

(To be continued. For more, please visit WWW.CMFU.COM, where you’ll find more Chapters, support the author and support genuine reading!)