"Why are they all Mysterious-grade arts? Hmm..."
"Wait, there's actually a Heaven-grade art!"
Qi Yuan's eyes lit up.
This was the first time he had ever laid eyes on a Heaven-grade art.
He had retrieved this Heaven-grade art from Qian Yuan's storage bag.
It was titled the Seven Elements Dark God Art.
Qi Yuan felt a rush of excitement.
His Qi Yuan Scripture had remained stalled. If he acquired a Heaven-grade art, the insights it provided might just push forward the progress of the Qi Yuan Scripture.
"I almost want to go back and build him a tomb... Never mind. When the people from the Palace of Light return, they'll find him and build him one anyway. I'll just count it as me building it."
"What a massive haul. As expected, old fogies drop the best loot!"
"From now on, I need to set some strict criteria for candidates to become my white moonlight. Otherwise, any random stray like Po Lang could qualify, which would really lower my standards.
"First, they must be old—the older, the better.
"Second, their cultivation must be high—the higher, the better.
"Third, their remaining lifespan must be short. Old men die easier."
Qi Yuan skimmed through the manual and flew toward Yunzhong City.
***
Night gradually fell. Outside the cave abode, Xu Tongchen waited quietly.
*I wonder if the person that Daoist friend went to kill is strong, or if he needs my help.*
*What if he died out there?*
*Could the enemy be hard to kill?*
Many thoughts flickered through Xu Tongchen's mind.
He could not linger outside for long; Huang Tu would never permit it.
Moreover, Huang Tu had secretly stationed informants to keep watch over him.
Toward Huang Tu, and toward the Palace of Light, he felt profound revulsion, yet he was utterly powerless.
"You're still here?" A crisp voice rang out just then.
Xu Tongchen looked up in haste and saw that familiar figure.
The True Solar Fire within his body began to surge with heat at that exact moment.
"Did you finish killing the person, Daoist friend?" Xu Tongchen asked.
He glanced at Qi Yuan, noting that his clothes were neat and his aura was completely stable.
Presumably, the slain enemy had been very weak.
"Yeah, done killing. Just a bunch of old men—easy to kill," Qi Yuan said casually. He looked at Xu Tongchen. "Come into the abode so we can talk."
He too was quite interested in the True Solar Fire.
Without hesitation, Xu Tongchen followed Qi Yuan into the cave abode.
"Daoist friend, could you lend me your True Solar Fire for a look?" Qi Yuan got straight to the point.
This left Xu Tongchen bewildered.
Hadn't he come to this man to figure things out?
However, recalling that he needed the man's help, he did not hide anything. Besides, manifesting it was no great trouble for him anyway.
He paused for a moment and said, "Be careful, sir. Do not get burned by the True Solar Fire."
As Xu Tongchen spoke, he began to channel his Dao technique.
A perfectly round Golden Core appeared within the cave abode.
A domineering aura radiated from the Golden Core.
"Your Golden Core is a bit too small. It wouldn't take a beating," Qi Yuan could not help but remark.
Xu Tongchen froze.
The Golden Core he formed was at least of the Earth-grade superior rank... In Cuiyun Continent, one could scarcely find anyone with a higher-grade Golden Core than his.
Yet... it was judged as being a bit small.
Suppressing his thoughts, he urged his core, and a wisp of flame leaped out from atop it.
The flame was tiny, merely the size of a candle flame, yet the aura it emitted was terrifying.
Qi Yuan felt that even a Divine Infant ignited by this fire would probably find it unbearable.
The True Solar Fire was dark within and bright without, emitting a brilliant golden light. It danced continuously before Qi Yuan, appearing eager to break away from Xu Tongchen's Golden Core and leap straight onto Qi Yuan.
Xu Tongchen could sense both the urgency of the True Solar Fire and its profound affinity for the person before him.
Along with it, his own gaze toward Qi Yuan grew warmer and more fervent.
[True Solar Fire: A divine ability fire. Those with affinity may comprehend it.
This fire can devour all flames under the heavens.
A sun possessing True Solar Fire can devour constellations of stars.]
Seeing that last line, Qi Yuan stared blankly for a second.
Then he was overjoyed.
Wasn't this just like a certain Yan's Heavenly Flame?
Had his stroke of miraculous fortune finally arrived?
If he comprehended the True Solar Fire and delivered it into his Stellar Golden Core, wouldn't that mean his Stellar Golden Core could gorge itself in that universe?
He looked at Xu Tongchen with burning eyes. "How about you just give that fire to me?"
Hearing this, Xu Tongchen was completely stunned.
Isn't that a bit too shameless?
Vigilance rose in his heart. "This flame cannot be gifted."
"Give it to me, and you can name any terms you want.
"Do you have any enemies? I'll kill them for you.
"Do you have a white moonlight? I'm best at pursuing people," Qi Yuan said rapidly.
He was the embodiment of justice; he would never commit highway robbery or murder people for treasures without cause.
Xu Tongchen looked at Qi Yuan with a bizarre expression. "This fire truly cannot be given away."
The True Solar Fire was the foundation of his livelihood, so of course he could not give it up. Moreover, it was something he had comprehended, akin to a divine ability—how could he possibly transfer it to another?
"Look at your True Solar Fire. It's practically treating me like its daddy," Qi Yuan said, staring at the flame with longing.
Xu Tongchen felt helpless and did not dwell on that remark. "Sir... do you know why this situation is occurring?"
This was precisely the puzzle in his heart.
For some reason, whenever he was near this man, he could sense that the True Solar Fire within him burned even more vigorously.
His True Solar Fire was continually growing stronger.
"Because... I am the sun," Qi Yuan answered matter-of-factly.
"..."
"If I meditate on your True Solar Fire every day, can I comprehend a True Solar Fire of my own?" Since he could not seize it by force, Qi Yuan approached the goal of obtaining True Solar Fire from another angle.
"In theory, yes. Back then, I meditated for twenty years before comprehending the True Solar Fire.
"If I manifest the True Solar Fire for half an hour each day for you to observe, and if your talent is high, Daoist friend, you could probably comprehend it in twenty years as well," Xu Tongchen answered earnestly.
Qi Yuan's proposal was absurd, yet he answered patiently.
"How about this: each day I use you to comprehend the True Solar Fire, and as repayment, I'll kill someone for you?" Qi Yuan suggested. "I'm exceedingly good at killing people. As long as they deserve to die, not a single one will get away."
Hearing that, Xu Tongchen thought this person... was truly bizarre.
Kill someone?
Those he wanted to kill but couldn't, Qi Yuan probably couldn't kill either.
Those that could be killed, he would have killed himself.
"There is no need for such courtesy, Daoist friend. Manifesting the True Solar Fire near you brings benefits to me as well. During this period, I shall come to see you every day," Xu Tongchen said, ultimately choosing not to take advantage of Qi Yuan.
For one thing, that was simply his nature.
For another, because of the True Solar Fire, he felt an instinctive warmth toward Qi Yuan.
"In that case, it's settled. You'll come see me for half an hour every day.
"Before I comprehend the True Solar Fire... from now on, I've got your back," Qi Yuan declared.
Xu Tongchen smiled faintly. "Then I hope you comprehend it a bit slower, Daoist friend, so you can cover me for a little longer."
He was joking, of course.
Facing the Palace of Light, even a Purple Mansion mighty figure could not shield him.
Much less this strange and eccentric cultivator before him.
"Rest assured, my talent already rivals the gifted class of a high school. Comprehending a mere True Solar Fire won't be an issue at all!"
His Golden Core was a literal star; shouldn't comprehending True Solar Fire be effortless?
"Come on, let me see what this thing really is."
Qi Yuan looked at the manifested True Solar Fire and began studying it intently.
Roughly half an hour later, Qi Yuan slumped his shoulders in dejection. "It's too hard."
After half an hour of contemplation, he hadn't grasped a single thing.
Xu Tongchen smiled. "This is only normal, Daoist friend."
His True Solar Fire, on the other hand, had grown slightly sturdier.
He felt rather embarrassed by the unearned benefit.
"It's fine. We'll do it again tomorrow."
***
One day later.
The grand hall of the Palace of Light.
More than a dozen Purple Mansions were gathered, led by none other than the Third Palace Master.
Third Palace Master Zi Ran's phoenix eyes were serene, making it impossible to read her thoughts.
"Qian Yuan has died in the Palace of Light. What are your thoughts on this?"
Hearing this, the Purple Mansions present all showed subtle shifts in expression.
Qian Yuan's strength ranked within the top ten of the entire Palace of Light.
He was also the one in the Palace of Light with the greatest chance of breaking through to the late Purple Mansion realm.
Yet he had died at Mingwang Palace at the hands of the Blood-Robed Sword God.
"Five Purple Mansions in succession... This Blood-Robed Sword God's strength... should have stepped into the late Purple Mansion realm," a Purple Mansion elder remarked, his eyes filled with gravity.
In the entire Palace of Light, only the three Palace Masters were in the late Purple Mansion realm.
"Elder Qian Yuan possessed immense potential, yet he was slaughtered just like that. Does this Blood-Robed Sword God truly have no regard for our Palace of Light?
"If he dares come here, we will all strike together, and with the three Palace Masters added, we will surely ensure he never returns!" an elder fumed.
Accustomed to standing high and mighty in the Palace of Light, facing a life-and-death threat for the first time filled the elders with fury.
"Slaying Elder Qian Yuan and leaving no survivors whatsoever means this Blood-Robed Sword God has completely severed all pretense of cordiality with our Palace of Light.
"Either he dies, or we perish."
The dozen or so Purple Mansions present reached a consensus.
The Palace of Light was the hegemon of Cuiyun Continent.
The Prodigy Battle was about to take place in Cuiyun Continent.
If the prestige of their Palace of Light were cowed by a single late Purple Mansion cultivator,
how could the Palace of Light maintain its footing in the Eastern Lands?
Third Palace Master Zi Ran spoke: "Let the Purple Mansions across all regions be cautious during this period and refrain from traveling alone.
"If anyone discovers word of the Blood-Robed Sword God, simply send a report back to the palace. I shall personally step forth to suppress him!"
"Understood!" the Purple Mansions echoed in unison.
The Palace of Light possessed over sixty Purple Mansions.
How could a single Blood-Robed Sword God stand against more than sixty Purple Mansions?
Having slain Elder Qian Yuan and four other Purple Mansions with great difficulty, the Blood-Robed Sword God's current state had to be far from ideal.
Of course, their reasoning was based on normal logic, which was not wrong in itself.
The only flaw was that Qi Yuan was not an ordinary person.
Recalling something, Third Palace Master Zi Ran instructed, "Pass down word: Huang Tu must prioritize the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle.
"There is no need for him to return for his master's funeral."
Securing a spot in the top twenty of the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle was of paramount importance.
It was second only to the Hundred Nations Blood War.
In fact, it was even more important than executing the Blood-Robed Sword God.
***
The following day, Xu Tongchen arrived outside Qi Yuan's cave abode, his heart weighed down by worries.
With Huang Tu's master slain, Huang Tu had been in a towering rage all day.
As a result, even leaving the premises required Xu Tongchen to tread on thin ice to avoid becoming collateral damage.
The Blood-Robed Sword God's slaughter of three of the Palace of Light's Purple Mansions had stirred genuine admiration in Xu Tongchen's heart.
He wondered what kind of grand cultivator would dare strike against a colossus like the Palace of Light.
Many factions across Cuiyun Continent had long harbored deep grievances against the Palace of Light.
Yet he was not optimistic about the Blood-Robed Sword God's prospects.
After all, the Palace of Light was simply too formidable.
A single late Purple Mansion cultivator could not shake the foundation of the Palace of Light.
If they clashed head-on, the Palace of Light might suffer heavy losses, but the Blood-Robed Sword God would surely perish.
"Daoist friend, I have arrived," Xu Tongchen called out from outside the abode.
"Oh, you're here. Come on in."
The cave abode opened. Stepping inside, Xu Tongchen saw Qi Yuan looking thoroughly fatigued.
Qi Yuan set down a jade slip containing a cultivation method, looked at Xu Tongchen, and said slowly, "Friend Tongchen, you might need to wait here for a moment. I need to step out to kill someone... Oh, wait, no—to go see my white moonlight."
Xu Tongchen was dumbfounded.
He felt that Qi Yuan was truly bizarre.
He had gone out to kill someone the very first time they met.
And now he was heading out to kill someone again.
"The person I'm killing this time isn't far away. I'll be back shortly. Make yourself at home in the abode."
With that, Qi Yuan left the cave abode.
He left behind only a helpless Xu Tongchen.
He felt that this Qi Yuan was simply too mysterious.
Just how many enemies did he have to slay that he announced he was going out to kill someone every time they met?
***
Deep within a mountain forest, Qi Yuan stood draped in a blood-red robe, his long hair fluttering loosely, looking handsome and otherworldly.
Standing beneath a massive tree, no one would ever take him for a Purple Mansion mighty figure.
"Did you bring the suona?" Qi Yuan asked slowly, looking at Xu Yeli behind him.
"I brought it." Xu Yeli looked at Qi Yuan's absurdly young face, his voice trembling with unease.
He had never imagined that yesterday... the Blood-Robed Sword God had truly slaughtered all five Purple Mansions at Mingwang Palace.
Such terrifying power would rank in the top five across Cuiyun Continent.
Placed in the Eastern Lands, he would probably break into the top hundred—a figure of renown.
Yet the Blood-Robed Sword God had suddenly emerged from the Hundred Nations, and no information about him could be unearthed.
All anyone knew was that he hailed from the Divine Flower Society and bore a feud against the Palace of Light.
"Have you learned how to play it?" Qi Yuan looked at Xu Yeli.
"Reporting to Senior, I practiced all night and have learned it," Xu Yeli answered earnestly.
"In that case, when I go slay the Palace of Light's Purple Mansion in a moment, you will provide the musical accompaniment," Qi Yuan said casually.
He was, after all, a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment and a Stellar Golden Core.
When he fought, having a Purple Mansion play music was the only way to match his status and class.
"Senior... should we consider this at greater length?" Xu Yeli could not help but say. "Senior just killed five Purple Mansions yesterday. Why not rest and recuperate before acting again?
"Striking now could very well expose Senior's whereabouts. Once surrounded by the Palace of Light, it will be difficult for Senior to escape."
"What, the words you spoke yesterday don't count anymore?" Qi Yuan glanced at Xu Yeli with a faint smile in his eyes.
Xu Yeli's heart lurched. He felt as though he were facing a fiendgod.
"No... Everything shall be according to Senior's instructions." Xu Yeli dared not utter another reckless word.
Truth be told, he was also extremely curious about what kind of methods this senior used to execute Purple Mansions.
One had to understand that Purple Mansion cultivators were exceptionally difficult to kill.
Unless the disparity in the grade of their origin divine abilities was vast, or their abilities happened to counter each other perfectly,
any ordinary battle required grinding down a Purple Mansion cultivator's origin divine ability until it was utterly exhausted.
"Let's go. My white moonlight this time is Mei Yang, who's currently on his own," Qi Yuan said. His figure transformed into a streak of rainbow light.
Xu Yeli followed closely behind.
At this point, he had thrown caution to the wind.
The Palace of Light had plotted against him anyway.
He might as well follow the Blood-Robed Sword God and accomplish something grand.
A quarter of an hour later.
Fenglin City.
Reading the message from the palace, Mei Yang of the Palace of Light wore a chilling expression. "A late Purple Mansion after all... This Blood-Robed Sword God is somewhat troublesome."
Yet thinking of the three Palace Masters and the Palace of Light's palace-guarding treasures,
the worry in his heart evaporated completely. "Nothing more than a trapped beast fighting to the death."
"Elder, should we return to the palace now?" a Divine Infant deacon asked cautiously.
"We have not yet finished gathering the three hundred yin-born virgin boys' hearts. Why the rush to return?
"Are you worried about the Blood-Robed Sword God?
"He just annihilated Mingwang Palace; he likely hasn't recovered his vitality yet and is currently nursing his wounds somewhere.
"He cannot possibly show himself. Even if he did, it would only expose his hiding place," Mei Yang reasoned soundly.
Hearing that, the Divine Infant deacon said no more.
Right at that moment, the desolate, sorrowful wail of a suona suddenly resounded across Fenglin City.
Mei Yang knitted his brows.
A Purple Mansion?
"Which Daoist friend has come to my Fenglin City?
"I am Mei Yang of the Palace of Light!"
Mei Yang flew into the sky and looked toward the source of the sound.
His pupils shrank.
There, he saw a black-robed Purple Mansion blowing a suona, and alongside him stood a man clad in flowing blood-red robes.
"The... Blood-Robed Sword God..."
At the sight of the visitor, an intense sense of crisis washed over him.
Without a second thought, he turned and fled.
Though he had laid out extensive analysis that the Blood-Robed Sword God would not strike so soon and had yet to recover his vitality,
now that the man was standing right in front of him, he knew running was his only option.
Seeing this, Qi Yuan frowned. "Why does this feel like a police siren scaring the suspect away?"
Without hesitation, the sword on Qi Yuan's back unsheathed itself.
"The Palace of Light has committed heinous atrocities; its crimes deserve death!
"I, the Blood-Robed Sword God, punish you on behalf of Heaven!"
The origin divine ability of Virtual Realm Sovereign's Inner Demon Summons was unleashed instantly.
Mei Yang, who had been fleeing frantically, froze mid-stride.
He felt as though he had plunged into an abyssal demon realm.
All manner of negative emotions flooded his divine soul.
"No... My Palace of Light is the true leader of the righteous path!"
"They all deserve to die! They deserve to die!"
"Stay away from me!"
Mei Yang lost his senses, descending into mad babbling in an instant.
The sound of the suona abruptly rose in a piercing crescendo.
Xu Yeli stared at Mei Yang, dread pooling in his eyes.
How could the Blood-Robed Sword God's origin divine ability be so terrifying?
It was the most terrifying origin divine ability he had ever seen.
How was this a divine ability? It was clearly the bewitchment of a fiendgod!
"Oh dear, I still have to follow up with a sword strike. How boring," Qi Yuan muttered, looking at the delirious Mei Yang.
His origin divine ability could only cause Mei Yang's inner demons to run rampant for a brief period; it could not truly extinguish him.
He still needed to finish the job.
With a gentle thrust of his sword,
Mei Yang, a Purple Mansion cultivator, met a miserable end.
The entire affair had unfolded at blinding speed, lasting less than three breaths.
Watching this scene, Xu Yeli's legs trembled beneath his black robes.
Who killed Purple Mansions like this?
Weren't they supposed to... slowly wear each other down with origin divine abilities?
He looked toward the Blood-Robed Sword God, the dread in his heart mounting even higher.
"All right, the man is dead, and the storage bag is secured. Until next time." Qi Yuan glanced at Xu Yeli, and his figure vanished without a trace.
Xu Yeli made haste to flee as well; how could he dare linger here?
***
Late into the night, having seen Xu Tongchen off from his cave abode, Qi Yuan felt deeply helpless.
"True Solar Fire really is difficult. I haven't gotten the slightest clue even now."
Still, Qi Yuan was not discouraged.
Nothing could be rushed.
As long as he formulated a detailed plan, comprehending the True Solar Fire was entirely achievable.
Setting aside thoughts of the True Solar Fire, he opened the Divine Flower Society jade slip.
He had received numerous friend requests. Ignoring them all, he posted a new thread on the forum:
[Bored today. Killed a Purple Mansion to liven things up for everyone.]
Having posted the thread, he switched over to his main account.
"Rogue Immortal Venerable, how much longer until you arrive?"
"Still on the way. Ran into some trouble. Should arrive in under ten days."
"Hurry it up. I'm still waiting for you to introduce me to prodigies so I can broaden my horizons.
"Say, at the prodigy banquet, do you think people will look down on me because I come from an impoverished place and try to humiliate me?"
"Origin Celestial Venerable, just make sure you don't expose your identity, and you'll be fine." Rogue Immortal Venerable was terrified of Qi Yuan exposing who he was.
If that happened, Huang Tu would definitely seize him.
"You make a lot of sense." Qi Yuan considered it and agreed with Rogue Immortal Venerable's suggestion.
He could not help but sigh with emotion.
"If I, a poor guy pretending to be rich, fall in love at first sight with some female prodigy at the banquet, what should I do when they discover my impoverished background?"
Chapter 146