Kill

A brief flicker of lucidity passed through Vice Society Master Shenji's clouded eyes. Moving his lips, he gave a curt reply: "Very well." Qi Yuan's figure vanished from sight. Shenji murmured, "The path of cultivation... is far too hard." Within the withered immortal's cave, only a frail, gaunt old man remained. His eyes were turbid, his gaze devoid of light, filled with the lonely emptiness of an abandoned widower. It seemed all that awaited them was extinction. "If I built a psychiatric hospital, it'd not only be a great business opportunity to make money, but it'd also offer humanistic care. Who knows, I might even win a 'Touching Blue Star' award. I really am a genius," Qi Yuan muttered to himself. …… Half a day passed. At Zhishan Pavilion, Qi Yuan looked ahead at the towering mountain—its craggy, jagged stones barren, with no trace of green bamboo left. "This land of opportunity tempers the true spirit while taking in the scenery. Quite peculiar." "Observing the mountain's frailty, its fullness, its emaciation; contemplating the wax and wane of the true spirit." Clad in a red robe, Qi Yuan climbed the mountain like a hiker, without a single thread of dharmic power circulating through his body. At the peak stood a pavilion named Zhishan Pavilion, commanding the finest view of the entire landscape. Along the way, Qi Yuan saw many climbers. In his eyes, these climbers included children, the elderly, and burly men. Regardless of their initial appearance, the higher they climbed, the more decrepit they became, looking like withering elders as their true spirits decayed further and further. Only Qi Yuan's true spirit remained pure and unchanging, blazing like a great sun that shone brilliantly upon the world. "Old man Shenji said that being powerful is a calamity." "Perhaps that's only because he isn't powerful enough." "Power... can also be a blessing." "Yet... in this world, how few people are as hardworking, diligent, and blessed with explosive fortunes as me?" A mere three quarters of an hour passed in the mortal world, yet within Zhishan Pavilion, four seasons had already turned. Draped in his blood-red robe, Qi Yuan reached the mountain summit, looking down as if all other peaks were diminished. He looked toward Zhishan Pavilion and saw an old woman nearing the end of her days. With eyes half-lidded, she leaned against the pavilion railing, seemingly basking in the sun. "Someone has arrived?" The old woman opened her eyes. They bore that quintessential cloudiness—one look and you could tell she was severely afflicted. Perhaps due to her extreme age, her face looked rather kind. Seeing the old woman, a smile appeared in Qi Yuan's eyes. "Old granny, do you want to move into the psychiatric hospital I'm building?" Men were called old men, so women were naturally called old grannies. He couldn't let a business opportunity like this slip away. Even though the psychiatric hospital hadn't been built yet, he could set one up in the Netherworld right now. "I'm old, and my legs don't work like they used to. I won't go, young man," the old woman said kindly. Looking at the youthful Qi Yuan, her eyes held a spirited gleam. "If this old woman were younger by a few years, back when my heart was young and yearning for love, I'd have snatched you away to be my kept man." "That's against the law!" Qi Yuan hurriedly covered his chest with both hands. A man out and about on his own really faced too much danger. The old woman smiled faintly. "Won't you come over and have a seat?" She seemed so aged that uttering a single sentence drained every ounce of her strength. "Since I'm already here, even if I run into an awful old granny, I still have to enter this Zhishan Pavilion. I'm a strapping young lad, after all." So saying, Qi Yuan sat down inside Zhishan Pavilion, not far from the old woman. The old woman shook her head. "It seems you're quite sick as well." That shake of her head felt like a brief resurgence before death. "I'm not sick," Qi Yuan replied. He could sense that she was already like a candle flickering in the wind. The old woman struggled to lift her head and gazed at the scenery ahead. "In my youth, I climbed mountains endlessly, always thinking that the scenery at the summit would be wondrous. Little did I imagine that upon reaching this peak... I would only feel all alone, the landscape bleak and desolate. "I wonder if countless epochs from now, a future me will climb this mountain once more, and then... will I sit in this Zhishan Pavilion again?" The old woman sighed with emotion. Within the dao traditions or universes presided over by a Dao Lord, time moved in cycles. In this cycle, she would grow old and decrepit, climb the mountain, and sit in Zhishan Pavilion. Who knew how long it would be before the next cycle, when a new version of her might climb this mountain again and take a seat here. "I wonder if I'll meet you again, to look upon the scenery from this summit once more," the old woman murmured wistfully. "I don't know whether we'll meet in the future, but this is the first time. If we meet again, I'll let you know," Qi Yuan said. The old woman glanced at Qi Yuan, then at the mountains and rivers, murmuring, "A person is far more pleasing to look at than the scenery." With those words, her white hair fell limp, as if she had drifted off to sleep. In utter silence, at Zhishan Pavilion, this nameless Realm Lord ultimately failed to break through to the fourth tier of the Yang God realm, extinguishing right there. The wind blew across the steep, craggy cliffs, with scarcely any ancient trees left to join in its howling roar. Qi Yuan looked at the deceased old woman, his expression calm. "So that's why people need a second child?" "If all else fails, I'll just form ten trillion Golden Cores." Over the days that followed, Qi Yuan visited the remaining lands of opportunity one after another. His strength grew at a breakneck pace. His true spirit remained constant, pure, and immensely powerful. Yet he never encountered another being as powerful as that old woman. After all, according to Vice Society Master Shenji, there were fewer than twenty such powerhouses in the entire Universal Void Realm. How could they be so easily stumbled upon? Returning from Mount Luolei, Qi Yuan arrived at his temporary residence in Xuyun Pavilion. "Greetings, Lord Qi Yuan." A young and beautiful woman bowed respectfully, not daring to look directly into Qi Yuan's eyes. She was an external member of the Myriad Changes Society, only at the second tier of the Yang God realm. On this assignment, she was specifically tasked with seeing to Qi Yuan's daily living and coordinating with the factions behind each land of opportunity. She understood just how exalted this man's standing was within the Myriad Changes Society. Even Vice Society Master Shenji had stepped forward on his behalf, clashing with Vice Society Master Tiantang. Barring any accidents, this Realm Lord might well hold the purple jade pendant in the future and become a paramount figure like a Vice Society Master. "Still no word from Qiluo Palace?" Qi Yuan asked. Qiluo Palace was a major faction similar to the Palace of All Saints. It possessed the land of opportunity known as Qimeng Space. With Vice Society Master Shenji's assistance, Qi Yuan had gone to the major factions to borrow their lands of opportunity. The other major factions had all readily agreed, lending their lands of opportunity without hesitation. Only Qiluo Palace had been dragging its feet, giving Qi Yuan the runaround. Of course, when Qi Yuan still had other lands of opportunity to visit, he hadn't cared and let them stall. Now that he had finished visiting six lands of opportunity, they couldn't possibly keep stalling, could they? "Well..." The beautiful woman looked troubled. "The envoy from Qiluo Palace said that a mysterious elder is currently using Qimeng Space, so for this epoch... it probably won't be possible." "Is that so?" Qi Yuan's expression was placid. He recalled Vice Society Master Shenji's words. Shenji had saved Realm Lord Tiantang's life last time out of regard for his past ties with Tiantang's ancestors. Yet Realm Lord Tiantang seemed blind to the situation. This time, he was still pulling petty tricks in secret. Qiluo Palace had deep ties to Realm Lord Tiantang. Realm Lord Lüqi, who had always followed Realm Lord Tiantang, had an elder sister named Hongqi, who was the palace master of Qiluo Palace. It was only natural that Realm Lord Tiantang had a hand in this. Qi Yuan grasped much in an instant. When Vice Society Master Shenji called a halt to their previous fight, he might very well have intended to give Qi Yuan a more justified pretext. "Have Qiluo Palace's envoy come see me. I'll ask him personally," Qi Yuan said. "Understood." About twenty breaths later, a middle-aged man walked in. Seeing Qi Yuan, his face was fraught with distress, sweat beading across his brow. "Honored Envoy, this is what the elders conveyed... I am afraid no one may enter Qimeng Space this epoch," the middle-aged man said in an exceedingly humble tone. "Oh? Even though I hold the Society Master token of the Myriad Changes Society, it still won't do?" Qi Yuan asked. Unlike the other major factions, Qiluo Palace could barely be considered a subordinate faction of the Myriad Changes Society. "This... this..." The middle-aged man turned ashen, scared out of his wits. "Forget it. I won't take it out on a wage earner like you. I'll go find your boss," Qi Yuan said casually. After all, a decision like this wasn't something a mere wage worker could decide. As the saying went, the weak drew their blades against the weaker, while the strong drew their blades against the strong. Hearing this, the middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as though he had just survived a disaster. Meanwhile, inside Qiluo Palace. The First Elder looked worried. "Palace Master, we have slighted... Qi Yuan like this. What if he takes offense and holds us accountable?" "Hmph. In a short while, Realm Lord Tiantang will become the Society Master of the Myriad Changes Society. And Qi Yuan... is just a newcomer who recently joined the society. So what if he has some talent? "Others might fear his background and potential, but this venerable one does not care." Realm Lord Hongqi had her pride. Her strength was a notch above even that of the Palace Master of All Saints. While an expert like the Palace Master of All Saints showed Qi Yuan great deference, she certainly wouldn't. "His strength is a fraction weaker than mine. Could he possibly harm me? "To harm me, he would have to step into the fourth tier of the Yang God realm, or... become a Dao Lord! "Do you think he has any chance of becoming a Dao Lord?" Hongqi said dismissively. At their level of cultivation, the differences in raw power were actually miniscule. Hong Qimeng believed that while garrisoned within Qiluo Palace, even Realm Lord Tiantang would be hard-pressed to inflict a severe wound on her. Much less a petty nobody like Qi Yuan. "What if he comes to demand an accounting?" the First Elder muttered. No sooner had the words left his mouth than a resonant voice reverberated throughout Qiluo Palace: "Where is the Palace Master of Qiluo Palace? Present yourself before me at once!" Hearing this, Hongqi showed a contemptuous look. In about half a breath, her figure appeared in the sky above Qiluo Palace. Aided by the grand array and Realm Lord curious treasures, Hongqi curtsied gracefully. "May I ask what brings the Honored Envoy here? Has a disciple been discourteous to you?" Her tone sounded quite cordial. "Don't you know why I'm here? I want to enter Qimeng Space," Qi Yuan answered. "Oh dear, what terrible timing, Honored Envoy. Someone else is currently using Qimeng Space. I'm afraid you won't have the opportunity to enter this epoch. Why don't you wait here for an epoch, Honored Envoy?" With smiling eyes, Hongqi spoke in an exceedingly sweet tone. "Hey, you're not customer service. Why are you talking like one? You're obviously the boss, aren't you?" Qi Yuan was rendered somewhat speechless. It was normal for customer service to speak politely while doing nothing. The key was that this Hongqi was a leader, a palace master. "I'd say you ought to learn from Realm Lord Tiantang and stop beating around the bush. Do you just not want me to go in?" Qi Yuan questioned. Although Qi Yuan couldn't stomach being wronged, he never acted on pure impulse, nor did he recklessly slaughter entire sects. He placed great importance on evidence. What if he accidentally killed the wrong person? Seeing Qi Yuan ask so directly, the gentle smile on Hongqi's face morphed into a sneer. "Since Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan already knows, why bother asking what is obvious? You'd do better to turn back early. Wait until the next epoch. If I happen to be in a good mood, perhaps I'll let you enter Qimeng Space." "Oh, understood." Qi Yuan's gaze was calm. The evidence was established; it was evidently no misunderstanding. Next, it was time to kill, kill, kill. "Sinner Hongqi, for barring me from entering Qimeng Space, your crime warrants death. On behalf of the Myriad Changes Society, I sentence you to death." Qi Yuan's voice was tranquil yet imbued with boundless majesty, sacred and inviolable, passing judgment upon Hongqi. Hongqi chuckled, clutching her chest as she shook with laughter. "I called you 'Honored Envoy' out of courtesy, and you really think you're something?" "Sister, you're a Realm Lord already. Why do you still talk like a cheap punk?" Qi Yuan remarked casually. Then again, that was normal. At their realm, one acted according to one's true disposition and nature, doing as one pleased and revealing one's true heart. There was no need to hide anything. Strength dictated everything; so-called temperaments and social pleasantries ceased to matter. "You court death!" Hongqi stood within Qiluo Palace. Though she snapped in fury, she didn't take a single step outside the palace. Even though she believed Qi Yuan was no match for her, she remained cautious, staying put inside Qiluo Palace. "After passing judgment on you, I'll go and kill Realm Lord Tiantang too. "Hmph, looking for trouble with me again and again. Once I slay him and purge the atmosphere of the Myriad Changes Society, the Shamanic Dao Lord will probably give me a thumbs-up!" Qi Yuan declared. "You have plenty of nerve. Let's see if your strength is as big as your gall!" Realm Lord Hongqi said dismissively. Garrisoned inside Qiluo Palace, even an attack from Realm Lord Tiantang—or even the Society Master of the Myriad Changes Society—could not severely wound her. Unless an entity like the Buddha corpse intervened, but beings like the Buddha corpse would never leave their domain. Thus, here, she was practically invincible; naturally, she had nothing to fear from Qi Yuan. "Sigh." Qi Yuan let out a long sigh. "I'm a good person. I didn't want to kill anyone." "Why force my hand?" At this moment, Qi Yuan struck. "Remember: the one who slays you is Qi Yuan!" As his words fell, Qi Yuan casually unleashed an ordinary strike toward Realm Lord Hongqi. Within Qiluo Palace, many Realm Lords wore calm expressions as they watched. Realm Lord Hongqi's gaze was just as calm. She chuckled. "A strike like this wouldn't even pluck a single hair off me, yet you want to kill me?" Yet in the very next breath, an intense, extreme premonition of danger suddenly arose. Realm Lord Hongqi's body stiffened, her mind somewhat dazed. Why would such a simple strike make her feel such tremendous peril? Right now, she felt like a little girl walking on the street, watching a goose feather flutter down from the sky, while a thought struck her heart: if she caught it, it would crush her to death. Most people with itchy fingers would probably try to catch it anyway. Realm Lord Hongqi was in just such a state. "Impossible! How could he possibly pose a threat to me?" Even thinking so, Realm Lord Hongqi swiftly transformed into an escape light, attempting to duck into the void to avoid receiving the blow. Unfortunately, Qi Yuan's attacks were not something one could choose to dodge. "You don't understand the gap between you and me at all!" "Nor do any of you know that I am a true Yin God!" "A mere Realm Lord dare clamor before a Yin God? You truly court death!" Dodging was useless. As Qi Yuan's words rang out, all the Realm Lords witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives. That plain, ordinary strike landed upon Realm Lord Hongqi. Realm Lord Hongqi's sturdy, majestic body burst apart like a balloon. Her true spirit... extinguished. Realm Lord Hongqi, who had just been taunting him... was dead. Just like that... dead! "How can this be possible?!" Every single Realm Lord was dumbfounded. If the old woman at Zhishan Pavilion knew what had transpired here, she might well have leapt out of her grave to gasp in shock. "I won't pretend anymore. In the Yin God realm, I am invincible." At that moment, a detached voice echoed across the firmament. At the same time, within the Myriad Changes Society. Realm Lord Chunran and Realm Lord Lüqi, who had been playing chess, suddenly widened their eyes, expressions of horror seizing their faces. "Hongqi is dead?" "Killed by Qi Yuan?" "How is that possible?!" All three of them felt profound shock, unable to comprehend it. Not only were they shocked, but everyone who learned of this news was incomparably astounded and bewildered. After all, Hongqi had practically reached the pinnacle of the Realm Lord level. Garrisoned within Qiluo Palace, even if the Society Master intervened, it would be difficult to injure a hair on her head. Dead, just like that? Yet before they could ponder any further, a lazy voice rang out at that very instant: "Tiantang plotted against me again and again. I am going to kill him—who dares stop me?!" Naturally, this voice belonged to Qi Yuan. He didn't dare say "Who dares kill me?" but instead said "Who dares stop me?" After all, if some Ma Dai suddenly popped out, that would be quite a scene. Meanwhile, within the Myriad Changes Society, over a hundred Realm Lords were shaken. No one had imagined that Qi Yuan would kill Realm Lord Hongqi. Even Vice Society Master Shenji was no longer delirious at this moment, his mind clearing considerably. "How... can this be possible?" He could not understand; it defied comprehension. The other Realm Lords wore equally stunned expressions. Especially Realm Lord Tiantang, whose face was filled with sheer disbelief. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and fled. Now, only by fleeing to the main universe and seeking the protection of a Dao Lord would he have a sliver of hope for survival. He dared not clash head-on with Qi Yuan in the slightest. He had to return to the main universe and investigate the truth. Unfortunately, just as he was about to flee, a colossal palm descended and cut off his path of escape. "No one I want to kill has ever managed to escape!" "Die!" The palm exerted force. Realm Lord Tiantang's face was stricken with disbelief. Against such awe-inspiring might, he had no means of resistance whatsoever. It felt as if he were facing a Dao Lord. "Impossible!" His expression warped in vicious terror, and ultimately his body shattered. Faced with Qi Yuan's terrifying strike, he couldn't hold out for even a single breath. Countless Realm Lords were astounded. Some took a sharp intake of breath, doubting their own eyes. Right then, from the depths of the Myriad Changes Society, Vice Society Master Shenji stepped out, an expression of amazement on his face. Finally, an aged voice drifted over: "Hey, is that psychiatric hospital of yours open yet? Got an empty bed?"