Devouring Soul Emperor

"Wait, Chu Qingyun! This is the latter half of the Celestial Sword Three Techniques. I promised it to you, so here. In one month, I want to see you defeat Zhang Han. You absolutely cannot lose!"

Ye Qi pressed the second half of the secret manual into Chu Qingyun’s hands, her eyes welling with tears as she spoke, her voice choked with emotion.

After Ye Qi was led away by Housekeeper Qin, Chu Qingyun stood alone on the street, a feeling of bewilderment creeping into his heart.

’A newly-promoted Level 9 Martial Artist having to defeat a Level 3 Martial Master in one month... This is simply an unthinkable, impossible task!’

But Chu Qingyun had no regrets. Before leaving his home, he had sworn to himself that he would protect his family and preserve Chu Family Village, no matter the cost.

Chu Family Village was Chu Qingyun’s roots.

If the roots died, how could the leaves possibly survive alone?

’To defeat a Martial Master, my only chance is to become one myself! I only have a month... perhaps *there*, I might have a shot...’

For some reason, an image suddenly surfaced in Chu Qingyun’s mind: a woman wearing a fox mask.

He didn’t return to the inn. Instead, he went straight to Dongliu Alley, put on his mask, and wove his way through the twisting paths into the Assassin Alliance.

In the middle of the day, the place was nearly empty. As before, only You Yun was there, sitting behind the front desk and reading a book.

"Oh? You’re here. Did something happen?"

Seeing Chu Qingyun, You Yun closed her book and asked.

"How did you know something happened?"

Chu Qingyun asked, frowning.

"Have you even looked in a mirror? The word ’trouble’ is written all over your face."

"Here, drink this. It’s on me. Calm down and tell me what happened."

As she spoke, You Yun turned, mixed a blood-red drink, and placed it in front of Chu Qingyun.

Chu Qingyun picked up the glass and took a sip. His face immediately contorted, and he gasped, mouth wide and tongue out. "What is this stuff? It burns!"

"Hehehe. It’s called Cyan Mountain Blood, the strongest drink we have. I have to say, Black Saber, you’ve killed several men already. Don’t tell me you’re afraid to drink a single glass of Cyan Mountain Blood?"

Seeing Chu Qingyun’s miserable state, You Yun couldn’t help but laugh so hard her shoulders shook.

"Who said I’m afraid!"

Chu Qingyun’s face flushed. He picked up the glass, and forcing down his discomfort, downed the entire cup of strong liquor in one go.

The liquor left a fiery trail from his mouth all the way down to his stomach.

A wave of heat and the buzz of alcohol slowly spread to his head.

But to his surprise, after that one drink, the chaos and confusion that had clouded his mind quietly dissolved.

In their place was an unprecedented sense of calm, mixed with a slight drunkenness.

Chu Qingyun gathered his thoughts and told You Yun everything that had happened.

Perhaps because You Yun was the one who had guided him when he first arrived in Qingshan City, she was the first person Chu Qingyun thought of now that he was in deep trouble.

"A Level 3 Martial Master... That is a bit of a problem..."

You Yun’s slender fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop as she began to think in earnest.

"First, to defeat a Martial Master, you have to become one, even if it’s just the lowest-level, a Level 1 Martial Master. The Alliance has something for that: the Water Cloud Potion. It can help a Level 9 Martial Artist open their Qi Sea and break through to the Martial Master Realm. It costs thirty thousand Middle Grade Primordial Stones, but I’ll make the call and give you a fifty percent discount. Fifteen thousand, and it’s yours."

"But before you break through to the Martial Master Realm, you should go to the Great Xia Martial Palace and get a ten-win streak in the Martial Artist division. Once you have a Great Xia Martial Order, you can guarantee your parents’ safety even if you die. This is planning for the worst-case scenario."

"You probably can’t come up with fifteen thousand Middle Grade Primordial Stones. From this page to this one, these are all missions for cultivators ranging from Level 9 Martial Artists to Level 1 Martial Masters. Pick a few."

"It’s a three-step plan. First, get a ten-win streak at the Great Xia Martial Palace. Second, take missions to earn money. Third, buy the Water Cloud Potion and break through to the Martial Master Realm."

"As for what’s left... whether you live or die, that’s up to fate."

In just a few short moments, You Yun had planned out Chu Qingyun’s next course of action.

Listening to You Yun’s words, Chu Qingyun felt as though a pair of hands had parted the fog in his mind, allowing him to see the path ahead with clarity.

"You Yun, you’re incredible! It feels like nothing can stump you!"

Chu Qingyun said gratefully, his eyes shining.

A flicker of a smile crossed You Yun’s eyes as she said, a little smugly, "But of course. I’ve been out adventuring on my own since I was six. How could a rookie like you possibly compare?"

Following You Yun’s advice, Chu Qingyun selected a total of five targets.

Four of them were Level 9 Martial Artist Protectors from the Blood Wolf Gang.

The fifth was a new Elder of the Blood Wolf Gang, Zhu Xilin, who had only recently broken through to become a Level 1 Martial Master.

As You Yun put it, since he had already angered the Blood Wolf Gang beyond any hope of reconciliation, he might as well not hold back. Killing one of their Elders was the same as killing a whole group of them.

The bounties for the four Level 9 Martial Artist Protectors added up to nearly seven thousand Middle Grade Primordial Stones.

And the bounty for a single Martial Master Level Elder was over eight thousand Middle Grade Primordial Stones.

Combined, the bounties totaled just over fifteen thousand—enough for Chu Qingyun to afford the Water Cloud Potion.

After stocking up on some Rhino Horn Poison and crossbow arrows, Chu Qingyun left Dongliu Alley and returned to his inn to rest.

Tonight, he would make his move against the Blood Wolf Gang.

While Chu Qingyun was consulting with You Yun, the members of the Blood Wolf Gang were returning to their headquarters.

In a secret chamber, Qi Gang paced back and forth before turning to Zhang Han. "Elder Zhang Han," he said in a grave voice, "for the next month, you are forbidden from making any move against Chu Qingyun’s family or Chu Family Village."

"That brat’s potential is too great. We cannot risk letting him escape just so you can vent your frustrations."

If Zhang Han were to go back on his word and attack Chu Family Village, Chu Qingyun could simply choose not to show up for the life-or-death battle a month later. He would suffer nothing more than a tarnished name.

He could simply cultivate under the protection of the Great Xia Martial Palace, and once he became powerful enough, he could come seeking revenge on the Blood Wolf Gang.

That was what Qi Gang feared most.

Zhang Han stood and cupped his fist. "Rest assured, Gang Leader. I want to tear that little bastard limb from limb, but I will certainly not touch Chu Family Village for the next month."

"Good. See that you don’t. And remember, one month from now, on the battle stage of the Great Xia Martial Palace, you must kill that brat! Do not leave the Blood Wolf Gang with such a powerful potential enemy!"

A sinister Evil Qi radiated from both Qi Gang and Zhang Han.

Night fell. As the hour grew late and the people slept, Qingshan City slowly settled into silence.

After the last lamp in the inn went out, Chu Qingyun donned the Night Travel Clothes he had prepared, along with a black face wrap and his mask, and leaped from his window.

A crescent moon hung in the sky, thin as a hook.

It flickered in and out of sight between heavy, dark clouds. All of Qingshan City was cast in shadow, the silence broken only by the occasional bark of a distant dog.

’A dark moon and a high wind... a killer’s night.’

’Stealth!’