Devouring Soul Emperor

Zhao Family Castle was not very far from Chu Family Village.

Riding at top speed, Chu Qingyun arrived in about two hours.

Once he was near Zhao Family Castle, Chu Qingyun found a place to tie up his horse.

Then, he changed into the Night Travel Clothes he had brought from Qingshan City, activated his Stealth Soul Techniques, and crept toward Zhao Family Castle in the dark of night.

Zhao Family Castle lived up to its name.

Compared to an ordinary village, its defenses were incredibly formidable.

Zhao Family Castle was surrounded by high walls, and numerous guard teams patrolled day and night.

However, to Chu Qingyun, none of this mattered.

He could sneak into a Blood Wolf Gang Elder’s residence without a sound, so this was nothing.

’With just the Hidden Qi Technique from the Martial Artist Chapter, I can’t completely conceal my aura. So, I should first deal with the Martial Artists in Zhao Family Castle who are level six or higher...’

Hiding in a dark corner, Chu Qingyun quietly deliberated for a moment before making his decision: he would go after Zhao Zhiyi last.

Level-seven, eight, and nine Martial Artists were considered high-level. Even though Zhao Family Castle was the largest settlement in the area, it had fewer than twenty of them, the majority of whom were Level-seven Martial Artists.

Chu Qingyun had already learned the locations of Zhao Family Castle’s high-level Martial Artists and committed them to memory before his arrival.

Moving from west to east, Chu Qingyun began his purge of Zhao Family Castle’s high-level Martial Artists.

With his strength as a Level-1 Martial Artist, combined with the Hidden Qi Technique from the Martial Artist Chapter, no one could sense his aura as long as he didn’t actively approach Zhao Zhiyi.

About three hours later, with the exception of Fortress Lord Zhao Zhiyi’s household, all the high-level Martial Artists had been wiped out by Chu Qingyun.

And during those three hours, Zhao Family Castle remained quiet. Not a single person discovered that a reaper had infiltrated their walls.

After crushing the throat of the last Level-7 Martial Artist outside, Chu Qingyun’s eyes fixed on Zhao Zhiyi’s compound in the dead of night. ’Zhao Yishui, Zhao Zhiyi, it’s your turn...’

Leaping over the wall into Zhao Zhiyi’s courtyard, Chu Qingyun suppressed his aura to the absolute limit and moved forward using the shadows along the path.

Once inside, his first target was the Level-8 Martial Artist Zhao Zhimo, who was located furthest from Zhao Zhiyi.

Zhao Zhimo had once gone to the Assassin Alliance to issue a contract for Chu Qingyun’s assassination.

Now, he himself had become the prey for Chu Qingyun’s assassination. It was a perfect case of getting a taste of his own medicine.

The night was deep. After a tumble in the sheets, Zhao Zhimo was sleeping soundly, holding the young concubine he had recently taken.

Chu Qingyun suppressed his aura to its absolute limit and crouched outside Zhao Zhimo’s door, holding his breath and concentrating as he carefully scanned the surroundings for any sign of movement.

During his time with You Yun, You Yun had taught him many things about being an assassin.

The most important lesson, the one emphasized more than any other, was a single word: caution!

Even a lion uses its full strength when hunting a rabbit!

Even when assassinating a Level-8 Martial Artist with the strength of a Level-1 Martial Artist, Chu Qingyun still gave it his all, not letting his guard down in the slightest.

’Two sets of breathing in the room. One is steady and deep; that must be Zhao Zhimo. The other is short and shallow, likely just an ordinary person.’

’Both are calm. They must be fast asleep...’

Having made his assessment, Chu Qingyun inserted his black dagger into the seam of the door. After infusing it with Primordial Power, the dagger flashed, slicing through the wooden bolt.

He gently pushed the door open a crack, slipped inside, and immediately closed it behind him before tiptoeing toward the bed.

By the faint moonlight filtering in, Chu Qingyun could clearly see the man sleeping on the bed: it was none other than Zhao Zhiyi’s brother, Zhao Zhimo—the one who had led the Zhao Family Castle’s wedding procession.

’Die, Zhao Zhimo!’

A cold glint flashed in Chu Qingyun’s eyes. He clamped one hand over Zhao Zhimo’s mouth and nose while simultaneously plunging the black dagger deep into his heart and giving it a vicious twist.

Zhao Zhimo struggled violently for a moment, then fell still, dead.

The young woman beside him stirred, rolled over, and hugged one of his arms, falling back into a deep sleep.

’Next up, Zhao Yishui.’

Leaving Zhao Zhimo’s room, Chu Qingyun crept toward his next target.

However, as he rounded the back of a house, a white-haired old man sitting cross-legged on a bed inside suddenly snapped his eyes open.

His sharp gaze flashed like two piercing beams of light in the pitch-black room.

This was none other than the Fortress Lord of Zhao Family Castle, the man who had recently broken through to become a Level-1 Martial Artist, Zhao Zhiyi!

"Who’s there!?"

Zhao Zhiyi roared, smashing through the back window and leaping outside.

’Damn it, he found me anyway,’

Chu Qingyun cursed inwardly, instantly changing direction and striking out with a palm packed with surging Primordial Power, aimed squarely at Zhao Zhiyi.

"A Martial Artist!"

Sensing the ferocious aura that suddenly erupted from Chu Qingyun, Zhao Zhiyi’s expression changed. Not daring to be careless in the slightest, he met the attack with a full-power palm strike of his own.

BANG!

With a thunderous crash, Zhao Zhiyi was sent flying, smashing through a nearby wall and landing in a heap amidst the rubble.

Chu Qingyun, on the other hand, was forced back several steps, leaving a trail of cracked footprints in the ground before he managed to neutralize the invasive Power.

Although they were both Level-1 Martial Artists, Chu Qingyun had opened a Qi Sea ten thousand meters wide, while Zhao Zhiyi’s was a mere twenty-something meters across. The difference was simply immense.

"Who might you be, sir? Why do you attack my Zhao Family Castle? If we have offended you in some way, please say so."

Zhao Zhiyi was covered in dust and grime.

Although he managed to maintain a calm facade, he was utterly astonished.

Chu Qingyun’s aura was the same as his own, that of a Level-1 Martial Artist.

But after that one exchange, Zhao Zhiyi realized the gap in their strength was enormous. The tidal wave of Primordial Power from Chu Qingyun’s palm had felt utterly unstoppable!

"Who am I? Heh, I’m the one who’s here to kill you, of course!"

Chu Qingyun let out a cold sneer and lunged at Zhao Zhiyi again.

He could see it too. Because the gap between their Qi Seas was so vast, his Primordial Power held an absolute advantage in sheer volume, completely overwhelming Zhao Zhiyi.

"Brat, you’re courting death!"

Zhao Zhiyi gritted his teeth and roared as a spear, over two meters long, materialized in front of him.

Chu Qingyun hadn’t even drawn his sword, yet he had already frightened Zhao Zhiyi into summoning his Martial Soul.

"Raging Dragon Thrust!"

Zhao Zhiyi roared, gripping the long spear with both hands. He unleashed a Soul Technique and thrust at Chu Qingyun with all his might.

The power of the Martial Soul instantly enveloped Zhao Zhiyi, causing his entire body to erupt with a piercing spear light as his speed surged to its absolute limit.

He moved like lightning, his spear like a dragon.

After unleashing his Soul Technique, Zhao Zhiyi seemed to become one with his Martial Soul as he charged furiously at Chu Qingyun.

’Impressive...’

"Profound Celestial Divine Pattern!"

Chu Qingyun praised him inwardly before activating the Profound Celestial Divine Pattern. Dark-golden Divine Patterns lit up on his right arm as his Primordial Power surged, and he met Zhao Zhiyi’s attack with his palm.