Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Chen Li watched with a chill in his heart.

The last trace of mercy dissipated like smoke.

He feigned a sigh, "Alas, I had not expected Fellow Daoist to bear such a deep-seated hatred... It was thoughtless of me to speak lightly."

"It’s not your fault, Fellow Daoist. It is I who have lost my composure. Ever since I became stranded here, I have been harboring pent-up frustration for years. Upon hearing good news, I became so excited that I couldn’t contain myself. I made a fool of myself in front of you," Lin Qing said apologetically, regaining his composure.

"That’s a true expression of your feelings, Fellow Daoist," Chen Li hurriedly complimented, and then subtly probed, "With the Returning True Sect destroyed, there are likely more remnants here. Fellow Daoist Lin must be careful."

"Hahaha, that will depend on their skills!"

Lin Qing laughed heartily as he looked at Chen Li, confidently unafraid of retaliation, but he kept silent about the reason.

Afterward, the two chatted for a while longer before Lin Qing excused himself.

Before parting, he chuckled:

"Today has been a rare joyous occasion, and it would feel somewhat incomplete to just go back like this. I have quite a collection of Spiritual Wine at home; why not join me and savor some!"

"Your kind offer is appreciated, but I’m not much for drinking. I’ll have to decline,"

Chen Li, already tired of the courtesy, declined politely.

...

After seeing off Lin Qing,

Chen Li felt somewhat restless, pacing back and forth by the lakeside, unable to help but mull over the hidden meanings in Lin Qing’s words.

Suddenly, he came to a halt.

"Wait, something’s not right!"

A flash of insight struck his mind.

"Lin Qing’s behavior today was off. Such matters should be kept secret, so why would he tell me?"

Chen Li’s expression grew grave:

"Lin Qing doesn’t seem like someone without schemes. Even if he was excited, he logically shouldn’t disclose anything to an outsider like me. After all, we’ve only known each other for just over a month and only met four times, merely acquaintances."

"To call us friends would be a stretch."

"This is clearly a test," Chen Li’s frown deepened.

"My arrival here was too coincidental, just after the destruction of the Returning True Sect. Perhaps there was no suspicion before, but after a fellow sect member was captured yesterday, much information was revealed!"

Chen Li sensed danger.

After a brief contemplation, he quickly created three phantom bodies, applied the Invisibility Technique, and left the courtyard.

No sooner had he stepped outside,

Than he saw the next door’s Formation open, and Lin Qing walked out with a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

It was, unmistakably, the square-faced man.

"Are we really not going to take action?" Lin Qing glanced at Chen Li’s residence and whispered, "After much consideration, I still feel there’s a high likelihood of suspicion."

Chen Li wasn’t an Oscar-winning actor; he couldn’t withstand the scrutiny of someone intent on investigating, especially at the beginning when the maid showed a peculiar reaction upon hearing about the Returning True Sect, which only increased Lin Qing’s suspicions.

And oftentimes, suspicion is enough.

Better to kill wrongly than to let go!

"Even if we are to act, it is not now. This place, after all, is Red Pillar City. Killing someone stealthily won’t bother the Fire Cloud Sect, but breaking in and causing a scene, the Fire Cloud Sect will have to intervene even if they don’t want to. Find an opportunity tomorrow to lure him out and deal with him then." The square-faced man made a throat-slicing gesture with his hand, exuding a deadly seriousness.

Chen Li, overhearing, scoffed inwardly.

He’d rather underestimated Lin Qing, it seems. None who reached Foundation Establishment were simple.

This treacherous fellow’s acting was even better than his own. Had he not been vigilant, had he not been averse to alcohol, he might have been deceived and possibly lost his life in some unforeseen accident today.

His heart brimmed with killing intent.

The world is cruel, and human hearts are unfathomable.

Some people do not deserve to live!

The two conversed quietly for a moment before the square-faced man left Lin’s residence.

Chen Li made a swift decision, three phantom bodies stealthily followed, and shortly after, his true body walked out of the courtyard and disappeared into the night with a few flashes.

Originally, he’d planned to wait until the Soul Capture Skill reached max level.

But now, he could no longer afford to delay.

The longer he waited, the more dangerous it became.

...

The night was as tranquil as water.

No wind.

A thunderstorm was coming.

Even with the City Defense Array’s temperature regulation, today was still somewhat sultry.

Xiao Changyi walked briskly through the alley.

The bluestone slabs, polished smooth by the passage of time, reflected a faint glow.

The alley was narrow, three steps wide.

On both sides were clusters of ancient buildings, closely packed and arranged in an orderly fashion.

Xiao Changyi had walked this road many times, but for some reason, today he felt jittery, as if someone was following him. However, no matter how many times he looked back, he detected nothing unusual—behind him was only emptiness.

He could only heighten his vigilance and silently prepare for battle.

’Who is it, who exactly is it!’ Xiao Changyi’s face was as dark as water, and he couldn’t help but quicken his pace.

But that feeling, like a shadow, couldn’t be shaken off.

"Boom!"

A flash of lightning streaked across the night sky, illuminating the world.

After a peal of thunder, the entire Shidu Realm became extraordinarily serene.

Just then.

A figure suddenly emerged from the darkness and, like a specter, dashed forward to attack, condensing Spiritual Power in his palm for a downward strike.

"Seeking death!" Xiao Changyi’s eyes were ice-cold, and having anticipated this, he instantly activated the Shield Skill talisman he had been holding, while at the same time, he cast a sword light at the incoming shadow.

It passed like a flash.

The assailant’s palm hadn’t even descended when his body was split in two by the sword light.

But it was clearly not a real body of flesh and blood; the two halves of the figure instantly collapsed and dissolved into nothingness.

"Eh!"

The look of surprise and suspicion had just risen on Xiao Changyi’s face when an overpowering flash of light already illuminated the night sky, so bright that tears streamed down from his eyes.

The Flash Skill had only just been released for an instant.

Another Earth-Shocking Skill followed almost at the same time, coming right on its heels.

The protection of Red Pillar City’s City Defense Array included a no-fly zone; unless one had the right to control the Array, it was impossible to fly here, which gave this magic its place to be applied.

It was like a minor scale magnitude-nine earthquake.

The ground shook violently, and the surrounding houses collapsed under the force of the tremor, with the edges of the bluestone path being shattered into dust.

Even Xiao Changyi could only struggle to steady himself, attempting to grasp at any chance for survival.

But it was fated to be in vain.

See, he could not.

Stand, he could not stabilize.

Escape, he could not even attempt!

Before he could regain his footing. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

An even more terrifying magic had already rushed towards him.

Comparable to a max-level Second Order Level 8 "True Fire Skill".

It was a jet of blue-white flames, like a fire dragon that incinerated everything in its path.

In just an instant, the Shield Skill on Xiao Changyi’s body was broken by the jet, the glowing robe itself also failed to activate its defenses and completely disintegrated, and in the next moment, his entire body was engulfed by the high-temperature jet!

"Ah!"

Xiao Changyi emitted a cry of despair and pain.

With opening his mouth, flames furiously poured inside, and he managed only to let out a brief sound before it abruptly ceased. His body started to burn fiercely; swaying, he tried desperately to look at the several dark shadows.

Alas, they remained indiscernible.

The next moment, the flesh and blood of his body rapidly carbonized and vanished under the horrific heat, leaving only a skeleton within a few seconds.

He could no longer hold on, his body tilted, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

The skeleton lay scattered on the ground.

Never to stir again.

ps: This Chapter should have been posted last night, but I was too tired while writing it, so I decided to take a nap, and when I woke up, it was already bright daylight.