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[Master of Profound Mysteries 2.0: Increased number of captures.]

[Skull Curse 6.0: Increased number of White Bone Skeletons.]

...

Glancing over the updates on his Magic Technique Panel, Qi Yun’s expression flickered. He raised his right hand, his fingers flying as he expertly formed the spell for the [Skull Curse].

WHOOSH—

In an instant, a bone-chilling wind kicked up in the courtyard without warning, sending dust spiraling into the air. A continuous, cackling laughter echoed around him as three White Bone Skeletons materialized, their eye sockets burning with a faint Ghost Fire as they bobbed up and down.

’So after the mechanics are relatively complete, it starts upgrading the stats?’

With a flick of his fingers to form the spell, Qi Yun sent the three White Bone Skeletons soaring into the air. A torrent of boundless, grayish-black Corpse Qi surged from their hollow mouths like a bursting dam, completely enveloping the courtyard.

A gloomy mist spread out, so thick you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. Only the six points of eerie green Ghost Fire flickered in and out of sight within the fog, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

’Not bad.’

Qi Yun nodded slightly. Although it had simply increased the number of White Bone Skeletons, which seemed straightforward, three White Bone Skeletons were far more than the sum of their parts.

Not only were there fewer defensive blind spots, but he could also keep two skeletons for protection while sending the third to attack or provide support.

It transformed the magic from a purely defensive technique into one that was balanced for both offense and defense.

Shifting his gaze from the three White Bone Skeletons, Qi Yun began to cast the Master of Profound Mysteries technique.

The next moment, four identical Bronze Wolf Dogs emerged side-by-side from the depths of the void. They broke through the thick fog, their steps ringing with a metallic CLANG that echoed endlessly. Four pairs of eyes, burning with eerie green and crimson flames, turned to look at Qi Yun.

"Four of them?"

Qi Yun was somewhat surprised as he looked at the four Bronze Wolf Dogs summoned by his technique.

Most of the Daoist Intent from the Nansang Bird Egg had been absorbed by Master of Profound Mysteries.

The Skull Curse had only received a portion.

The four calf-sized Bronze Wolf Dogs radiated an aura of unyielding weight and power, their combined presence far more terrifying than a single one.

They were fearless in the face of death, possessed immense strength, and were incredibly fast.

With bodies of metal, they were also impervious to blades and spears.

Qi Yun imagined what would happen if he were surrounded by four such Bronze Wolf Dogs without using his Clear Wind Technique. In a direct confrontation, even if he managed to win, he would probably be severely mauled.

With a wave of his sleeve, Qi Yun dispersed the thick fog in the courtyard. He sat down and stared at the four Bronze Wolf Dogs and three White Bone Skeletons before him, a glint in his eyes.

His experience with Wu Tianming’s group from the Nine Heavens had made him realize that the consequences of Black Mountain Master setting him up were far more severe than he had anticipated.

In the shadows, unseen, there were likely others fanning the flames.

"A mud-legged peasant with no background dares to be the Champion Scholar?" "He just got lucky and used some dirty tricks!" "He probably cheated his way to that undeserved title!"...

Comments like these had probably already spread like wildfire throughout the Outer Mansion.

"Build me up high, only to watch me fall hard. What a cruel way to break a man’s spirit."

Glancing at the now-murky water in the vat beside him, Qi Yun rubbed his temples. A vicious glint flashed in his half-closed eyes as if he had made a decision.

’Since the waters are already muddied, I might as well stop hiding.

You set a trap to play me to death?

Fine. You think the man with nothing to lose fears the one with everything?

You want to play that badly...’ Qi Yun slowly stood up, the aura around him turning sharp.

’Then let’s play a big game.’

...

...

「Wuji Holy Sect, Seventh Outer Mansion.」

A stern and imposing hall, built with black bricks and green tiles, stood in a remote corner of the Outer Mansion. It exuded a suppressive, majestic aura completely different from any other hall.

This was the Punishment Hall.

The stationed grounds of the Outer Mansion’s Law Enforcement Team.

It also served as the prison for confining and punishing Outer Mansion Disciples who violated the sect’s rules.

Today, a figure hurried toward the entrance of the Punishment Hall, clutching a letter in his hand.

He walked straight to a chamber on the left side of the Punishment Hall, stopped, and respectfully knocked twice on the door before reporting in a low voice to the person inside:

"Captain, someone has filed a report.

Qi Yun, a disciple of the Seventh Outer Mansion, has disregarded the sect rules and massacred his fellow disciples.

This month, forty-one disciples from the Seventh Outer Mansion have mysteriously disappeared.

They’ve vanished, leaving neither a living person nor a dead body behind."

CREAK—

The chamber door slowly opened. A young man with silvering temples, sharp brows, and bright eyes, dressed in the dark green-and-black robes of the law enforcement, was seated at a desk, rapidly reviewing documents with a brush in hand.

Without looking up, he asked flatly:

"Is there any evidence?"

"Yes. The informant provided a tip that Qi Yun is committing murder inside the Ninefold Hall right now. They hope we can apprehend him as soon as possible," the man with the letter said quickly.

The captain of the Third Law Enforcement Team, Li Chong, paused his brush for a moment but still did not look up. He simply gave a concise order:

"Take two men and go have a look. If the report is true, bring him back for questioning."

"Yes, sir!"

After acknowledging the order, the man set down the report and turned to leave quickly.

Glancing sideways at the report on his desk, Li Chong’s brushwork faltered slightly, and a ripple of emotion stirred in his eyes.

"Qi Yun... This year’s Human-rank Champion Scholar?"

...

"Qi Yun! Get the hell out here! Hiding like a coward, I fucking despise you!"

In a vast, boundless desert, three Outer Mansion Disciples stood back-to-back, their terrified eyes scanning the surroundings for any suspicious signs.

Swallowing hard, Zhou Ming wiped the sweat from his brow with a trembling sleeve, his face pale. Beside him, Feng Changwen and Chen Wei looked just as terrified as he did, scared out of their wits.

"I told you we shouldn’t have come, but you insisted! If he didn’t have real skills, how could he have become the Champion Scholar?

You just had to listen to those one-sided rumors. Now look at us, we’re all going to die," Feng Changwen said with a sob in his voice, his face a mask of despair.

Their group of nine had confidently infiltrated the Ninefold Hall based on supposedly "accurate" information from an inside source. They planned to ambush the "undeserving" Champion Scholar and rob him of his resources.

But as soon as they entered the area, they were swallowed by a gray fog formed from a sinister Corpse Qi so dense it was suffocating.

Immediately after, several black shadows shot out, bit two of them on the neck, and dragged them into the depths of the fog before they could even resist. Screams followed.

By the time they followed the sounds, all they found on the ground was a pool of blood and a few chunks of flesh.

In just half a day, only three of the original nine were left. They were at their limit, their True Qi depleted and their stamina almost gone.

Yet from beginning to end, they hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Qi Yun.

"Oh no! Those wolf dogs are back!"

Suddenly spotting faint figures charging toward them in the distance, Chen Wei screamed in terror, tears streaming down his face.

Several hundred meters away, Qi Yun stood with his hands behind his back, still dressed in his simple white robe. His expression was calm, betraying no emotion.

’With these nine, that makes an even fifty.’

Over the past month, nearly fifty Outer Mansion Disciples had died at his hands.

The number might not seem large, but the entire Seventh Outer Mansion only had a little over a hundred disciples.

"Are you Qi Yun?"

Just as Qi Yun was quietly waiting for the Bronze Wolf Dogs to complete their final kill, a cold, abrupt voice came from not far behind him.

Turning his head, he saw three stern-faced young men in dark green-and-black robes striding toward him.

’The Law Enforcement Team?’

Recognizing their attire, Qi Yun’s expression remained unchanged. With a subtle flick of his fingers inside his wide sleeve to form a spell, the Bronze Wolf Dogs that were about to pounce on Zhou Ming and the other two vanished into thin air.

...