Isn't Killing You Enough?

At the entrance to the Cave Residence area of Azure Valley Market.

He Luyuan stood there, anxiously watching the people coming and going.

The Cave Residence area was protected by the Market Street's grand formation, allowing entry and exit only through this entrance. He had been waiting here for a full month, his purpose being to prevent Lu Yan from slipping away while he wasn't paying attention.

As the agreed-upon date approached, He Luyuan's heart grew more anxious.

He also realized that in his haste that day, he had revealed too much, but it was an unavoidable action.

That important figure had issued a death order, demanding that Lu Yan be brought over.

The thought of facing that important figure's wrath if he messed this up made He Luyuan's heart tremble.

He even began to regret getting involved with that important figure.

Success in this matter would indeed bring immense benefits, but failure would undoubtedly result in a heavy price.

As things stood, he could only hope that Lu Yan hadn't noticed anything unusual.

The sky gradually darkened. Realizing that today might again yield no results, He Luyuan felt somewhat disheartened.

Just then, a figure in a green long robe slowly walked out of the Cave Residence area. It was the Lu Yan he had been waiting for.

His face was handsome, and he wore a very friendly smile. His sunny disposition instinctively made people feel close to him.

Seeing this, He Luyuan quickly stepped forward, attempting to greet him.

But at that moment, the sun fell into the valley, and the sunlight disappeared from Azure Valley Market. Lu Yan's aura seemed to plunge into an abyss in an instant. The warm smile in his eyes was replaced by coldness, and his dark pupils seemed to reflect countless departed souls.

He Luyuan stood frozen in place until Lu Yan's voice awakened him.

"Fellow Daoist He?"

He Luyuan's body instinctively trembled. He looked at Lu Yan before him again; the momentary gaze from before seemed like an illusion.

He Luyuan noticed that Lu Yan's cultivation had already broken through to Mid-Stage Qi Refinement.

"Mid-Stage Qi Refinement, just Mid-Stage Qi Refinement."

He silently repeated these words a few times to calm himself down, then He Luyuan said with a smile:

"Fellow Daoist Lu has made me wait so long!"

Lu Yan showed a hint of apology on his face: "I've troubled Fellow Daoist He."

Looking up at the sun that had already set, Lu Yan added:

"Since I've wasted so much of Fellow Daoist He's time, why don't we hurry tonight and go find the fellow Daoist you mentioned?"

For some reason, facing Lu Yan's suggestion, He Luyuan felt an instinctive urge to refuse.

But ultimately, the pressure brought by that important figure overcame his instinct, making him agree immediately.

"Alright!"

With that, the two of them set off, leaving Azure Valley Market.

Somewhat to Lu Yan's surprise, He Luyuan actually possessed a low-grade magical artifact, a Flying Boat.

Although it was only the lowest-grade flying magical artifact, its value was close to a hundred Spirit Stones, which made Lu Yan quite satisfied.

With the convenience of the Flying Boat artifact, he reached the destination He Luyuan had mentioned in less than an hour.

It was a small courtyard built deep within Witch Mountain. There were no Spirit Veins around, and the spiritual energy was much thinner compared to the Market Street. A layer of restriction outside the courtyard concealed the situation within, preventing Lu Yan from seeing clearly.

Even Lu Yan was a little surprised as to why a cultivator would live in such a deep mountain forest.

Landing in front of the courtyard gate, He Luyuan's face showed humility, and he spoke respectfully:

"This humble one, He Luyuan, requests an audience with Lord Shen!"

Inside the courtyard, a lazy voice slowly sounded: "Come in."

The invisible restriction opened, and in an instant, rich spiritual energy surged towards Lu Yan. The concentration of spiritual energy was so high that it even surpassed the mid-grade Cave Residences in Azure Valley Market.

Lu Yan stepped into the courtyard with a surprised expression, and then smelled a strong scent of blood.

In the center of the courtyard stood a tall pillar, and hanging on the pillar were three terrifying corpses.

Rust-covered iron hooks pierced through their shoulder blades, suspending the corpses in the air. Their bodies were covered in deep wounds that reached the bone. The wounds seemed to have long since rotted, crawling with wriggling maggots, and their eye sockets were empty, leaving only darkness.

Lu Yan's spiritual sense could even perceive that the soul on one of the skeletons had just dissipated, clearly having died not long after being tortured.

Below the three corpses, a young man wearing a crimson robe embroidered with bright red lotuses casually dropped the small knife in his hand, his somewhat demonic face filled with disappointment.

"I thought the so-called Ten Thousand Beast Banner was just a rumor, but I didn't expect someone to actually research something."

"These three guys claimed to have met the person who refined the Ten Thousand Beast Banner once, but unfortunately, they didn't know that person's identity. They are truly a bunch of useless trash!"

Lu Yan's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

If the demonic youth's words were true, these three corpses in front of him should be the Scavenger Team he had met once.

His gaze swept over the three corpses without a trace. Although they were already unrecognizable, Lu Yan could still vaguely identify that the three were indeed the three young men and women. The middle-aged man who had traded with Lu Yan was not among them.

The demonic youth flicked his finger, and three crimson flames like fresh blood ignited the three corpses, the bloody firelight spreading and engulfing them.

After doing all this, the demonic youth looked at Lu Yan and the other person, a curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Do you know why I didn't directly search their souls, but chose to interrogate them instead?"

Lu Yan didn't speak. He Luyuan, who was already trembling all over, stammered in response:

"No, I don't know."

"Within the sect, some people believe that stirring up chaos in the world and absorbing Karma amidst the great turmoil is the best course of action.

But I believe that the Karma provided by individual beings is not inferior to the chaos of order.

I extended their lives for ten days. During these ten days, they endured the most painful torture in the world.

From the initial fear, to begging for mercy, and then to resentment, the painful emotions will transform into the purest Karma and feed back to me at the moment their souls are scattered."

The demonic youth extended his right hand, and Karma transformed into crimson flames dancing on his fingertips.

Then his gaze fell on Lu Yan, and his effeminate voice slowly sounded:

"Was it you who killed Manager Mo's clansmen and took his Storage Bag?"

Lu Yan didn't try to explain that Steward Chu was the one who killed the person; it would be meaningless and only lead to more problems.

He simply asked calmly, "How did you find out?"

"While Spirit Talismans are largely similar, the materials used by different factions to create them have certain regional characteristics.

The Spirit Talismans of the Red Lotus Demonic Sect are made from blood lotus leaves. This material is scarce in the territory of the Azure Parasol Sect. Ordinary people might not notice the difference, but in the hands of a professional Talisman Master, it can be easily identified at a glance."

The demonic-looking young man rarely offered an explanation, then spoke with interest:

"I see you are cultivating the Red Lotus Karma Fire Sutra. To have such cultivation in less than a year, and with pure Mana showing no signs of having taken elixirs, it seems you are a promising talent.

I can give you a chance. As long as you open your soul and let me imprint a Karma Curse Seal, I will take you as my servant and bring you into the Red Lotus Demonic Sect.

At that time, you can obtain the complete cultivation technique inheritance, and I will personally resolve the trouble with Manager Mo for you."

"But what if I refuse?"

The smile on the demonic-looking young man's face vanished. The pressure of a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator descended upon Lu Yan without reservation.

"Then you will have to taste the most painful torment in the world, just like those three.

Your aptitude isn't bad. I hope you can last longer than they did."

Just as the pressure was about to touch Lu Yan, Lu Yan's voice finally sounded.

"I think there's a third option."

The Hundred Soul Banner fell into Lu Yan's palm. As the Soul Banner was raised, Ghost Mist instantly blotted out the sky, and the Specter Ghost Domain broke through the courtyard's restrictions, swallowing everything.

Surrounded by a hundred ghosts, Lu Yan pointed the Soul Banner at the demonic-looking young man and said softly:

"Wouldn't killing you suffice?"