In a Hurry to Die? Then I'll Use You to Test My Blade!

As the auctioneer's final hammer fell, signaling the conclusion, the auction finally drew to a slow close.

The clamorous crowd began to disperse, and the once-packed hall gradually became empty.

The Martial Artists who had successfully acquired their desired items were all beaming with satisfaction as the Maid guided them to the back for settlement.

Those who returned empty-handed wore regretful and envious expressions, gathering in twos and threes to discuss the thrilling bidding from moments ago.

Liu Yuan paid no attention to the strange looks cast his way. He calmly rose to his feet and headed straight for the back.

After paying four thousand Yang Yuan Stones, the Cold Jade Brocade Box containing the "Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit" finally fell into his hands.

Opening the Brocade Box and sensing the refreshing chill within, Liu Yuan's lips curved into a satisfied smile.

"With this, once I find the remaining medicinal ingredients, I can begin refining the Ice Cold Fiend Control Pill."

Liu Yuan did not linger at the Myriad Gold Merchant Association. After putting away the Brocade Box, he turned and walked out through the heavy doors.

At this time, Flame City's streets remained bustling.

Sunlight spilled across Liu Yuan's green robes, making him look like some wealthy Young Master fresh out into the world, ignorant of its dangers.

However, at the very moment his front foot crossed the auction house's threshold—

A cold and greedy gaze latched onto his back like maggots on a corpse.

Within the shadows at a corner of the auction house.

Ice Old Ghost's gaunt figure slowly emerged. Watching Liu Yuan's departing back, he revealed a sinister sneer as killing intent churned in his eyes.

"Hmph, the Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit..."

"You little bastard, it would be wasted on you. You might as well offer it to this old man as tribute!"

He let out a low snort. His body flickered, and he slipped into the crowd like a ghost, silently following after Liu Yuan.

"Trying to run? No chance!"

Meanwhile, inside a private room on the second floor of the Wanjin Auction House.

Xia Wanjin and Xuan Su were in no hurry to leave. Standing by the window, they watched the entire scene through the One-way Crystal Window.

"Sigh..."

Watching the two figures disappear one after another at the end of the street, Xuan Su sighed softly, a trace of regret appearing in her beautiful eyes.

"What a pity for that young man. He is quite handsome, so why does he act so recklessly?"

"In Flame City, there are people one simply cannot afford to offend. Does he not know that?"

Xia Wanjin crossed his arms and shook his head slightly, his tone indifferent.

"This is the Jianghu. Without sufficient strength, one can only keep one's head down."

"Although Ice Old Ghost is merely at Origin Core Realm Minor Perfection, his Ice and Cold Cultivation Method is extremely strange. Even against an ordinary Origin Core Realm Great Perfection expert, he can still hold his own for a while."

"Now that Ice Old Ghost has set his sights on that young man, I fear his chances of survival are slim..."

Xuan Su frowned slightly and asked tentatively,

"President, should we..."

Although the Myriad Gold Merchant Association only did business, she had a fairly good impression of that young man. She felt it was somewhat cruel to simply watch him die at Ice Old Ghost's hands.

"No need."

Xia Wanjin directly interrupted her, his eyes regaining a merchant's calmness and rationality.

"Su Su, remember this: the reason our Myriad Gold Merchant Association has been able to establish itself in Flame City is because we abide by the rules."

"If they had acted inside the auction house, I would naturally have stepped in to uphold the rules and save that young man's life. But now that they have left the auction house, this is a private grudge between them."

"To offend the Profound Ice Sect for a stranger, perhaps even inviting unnecessary trouble—this deal... is not worth it."

Hearing this, Xuan Su silently nodded as well.

Indeed, in this world where the strong preyed on the weak, sympathy was the cheapest and most useless thing.

She gave one final look toward the direction the young man had vanished, then sighed inwardly.

"If anyone is to blame, it can only be you for being too conspicuous..."

Naturally, Liu Yuan knew nothing of the thoughts of those two "spectators" behind him.

Or rather, even if he had known, he would only have scoffed at them.

At this moment, he was leisurely strolling through Flame City's streets. He seemed to be wandering aimlessly, but every step took him toward less populated areas.

His formidable Form Creation Realm Great Accomplishment perception was like a radar, clearly locking onto every movement of the little tail following behind him.

"Heh, you really won't give up until you see the coffin."

Liu Yuan's lips curled into an amused smile.

He had originally only intended to find a place to absorb the Martial Arts and Cultivation Techniques rewarded by the system, such as the sixth-grade Martial Art, Great Demon Shattering Fist, and the spiritual secret art, Sky Flame Ancient Formation.

He had not expected Ice Old Ghost to be so eager to die.

Since that was the case, he might as well use him as the first whetstone after breaking through to the Form Creation Realm.

With that thought, Liu Yuan quickened his pace slightly, turned sharply, and entered a secluded, deep Dead End Alley.

Abandoned warehouses lined both sides of the alley. Few people ever came here, and weeds grew wildly, making the place appear especially desolate.

Upon reaching the deepest part of the alley, Liu Yuan stopped.

A high wall stood before him. There was nowhere left to go.

"Why have you stopped running?"

At that moment, a sinister laugh carrying traces of mockery and cruelty slowly drifted in from the alley entrance.

Ice Old Ghost stood there with his hands behind his back, leisurely blocking the only exit.

Looking at Liu Yuan's back, he resembled an old cat toying with a little mouse trapped with nowhere to run. His eyes were filled with smug satisfaction.

"Little brat, do you finally realize you cannot escape?"

"Hand over the Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit and all the Yang Yuan Stones on you. If this old man is in a good mood, I might even leave you with an intact corpse."

As he spoke, a bone-chilling wave of Origin Power spread from his body, dropping the temperature throughout the alley to freezing. The weeds on the ground were instantly covered with a layer of White Frost.

The aura of Origin Core Realm Minor Perfection was fully unleashed!

In his view, this was more than enough to frighten the wits out of any inexperienced brat.

However.

Liu Yuan, who had his back turned to him, slowly turned around.

There was no fear or despair on that handsome face, as Ice Old Ghost had expected. Instead, there was a trace of... faint pity?

"Run?"

Liu Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Ice Old Ghost in the distance with a half-smile.

"Do you have something wrong?"

"The only reason I led you here was because I simply thought... this was a good place to kill someone and bury the body. It is quiet."

"What?!"

Ice Old Ghost froze for a moment, then flew into a rage and laughed in fury.

"What a sharp-tongued little bastard! You still dare to talk tough when death is at hand! Since you are so eager to die, this old man will grant your wish!"

Boom!

Before his words had faded, Ice Old Ghost shot forward. A thick layer of ice crystals condensed over his withered palm as it tore through the air with a shrill howl, heading straight for Liu Yuan's throat!

This strike was vicious beyond compare. He clearly had no intention of leaving Liu Yuan alive!

Yet, faced with an attack capable of instantly killing any Heavenly Origin Realm or even Lesser Yuan Dan Realm expert, Liu Yuan merely stood where he was without even blinking.

Only when that ice-crystal palm was less than three feet away from him—

Rumble—!!!

An indescribably terrifying aura erupted from Liu Yuan's body without warning!

It was as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea, boundless and unfathomable!

The icy Origin Power that had filled the alley was like remnant snow beneath a blazing sun before this aura, instantly melting away without a trace!

Form Creation Realm Great Accomplishment!

And it was Form Creation Realm Great Accomplishment enhanced by the system, with Origin Power purity far surpassing those of the same realm!

"W-What?!"

Ice Old Ghost, still in the midst of charging forward, felt a terrifying pressure like Mount Tai bearing down upon him.

The Origin Power shield he had been so proud of was as fragile as thin paper before that pressure. With a crack, it shattered apart!

"F-Form Creation Realm?!!"

Ice Old Ghost's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. His formerly vicious face turned pale as paper, filled with extreme horror and disbelief!

How was that possible?!

This boy, who looked barely weaned, was actually a Form Creation Realm super expert?!

Even Stone City Lord was only at Form Creation Realm Minor Accomplishment!

This aura... was several times more powerful than Stone City Lord's!

Where the hell had this monster come from?!

"Run!!!"

At that moment, only one thought remained in Ice Old Ghost's mind.

The Extreme Cold Ice Spirit Fruit was instantly thrown to the back of his mind!

Before an absolute gap in strength, greed immediately turned into fear.

Almost instinctively, he forcefully halted his charge. Ignoring the agonizing pain caused by the backlash of Origin Power within his body, he stomped the ground hard and spun around, fleeing madly toward the alley entrance like a startled rabbit!

Too terrifying!

This was simply not someone he could afford to provoke!

He had to run! The farther, the better!

However.

"Since you have already come, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

A calm voice sounded quietly beside his ear, like the judgment of death itself.

Then.

Whoosh!

A piercing sound of rushing wind suddenly rang out.

Liu Yuan casually raised his right hand and flicked a finger.

A streak of brilliant Golden Light burst from his fingertip. It rapidly expanded in the air, instantly transforming into a golden energy blade over ten feet long!

Origin Power Transformation!

This was the signature method of a Form Creation Realm expert!

Squelch!

The golden energy blade moved as swiftly as lightning. In virtually an instant, it caught up to the fleeing Ice Old Ghost and viciously plunged into the ground half an inch before him!

Boom!

The hard bluestone ground exploded at once. Terrifying force erupted, directly blasting Ice Old Ghost backward and sending him crashing heavily at Liu Yuan's feet.

"This..."

Looking at the Origin Power energy blade that was still emitting terrifying fluctuations, Ice Old Ghost was completely despairing.

Trembling from head to toe, he raised his head and looked at the Green-Robed Youth gazing down at him from above. There was no trace left of his earlier arrogance—only endless fear and pleading.

Ice Old Ghost dropped to his knees on the spot in terror and begged repeatedly.

"Please spare my life, my lord. This old man failed to recognize Mount Tai and offended you earlier. I beg you, please leave this old man a way to live."

"If you do, I am willing to serve as an ox or horse. This old man will spare no effort!"