Fishing to Kill, Another Protector Slain, Yun Shan Comes Calling

Gu He and his disciple were too embarrassed to stay any longer. Finding an excuse, they left in a sorry state.

As Liu Ling walked out of the courtyard, he turned and saw Nalan Yanran hugging Ji Changqing's arm. His fists clenched, and a flash of resentment crossed his eyes.

"To become an outstanding alchemist, strong elemental affinity alone isn't enough. Your soul power has to measure up too!"

"Ji Changqing, I definitely won't lose to you!"

Ji Changqing had been watching everyone's expressions the whole time.

Naturally, he heard Liu Ling's quiet muttering, and it gave him a massive headache.

Trouble!

More trouble had found him!

He just wanted to quietly lie low. Why was that so hard?

Liu Ling was technically from the same sect, and he was also Pill King Gu He's disciple. Since they had just clashed, if anything happened to him, Ji Changqing would be the first suspect.

"Ugh..."

Ji Changqing let out a weary sigh.

After confirming his future alchemy lessons and celebrating with Yun Yun and Junior Sister Yanran,

he could finally return to his room and secretly reward himself.

No, not reward himself. He was taking out the Soul Hall Token.

[Protector Tie (Earth Tier): Protector Wu, I should arrive in the Jia Ma Empire in about three days.]

[Protector Tie (Earth Tier): You there?]

[Protector Tie (Earth Tier): Ding ding!]

Ji Changqing: "..."

You're actually doing the ding-ding thing? Weren't you supposed to be all cold and aloof?

Ji Changqing thought for a moment, then infused the token with soul power.

[Protector Wu (Earth Tier): I was capturing a soul just now and didn't see the messages.]

[Protector Wu (Earth Tier): Welcome to the Jia Ma Empire, Protector Tie. When you arrive, please allow me to play the host.]

[Protector Tie (Earth Tier): Hahaha, Protector Wu, you're too polite. See you in three days!]

[Protector Wu (Earth Tier): See you in three days!]

Ji Changqing put away the token, a glint of killing intent flashing through his eyes.

Three days from now... just wait and see if I stab you or not!

Over the next three days,

Ji Changqing holed himself up in the courtyard.

Though he still never stepped outside, Elder Danxia came by every day to teach him Alchemy Skill.

Over those three days, Ji Changqing's progress could only be described as astounding. In the eyes of Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, and Elder Danxia, he had already reached the level of a First-grade Alchemist.

Ji Changqing had come to terms with it.

Since he had already displayed alchemy talent rarely seen in a century,

he might as well go all the way. He was an alchemy genius rarely seen in a century!

As the saying went, it was darkest beneath the lamp.

With the title of alchemy genius over his head, perhaps he could lie low more conveniently.

For example, right now...

The time of his meeting with Protector Tie was drawing closer. Ji Changqing had to find an excuse to slip away.

Ji Changqing said to Elder Danxia,

"Elder Danxia, I want to enter seclusion for a day and try refining a Second-grade Pill on my own."

"Good, good!"

Elder Danxia smiled so broadly that her mouth could hardly close.

Being able to teach an alchemy genius in her twilight years was an honor.

Elder Danxia was very satisfied with Ji Changqing.

He was talented and polite. Uh, he was just too much of a homebody, like some sheltered young lady. He had not even left the courtyard once in the past three days.

"Elder Danxia, is it really all right for Changqing to refine a Second-grade Pill so soon?"

Yun Yun approached carrying a plate of Spirit Fruit. She looked pleased, but also somewhat worried as she said,

"Why don't you stay nearby and watch over him?"

Ji Changqing looked as though he was saying, "Whatever you want, I'm fine with anything."

But inwardly, his heart had already tightened.

How was he supposed to leave if someone was watching him?

Elder Danxia smiled kindly.

"Sect Leader, there is no need to worry. The Changqing Holy Son achieves better results when refining pills alone."

"The Frost Condensing Pill is considered one of the easiest Second-grade Pills to refine. There is no danger. Let the Changqing Holy Son try it himself."

Ji Changqing breathed a sigh of relief and promptly said,

"Master, let me try by myself."

"All right..."

Yun Yun nodded hesitantly.

Because alchemy required total concentration and could not be disturbed by the outside world,

after reminding him twice, Yun Yun and Elder Danxia left.

Ji Changqing returned to his room and, with practiced ease, set up an array. Then he left the courtyard.

Having cultivated the Heaven Deceiving Art, Ji Changqing could perfectly control his aura. Even if he flew overhead, no one would notice him.

But he still habitually played it safe.

Only after leaving the Misty Cloud Sect's territory by a remote mountain path did Ji Changqing fly into the sky.

The instant he shot into the heavens, thick black mist surged around him. Faint wails of vengeful souls seemed to echo from within the fog.

With this appearance, he looked even more like Soul Hall than Soul Hall itself.

"The Great Five Elements Derivation Heaven Art truly deserves to be called an evolvable cultivation technique. Everything in the world falls within the scope of the Five Elements, so it can produce power of any attribute."

Ji Changqing lowered his voice and tried laughing twice.

"Hehehehe~~"

Mm, that was the right flavor.

Whoosh, whoosh—

Ji Changqing sped into the distance, leaving a black trail behind him.

More than ten minutes later,

he arrived at a familiar place. This was precisely where Protector Wu had met his end.

Ji Changqing did not stand in the air and wait ostentatiously for Protector Tie's arrival. Instead, he hid inside a concealed canopy of trees below, fully retracted his aura, and quietly looked up at the sky.

Very soon, Ji Changqing's gaze shifted slightly.

A gust of sinister wind suddenly blew through, making the tree canopy tremble faintly.

"Protector Wu, I have arrived."

A deep voice resounded throughout the area. The vast aura made the magical beasts in the deep mountains whimper and flee.

Protector Tie stood proudly in the air, his right hand behind his back.

He was extremely high-profile and did not conceal his aura in the slightest.

All he lacked was setting off a string of firecrackers to announce to every living thing in the area, I'm fucking here!

But then again, in a place like the Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Zong expert could walk sideways.

"Protector Wu, has he not arrived yet?"

Protector Tie frowned and muttered to himself.

Just then, he spotted Protector Wu ahead, shrouded in black mist.

Without a second thought, he flew over.

"Hmph, Protector Wu, you're late."

Buzz—

The array manifested.

"Protector Wu, what do you mea—"

Protector Tie had only gotten halfway through his sentence when terrifying Dou Skills swallowed him whole.

Protector Tie went peacefully.

"Return, soul~!"

"Return, soul~!"

The Blazing Banner absorbed Protector Tie's soul fragments, then fed them back to Ji Changqing.

From Protector Tie's Storage Ring, Ji Changqing found a token bearing the character "Tie."

Buzz, buzz—

Buzz, buzz—

Just then, both tokens began to vibrate.

[Venerable Qin Tian: Protector Tie, have you met Protector Wu?]

Ji Changqing pondered briefly before picking up both tokens.

[Protector Tie (Earth Tier): We've met.]

[Protector Wu (Earth Tier): We've met.]

[Protector Liu (Human Tier): Wow, I'm so jealous!]

Putting away the tokens, Ji Changqing let out a long breath and turned to fly toward the Misty Cloud Sect.

For some time to come, the people from Soul Hall probably would not disturb him.

Heh. Once he got stronger and had greater confidence, he would fucking kill them all.

Back in Yun Yun's courtyard,

Ji Changqing held out his palm, and a cluster of flame danced above it.

Several medicinal ingredients floated into the fire. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into liquid, shed their impurities, and condensed into a pill.

"Sigh, I already tried my best to slack off, but this quality still seems too good."

Looking at the pill that emitted frosty air and was icy throughout, Ji Changqing shook his head helplessly.

He crumpled his clothes until they were covered in wrinkles, then suddenly turned pale. After checking himself in a mirror and confirming there were no flaws, he finally pushed open the door with unsteady steps.

"Master, I refined—"

He opened the door.

Besides Yun Yun and Elder Danxia, Yun Shan, dressed in white robes and wearing an expression neither happy nor sad, stood in the courtyard.

Ji Changqing: "..."