Signing In for a Heaven-tier Fighting Skill! Yun Yun's Fury: Whoever Lays a Hand on Changqing, I'll Kill Them!

"Sign in!"

As Ji Changqing's words fell,

the sun-drenched desert suddenly dimmed for an instant.

At the same time, the temperature across the entire desert plummeted in a moment.

Brilliant light that filled heaven and earth gathered on the System Panel, like a great sun slowly rising.

[ Ding, congratulations, Host, you have obtained a Heavenly Rank Low-tier Fighting Skill—Great Sun Shattering Finger! ]

[ Great Sun Shattering Finger: The fingers bear the power of the great sun. When cultivated to mastery, all ten fingers transform into sunlight, shaking heaven and earth! ]

"Heaven-tier Fighting Skill!!"

A surge of delight flashed through Ji Changqing's eyes.

This was his first time signing in for a Heaven-tier Fighting Skill.

With the Great Sun Shattering Finger, he would be even more confident when facing Protector Yuan.

Brimming with joy, Ji Changqing teased the Sky-Swallowing Python nestled in his hair. The little fellow lazily rolled over, turned its back on him, and fell asleep sweetly.

"Let's go!"

When Ji Changqing returned to the Misty Cloud Sect,

Yun Yun and the others had yet to return.

After carefully inspecting the formation and finding no signs that it had been touched, Ji Changqing let out a breath of relief.

He flashed into his room, waited quietly for a while, then pushed open the door and walked out.

Sure enough, before long, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

"Senior Brother Changqing, you've finished your seclusion!"

The newcomer was Nalan Yanran. The moment she saw Ji Changqing, her beautiful eyes lit up, and she jogged over.

"You came out at just the right time, Senior Brother. Master will be back soon—we should go welcome her!"

"Alright."

Ji Changqing nodded with a smile.

On the way to meet Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran fluttered around Ji Changqing like a dancing butterfly.

"How were your gains, Senior Brother?"

Ji Changqing thought for a moment before saying,

"Not bad. So-so."

Upon hearing Ji Changqing's words, Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes brightened.

She knew Ji Changqing far too well.

If Senior Brother Changqing said he had gained nothing,

that meant things had gone fairly well.

If he said the results were unsatisfactory and that he had gained a little,

that meant he had struck it rich.

For Senior Brother Changqing to say it was not bad,

there was no need to guess—he had definitely exceeded his goal.

Nalan Yanran felt that she had Ji Changqing completely figured out.

"Could it be that Senior Brother refined a Fourth-grade Pill during his seclusion?"

"Oh my heavens, how long has Senior Brother even been learning alchemy? He can already refine Fourth-grade Pills?!"

Ji Changqing rubbed his nose.

The way she put it left him not knowing how to respond.

"Hehe, more or less..."

"Senior Brother Changqing is amazing!"

The senior brother and junior sister chatted and laughed together.

Time passed, and the sun gradually dipped westward. The rosy clouds draped the forests in a coat of orange gold.

Screech—!

Just then, a clear eagle cry rang out.

Ji Changqing and Nalan Yanran perked up and looked toward the horizon.

A black dot grew larger and larger until it became an emerald-green eagle beast, descending onto the Back Mountain plaza.

"Master, you're back!"

Nalan Yanran giggled and was about to rush forward,

but Ji Changqing reached out and stopped her.

"Senior Brother?"

Looking at Yun Yun and Gu He's group, who seemed to be faintly locked in a standoff, Ji Changqing slowly said,

"The atmosphere is off. Stay behind me."

Following Ji Changqing's gaze, Nalan Yanran's little face darkened.

"Alright, Senior Brother."

The two of them walked over.

Suddenly,

Gu He and the others all turned their gazes toward Ji Changqing.

The emotions in their eyes varied.

The five Dou Lings were shocked, while Yan Shi and Feng Li looked conflicted.

As for Gu He, his gaze was like a blade, sharply slicing toward Ji Changqing.

The space between Ji Changqing and Gu He faintly distorted. Gu He had actually used the soul power of a Sixth-grade Alchemist to launch a soul attack at Ji Changqing.

"Changqing!"

Yun Yun flashed to Ji Changqing's side.

A gentle force burst from her slender hand, pushing Ji Changqing several meters away.

Bang—!

The soul attack landed where Ji Changqing had just stood.

Spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across the solid ground.

"Hmph!"

An icy chill surged onto Yun Yun's beautiful face.

Such an expression rarely, if ever, appeared on her face.

Clang—!

Her longsword left its sheath.

Its peerless sharpness sent a chill through everyone present.

"Sect Leader Yun Yun, please think twice!"

Yan Shi and Feng Li's expressions changed drastically as they hurriedly shouted,

"Pill King is a Sixth-grade Alchemist and also the Misty Cloud Sect's Dan Hall Elder. Does the Sect Leader intend to strike at Pill King?!"

Seeing the awe-inspiring killing intent on Yun Yun's lovely face,

Gu He staggered back several steps. He looked at Yun Yun in grief and said,

"Yun'er, you... you not only want to give the Heavenly Flames to Ji Changqing, but you even want to kill me for his sake?"

Yun Yun said nothing.

What answered Gu He was the sword in her hand.

A streak of dazzling sword light made the dusky sky three parts brighter.

Yan Shi, Feng Li, and the five Dou Lings stood before Gu He in terror. The fighting qi of all seven surged forth like floodwaters released from a dam, pouring out desperately in front of them.

Gu He could not die.

He had yet to give them the pills he had promised.

Besides, helping now would earn them the friendship of a Sixth-grade Alchemist.

Boom—!

Yun Yun faced seven alone.

But the outcome could not be measured by numbers.

Yan Shi, Feng Li, and the other five suddenly went pale, vomiting mouthfuls of blood as they staggered back uncontrollably.

The seven crashed into the dazed Gu He with terrifying force.

Eight people lay sprawled across the ground.

Gu He struggled to rise.

His chest throbbed with pain, but what hurt even more... was his heart, aching so badly he could barely breathe.

"I, Gu He, was willing to lower myself and serve as an elder in the Misty Cloud Sect entirely because of you."

"For over a decade, I have remained in the Misty Cloud Sect for over a decade. The sect's rapid development is largely thanks to me, Gu He."

"Even if you refuse to look at me, you should not demean me like this."

"During this Desert Journey, I obtained the Heavenly Flames as I wished. I thought I could finally fulfill my long-cherished wish and not betray my identity as an alchemist."

"Hehe, yet you said you wanted to give these Heavenly Flames to Ji Changqing!"

"I couldn't accept it and wanted to teach him a lesson, yet you wanted to kill me over this?"

"Gu He..."

Yun Yun looked coldly at Gu He and slowly said,

"I have warned you several times that your joining the Misty Cloud Sect has nothing to do with me."

"The Misty Cloud Sect rewards merit accordingly. Over the years, it has never shortchanged you by a single bit for your contributions."

"Besides..."

Under the setting sun, the rosy light gilded Yun Yun's beautiful face with a layer of gold. Her tone was calm, as if she were stating something utterly ordinary.

"Whoever lays a hand on Changqing, I'll kill them."

"Fine... fine. I gave you my whole heart, only to receive such an ending."

A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Gu He's mouth. Then, gritting his teeth, he said hatefully,

"But no matter what, the information about the Heavenly Flames came from me."

"These Heavenly Flames can only belong to me."

Yun Yun held her longsword angled toward the ground and said indifferently,

"Then try taking it."

Gu He clenched his fists and shot Ji Changqing a gloomy look before coldly saying,

"Yun Yun, the Misty Cloud Sect is not yours to command alone."

"I will ask Old Sect Leader Yun Shan to uphold justice for me."

"Let's see whether Old Sect Leader Yun Shan chooses me, Gu He, or... Ji Changqing."