Struggle at the City Gate

"Hey, hey, look at that kid. Is that the one the gang leader put a bounty on a couple of days ago?"

Just as Lin Yiqing passed through the gates of Yan City, two middle-aged men in a nearby tea stall lit up, pointing at him discreetly. It appeared they were keeping watch there.

Unfortunately for them, they hadn't anticipated that Lin Yiqing's spiritual perception had reached an unimaginably sharp level. The moment they pointed at him, he had already sensed them.

What gang leader... has a bounty on me?

Under the coverage of his powerful spiritual energy, their hushed words rang clearly in his mind. Lin Yiqing's heart sank.

"Keep your voice down. The leader said this kid is a Second Seal Rune Master with some serious skills. Be careful he doesn't hear you."

One of the men immediately changed his expression, instructing his companion to keep an eye on Lin Yiqing's movements while discreetly rising to leave quickly via a side alley.

"Tch, he's just a brat. How mysterious could he really be?"

The gray-clad man waved his hand, curling his lip in indifference as he watched his companion walk away. His eyes were filled with disdain; he didn't believe for a second that anyone could hear their conversation from that far away.

Thump!

Unexpectedly, just as he turned and picked up his teacup, he was so terrified by the sight before him that his face turned pale.

"Oh, are you saying the person the gang leader put a bounty on is me?"

Right across the tea table where the gray-clad man sat, Lin Yiqing was looking at him with a full smile, though he was still quite confused by the whole situation.

He was not a man who sought trouble, and he spent most of his time cultivating in the mountains. He had no idea why someone would place a bounty on him.

Compared to Lin Yiqing's relaxed and easygoing demeanor, the gray-clad man was a wreck, his face deathly pale as he trembled uncontrollably.

"Y-you... what are you talking about? I don't even know you! Get lost!"

Stifling the panic in his heart, the gray-clad man feigned composure, waving a hand impatiently at Lin Yiqing with a look of utter bewilderment.

"Heh."

A cold sneer appeared on Lin Yiqing's face. Little did the man know, his trembling body and wavering tone had betrayed him completely.

"If you aren't talking about me, why are you so guilty? If you don't start talking, don't blame me for what happens next."

With that, a cold light flickered in his eyes, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy instantly enveloped the man.

The street remained bustling with traffic, but to the gray-clad man, the entire world had turned gray. The overwhelming pressure made him feel as if he were about to faint, as if his entire body might shatter into pieces at any second!

"I... I'll talk!"

On the verge of losing consciousness, the gray-clad man finally broke and confessed.

This man was a member of the Sky Wolf Gang, a second-rate power in Yan City. Like most factions, they were one of the groups affiliated with the Blood Wolf Gang.

As for why they had placed a bounty on Lin Yiqing, the man explained that according to their leader, Yuan Li, Lin Yiqing had once ruined a major operation for the Sky Wolf Gang.

Rumble!

Suddenly, several crimson warhorses charged down the street, kicking up clouds of dust and causing pedestrians on both sides to cry out in alarm.

The man in the lead was in his thirties or forties, looking exceptionally sturdy and built like an iron tower.

"Are you Lin Dong?"

The man didn't even dismount upon seeing Lin Yiqing, staring down at him with cold, sharp eyes as he demanded an answer.

"L-Leader, save me!"

Hearing the gray-clad man's cry, Lin Yiqing understood immediately. It seemed this man was Yuan Li, the leader of the Sky Wolf Gang.

"Hmph! Useless trash. Kid, prepare to die!"

Yuan Li roared at the gray-clad man before white energy surged from every pore on his body. He leaped from his horse, throwing a thunderous punch toward Lin Yiqing.

"Pure Origin Gang Qi!"

Seeing this, Lin Yiqing's expression turned grave. He hurriedly leaped into the air, stepping onto his Azure Steel Sword to soar upward and evade the attack.

Bang!

Yuan Li's fist energy was incredibly tyrannical, shattering everything in the surrounding area instantly!

This white energy appeared thin, but it was capable of splitting mountains and crushing rocks with ease. Once a cultivator reached the Origin Pellet Realm, the origin energy in their dantian would be compressed into a more powerful and aggressive force, known as Pure Origin Gang Qi.

The lethality and defensive capabilities of this Gang Qi were far beyond what anyone below the Origin Pellet Realm could contend with, which was why it was said that even a Lesser Origin Pellet Realm expert could slaughter a group of Heaven Origin Realm cultivators.

"Kid, you've never seen Pure Origin Gang Qi, have you? Honestly, I don't understand how a guy like Duan Wuxin died at your hands. He was as stupid as a pig!"

Yuan Li raised his head, his face filled with killing intent. He had never truly believed the rumors about Lin Yiqing killing Duan Wuxin.

"Your use of spiritual energy is decent, and a Second Seal Rune Master has a few tricks, but that's all you are!"

Lin Yiqing watched Yuan Li, his mind growing increasingly focused. Unlike the Lesser Origin Pellet Realm expert Duan Wuxin, whom he had killed while the man was severely wounded, Yuan Li was clearly much more formidable.

"Hoo, Small Perfection of the Origin Pellet Realm!"

Lin Yiqing moved, and the Azure Steel Sword beneath his feet shot out like a swimming dragon, its terrifying speed creating a sharp, whistling sound as it sliced through the air.

"At least you have some eyes in your head!"

Violently surging Gang Qi wrapped around Yuan Li's right arm. He stomped his foot, and his entire body moved like a cannonball, appearing instantly before Lin Yiqing to strike the Azure Steel Sword with a heavy blow.

Clang! Clang!

The sword blade sliced against the Pure Origin Gang Qi, scattering sparks in every direction, yet it failed to penetrate even half an inch. As the opponent slammed his fist down, the Azure Steel Sword was instantly knocked flying.

"Don't say you're only a Second Seal Rune Master; even if you were a Third Seal Rune Master, you would still die today!"

Before Yuan Li's next punch could land, a silver streak shot out from Lin Yiqing's sleeve, piercing toward Yuan Li's neck.

Crack, crack, crack.

In the midst of his charge, Yuan Li was forced to twist his body violently. His bones rattled as he spun, narrowly dodging the blade.

That silver streak was the Refined Iron Dagger Lin Yiqing had hidden in his sleeve. After purchasing the Azure Steel Sword, he had strapped the dagger there specifically for a surprise attack.

Unfortunately, he was facing Yuan Li, who had reached the Small Perfection of the Origin Pellet Realm, and the man had managed to dodge it by sheer instinct.

"What a vicious brat. So this is how Duan Wuxin was tricked to his death by you, is it? Do you have any other tricks up your sleeve? If not, then prepare to die!"

Having dodged the strike, Yuan Li's face was twisted with rage, though he felt a lingering fear in his heart. He hadn't expected the boy to hide a dagger in his sleeve; had he been caught off guard, it would have surely been fatal.

"Sky Wolf Fist!"

With a furious roar, Yuan Li gathered his Pure Origin Gang Qi into his arm, emitting a brilliant radiance as he shot forward like a cannonball.

The surging Gang Qi triggered a series of air explosions that sounded like the howling of wolves, a truly terrifying display of power.

Hoo, I have no choice but to take this head-on.

Lin Yiqing raised his hand to recall the Azure Steel Sword. The Origin Power within his dantian surged frantically, and as if sensing his intent, the Greater Yin Qi and Sun Qi instantly coalesced into a wave of immense power, gathering in his hand.

"Aren't you curious how Duan Wuxin died? It was exactly like this!"

"Thousand Rivers Reflecting Moon Sword!"