Slaying

"Brother Huangfu, it's already the sixth day. Haven't all the cultivators in here probably left by now?"

"Don't rush. Let's wait a little longer."

"The formation at the Primordial Taoist Temple is about to open. I have to go lend the young master a hand."

"What's the hurry, Brother Murong? It's not as though you haven't had your share of the spoils these past few days. Those rogue cultivators are all like rats. They won't come out until ten days after the treasury opens..."

"Even the smallest mosquito has meat on it. Branch-family disciples like us can't get any benefits from our clans, and we can't compete with the main families inside the Immortal Treasury either. Opportunities like this are rare. We can't let those fellows slip away."

The mountain path was treacherous, and three young men barred the way.

Many traces of magical combat could be seen along the narrow road, along with faint remnants of bloodstains. Though the corpses had been disposed of, the thick stench of blood still lingered among the mountains.

Suddenly, one of the young men, dressed in black robes, frowned.

"Hmm?"

Huangfu Yang brought out a Dharma Sword and looked deep into the forest, where the night wind stirred the swaying treetops.

Seeing this, the other two cautiously brought out their magical artifacts as well.

In the distant forest, Xu Yan's left hand hung low, resting on his Qiankun Bag. Holding the Green Pattern Sword in his right hand, he walked calmly out of the darkness.

Of the three, the black-robed Daoist in the middle was at the fourth level of pulse opening, with a fire spirit meridian.

The other two were both at the second level of pulse opening.

Huangfu Yang raised a brow and narrowed his eyes, studying Xu Yan with an amused expression.

"Fellow Daoist, you look somewhat familiar."

"Brother Huangfu, isn't he the fellow Daoist who received guidance from the Dharma King at Dragon Whisker Ravine?" The thin young man recognized Xu Yan and spoke casually.

Outside Dragon Whisker Ravine, the Dharma King had given guidance to thirty or forty people. That was not many, so they had naturally drawn the attention of the surrounding Daoists. Xu Yan had been the last to receive his guidance, making his face somewhat familiar to the many Daoists present.

"I recognize him. Isn't this Half-Immortal Xu from the Langya Immortal Inn?"

The original owner's six months on the outskirts of Dragon Spine Mountain had not been wasted. Quite a few people recognized this Daoist who had some proficiency in Mystic Gate arts. He often helped others with divination, earning himself the nickname Half-Immortal Xu.

Of course, here and now, those words carried an added note of mockery.

"Are the three of you from Nine Star Kui Island?"

Xu Yan asked calmly.

Nine Star Kui Island and its twelve aristocratic clans were renowned throughout eastern Cang Province.

Within the entire Taiyuan Divine Sect, the five ancient aristocratic clan lineages were the most powerful. They had existed since the Primordial Era, when the sect first opened up the sea and established itself. The patriarchs of those ancient clans had all been True Person Taiyuan's true disciples—his first-generation disciples.

The Heavenly Fox Tushan Lineage of Taihang Mountain and the Jiang clan of the Jiang Family Sword Tomb were both among those five ancient aristocratic clans.

Apart from those five ancient aristocratic clans, Nine Star Kui Island was considered the Divine Sect's largest clan-based power.

True to its name, "Nine Star," it consisted of nine connected spirit islands on the Azure Sea. The ancestors of the twelve clans on those islands had been second-generation disciples accepted after True Person Taiyuan came to the Azure Sea to establish his sect during the Primordial Era.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you are a man blessed with a great fortune edict. To receive the Dharma King's favor is truly enviable!" Huangfu Yang said gravely.

"You jest, fellow Daoist. The Dharma King merely offered a little guidance. That hardly counts as a great fortune edict."

Xu Yan remained expressionless.

Receiving guidance from the Dharma King was hardly an event that shook heaven and earth and brought ghosts and gods to tears.

It was not as though the Dharma King had personally named Xu Yan his direct disciple before countless witnesses. Even a mighty figure like him could not bypass the Patriarch's rules for accepting disciples.

To join the Taiyuan Divine Sect, one first had to make it out of the Immortal Treasury and become a registered disciple of the Dao Academy.

Then one had to hone one's foundations in the Dao Academy, cultivate to the dao embryo realm, and earn a place on the rankings in the Hundred Academies' sword competition before entering the Divine Land to cultivate.

These three clan disciples thought nothing of Xu Yan, who was only at the first level of pulse opening. Never mind the Dharma King's guidance—in their eyes, whether Xu Yan could even leave the Immortal Treasury alive was still an open question.

Xu Yan studied the three of them. From their unhurried composure, they clearly believed they had him in the palms of their hands.

"Half-Immortal Xu, since you once performed divinations for members of my clan, the three of us can offer you a way to live. Leave everything you have on you, then return to the ancient forest and come out again after a hundred days. How does that sound?"

The thin young man spoke offhandedly.

"Brother Murong, your virtue runs deep. Such a kindhearted man. You have my admiration," Huangfu Yang said with a sigh.

As he listened to them, Xu Yan's gaze grew utterly dark, his chest brimming with murderous intent.

He walked toward them step by step, drawing within ten zhang.

Seeing Xu Yan remain silent, the three truly believed he intended to leave his belongings behind, and the contempt in their eyes deepened.

Xu Yan would have been a complete fool to believe their lies. Once he handed over his magical artifacts and other spirit treasures, these three would likely turn on him on the spot and kill him here, eliminating any future trouble.

His spiritual sense swept over the thin man beside Huangfu Yang. A vigorous vitality was nurtured within his spirit meridian, most likely making it a wood spirit meridian of the five elements. The man on the left also possessed one of the five elemental spirit meridians—a fire spirit meridian.

Xu Yan immediately formed a plan.

Without hesitation, he stirred his spiritual sense and slapped his Qiankun Bag. A Divine Fire Talisman flew out, transforming into a streak of flowing flame that shot toward the thin young man at tremendous speed!

The five elements generated and subdued one another. This high-grade talisman would give him more than he could stomach.

At this distance, the thin young man had no time to react. Besides, facing Xu Yan, who was only at the first level of pulse opening, they had let their guard down completely.

The talisman's power erupted. Divine fire surged forth and instantly swallowed the thin young man, drawing a piercing scream.

Almost at the very same instant!

Xu Yan did not use the Green Pattern Dharma Sword. To be safe, he brought out the Skull-Cracking Hammer instead.

Vast magical power drove this profound-treasure artifact. Spiritual light shot skyward from the Skull-Cracking Hammer as it expanded to a height of three zhang. Densely packed, golden runes encircled its enormous head, pressing against the air until it hummed.

"A profound treasure!"

Huangfu Yang's eyes widened, terror nearly wrenching his soul from his body.

He had only just raised his magical artifact to defend himself when the Skull-Cracking Hammer came crashing down.

He did not even have time to scream. The terrifying might of the profound-treasure artifact killed him outright. His dao body burst apart, blood spraying through the air as his organs and intestines were blasted into fragments that flew everywhere.

Xu Yan was splattered with blood, his expression chillingly indifferent.

"Aaaaaah—"

Not far from him, the thin young man was already engulfed in searing divine fire. His piercing screams echoed along the mountain path. The magical power contained in the high-grade talisman was immense, and with his wood spirit meridian, the Daoist had no way to extinguish the divine fire using his magical power. His aura weakened by the moment; he was about to burn into charcoal!

It had all happened in scarcely an instant. Xu Yan had struck like thunder.

The last man was a delicate-featured youth with the weakest cultivation. The sudden turn of events left his head buzzing. Without another word, he immediately tried to flee!

How could Xu Yan let him escape? All three were disciples of Nine Star Kui Island's twelve aristocratic clans. Even if they belonged to branch families, should word get out, Xu Yan would likely face endless persecution.

"You won't get away!"

Xu Yan's voice was sinister.

His steps turned ghostlike as he immediately unleashed Chaos Step. In a few flickering movements, he reached the delicate-featured man's back, brought out the Green Pattern Sword, and slashed at him.

Sharp astral winds burst outward. The man was instantly wounded by the sword's astral wind, blood spraying as his qi-riding art broke. Screaming, he plummeted downward!

The power of Xu Yan's blood and qi erupted, and he drove a vicious kick into the man's chest. He cultivated the Eight-Nine Profound Art; though he was only at the first level of pulse opening, his physical strength already far surpassed this delicate-featured man's.

"Spare me, Fellow Daoist Xu!"

The man cried out instinctively.

Xu Yan sneered, reached out, and seized him by the throat. "What is this Primordial Taoist Temple you were discussing earlier, and where is it?" he demanded harshly.

"If I tell you, will you let me go?"

"If you don't, you die."

Xu Yan spoke with a cold expression.

Xu Yan had interrogated prisoners of war plenty of times on the battlefield in his previous life. He would never show mercy to an enemy.

"Th-that temple is a treasure site. They say medicinal pills from the Primordial Era were left there. Cross this treacherous mountain stretch and head three hundred li northeast, and you'll find it!"

The delicate-featured man's face was deathly pale. Gripped by terror, he spoke in a trembling voice.

The moment he finished speaking, Xu Yan swung the Green Pattern Sword without a shred of mercy, and his head fell to the ground.