Return and Schemes

Looking at the Soul-Severing Scorpion before him, half its body already rotten away yet still capable of erupting with terrifying speed, Ye Xiu's eyes flickered with a trace of admiration.

Though these demonic beasts fell short of cultivators in intelligence, when it came to their bodies, they were indeed far stronger.

With most of its body corroded and melted away, an ordinary person would have been dead beyond death. Yet driven by rage, this Soul-Severing Scorpion had actually managed to hold on long enough to launch a killing strike at Fang Ye.

His earlier meddling had not been in vain.

The poison he had scattered from above earlier was a neurological toxin Ye Xiu had brought from Apocalypse World. Its effect was to interfere with one's senses.

Otherwise, Fang Ye, a cultivator, could not possibly have thrown his killing talisman so far off target, giving the Soul-Severing Scorpion an opening to exploit.

Of course, if the Soul-Severing Scorpion had not also been affected, Fang Ye's talisman likely would not have been released so smoothly either.

This brutal battle, which had left both sides dead, had been under Ye Xiu's control from beginning to end.

"You've completed your task as well. I'll give you a quick death."

Watching the swaying Soul-Severing Scorpion still trying to raise its pincers and attack him, Ye Xiu casually spread his hands.

Indeed, to avoid being detected by Fang Ye and the others' divine senses, he had deliberately dispersed his spiritual power. However, he still had one weapon on him that did not require spiritual power to operate.

The strangely shaped pistol appeared in Ye Xiu's hand, and muzzle fire burst forth in an instant.

After a burst of gunfire like a rainstorm, the Soul-Severing Scorpion helplessly collapsed before Ye Xiu.

Beyond seven steps, a gun was fast. Within seven steps, a gun was both accurate and fast!

Looking at the now-silent Soul-Severing Scorpion, Ye Xiu smiled in satisfaction.

With every threat dealt with, Ye Xiu reached out and began cleaning up the loose ends.

He collected the hooked tails of the two Soul-Severing Scorpions. As for the bodies of the other two Punishment Hall disciples, he left them in the wilderness for the monsters within Soul-Mystifying Valley to devour.

Fang Ye's body, however, was carefully put away by Ye Xiu.

Though Fang Ye was dead, his corpse could still serve a great purpose.

After confirming that nothing had been overlooked, Ye Xiu once again vanished into the mist and followed the markers he had left behind all the way out...

Three days later, inside a secret chamber of the outer sect's Punishment Hall.

Fang Qiong looked coldly at the disciple before him.

"There's still no news of Fang Ye?"

Fang Qiong's icy tone filled the disciple before him with terror. He dropped to one knee. "Senior Brother, the people we sent out all said they had not seen Senior Brother Fang. The last news we received was that he and Senior Brother Ye went to Soul-Extinguishing Valley with several others to hunt."

Hearing this, Fang Qiong's brows drew tightly together.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke.

"Have someone watch Ye Xiu's residence. Inform me immediately if there is any movement."

The Punishment Hall disciple hurriedly nodded in acknowledgment. Under that frigid gaze, he quickly left the secret chamber.

"Ye Xiu? Hmph. If you truly dared to make a move, then at such a critical juncture, just wait to be held accountable by the sect."

Suppressing the irritation in his heart, Fang Qiong closed his eyes and resumed circulating his cultivation art.

The advancement competition would be held soon. He had finally managed to latch onto Senior Brother Xu's line. If he failed to make it through, then everything would have been in vain.

He had to improve his strength as much as possible and ensure that nothing went wrong. Until this matter was settled, everything else could be put aside.

Naturally, Ye Xiu had no idea that his residence was already under surveillance.

But neither was he foolish enough to return directly.

Fang Ye's previous promises had naturally been nothing but bullshit, but there was one thing he had not been wrong about;

His death would certainly be used by Fang Qiong to make a great fuss. Ye Xiu was at a crucial juncture now, so naturally he could not let Fang Qiong use the sect rules to make trouble for him.

Murdering a fellow disciple without authorization was a grave crime, but dying in an accident was the most ordinary thing in the world.

That was also why Ye Xiu had deliberately kept Fang Qiong's corpse.

Looking at the receptionist at the task counter, Ye Xiu took a deep breath and pulled out the two Soul-Severing Scorpion hooked tails.

"I'm here to submit the task."

The attendant took the hooked tails from Ye Xiu's hand. After glancing over the task slip, he looked up in astonishment.

"Two Soul-Rending Scorpion hooked tails?!"

The attendant raised his voice in surprise. "This task only requires one!"

The disciples passing through the area were likewise drawn by the commotion.

Though Soul-Severing Scorpions were not particularly high-ranked, taking their hooked tails was exceedingly difficult. Under normal circumstances, even Foundation Establishment cultivators were unwilling to undertake this task.

Yet Ye Xiu had brought out two at once, and his strength clearly appeared far from sufficient to accomplish such a feat. This could not help but arouse their curiosity.

"We encountered an accident."

As Ye Xiu watched everyone in the hall turn their gazes toward him, he forced a trace of sorrow onto his face.

He paused before saying, "Could you ask whether the employer is willing to accept two sets? Or it would be fine if I could meet them."

The attendant nodded, but gestured for Ye Xiu to put the items away first before turning and heading upstairs.

Taking advantage of this, the onlookers surrounding them crowded over.

"Isn't this Senior Brother Ye? Senior Brother can hunt two Soul-Severing Scorpions at once now?"

"I remember you went with those people from the Punishment Hall before, didn't you? Where are they?"

Faced with their questions, Ye Xiu merely shook his head in silence.

Coupled with his travel-worn appearance, anyone could see the exhaustion hanging over him at a glance.

Upon seeing this, several people in the crowd immediately headed out, straight toward the Punishment Hall.

Before long, the attendant in charge came back down from the upper floor.

"Senior Brother Ye, the employer for this task is willing to discuss the reward with you. Please follow me."

Ye Xiu nodded and, under everyone's watchful eyes, headed deeper into the Task Hall.

It worked.

Listening to the discussions behind him, Ye Xiu murmured inwardly.

Through his divine sense, he had already confirmed that what had happened here had been reported to the Punishment Hall. Fang Qiong would learn of it soon enough, and if he wished to come and demand an explanation, the best time would be after Ye Xiu emerged.

The corpse of Fang Ye that he had prepared would then be just in time to prove useful.

Before that, however, it was time to properly enjoy the benefits brought by this hunt.

Passing through a long corridor, Ye Xiu was unsurprised to see the plaque bearing the Alchemy Hall insignia.

The task reward had clearly stated that he could choose any medicinal pill below the second tier.

If the issuer was not an alchemist himself, where would he have gotten the confidence to offer such terms?

He just wondered how this employer's temperament compared to Zhou Xuan's.

Stopping before a huge door, Ye Xiu watched as the attendant stepped forward and lightly knocked on it.

"Senior Sister Li, the person has arrived..."

Before the attendant could finish speaking, Ye Xiu felt his heart jolt.

He instinctively dodged to one side. The next instant, a vicious gust swept past his flank.