Ten Thousand Profits from One

"Junior... Junior wouldn't dare..."

Watching Fang Qiong kneel on the ground, unable even to speak properly, Ye Xiu inwardly marveled at how truly extraordinary the Qingqiu Fox's mimicry divine ability was.

There was no shortage of illusion-type techniques in this cultivation world, yet clearly, not a single person present suspected that the person behind him was fake.

As for why he had deliberately manufactured a conflict and brought out such a fictional master, it was naturally to make everything seem more real.

The weapons produced by the Apocalypse World clearly had tremendous prospects. Faced with such an enormous slice of cake, Ye Xiu naturally had to ensure that he could swallow it whole without anyone snatching it away.

It was impossible to avoid being coveted by others, for the human heart was greedy by nature.

But if he displayed sufficient strength, then before those consumed by greed made a move, they would naturally have to weigh their own worth.

"Wouldn't dare? Yet this old man is exceedingly interested in your heaven beyond heaven."

Under Ye Xiu's control, the enormous giant issued a thunderous roar.

It did not move, yet the lightning in the sky grew increasingly violent.

The bolts of lightning converged and took shape, condensing into a lightning spear that stretched across more than half the sky.

Under such overwhelming might, Fang Qiong was utterly scared out of his wits. Trembling, he could not utter a single word.

Anyone capable of altering celestial phenomena was, at the very least, a cultivator above the Nascent Soul Realm. Even within the inner sect, cultivators of that level were elder-class figures.

Before such an absolute disparity in strength, every trick was futile.

"Fellow Daoist, why bother getting angry with a junior?"

Just as that lightning spear, like an apocalyptic calamity, was about to descend, an old man dressed in black suddenly appeared in this patch of sky.

At the old man's side drifted layer after layer of blood clouds, within which surging vengeful souls wailed. Simply hearing them made one's blood run cold.

Yet when the disciples present saw him, it was as though they had spotted a lifeline.

Outer sect Elder Han Li was likewise a great cultivator of the Nascent Soul Realm, and he bore the responsibility of maintaining order in the outer sect.

Though this man was also notoriously capricious, with moods as unpredictable as the weather, at least in the current situation, with that mysterious expert flying into a rage, he was the only one capable of holding the scene together.

Ye Xiu could likewise feel the pressure emanating from the other man. Although Han Li's attention was wholly focused on the phantom behind him, the pressure merely leaking out made every step difficult for Ye Xiu.

But he absolutely could not show weakness now.

Ye Xiu viciously bit the tip of his tongue. The pain forced him to stay clear-headed as he continued maintaining the disguise divine ability.

"What, this old man stands up for his own disciple, and that is not allowed either?"

The giant image snorted coldly, clearly deeply displeased.

Han Li, standing outside, let out a long breath. Though the other party's tone was hostile, he had used his divine sense to lock onto the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the surroundings and discovered no disturbance within it.

Clearly, the other party did not truly intend to make a move in the outer sect. As long as nothing went wrong and the sect did not hold him accountable, then it had nothing to do with him.

"Your deep affection for your beloved disciple is naturally beyond reproach, Fellow Daoist, but taking action against a junior still somewhat lowers your status. If word reaches the inner sect, would that not invite ridicule from others?"

"Let today's matter be considered as giving this old man some face. How about it?"

As he spoke, Han Li casually tossed a bottle of pills toward Ye Xiu below.

"Of course, since this junior was injured on my turf, this old man bears some responsibility as well."

"This Ascension Pill is not only an excellent medicine for healing injuries, but it is also greatly beneficial for smoothing the meridians. Is Fellow Daoist satisfied with this compensation?"

Noticing the probing look in Han Li's eyes, Ye Xiu knew that if he kept up the act today, they might truly have to fight it out before the matter could end.

He accepted the advantage when it was offered and controlled the giant image to slowly nod.

"Then this old man shall do as Fellow Daoist says. When this old man returns to the inner sect another day, I will come speak with Fellow Daoist again."

Having said that, he gave Han Li no chance to respond. The enormous giant image drifted away with the wind, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

"Coming and going without a trace, without even the slightest remnant of spiritual power... When did the inner sect suddenly produce such a capable figure?"

A flicker of astonishment passed through Han Li's eyes. Then, ignoring the voices of the disciples below, he turned and left.

The Holy Son selection was drawing near. Clearly, many of those old fellows in the inner sect who had been in seclusion had emerged as well, and he needed to make preparations early.

Only after both great powers had vanished from sight did the disciples finally feel as if the mountain pressing down on their heads had been lifted away.

Still shaken, they rose to their feet and quietly discussed this turn of events.

But when they looked at Fang Qiong, who remained kneeling in the middle and dared not rise for a long time, everyone looked at him as though he were already dead:

Though Fang Qiong had escaped with his life today due to Elder Han's intervention, he had clearly been remembered by that mysterious great power.

A great power might find it beneath his dignity to act personally, but would he lack people under his command who could be used?

Unless the person behind Fang Qiong from the inner sect came forward to plead for him, but what reason would that person have to wade into these muddy waters?

Fang Qiong knelt on the ground in a daze. No matter how hard he thought about it, he could not understand how, after acting cautiously for so long, making a move just once out of sheer helplessness had led him to kick such an iron plate.

But Ye Xiu had no intention of giving him any more time.

He stepped forward and planted a foot on Fang Qiong's hand. With a crack, bone splintered, and the immense pain made Fang Qiong howl.

"I told you long ago. With just you, do you deserve to discuss terms with me?"

A cold glint flashed in Ye Xiu's eyes as he silently circulated spiritual power through his foot.

But this time, faced with such humiliation, Fang Qiong dared to rage but not speak.

Ye Xiu bent down, picked up the gun that had fallen to the ground, and put it away. Under the frightened gazes of the crowd, he left the market and headed out.

Only after the dust settled did the onlookers present hurriedly scatter;

Everyone knew that the outer sect was about to see the heavens change!

Inside the courtyard.

Ye Xiu carefully inspected the warning formation outside.

Although using Yan Lou's identity to stir up such a tremendous uproar in the outer sect today had surely drawn everyone's attention there, there was never any harm in being more cautious.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to connect with those elite members of the outer sect, Ye Xiu had amassed a terrifying fortune in a single day. If someone else discovered it, they might follow the vine to uncover his roots.

He had gone to such great lengths to establish Yan Lou as an identity; he could not let it be exposed so easily.

Only after confirming that everything was in order did Ye Xiu enter the secret chamber.

Sitting cross-legged, the surroundings shifted, and Ye Xiu returned to his residence in the Apocalypse World.

Opening the storage bag, even with Ye Xiu's composure, a trace of excitement could not help but flash through his eyes.

A neat and orderly twenty-four thousand spirit stones—this was his harvest for the day.

And all he had paid was a total of five soul crystal firearms produced by the apocalypse.

Even accounting for the differences between the two worlds, Ye Xiu could confidently say one thing.

This trip had brought him one investment, ten thousandfold profit!

And this was not even all of it!