The Dead Are Gone
The old man turned his head and looked at Song Wen, who was standing to the side.
"This fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. May I ask your name?"
Song Wen said, "I am Extreme Yin! Greetings, fellow Daoist."
"Are you the third-tier Alchemist who helped Bamboo Sound Pavilion resolve the Bloodthirsty Bees of Sheep Island?" the old man asked.
"It is I, Song Wen. May I ask how you came to know about this?"
The old man said, "I am Yu Qi, an inner disciple of Limitless Island."
Yu Qi, Middle Golden Core Stage cultivator, Registered Disciple of the Devil Master Yinshuo and Jing Kai's master.
These thoughts flashed through Song Wen's mind.
No wonder the other party knew about what happened on Sheep Island; they must have learned it from Jing Kai.
"Extreme Yin, it is said that your alchemy skills are quite remarkable. I may have to trouble you from time to time in the future."
Yu Qi forced a bright smile onto his old face.
"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. My alchemy skills are rudimentary and hardly worthy of such high regard," Song Wen said.
Yu Qi said, "Fellow Daoist is too modest; it's not like the style of my demonic path. Extreme Yin and Nephew Chu Qian, what brings you two to the Tide-Listening Pavilion today?"
Song Wen said, "Fellow Daoist Yu, aren't you being a bit presumptuous with your words?"
Yu Qi said apologetically, "It was my slip of the tongue, please forgive me, fellow Daoist."
"It's getting late, and I must return to the island. Farewell, Fellow Daoist Yu."
After finishing his sentence, Song Wen turned and walked outside.
The sun had already set below the horizon, leaving only a sliver of light in the distant sky.
Chu Qian said to Yu Qi, "Senior Yu, this junior will also take his leave."
He jogged a few steps and caught up with Song Wen.
As Song Wen and Chu Qian stepped out of the Tide-Listening Pavilion, Yu Qi's eyes gradually turned somewhat sinister.
"Senior Extreme Yin, do not get too close to Yu Qi. He is extremely cunning and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He has a terrible reputation among the inner sect."
After leaving Tide-Listening Pavilion, Chu Qian transmitted his voice to Song Wen.
Whether he genuinely wanted to remind Song Wen, or was worried that Song Wen and Yu Qi were getting too close and it would affect his ability to acquire pills from Song Wen, remains unknown.
Song Wen said, "Thank you for the reminder, young friend. I must return to Extreme Yin Island; let us part ways here."
"Take care, senior," Chu Qian called out to Song Wen as he soared into the air.
An hour later, it was completely dark.
Song Wen flew over a deserted island and suddenly stopped.
"Fellow Daoist, you've followed me for so long, shouldn't you show yourself now?"
"Hehehe... This Extreme Yin is quite bold. Knowing that I was secretly following you, you didn't even think of escaping, but instead led me to this secluded place."
A figure slowly flew out from the dark sky; it was Yu Qi.
"Yu Qi, since this is our first meeting, you went to great lengths to escort me back to the island. I must find a quiet place where no one will disturb me to properly thank you," Song Wen said with a smile.
Yu Qi said, "It seems you not only have considerable courage, but also a rather arrogant attitude. But rest assured, as long as you cooperate, I will not harm your life."
Song Wen said, "Fellow Yu Qi, you've been following me for so long, what exactly do you want from me?"
"Foundation Establishment! Hand over the Foundation Establishment you have. And Soul Oath to sever all transactions with Chu Qian from this day forward, and sell all your pills to me, then I will let you leave An Ran," Yu Qi said.
Song Wen flipped his hand, and a jade bottle suddenly appeared in his hand.
"I do have two Foundation Establishment here. If you want them, feel free to take them. I can also agree to any other conditions. However, before that, I hope you can answer one question for me."
"What's the problem?"
"Is the Cultivation Method you practice the <Corpse King Blood Refinement Art>, fellow Daoist?"
Yu Qi said, "The <Corpse King Blood Refinement Art> is the foundational Cultivation Method of our Limitless Island. Even within the inner sect, not everyone can cultivate it. What are you, an Outer Sect Elder, asking about this matter for?"
Song Wen said, "It seems that you are cultivating this very Cultivation Method, fellow Daoist. I have a guess in my mind, and I need your cooperation."
Yu Qi's expression turned wary. "Extreme Yin, what do you mean by that? What do you need my cooperation with?"
Song Wen's eyes suddenly sharpened, and a bloodthirsty and cruel smile appeared on his lips.
"I'll take your head and use it!"
Before he finished speaking, Song Wen suddenly accelerated and pounced on Yu Qi.
"Extreme Yin, you're courting death!"
Yu Qi was furious. How dare a mere Golden Core Early Stage cultivator from the outer sect utter such arrogant words?
He raised his hand and gestured towards the air, whereupon a dark iron cone appeared out of thin air.
The iron cone was about two feet long. Under Yu Qi's urging, the black light on the cone suddenly surged, like a black lightning bolt, heading straight for Song Wen's heart.
Facing the iron spike thrusting straight at him, Song Wen neither dodged nor evaded, but opened his mouth and spat out a large amount of black energy.
The black aura rapidly condensed in front of him, transforming into a black shield.
A dull thud resounded.
The immense force transmitted through the iron cone abruptly halted Song Wen's forward momentum, sending him staggering back several feet in mid-air.
But the black shield remained as solid as a rock, completely unharmed.
Yu Qi's expression suddenly turned serious. "Origin-Returning Sha Qi! No wonder you're so confident. Hmph! I wonder how much Sha Qi you've refined, and how many times can it withstand my attacks?"
Before he finished speaking, the iron cone rose into the air again, its dark light even brighter, and shot towards Song Wen.
Song Wen opened his mouth again and spat out a large amount of Origin-Returning Sha Qi, Sha Qi transformed into a giant black hand that reached out to grab the iron cone.
The giant black hand drew a strange arc in the air and accurately grasped the iron cone.
The giant hand gripped tightly, firmly holding the iron awl in its grasp.
The iron cone trembled and struggled, trying to break free of the hand.
Yu Qi tried his best to activate the iron cone, but found that it was difficult to break free from the giant black hand. His expression gradually turned grim.
He raised his hand and summoned a soul banner, about to activate it, when he heard Song Wen say something from the other side.
"Alright, the test of the Origin-Returning Sha Qi is almost over. You can die now!"
Feeling slighted, Yu Qi was about to get angry when he saw three transparent blades rushing towards him.
He was immediately alarmed.
"Divine Sense attack!"
Yu Qi's face showed fear. He had no way to defend himself with his Divine Sense, so he could only concentrate his mind and mobilize all his Divine Sense power to guard his Sea of Consciousness.
At the same time, he activated his movement Movement Method and quickly retreated backward.
'Extreme Yin' only has the cultivation of the Golden Core Early Stage, so his Divine Sense power should be weaker than mine. As long as I can withstand this wave of Divine Sense attack, I still have a chance to escape.
Yu Qi thought to himself.