Soul-Splitting Pill

As he considered this, Yang Zhenshan stopped wasting words and struck out with his palm.

This palm strike used seventy percent of his strength.

Zhou Qi twisted aside to evade the first palm, then threw a backhanded punch, only for Yang Zhenshan to neutralize it with ease.

After three moves, Yang Zhenshan struck Zhou Qi's shoulder with a palm, sending him stumbling back several steps.

Zhou Qi had barely steadied himself when Yang Zhenshan closed in. His five fingers clamped around Zhou Qi's throat like iron pincers.

Zhou Qi's pupils contracted sharply.

He knew that if Yang Zhenshan exerted even a little force, his throat would be crushed.

Instinctively, he wanted to bring up the system panel and add points, but the system's icy prompt appeared once more:

[Please completely review the cultivation circulation process of Qi-Nourishing Art: Lower Volume].

Zhou Qi cursed inwardly.

Damn it. Having proficiency but being unable to read the cultivation method is no different from having nothing.

Despair rose in Zhou Qi's heart. Just as he gritted his teeth and prepared to make a desperate final stand, he suddenly felt the force around his throat loosen slightly.

Zhou Qi raised his eyes and met Yang Zhenshan's gaze.

The killing intent in those eyes was receding, replaced by scrutiny, assessment, and interest.

Zhou Qi's heart stirred.

Yang Zhenshan had not killed him. Instead, he had held back.

That meant the other party believed he was useful.

If he was useful, he would not die.

Zhou Qi took a deep breath, suppressed every thought of resistance, and allowed Yang Zhenshan to hold his throat without struggling further.

Yang Zhenshan stared at him for several seconds. Perhaps supremely confident in his own strength, he suddenly released his hand.

He stepped back, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at Zhou Qi. His tone was flat, his eyes gleaming sharply, yet his words carried an unquestionable authority.

"Your strength is not bad. I can spare your life!"

Zhou Qi rubbed his neck and said nothing, but his gaze had already calmed.

"I want you to do something for me. Once it is done, not only will I spare you, I will also give you the lower volume of the cultivation method!"

"What is it?" A trace of vigilance flashed through Zhou Qi's eyes.

Standing with his hands behind his back, Yang Zhenshan did not answer directly. His gaze lingered on Zhou Qi for a moment, as though reassessing the young man.

"Your name is Zhou Qi?" Yang Zhenshan stared straight into Zhou Qi's eyes.

"Yes."

"How long have you been in Yang Residence?"

"Less than two months."

Yang Zhenshan's brows lifted slightly.

In less than two months, he had gone from an obscure menial servant to the Peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, while both the Mountain-Splitting Fist and Cloud-Wandering Step had reached perfection.

With such cultivation speed, not to mention Lin'an City, even Blackstone City could not produce more than a few like him.

"Whose man are you?"

"I belong to no one." Zhou Qi frowned slightly, flexed his wrist, and looked at Yang Zhenshan without the slightest fear in his eyes. "My master died. Without any follow-up cultivation method, I drifted to Lin'an City and entered Yang Residence."

Yang Zhenshan stared intently into Zhou Qi's eyes.

After a moment, seemingly certain that Zhou Qi had not lied, Yang Zhenshan eased slightly. A shrewd glint flashed through his eyes.

"You stole the lower volume of the Nourishing Qi Scripture in order to break through?"

"Yes."

Yang Zhenshan pondered for a moment. When he looked at Zhou Qi again, there was more calculation in his eyes.

"You stole my cultivation method and stumbled upon my business. I can forgive all that, but I want you to do something for me!"

Zhou Qi fell silent for a moment, then raised his head and met Yang Zhenshan's gaze directly.

"What do you want?"

Yang Zhenshan smiled.

This young man was neither servile nor overbearing. He knew how to negotiate terms and was not some worthless fool who only knew how to kneel and beg for mercy.

"The Great Clan Tournament seven days from now." Yang Zhenshan got straight to the point.

"The Wang Family has invited an expert at the Peak of the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, with abundant real combat experience. Among the Yang Family's experts, no one can be sure of defeating him. You will fight in my place."

Zhou Qi narrowed his eyes, thoughts racing through his mind. After a moment, he did not agree immediately, but asked:

"What if I win? What if I lose?"

"If you win, I'll give you the lower volume of the cultivation method, along with a high-grade Yellow-rank martial skill. Furthermore, I will personally make the decision to appoint you as an outer sect elder of Yang Residence. Once you enter the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, even a Foundation Establishment cultivation method will not be impossible."

Yang Zhenshan paused, and his tone sank.

"But if you lose, there will be no need for you to come back!"

Zhou Qi sneered inwardly.

They wanted to gamble with his life.

But he had no reason to refuse.

He could not escape now, and he had yet to obtain the Qi-Nourishing Art: Lower Volume. Breaking through would require even more time.

Remaining with the Yang Family was the safest choice for now.

"Fine." Zhou Qi nodded. "But I have one more condition."

"Speak."

"Before the tournament, I want the lower volume of the cultivation method."

Yang Zhenshan stared at him for several seconds, then took out the same Qi-Nourishing Art: Lower Volume from his robes and tossed it to him.

"I'll give you the cultivation method now," Yang Zhenshan said. "But I do not trust you."

He took out a porcelain bottle, poured out a pitch-black pill covered in dark red patterns, and held it in his palm.

The system panel appeared before Zhou Qi's eyes:

[Item: Soul-Splitting Pill]

[Rank: Low-grade Profound Rank]

[Effect: Contains one hundred Soul-Splitting Worm larvae. After entering the body, they will lurk and grow, erupting after one month]

[Side Effect: When it erupts, blood will flow from all seven orifices, and the soul will be utterly destroyed]

[Hint: If the host breaks through to the Foundation Establishment realm, the qualitative transformation of spiritual power may allow an attempt to suppress the soul worms]

"Soul-Splitting Pill." Yang Zhenshan spoke indifferently.

"After you take it, the soul worms will lurk in your body for one month. Win the tournament, and I'll give you the antidote. Then we'll owe each other nothing. Lose the tournament, and you won't need an antidote anyway."

"Now, make your choice. Will you take it, or..." Yang Zhenshan paused, and when he spoke again, his voice had turned cold.

"Die here!"

Zhou Qi looked at the pill, then at Yang Zhenshan.

His thoughts spun like lightning. There were two choices before him.

First, refuse Yang Zhenshan. But with the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement against the Sixth Layer of Qi Refinement, if Yang Zhenshan became enraged, he would undoubtedly die.

Second, agree to Yang Zhenshan. He could obtain the Qi-Nourishing Art: Lower Volume and, at the very least, buy himself a month.

As he came back to himself, the difference between the two was clear at a glance.

"Deal." Zhou Qi reached out, took the Soul-Splitting Pill from Yang Zhenshan's palm, put it into his mouth, and swallowed.

A fishy, bitter liquid slid down his throat, and a faint stabbing pain came from his dantian.

Zhou Qi's expression did not change. He merely frowned slightly.

Satisfaction flashed through Yang Zhenshan's eyes.

This young man was calm enough—and ruthless enough.

"Jinshan!" Yang Zhenshan called toward the door.

The door was pushed open, and Yang Jinshan walked in.

When he saw Zhou Qi, he froze for a moment. "Second Brother, you called for me?"

"Take Zhou Qi to the central courtyard and find him a place to stay. Settle him in properly." Yang Zhenshan swept Yang Jinshan a glance. "Before the tournament, do not let anyone disturb him."

"Also, stay next door to him and take good care of him."

After saying this, Yang Zhenshan gave Yang Jinshan a meaningful look, signaling that he was to keep a close watch over Zhou Qi.

Yet Yang Jinshan seemed not to understand. He looked Zhou Qi up and down, snorted, and said, "Come on. Stop standing there!"

Zhou Qi nodded, turned, and followed Yang Jinshan.

Once outside the study, the night wind brushed against his face.

Zhou Qi took a deep breath and looked up at the night sky.

The Soul-Splitting Worms lurked within his body, but he was not panicked.

Seven days were enough for him to grind the Qi-Nourishing Art: Lower Volume to the limit and break through to the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement.

Yang Zhenshan wanted to use him.

But who would use whom was still uncertain.

Study.

Yang Zhenshan sat behind the desk and motioned for Yang Yuanshan to sit on the other side.

After a moment of silence in the room, Yang Zhenshan spoke. "Yuanshan, tomorrow, take Mingyuan to visit the Li Family, Zhao Family, and Wang Family."

Yang Yuanshan took a sip of tea. "What? Is there something to discuss?"

Yang Zhenshan nodded. "For this tournament, I want to raise the stakes to shares in the Black Iron Mine outside Blackstone City."

"The Black Iron Mine?" Yang Yuanshan was startled. "No, Second Brother. The Black Iron Mine is the foundation of our family. Isn't this too risky?"

"It is fine." Yang Zhenshan waved a hand, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. "That boy has the strength to take first place."

"The purity of his spiritual power far surpasses that of ordinary people. It is not inferior to mine in the slightest. For someone like him, challenging opponents above his realm is no difficult matter!"

"Oh, and remember to insist that the realm limit remains set at the middle stage."

Hesitation flashed through Yang Yuanshan's eyes, but he ultimately nodded. "All right. I'll go tomorrow."

"Mm." Yang Zhenshan fell silent for a while, then a fierce gleam flashed through his eyes.

"There are still too many mixed forces in Lin'an City. On the Upper City side, having our Yang Family is enough!"