What Matters Is That You... Are Dead

"What a vicious Magical Artifact! Caught off guard, I couldn't gain the slightest advantage. If he truly intended to scheme against someone, it really would be possible for him to trap and kill a Qi Refining sixth-level cultivator!"

Su Shi'er silently sighed, staring at the other man with a wary expression.

"Trying to ambush me? Kid, you're still too young!"

"Originally, I thought a Qi Refining third-level prey would be utterly unchallenging. Who would have thought you were actually at Qi Refining fifth level? Interesting!"

The hook-nosed man sneered and shook his head, sticking out his tongue to lick his lips.

As he spoke, the Yin wind around him vanished. He abruptly turned around and drew the longbow in his hand with a backhanded pull.

Six Light Arrows tore through the air, arriving in the blink of an eye.

Su Shi'er narrowed his eyes. He had long been prepared. The instant the Light Arrows descended, he activated the Ice Shield, which swelled against the wind and blocked the attacks before him.

Such attacks were not enough to break through the Ice Shield's defenses. He had also planned to use this wave of attacks as an opportunity to counterattack.

But just as the attacks were about to land, his pupils contracted slightly, and a bad feeling immediately welled up inside him.

"Something's wrong!"

With a turn of thought, he did not hesitate. He decisively summoned a fierce wind and soared upward.

Boom!

The next moment, the Light Arrows struck the ground and exploded with a thunderous roar. Dirt sprayed everywhere, and trees toppled over.

A massive crater was left behind.

"Hiss... What kind of bow is that? Its power is actually this terrifying?!"

Su Shi'er sucked in a cold breath. Had he not noticed that faint sneer on the man's face and dodged in time, that strike would have left him dead or seriously injured.

"So, having a High-grade offensive Magical Artifact wasn't enough—you even have a High-grade defensive Magical Artifact?! Kid, you sure have quite a few treasures on you!"

The hook-nosed man frowned. Though he called Su Shi'er prey, every move he made was a killing move.

Yet he had not expected Su Shi'er to see through it.

That annoyed him somewhat, but when he saw the icy-blue Ice Shield, greed immediately appeared in his eyes.

He possessed quite a few treasures himself, but only the Yin Wind Bead was a high-grade magical artifact. The rest were merely Low-grade Magical Artifacts.

Moreover, defensive Magical Artifacts had always been especially precious.

Staring fixedly at Su Shi'er in midair, he decisively nocked his bow and fired another six Light Arrows.

These six Light Arrows no longer carried that same sense of threat. Yet Su Shi'er did not dare relax in the slightest. This man looked crazed, but he was actually exceedingly sinister.

Though suspended in the air, Su Shi'er's movements were exceptionally nimble. He continuously cast the Wind Calling Technique, combining the Shadowless Illusionary Steps with the Cloud-Treading Boots.

For a moment, Su Shi'er moved like a ghost, appearing before the man one instant and behind him the next.

"Die!"

Suddenly, Su Shi'er gave a low shout and swung his sword in a frontal slash!

Driven by True Yuan, the White Mist Sword brought forth a dazzling streak of sword light.

"The same trick—do you think it'll work?" the hook-nosed man snorted coldly, activating the Yin Wind Bead once more.

This time, under his control, the Yin wind charged straight at Su Shi'er's face.

But before the Yin wind could sweep over Su Shi'er, the man's expression suddenly changed drastically.

Puff! Puff! Puff...

With several successive sounds, seven Soul Severing Nails silently approached under Su Shi'er's control through the Object Manipulation Technique.

Just as the other man was fully focused on controlling the Yin wind, they suddenly unleashed their force and plunged into his back.

The Soul Severing Nails were High-grade Magical Artifacts and contained potent poison.

Even though the hook-nosed man was quite powerful, the instant he was struck by the Soul Severing Nails, his body went limp and he collapsed weakly to the ground.

The Yin wind scattered along with him, and a sinister black bead fell to the ground.

"How... is this possible?! A High-grade concealed-weapon Magical Artifact? You... who exactly are you?" The hook-nosed man quickly pulled out a Soul Severing Nail and held it in his hand, his face changing again in shock.

The disciples participating in the trial were generally either newcomers or menial disciples.

These people were not particularly strong, nor could they possess many good things.

Having even one Mid-grade Magical Artifact was already extraordinary. Possessing a high-grade magical artifact meant one was practically a wealthy lord.

Su Shi'er having one high-grade magical artifact for offense and another for defense had already nearly made his jaw drop.

Even if beaten to death, he would never have imagined that Su Shi'er also had a High-grade concealed-weapon Magical Artifact.

Three High-grade Magical Artifacts—if he had known that earlier, he absolutely would not have tangled with Su Shi'er. He would have turned tail and run!

"Who I am isn't important! What matters is that you... are dead!!" Su Shi'er said indifferently, raising his sword and striking.

"Don't, I..." The hook-nosed man's eyes widened as he tried to say something.

But the instant he opened his mouth, he felt a chill at his neck, followed by the world spinning around him.

A wound as wide as a bowl appeared on his neck.

With one sword stroke, Su Shi'er severed his head. Only after confirming that the man was thoroughly dead did he step forward, collect everything on him, and skillfully toss out a fireball to destroy the corpse and erase the traces.

"Zhu Hanwei, how are you feeling?" Without rushing to inspect the other man's belongings, Su Shi'er turned to look at the fat man, Zhu Hanwei.

Zhu Hanwei was staring blankly at the traces left by the hook-nosed man's corpse.

He simply could not believe that nightmare-like fellow had died just like that, reduced to nothing but a pile of ashes.

Most importantly, Su Shi'er had been the one to kill him.

After all, Su Shi'er had entered the Yun Ge Sect in the same batch as him. Moreover, Su Shi'er's aptitude did not seem much stronger than his own.

Although he had long realized that Su Shi'er was no ordinary person, he had never expected him to be this strong!

Could this guy have encountered some kind of fortuitous opportunity? But what kind of opportunity could make him this powerful?

Even Han Yu, whom the Peak Master valued most, was probably not this formidable, was he?!

Zhu Hanwei secretly marveled. Hearing Su Shi'er's voice, he hurriedly said with a respectful expression, "Don't worry, Twelfth Martial Brother. I'm fine!"

As he spoke, he quickly waved his hand. However, the wound on his leg still made the corners of his mouth twitch.

"I'll lend you this Minor Restoration Pill. There's less than a month left in the trial, so be more careful from now on."

Su Shi'er nodded faintly and casually tossed him a Low-grade Minor Restoration Pill, which he had no idea which unlucky fellow's Storage Pouch it had come from.

After doing that, he turned and left.

Zhu Hanwei caught the pill in his hand and swallowed it without hesitation.

Watching Su Shi'er's departing figure with a grateful expression, his eyes shifted twice. Then he gritted his teeth and limped after him.

"Twelfth Martial Brother, wait... wait for me!"

"Hm? Do you still need something?" Su Shi'er stopped and looked at him expressionlessly.

"Martial Brother, you saved my life. Your kindness toward me is as great as remaking me. From today onward, my life, Zhu Hanwei's life, is yours. I will follow your lead in all things!"

Zhu Hanwei patted his chest and spoke with deep emotion.

His cultivation had not been high to begin with, and he was injured besides. Without someone to protect him, during the remaining days, he would either be killed by others or die beneath the claws of demon beasts!

For him, the best way was to find himself a big brother!

He could not cling to Han Yu or Xiao Yue's thighs. Within the sect, the only person he could think of was the man before him.

Su Shi'er had willingly stepped in to save him at a critical moment, which showed that his character was not bad.

In that brief instant, he had already thought everything through.

"Follow my lead in all things? No need!" Su Shi'er narrowed his eyes and decisively shook his head.

He was no fool. He knew perfectly well that the other man merely wanted to find a powerful backer and hold out until the trial ended.

He had little interest in that.