Instant Kill

Chen Tianyu heard footsteps and turned around, a gentle smile already on his face.

"You must be Junior Brother Qin? I've heard so much about you."

He stepped forward, his attitude enthusiastic. "I am Senior Brother Chen Tianyu of the Fifth Peak. I saw your divine might in the grand competition yesterday, and I was truly amazed. Meeting you today, your bearing is indeed extraordinary."

Qin Yuan watched his performance and said calmly, "Senior Brother Chen flatters me."

"No flattery, no flattery," Chen Tianyu chuckled. "It is our honor that Junior Brother chose our Fifth Peak. Come, sit. Elder Xu will be here shortly."

The two sat down in the hall, and Chen Tianyu proactively made tea, acting as the host.

"Junior Brother, you're new here. Is there anything you're unaccustomed to?" he asked with concern. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to tell Senior Brother. I still have some influence on the Fifth Peak."

"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother," Qin Yuan picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Everything is fine."

"That's good," Chen Tianyu nodded and said, as if casually, "By the way, I heard that Junior Brother and Junior Sister Lin Qing'er are from the same hometown?"

Qin Yuan looked up at him. "Yes."

"Then you must have a good relationship," Chen Tianyu smiled. "Junior Sister Qing'er has good talent and is a key person of cultivation on the Third Peak. However, the competition on the Third Peak is fierce, and life there is probably not easy. If Junior Brother is inclined, you could speak with Elder Xu and have Junior Sister Qing'er transferred to the Fifth Peak. Our peak has fewer people, and we are more united."

His words were high-sounding. If Qin Yuan hadn't overheard their conspiracy just now, he would have truly believed Chen Tianyu was a good senior brother who cared for his fellow disciples.

"I will consider it," Qin Yuan replied noncommittally.

They chatted aimlessly, and time ticked by.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the hall, accompanied by a girl's panicked cry:

"Brother Qin Yuan! Brother Qin Yuan, save me--!"

The hall door was violently pushed open, and Lin Qing'er stumbled in. Her hair was disheveled, her goose-yellow dress was torn in several places, and there was a bloody scratch on her face. Seeing Qin Yuan, tears instantly welled up in her eyes, and she rushed towards him.

"Qing'er?" Qin Yuan stood up to catch her, his eyes instantly turning cold. "What happened?"

"Someone... someone is chasing me from behind!" Lin Qing'er's voice trembled. "I just arrived at the Fifth Peak, and two people stopped me, saying they wanted to 'invite' me to the back mountain for a chat. I refused, and they started to attack..."

Before she could finish speaking, two youths in Fifth Peak disciple uniforms chased in. Seeing the scene in the hall, they froze for a moment.

Chen Tianyu stood up at the opportune moment and said sternly, "Wang Hu, Li Bao, what's going on? Why are you chasing Junior Sister Lin?"

The two exchanged a glance. Wang Hu cupped his hands. "Senior Brother Chen, this woman trespassed on the Fifth Peak. We suspected she was a spy from another peak, so we wanted to take her to the back mountain for questioning."

"Nonsense!" Lin Qing'er pulled out a jade token from her bosom. "I have a visitor's pass for the Fifth Peak! Brother Qin Yuan gave it to me yesterday!"

The jade token was inscribed with the words "Listening Bamboo Garden," the identifier for Qin Yuan's courtyard. With this token, one could move freely within the Fifth Peak.

Qin Yuan took the jade token and glanced at it, confirming its authenticity. Then he looked at Wang Hu and Li Bao. "The pass is here. What else do you have to say?"

Wang Hu's expression changed, and he looked at Chen Tianyu.

Chen Tianyu frowned. "Since there is a pass, it's a misunderstanding. Wang Hu, Li Bao, you were too reckless. Why don't you apologize to Junior Sister Lin quickly?"

"Apologize?" Qin Yuan suddenly smiled.

He released Lin Qing'er, took a step forward, and his gaze swept over Wang Hu and Li Bao, finally landing on Chen Tianyu's face.

"I just arrived at the Fifth Peak, and Qing'er just came up the mountain, and someone 'happened' to want to take her to the back mountain for questioning. This misunderstanding is too coincidental, isn't it?"

Chen Tianyu's expression darkened slightly. "Junior Brother Qin, what do you mean by that? Are you suspecting that I instigated this?"

"Whether you instigated it or not, you know yourself," Qin Yuan said calmly. "However, I didn't expect that the Fifth Peak would also have such scum. Fine, today I will help clean house."

As his words fell, he moved.

Wang Hu and Li Bao only saw a blur before their eyes. Qin Yuan had already appeared before them! The two were terrified and tried to retreat, but they felt their bodies locked by a terrifying aura, unable to move!

"Junior Brother Qin, calm down!" Chen Tianyu shouted sternly, and simultaneously moved to intercept him.

After all, he was at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment. He unleashed a palm strike, and spiritual energy transformed into a green palm print, striking directly at Qin Yuan's back! This palm strike, though seemingly meant to dissuade, was actually filled with hidden killing intent. If an ordinary sixth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator were to receive it head-on, they would be severely injured, if not killed!

Qin Yuan didn't look back. He flicked his left hand back and threw a punch.

"Boom--!!"

The fist and palm collided, and the green palm print shattered instantly! Chen Tianyu felt as if he had been struck by a heavy blow. He let out a muffled groan and retreated three steps, each step leaving a deep footprint on the bluestone ground!

"You..." He looked at Qin Yuan in shock. "You broke through again?!"

The power of that punch was far beyond the sixth level of Foundation Establishment!

Qin Yuan ignored him. He extended his right hand and grabbed Wang Hu's neck like a vise, lifting him entirely off the ground.

"Speak, who ordered you?"

Wang Hu's face turned red, his legs flailed, and he struggled to look at Chen Tianyu.

Chen Tianyu's face turned ashen. "Qin Yuan! You are presumptuous! This is the main hall of the Fifth Peak, how can you conduct torture privately!"

"Torture?" Qin Yuan sneered. "I'm just cleaning up garbage."

He tightened his grip, and a "crack" sound came from Wang Hu's neck. His eyes bulged, and he looked like he was about to suffocate.

"Stop!" Chen Tianyu roared and attacked again.

This time, he held nothing back. His seventh-level Foundation Establishment spiritual energy erupted to its fullest. He formed hand seals, and a green sword light shot out from his fingertips—the Yellow-grade high-tier spell, "Azure Origin Sword Qi"!

The sword energy was sharp, tearing through the air and aiming straight for Qin Yuan's forehead!

At the same time, Li Bao seized the opportunity to break free from the lock, lunging from the side with a short knife aimed at Qin Yuan's waist!

Attacked from both sides!

Qin Yuan's eyes turned cold. He used Wang Hu as a sandbag, smashing him fiercely towards Li Bao!

"Bang--!!"

The two collided, the sound of cracking bones clearly audible. Both spat out blood and fell to the ground.

Simultaneously, Qin Yuan clenched his right fist, which began to emit a faint golden light. He met the cyan sword energy and punched out!

"Break!"

The moment the sword energy and fist collided, it shattered into pieces like glass! Chen Tianyu's pupils contracted. Before he could react, Qin Yuan's fist had already passed through the broken sword energy and slammed heavily into his chest!

"Pfft--!!!"

Chen Tianyu vomited a mouthful of blood, flying backward and crashing into a pillar before sliding to the ground.

He struggled to get up, only to find that at least three of his ribs were broken, his internal organs displaced, and his spiritual energy in disarray. He had lost the ability to fight.

All of this had happened in just three breaths.

From Qin Yuan's move to the defeat of all three, it was so fast that no one could react.

Lin Qing'er stared blankly at the scene, her small mouth agape. She knew Qin Yuan was strong, but she never expected him to be this strong—Chen Tianyu, at Foundation Establishment layer seven, was as vulnerable as a child before him!

"Now," Qin Yuan walked up to Chen Tianyu, crouched down, his gaze icy, "can you tell me? Who ordered you?"

Chen Tianyu coughed up blood, his eyes filled with malice. "Qin Yuan... You dare to hurt me... My grandfather won't let you go..."

"Your grandfather?" Qin Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"My grandfather is the Enforcement Elder of Fifth Peak, Chen Changqing!" Chen Tianyu rasped. "You, a mere newcomer, dare to lay hands on the grandson of an Enforcement Elder. You're dead!"

"Oh," Qin Yuan nodded, then slapped him across the face.

"Slap--!!"

A crisp, loud sound.

Chen Tianyu's head was knocked to the side by the slap. Half his face instantly swelled up, and he lost two teeth.

"You..."

"Slap!"

Another slap.

"I asked who ordered you," Qin Yuan said calmly, but the coldness in his eyes made Chen Tianyu feel like he had fallen into an ice cellar. "Talk nonsense again, and I'll cripple your cultivation."