Choices and investigation

In Yang Yu's rented home on the outskirts of Shangjing City, more than half a day had passed since Li Dahai and the other three Ghost Infant Sect cultivators were killed.

The room was frighteningly quiet. Yang Yu sat squarely on the sofa, while Zhao Zixuan sat opposite him, filled with unease.

Yang Yu stared at Zhao Zixuan, his face expressionless.

After a long silence, Yang Yu said, "Young fellow, introduce yourself. I saved your life. Surely you aren't so stingy that you won't even tell me your name."

"Zhao Zixuan... my name is Zhao Zixuan." Zhao Zixuan was so nervous that even his words came out in a stammer. The pressure Yang Yu placed on him was overwhelming.

It felt more terrifying than being stared down by a tiger!

Zhao Zixuan felt it was already a miracle that he could still speak normally... Just half a day ago, the ordinary-looking man across from him had killed four people without so much as blinking.

And he had killed them by an utterly terrifying means!

That power had even overturned Zhao Zixuan's understanding of the world!

"Zhao Zixuan?"

"Hmm, a nice name." Yang Yu nodded casually, then abruptly changed tack, his tone turning icy. "Zhao Zixuan... do you want to live, or do you want to die?"

Zhao Zixuan froze.

He had never expected Yang Yu, who had looked so calm a moment ago, to turn on him in an instant and start threatening his life.

"I... I... I want to go home," Zhao Zixuan replied timidly.

"Go home? Hahahaha." Yang Yu laughed. "Do you think that's possible? I didn't save you for nothing. If you want to stay alive, you'll have to pay a price."

"I'll tell you plainly: your body is very valuable to me... You've seen my power, haven't you? I can transform you into someone as powerful as me, or even stronger."

"But you'll have to give me your loyalty."

"Complete freedom is out of the question, unless you choose death."

"Killing those four already put me at risk of offending the Ghost Infant Sect. I can't let someone I don't trust at all walk away and reveal what happened!"

Yang Yu finished in one breath, his piercing gaze fixed on Zhao Zixuan.

He had already taken a moment to use his life force to examine Zhao Zixuan's physical condition. After his latent potential erupted, Zhao Zixuan's physical aptitude had improved dramatically. Although transforming him into a Master of All Things was unlikely, transforming him into the next-best option, a Blade Queen, was still possible.

Even though he had never cultivated at all.

Once transformed, he could still reach the postnatal lifeform realm, attaining the level of an earth rank warrior!

That was an entire minor realm above Yang Yu's current strength. And he could continue cultivating to grow stronger afterward!

This was the lowest-level Blade Queen transformation.

Transforming a Blade Queen differed from transforming ordinary vicious insects. The recipient had to offer no resistance and willingly undergo the process, because their mind had to be preserved to the greatest possible extent.

That was why Yang Yu had resorted to threatening and enticing Zhao Zixuan.

Otherwise, Yang Yu would not have wasted his time talking.

Once he had chosen someone, he could simply transform them.

Yang Yu was no saint. Since he had risked offending the Ghost Infant Sect to save Zhao Zixuan, he was determined to collect some interest from him in return.

Yang Yu did not care about Zhao Zixuan's beauty.

His only value to Yang Yu lay in being transformed into a Blade Queen!

That would immediately bolster Yang Yu's strength in a very short time!

With the Immortal Civilization lying dormant on Earth, the immense danger surrounding him made Yang Yu increasingly desperate to improve his strength. Driven by that crushing pressure, he did not mind resorting to any means necessary to achieve his goal.

Heaven only knew how desperately he craved greater strength!

Under Yang Yu's stare, Zhao Zixuan was terrified, his expression shifting repeatedly.

As though he had noticed Zhao Zixuan's hesitation, Yang Yu threatened him again. "Zhao Zixuan, don't say I didn't warn you. My patience is limited. To me, killing you is no different from killing those four pieces of trash. You'd better decide before my patience runs out."

"I..." Terror gripped Zhao Zixuan's heart. After struggling for a moment, he finally gritted his teeth and said, "I... I want to live. Don't kill me. As long as I can live, I'll do anything. I'm willing to undergo the transformation!"

Hearing Zhao Zixuan's answer, Yang Yu felt a weight lift from his chest and finally smiled.

"Very good."

"That's the wise choice."

"You'll be glad you made this decision today... Come with me." With that, Yang Yu rose from the sofa, walked straight past Zhao Zixuan, and headed toward the nearby study.

Zhao Zixuan hesitated briefly, then hurried after him.

Starlight shone over the land.

A waning moon gave off a faint, deathly pale glow, scattering flecks of moonlight across the earth.

In the antiques section of Shangjing City's flower, bird, and antiques market.

At the entrance to an alley between two buildings.

Whoosh!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Suddenly, several black-clad figures appeared amid a fierce gust of wind!

It was late at night, and every shop on the street was closed. The area was already desolate during the day; now it resembled a mass grave, with not a soul in sight!

"This is the place."

"Li Dahai and the others' life lamps went out. The death guidance pointed here." Among the black-clad figures, a young man with a scar on his face nodded to an old man beside him.

"Steward Ning, should we go in and investigate?"

The old man's aura was deep and unfathomable. Had Yang Yu been there, he would easily have recognized that the man possessed at least peak acquired human rank strength. Apart from the old man, everyone present, including the scar-faced young man, was at the mortal peak.

The scar-faced young man's aura was considerably stronger than those of Li Dahai and his three companions.

In terms of his level of life, he was already infinitely close to the acquired human rank.

"Hmm."

"Go in and take a look. Investigate everything quickly." The old man called Steward Ning wore an indifferent expression and waved for the scar-faced young man to act.

"Yes!" The scar-faced young man accepted the order. With a sweep of his arm, the other mortal peak experts beside him immediately spread out.

"Move!"

Whoosh— The next moment, the scar-faced young man personally led the others into the alley.

Time passed.

About half an hour later, the scar-faced young man and his companions emerged from the alley and approached Steward Ning.

"Well?" Steward Ning asked.

The scar-faced young man lowered his head, sounding somewhat dejected. "We didn't find much of value. Whoever did this cleaned up thoroughly... They didn't leave even a trace of blood."

"But... we found something else."

"Speak!" Steward Ning said impassively.

"At the deepest part of the alley, there's a long-abandoned Immortal Spirit Ghost Market Entrance!"

"The Immortal Spirit Ghost Market?!" In an instant, Steward Ning's eyes blazed with brilliant light!

P.S. Thanks to "Sahara Ocean" for the tip! And please vote to recommend this story and add it to your favorites!