A struggle over the Great Dao!

"Someone like you, do you even care about these things?"

Without looking at Qi Yun, Li Hanyan spoke calmly.

"You've misunderstood, True Person." Shaking his head slowly, Qi Yun said sincerely, "This person is my dearest friend, my brother."

Upon hearing Qi Yun's words, Li Hanyan slowly turned around, her eyes narrowing slightly.

This boy is truly a man of strong emotions—

"You'll have to pay more."

On Li Hanyan's perpetually cold and stern face, the muscles twitched almost imperceptibly a few times.

Then, he let out a low chuckle, which echoed in the quiet courtyard.

"Interesting, truly interesting." Li Hanyan's gaze returned to Qi Yun, this time with less of her pure indifference and more of a probing look.

"Kid, with your tendency to assess situations and demand exorbitant prices, you're really being mistreated by that old man, Deng Yin."

Would you like to come to my Black Baleful Intent Mountain?

The personal recruitment by a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage True Person would likely have thrilled any Qi Refining disciple.

Qi Yun remained expressionless, bowed again, and said in a respectful but firm tone, "Thank you for True Person kindness and high regard, Master. The old True Person has been kind to me in imparting knowledge and teaching me skills, which is as good as giving me a second life. Although I am not talented, I would never dare to do anything that would break faith and sever the bond of gratitude."

I regret that I have failed to live up to your True Person intentions; please forgive True Person.

"Hehe, alright, everyone has their own ambitions, whatever you say." Seeing Qi Yun's straightforward refusal, Li Hanyan didn't seem surprised or angry. She simply brushed it off, as if her earlier offer to recruit him was just a casual remark made on a whim.

He changed the subject and returned to the Liaozheng point. "A Three Lives Glazed Treasure Mirror, plus a jar of [Soul-Cleansing Elixir]."

With these two items, you can pave the way to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

Is this price enough?

Upon hearing Li Hanyan's final price, a glint flashed in Qi Yun's lowered eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

[Soul-Cleansing Elixir]

This is a Divine Soul- nourishing elixir comparable to the Three Lives Glazed Treasure Mirror!

Its effect lies in cleansing the Three Hun Souls of distracting thoughts, obsessions, and acquired impurities.

It allows the soul to return to its pure and original state, greatly reducing the risks and interference from inner demons when the Three Hun Souls unite, and enabling a smoother and more perfect condensation of the Divine Soul.

It discusses the direct benefits of breaking through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

This object is even more domineering and direct than the Three Lives Glazed Treasure Mirror, which focuses on forging and illumination.

"Enough." Qi Yun raised his head, his face now calm, and then asked, "May I ask, True Person —who exactly do you require me to deal with?"

Li Hanyan snorted coldly, "You know perfectly well what I'm asking."

Qi Yun readily accepted the good advice and stopped beating around the bush, simply waiting quietly for what would follow.

"The price is the price, and it won't change." Li Hanyan's tone was cold and carried an unquestionable implication.

"But there are some things I must say upfront."

This matter began with you and will end with you.

"This is a private matter between you, Qi Yun, and Chang Qing. It has absolutely nothing to do with my Black Baleful Intent Mountain, or with me."

He pointed at Qi Yun like two icicles, saying, "Afterwards, I will personally intervene to isolate and disrupt all possible causal clues pointing to Black Baleful Intent Mountain."

Success means you kill someone for a treasure; failure means you are not skilled enough and are slaughtered instead.

The beginning, the process, and the final conclusion of this matter all depend on you alone.

Do you understand?

Qi Yun's expression shifted slightly, and he understood.

This is to completely sever all overt connections and present him as an independent "district hand".

Regardless of success or failure, Black Baleful Intent Mountain and Li Hanyan can remain uninvolved.

The risks were almost entirely shifted onto themselves.

Seeing that Qi Yun remained silent, seemingly weighing the risks against the potential rewards, Li Hanyan did not urge him, but instead gave him a deadline. "I will give you time to consider this matter."

Three days. Give me a clear answer in three days.

"Disciple—I obey." Qi Yun replied, cupping his hands in greeting.

When he looked up again, the courtyard was empty.

Only the lingering, chilling pressure proved that a True Person had just descended.

A gentle breeze rustled Qi Yun's clothes.

He stood there, his brows slightly furrowed, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

"The Three Lives Glazed Treasure Mirror, the Soul-Cleansing Elixir —such a precious treasure, all for the sake of killing a Qi Refining Realm cultivator like Chang Qing— " he muttered to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tracing paths across the stone table.

"What heinous thing did Chang Qing do that angered both heaven and man?"

Or rather, what secret does he hold that would drive a Foundation Establishment True Person to such lengths, resorting to this "outsourcing" method to hire someone to kill him?

"When in doubt, one can consult the True Person. It seems I'll have to trouble my senior again." With this thought in mind, Qi Yun immediately got up and headed towards the Daoist temple on the Green Mountain Daoist Temple.

What else could it be?

It's astonishing that a Foundation Establishment True Person would disregard their status and shame, acting almost like hiring someone to commit murder.

"It's nothing more than a struggle over the Great Dao." After hearing this, the old True Person showed little surprise in his cloudy eyes, simply stirring the teacup in his hand.

"A struggle over the Great Dao?" Qi Yun was initially surprised. "What Great Dao could a Qi Refining disciple possibly have against a Foundation Establishment True Person— "

He was halfway through his sentence when a sudden thought struck him, and he quickly realized what he had said.

"Does the True Person mean—that there is a conflict over the Great Dao with the disciple of True Person?"

Seeing that Qi Yun understood immediately, the old True Person slowly nodded. "Hmm. That old Li Hanyan has a little disciple who is exceptionally talented and is extremely favored by him."

Coincidentally, the Dao Foundation this child built was the same kind of Dao Foundation that Chang Qing intended to condense.

"Can't we build the same Dao Foundation?" Qi Yun asked, somewhat puzzled.

Although the types of Dao Foundation in the world are not infinite.

But it's by no means a small number, and repetitions are not unusual.

"Naturally, they can all be based on the same Dao Foundation." The old True Person spoke calmly, yet revealed the cruel truth behind it all.

"However, although the paths to the Great Way are different, they can all lead to the same destination."

If two cultivators have built the same Dao Foundation, and one of them can find an opportunity to kill the other, they can use Secret Method to cook and "refine" the other's Dao Foundation, extracting its original Dao essence.

There is a very high chance that one can refine an additional Divine Ability that complements that Dao Foundation, greatly increasing its power!

He looked at Qi Yun: "Chang Qing cultivates the extremely violent ' Asura Fundamental Treasury Method,' walks the Asura Dao, has a burning desire to kill, and acts without any restraint."

Once he reaches the Foundation Establishment and learns of this matter, he will surely be like a jackal smelling blood, setting his sights on that junior disciple Li Hanyan.

At that time, it will be a life-or-death situation.

To ensure his precious disciple 'Dao Path cultivation, Li Hanyan naturally wanted to take precautions and eliminate this potential threat as early as possible.

But Chang Qing also has someone backing him up.

Li Hanyan was unwilling to personally get involved in a direct confrontation with that person and become entangled in inescapable karmic troubles.

Therefore, he devised this plan to kill someone using another's knife.

And you are the [knife] he chose.

"So that's how it is—" Qi Yun suddenly realized that the entanglement was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface, involving the future Dao Path of the True Person's disciple.

No wonder Li Hanyan was willing to pay such a price.

"Does the True Person think I should accept this task?" Qi Yun symbolically asked the old True Person for his final opinion.

The old True Person did not answer directly, but instead asked, "Asura Dao cultivators are extremely powerful in battle, have strong physical bodies, and Law Technique ruthless and unpredictable spells."

Chang Qing is an outstanding expert in this field. Are you confident you can defeat him?

Qi Yun remained calm and, without the slightest hesitation, stated frankly, "Within the same realm, I'm 100% confident."

His words were not arrogant. He possessed many powerful Law Technique optimized by the panel, such as the Soul Refining Banner, the Nether Spring White Bone Method, the prototype of the Mystic Nether One Qi Bottle, the Wood Phase Command Method, and the Gather Form and Disperse Qi —he had a wide range of skills, profound knowledge, and many trump cards.

Given that they were both at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, he was confident that no one could be his match.

Upon hearing this, the old True Person revealed a half-smile on his face, "Then what are you hesitating for? It's a gift of the Great Dao, a business with no investment, why not take it?"

That [Soul-Cleansing Elixir] is Li Hanyan's unique treasure.

No one but him can refine it; it will be of immense benefit to your Divine Soul condensation.

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of protective indifference, reassuring Qi Yun: "As for the person behind Chang Qing, you don't need to worry."

If he dares to disregard his reputation and take his anger out on you afterwards, even attacking a junior like you, I will personally go and have a good talk with him.

"Chang Qing has powerful backers, but you don't?"

With the old True Person's resounding promise as a guarantee, Qi Yun's last trace of worry vanished, and he suddenly felt enlightened.

"Disciple understands, thank you for your guidance, True Person!"

After bidding farewell to the old True Person, Qi Yun no longer hesitated and immediately conveyed a message to Li Hanyan through Li Chong.

He accepted the job.

And then, in less than half a day...

A Jade Slip exuding a cold aura was delivered to Qi Yun's cave abode by a Black Baleful Intent Peak deacon disciple with an expressionless face.

Qi Yun accepted the Jade Slip and immersed his Divine Sense into it.

It contains more detailed information about Chang Qing.

The characteristics of several commonly used Asura Method, some well-known Law Artifact, and some descriptions of combat habits.

Most importantly, the Jade Slip slip contained Chang Qing's recent whereabouts.

Three days later, he will leave the sect and head to Cauldron Yang Cave on Emerald Mountain, three thousand miles to the northwest.

Time, place, and objective—everything is included.

Qi Yun slowly put away the Jade Slip, his eyes cold and clear.

A wisp of pitch-black Xuanming Mystic Nether Erosion Qi flowed silently from his fingertip, then vanished in an instant.