The deadly trap finally revealed!

Boundless pressure swept over him. Wave upon wave of invisible force bore down, pinning Qi Yun firmly in place, leaving him unable to move even a finger.

This was... the might of a Foundation Establishment True Person...

Feeling as though every inch of his flesh had slipped beyond his control, Qi Yun was shaken to his core. He struggled to hold fast to his mind, keeping himself from sinking into that boundless pressure.

A single soft shout laden with anger had struck Zhou Hao, at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, to the ground like a torn sack, his fate unknown.

Now, those eyes in the heavens, filled with endless majesty and icy killing intent, slowly turned their gaze toward Qi Yun.

Boom-

In an instant, the pressure bearing down on Qi Yun abruptly doubled!

Crack!

The ground beneath Qi Yun's feet burst apart, spiderweb cracks spreading wildly. His face flushed crimson, and he nearly buckled beneath that imposing might.

"You are the little thief who killed my nephew?"

The thunderous heavenly voice poured into his mind. Qi Yun felt as though heaven and earth had turned upside down, and all things had lost their color.

All that remained of the world was that pair of majestic, enormous eyes, looking coldly down and holding power over life and death!

"Hmph! Nothing but an ant!"

Coldness filled those eyes. With a soft shout, that illusory sky abruptly split open, and an enormous hand formed from pure Law Power, blotting out the sky and sun, reached straight for Qi Yun.

The master of Flower Moon Hall was actually going to reach across space and time to seize Qi Yun and bring him back.

In an instant, Qi Yun felt a terrifying sense of danger erupt deep inside him. He wanted to break free, wanted to dodge.

But beneath the pressure of a Foundation Establishment True Person, he could not stir even a wisp of True Qi. Only his thoughts could move!

The enormous hand descended, its shadow swallowing Qi Yun. He was about to be seized and carried off by the master of Flower Moon Hall.

Hum-

At that critical moment, a streak of snow-white light tore through the crushing pressure like a comet cleaving the night, arriving in an instant.

The light receded, becoming a jade-boned folding fan wreathed in a gentle glow. It hovered firmly before Qi Yun like an indestructible barrier, forcibly blocking the enormous hand reaching down!

"Yang Cuan?!"

At the sight of the folding fan that had appeared without warning, Song Kun's gaze sharpened. He immediately realized what was happening and roared in fury:

"You dared to scheme against me!"

"Hahaha, whatever do you mean, Senior Brother Song? I merely happened to be passing through, only to discover that the esteemed master of the inner court's Flower Moon Hall, a Foundation Establishment True Person, was actually disregarding the Holy Sect's rules and attacking an outer court disciple.

"Senior Brother Wei, I'm not spreading rumors. You saw it all with your own eyes."

Clear, hearty laughter rang out. An invisible force parted the dense fog and heavy clouds that shrouded Drifting Remains Mountain year-round, revealing the scholarly-looking Yang Cuan alongside a gray-haired old man with a sinister face, whose imposing presence was even greater than Song Kun's.

"Senior Brother Wei, regarding this matter..." A smile on his lips, Yang Cuan turned sideways and addressed Wei Li beside him respectfully.

"Song Kun, recite the seventh article of the fifth law of the Holy Sect's rules." After first glancing at Yang Cuan beside him, Wei Li spoke calmly.

"Senior Brother Wei, I..." Song Kun frowned and opened his mouth to explain.

"I asked you what the seventh article of the fifth law of the Holy Sect's rules says!" Wei Li's voice abruptly grew stern, striking like an icy iron hammer and cutting off Song Kun's explanation. His awe-inspiring presence made even the sky grow still.

Drawing a deep breath, Song Kun knew there was no salvaging the situation. He could only shoot a vicious glare at the thoroughly pleased Yang Cuan before saying heavily:

"The seventh article of the fifth law of the Holy Sect's rules: unless officially charged with such duties, inner court True Persons are strictly forbidden from interfering in outer court affairs! Violators... shall forfeit fifty years of stipends and face the wall for sixty years!"

"Mm, not a word wrong. Since you remember the rules, go to the Internal Inspection Office and accept your punishment yourself." Wei Li nodded and spoke lightly.

"But..." Song Kun still wanted to plead his case.

"You find that inappropriate?" Wei Li merely glanced sideways, and the usually overbearing master of Flower Moon Hall immediately fell silent, every word of defense catching in his throat.

"I shall obey your command, Senior Brother... I will go to the Internal Inspection Office and accept my punishment."

Before leaving, Song Kun took one last look at Qi Yun below, as though he meant to carve his appearance into his mind.

Boy, in sixty years, this old man will come looking for you again.

I hope you'll still be this lucky then!

The enormous eyes in the sky slowly dissipated, filled with boundless hatred, and the crushing pressure receded like the tide.

After Song Kun left, Wei Li cast a bland glance at Yang Cuan, whose lips still held a smile.

"Do not let it happen again."

Knowing his little scheme could not escape Wei Li's notice, Yang Cuan hurriedly wiped away his smile and respectfully cupped his hands.

"This junior brother understands. The spirit tea offered by Sandalwood Mountain has already been brewed. Please come and have a taste, Senior Brother."

"Mm."

The two True Persons slowly vanished into the horizon. Only in the final instant before the clouds closed again did Yang Cuan's gaze seem to linger briefly on Qi Yun below.

"They've all gone..."

With the three Foundation Establishment True Persons gone, the heavy, stifling majesty between heaven and earth instantly dispersed. Qi Yun let out a long breath.

"Junior Brother Qi, you deserve the greatest credit for our success this time."

Accompanied by clear applause, Zheng Yi appeared like a ghost at the cavern entrance, his face wreathed in a spring-breeze smile. He repeatedly congratulated Qi Yun, his eyes full of approval.

Seeing Zheng Yi appear, Qi Yun chuckled and waved his hand.

"I was only bait to lure the fish onto the hook. The True Person held the rod. I could never claim the greatest credit."

"You're too modest, Junior Brother."

Stepping into the cavern, Zheng Yi kicked aside the gravely wounded, unconscious Zhou Hao like a dead dog and walked toward Qi Yun.

"You held out against someone at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer for so long, and even used the terrain to nearly turn the tables and kill him.

"If the True Person hadn't intervened, this piece of trash would already have died at your hands."

Watching Zheng Yi draw closer, Qi Yun's smile faded, his gaze calm and indifferent.

"The matter of the master of Flower Moon Hall is settled. Next comes dealing with me, doesn't it?"

Tap-

His steps halted. Zheng Yi looked at Qi Yun in some surprise, then curled his lips.

"What are you saying, Junior Brother? Have you misunderstood something?"

"Stop pretending, Senior Brother. Entrapping a Foundation Establishment True Person, whatever the reason, is ultimately a shady affair that cannot bear the light of day.

"And apart from the three True Persons, only you, me, and this dead dog know about it.

"You're the True Person's disciple, so naturally you'll be fine.

"That leaves me and this dead dog as the last people who know.

"By sentiment or reason, the True Person would never allow stains like us to remain.

"So you came here, Senior Brother..."

Slowly raising his eyes, Qi Yun spoke each word distinctly:

"To take my life."

"Good! Good! Good!" After hearing Qi Yun's words, Zheng Yi could not help repeating his praise three times. A trace of genuine regret even appeared in his eyes.

"Such meticulous thinking, such attention to detail. You truly are talented!

"As your senior brother... I really do want to spare your life!"

"Then spare my life?"

"No!"