Chapter 898
The Invisible Wall
On the right was a young man in a green robe, his face sinister, holding a short blade in each hand, the blades gleaming with a cold, eerie blue light. He sneered:
"Han Yunqi, an inner disciple of the Qingyun Sect. Anyone who dares to snatch this Three-Eyed Flame Tiger is courting death."
In the center of the fog, a strange beast the size of a water buffalo was being surrounded by two groups of people.
Three-Eyed Flame Tiger.
Its entire body was covered in crimson fur, as if it were draped in a layer of burning flames. Its three eyes were arranged in a triangular pattern, the central vertical pupil a ghostly green, flanked by crimson ones. Its hind legs were bound by a blue chain, the other end held in Han Yunqi's hand. Its front paws were pinned to the ground by three spiked clubs, blood trickling down from between its claws and pooling into a small, dark red muddy puddle on the decaying earth. When it growled, the hot breath exhaled from its mouth and nostrils evaporated the surrounding mist into white vapor, within which sparks could be faintly seen dancing.
Yanhu has been driven to the brink of despair.
But they are still struggling.
Each swing of its claws ignited a flame, causing the decaying leaves to crackle and pop.
The Blood Wolf Gang and the Azure Cloud Sect each had more than twenty people, surrounding it in an impenetrable formation, but neither dared to step forward to finish it off first—the flames of the Flame Tiger's dying counterattack could burn through the protective aura of a mid-stage Mahayana cultivator.
Zhao Sanhuai flicked his short sword and whispered:
"Sir, this tiger... is worth quite a few points. The core of the Three-Eyed Flame Tiger can be exchanged for five hundred mid-grade spirit stones."
Zheng Yi's gaze fell on Yan Hu.
In those three eyes, besides ferocity, there was also a hint of...despair.
He suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, yet it pierced through the mist:
"Which of you two will make the first move?"
The gray-robed, burly man leading the Blood Wolf Gang grinned maliciously:
"I found it first! The beast core is mine!"
Han Yunqi snorted coldly:
"What a joke! The chains are our sect's secret treasure, the 'Azure Soul-Binding Chains,' and the tiger was trapped by us!"
The burly man in the gray robe raised his spiked club:
"Enough talk! Either come at me all at once, or get out of here!"
Han Yunqi's face darkened, and he crossed his short blades:
"Fine, then... let's die together!"
Both sides rushed towards Yan Hu at the same time.
The glint of blades, the light of swords, and the glow of magical artifacts intertwined to form a web of death.
The Fiery Tiger roared.
Flames shot out from the hair.
It instantly engulfed the five or six people in the front row.
Screams and the stench of burning erupted simultaneously.
Zheng Yi suddenly raised his hand.
The line came to an instant.
He watched as Han Yunqi's team was about to be engulfed by flames.
Han Yunqi wielded his short blade, creating a blur of afterimages, but ultimately could not stop the flames.
He was about to be burned to ashes.
Zheng Yi suddenly spoke, his voice extremely low, yet Zhao Sanhuai heard him:
"save."
Zhao Sanhuai was taken aback, then grinned:
"Order!"
He suddenly rushed out.
The short sword flashed like lightning.
Slash towards the edge of the flames.
The glint of the blade brought with it a faint chill.
The flames were forcibly cleaved open.
Zhao Sanhuai rushed into the sea of fire.
He grabbed Han Yunqi by the collar.
Drag him out of the flames.
Han Yunqi landed, his body charred black, half of his hair burned off, looking utterly disheveled.
He looked up at Zheng Yi.
His voice trembled.
Why...why did you save me?
Zheng Yi did not answer.
He simply looked at the Blood Wolf Gang.
The voice was calm.
"roll."
The burly man in gray robes roared:
"Why should I?!"
Zheng Yi drew his longsword.
The purple-gold sword light surged.
A single sword sweeps across.
The sword flashed like a bolt of lightning.
He swept his gaze across the front row of the Blood Wolf Gang.
All six heads flew up at the same time.
Fresh blood gushed out.
Like a sudden red rain.
The burly man in the gray robe turned deathly pale.
He took three steps back, his voice trembling:
"You...you dare kill members of our Blood Wolf Gang?!"
Zheng Yi's sword tip dipped to the ground.
The bloodstains on the sword were instantly evaporated by the golden flames.
His voice was calm:
"I told you."
"roll."
The burly man in the gray robe gritted his teeth.
But in the end, he didn't dare to go up again.
He waved:
"withdraw!"
The remnants of the Blood Wolf Gang fled in panic.
It disappeared into the mist.
Han Yunqi struggled to his feet.
He looked at Zheng Yi.
The sound is complex:
"Mr. Zheng... thank you."
Zheng Yi didn't look at him.
His gaze fell on Yan Hu.
Yan Hu stared at him with three eyes.
The eerie green light in his vertical pupils gradually dimmed.
It let out a low growl.
But it stopped struggling.
Zheng Yi walked over.
The tip of the sword touched its brow.
Golden flames seeped in.
Yan Hu trembled all over.
Then... he closed his eyes.
The beast core slowly rose to the surface.
The size of a fist.
It is entirely crimson red.
Tiny flames flickered on the surface.
Zheng Yi caught the beast core.
Store in a storage bag.
He turned around.
He looked at Han Yunqi.
The voice was calm.
"Your chains... are off."
Han Yunqi was taken aback, then nodded.
He made a hand seal.
The Azure Soul-Binding Chains snapped open with a "click".
The corpse of Yanhu crashed to the ground.
The ground trembled.
Han Yunqi looked at Zheng Yi.
hoarse voice:
"Sir...why are you helping us?"
Zheng Yi looked into the depths of the fog.
The sound was very soft:
"Because...they want to kill you."
"And you... didn't intend to kill me."
Han Yunqi remained silent.
a long time.
He clasped his hands in a fist salute:
Thank you.
Zheng Yi shook his head:
"You're welcome."
"The autumn hunt... has only just begun."
He turned around.
He addressed the team:
"continue."
"Find the next one."
The fog deep in the hunting grounds thinned somewhat by the morning of the third day, but it didn't completely dissipate, like a crumpled layer of gray gauze, half-hidden between the cliffs and withered trees. Sunlight slanted down from above, cutting the fog into thin golden pillars, within which floated tiny dust particles and charred leaf fragments. Whenever the wind blew up from the valley floor, these dust particles swirled upwards, like countless tiny fireflies dancing in slow motion. The decaying leaves on the ground were trampled to a pulp, mixed with animal blood and mud, sticky and heavy underfoot, each step like pulling on a soaked old blanket. In the distance, the occasional low roar of a beast could be heard, sometimes so close it seemed to be breathing right behind one's ear, sometimes so distant it sounded like an echo from another world.
Zheng Yi stood on a low rocky ridge, his fox-fur cloak clinging to his back in the morning breeze, his purple-gold longsword slung diagonally behind him, its scabbard gleaming faintly in the misty light. In his hand, he held a beast core he had just extracted from a fourth-tier Crimson Flame Leopard. The core was crimson, still radiating lingering heat; his fingertips could feel tiny flames flickering within. The core's warmth seeped through his skin to his palm, making the still-healing sword wound on his chest feel faintly hot. Zhao Sanhuai emerged from the mist, his short sword sheathed at his waist, a layer of dark red scabs clinging to its sheath. He was panting heavily, the scars on his face gleaming with sweat.
"Sir, we've killed two more Tier 3 Fireback Wolves. The scoreboard has jumped to fourth place. Ahead of us are those kids from the Qingyun Sect, third is the Han family, second is the mad dog from the Blood Wolf Gang, and first... is still that crazy old woman from the Loose Cultivator Alliance."
Zheng Yi put the beast core into his sleeve, his gaze piercing through the mist to the faintly visible points stele in the distance. The stele was three zhang tall, its body cast from black iron, with a semi-transparent light screen floating on its surface. The numbers and names constantly jumping on the light screen appeared hazy and cold in the mist.
“Fourth…” he said softly, as if talking to himself, “That’s enough.”
Zhao Sanhuai was taken aback, and scratched the back of his head:
"Is that enough, sir? We're just one step away from the top. That crazy old woman only has 620 points, while we have 598. If we kill two more fourth-tier enemies, we'll surpass her!"
Zheng Yi shook his head, his voice remaining calm:
"If we go past them, it will be too conspicuous."
Zhao Sanhuai's eyes widened:
"Stealth? Isn't that why we're here? That old man from the Li family is dead, who dares to look down on us now?"
Zheng Yi turned around and glanced at the team behind him.
The withered lotus immortal sat on a damp rock, his illusory blue lotus image contained in his palm, eyes closed as he regulated his breathing, a few drops of mist clinging to his gray beard. Lady Bixiao leaned against a withered tree, her short flute resting on her lap, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the holes. Iron-Armed Marquis slammed his warhammer to the ground, his single arm supporting the handle, panting heavily. Ghost Shadow Elder was half-hidden in the mist, only his pair of eerie blue eyes visible, like two will-o'-the-wisps.
Further on were ten swordsmen brought by Zhao Sanhuai, their cotton-padded jackets stained with blood and mud, but their blades gleaming.
Zheng Yi spoke in a very low voice, yet everyone could hear him:
"Showing off...is only for the dead."
"The most important thing is that we came back alive."
Zhao Sanhuai's throat bobbed, his voice hoarse:
“Sir…I understand what you mean. But we…we don’t want to stay here forever.”
Zheng Yi looked at him:
"No shrinking."
"But... there's no rush."
"To make the established powers think that we are easy to talk to."
"Give them some face."
"We'll settle the score later..."
Master Kulian opened his eyes, stroked his beard, and sighed:
“Young friend Zheng is right. The Qingyun Sect, the Han family, the Blood Wolf Gang... these established forces have deep roots and many trump cards. If we push them too hard now, they may not let it go after the autumn hunt ends.”
Lady Bixiao nodded, her voice clear and crisp:
"We're currently fifth in points, which is already intimidating enough. Pushing any further forward would only make us more enemies."
Iron-Armed Marquis let out a heavy snort, slamming his hammer handle into the ground, sending rotten leaves flying everywhere.
"I just want to smash those bastards to death with one blow! But since you've said what you're saying, sir... I'll listen to you!"
The Ghostly Old Man emerged from the mist, his voice chilling:
"Fifth... that's enough. The way those old guys look at us has changed from contempt to fear."
Zheng Yi looked at the points stone tablet.
The name of the fifth-place finisher flickered slightly on the screen.
Hongyun City · Zheng Yi.
598 points.
He whispered:
"stop."
"I'm not hunting anymore."
Zhao Sanhuai became anxious:
"Sir! We're only missing two fourth-tier beasts..."
Zheng Yi shook his head:
"enough."
"If we hunt again, we'll really become targets."
He turned to the group and said:
"Back to the entrance."
"Wait until the three-day period is up."
"go home."
Zhao Sanhuai wanted to say something, but was stopped by Ku Lian Zhenren who pressed down on his shoulder.
The old man whispered:
"I'll listen to you, sir."
"He sees things more clearly than any of us."
The team remained silent for a moment.
Finally, it turned around.
Head towards the entrance.
Behind.
The fog closed up again.
To engulf the battlefield from before.
Only a few pools of blood remained on the ground.
And the trampled, decaying leaves.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
It's like... everything is just beginning.
The return journey was quieter than the way there.
Although the fog was thick, it no longer posed a threat.
No one in the group spoke.
The only sound was the rustling of footsteps on the decaying leaves.
And the occasional distant roar of beasts.
Zheng Yi walked at the front.
The pace was slow.
Yet it is extremely stable.
Zhao Sanhuai followed beside him, whispering:
"Sir... I just feel... isn't it too stifling for us to back down like this?"
Zheng Yi didn't turn around:
"Feeling frustrated."
"But only by living can one avoid feeling stifled."
Zhao Sanhuai remained silent.
After a long while, he suddenly burst into laughter, a laugh that twisted the scar in his face:
"Sir, you are right."
"I'll listen to you."
"We'll get our revenge later!"
Zheng Yi hummed in agreement.
He didn't say anything more.
The fog gradually thinned.
The iron fence at the entrance reappeared in view.
Han Wuhen stood on the high platform. When he saw them come out, he was first stunned, then burst into laughter:
"Mr. Zheng! You're back on the second day already? Fifth in points! That's incredible!"
Zheng Yi clasped his hands in a fist salute:
"Thank you, Lord Han."
"I was lucky."
Han Wuhen's gaze swept across the line:
"Luck? Haha! Sir, you're too modest!"
He paused, lowering his voice:
"However... the fifth position... was a brilliant choice."
"Neither forward nor backward."
"Unassuming and unassuming."
"Let those old guys... know what's going on."
Zheng Yi nodded:
"Lord Han understands me."
Han Wuhen laughed and patted him on the shoulder:
"I understand! I understand perfectly!"
"Come on, come up on stage! I've saved the best seat for you!"
Zheng Yi shook his head:
"No."
"I'm watching from the audience."
Han Wuhen was taken aback, then his smile deepened:
"Alright! As you wish, sir!"
Zheng Yi led his team to the stands.
I found a corner to sit down.
A crowd gathered around him.
Like an invisible wall.
In the stands.
The competition is still ongoing.
The sounds of sword light, blade aura, and the clash of magical weapons rose and fell in waves.
Zheng Yi looked at it.
His gaze was calm.
But it is recorded.
Remember every move.
Memorize each formula.
Remember the ways each person goes.
Zhao Sanhuai leaned closer and whispered:
"Sir, do you think... we might end up fighting with them in the future?"
Zheng Yi looked at the arena.
The sound was very soft:
"meeting."
"But... not now."
Zhao Sanhuai grinned:
"I'm waiting for that day!"
In late winter, the north wind in Hongyun City always carries the dampness from the river. As it blows over the city walls, it first swirls in the cracks between the blue bricks of the crenellations before seeping into the streets and alleys, staining the freshly dried quilts and cured meats with a faint, fishy chill. In the alchemy room in the back courtyard of the city lord's mansion, smoke has been constantly rising these past few days. The copper bells under the eaves are slightly warm from the heat, and occasionally the twang of the bells makes a muffled "ding," like someone coughing softly inside. The old ginkgo tree in the center of the courtyard has long since lost its leaves, and thin ice has formed on its bare branches. When the sunlight shines on it, it reflects a dazzling white light, making the snow on the ground appear crystal clear.
When Zheng Yi pushed open the wooden door of the side room, the fire in the charcoal brazier was burning at its brightest, the flames licking the rim and casting an orange-red hue on the landscape paintings hanging on the wall. Shen Changyuan stood with his back to the door at the entrance of the alchemy room, holding a freshly made crimson-gold pill in his hand. The pill had nine extremely fine purple lines on its surface, like scars that had been struck by lightning and then quickly healed. The pill had a rich but not pungent fragrance, smelling of pine resin mixed with the refreshing coolness of mountain spring water after snowfall.
"Awake?" Shen Changyuan didn't turn around, his voice hoarse with fatigue. "The pill is complete. The Nine-Turn Purple Cloud Pill can forcibly raise one's cultivation by half a level for three hours, followed by a month of weakness. The side effect is meridian burns, and if you're unlucky, it can leave a hidden ailment."
Zheng Yi walked behind him, his gaze falling on the pill. The crimson-gold pill trembled slightly in the firelight, as if something alive was breathing inside. He reached out and took it; when his fingertips touched the pill, a warm sensation seeped into his palm through his fingers, rushing straight to his dantian, causing the already cracked golden pill to tremble slightly. (End of Chapter)