16: Robbed on the road by a spoiled brat

One Fireball Technique after another was hurled toward the sickle scarlet beehive on the cliff.

Some Sickle Scarlet Bees seemed to have found the culprit. They released pheromones, and a group of over twenty bees immediately formed an assault squad.

“Good grief, anything that can become a Spirit Beast is truly not simple.”

Despite his seemingly casual remark, he had long been prepared for a bloody battle.

The swarm of Sickle Scarlet Bees rushed down toward Jiang Yan. As they drew near, the poison stingers on their abdomens glinted.

Against these social insect Spirit Beasts, Jiang Yan could only rely on his swift sword to slay them.

As one Sickle Scarlet Bee after another fell to the ground, dozens more gathered above.

“Damn, there are so many of them!”

Complaining aside, the Fireball Techniques in his hands never stopped.

Just as Jiang Yan thought he would have to fight another wave, those dozens of Sickle Scarlet Bees instantly flew back to the hive.

Following that, a miraculous scene played out before him.

The Sickle Scarlet Bees used their mandibles to continuously bite at the back half of the hive. Before long, more than half of the hive was cut away by them.

Watching the half-hive slowly fall, Jiang Yan was somewhat dazed.

“Wow, are they really this smart?”

Looking at the hive that had fallen to the ground, Jiang Yan cautiously approached.

After seeing no unusual movement, he took out a large bottle from his pocket. Regarding the Sickle Scarlet Honey, although the mission didn't specify the bottle size, taking two extra bottles for the sake of his own appetite wouldn't hurt.

He had read in the illustrated guide that Sickle Scarlet Honey had many benefits.

As he filled the bottle with honey while observing the Sickle Scarlet Bees, he realized that when these creatures made their decision, they had already moved the larvae deeper into the hive.

“The nature of this Immortal Realm is truly wondrous.”

Once the large bottle was full, he took out a small bottle about the width of two fingers.

Seeing the small bottle quickly fill up, he put it away with satisfaction. Although he felt a bit of regret for the remaining honey, he had no way to take it with him.

Leaving the cliff, he turned his gaze toward the depths of the valley.

The giant black shadow from last night was still vivid in his mind.

Although he was curious about what kind of Evil Entity it was, his reason told him that if he dared to go deeper, the fate of those two Disciples who died last night would be his own.

“After returning to the sect, I'll ask my cheap master how to deal with evil entities.”

The Evil Entity gave him a strange feeling. He felt that as long as there was a way to slay those things, he would surely plunder some incredible items.

Just as Jiang Yan stepped out of the deep valley entrance, his consciousness suddenly flared with alarm. He instantly leaned aside, and a black arrow grazed his hair, pinning itself into a nearby tree trunk.

Hearing the tail of the arrow still vibrating, he immediately looked to the left: “Who is it?”

From deep within the lush grass, a young man dressed in fine robes stepped out, accompanied by five Disciples. Each held a weapon, staring at him with hostile eyes.

Jiang Yan had no memory of the youth in fine robes leading them, but he had seen the gloomy Disciple beside him once on the flying boat.

“A mere Utility Disciple managed to go deep into the center of the valley. Interesting, very interesting!” The leading youth took out a folding fan, opened it gently, and then closed it softly. “I assume you've gathered quite a few good things? Will you hand them over yourself? Or shall we kill you and search your body?”

Jiang Yan gently took the bag off his shoulder and placed it softly on the ground.

Seeing Jiang Yan's actions, the youth in fine robes burst into laughter. “Haha... I thought you had some guts, but it turns out you're just like this. You've really disappointed me.”

But after a moment, the youth's expression froze because Jiang Yan had no intention of surrendering.

After putting down the bag, Jiang Yan began to toy with the arrow in his hand. “I've always preferred to keep a low profile and never look for trouble, but I'm not afraid of it either. Since you like to ambush people, then stay here for the rest of your lives!”

As he finished speaking, his body moved like a pouncing leopard, charging directly at the nearest Disciple.

His longsword, carrying a sharp whistling sound, slashed directly across that Disciple's neck.

“Hiss!”

A very thin line of blood sprayed from the Disciple's neck. Before he could even realize what was happening, he collapsed to the ground and began to twitch.

[Killed Qi Refining First Layer Cultivator Liu Kan. Gained Experience: 900. Gained life span: 22 years. Gained life span: 79 years.]

[Current Experience: 12.52%]

[Plundered 0.1 essence from Liu Kan.]

[Plundered Liu Kan's Water-Wood Cultivation Technique - Introductory Chapter.]

[Plundered Liu Kan's Spell: Wood Spirit Growth - Elementary.]

[Plundered Liu Kan's Elementary Martial Skill: Zhan Gang Saber Technique.]

[Sword Weapons LV3 (624/10000)]

Silence. The area fell instantly silent.

The youth in fine robes never expected that he had encountered such a tough opponent.

“Young Lord, this person is not simple. It's better to be careful,” Tang Ao said.

“Take the Medicinal Pills and kill him!” the youth in fine robes commanded.

Hearing this, the three Disciples blocking the way in front of the youth immediately took out Medicinal Pills.

As the three swallowed the Medicinal Pills, a flow of Qi instantly began to swirl around them.

Feeling the surrounding Spiritual Qi become stagnant, Jiang Yan immediately became serious.

The sense of Qi within the three Disciples expanded, and in an instant, their eyes turned blood-red.

“Kill!”

The three Disciples charged at Jiang Yan with their sabers. Feeling the powerful saber techniques, he hastily used the Swallow Flow Sword Technique to block the wind of their blades.

“Bang!”

“Bang bang...”

As blades and swords clashed, Jiang Yan felt waves of immense force. His arms went numb, and he had to retreat several steps to steady himself.

“Good grief, why is there such a huge gap?”

“What kind of Medicinal Pills did they take? Why does it feel like these three have more essence than I do?”

Jiang Yan was secretly alarmed; the opponents' strength far exceeded his own.

Although he could use his cultivation to stall the three, if this continued, he would surely die here.

“Damn, those who take drugs are indeed extraordinary.”

If Jiang Yan could see their essence and blood Qi right now, he would be even more shocked.

Because the essence of the three before him had exceeded twenty, and their blood Qi had condensed into a furnace. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they had stepped into the Body Tempering realm.

“Stinking servant, how does it feel?” The youth in fine robes was smug, opening his folding fan. “Although these subordinates of mine are only at the Qi Refining First Layer, they are all military experts, capable of taking on a hundred men each.”

Jiang Yan took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the youth in fine robes. “I didn't want to use that move, but unfortunately, someone is looking for death.”

“Stinking servant, do you really think you're one of those Elder's Disciples?” The youth in fine robes sneered. “I might as well tell you, I am the Heir of the Prince of Zhenbei of Great Gan. Let alone a stinking servant like you, even those Disciples who have just entered the outer sect have to tuck their tails between their legs when they see me.”

“Go, kill him!”

Hearing the other's words, Jiang Yan took a deep breath. His Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivation instantly erupted, and the Spiritual Qi within his body exploded like a thunderstorm. His longsword flickered with lightning—

“Thunderstorm Art!”

A lightning sword light several zhang long roared out, piercing through the sky with a sharp screeching sound that tore the air. Then, the thunderstorm flickered and slowly fell, with countless lightning bolts descending like starlight.

“Heir, watch out!”

Tang Ao grabbed the youth in fine robes and rolled to the side.

“Boom! Boom! Boom...”

Countless lightning bolts struck the ground, and the massive sound of the thunderstorm echoed throughout the entire valley.

[Killed Qi Refining First Layer Cultivator Zhao Eryuan. Gained Experience: 900. Gained life span: 23 years. Gained life span: 81 years.]

[Current Experience: 18.79%]

[Plundered 0.1 essence from Zhao Eryuan.]

[Plundered Zhao Eryuan's Spell: Ning Gang Art - Elementary.]

[Sword Weapons LV3 (724/10000)]

[Thunderstorm Art LV1: 2/500]

[Killed Qi Refining First Layer Cultivator Cao Mao. Gained Experience: 900. Gained life span: 20 years. Gained life span: 72 years.]

[Current Experience: 24.81%]

[Plundered 0.1 essence from Cao Mao.]

[Sword Weapons LV3 (824/10000)]

[Thunderstorm Art LV1: 3/500]

...Looking at the three who had completely vanished, Jiang Yan finally realized just how terrifying this Thunderstorm Art was.

“Pah...” The youth in fine robes spat. Getting up and seeing the scene before him, he was completely shocked.

“Heir, are you alright?” Tang Ao hurriedly asked.

“Tang Ao, can you defeat him?” the youth in fine robes asked.

Tang Ao's expression was grim as he stared fixedly at Jiang Yan. “Hard to say. This person is too strange. Logically, a Utility Disciple wouldn't know such a powerful Spell.”

In Tang Ao's view, the fact that the young man before him dared to venture alone into the center of Cangyun Valley already showed that he was extraordinary.

But there was nothing he could do; his Heir had set his sights on the other party.

But once the fight started, he was shocked by Jiang Yan's methods.

A Utility Disciple?

Ridiculous, this was clearly an Outer Sect Disciple disguised as a Utility Disciple!

And an elite Outer Sect Disciple with a master's heritage at that!