593: Chapter 593 Gale Force Acquired

[Without overthinking it, you return to the hall once more.]

[Seeing you appear, Qian Santong hurriedly approaches and cups his fists. His expression is respectful, and his tone carries a hint of testing: "Senior... are you not at the Soul Transformation stage?"]

[Your disappearance just now had taken you beyond the range of his Divine Thought. He didn't know what you had done—after all, the commotion from your exchange with Elder Qi was minor, and only a few breaths of time had passed.]

[You nod, offering no explanation.]

[Qian Santong tactfully refrains from further questions and retreats to the side, though his gaze lingers on you for a few extra moments.]

[Chu Yiyi is not in the hall at the moment; she has entered a mysterious space.]

[You are in no hurry. Standing with your hands behind your back, you wait quietly.]

[The hall is so silent that only the whistling of the wind pouring through the ruined dome can be heard.]

[Half an incense stick later, the space within the side hall distorts slightly, and Chu Yiyi's figure appears out of thin air.]

[A smile hangs on her face, her eyes curving into crescents and the corners of her mouth turned high.]

[Your heart stirs: "Found it?"]

[She doesn't speak, only nodding with a smile as she slowly opens her palm—a vortex the size of a fist floats there, yet it contains a startling Law of Wind.]

[It is the gale essence.]

[Your eyes light up. You reach out to take and store it, then look at Chu Yiyi, your tone carrying a hint of excitement: "Thank you."]

["You're welcome." Chu Yiyi waves her hand, her eyes curving as she smiles. "As agreed... one Acquired Spirit Treasure, plus one condition."]

["Rest assured, you won't be short-changed." You nod. "However, this is no place to linger. Let's leave first."]

[Chu Yiyi's expression turns solemn, and she nods.]

[Hearing the words 'no place to linger,' Qian Santong's expression changes slightly, and he hurriedly follows behind you.]

[You lead Chu Yiyi out of the hall. Just as you exit the doors, several figures streak in from different directions and land in front of you.]

[It is Liu Yezhou, Liu Jinfeng, as well as Peak Master Huanyue, Li Wanjin, and others.]

[Liu Yezhou stands at the front. His gaze sweeps across your face and finally lands on Chu Yiyi. A cold sneer curls on his lips as he looks back at you.]

["Hand over the gale essence, and I shall spare your life."]

[You look at him as if looking at a dead man.]

[The battle between you and Elder Qi just now lasted only a few breaths and took place over a hundred thousand miles away; the Divine Sense of a Soul Transformation Cultivator simply couldn't cover that distance.]

[Liu Yezhou has no idea what you've done, so naturally, he does not fear you.]

[Qian Santong stands to the side with his arms crossed, watching the scene with a grin.]

[He, however, had personally seen you slay Qi Mu.]

[That method was clean and efficient, leaving not even a speck of dust behind.]

[But he doesn't speak, merely waiting with great interest to watch the show.]

[The others also stop to watch; some are curious, some are gloating, and some remain expressionless.]

[Peak Master Huanyue and the Peak Master of Starfall Peak exchange a glance and each step back a few paces, looking like they are ready to enjoy the spectacle.]

[Liu Jinfeng stands behind Liu Yezhou, looking at you with a calm gaze, showing no expression or movement.]

[Seeing that you aren't speaking, Liu Yezhou assumes you are afraid. His voice rises a few notches: "What? Are you deaf? I'll say it one more time... hand over the gale essence, or else..."]

["Or else what?" You finally speak, your tone flat.]

[Liu Yezhou's face darkens: "Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit."]

[As soon as he finishes speaking, he raises a hand and strikes a palm toward you.]

[The palm wind is enveloped in Law Power, carrying no small amount of momentum.]

[But just as that palm wind reaches you, it's as if it hits an invisible wall, dissipating into nothingness without even fluttering the corner of your clothes.]

[Liu Yezhou's expression changes drastically.]

[He doesn't hesitate, his figure flickering as he tries to retreat.]

[But the space seems to have solidified; he is pinned in place, unable to move a muscle.]

["You..." His eyes widen, his voice trembling.]

["Are the dogs of the Heavenly Palace all in such a hurry to find death?"]

[You reach out and gently clench your hand.]

[Liu Yezhou's body suddenly stiffens. His skin begins to crack, and blood seeps from the fissures as his face is compressed beyond human recognition.]

["No—!" He lets out a short, sharp scream.]

[Bang—!]

[With a crisp explosion, his body bursts apart, turning into a cloud of blood mist.]

[The blood mist churns for a few breaths before being ground into nothingness by an invisible force, leaving not even a single drop of blood behind.]

[A qiankun ring falls from the blood mist, clattering as it rolls to your feet.]

[You beckon it over. The qiankun ring falls into your palm, and your Divine Sense sweeps through it.]

[There are quite a few good things.]

[The most prominent is a longsword that is pitch-black all over. A cold, ghostly light flows across the blade, and two small characters are engraved on the hilt—Night Shadow.]

[It is an Acquired Spirit Treasure.]

[You take out the sword and casually toss it to Chu Yiyi: "Here, the Spirit Treasure I promised you."]

[Chu Yiyi is stunned for a moment, catching it in a flurry. Her face is written with nervousness: "This... this is too precious..."]

["Take it." Your tone is flat. "This is what you deserve."]

[Chu Yiyi looks down at the sword in her hands, her fingertips trembling slightly. The blade of the Night Shadow sword is dark, reflecting her slightly flushed cheeks.]

[She bites her lip and stops refusing, carefully putting the sword into her qiankun ring.]

[Low-voiced discussions break out all around.]

["Killing a Soul Transformation cultivator... is like killing a chicken to him?" Zhou Yuanqing's voice carries a hint of disbelief.]

[Qian Santong has a face full of smiles, his tone light: "The dogs of the Heavenly Palace bite people everywhere; they deserve what happened today."]

[Peak Master Huanyue and the Peak Master of Starfall Peak exchange a glance, both seeing the horror in each other's eyes. They instinctively take a few steps back, distancing themselves from Liu Jinfeng.]

[Li Wanjin looks at Liu Jinfeng and lowers his voice, his tone carrying a bit of provocation: "Fellow Daoist Jinfeng, someone from your clan has been killed, and you're just going to watch?"]

[Liu Jinfeng glares at Li Wanjin, her voice cold: "He sought his own death. What does it have to do with me?"]

[After saying that, she gives you a slight nod, then turns around and disappears into the horizon with a flicker of her figure.]

[The others don't dare to stay either, scattering like startled birds and beasts.]

["Let's go." You withdraw your gaze and wave your hand to summon the void-breaking boat.]

["Where to?" Chu Yiyi asks with a face full of curiosity.]

["Let's leave here first." You sweep her up and step onto the void-breaking boat. "People from the Heavenly Palace could give chase at any time."]

["Heavenly Palace?" Chu Yiyi's face turns slightly pale. "That person just now was from the Heavenly Palace?"]

[You don't respond. With a light tap of your foot, the void-breaking boat soars into the sky with a 'whoosh.']

["What a pity," she says softly again.]

["A pity for what?"]

["Such an Immortal Hall, just left here like this." She looks down at the Immortal Hall, her eyes full of reluctance.]

[You smile: "Want it? Move it away yourself."]

[Chu Yiyi gives you a sidelong glance: "I don't have that kind of ability."]

[You don't reply. Applying pressure with your foot, the void-breaking boat turns into a streak of light, passing through the canyon, through the thick fog, and through layer upon layer of mountain ranges.]

[The wind whistles past your ears, ruffling Chu Yiyi's hair. She reaches up to smooth it and suddenly speaks: "Fellow Daoist Qin, who exactly are you?"]

["A Loose Cultivator," you say casually.]

["A Loose Cultivator?" Chu Yiyi laughs. "A Loose Cultivator dares to kill people from the Heavenly Palace? A Loose Cultivator can casually give away an Acquired Spirit Treasure?"]

["Knowing too much—aren't you afraid I'll silence you?"]

["Heehee..." She tilts her head. "You don't look like a bad person."]

["Can you tell if someone is a bad person just by looking?"]

["The hostile aura on you is even lighter than some Foundation Establishment Cultivators."]

[You don't respond. With a light tap of your foot, a majestic power drives the void-breaking boat to accelerate suddenly. The void-breaking boat turns into a beam of light, flying toward Ziyang Immortal City.]