117: A sneak attack? Then you'll become medicinal herbs in the Emperor's Cauldron.

"What, you..."

Feeling that his dignity had been provoked, and unwilling to accept being surpassed by a Cultivator whose bone age was five hundred years younger than his own, Lin Qiuyang chose to launch a sneak attack immediately after his defeat.

This sword strike concentrated all the Qi in his body into a single point. Coupled with the fact that it was a sneak attack, the speed was both fast and ruthless. Even if Shen Lian's cultivation Foundation were higher than his own, it would be absolutely impossible for him to perceive it.

He had used such despicable methods to kill many experts with higher talent than himself, and he believed this time against Shen Lian would yield the same result.

However, he never expected that a move which had never failed would be caught so casually by Shen Lian with just two fingers, causing him to turn pale with shock.

"Today I was merely in high spirits and wanted a casual spar; I never intended to kill. I had assumed that with your cultivation and Sword Intent, you would be an upright and honorable person. Unexpectedly, I have misjudged you!"

Shen Lian flicked his fingers, instantly releasing a wave of Spiritual Pressure that sent Lin Qiuyang stumbling back dozens of steps.

"Since you do not cherish your life, then let me send you to your doom in one move!"

The moment his words fell, Shen Lian flashed and appeared directly in front of Lin Qiuyang.

"Ah?"

Having just steadied himself, Lin Qiuyang retreated in shock another three steps when he met Shen Lian's deep, piercing gaze.

But Shen Lian would not give him any more opportunities to retreat.

"A despicable person like you deserves to enter my human emperor cauldron and undergo the baptism of the Great Dao True Fire!"

The next moment, the human emperor cauldron appeared in Shen Lian's palm. With just a single rotation, it instantly decomposed Lin Qiuyang's Physical Body.

And his cultivation as well as his soul were all sucked into the cauldron as it rotated.

"Ahhh—"

The moment the Great Dao True Fire ignited, the shrill screams of his remnant soul echoed out from within the human emperor cauldron.

After stepping into the Primordial Chaos Realm, the power of the Great Dao Cauldron Refining Hand had increased geometrically compared to the Tribulation Crossing Realm period, and the Great Dao True Fire it produced could cause the soul even more excruciating pain.

"No, you cannot, kill me, I am, I am from the Haoyang Sect, Sect, ah!"

Before Lin Qiuyang could finish his sentence, there was no more sound.

Under the forging of the human emperor cauldron, his soul was completely annihilated.

After Shen Lian put away the human emperor cauldron, resting in his palm was a cyan hunyuan pill exuding a rich medicinal fragrance.

"This is the first hunyuan pill I have refined since coming to this world. Although you are despicable, being able to experience the baptism of the Great Dao True Fire before you die means your life was not entirely in vain."

Holding the hunyuan pill, Shen Lian's gaze suddenly fell upon Zuo Qianyue.

Being glared at by Shen Lian, Zuo Qianyue was immediately frightened, patting his chest as he retreated several steps.

The scene just now had an unprecedented impact on Zuo Qianyue; he was terrified that he too would become Materials for a soul to be forged into a Medicinal Pill.

"Take it!"

Shen Lian tossed the newly refined hunyuan pill directly toward Zuo Qianyue.

Zuo Qianyue subconsciously caught it, a look of confusion appearing on his face.

"This is the reward for your reminder earlier. Shen Lian never likes to owe anyone favors; let this hunyuan pill serve as repayment. Compared to that sanctimonious hypocrite, you are much more like an honorable gentleman."

Zuo Qianyue took a deep breath and said to Shen Lian: "Fellow Daoist, take my advice and leave the Holy Domain quickly."

Shen Lian was just about to leave, but hearing Zuo Qianyue say this, he immediately stopped in his tracks: "What do you mean?"

Zuo Qianyue: "Do you know who it was you just killed?"

Shen Lian retorted: "Why should I know who he is?"

Zuo Qianyue was stunned, slapped his forehead and said: "It seems you are not from the Holy Domain and do not know the current situation here. The person you killed is named Lin Qiuyang, the Hall Master of the Qingxiang Hall of the Haoyang Sect. He holds a very high position within the Sect. Now that he is dead, the Haoyang Sect will definitely investigate thoroughly. You had better leave quickly."

Hearing this, Shen Lian looked disdainful: "A mere Haoyang Sect, what can they do to me? If they want to take revenge on me, they must see if they have the capability."

Zuo Qianyue sighed and explained: "Sigh, although your strength is formidable, the saying goes that a mighty dragon cannot suppress the local snake. The Haoyang Sect is the second most powerful force in the Holy Domain, right after the Xuan Sheng Immortal Dynasty. There are countless experts with profound cultivation within the Sect, and Lin Qiuyang is not the strongest. Just take his younger brother, Lin Dongyang, for instance; his Dawn Sun Sword Intent has already been cultivated to the ninth stage."

"Hahahaha!"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Shen Lian did not feel afraid at all; on the contrary, his eyes were filled with anticipation.

Just as Zuo Qianyue felt puzzled by Shen Lian's inexplicable behavior, he heard him say solemnly: "In that case, killing a piece of trash can attract even more experts to hunt me down. Does that not also mean that I can defeat even more opponents to add a splash of brilliant color to this boring life?"

Zuo Qianyue was stunned, highly suspecting that the man before him was not mentally normal.

The Haoyang Sect's strength was unfathomable, with experts as numerous as the clouds in the Sect, and even an expert in the Immortal Realm presiding over it. Although the Sect Master, Lin Yu, was young, he was skilled in both literature and martial arts, a rare genius seen only once in a thousand years.

Ordinary people would never dare to provoke the Haoyang Sect when they encountered them, but this fellow here, it seemed he wished for the entire Haoyang Sect to come and hunt him down. Was he really tired of living?

"Hey, what is your name!"

Shen Lian let out a deep shout, pulling Zuo Qianyue's thoughts back.

"Zuo Qianyue."

"Zuo Qianyue, now I want you to help me do one thing."

"Hmm?"

"Spread the news that I killed Lin Qiuyang. It is best to let the entire Holy Domain know; just say the killer is Shen Lian."

Zuo Qianyue's mind went completely blank with shock.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, what is the meaning of this?"

Shen Lian curled his lips into a smile: "Defeating opponents is the true meaning of seeking the Dao in cultivation. Only when an expert experiences the tests of life and death time and time again amidst bloody storms can they remain forever invincible. And for me, Shen Lian, only the thrill of fighting for my life can make me feel physically and mentally joyful. Hahahaha—"

Before his laughter ceased, his figure turned into light and escaped directly into the netherworld chariot.

"Let me meet the demeanor of the experts in the Holy Domain and see if it is as wonderful as I expect!"

"Whoa—"

Accompanied by a long, neighing sound, the netherworld chariot galloped away directly down Wuji Mountain, leaving behind a sky full of swirling yellow sand.

"Shen Lian, an interesting person."

Zuo Qianyue touched his chin, watching the departing chariot.

After a long while, he sighed: "This person's temperament really suits my style, Old Yue. Forget it, for your safety, it is better not to spread the news."

Zuo Qianyue looked at the hunyuan pill in his hand and turned to walk in another direction of Wuji Mountain.

At this time, at the Wind and Rain Pavilion eight hundred miles outside the Haoyang Sect, the Haoyang Sect Master, Lin Yu, holding a Feather Fan, stood quietly in the pavilion, eyes closed, contemplating something.

Lin Yu had a handsome appearance, clear eyebrows and bright eyes, and was dressed as a Confucian scholar, possessing quite the demeanor of a wise man of the current age.

On the stone table, a pot of tea had long been boiled, emitting steaming hot vapor.

Not far away, at the edge of the cliff, a female Cultivator with a veil covering her face, dressed in a purple-sleeved flowing fairy skirt, lightly plucked the zither strings with her jade fingers, sending out a lingering, ethereal sound.

Suddenly, a cold wind swept violently outside the Wind and Rain Pavilion, bringing with it an overwhelming Aura Pressure.

The hand with which Lin Yu was lightly waving his Feather Fan stopped instantly; he slowly opened his eyes and said softly.

"You have come."

As soon as his voice fell, there was a scene of a hundred birds paying homage to a Phoenix all around, and a strange vision of a Flying Dragon in the sky appeared in the Void Realm.

Suddenly, a flash of golden light flickered, and the figure of Nalan Mingyue appeared gracefully.

"Sect Master Lin, you actually dared to come to the appointment; you truly make me look at you with new eyes."

Feeling the Aura Pressure, Lin Yu's heart was as still as water. The moment he turned around, the stopped Feather Fan began to wave gently once more.

"The Xuan Sheng Empress has extended an invitation; how could I, Lin, not attend?"