Come here and arrest me!

As the ghostly mist dissipated, the sky regained its clarity.

At this moment, Qing'an City was deathly silent, the atmosphere seemingly frozen. For the Mortals and Loose Cultivators in the city, everything that had just happened was too surreal, leaving them unable to react for a moment.

The demonic Cultivator just now had been imposing and arrogant, his fierce flames reaching the heavens as he repeatedly claimed he would refine every living soul in the city into Changui. Then, without even getting a chance to display any techniques, he suddenly exploded on the spot... and it was an explosion in the physical sense, only managing to leave behind the word "What?" as his final testament before dying.

This was supposed to be a tragic and inhumane blood sacrifice of a city, yet it ended so nonchalantly, even a bit... abruptly.

Many people gaped, staring blankly at the place where the demonic Cultivator had vanished, falling into a state of daze.

Meanwhile, Qi Yuan had already taken the storage ring and myriad souls banner left by the demonic Cultivator into his hand. He quickly recognized the origin of this "wealth-sending boy"—an Inner Sect Disciple of the Baleful Yin Sect!

Based on the number of raw souls inside the myriad souls banner, this fellow had slaughtered at least eighty thousand people to refine it. If he had wiped out all the Cultivators and Mortals in Qing'an City today, he would have just reached one hundred thousand.

By then, the quality of this myriad souls banner would have reached a higher level, becoming a Medium Grade Magic Treasure.

For a random Inner Sect Disciple to be so cruel and ferocious, they truly lived up to the name of a demonic sect!

Thinking about it now, although that enchantress Ji Chan'er had a bit of a tsundere personality, he had never seen her kill innocents indiscriminately. She could be considered a breath of fresh air within the demonic sect.

Just as Qi Yuan's thoughts were in disarray, a series of System notification sounds suddenly rang out in his mind:

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the Qing'an City main quest. You have received one thousand five hundred Counterattack Points and twenty top-grade Foundation Cultivation Pills. The rewards have been automatically distributed to the Host's personal space."

"The original talent [Pretending to be a Pig to Eat the Tiger] has been upgraded to [True: Pretending to be a Pig to Eat the Tiger]. This talent does not need to be learned and is permanently effective."

"Survivors detected in the city. The Host has completed an additional quest. Extra rewards are being calculated in real-time..."

"Ding! Upon detection, the number of surviving Cultivators in the city is two thousand seven hundred and eighty-two. Extra reward: thirteen thousand nine hundred and ten Counterattack Points. The number of surviving Mortals is eighteen thousand... Total reward: thirty-two thousand two hundred Counterattack Points."

Thirty thousand Counterattack Points!

Qi Yuan was first overjoyed, then he sighed with some regret.

This dog system had set a very strict time limit for this quest just to prevent him from exploiting loopholes in the quest rules.

From the issuance of the quest to its conclusion, it had been less than a full day.

He had even paid a high price to take an ultra-long-distance Teleportation Array to get here, so he simply hadn't had time to move people here on a large scale from other places.

Otherwise, he would have brought over eight hundred thousand or a million people no matter what, to get a massive windfall... Counterattack Points were good things; not only could they be used for the Epiphany of Cultivation Techniques, but they could also be used to exchange for many highly practical items from the point mall.

Some of those items couldn't even be bought with any amount of Spirit Stones, such as the master-servant contract he had signed with Shao Xuanji last time.

The master-servant contract was common in ancient times but had long been lost in the current Cultivation World. However, it was still for sale in the point mall, costing only two thousand Counterattack Points.

Now, suddenly obtaining over thirty thousand Counterattack Points was a bountiful harvest for Qi Yuan. Combined with the upgrade to his Pretending to be a Pig to Eat the Tiger talent, this was definitely a rare welfare quest.

"System, see, this quest was pretty good. If all future quests are like this, I promise to give you a good review every time. It's good for you and good for me, how about it?"

After silently giving the System a few words of encouragement, Qi Yuan calmed his mind slightly. Then, his figure flashed, turning into a streak of Escape light that soared into the sky.

He and the Myriad Ages Dao Child Tu Ruoxu had agreed to meet in seven days. Three days had already passed; if he didn't set off now, he might be late.

By this time, the people of Qing'an City had gradually recovered from their shock. Seeing this streak of Escape light, they were instantly filled with excitement.

"Look, it must have been this Senior who acted just now! Otherwise, our Qing'an City would have been strewn with corpses, and all the citizens would have had their souls extracted and refined, dying without a place to be buried!"

"So powerful! To actually instantly kill a demonic Cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm... I didn't expect such a hidden expert to be in the city. He saved my life from the gates of hell."

"Thank you for saving my life, Senior! Please accept this Junior's bow!"

"I just don't know the name of this expert. Such great kindness must be repaid in the future, no matter what."

"My shadow recording talisman actually recorded the benefactor's face. As long as we ask around, we'll surely find out his identity."

"Really? Can you give me a copy of that shadow recording talisman..."

"I want one too."

"And me..."

While the Cultivators in the city were discussing among themselves, the Mortals and commoners knelt on the ground one after another, kowtowing in the direction the Escape light had flown.

While Qing'an City was in an uproar...

In a dense forest outside the city.

"Senior Brother Qu... died just like that?!"

A male Cultivator, also wearing a black robe and hood, was pale-faced and staring wide-eyed at the city, his expression full of disbelief.

He never expected that a perfectly relaxed, pleasant, simple, and crude massacre would end up in such a situation.

An Inner Sect Disciple of the Yin Sha Sect in the Nascent Soul Realm was actually slain by a single sword strike, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, without even his Nascent Soul managing to escape!

Who was Senior Brother Qu?

He was a cultivation Genius of Ghost Control Peak rarely seen in a hundred years, called by the Peak Master one of the young Juniors with the most hope of becoming a True Disciple.

But now, he had actually fallen so silently, without leaving even a trace.

Escape!

Thinking of something, his face suddenly changed drastically, and he fled frantically into the dense forest behind him without hesitation.

At this moment, he didn't have even the slightest thought of seeking revenge for his Senior Brother; he only wanted to save his own life.

Internal competition within the demonic sect was extremely cruel. Disciples were often selfish and deceitful. He was merely a tool that Qu Yang had grabbed to help out; there was no need to risk his life for a fellow Disciple who was already dead.

However, before he could run very far, he saw a somewhat familiar figure appear ahead, blocking his path with ease.

It's over!

After seeing the person's face clearly, the black-robed demonic Cultivator was instantly terrified. Then, his knees went weak, and he skillfully knelt on the ground, kowtowing for mercy:

"Senior, spare me! I was also kidnapped by that fellow Qu Yang. I have never participated in the massacre. Please, Senior, stay your hand and spare my life!"

From seeing his opponent to kneeling for mercy, the whole process was incredibly smooth, perfectly demonstrating the excellent quality of an elite Disciple of the demonic sect who knew when to yield.

Qi Yuan smiled and nodded, saying in a warm tone:

"You are quite sensible. I like talking to smart people. What is your name?"

Seeing this, the black-robed demonic Cultivator's body trembled even more violently. He wouldn't think this guy was easy to get along with just because his attitude was good.

On the contrary, the current situation was even more terrifying.

If possible, he would rather face a hothead who shouted for his head as soon as they met than deal with a terrifying existence that was completely unpredictable.

The black-robed demonic Cultivator took a deep breath, struggled to steady his mind, and answered cautiously:

"This lowly one is named Chen Huai. I am an Outer Sect Disciple of the Ho... no, the demonic sect, and I have no relation to Qu Yang whatsoever."

"The reason he brought me here was actually to have me clean up the mess afterward and monitor the city to prevent any fish from escaping the net."

Hearing this, Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow and instructed in a strange tone:

"Very well. Now, I, the fish that escaped the net, am standing right in front of you. Come and arrest me quickly."

Chen Huai was so scared he trembled all over, shaking his head repeatedly:

"Senior... this lowly one wouldn't dare... wouldn't dare..."

"Do you think I'm joking?"

Qi Yuan gave a cold smile and threatened with a chilly expression:

"You'd better do exactly what I tell you, or I'll kill you right now!"

Then, his tone changed, and he said with a serious expression:

"I have something to do right now. Wait here and don't run around. I'll come find you in two days. At that time, you will sell me to..."

"Ah?"

Hearing Qi Yuan's description, Chen Huai was completely dumbfounded.

What kind of operation was this?!

Looking at the bewildered demonic Cultivator in front of him, Qi Yuan also felt an urge to cough up blood.

Damn dog system! I just praised you, and then you pull this on me. Giving me a sweet date and then slapping me in the face?

Fuck!!!"