The auction had ended, yet Liu Bai kept his eyes firmly on the young man who had won the Kaiyuan Chasing Moon Bow, quietly trailing the group as they left the city.
"What a bold little brat, daring to follow us so openly?"
Outside of Qingyun City, a young man sneered. With a wave of his palm, a black-robed elder appeared behind him like a ghost.
"Elder Lin, it seems we are to be disappointed this time. The Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy actually sent a fledgling. Let us make our move."
This young man was named Fan Jiu, the son of Mu City's City Lord Fan Tong. This Kaiyuan Chasing Moon Bow had been prepared by Fan Tong from the very beginning as bait to lure out members of the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy. Everything had been nothing more than a fishing scheme.
As for the Xie Clan, though they were not directly involved, their hands were not clean either.
Of course, Fan Jiu suspected that the other side might have sent more than just one person. For this reason, he had Elder Lin survey the surrounding area for dozens of miles, but no one else was found. With that, he no longer harbored any concerns.
The black-robed elder's expression remained indifferent as he gave a slight nod. Spiritual energy rippled from his body and his figure gradually faded into the air.
In the next moment, a deafening explosion echoed from a thousand meters away. A figure fell from the sky, crashing heavily into the ground not far from Fan Jiu.
When the dust settled, Liu Bai's delicate and youthful face emerged, though now his lips were stained with blood and his complexion was deathly pale.
"Heaven Transformation Realm…" Liu Bai clutched his chest, forcing out three hoarse words. "Why attack me without reason?"
Fan Jiu walked forward slowly, a mocking glint flashing in his eyes as he replied coldly, "You followed us all the way from the auction. You ask me why I struck you?"
Liu Bai struggled to stand, steadying his breath before speaking again. "I merely wished to ask you a few questions. Why strike with such severity?"
"Against those harboring ill intentions, even if I beat you to death, so what?"
"When did I ever harbor ill intentions?" Liu Bai's face immediately twisted into one of grievance.
"You sneakily tailed us from behind, and you dare claim no ill intent?" Fan Jiu's expression hardened, his voice sharp. "Speak. Who are you?"
Fear flashed in Liu Bai's eyes as he glanced toward the black-robed elder standing behind him, cutting off every possible escape route. Only then did he speak in a trembling voice, "I will tell you. I am a student of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy. Just now, injuring me could be passed off as unintentional, but if you dare strike again, the Academy will never let you off."
Fan Jiu's sneer deepened at this display of weakness.
After all, Liu Bai's cultivation was only at the early-phase Heaven Fusion Realm. They could see it clearly. Against Fan Jiu at the late-Phase Heaven Fusion Realm and Elder Lin at the Heaven Transformation Realm, how could such a fledgling possibly stir up any waves?
"Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy…" Fan Jiu murmured, as though wary of the name.
Seeing this, delight flickered in Liu Bai's eyes as he hurriedly said, "Yes, yes, I am from the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy. I came out on a mission with several of my senior brothers. One of my seniors is at the Heaven Transformation Realm, and they are still in Qingyun City.…"
But his words grew weaker and weaker, for he noticed the mocking grin spreading across Fan Jiu's face, a smile like a cat toying with a mouse. A chill ran down his spine.
"Go on, why stop talking?" Fan Jiu teased.
"I… I…" Liu Bai stammered, fear plain on his face.
"Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, such a grand name. Unfortunately, before me, it means nothing."
"Enough. I thought we might catch a big fish, but it turns out to be nothing more than a shrimp, and a timid one at that. Elder Lin, send this so-called little genius of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy on his way."
At those words, the black-robed elder revealed a trace of disdain before his figure vanished again. When he reappeared, he was already above Liu Bai, a withered palm descending like an eagle's claw to crush his head.
At the critical instant, the seemingly helpless Liu Bai suddenly revealed a sinister smile. That smile made Elder Lin's heart jolt with boundless fear.
He tried to withdraw his strike, but it was too late.
Liu Bai lifted his right hand, fingers spreading like petals. From each fingertip surged a slender thread of lightning, the five streams quickly converging into a multicolored lightning sphere in his palm.
Crackling!
Without hesitation, Liu Bai thrust his palm upward. The lightning sphere exploded upon contact, bursting into a vast net of lightning that instantly enveloped Elder Lin's body.
In that fleeting instant, Elder Lin was paralyzed, his movements frozen by the divine thunder's effect.
What was worse, the five types of lightning began invading his internal organs. By the principle of the Five Elements, metal lightning into the liver, wood lightning into the spleen, water lightning into the heart, fire lightning into the lungs, earth lightning into the kidneys. The five thunders surged simultaneously, scorching all five organs black. Even if he did not die, Elder Lin was utterly crippled.
A golden radiance of thunder erupted from Liu Bai's body as he shot forward like lightning, appearing instantly before Fan Jiu.
Fan Jiu finally realized that he had been tricked. For this youth to severely wound a Heaven Transformation Realm expert in a single strike was terrifying. He knew he was no match.
Gathering all his spiritual energy, Fan Jiu collided head-on with Liu Bai, using the rebound force to hurl himself backward, attempting to flee into the distance.
Seeing this, Liu Bai sighed inwardly. Compared to the sheltered students within the Academy, those who grew up on the Northern Heaven Continent, even spoiled young masters, possessed sharp instincts and decisive judgment.
But did he really think he could escape?
The Swiftwind Bow appeared in Liu Bai's hands, golden energy condensing into an arrow. The bowstring drew back like a full moon, and with a silent vibration, a streak of golden light shot forth, piercing Fan Jiu's chest.
Ghost Arrow Technique.
With a fifty percent chance of soul seizure, it would depend on his luck.
Yet whether the soul seizure succeeded or not, Liu Bai would not allow him to escape. He had already closed the distance.
"Hm? Not dead? Truly fortunate…"
But that was fine. It meant Liu Bai could extract some information from him.
Raising his palm, he struck Fan Jiu's Qi Sea, shattering it completely. Even if his injuries healed, it would take him one or two years to recover his cultivation.
After that, Liu Bai turned back to the earlier battlefield, glancing at the blackened figure of Elder Lin sprawled on the ground.
Not only his robes, but his entire body was charred black, wisps of black smoke rising from his mouth.
Yet even so, Liu Bai had not heard the system's notification of a kill. Which meant that this old man had not completely died. The stronger the cultivator, the more terrifying their vitality.
For one at the Heaven Transformation Realm, even if their body was destroyed, their spirit could escape to seize another vessel, or at the very least survive in the world.
But the lightning net had sealed his soul, severing any chance of escape.
"One alive is enough. Better to eliminate any hidden dangers."
Muttering softly, Liu Bai raised his fist and smashed it down on the charred corpse. Black spiritual energy surged, five dark death seals falling upon the body. The violent force erased everything completely.
"Ding. Congratulations to the player for the first kill of a Heaven Transformation Realm enemy. Over-leveled kill, reward five times experience. Gained one hundred thousand experience, one Spiritual Pulse Point."
Liu Bai's eyes widened in shock. A fivefold bonus!
Unfortunately, this elder likely had no spiritual pulse, so only the minimum one Spiritual pulse Point was awarded.
"This must be a first-kill reward. Otherwise, the experience would not be so great." Excitement swelled in Liu Bai's heart. When he turned his gaze back toward Fan Jiu, his expression softened considerably.
Yet this gentle look made the newly awakened Fan Jiu shudder, a chill running through him as he mistakenly thought Liu Bai harbored some strange hobby.
"Big brother, big brother, wait! Let us talk this through. We can discuss this calmly…"
Obviously this Fan Jiu was also a clever one. Seeing himself now reduced to a prisoner, gravely wounded with his Spiritual Energy scattered, he immediately yielded in order to preserve his life. A man of thirty calling a seventeen or eighteen year old youth "big brother" came out so smoothly without the slightest trace of reluctance.
Liu Bai smiled faintly in his heart, his gaze indifferent as he said calmly, "As long as you cooperate I can spare you from immediate death."
"Cooperate cooperate big brother I will definitely cooperate. Whatever you wish to know just ask, I will reveal everything without concealment… Big brother could you help me stop the bleeding first, I have lost all Spiritual Energy and if the wound does not stop bleeding I will die." Fan Jiu's face was deathly pale as he glanced weakly at the gaping hole in his chest, his expression bitter.
"I can."
Liu Bai raised his hand and used a stream of Spiritual Energy to seal the wound before asking directly, "Who are you where are you from and what is your relationship with the extermination of the Xie Clan?"
"My name is Fan Jiu son of Fan Tong the City Lord of Mu City. The extermination of the Xie Clan truly has nothing to do with our Mu City. This time I only acted because I had set my eyes on the Kaiyuan Moonchasing Bow which is a high grade Spiritual Artifact so I bid for it. Truly big brother you must see clearly!"
The corner of Liu Bai's lips lifted into a mocking smile. This scene was almost identical to what had just transpired earlier, only reversed. Using his own trick against him, clearly this fellow thought he could deceive him. It seemed Liu Bai was going to properly "play" with him.
He collected the black robed elder's Spatial ring. This was his spoils of war and when striking earlier he had deliberately avoided damaging it.
This place was not suitable for interrogation. Liu Bai thoroughly inspected Fan Jiu's body even down to his Spatial Ring ensuring there was no object that could reveal his position. Only then did he leave with him.
As long as Fan Jiu was not killed immediately the City Lord of Mu City would not so quickly discover that something had happened to his son.
After flying for an entire day Liu Bai directly chose a barren mountain and entered a cave.
With a heavy thud Fan Jiu was tossed to the ground as Liu Bai gazed at him expressionless.
"I will give you one more chance. If you continue to lie to me I do not mind letting you taste true suffering…"
"Big big brother truly everything I said is the truth. If I dare lie may I die a horrible death!" Fan Jiu grimaced in pain rubbing his bruised backside while pitifully swearing.
Liu Bai sighed slightly, his expression regretful as he said, "You have wasted the chance I gave you."
As his words fell a strand of green lightning shot from his fingertip and instantly entered Fan Jiu's forehead.
A bloodcurdling scream reverberated within the cave as Fan Jiu curled into a ball under unbearable agony, his hands furiously clawing at his own hair as if wanting to split his skull open.
Among the Five Elemental Divine Lightning the Wood Lightning and Water Lightning both had nurturing effects, yet water could also freeze with chilling force while Wood Lightning possessed the trait of absorbing Pure Yang power, capable of burning the soul itself.
At this moment Liu Bai employed precisely this property of the Wood Lightning to directly assail Fan Jiu's soul. Compared to this no so called torture under heaven could rival such pain.
When the shrieks finally weakened Liu Bai smiled lightly and asked again, "Well then are you ready to speak the truth now?"
"I… what I said… it is the truth. Even if you kill me I do not know anything more…"
Hearing Fan Jiu's dying voice Liu Bai shook his head and continued the same process again.
Two hours later Fan Jiu was already hanging by a thread. Although his physical wounds had not worsened his soul had nearly collapsed.
This time Liu Bai did not ask again. Taking advantage of his muddled state he whispered beside his ear, "Fan Jiu I am an emissary of the Demonic Dragon Palace have you properly completed the task entrusted to you?"
"Dragon… Demonic Dragon Palace… emissary save me… Lord emissary save me…"
At the sound of the Demonic Dragon Palace's name Fan Jiu suddenly grasped at it like a drowning man catching hold of the final straw, his expression filled with desperate excitement.
Seeing this Liu Bai relaxed inwardly. It seemed his suspicions were correct. The Xie Clan truly had been destroyed by the people of the Demonic Dragon Palace.
"Save you? That is possible. But why did you dare move against the Xie Clan? Did you not consider that such an act would draw the Northern Heaven Spiritual Academy's attention and expose my Demonic Dragon Palace?" Liu Bai sternly questioned.
Fan Jiu in his dazed state naturally did not perceive the flaw. Confronted with the questioning of the "Demonic Dragon Palace emissary" he instinctively defended himself, "It was… it was Yu Yuan Lord Yu Yuan… he approached my father… asked Mu City to help him exterminate… exterminate the Xie Clan…"
...
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