Chapter 142.1: Stealing Little Bride's Snacks? Courting Death!

A barrage of lightning crashed down into the royal palace, killing every Nascent Soul cultivator from the Bright Palace.

Qi Yuan held up a recording stone and captured everything. "What a pity the Divine Flower Society forum doesn't support images or videos. Otherwise, once this footage gets out, I'd be standing on the highest moral ground imaginable. Despised by the heavens, can the Bright Palace still claim to be righteous?"

Even if he couldn't upload it, recording was better than nothing. Who knew, maybe he'd find a way to spread it later. After he was done, Qi Yuan prepared to leave Wei Kingdom. He still had many places to visit, and many identities left unused. In some places, he simply tossed the blood-red sword out as a "persona," but it wasn't enough. He had to stir trouble everywhere to give an impression of commanding an entire army.

From the vast palace below, countless cultivators, elders, robust young men, and even children, looked up and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Senior, for saving Wei Kingdom!"

"Our kingdom shall never forget your grace!"

Naturally, not all nations supported the Hundred Nations Blood War. Some sought peace, while others even resisted. However, before the overwhelming Bright Palace, they could only become pawns. After all, the more one resisted, the more they were labeled demonic, doomed to fall.

Sensing their sincerity, Qi Yuan shouted, "Cultivators who walk the crooked path will incur heavenly wrath. From now on, do more good!"

After a round of righteous propaganda, he vanished, leaving the crowd trembling with confusion and gratitude.

***

In the Bloodless City.

A sea of blood crystal mines spanned dozens of miles, shimmering red.

Qi Yuan gazed at Little Bride’s petite figure ahead, warmth flickering in his eyes. She was crouched deep in the mine, picking up blood crystals one after another. No one knew where she stored them. He couldn't help but smile indulgently. Feeding Little Bride always made him happy.

After about an hour, Little Bride flew to his side, clutching his sleeve. A wooden plaque of joy slipped from her cuff.

"Eat whatever you want. This entire mine is my private property now," Qi Yuan said grandly.

Lord Withered Tree had already secured Bloodless City's mines for him. Every day, large batches of blood crystals were being shipped to Seven-Colored Peak.

Qi Yuan had only come to collect blood crystals with the Sect Master's permission. Everyone had assumed he stayed in the mine. In reality, he spent most of his time running around with alternate identities, slaughtering enemies everywhere.

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Afterward, he led her toward the exit. "Come on, Little Bride. Let's go home.”

***

Outside the mine, Liu Guan stood nervously with his granddaughter Duan Qianrou, full of worry.

Not long ago, Liu Guan had joined the siege against the Black Rooster Demon. He had only survived because of his teammate, a mysterious prodigy. That man had even sent the unconscious Liu Guan home. Since then, Liu Guan had been desperate to know his savior's identity.

After all, that prodigy had slain a late-stage Core Formation expert while only at Foundation Establishment.

"Grandfather, is he really that person? What if he isn't?" Duan Qianrou whispered.

She recalled the youth she'd once met on a flying ship, then again while riding in a Cloud Rabbit carriage. At that time, she hadn’t given it much thought. Now, it appeared the same man was behind the massacre of the Black Mountain Sect.

Liu Guan sighed helplessly. "I hope he is."

The mines were under Duan Qianrou's management. She used to deliver blood crystals to a true disciple of the Demonic Desire Sect, who bullied them into compliance.

Later, the Divine Radiance Sect seized all blood crystal mines in Bloodless City. Now, the Duan family supplied only the Divine Radiance Sect, cutting off the Demonic Desire disciple entirely.

Recently, that true disciple came demanding blood crystals again. The woman refused to listen to Duan Qianrou’s explanation, even giving a deadline, after which she threatened to take the crystals herself.

Duan Qianrou had reported it to the Divine Radiance Sect, but they were far away. No one had arrived yet. Everything now depended solely on Qi Yuan.

The gates opened, and Qi Yuan emerged in white robes, handsome and refined. Little Bride followed demurely.

The sight gave Duan Qianrou chills, but she forced herself to say, "Greetings, Young Master Qi Yuan!"

Qi Yuan glanced at the two. "You waited for me? Do you need something?"

"Young Master, it's about Ji Ruxue of the Demonic Desire Sect..." Duan Qianrou recounted everything truthfully, all while watching Qi Yuan's expression closely.

After all, true disciples of sects were often lofty figures. There was no guarantee Qi Yuan would lift a finger. If anything, he would probably blame them instead.

Qi Yuan glanced at her. "Is this true?"

Duan Qianrou was now utterly humble, a far cry from when she first met Qi Yuan. "It's absolutely true. I wouldn't dare deceive you, Young Master!”

Qi Yuan gave her one more look. The hidden prompt surfaced, confirming she wasn't lying.

"I didn't expect anyone to actually dare steal Little Bride's snacks. How dare they," he said icily.

Ever since Qi Yuan started treating the Bright Palace as his mortal enemy, he had barely encountered any small fry. Now that some little pest thought to rob Little Bride, of course he'd make a move. Squashing a small bug every now and then was a nice change of pace. Fighting the Nascent Souls and Violet Palaces nonstop could get dull.

Even old enemies get boring when you beat them too often. Spending time with younger folks really does make one feel young again. Otherwise, why did all those rich guys back on Blue Planet like schoolgirls so much?

"Let's go. I want to see for myself just how big this Ji Ruxue's courage is."

Hearing this, Duan Qianrou secretly rejoiced. With Qi Yuan stepping in, the matter was as good as solved!

***

In Bloodless City, a manor stood in a remote location. It was quiet, yet lavish

Ji Ruxue's hair was as white as snow, and her beauty even surpassed her elder sister, Ji Boying. Twirling her hair, she smiled lightly. "Didn't think I'd run into someone personally wanted by Lord Windrage here."

The Demonic Desire Sect had two factions: one with the surname Ji, and the other with the surname Shen. Since the Shens kept a low profile and rarely appeared, the Jis now held all the power.

Some time ago, their sect had begun colluding with the Bright Palace. Her sister Ji Boying had even been offered up to accompany that old man, True Lord Liuqin.

Beside Ji Ruxue, two Nascent Soul cultivators smiled.

Ji Mingqiu grinned. "Qi Yuan sure has guts, wandering around on his own. This time, we'll definitely catch him and deliver him to True Lord Withered Tree!"

"A pity Kang Fulu is so cautious now. He won't leave the sect, so we can only grab Qi Yuan." True Lord Ji Chu sighed. "This man is barely worth anything. Even if we give him to Lord Windrage and obtain his permission to let our sect relocate out of the Hundred Nations, he still won't value us much."

Ji Mingqiu snorted. "Be glad there's anyone to catch at all. You two are getting picky.”

"Our scouts report he's heading this way and will arrive shortly. That saves us the trouble of going to him," Ji Ruxue said smugly.

The three were already certain of their victory. As if Qi Yuan stood a chance against two Nascent Souls and a Foundation Establishment! Not even Kang Fulu could survive that.

***

A while later, Qi Yuan, Little Bride, Liu Guan, and Duan Qianrou arrived outside the manor.

Duan Qianrou raised her hand to knock, but Qi Yuan stopped her with his gaze.

He stepped forward lazily. "Come out. You're already surrounded."

Duan Qianrou and Liu Guan exchanged confused looks, but said nothing.

A soft laugh drifted out from the courtyard, and the door slid open. A woman with snow-white hair stepped out, showing an easy, almost casual smile.

Ji Ruxue asked lightly, "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, did you come all this way to discuss something important?"

Her relaxed demeanor made Duan Qianrou's heart jolt. Even Liu Guan frowned. Something felt wrong. Despite being Ji Boying's sister, Ji Ruxue was just a concubine's daughter with mediocre talent. Even in the Demonic Desire Sect, she was nothing more than an ordinary true disciple. She was leagues beneath Qi Yuan, who was a chief disciple.

Where did all her confidence come from?

Qi Yuan didn't seem to notice her strange attitude. He simply said, blunt as ever, "I'm here to tell you, if you dare steal Little Bride's snacks, you can go join your ancestors in hell."

Qi Yuan never hesitated to kill. Ji Ruxue froze. She knew he had come to make trouble, yes, but going straight to murder was absurd.

Thankfully...

Her smile vanished, replaced by a cold edge. "Kill me? You should worry about surviving first."

The moment her voice fell, two overwhelming auras erupted from inside the manor.

Ji Mingqiu and Ji Chu stepped out, their power rolling across the courtyard akin to a rising tide. Even the ambient spiritual energy in the surroundings trembled.

Ji Chu smiled pleasantly, as if greeting an old friend. "Nephew Qi Yuan, it has been a while."

All traces of colors disappeared from Duan Qianrou's face. "N-Nascent Souls?"

Liu Guan's mind spun. Had they stepped into a major sect conflict? They were finished, utterly finished. There was no surviving this!