"Yes!"
Kang Tiezhen, specifically tasked by Ye Yu to kill, spoke.
...
On the other side, Liang Qiu Yi, the audacious artifact refining master, seemed to have gotten wind of something.
At this moment, he was hidden near his cave dwelling, observing from afar with an invisibility talisman stuck to his body.
Before long, Liang Qiu Yi spotted figures flickering in the vicinity of his cave.
These people moved with coordinated steps, remaining silent. They were clearly well-trained.
Liang Qiu Yi inwardly cursed, sensing that these individuals meant him no good.
His right hand unconsciously moved towards the storage bag at his waist, filled with regret.
"Did I really just say a few extra words after getting drunk?"
"Is such a trivial matter worth sending people specifically after me?"
"Are these people not afraid of offending all artifact refiners by coming to arrest me so brazenly?"
Here, Liang Qiu Yi continued to hide in the corner, observing in secret.
Indeed, as the group of black-clothed figures drew closer, one could discern that each of them wore clothes with thorns printed on the back and carried artifact-like swords in their hands.
Compared to the elite cultivator armies like You Meng's Flying Sky Demonic Wolf Army, Ye Yu's Black Thorn Guard was still in its nascent stages and not as formidable.
Of course, this was only a relative comparison. Within Lun Ming City, the Black Thorn Guard possessed a fearsome reputation.
It was said that once targeted by the Black Thorn Guard, there was no escape, and death was certain.
A Black Thorn Guard named Yang Jin approached Kang Tiezhen, lowering his voice. "Brother, do we really need so many people to deal with one artifact refiner who's lost his mind?"
"Wouldn't it be enough to just send a few people to capture him... why do we have to come ourselves..."
Kang Tiezhen glanced at him and sneered, "They are doing this as a warning to others this time. If we don't handle it perfectly and Liang Qiu Yi escapes, our master will lose a great deal of face."
"And if our master blames us, will you take the fall?"
"Besides, this artifact refining master, Liang Qiu Yi, is a cultivator at the late Nascent Soul stage. He's no pushover."
"Liang Qiu Yi has considerable connections. If he escapes now, it will be difficult to catch him again."
"Since we're going to act, we must do it cleanly and decisively, or we'll invite immense trouble, and neither of us will be able to keep our heads."
"If Liang Qiu Yi hadn't courted his own death by spouting nonsense in public, we would have to flatter him!"
"Enough talk, let's get down to business."
"Later, a few of us will set up the Ten Directions Black Blood Demonic Flags around his cave. No matter how high his cultivation, he won't be able to escape alive."
"Moreover, as an artifact refining master, he must have many treasures in his storage bag. This trip, we brothers can also make a small fortune!"
...
"Brother is right. It seems we must be swift, precise, and ruthless this time!"
Yang Jin gave a thumbs-up, his words like flattery. "Even with all of Liang Qiu Yi's abilities, he cannot escape this fate!"
The eleven men, led by Kang Tiezhen, spoke as they slowly approached the cave dwelling directly in front of them.
Just as they were about to take action, the Spirit Seeking Artifact in Kang Tiezhen's right hand suddenly vibrated, and the needle on the instrument began to move.
The eleven men, led by Kang Tiezhen, instantly became alert.
This Spirit Seeking Artifact was a magical treasure crafted by a master refiner named Chen Heng, under Wu Tao's command. It could detect the spiritual energy of cultivators.
The primary material for the Spirit Seeking Artifact was a mineral called Earth Meteor Magnetic Stone.
This mineral had a significant characteristic: it was extremely sensitive to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Based on this characteristic, Chen Heng refined this magical treasure, the Spirit Seeking Artifact, which could clearly detect cultivators who were using invisibility techniques or secret arts to shield their divine sense.
The sudden vibration just now was the information emitted by the Spirit Seeking Artifact, and the direction the needle pointed indicated the location of the hidden cultivator.
To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, Kang Tiezhen and his eleven men had already dispersed everyone from the vicinity of the cave dwelling.
Since there was no one else present except them, the hidden cultivator lurking nearby could only be Liang Qiu Yi, who else could it be?
Upon realizing this, the faces of Kang Tiezhen and the eleven others instantly changed.
Kang Tiezhen gave his ten subordinates a look. The subordinates, understanding his intentions, immediately scattered and surrounded Liang Qiu Yi.
Liang Qiu Yi, who was hiding in the shadows, saw this and inwardly cursed. His whereabouts had been exposed.
Seeing that he was exposed, Liang Qiu Yi no longer hid and launched a sudden attack.
He let out a cold snort, then slapped his storage bag. Seven or eight artifact-grade swords, sabers, hooks, and forks scattered outwards in all directions.
...
Kang Tiezhen's gaze sharpened, his expression changed, and he couldn't help but gasp.
Good heavens, he was indeed an artifact refining master. He could unleash so many magical treasures at once.
"Disperse and form the array!"
Kang Tiezhen roared and summoned a shield-like artifact called the Shield Light Mountain Plate, momentarily blocking the attacks of the seven or eight magical treasures.
The ten Black Thorn Guards simultaneously produced a Black Blood Demonic Flag each, then activated a secret art, sacrificing their essence blood to summon numerous blood flames.
Countless blood flames erupted from the tips of the flags.
These blood flames were extremely malevolent, possessing the ability to corrupt magical artifacts and treasures.
Of course, propelling these powerful blood flames also consumed a portion of the vital energy of these ten Black Thorn Guards, who were at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Under duress, Liang Qiu Yi could only unleash a Rank Three divine ability, "Purple Light Infinitude," to block the surging blood flames.
"Master Liang, your artifact refining skills are indeed excellent, but unfortunately, you spoke out of turn!"
Kang Tiezhen's face showed a look of regret and sighing as he formed hand seals, clearly preparing to unleash a powerful divine ability.
...
"Kang Tiezhen, you are merely a dog, and you dare to lecture me?"
"It would be more appropriate if your master came. What are you, that you dare to say such things in front of me!"
Upon hearing this, Liang Qiu Yi spoke with disdain.
As an artifact refining master, Liang Qiu Yi had the capital for arrogance. Coupled with his late Nascent Soul stage cultivation, he naturally looked down on Kang Tiezhen, who was at the mid-Nascent Soul stage.
...
"Courting death."
"Blood Shadow Body, Flame Physique, Rank Two Divine Ability: Fiery Demon Possession!"
Kang Tiezhen shouted, and his entire body erupted with blood-red light, appearing like a blood-soaked figure. In the next second, countless flames appeared on him.
Liang Qiu Yi was not to be trifled with either. He also unleashed several divine abilities, but facing the combined assault of Kang Tiezhen and his eleven men, he gradually began to fall into a disadvantage.
Next, in order to quickly reverse the situation, Liang Qiu Yi did not hesitate to self-detonate seven or eight of his magical treasures.
The surrounding heaven and earth seemed to warp instantly, yin and yang inverting, all sorts of lights flashed, and the fiery explosions soared into the sky.
Kang Tiezhen and the eleven others saw this and quickly scattered. Even so, five Black Thorn Guards died under the self-detonation of the seven or eight magical treasures.
"What a ruthless person... what a ruthless heart..."
"My five brothers died unjustly..."
"The value of these seven or eight magical treasures is even greater than our lives."
With his face covered in dust and looking extremely dishevelled, Kang Tiezhen watched the retreating light and gave a wry smile.
On the other side, Liang Qiu Yi's escape light moved erratically, cooperating with his unique secret art, his escape speed suddenly increased severalfold.
The reason Liang Qiu Yi endured the pain of self-detonating seven or eight magical treasures was to buy himself time to escape.
The longer the delay, the more disadvantageous it was for him. At this moment, the commotion here must have alarmed the entire Lun Ming City.
If he didn't hurry and escape, he would definitely be surrounded and killed here.
...
Of course, if his whereabouts hadn't been exposed, Liang Qiu Yi would have continued to hide in the corner. After all, the most dangerous place was often the safest.
Only after the danger had passed would Liang Qiu Yi have quietly slipped away, minimizing the risk.
...
Liang Qiu Yi's plan was indeed excellent, but he had underestimated Ye Yu.
To make an example and establish authority, how could Ye Yu have only sent such a small group to hunt him down?
In the void, a woman at the late Nascent Soul stage followed Liang Qiu Yi with a calm expression.
Her long hair fluttered, her robes swirled with a grey sheen, and her eyes gazed at Liang Qiu Yi as if seeing through everything, piercing through time and space. A disdainful sneer played on her lips.
This woman, at the late Nascent Soul stage, was named Yao Bei'er and possessed the innate Shadow Body.
From the beginning until now, she had been following behind Kang Tiezhen and the others.
If Kang Tiezhen and his men had been able to deal with Liang Qiu Yi, Yao Bei'er would not have had to act.
But now that Kang Tiezhen and his men had failed, Yao Bei'er would personally step in to kill Liang Qiu Yi!
Just as Liang Qiu Yi was about to break through the city gate of Lun Ming City.
A black figure, filled with dark energy, emerged from the void.
Her body was tightly wrapped in a black robe, and her black cloak concealed her face, making her appear like a child of darkness.
As she made her move, she unleashed a power that could change the heavens and earth, possessing the might to annihilate all. Even from thousands of meters away, one could feel the formidable killing intent.
Yao Bei'er's first move was a meticulously prepared Rank One divine ability, "Boundless Yama Slash!"
A thin blade, an inch thick, appeared soundlessly, like the soul-reaping scythe from the netherworld... Da Feng Novel Network
The thin blade, an inch thick, had a blade as white as snow, or perhaps like the moon in March, both curved and slender.
The subtle yet terrifying blade light, as it descended, spread across the world like a thin layer of frost.
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