Elder Li confessed without hesitation.
He wept bitterly, begging only for death as he confessed.
He revealed everything he knew—the initiators, the organization's members, the secret codes, and even the details of the mining site, all laid out clearly.
The self-proclaimed iron-willed Elder Li pleaded:
"Please! Give me the antidote... I can't take it anymore!"
"It's not poison, so there's no antidote," Chu Xingchen said with a sincere expression. "Though there’s no antidote, I can offer you some water to rinse your mouth."
Elder Li’s eyes widened in fury, and he howled:
"Then kill me! I beg you, kill me!"
Based on Elder Li’s confession, he certainly deserved death, but not now.
Since he refused the offer to rinse his mouth, so be it.
Chu Xingchen casually flicked a wisp of spiritual energy, resealing Elder Li’s mouth, then turned to Yaoqin.
Yaoqin’s expression was grave, her eyes flickering with a murderous intent that didn’t seem directed at Elder Li but rather... lost in memories?
Chu Xingchen waved his hand in front of her, asking with concern:
"Are you alright?"
"I’m fine..." Yaoqin took a deep breath, then gently closed her eyes.
After a slight hesitation, Chu Xingchen spoke:
"The situation is clear now. The Evil Spirit Sect’s goal is to create a Holy Mother using ancient methods.
"Blood Spirit Stones are their primary tool, and such a massive blood sacrifice can’t be hidden. If we follow this lead, we’ll surely uncover more.
"We can report back to Yuzhou City and clarify the situation with the Central Continent..."
Yaoqin suddenly opened her eyes, cutting him off with a cold, trembling voice:
"We can’t just leave it at this!"
"It’s always been like this! Before cultivation, it was like this! After cultivation, it’s still like this!"
Chu Xingchen was speechless as he looked at Yaoqin. This was the first time he had seen her lose composure.
"My apologies..." Yaoqin, realizing her outburst, turned away. "You’re right... we should head back..."
Chu Xingchen spoke earnestly: "What’s really going on with you?"
"I was just reminded of the past, that’s all..." Yaoqin turned back, her expression calm. "Let’s take him back to Yuzhou City first, then deal with the Qingfeng Sect’s matters later."
Chu Xingchen stared at her intently: "I think we should address your issue first."
"What issue could I possibly have?"
"Then tell me the truth—what were you thinking just now!"
Yaoqin gripped her sword tightly, remaining silent for a long moment before gritting her teeth and answering:
"I wanted to kill! I wanted to slaughter every last one of those damned Evil Spirit Sect cultivators!"
"Can’t they follow the righteous path and instead resort to such crooked methods?! Are ordinary people nothing but ants to them?"
"My master always said that immortals and mortals are worlds apart, that only by becoming an immortal is there a true path. He told me to abandon my mortal heart, to forget the past, that everything in the world follows its destined fate. But was my master born a cultivator?!"
Having said this, Yaoqin seemed unable to contain her fury any longer. Her sword flashed, and with a swift motion, she beheaded Elder Li.
As if she had come to a realization, she declared resolutely: "This is on me alone. You can go back now!"
With that, she turned to leave.
Chu Xingchen called out: "What do you mean, ‘on you alone’? You still owe me spirit stones!"
Yaoqin paused, tilting her head slightly to gaze at the moonlight:
"I’ll repay you. I’m a true disciple of the Tianyan Sect. It’s them who should be afraid."
Sighing, Chu Xingchen walked up to her:
"You know what I’m trying to say."
Yaoqin glanced at him sideways.
"The world is vast, and there will always be someone willing to stand by Yaoqin’s side, supporting what she intends to do," Chu Xingchen said with a light chuckle, stretching lazily.
"Coincidentally, I happen to be one of them. After all, you’ve helped me so many times."
Yaoqin pursed her lips, then whispered almost inaudibly:
"Thank you..."
"Huh? Speak up!"
"Chu Xingchen!"
"No time to waste! Let’s go exterminate those Evil Spirit Sect cultivators!"
Two streaks of light shot into the Qingfeng Sect’s mining site from different directions.
One landed in the center of the site’s open square.
The miners looked up to see a stunning woman glowing with radiant spiritual light, her hand slightly raised as she controlled an even faster flying sword.
The Qingfeng Sect disciples guarding the site merely glanced toward the source of the commotion.
A flash of light, a chill at their necks, and then darkness.
The flying sword darted through the mining site, swiftly cutting down the lives of the Qingfeng Sect disciples.
Meanwhile, Chu Xingchen crashed directly into the warehouse.
As expected, the warehouse had been reinforced with new formations, and a Golden Core cultivator sat at the center of the array.
Without hesitation, Chu Xingchen summoned his spiritual sword. Though Li Yingling often seemed lazy, she had never slacked in her cultivation.
Her divine abilities had long since reached a new level.
Li Xingtian, on the other hand, focused more on spiritual energy, so his mastery of divine abilities was still at a rudimentary stage.
Thus, the first disciple’s divine ability—Three Thousand Weak Waters Sword.
Chu Xingchen showed no mercy. The spirit sword in his hand transformed into a water dragon constructed from spiritual energy, its head rising abruptly before charging toward the Golden Core cultivator with a flash-like speed.
The Golden Core cultivator, only at the mid-stage of his cultivation, had risen to counterattack the moment Chu Xingchen landed. However, as soon as the spiritual water dragon leaped from the spirit sword, he felt his aura being rapidly locked onto...
In an instant, the Golden Core cultivator realized—this was a divine ability!
Chu Xingchen moved with lightning speed, unleashing his ultimate move without a word, and it even came with a homing effect.
No matter how much the Golden Core cultivator struggled in the end, it was futile.
With a single strike, Chu Xingchen cleaved through everything in front of him. The spiritual energy was overwhelmingly domineering, effortlessly crushing the ground and obliterating all obstacles in its path.
Including the helpless Golden Core cultivator.
A beam of spiritual light shot out from the warehouse, seemingly endless as it soared into the distance. It shattered everything in its way, reducing the surroundings to dust.
Even Yaoqin couldn't help but glance over, sensing the terrifying fluctuations of spiritual energy.
Despite her vast experience, Yaoqin was certain—this was undoubtedly a top-tier divine ability.
The warehouse couldn't withstand such spiritual energy either. It was quickly reduced to ruins, scattering in all directions.
Yaoqin saw Chu Xingchen holding his spirit sword. Noticing her gaze, he smiled lightly and extended two fingers toward her—his index and middle fingers.
What did that mean?
If Chu Xingchen was making a gesture, Yaoqin certainly wouldn't interpret it positively.
Was he implying that she was weak?
Yaoqin's spirit sword moved even faster, finishing off the last Qingfeng Sect disciple before automatically sheathing itself.
Then, with her slender hand, Yaoqin extended two fingers back at Chu Xingchen.
You're weak too!