Spirit Realm Chapter 672-675

Chapter 672: The Tu Family’s Benefactor

“Please announce the results!”

Xie Zhizhang wanted to end this as quickly as possible too. He immediately sent a signal to Department of Internal Affairs’ bureau chief after seeing that everyone’s attention was currently being focused on Qin Lie.

The person in charge of Dark Asura Hall’s Department of Internal Affairs was a clansman planted by the Xie Family. Back when Xie Jingxuan was training in Dark Asura Hall, she had also worked at the Department of Internal Affairs and possessed an Inspector Command Token. That was why she was able to meet Tu Mo directly at Nebula Pavilion and enlist Qin Lie’s aid to kill the Soul Devouring Beast.

“The three hall masters and I have come to a decision, and we unanimously agree that Tu Shixiong is the one who is more suited to assume the position of Grand Hall Master!”

In an instant, everyone’s attention was attracted to this side once more.

Many people were staring at Han Pu and Tu Shixiong in surprise. The puzzlement on their faces showed just how stunned they were at this outcome.

Tu Shixiong himself looked astonished by this turn of events.

Even he didn’t believe that the competition for the seat of Grand Hall Master would suddenly take such a turn at the last moment.

He knew very well that the Department of Internal Affairs was controlled by the Xie Family, and he also knew that Han Pu had a backing of several Xie Family elders. In fact, only one of the three other hall masters built a tacit understanding with him and acknowledged him.

The remaining two hall masters had always shared a secret relationship with Han Pu, and they obviously stood on Han Pu’s side.

He thought that he would get at most one vote at this final stage. He thought that he would lose the voting for sure.

But now, for whatever reason, the bureau chief of the Department of Internal Affairs and the three hall masters had suddenly decided to vote on him unanimously. Just what in the Spirit Realm was going on?

Tu Shixiong was puzzled by this.

Han Pu was even more confused than he was.

A short period of bewilderment had came over his expression when the results were announced. Then, it sank into a gloomy look.

He couldn’t believe what was happening!

Han Pu suddenly glared at the bureau chief of the Department of Internal Affairs!

For the past few years, he had delivered many spirit materials to the Xie Family through the bureau chief of the Department of Internal Affairs and built a connection this way. This was how he had won the acknowledgement of the Xie Family.

The bureau chief himself had promised him that he would win the competition for the position of Grand Hall Master for sure!

From the moment the Xie Family had sent a few private soldiers into his midst under the guise of subordinates to aid him in winning the first round, he was sure that that no surprises would befall him during this competition.

However, the surprise ultimately happened during the last step of the process.

—He had actually lost the election!

Han Pu couldn’t accept this outcome!

The bureau chief of the Department of Internal Affairs looked at him in sympathy and shook his head slightly. Then, he strung his voice into a single thread to send direct transmission. “This is the decision of the Xie Family’s patriarch. I… can only obey his demands. I am sorry.”

The moment he heard that the decision had come from Xie Yaoyang, Han Pu immediately understood with a sunk heart that there was nothing he could do to change this outcome.

In fact, he couldn’t even bring himself to question Xie Yaoyang’s decision. Just like the bureau chief of the Department of Internal Affairs, he could only submit obediently.

In the past, Han Pu had depended on the Nie Family for a living. After the Nie Family had experienced a swift decline, he resolutely contacted the Xie Family and pleaded allegiance to them immediately. That was how he was able to leap from the position of Third Hall Master to First Hall Master and obtain the qualification to compete for the seat of Grand Hall Master.

He knew very well that there was no way he could’ve obtained his current status without the Xie Family’s strength.

If Xie Yaoyang disliked him and showed even a hint of displeasure, he might have been chased out of Dark Asura Hall just like that and be met with the most miserable outcome.

His tiny foundation in Dark Asura Hall wouldn’t do him any good. Profound Heaven Alliance only needed to send one or two Fulfillment Realm martial practitioners to slaughter him and his subordinates to the last.

On the Scarlet Tide Continent, he didn’t even possess sufficient strength to escape with his life.

A low rank force whose livelihood depended on a host had no say, status, or the right to question decisions at all.

The only way for them to survive was to submit.

The alternative was to be killed and wiped off the surface of Spirit Realm without mercy.

Han Pu hung his head low and said nothing. He chose to submit to his fate.

“Tu Shixiong was aided by a benefactor,” the bureau chief of the Department of Internal Affairs whispered to Han Pu again after a moment of thought.

“A benefactor…”

A moment later, Han Pu immediately came to a sudden realization and directed his gaze to Qin Lie once more.

He saw Song Siyuan and Xie Zhizhang standing not far away from Qin Lie’s position, wearing kind smiles on their faces occasionally looking at him and voicing their opinions to the conversation at a suitable moment.

They looked like stars that served to accentuate the brilliance of a sun or moon.

“So he’s Tu Family’s benefactor,” Han Pu came to the realization.

Bits of conflicting emotions passed through his eyes, as if he wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.

Just two years ago, Qin Lie was a rat on the streets who was hunted by both Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple because of his collusion with the evil races and his identity as a sect master of Armament Sect.

Tu Shixiong’s decision to aid the Ling Family because of Qin Lie had resulted in him being given the cold shoulder by Profound Heaven Alliance.

After Qin Lie, the evil races, and the Blood Spear had disappeared, Tu Shixiong became the scapegoat and lost the secret support of Profound Heaven Alliance’s Song Family. He lost the advantage again and again over a series of clashes.

Han Pu had seized this opportunity to rise the momentum.

The reason Tu Shixiong fell from the seat of power, was caught up, and even surpassed by Han Pu was all because he had given Qin Lie aid earlier.

But now, Qin Lie had returned to the Scarlet Tide Continent in infinite glory, and both Song Siyuan and Xie Zhizhang had accompanied him all the way to Dark Asura Hall like his personal flatterers. Tu Shixiong was supposed to lose in the competition for the seat of Grand Hall Master, but the tide was suddenly overturned as if it was guided by god’s will.

Han Pu had seen everything with his own eyes, so he figured out the truth of the matter after the bureau chief’s remark.

“This truly is a situation where one’s success and failure are both due to the same factor,” Han Pu lamented on the inside.

“Congratulations, Hall Master Tu!”

“Congratulations!”

“I knew that you’d win without a hitch, Hall Master Tu!”

“We should call him Grand Hall Master now!”

“Haha!”

While Han Pu was forced to accept the truth, many Dark Asura Hall martial practitioners had put on a smile on their faces and surged towards Tu Shixiong, expressing their goodwill towards him.

Among them were the three hall masters and the bureau chief of the Department of Internal Affairs too.

Tu Shixiong was instantly flooded by many cries of congratulations.

While stuck amidst the crowd, he looked backwards and saw that Song Siyuan and Xie Zhizhang had subconsciously walked beside Qin Lie and looked at him with smiles on their faces.

Tu Shixiong had also understood what was going on here.

He stared at Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian chatting happily with Qin Lie, and felt a million complicated emotions blossoming inside his heart.

The pressure he had to experience because of Qin Lie’s presence, the abandonment of Profound Heaven Alliance’s Song Family, and the ridicule he was forced to endure inside Dark Asura Hall had all vanished in an instant.

Everyone was currently looking at him with envy and respect. They were respecting his foresight.

Even Song Siyuan and Xie Zhizhang couldn’t help but shower him with unconcealed praises.

It was as if his decision to befriend Qin Lie, and his choice to aid Qin Lie and the Ling Family of the “evil races” both covertly and openly had become the greatest decisions he had ever made in his entire life.

Everyone was impressed by the acute foresight he displayed.

Tu Shixiong sucked in a deep breath before laughing cheerfully with a look of invincible confidence.

He knew he hadn’t been wrong betting on Qin Lie.

The reason he aided the Ling Family, put pressure on Seven Fiends Valley, and even sent his generals to Seven Fiends Valley to aid the migration of Ling Family to Dark Asura Hall was all because of Qin Lie.

During the battle of Flame Volcano, Qin Lie had overturned the tide, dealt heavy blows to the five combined forces, and ultimately repelled their invasion.

It was that battle that made him recognize Qin Lie’s extraordinary capabilities, and he also respected both Qin Lie’s determination and ruthlessness. He respected his madness in cutting off Shi Jingyun, Wu Tuo, and Su Zhiyin’s fingers.

He knew that Qin Lie was no ordinary person, which was why he had always supported his sons in their decision to befriend Qin Lie.

Now, seeing Song Siyuan and Xie Zhizhang’s flattering attitude after Qin Lie had returned from the Scarlet Tide Continent, he knew that his judgment was right!

—Qin Lie had soared and become a dragon in a foreign land!

“Are we done here?” Qin Lie smiled as he looked at the extremely excited Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian. “Do you wanna give the crystalline war chariot a go and try how it feels to fly in the sky?”

“Of course!” Tu Ze exclaimed.

“I’m going up too. Hehe, let’s see how fast this thing really is!” Tu Mo laughed loudly and forced his way into the chariot despite Tu Ze’s protests.

“Father, do you want to give it a try too?” Zhuo Qian asked cheerfully.

Zhuo Duo himself looked eager for a ride, but when he recalled that Tu Shixiong had just become the Grand Hall Master and needed to deal with a lot of things, he had no choice but to give up and softly laughed and reminded her, “Go and have fun, but make sure you don’t lose control, okay? Remember not to damage the great palaces inside the city!”

“I know, I know, you’re so long-winded!” Zhuo Qian mumbled.

“Let’s go!” Qin Lie let out a long laugh.

The crystalline war chariot he was in immediately soared to the air loudly like a ball of electricity.

Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian exchanged a glance with each other before they started the crystalline war chariots just like Qin Lie had taught them to.

Soon after, the crystalline war chariots soared into the air as the spirit stones glistered with brilliant haloes.

“This is amazing! Haha, I can’t even begin to describe how amazing it feels to fly in the air!”

“I sure hope I can break through to the Fragmentation Realm one day and be able to fly wherever I want with my own power!”

“Faster! Let’s catch up to to Qin Lie!”

“Go go go!”

Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian’s laughter resounded throughout the airspace of Dark Asura Hall as three crystalline war chariots sped and left behind three colorful trails of prismatic light.

Many martial practitioners on Dark Asura Hall plaza looked to the sky, unconcealed envy in their eyes.

“Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian sure are lucky. It takes someone at the level of Zhao Changsheng, the vice sect master of Joyful Union Sect, to own a crystalline war chariot, but now they both have their own crystalline war chariots! What a waste!”

“The Tu Ze Family hit a jackpot!”

“Yeah, who could have expected that the Qin Lie who had been hunted all across the Scarlet Tide Continent would become an important figure that even Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple had to submit to?”

“The fact that he could take out a dozen or so crystalline war chariots at once means that he must have struck it rich in the foreign lands!”

“But he was gone for just two years!”

“This guy had been creating one miracle after another when he was on the Scarlet Tide Continent. His abilities shouldn’t have faded even after he left this place!”

On the ground, everyone was praising Qin Lie and Tu Shixiong’s foresight. They were all admiring Qin Lie’s current abilities.

Standing amidst the crowd, Song Siyuan and Xie Zhizhang were also listening quietly to the commotion around them. They narrowed their eyes at the three crystalline war chariots flying in the eyes and couldn’t help but sigh to themselves too.

A moment of thought later, Song Siyuan suddenly looked at Tu Shixiong and sent him a message. “Old Tu, if you can maintain a close and friendly relationship with Qin Lie, you will definitely earn a seat in Profound Heaven Alliance in the future!”

Tu Shixiong trembled.

Chapter 673: Merrymaking

The three crystalline war chariots drove freely through the skies above Hundred Palace City.

Many Dark Asura Hall martial practitioners were looking up to the sky. They thought that an important figure in Profound Heaven Alliance was showing off the might of a Copper rank force to them.

They had no idea that the drivers of the crystalline war chariots were juniors like Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian.

After playing around in the sky for a while, Zhuo Qian and Tu Ze gradually familiarized themselves with crystalline war chariot’s controls.

A while later, the duo was tired of playing, so they led Qin Lie towards a clump of buildings at the southwestern side of Dark Asura Hall.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”

Three rumbling crystalline war chariots landed at the front of the highest grayish-black-colored palace, alarming many people. The crowd all gathered around the chariots.

“Zhuo Qian, where did you get this flying spirit artifact?”

“This is a crystalline war chariot, right? I think Joyful Union Sect’s men had ridden on this when they came over? How did you come by one?”

“I heard that this thing is incredibly precious!”

Those people exclaimed.

“Kang Zhi! Han Feng! Look who’s here!” Tu Ze walked down from the crystalline war chariot and shouted towards a certain building.

Qin Lie grinned and laughed out loud.

It didn’t take long before little fatty Kang Zhi and the slim Han Feng walked out of the building together. They were both covered in sweat, looking like they had just ended their spirit technique training.

“Qin Lie!” The duo immediately cried out in joy.

Just like Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian, they immediately rushed towards Qin Lie and hugged him strongly.

“Long time no see!” Kang Zhi said excitedly.

“Yeah, long time no see!” Qin Lie exclaimed.

Han Qingrui was also present among the crowd. He was looking at Qin Lie from afar with a look of pleasant surprise and disbelief.

“Isn’t he being hunted by Profound Heaven Alliance?” Kang Zhi’s father, Kang Hui paled slightly and said urgently, “There’re too many people around here. It’s best if we hide him now before it’s too late for him to escape!”

“From today onwards, Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple will no longer treat Qin Lie as an enemy,” Tu Mo said from beside them.

Both Kan Qingrui and Kang Hui had once worked under Tu Mo back at Nebula Pavilion.

After all, Tu Mo was once the pavilion master of Nebula Pavilion.

“First young master, you mean… Qin Lie can walk openly on the Scarlet Tide Continent from here on out?” Kang Zhi exclaimed.

Han Qingrui also looked puzzled by this.

“That’s right,” Tu Mo smiled and said, “In fact… both Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple seem to be currying favor with Qin Lie. I’m not sure what happened, but I can tell that Qin Lie has the power to make both Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple submit right now.”

Both Han Qingrui and Kang Hui were stunned greatly when they heard this.

“Are you sure?” Kang Hui still couldn’t quite believe it.

“Song Siyuan and Xie Zhizhang had come together with Qin Lie, and the moment they showed up my father managed to win the Grand Hall Master election…” Tu Mo lowered his voice and explained everything that had transpired at Dark Asura Hall.

Only after they had heard his story that Kang Hui and Han Qingrui did they finally believe it was real.

“I never imagined that this kid would rise to power so quickly!” Kang Hui sighed.

“I remember clearly that Qin Lie was just a Refinement Realm martial practitioner back when he left the Ling Family and entered Nebula Pavilion.” Han Qingrui stared deeply at Qin Lie and sighed with emotion. “It feels just like yesterday, but that insignificant kid from before had actually grown up into a character that could make both Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple submit.”

Their eyes were filled with amazement.

“Hello, Uncle Han! How are you doing?” Qin Lie noticed them and called out to them.

“Hello to you too! Haha! We’re all doing okay!” Han Qingrui smiled gladly.

“Qin Lie, are these two crystalline war chariots big brother Tu and sister Qian’s?” Kang Zhi snorted and complained, “What about us? Do we get one for ourselves too?”

“Of course, of course!” Qin Lie laughed loudly.

And so Qin Lie took out another two crystalline war chariots under Hang Qingrui, Kang Hui, Tu Mo, and the others’ shocked gazes. He gifted them both to Kang Zhi and Han Feng, and then went on a lecture on how to ride them .

Both Kang Zhi and Han Feng looked so overjoyed they could faint. The second they learned how to use their crystalline war chariots, they immediately fiddled with the vehicles and drove it to the sky.

The duo actually left behind Qin Lie temporarily as they flew about in the sky cheerfully while letting out cries of excitement from time to time.

Dumbfounded by this scene, Qin Lie shook his head and couldn’t help but smile. Then, he walked to Han Qingrui’s and pondered for a moment. He passed a spatial ring to him and said, “Uncle Han, ths ring contains the gifts I have for you. I hope that they will be of use to you all.”

A moment of surprise later, Han Qingrui immediately shook his head and said, “Qin Lie, we’re doing pretty well in Dark Asura Hall. Both Hall Master Tu and the first young master are our former bosses, and they’ve taken good care of us. We’re not lacking cultivation resources or martial arts, so you don’t need to trouble yourself like this.”

“Just give it a look first, will you?” Qin Lie winked at him.

Han Qingrui was surprised by Qin Lie’s reaction. He accepted the spatial ring and probed it with his mind consciousness.

Three seconds later, Han Qingrui shuddered as the light of disbelief shone from his eyes. “Thes spirit materials and pills area all above Profound Grade! There are so many Earth Grade items too! There are even complete sets of spirit artifacts and Earth Grade spirit artifacts too?!”

Han Qingrui lost control and screamed involuntarily.

Beside him, Kang Hui felt his own face tremble in shock as his eyes gleamed at Han Qingrui’s exclamation.

Tu Mo himself was secretly shocked.

Normally speaking, a Black Iron rank force like Dark Asura Hall was only allowed to possess Profound Grade spirit materials, wield Profound Grade spirit artifacts and consume Profound Grade pills.

Only Copper rank forces like Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple were allowed to possess Earth Grade spirit materials and spirit pills.

As for Earth Grade spirit artifacts, they were so rare that not even Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple were in possession of many.

The spatial ring Qin Lie gifted Han Qingrui not only contained many Profound Grade spirit materials, spirit pills, and spirit artifacts, it also had a small amount of Earth Grade spirit pills, spirit materials, and spirit artifacts!

Qin Lie had seized these items when Gold Sun Island had battled against Heavenly Sea Pavilion and Black Cloud Palace back at the Setting Sun Islands.

In fact, a part of it had been seized back when he headed to Heavenly Sea Pavilion and Black Cloud Palace’s territory and robbed them of their wealth.

The items in this spatial ring weren’t really precious to either Gold Sun Island or Blood Fiend Sect. The Profound Grade spirit materials especially were so common that they were of almost no value.

However, Gold Sun Island was a Copper rank force, and Blood Fiend Sect used to be a Silver rank force.

What they viewed as worthless was worth the absolute opposite for Han Qingrui and the others on the Scarlet Tide Continent.

“This is too precious! These items are way too precious!” Hang Qingrui sucked in a deep breath and exclaimed with a look of shock, “I’m pretty sure that even Han Pu hasn’t accumulated this many spirit materials even after so many years!”

“Is it useful to you all?” Qin Lie asked with a smile.

Han Qingrui nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice on the ground.

“That’s good then.” Qin Lie grinned and passed a similar spatial ring to Tu Mo. “Please… accept this spatial ring, Pavilion Master Tu. This is an expression of my gratitude for taking good care of me during my days at Nebula Pavilion.”

Tu Mo shook.

“Back when I was trapped in the Nether Realm, the Tu Family had extended a helping hand towards both me and the Ling Family multiple times. Later on, when I was being hunted all over the continent by Profound Heaven Alliance, it was Tu Ze and Sister Qian who secretly sought out Xie Jingxuan and helped me deliver the message.” Qin Lie’s expression was sincere. “The items in these two spatial rings really aren’t worth that much to me right now, so please don’t turn this down.”

“Alright! I shan’t act like a stranger then!” Tu Mo nodded strongly.

He accepted the spatial ring and probed it with his mind consciousness. Just like Han Qingrui, he shook, his eyes overflowing with excitement.

During the next few days, Qin Lie was making merry with Tu Ze, Zhuo Qian, Kang Hui, and Han Feng in Dark Asura Hall. They chatted happily and reminisced the past.

From their mouths, Qin Lie learned that their lives in the past two years had actually been pretty poor.

This was because Profound Heaven Alliance’s Song Family no longer supported them in secret and caused Tu Shixiong to lose countless bouts in the secret battle against Han Pu. In result, they had lost a lot of their previous privileges.

Meanwhile, they had learned of Qin Lie’s many experiences in the Land of Chaos and just how interesting that place was.

They partied and drank themselves into sleep everyday as if they had returned to the days where they were together at Nebula Pavilion.

In a blink of an eye, seven days passed by just like that.

Today, Qin Lie had sat down together with Tu Mo, Hang Qingrui, Zhuo Qian, and a few familiar faces under Tu Shixiong and Zhuo Duo’s invitation. Everyone was gathered in one place, and the tables were filled with delicacies. The purpose of the feast was to congratulate Tu Shixiong for being elected as the Grand Hall Master, and to welcome Qin Lie officially.

A moment of eating and drinking later.

While playing with his wine goblet, Qin Lie suddenly fell silent before everyone’s eyes.

“Big Brother Tu, Sister Qian, and Uncle Han and everyone… have you ever thought of leaving the Scarlet Tide Continent?” Qin Lie suddenly asked after a moment of thought.

Everyone suddenly fell silent.

“Uncle Tu.” Qin Lie looked to Tu Shixiong and said seriously, “You’re now at the late stage of the Netherpassage Realm, and you’re not far away from reaching the Fulfillment Realm. With your current cultivation, no one in Dark Asura Hall is your match. However, your battle strength is average at best and if you become a member of Profound Heaven Alliance your future growth will be just as limited as Fu Zhouhui’s.”

“The Land of Chaos is different, however. Unlike the Scarlet Tide Continent where two Copper rank forces keep everyone in check, the situation over there is complicated. Eight Extreme Temple and Profound Heaven Alliance are also vassal forces of Heavenly Sword Mountain, so no matter how terrible of a situation occurs, it will never descend into an uncontrollable war.”

“Compared to the Land of Chaos, this place is too peaceful and too… boring.”

Every former Nebula Pavilion martial practitioner present at the table fell silent.

“I believe you’ve already learned about the place and environment I’m at through Big Brother Tu and Sister Qian,” Qin Lie continued, “There are obviously more opportunities to be seized there than here at Dark Asura Hall. Of course, there will be unpredictable risks, and some of you… may even lose your lives as a result.”

“But what I can say for sure is that your realms will improve much, much faster in the Land of Chaos! I should be able to acquire all the materials, precious pills, Earth Grade spirit materials and spirit artifacts, and high grade spirit techniques and spirit arts that you cannot get from Profound Heaven Alliance!”

“I can bring you away from this place!”

Tu Shixiong listened very seriously to his persuasions. After Qin Lie was done speaking, he quietly drank a cup of wine, thought for a moment and said, “It’s a little too early.”

Qin Lie looked surprised.

“From your description, it would seem that not even Profound Heaven Alliance would be able to establish themselves in the Land of Chaos if they were to head over there,” Tu Shixiong’s eyes were calm as he said, “We’re different from the Blood Spear martial practitioners like Lang Xie. They cultivate the Blood Spirit Art and are kindred spirits to Blood Fiend Sect, which is why they were easily accepted by Blood Fiend Sect.”

“But we are different. We are not only outsiders, but outsiders who are so weak that we are of no help to them at all.” Tu Shixiong sighed softly. “Qin Lie, if we were to head over right now, we would only become a burden to them, and you.”

Qin Lie fell silent.

“The spirit materials, spirit pills, and spirit artifacts you brought us are incredibly useful to us. I believe that we will be able to increase our strengths swiftly in a short period of time,” Tu Shixiong looked a little moved, “We will swiftly become stronger. Once I’ve ascended to the Fulfillment Realm, once the others have’ve all improved by a great realm, we will definitely come to look for you at the Setting Sun Islands!”

“Uncle Tu, your plans are more long-sighted than mine,” Qin Lie sighed.

“I know that the ultimate blood ground is at the bottommost floor of Nether Battlefield, and I know that Blood Fiend Sect’s people are there too. It won’t be hard to find you when we are ready.”

“That will work.” Qin Lie nodded.

Chapter 674: Profound Heaven Alliance’s Request

Qin Lie stayed in Dark Asura Hall for a few more days.

He had given out all the spirit materials and spirit artifacts he brought back from the Setting Sun Islands. To him, these companions he made during his teen years were the key figures of the most beautiful memories of his life.

In fact, the reason for his return to the Scarlet Tide Continent was to see Tu Ze and his other friends, and to present them with new opportunities.

It was also because he hoped to take them away from the Scarlet Tide Continent.

But after talking with Tu Shixiong, he realized that his plans might not have been as long-sighted as he believed them to be. In the end, he reached a conclusion that it would be better if they were to be left at the Scarlet Tide Continent for now.

The spirit materials and spirit pills he left behind would aid Tu Ze and everyone else in their cultivation.

Given a bit of time, the Tu Family would be able to swiftly increase their strength and accumulate more power.

Perhaps the best timing for their departure to the Setting Sun Islands would be the moment they thought that their growth would be limited on the Scarlet Tide Continent.

In the end, Qin Lie waited until Tu Ze and the others had knocked themselves out with alcohol once more before he finally sneaked away on the crystalline war chariot.

He had just flown out of Hundred Palace City without a particular direction in mind when an identical-looking crystalline war chariot suddenly appeared before him.

Song Siyuan and Xie Zhizhang stood atop the crystalline war chariot with smiling faces. They seemed to have waited for a very long time.

“Had enough fun?” Song Siyuan asked Qin Lie while smiling.

The latter returned the smile and countered, “You two have been following me since Seven Fiends Valley all the way to Dark Asura Hall. What do you want?”

Xie Zhizhang let out a dry laugh and answered, “We were afraid that you’d start another slaughter and turn the entire Scarlet Tide Continent upside down. We’re also afraid that some clueless people will find an excuse to provoke or offend you, sparking you into action.”

“Am I really that bad in your eyes?” Qin Lie was speechless.

Song Siyuan and Xie Zhizhang broke out in a sweat when they heard his question.

“From the moment I heard your name, you create trouble wherever you set your foot. I also heard that you’ve made enemies everywhere and fought nonstop ever since you entered the Land of Chaos.” Xie Zhizhang’s expression was strange. “How can we possibly let our guard down with so much of your… ‘interesting’ history to refer to? We had no choice but to follow you.”

“How are they doing?” Qin Lie suddenly shot a question that seemed to come out of nowhere.

After a brief moment of confusion, Xie Zhizhang understood and answered, “Both Tingyu and Jingxuan have broken through to the Fulfillment Realm, and they are currently cultivating their families’ secret arts. That is why they have secluded themselves for a time.”

“I see.” Qin Lie frowned. “How long do they need, exactly? If it lasts too long then… I may have to return to the Land of Chaos first.”

“They should be finishing soon,” Song Siyuan hastily said.

“It won’t delay your schedule,” Xie Zhizhang also said.

Qin Lie nodded before he said suddenly, “Alright, talk. What else do you want from me? I refuse to believe that you’ve followed me for such a long time and waited at Dark Asura Hall for so many days for nothing.”

Xie Zhizhang immediately looked embarrassed upon being exposed. He let out an awkward laugh and said, “Uh, I heard that you still have a dozen or so crystalline war chariots in your possession? It sounds like you have plenty of such flying spirit artifacts… don’t you?”

“So?”

“I want, no, Profound Heaven Alliance would like to purchase them from you!” Song Siyuan said seriously.

“Purchase?” Qin Lie let out an odd laughter. “You can go the the Land of Chaos yourself and buy the crystalline war chariots there, can’t you? If you think it’s too far, you can still seek out Sea Moon Island’s Blue Star Association and acquire their aid, right? Why have you come to me instead?”

“Blue Star Association is overly arrogant, and they share a rather bad relationship with all surrounding forces. Also… their prices are a little expensive,” Xie Zhizhang said helplessly.

Blue Star Association sat amidst the Scarlet Tide Continent, Flowing Cloud Continent, and the Land of Chaos. They controlled the teleportation formations and were responsible for selling spirit artifacts and spirit pills to forces like Profound Heaven Alliance.

In general, everything Blue Star Association sold was at least forty percent more expensive than in the Land of Chaos.

A difference of forty percent was too much for a force like Profound Heaven Alliance.

Ever since Profound Heaven Alliance learned that Qin Lie could teleport directly to the Setting Sun Islands through the teleportation formation in the ultimate blood ground, they had a plan in their mind.

They hoped to buy some spirit materials they urgently needed without going through Blue Star Association.

“I still have plenty of crystalline war chariots, but… I don’t seem to be lacking in anything.” Qin Lie rubbed his chin and looked playfully at Xie Zhizhang and Song Siyuan. “What do you have to offer?”

“Do you take spirit stones?”

“I’m not lacking in spirit stones.”

“Scarlet Tide Continent produces a lot of special spirit materials such as the Fiery Solar Jade, Heavenly Cloud Crystal, Water Spirit Jade and so on. You are an artificer yourself; you should know about our local products.”

“To be frank, grade of Scarlet Tide Continent’s spirit materials is just too low. I may not have use for them.”

Both men looked troubled when they heard this. They began to ponder for another offer with wrinkled eyebrows.

Qin Lie’s expression was arrogant.

In the past, Profound Heaven Alliance had targeted and schemed behind his back multiple times. They came very close to annihilating the Horned Demon Race and him. It was impossible for him not to feel at least a bit of grudge towards them.

Therefore, he just had to make their lives difficult at least once since they were begging for his aid now. He wouldn’t feel at ease otherwise.

“I’m not lacking in anything. I’m not trading the crystalline war chariots for anything other than some exceptionally rare spirit materials, or materials that I’m really lacking right now,” Qin Lie said indifferently.

Song Siyuan felt a coming headache. After a moment of consideration, he clenched his teeth in secret, coughed twice and said, “When she came home during this trip, we noticed that Tingyu seemed to have lost her… virginity. I heard that she had been staying with you all the time while she was at the Land of Chaos. Cough cough, as you know, er, Tingyu is the pearl of our Song Family…”

Song Siyuan stopped at what he thought was the appropriate timing.

Xie Zhizhang looked absolutely astonished.

Qin Lie couldn’t help but turn red in immeasurable embarrassment upon hearing this.

“Uh, just tell sister Tingyu to come find me about Profound Heaven Alliance’s purchase of the crystalline war chariots.” After leaving behind these words, Qin Lie escaped on the crystalline war chariot at top speed.

“It really was him!” Song Siyuan shook.

“You didn’t know?” Xie Zhizhang looked surprised.

“I seriously did not.” Song Siyuan’s expression was odd, “We could see that Tingyu was no longer a virgin from both her appearance and movements. But well… it’s inconvenient to ask about such things, so we simply never voiced our thoughts, just guessed that it may have had something to do with Qin Lie.”

After a pause, Song Siyuan’s eyes gradually lit up. “I wasn’t sure if it was Qin Lie either. I was just trying to see if I can trick him, and… it actually worked!”

Song Siyuan snorted and exclaimed in anger, “Damn that little bastard Qin Lie! How dare he put such airs before me when he had that kind of relationship with Tingyu!”

“I see you’re pretty pleased, aren’t you?” Xie Zhizhang curled his lips and said.

“Pleased about what?” Song Siyuan frowned.

“Pleased that Tingyu’s lover is Qin Lie, of course.” Xie Zhizhang said enviously. “Jingxuan… is so, so much more inferior to Tingyu in this aspect. Although she knew Qin Lie earlier than Tingyu, her skin was so thin that she just couldn’t force herself upon Qin Lie knowing that he shared a love relationship with that Ling Family girl…”

“Are you taking a dig at me?” Song Siyuan snorted. “Why do I sense a bit of jealousy from your tone?”

“Because I am envious alright!” Xie Zhizhang rolled his eyes at him.

After departing from Dark Asura Hall and a moment of hesitation, Qin Lie suddenly flew towards Herb Mountain.

He rarely got to come back, so he wished to walk around Herb Mountain, stay in Ling Town for a day or two, and recall the olden days for a bit before returning to the Land of Chaos.

Herb Mountain and Ling Town belonged to Nebula Pavilion’s domain, so naturally they weren’t too far away from Dark Asura Hall.

It only took him two hours of flight on crystalline war chariot to reach the night sky above Herb Mountain.

Qin Lie looked down.

Herb Mountain had long since turned into a pile of rubble.

Two years ago, the Ling Family and Horned Demon Race clansmen had teleported to the Nether Continent through the teleportation formation inside Herb Mountain.

After the teleportation process had ended, the formation had exploded immediately, causing the entire Herb Mountain to collapse.

Herb Mountain had disappeared, and Ling Town was the only site that was left intact.

Qin Lie watched a little while longer under the dim moon before he flew towards Ling Town on the crystalline war chariot.

“Eh?”

After a moment of observation, he actually discovered a weak light pouring out of the small buildings of Ling Town.

Qin Lie was surprised internally as he withdrew the crystalline war chariot and sneaked his way into Ling Town. he wanted to see who it was that had visited Ling Town after such a long time.

Carefully hiding himself, Qin Lie arrived at the small buildings with weak lighting, moved near a window and looked inside.

It was only a single glance, but his body shook slightly as an immeasurably conflicted look sprung up his face.

He saw Liu Ting.

Chapter 675: Resolving The Matter That Gnaws One’s Mind

The group of people who appeared at Ling Town was actually Liu Ting, Wei Li, and a few other from Nebula Pavilion.

Qin Lie frowned and wore a conflicted expression on his face as he hid beneath the window.

He stared quietly into the room from the window and noticed that Wei Li and Liu Ting were arguing about something.

“It’s been two years, but that Yao Tian hadn’t come to Nebula Pavilion to search for you or return to Ling Town at all. To a wandering martial practitioner like him, you… are just an interesting woman and nothing else.” Wei Li snorted with a stiff expression. “You were never in his mind!”

Liu Ting bit her lips and said, “Maybe Big Brother Yao was delayed by something. That’s why he hadn’t returned yet. Also, he… killed those Dark Asura Hall men, Feng Yi and the Feng Family clansmen. The reason he hadn’t come to look for me at Nebula Pavilion must be because he was worried for trouble.”

“Women really do become foolish when they fall in love!” Wei Li sneered.

“It’s none of your business even if I’m acting foolish!” Liu Ting’s face turned cold. “I just came to Ling Town to relieve some boredom. Why have you come with me?”

Wei Li’s eyes dimmed. “You know my feelings already.”

Liu Ting frowned and thought for a moment. Then, she answered, “You and I grew up together. We are too familiar with each other. I… can only think of you as my little brother, but not as a lover.”

“You’ve only known that Yao Tian for several days. Is he really that attractive? It’s been two years. For the past two years, you’ve not only turned me down, but many other suitors your father had sought for you. Is it all because of that Yao Tian?” Wei Li found it hard to accept.

“I don’t understand myself. I just… can’t forget him,” Liu Ting said quietly.

Two year had gone by, and Liu Ting had grown taller since he last saw her. Her figure was slim, and her legs were straight. An attractive glimmer circulated around her eyes.

She was growing to be more and more beautiful.

Outside the window, Qin Lie’s figure melted into the night. He couldn’t help but smile when he heard Liu Ting and Wei Li’s conversation.

He never thought that Liu Ting would actually fall in love with him.

When he first entered Nebula Pavilion, he was just a young teenager with nothing special to speak of. He was just an artificer apprentice working under Yao Tai.

Due to his relationship with Kang Zhi and the others, Liu Ting had hated him and targeted him on every possible occasion.

Later on, the innocent Yao Tai was dragged into a mess and was swept out of Nebula Pavilion as a result. He himself was chased by Nebula Pavilion for the murder of Du Haitian and had vanished since then.

As a result, Qin Lie harbored ill intentions towards Liu Ting.

Two years ago, the reason he donned a new identity, changed his countenance and seduced Liu Ting under the name of “Yao Tian” was for vengeance.

He was hoping to attack Feng Yi through Liu Ting and expose Liu Ting’s fickle nature in the process.

He had succeeded in the end.

Driven to a corner, Feng Yi took drastic measures and was ultimately killed by him. Liu Ting herself was fooled like a headless chicken.

Once he had succeeded in his objective, he found a random excuse and left the place. Not long after that, he clashed against Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple and forgot about Liu Ting entirely.

He never thought that Liu Ting would turn down one proposal after another for two years straight, seemingly waiting for him all this time.

He suddenly felt a bout of strange amusement.

Back then, he, a ripe greenhorn who entered Nebula Pavilion, was given no attention by Liu Ting at all. Moreover, he was often scorned against and attacked repeatedly by her.

But after he grew stronger at Armament Sect, experienced a breakthrough in realm and encountered Liu Ting once more, he only needed to switch a face and an identity to easily win Liu Ting’s heart. He had caused Liu Ting to lose two years of her life in a false relationship; one that she was so deep in that she couldn’t walk away.

The two points of interaction between Liu Ting and him were as different as heaven and earth.

“Why is that?” Qin Lie thought to himself.

A long time later, he gradually came to understood why.

Liu Ting had never changed. She had always been the way she was be it in terms of identity, behavior, appearance, or realm. She had never changed.

But he himself had changed completely.

When he first entered Nebula Pavilion, he was wooden, shy, weak and introvert. He possessed neither an outstanding identity nor any self-confidence.

The second time he encountered Liu Ting, he was arrogant, brash, powerful and full of confidence. He had also picked up a brand new identity.

Although in both cases it was still him, his time at Armament Sect, his battles in the Nether Realm, and his experience as a foreign delegate at Profound Heaven Alliance had increased his charisma by leaps and bounds when he encountered Liu Ting once more. He was a far better man, which was why Liu Ting had looked favorably upon him and fell for him easily.

“Change and the improvement of one’s insight, mind and strength would naturally cause someone to exude a completely different aura. So that’s why…” Qin Lie abruptly came to realization.

It was at this moment he experienced a magical feeling of enlightenment, deepening his knowledge.

Fulfillment Realm focused on the evolution of a martial practitioner’s mind. Such enlightenments were useful to the improvement of his strength and realm.

The realization of his life’s experiences made Qin Lie feel as if he had suddenly grown mature. As he compared the past him and current him, he noticed that he was gradually understanding himself and his mind better and better.

Understanding of one’s true self and mind was a problem that every Fulfillment Realm martial practitioner had to face.

He had no intentions of meeting Liu Ting again. After comparing the past and present, and achieving a minor breakthrough in the attainment of his mind, Qin Lie quietly retreated and headed outside Ling Town.

He was ready to leave.

However, just as he walked out of Ling Town and was about to take out his crystalline war chariot, he sensed a soul ripple.

He looked to the distance and, much to his surprise, he saw a small group of Nebula Pavilion martial practitioners riding on some Golden Crag Beasts.

The leader of the group happened to be none other than Liu Yan.

A moment of surprise later, he suddenly changed his mind, paused his footsteps and stood right at the entrance of Ling Town.

Liu Yan and his team swiftly approached.

“Eh?”

Liu Yan pulled the reins and stopped his mount forcefully after letting out an outburst of exclamation. He looked at him in puzzlement.

Qin Lie smiled as he looked at Liu Yan.

“You’re…” Liu Yan’s eyebrows became locked as he thought hard. “You look very much like a friend of mine.”

“May we talk in private?” Qin Lie smiled and said.

Liu Yan nodded after a moment’s hesitation. He told his subordinates to head to Ling Town first while he stayed back alone.

“Which friend of yours do I look like, pray tell?” Qin Lie finally asked with a smile.

“You’re… Qin Lie?” Liu Yan gradually came to realization and couldn’t stop himself from letting out a soft exclamation, “It can’t be? Are you really Qin Lie?”

“Hello, Big Brother Liu!” Qin Lie laughed loudly.

Liu Yan’s mind went blank for several seconds. Then, he suddenly rushed to Qin Lie and punched him solidly in the chest, exclaiming in a low tone, “How dare you show up at this place?”

“Why would I not?” Qin Lie countered.

“Two years ago, Profound Heaven Alliance and Eight Extreme Temple had sent the word saying that all Scarlet Tide Continent martial practitioners are to kill you on sight! Moreover, we were all ordered to report if we ever saw you!” Liu Yan said anxiously, “No one saw you, did they?”

Liu Yan was a Nebula Pavilion martial practitioner, and Dark Asura Hall stood between his sect and Profound Heaven Alliance. That was why Profound Heaven Alliance’s news took a long time to reach Liu Yan.

It was obvious that he didn’t know the changes in the outside world.

“From today onwards, Eight Extreme Temple and Profound Heaven Alliance will only be fit to grovel under my feet. There’s no way they would dare to go against me, so you may relax,” Qin Lie smiled and replied.

“You’re much more boastful than you used to be, I see!” Liu Yan chuckled softly and said, “Why have you suddenly decided to come home? I haven’t seen you since you left Icestone City.” As nostalgia caught up to him, he sighed. ” It’s been so many years since then.”

Back then, Qin Lie, the Ling Family clansmen, and Gao Yu were workers mining spirit materials from Celestial Wolf Mountain. Liu Yan was the supervisor.

Later on, the discovery of the Fiery Solar Jade resulted in Feng Family leaking the information to Shattered Ice Manor, causing Qin Lie and others to be chased into Celestial Wolf Mountain in order to silence them.

The strong friendship between him and Liu Yan was built from the moment they joined hands against Shattered Ice Manor’s Yan Dewu, and strengthened by the time they spent escaping.

“We’ve met each other two years ago. Do you remember?” Qin Lie smiled strangely.

“We’ve met each other two years ago?” Liu Yan shook his head in a daze and said, “No way. I would remember if we met.”

“Think harder. We met right here.” Qin Lie tried to jog his memory.

“Nope, we’ve definitely not met each other,” Liu Yan said affirmatively.

“Two years ago, I’ve asked you about medicinal herbs around Ling Town. However, hehe, it seemed that you were pretty annoyed by me back then,” Qin Lie said with a smile.

After Qin Lie’s reminder, Liu Yan tried for a long time to recall the memory as best as he could until, finally, he shuddered as the light of amazement burst from his eyes, “Were you Yao Tian?!”

Qin Lie nodded with a smile.

“You bastard! I can’t believe I’ve been deceived for such a long time!” Liu Yan punched Qin Lie’s chest several times again in anger. “You’ve grown a few sizes, huh? You enjoy teasing your Brother Liu that much?”

“I had my reasons back then.” Qin Lie sighed.

Liu Yan frowned and pondered for a moment. Then, he said suddenly, “What you did to Liu Ting was a little too despicable and dishonest.”

“You’re right.” Qin Lie admitted it obediently.

“It may have been a moment of inspiration for you, but it was two years of misery for Liu Ting. She couldn’t forget you for the past two years.” Liu Yan shook his head with a sigh and said, “Liu Yuntao may have been unfair, and Liu Ting may have caught a lot of unruliness because of him, but her nature wasn’t really that bad. What you did was a little excessive.”

“Will it be better if you tell her about my identity and explain things so that she’ll forget about me?” Qin Lie said, feeling a headache coming on.

“Oh no! Absolutely not!” Liu Yan’s expression changed. “She’d suffered enough misfortune already. She didn’t know that she was being tricked by you back then and thought that she had found her true love.” He sighed. “If she learned your true identity and figured out that Yao Tian had all along been that Qin Lie she used to disdain, I’m afraid she would crumble under the pressure and attempt suicide.”

Liu Yan sighed again and added, “Her punishment is cruel enough already. If she learned that you were Yao Tian, then it wouldn’t just be cruel—it’d be ruthless!”

“Alright.” Qin Lie nodded. “Big Brother Liu, what are you doing at Ling Town?”

“I’m here to summon Liu Ting and her people back to Nebula Pavilion, of course.” Liu Yan looked helpless.

“How is Nebula Pavilion doing?”

“What can we do? Liu Yuntao had no notable achievements, and Nebula Pavilion hadn’t improved for the past couple of years. If Liu Yuntao hadn’t managed to cling onto Han Pu’s thigh he probably wouldn’t have been able to preserve his seat as pavilion master.”

“What about you? And what about Enforcer Ye Yangqiu? How are you guys doing at Nebula Pavilion? Oh right, if you feel like this life isn’t right for you, you can seek out Tu Shixiong at Dark Asura Hall.”

“We’ll definitely be heading to Dark Asura Hall, but now is not the time. We’ll need to improve our strength before we can cross over from a Limestone rank force to a Black Iron rank one.”

“I see.”

Qin Lie thought for a moment and passed a spatial ring to Liu Yan, saying, “Big Brother Liu, there are some spirit materials, spirit pills, and some Profound Grade and Earth Grade spirit artifacts here. Keep a part of them to yourself and help deliver the rest to the Gao Family’s patriarch for me, will you? Just say that Gao Yu had sent him the goods.”

Liu Yan received the spatial ring and was stunned beyond imagination after he checked its contents for just a little. He even stuttered as he spoke, “W-where did you get so many treasures?”

“I snatched them.” Qin Lie grinned.

Liu Yan’s eyes burst with the light of amazement, and it took him many deep breaths before he finally calmed down. “Have you seen Gao Yu?”

“Mm, Gao Yu and I are both at the same place. He’s doing well, you don’t need to worry about him,” Qin Lie answered.

“Even back then, I knew that both you and Gao Yu possessed limitless potential. Now, I’ve been proven right” Liu Yan sighed. “But still, isn’t it a little too fast? It’s only been a little over ten years!”

Qin Lie gave Liu Yan a smile and chatted with him for a while. A jug of wine later, Qin Lie ultimately got up and left.

When he took out the crystalline war chariot and soared to the sky while accompanied by the rumbling sounds of its engine, Liu Yan stared blankly at him from the ground with even greater amazement.

“That’s a flying spirit artifact! I may have underestimated the little guy! Amazing, truly amazing!”