“Senior Brother, you’re going to fight them until they hand over the evidence?” Zhang Danju stared at Qi Ping with wide eyes.
Because of his own insufficient strength and Qi Ping’s need to lie low and lure out the enemy, he had never considered this approach. As expected—it had to be Senior Brother Lin Ya!
“Exactly! We may need to lie low and lure the enemy, but that doesn’t mean we have to swallow our pride. Otherwise, a drastic change in my public persona would actually draw more suspicion!” Qi Ping nodded firmly.
“Senior Brother Ya makes sense! Given the losses and gains involved, the powers behind Starfall City won’t fall out with us over this matter. Core resource competition within the sect is fierce—in fact, this trap isn’t just aimed at us, it’s aimed at them too!”
Han Li also agreed with Qi Ping’s view.
“Time is short—come with me and act now!”
With that, Qi Ping took the lead, transforming into a streak of light that shot out of Qingxian Manor and soared above Starfall City!
Over the past few years, he had arranged for Han Li and Zhang Danju to secretly gather evidence of crimes committed by all the key figures in Starfall City. Now it was time to put some of it to use.
According to the Qingyuan Sect’s rules, even though Qi Ping was an inner sect disciple and the highest-ranking garrison commander of a region, he couldn’t casually kill cultivators within his jurisdiction.
Killing a few was generally overlooked, but if he killed too many, it would be easy for his rivals in the sect to expose and pursue the matter.
Still, as garrison commander, he did have certain authorities. It didn’t matter if some evidence was missing—basic confirmation was enough, as long as soul-searching could extract the truth.
Moments later, Qi Ping, Han Li, and Zhang Danju all shot up into the sky above Starfall City, releasing their aura without reservation.
Qi Ping’s was especially fearsome—with the five elements in mutual generation, the violent true essence of water and fire within him was even more terrifying than before. The killing power of his second-realm dao heart swept down from midair.
This spectacle instantly drew the attention of everyone in Starfall City.
After all, normally in Starfall City, there were height restrictions on Foundation Establishment cultivators flying. No one would be allowed to hover in a position looming over the entire city—let alone release such powerful aura and killing intent without reservation.
“Who is that? So bold! Even if you’re strong, you can’t do this, can you? Don’t they know Starfall City is now under Lord Lin Ya—” someone exclaimed in shock.
But when they saw the white-robed figure brimming with killing intent in midair, their shock gave way to fear.
The leading figure in the sky—wasn’t that Lin Ya of the Qingyuan Sect?
“No way? Who provoked this mighty figure?” Countless people were alarmed and uncertain.
Some felt a sudden sense of foreboding.
Qi Ping’s fearsome reputation still stood, but his name was far worse than before.
Ever since word spread that Qi Ping had reached a cooperation agreement with the black-market bosses of Starfall City, the reputation he’d earned in Lingxiao City—saving the rogue cultivator couple and wiping out the Huang family in the name of justice—had gradually faded.
From a cultivator admired by countless rogue cultivators, he had become a jackal sitting at the dinner table, fleecing the lower classes and ignoring their lives and deaths.
This had plunged many high-level cultivators who had once held hope for the Qingyuan Sect back into despair.
“So the cultivation world is still the same as before. Ordinary cultivators’ lives aren’t lives—who really cares?”
“Livestock should know their place as livestock. How could they ever enjoy the same safety as the upper class?”
“In the end, no one escapes that dye vat. The Qingtian Region has actually produced quite a few admirable people like Lord Lin Ya, but in the end they either died or became the very thing they once hated!”
“The world is broken! With the world like this, what hope is there? How can an individual’s power overcome the tide of the times?”
But for most people, this was simply how the world was—and it wasn’t all that bad.
The sky may be dark, but at least there was still room to scrape by and live a modest life. And if opportunity came knocking, there was always a chance to soar to the heavens.
Still, a few minority held different views:
“Maybe Lord Lin Ya has no choice? No matter how strong he is, he’s just one person—could he really stand against the entire ruling class?”
“Yeah, if you become a misfit among the ruling class, it’s easy to end up dead!”
“I believe in Lord Lin Ya, because I saw with my own eyes how he saved that rogue cultivator couple. He just needs time…”
“Maybe one day, someone will break through the shackles of the heavens and make the world a little better?”
It was precisely because of the drastic change in Qi Ping’s public reputation that many people now held different thoughts.
Some thought Qi Ping and the black-market bosses of Starfall City were dogs fighting dogs.
Others felt a glimmer of hope in their hearts.
But what they all shared was an intense, burning curiosity—Qi Ping, this highly controversial figure, had appeared again, and in such a murderous stance. What was he trying to do?
Obviously, this was bound to be a major event!
Under countless expectant and curious gazes, Qi Ping swept his eyes across Starfall City and then spoke coldly:
“Xianyu Tower, Xiaoyao Pill Pavilion, Hongyun Merchant Guild—I’ll give you ten breaths to come out and face me!”
Qi Ping’s voice wasn’t loud, nor was it rushed—but backed by his spiritual power and killing intent, it had a penetrating quality that made one’s scalp tingle.
After his voice fell, Qi Ping said no more, simply closing his eyes and hovering quietly in midair.
The entire Starfall City fell silent at that moment.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths, four breaths, five breaths…
Five breaths passed, and there was still no movement.
Everyone held their breath and waited, wanting to know whether these three famous, top-tier powers of Starfall City would obediently come out.
And if they didn’t—what would happen?
Just after the fifth breath, two figures suddenly flew out from Xianyu Tower and Xiaoyao Pill Pavilion—none other than the leaders of those two powers.
These two, who were normally respected wherever they went, now stopped at a position slightly lower than Qi Ping’s feet and cupped their fists in unison, saying respectfully:
“Greetings, Lord Lin Ya!”
Qi Ping didn’t respond—he simply kept his eyes closed.
Only when ten breaths had passed did Qi Ping open his eyes.
Seeing that no one from Hongyun Merchant Guild had appeared, his expression didn’t shift in the slightest—nor did he stomp about in embarrassment.
He simply calmly circulated the spiritual power within his body, and then a deep blue raindrop the size of a fist shot from his hand, flying toward Hongyun Merchant Guild.
And when that raindrop—looking like a burning blue sapphire—appeared, everyone’s scalp went numb!
