After weighing everything and finding no issues, Qi Ping decided to accept the three missions: killing the human-demon butcher, annihilating the Foundation Establishment Huang family that had colluded with a demon sect, and destroying the Foundation Establishment demon insects in the Black Mountain Range.
All three missions had led to the deaths of late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, so the risk wasn’t low. But the contribution points were quite generous. Compared to farming or garrison missions, only these could satisfy Qi Ping’s need to quickly earn contribution points and exchange them for knowledge. Other missions wouldn’t even come close to earning enough in a hundred years.
When he arrived before the Foundation Establishment steward in charge of accepting Foundation Establishment missions, Qi Ping stated his intentions under the steward’s slightly surprised gaze. He quickly accepted the missions and received the mission information.
Nothing troublesome happened during the process.
“Senior Brother Ya, wait for me!”
Just as Qi Ping was about to head to where the human-demon butcher had appeared, a voice suddenly called out to him.
Qi Ping turned around and saw a plump figure rushing over at top speed. It was Zhang Danju, an inner sect disciple at mid-stage Foundation Establishment who had discussed cultivation with him several times.
Qi Ping had a fairly good impression of Zhang Danju. He had decent insight into cultivation techniques, and he hadn’t distanced himself from Qi Ping just because Qi Ping had offended the three major factions.
“Brother Zhang, rushing over like this—is something the matter?” Qi Ping asked, looking at the hurried Zhang Danju with some confusion.
“Senior Brother Ya, I got word that you’re about to accept missions and leave the sect, so I rushed over!”
“Let me tell you, you absolutely must not accept any dangerous missions that require leaving the sect. The last ‘Pillar of the Sect’ evaluator in our sect died exactly like that. It’s hard to say what really happened, but I remember when I was young, a private tutor told me that a wise man doesn’t stand beneath a crumbling wall. With your talent, Senior Brother, if you develop steadily, everything will come to you in time.”
When Zhang Danju finished speaking, he used voice transmission, and his expression was quite serious. Clearly, he knew this matter couldn’t be discussed casually.
Qi Ping understood—so he had come to warn him. This gesture warmed Qi Ping’s heart slightly.
“Thank you for telling me, Brother Zhang. I’ll be careful. I’ll only take missions I’m confident I can handle!”
“That’s good then. If you say so, Senior Brother Ya, then I’m relieved!” Zhang Danju smiled honestly, feeling reassured.
He felt that Qi Ping not only had remarkable insight into cultivation, which had given him many inspirations, but was also very smart. He probably wouldn’t do anything dangerous. So after reminding Qi Ping, he hurried back to attend to his own matters.
After watching Zhang Danju leave, Qi Ping continued heading toward the human-demon butcher’s location.
But just as he reached the Qingyuan Sect’s mountain gate, another figure blocked his path.
“Brother Han…” Qi Ping looked somewhat helplessly at Han Li, who had an unremarkable appearance yet gave off an extraordinary feeling.
“Senior Brother Ya, you… sigh.”
Han Li let out a sigh. Back then, he had repeatedly urged Qi Ping to pick a side—especially the strongest faction. That way, after a hundred years or so, he might achieve the Golden Core.
But he hadn’t expected that not long after, he would hear news of Qi Ping rejecting the olive branches from all three major factions. And now he was about to go execute missions just like that senior brother before him.
Yet looking at Qi Ping’s determined and confident eyes, the words of warning stuck in his throat and were swallowed back down. In the end, all he could say was:
“Be careful in everything!”
“Thank you!” Qi Ping smiled calmly, cupped his fists toward Han Li, and continued on his way.
He didn’t think Zhang Danju and Han Li were being nosy. On the contrary, he felt what they said was right—that was the true way to survive.
If this weren’t his tree-person clone, and if he didn’t have extremely high confidence in his own strength, Qi Ping wouldn’t dare act this way either.
But these things were his greatest secrets, and he could never tell anyone else.
Still, having these two around made Qi Ping feel warmth in his heart while also making him realize that many things weren’t beyond saving—it was just that the wicked were in power, and bad money was driving out good.
Once the darkness pressing down upon the sky was lifted, at least he wouldn’t find a hopeless land teeming with maggots and parasites.
“First target: the human-demon butcher in Sanhuang County, at the edge of the Qingtian Domain.”
With Qi Ping’s current late-stage Foundation Establishment traveling speed, it would take four or five days to get there.
But after arriving at Sanhuang County, just when Qi Ping thought he would need to expend considerable effort to find the human-demon butcher’s trail, he discovered that the human-demon butcher hadn’t even tried to hide. He was openly staying right there in Sanhuang County.
At this moment, in Sanhuang County, inside a courtyard thick with murderous aura, a vicious formation constructed from human heads was set up. The human-demon butcher—a Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator whose surrounding murderous aura was nearly dense enough to condense into liquid—sat cross-legged at the center of the formation, openly absorbing and gathering the murderous aura within.
The human-demon butcher was bare-chested, his muscular upper body covered in terrifying demonic patterns and blood patterns. Behind him was a Ten-Thousand Soul Banner, its demonic aura soaring to the heavens!
Against the backdrop of that terrifying murderous aura and killing intent, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator might have their mind shaken with just a single glance!
This person truly lived up to the name of human-demon butcher. More than one late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator had died at his hands.
“Lin Ya of the Qingyuan Sect?” The human-demon butcher grinned at Qi Ping, his eyes full of appreciation and satisfaction.
“You seem to have known I was coming? Someone tipped you off?” Qi Ping asked with a frown.
“Otherwise, why do you think I could stay safely within the Qingtian Domain?” The human-demon butcher answered without any hesitation. Then he even brazenly sized up Qi Ping and praised him:
“Not bad, not bad. I’ve heard you have four supreme-grade talents and a rare supreme-grade soul talent. Perfect—my Human Emperor Banner is missing a main soul, and yours will do nicely! I can also bathe my banner in the flesh and blood of your three supreme-grade talents!”
As the human-demon butcher’s words fell, he raised both hands, and a second-tier mid-grade Four Directions Murderous Condensation Formation rose up, encompassing both him and Qi Ping within it.
Then the Ten-Thousand Demon Banner behind him shook, and countless demonic souls howled out. In an instant, the entire space was covered in rolling demonic energy, and broad daylight turned to dark night!
“Kid, obediently enter my Human Emperor Banner! I’ll definitely nurture you well!” The human-demon butcher grinned, his eyes full of greed!
He had set up this grand murderous condensation formation, which resonated with the Ten-Thousand Demon Banner. Even a Foundation Establishment perfection cultivator would die here!
“You seem very confident?” Qi Ping said calmly.
A second-tier mid-grade formation set up with a formation disk—and he dared to show it off in front of him? It was full of flaws before his eyes?
“Playing tricks!” The human-demon butcher looked at Qi Ping’s demeanor, and for some reason, a trace of unease flashed through his heart.
But with everything prepared in advance like this, most Foundation Establishment perfection cultivators would fall here—let alone Qi Ping, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Yet under that growing unease, he still decided to end things quickly. So in an instant, he erupted with full power, and endless demonic murderous energy and demonic souls roared toward Qi Ping like a rolling torrent!
That terrifying strike was enough to crush most Foundation Establishment cultivators!
But facing that terrifying attack, Qi Ping—dressed in white robes—merely condensed layers of water-ripple-like spiritual power shields before him, casually blocking the terrifying attack.
Then Qi Ping simply waved his hand, and blue and red water droplets radiating terrifying pressure and wrapped in terrifying killing power instantly took form.
Immediately after, they pierced through all the surrounding murderous aura, demonic energy, and demonic souls with terrifying speed and penetration!
Blazing Flow Burst!
As Qi Ping moved, a series of explosions several grades stronger than Blazing Explosion Fireballs rang out one after another!
At the same time, an incomparably terrifying blue flame, like a bone-burrowing parasite, swept over everything around it, burning fiercely!
The terrifying combat power of water and fire merging was displayed at this moment.
In an instant, the formation collapsed, the attack dissipated, and the demonic energy was torn apart! Night once again became day!
“How is this possible!”
Qi Ping’s terrifying strike directly shattered the human-demon butcher’s conviction, causing his body to tremble uncontrollably.
The murderous aura in his eyes vanished without a trace, completely replaced by fear!
Then the human-demon butcher instantly reacted, burning his essence blood as he turned and fled madly!
But how could Qi Ping give him that chance? His figure surged forward explosively like flowing water, quickly pursuing.
Then a blazing stream, with irresistible force, instantly shattered the human-demon butcher’s spiritual power shield. A violent explosion followed, and the human-demon butcher’s physical body shattered on the spot!
Then Qi Ping’s figure suddenly appeared at the spot where the human-demon butcher’s body had shattered. With a single grab, he pulled out a soul trembling with fear.
Qi Ping paid no attention to the human-demon butcher’s terrified and pleading gaze. His soul power instantly covered it.
Soul Search!
