Upon hearing those words, a sinister smile once again crept across Feng Wuyá’s shadowed face, a smile so cold it could freeze one’s blood.

  It was clear he had already anticipated Qin Yi’s hesitation. Calmly, he began to explain:

  “The City Lord didn’t order us to act now,” he said slowly.“We’ll soon be entering the secret realm so naturally, it’s impossible to carry it out beforehand.”“The City Lord’s meaning is that we act during the Sect Grand Tournament.”

  He paused, his eyes glinting with malicious delight.

  “By that time, we’ll have returned from the secret realm, and all of the sect’s rules will be lifted. When that happens even if we kill her no punishment will follow.”

  A strange gleam flickered in his eyes as he leaned closer, lowering his voice into a tone thick with temptation.

  “For you, this is an enormous deal. Not only will I grant you the method to build your Foundation, but the wealth Su Meier leaves behind after her death we’ll split it evenly.”“Think about it. She’s the daughter of the Xuan Sect’s Master imagine her fortune. Her cave dwelling is filled with countless spirit stones and treasures, and she keeps dozens of handmaids there. Once we succeed… all of it will belong to us! To you, that’s a fortune beyond dreams!”

  Qin Yi pressed his lips together, remaining silent. Yet, his eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.

  Feng Wuyá seemed to have accounted for everything—his plan was seamless, leaving no visible flaw.Still, Qin Yi harbored a deeper doubt.

  “It’s true the Sect Tournament removes all restrictions,” he said finally, meeting Feng Wuyá’s gaze. “But there’s still one rule disciples can only attack those of the same generation. Su Meier entered the sect years before me. There’s no way she’s considered my peer. So how am I supposed to strike at her?”

  Feng Wuyá burst into laughter.

  “Hahaha! It seems Brother Qin still doesn’t fully understand the sect’s rules.”

  He slowly reined in his laughter, eyes gleaming as he explained:

  “The rule only forbids us from attacking junior disciples. It exists to prevent older disciples like us from bullying newcomers.But you’re perfectly free to challenge senior brothers and sisters

  the sect not only allows it, it even encourages it.

  His voice darkened.

  “Of course, once you strike first, they can retaliate freely without any penalty. That’s why most disciples never dare risk it.But we… are different.”

  He leaned closer, whispering with a cruel grin.

  “You are her emotional tribulation and I have my own methods to deal with her. If we work together properly, she’ll never even have the chance to fight back.”

  Qin Yi had to admit inwardly this madman’s plan, deranged as it was, did have merit.If Feng Wuyá wasn’t lying, then the plan might indeed succeed.

  But… could he really trust that?

  He didn’t believe for a second that Feng Wuyá was being completely honest.No matter what the man said, Qin Yi had no intention of truly cooperating at least, not beyond appearances.

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  His hesitation slowly faded, replaced by a calm, calculating look.

  “Since you’ve thought everything through,” he said at last, feigning acceptance, “it would seem foolish of me to refuse. But tell me what exactly do you want me to do?”

  “Right now, nothing,” Feng Wuyá replied smoothly. “When the time comes, I’ll tell you. For now, let’s seal our agreement.”

  He reached into his robe and pulled out a yellowed leather scroll, handing it to Qin Yi.

  As soon as Qin Yi took it, he could feel the pulse of restrictive magic woven into it.

  He distrusted any contract made within the demonic sect by instinct but this one was remarkably simple.

  It stated only this: the two would cooperate to assassinate Su Meier.If successful, Feng Wuyá would grant Qin Yi the Foundation Establishment method and half of Su Meier’s wealth as payment.Regardless of the outcome, neither could disclose the matter to anyone.

  Qin Yi examined it carefully no hidden clauses, no traps.He nodded slightly.

  “You sign first,” he said.

  Without hesitation, Feng Wuyá pressed a drop of blood from his fingertip onto the scroll.

  Qin Yi followed suit.The contract was sealed.

  On the surface, this bound him to attack Su Meier or suffer the contract’s backlash.But in truth, it was as good as waste paper.

  Though he couldn’t speak of it aloud, his true body safe within the cave dwelling would know everything.If he warned Liu Meng in advance, she could alert Su Meier and foil the plot entirely.

  More importantly, after signing the pact, Feng Wuyá would truly believe they were allies.In the secret realm to come, that misplaced trust might give Qin Yi the perfect chance to strike him instead.

  Of course, Feng Wuyá was likely thinking the same thing.So Qin Yi knew he’d have to tread carefully.

  The demonic sect was a perilous place.One wrong step could mean death.

  After reaching their “agreement,” Feng Wuyá’s form dissipated like a wisp of smoke, vanishing silently from the stone chamber.The surrounding disciples of Blood Feast Valley seemed utterly unaware that he had ever been there.

  Qin Yi finally understood—this must be why Feng Wuyá had come in pure spirit form, unattached to his soul banner.Only that way could he remain completely undetected, even if it meant greatly weakening his power.

  Which could only mean one thing he was telling the truth.Otherwise, he would never risk so much.

  Qin Yi set the thought aside, resuming his seated posture on the stone bed.He closed his eyes, focusing on his cultivation, preparing for tomorrow’s journey into the secret realm

  Meanwhile, far away in the City Lord’s mansion in Luoshan City

  In a secluded chamber, Liu Ba had just swallowed a pill.Instantly, a torrent of pure spiritual energy erupted from the depths of his dantian!

  By his own estimation, his spiritual reservoir had already reached its limit any further intake should have simply leaked away.Yet under the pill’s surge, that “full” lake of energy began to rise once again without dissipating.

  He could feel it vividly now the invisible barrier within him being struck again and again.

  It was the bottleneck to the mid-stage of Qi Refinement.

  He had experienced this sensation before many times.But now, in his state as a wandering soul, he could sense it with unprecedented clarity.

  And through that clarity, realization dawned.

  To break through the bottleneck, mere accumulation of energy was not enough.Disciples of both the Xuan Sect and Blood Feast Valley relied on external power to ascend.

  For Blood Feast Valley disciples, it meant consuming three cultivators of the same realm.For Xuan Sect disciples, it meant enslaving three new servants and absorbing their energy.

  That was why Liu Meng always needed new thralls the old ones’ energy had long since been assimilated, no longer “external.”

  If so… could the energy within the pill count as external?

  He soon had his answer.

  The pill’s energy was quickly spent yet his bottleneck still held firm.Then suddenly, the pill flared once more, releasing another surge of power.

  Liu Ba focused, ramming his will against the barrier again only for that energy, too, to vanish.

  And yet, just before the pill was fully refined, it released one final burst stronger than the rest.

  With that last impact

  Crack!

  He felt a sharp, echoing break from the depths of his very soul.

  The barrier had shattered.

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