Ready to go big or go home

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Amidst the sharp whistling of slicing air, two icy sword beams shot across the sky.

Thud!

The two men's shoulders were instantly pierced by the sword energy, forcing them to stagger back in disarray.

At the same time, an astonishing cold force spread from their wounds, threatening to freeze their bodies solid.

Their faces twisted in horror as they frantically channeled all their spiritual power to suppress the invasive chill, barely managing to stabilize it.

When they looked up at Wang Yuyao again, their expressions were filled with terror.

"Wang Yuyao, how dare you attack fellow disciples? Aren’t you afraid of facing the sect’s punishment?"

Wang Yuyao remained silent, spiritual energy flickering at her fingertips as she prepared to strike again with her flawless Cloudwater Frostlight Sword.

"Wait."

Just then, a hand suddenly grasped her wrist.

Wang Yuyao turned to Wang Jianqiang.

He shook his head at her. "It’s not worth throwing your life away for these two."

The Joy Union Sect strictly forbade infighting among its disciples.

With so many witnesses around, if Wang Yuyao truly killed these two, the truth would inevitably come to light.

According to sect rules, killing a fellow disciple was punishable by death.

"Y-yes, exactly! Trash—no, Wang Jianqiang is right!"

"You’re a top-ten genius among the outer disciples, while we’re only ranked eighteenth and twentieth. It’s not worth losing your life over us."

Hearing Wang Jianqiang’s words, the two men clung to them like lifelines, speaking urgently.

Wang Yuyao ignored them, simply nodding at Wang Jianqiang. "I’ll listen to you."

Encouraged by her response, the two men’s eyes gleamed, thinking they had successfully intimidated her with sect rules.

They exchanged a glance before turning back to her. "Wang Yuyao, your earlier attack already violated sect regulations. If we report this, you’ll face severe consequences."

"But we can give you a chance. Help us secure the meditation cushion on that platform, and we’ll pretend nothing happened."

Seeing their audacity in threatening her instead, Wang Yuyao’s expression turned frosty.

Wang Jianqiang patted her shoulder, signaling her to stay calm, then turned to the two with a faint smile. "So, you’re saying… you want us to cooperate with you?"

"Cooperate?" They scoffed. "Didn’t you hear us? We want her to seize the cushion for us."

"Times have changed. Now, we don’t want to cooperate—and you’re no longer qualified to work with us."

Their gazes locked onto Wang Yuyao. "Wang Yuyao, if you don’t want to be punished, you’d better obey."

Anger flashed across Wang Yuyao’s face.

Wang Jianqiang’s expression remained unchanged, his smile still faint. "I was already planning to spare you. Why push your luck?"

"Hah! Useless Wang, don’t act so noble," they sneered. "Kill us? Do you even dare?"

Wang Jianqiang sighed. "Since you insist on forcing my hand, I’ll have to end you. Otherwise, people might think I’m just bluffing."

Though his tone was gentle, the two men tensed, their eyes darting nervously to Wang Yuyao. "Wang Yuyao, think carefully!"

"Is it worth throwing your life away for a trash like him?"

Without hesitation, spiritual light flickered at Wang Yuyao’s fingertips again as she prepared to strike.

Wang Jianqiang stopped her once more.

She looked at him, puzzled.

"These two do need to die—but not by your hand."

He spoke softly, and Wang Yuyao seemed to understand.

Then, Wang Jianqiang turned back to the men, grinning. "The Joy Union Sect’s rules bind its own disciples, but I wonder if they apply to outsiders."

The two froze, confused by his words.

Wang Jianqiang’s smile faded, replaced by a cold voice. "Little Xue, why wait?"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The moment he spoke, two inconspicuous streaks of spiritual energy shot forth.

Before the men could react, the energy pierced straight through their foreheads.

The four observers from the Swordheart Sect and the Sunflare Sect, who had been watching the scene, paled and immediately tried to retreat.

"Since you’ve seen everything, you might as well stay."

Wang Jianqiang cast them a casual glance.

Four more concentrated spiritual beams tore through the air, piercing their skulls.

Their faces stiffened in death before their bodies collapsed to the ground.

Witnessing how Ye Qingxue had effortlessly slaughtered six people without even revealing herself, Wang Jianqiang couldn’t help but marvel at the overwhelming power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Though the gap between Qi Refinement perfection and Foundation Establishment was just a single step, the difference was like heaven and earth.

In the face of a Foundation Establishment expert, even a peak Qi Refinement cultivator was as fragile as paper—including those at the Three Revolutions stage.

He turned to Wang Yuyao. "Yuyao, go retrieve the cushion."

She nodded and flew toward the platform.

Soon, the cushion was in hand.

Wang Jianqiang’s gaze then shifted to another platform where a cushion lay.

Time for another heist!

Four people were locked in fierce combat near this platform: two from the Mystic Serenity Palace, one from the Swordheart Sect, and one from the Joy Union Sect.

"Useless Wang!"

"And Ye Qingxue!"

The Joy Union Sect disciple’s expression shifted upon seeing them.

The Swordheart Sect disciple remained silent, but the two from Mystic Serenity Palace were far more aggressive.

"Scram! This place is ours!"

They completely disregarded Wang Jianqiang.

His aged appearance and aura of decay marked him as a talentless waste nearing the end of his lifespan.

Only when they glanced at Wang Yuyao did a hint of wariness flicker in their eyes.

As for Ye Qingxue, her Foundation Establishment-level concealment made her undetectable to these cultivators.

Wang Jianqiang’s gaze swept over the four before settling on the Mystic Serenity Palace duo. "I’ll return your words."

"Scram. This cushion belongs to me now."

Their faces darkened with killing intent.

They had been dominating this battlefield, and without interference, the cushion would have been theirs.

Wang Jianqiang’s arrival introduced uncertainty.

Already irritated, his arrogant tone pushed them over the edge.

"You’re dead!"

With a cold snort, they summoned their flying swords and lunged at Wang Jianqiang and Wang Yuyao.

Wang Jianqiang remained calm, glancing at Wang Yuyao.

Just as she prepared to counter—

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two streaks of spiritual energy shot through the air.

The Mystic Serenity Palace disciples’ heads were instantly pierced, their lifeforce extinguished.

Wang Jianqiang blinked in surprise before turning his head. "Does Mystic Serenity Palace allow infighting?"

A moment later, Ye Qingxue’s voice echoed in his mind.

"No."

"Then why kill them?"

"I’ve already scouted the area. There are no other Foundation Establishment cultivators here—no one can trace this to me."

Hearing this, Wang Jianqiang’s eyes lit up.

No other Foundation Establishment experts?

That meant they were invincible here!

His gaze swept across the dozens of figures scattered throughout the plaza.

"Should we go all out?"

"Go all out how?" Ye Qingxue sounded puzzled.

"Kill all these people."

Ye Qingxue: ...