Devouring Soul Emperor

"Chu Qingyun, you… you dare hit me!"

Zhou Wushang glared at Chu Qingyun, his eyes practically bulging from their sockets.

He, a dignified Level Seven Martial Spirit and a master of the Celestial Spirit Realm, had been kicked to his knees by a Level Six Martial Spirit, Chu Qingyun!

'This is an absolute disgrace!'

"Hit you?"

Chu Qingyun looked down condescendingly at Zhou Wushang, a cold sneer spreading across his face.

"You're exactly who I meant to hit!"

BAM!

With another kick, Chu Qingyun instantly raised his leg and landed a vicious side kick right on Zhou Wushang's face.

Zhou Wushang's head snapped to the side as he was sent flying. He tumbled across the ground several times before stopping, one side of his face already swelling up badly.

In an instant, everyone was stunned once again.

Even Zhou Wushang himself was in disbelief. He never imagined that Chu Qingyun would not only dare to break his ankles but would also have the audacity to kick him squarely in the face in front of so many people.

'This is a total slap in the face to the Qianshui Dynasty.'

'It's even a bit of a slight against the Saint Extreme Sect!'

After sending Zhou Wushang flying, Chu Qingyun didn't spare him a second glance. He turned to Master Kang, cupped his fists, and said, "Master Kang, this junior will take his leave to prepare for the Pill Battle Conference."

"Mm, go on," Master Kang nodded.

Chu Qingyun beckoned to the still-dazed Mu Xiaoxiao, and together with Dai, the trio headed back to their inn.

Behind them, Master Kang watched Zhou Wushang, who was still cradling his face in a daze, and a trace of disgust flashed in his eyes.

Then, after a moment of thought, he announced in a loud voice, "Chu Qingyun has successfully registered for the Celestial Martial City Pill Battle Conference. If anything happens to a contestant before the conference begins, the organizers will investigate it to the very end and show no mercy!"

After saying this, he flicked his large sleeves and turned back towards the registration area.

It was only then that Zhou Wushang finally came to his senses. He spat out two of his back teeth and roared, "Chu Qingyun, this isn't over!"

Hearing the furious roar from behind, Mu Xiaoxiao looked a little worried. "Chu Qingyun, wasn't hitting Zhou Wushang like that going a bit too far?"

"Too far?"

Chu Qingyun snorted coldly. "Back at the Blood Sect ruins, I couldn't be bothered with him because it was too much trouble. If I had known he was going to pull this crap, I would have just killed him right there in the ruins!"

Mu Xiaoxiao stuck out her tongue. She could tell that Chu Qingyun was genuinely, and rarely, angry, so she didn't say anything more.

After they walked a bit further, she suddenly asked, "Chu Qingyun, I think I know why you're so incredible. Your comprehension is so high, and you cultivate so quickly… it's all because you're an Alchemist, isn't it?"

"If you say so, then I guess it is."

"What do you mean, 'if I say so'…"

…

The task Zhou Wushang had received from his uncle, Zhou Jianxiong, was to follow Chu Qingyun, prevent him from escaping, and then, after the excitement in Celestial Martial City died down, find an opportunity to kill him and eliminate the future threat.

However, now that Chu Qingyun had kicked his face into a swollen mess and broken both his ankles, he obviously couldn't continue.

So, he dispatched one man to keep watch while another subordinate carried him on his back to the Saint Extreme Sect's designated area in the trial estate.

A Martial Spirit Level expert's recovery ability was quite strong.

But broken ankles were considered a serious injury. Furthermore, his face had been kicked mercilessly by a Level Six Martial Spirit. Even with Elixirs, it wouldn't be something he could recover from in a short time.

After entering the estate, he was pointed at and stared at incessantly by disciples from various sects along the way.

Zhou Wushang felt so ashamed he wished he could find a hole to crawl into, and the hatred in his heart for Chu Qingyun grew even deeper.

Upon seeing Zhou Jianxiong, Zhou Wushang immediately broke down in tears. He put his talent for twisting the truth to full use, painting Chu Qingyun as an irredeemable villain who had bullied him mercilessly.

"Uncle, we absolutely cannot let that Chu Qingyun go! Send someone to kill him right now!"

"He wasn't just slapping me in the face! He was slapping our Qianshui Dynasty and our Saint Extreme Sect in the face!"

Zhou Wushang's face was filled with a savage, vicious expression.

Zhou Jianxiong's face, however, was as grim as still water, his eyes suppressing a simmering rage. "I told you to keep an eye on Chu Qingyun. I don't recall telling you to go make a spectacle of yourself at the Celestial Martial City Pill Battle Conference!"

"It… it wasn't my fault! Chu Qingyun and the others led me there…"

"Uncle, you have to send someone to kill him! Send a Martial King Level expert! They can definitely kill him without anyone knowing and take his Storage Ring."

"There must be a Royal-grade Secret Manual inside!"

Zhou Wushang said enticingly.

Hearing those three words, "Royal-grade Secret Manual," a sharp glint flashed in Zhou Jianxiong's eyes.

Although he was an Inner Sect Disciple, he would have to pay a great price if he wanted to study a Royal-grade Secret Manual.

And if he could obtain a Royal-grade Secret Manual, whether he submitted it to the sect or handed it over to the Qianshui Dynasty, he would be able to gain immense wealth and benefits.

It had to be said that Zhou Jianxiong was also a little tempted.

Just then, the subordinate next to Zhou Wushang finally couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up, "My lord, after Chu Qingyun successfully registered for the Celestial Martial City Pill Battle Conference, Master Kang of Celestial Martial City said that if any accident were to befall a contestant before the conference begins, the organizers would absolutely investigate to the very end and show no mercy."

"You talk too much!"

Zhou Wushang suddenly jumped up, glaring furiously at the subordinate.

SLAP!

Zhou Jianxiong was furious and viciously slapped Zhou Wushang hard across the face. "You're the one who talks too much!"

"Master Kang said that himself! How dare you hide something so important from me! Are you trying to get me killed too!?"

The corners of Zhou Jianxiong's mouth twitched with anger, his heart filled with lingering fear.

Although Master Kang didn't belong to any sect, as a deeply experienced King-level Alchemist, his reputation and various connections ran extremely deep.

To say nothing of others, just within the Saint Extreme Sect alone, he was extremely close with the King-level Alchemists of the Pill Institute.

Alchemists, especially high-level ones who had reached the King level, were extremely rare compared to Martial Artists of the same level, so they naturally formed a small, tight-knit circle.

If that network were truly mobilized, the power it could generate would be absolutely terrifying.

In the end, Zhou Jianxiong was just an Inner Sect Disciple of the Saint Extreme Sect. Even with some background, it was nowhere near enough for him to risk offending a deeply experienced King-level Alchemist!

By deliberately hiding Master Kang's words and inciting him to kill Chu Qingyun, Zhou Wushang was basically pushing him into a pit of fire.

Master Kang had just made that statement today. If Chu Qingyun were to die a mysterious death at the hands of a King-level expert in the blink of an eye, one could only imagine how utterly furious he would be!

That would be the same as brazenly slapping him in the face in front of the entire Celestial Martial City!

The wrath of a deeply experienced, King-level Alchemist who had lived for over three hundred years… just thinking about it made Zhou Jianxiong's blood run cold and his back break out in a cold sweat.