My Crazy Upgrade System

The astonishingly powerful Tiger Hunting Brothers were killed just like that. All in all, it had taken less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to finish them all off. Such strength was truly staggering.

It left them gaping in astonishment. Their hearts were filled with nothing but terror.

Yi Tianyun turned to look at Liu Long and his men, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "And you? What’s your answer? Are you going to jump in for a swim, or do I have to help you?"

Liu Long and his men looked utterly miserable. They had planned to join forces with the Tiger Hunting Brothers to eliminate Yi Tianyun, but now Yi Tianyun had eliminated the brothers instead. They were at a complete loss for words.

"I, I... I’ll give you the map, no conditions! Please, I’m begging you, spare me..." Liu Long knelt, trembling. He had finally caved, not daring to harbor the slightest thought of resistance. He knew it was useless and would only bring about his death sooner.

The Tiger Hunting Brothers were the perfect example. They had been instantly killed in the blink of an eye. That was the price of defiance.

"I told you. Either you jump in yourselves, or I’ll kick you in. Make a choice!" Yi Tianyun’s gaze was frigid as he motioned for them to take a swim in the Nether River.

"D-do we have to go, too?" the two Core Formation Realm experts at his side asked miserably. ’This doesn’t seem to have anything to do with us, right?’

"Correct. Were you not planning to move against us earlier?" Yi Tianyun said nonchalantly. "Judging by your expressions, you most certainly were."

As he spoke, he released his aura, pressing down hard on them. He didn’t need to use much power—just the pressure of a peak Core Formation Realm expert was enough to crush them.

Their expressions changed. He wasn’t wrong; they’d had exactly that thought. They would have followed Liu Long’s orders and attacked Yi Tianyun’s group. But who could have predicted such a complete turnaround? They were utterly crushed, and now it was too late for regrets.

"We... we..." They looked utterly dejected, wanting to say something but not knowing how to explain themselves.

"Jump, or I’ll help you. Choose!" Yi Tianyun said in a cold voice.

"W-we’ll jump ourselves!"

The two of them hesitated, then swallowed several Antitoxic Pills each before jumping into the Nether River. The moment they hit the water, they let out piercing screams. The Netherwater seeped into their bodies, turning their skin pitch-black in an instant.

However, to stay alive, they had no choice but to keep paddling forward. Otherwise, this would be more than just a swim—they would die right here!

Liu Long’s expression changed drastically when he saw this. He knew what that poison felt like, and it was sheer agony. He turned to Yi Tianyun and said through gritted teeth, "Sir, in addition to giving you the map, I have other secrets to tell you! I guarantee they’re worth your while!"

Ren Liangchen and the others looked at Yi Tianyun, wondering what he would decide.

"Are you going to jump, or do I have to help you?" Yi Tianyun’s voice was as icy as before, leaving no room for negotiation.

"I... I’ll jump!"

Liu Long gritted his teeth. A hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes as he turned, but he could only suppress it for now. There was no escape. He could either flee into the Death Mist or jump into the Nether River. There was no third option.

As he reached the bank of the Nether River and prepared to jump, he suddenly exploded with all his might and charged into the Death Mist! He hadn’t chosen the Nether River; he had chosen to escape into the Death Mist!

Jumping into the Nether River offered a chance of survival, but it was far too slim. The Death Mist was different. He wouldn’t die immediately upon entering, and he refused to believe Yi Tianyun would dare to follow him.

But he had barely taken a few steps before Yi Tianyun flashed in front of him, staring at him coldly. Yi Tianyun’s speed was vastly superior to Liu Long’s. He had been intercepted in the blink of an eye, with no chance of escape.

Yi Tianyun had suspected from the very beginning that Liu Long would try to pull something. Sure enough, he made a break for the Death Mist. Being prepared for this, Yi Tianyun moved swiftly and intercepted him with ease.

"Going somewhere?" Yi Tianyun asked nonchalantly.

"I... I was just getting a running start before jumping in..." Liu Long said, his face a mask of misery.

"No need for that. I’ll help you!" Yi Tianyun sent a vicious kick his way. With a loud cry, Liu Long fell into the water and sank quickly to the bottom, never to surface again.

That was no light kick. It had shattered his bones; it would have been a miracle if he could still swim.

"Ding! Successfully killed Lie Feng. Gained 1,100,000 Experience, 4,600 Madness Value, and 900 Sin Value. Obtained Martial Arts: Wind-Hunting Claw, Wind Hunting Step. Obtained items: Antitoxic Pill, Healing Pill, Wind-Hunting Sharp Claw!"

"Ding! Successfully killed Hunting Rock. Gained 1,100,000 Experience, 4,600 Madness Value, and 900 Sin Value..."

It was only now that those two finally perished in the Nether River. They hadn’t died when they were kicked in earlier; it took some time for the virulent poison to finish them off.

The two Cultivators who had jumped in only swam a single lap before quickly returning. As they neared the bank, they grabbed hold and hauled themselves out. Once on shore, they gasped for great lungfuls of air, their faces pitch-black. It seemed the poison had already seeped into their very bones; detoxification would be an arduous process.

The two of them lay motionless on the ground, able to do nothing more than breathe. They had taken a large amount of Antitoxic Pills beforehand, but it remained to be seen if they would have any effect.

Yi Tianyun was a man of his word. Since they did as they were told, he let them be. If they managed to survive, that was a testament to their own ability. If they didn’t, well, they deserved it.

"Yi, your strength..." Ren Liangchen and the others finally snapped out of their stupor, their eyes filled with shock.

’I thought he was formidable enough just being a Beast Tamer,’ he thought. ’Who knew his cultivation would be so heaven-defying that he could crush everyone else?’

"My skills are decent, wouldn’t you say? I won’t hold you back," Yi Tianyun said with a smile. He always treated those who bore him no ill will with a smile.

"That’s not what we meant! What I mean is, you’re a little *too* powerful, aren’t you? Is that really just the Core Formation Realm?" Ren Liangchen asked in astonishment.

"Mm, that’s right. Peak Core Formation Realm," Yi Tianyun said with a small smile.

"So it really is the peak of the Core Formation Realm..." They drew in a sharp breath, though it was what they had expected.

Judging by the power he had just displayed, he was indeed at the peak of the Core Formation Realm. Yi Tianyun wasn’t lying. He had only used the strength of that realm, not his Void Spirit Realm cultivation.

"With a cultivation level like that, how could we ever say you’re holding us back? We’re the ones holding *you* back..." Ren Liangchen said with a wry smile. They had been looking out for Yi Tianyun before, but they never imagined his cultivation level would so completely eclipse their own. By all rights, he should be the one looking after them.

"Don’t talk about holding people back. Supporting each other is what’s important. We haven’t reached the Netherworld yet, after all," Yi Tianyun said with a laugh.

"You’re right. I’ll say no more. We guarantee we’ll get you to the Netherworld!" Ren Liangchen declared, patting his chest confidently.

"Alright then. I’ll be counting on you," Yi Tianyun replied with a faint smile.