"That's right, I'm toying with you."
Cao Youqian spoke with a mocking smile. "You've chased after my Fifth Junior Brother for so long—if I just killed you with a single punch, wouldn't that be letting you off too easily?"
Hiss—
Everyone around gasped in shock.
Arrogant—this young man was far too arrogant.
Even if he came from a major power, how could someone so young possibly be a match for a Spirit Nourishment Realm expert?
Even if he had some powerful treasure, at most it would let him escape with his life.
To provoke and anger the enemy like this—wasn't that just asking for death?
"You little brat, are you forcing me to act?"
Elder Zhan roared, unleashing the aura of a Spirit Nourishment Realm expert. A terrifying pressure swept out across dozens of miles.
Even the guards stationed at the gates of Yunlan City felt it and quickly reported the situation to their superiors to prepare accordingly.
"He's panicking. Junior Brother, look—he's losing it."
Cao Youqian sneered, completely unfazed.
Ye Beixuan was stunned. 'This is the exact same reckless Senior Brother Cao from my past life. Looks like even though I was reborn and the circumstances have changed, a person's nature really doesn't shift so easily.'
He said solemnly, "Old thief, I just found a spiritual herb in the wilderness—when did it become your property?"
When the surrounding onlookers heard this, their expressions suddenly shifted with understanding. One by one, they adopted the expression of spectators enjoying the show.
A rising star from a powerful sect clashing with the local tyrant, Elder Zhan—this was going to be good.
Cao Youqian laughed and patted Ye Beixuan on the shoulder. "Junior Brother, why waste your breath with such a shameless old dog? Old man, come at me together—all of you. That way I don't have to waste time killing you one by one."
Elder Zhan didn't speak. He simply drew a curved blade from his storage ring.
The blade emitted a blood-red glow, and everyone present cried out in surprise.
"The Blood Moon Curved Blade! I didn't expect that demonic weapon to be in Elder Zhan's possession."
"Looks like that kid really did get his hands on a thousand-year-old spiritual herb—otherwise Elder Zhan wouldn't be this furious!"
"..."
Cao Youqian's expression remained unchanged. He slowly jumped down from his tiger mount, squinting at his opponent with a calm smile.
"A low-grade spirit blade... that's enough to make me take this seriously."
As soon as he spoke, the aura around him erupted like a volcano.
Everyone felt the wave of pressure from Cao Youqian's body, and their legs trembled.
This young man clearly had only reached the Heaven Origin Realm, but the terrifying killing aura he gave off was like nothing they had ever witnessed.
Ye Beixuan looked at Cao Youqian's tall figure, utterly shocked.
'Second Senior Brother... you actually broke through to Heaven Origin already!'
"Moon-Cleaving Slash!"
Elder Zhan roared, and his blade came crashing down.
A scarlet arc of blade energy, dozens of meters long, surged into the sky. The energy carried a fearsome blade intent that made the spectators' hair stand on end.
"His blade intent is perfected... Senior Brother, he—"
Ye Beixuan didn't even finish saying the word "strong" before he froze in place again.
He watched as Cao Youqian faced the falling blade and threw out a punch.
That punch was thunderous and unstoppable!
Behind the massive fist force, there was even a phantom formed from his punch intent—within it, one could vaguely see a divine figure's fist.
Boom!
The punch collided with the blade energy in midair, producing a thunderous explosion.
The shockwave engulfed Elder Zhan and the other three, sending them flying like sandbags.
Pfft—
All four spat out a mouthful of blood before crashing heavily to the ground.
Cao Youqian took a step forward, looking down on them from above. "So much for the Spirit Nourishment Realm. Your divine soul can't withstand my Supreme Divine Fist."
"You... who exactly are you... pfft!"
Elder Zhan coughed up another mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at Cao Youqian.
"Trash like you has no right to know my name."
As he spoke, Cao Youqian threw out another punch.
With that blow, the four of them instantly perished. A faint remnant soul fled from Elder Zhan's body, trying to escape into the distance.
Seeing this, Cao Youqian casually reached out and crushed the soul like it was an ant.
"No!!!"
Elder Zhan let out a final miserable scream before he was completely annihilated.
Cao Youqian clapped his hands as if nothing had happened, then turned to the tiger demon beside him and said, "Big cat, go pick up their storage rings and anything valuable. I'll reward you with something tasty later."
The tiger demon's figure flashed and disappeared. Moments later, it returned to Cao Youqian's side, mouth open to reveal a storage ring and three storage pouches.
Cao Youqian glanced at them, then casually tossed a several-hundred-year-old spiritual herb into the tiger demon's mouth.
"A reward for you."
The tiger demon chewed happily while rubbing affectionately against Cao Youqian's body.
Ye Beixuan looked at the beast and said, "Senior Brother, I didn't expect you to be a beast tamer. But why can't I sense any contract on it?"
Cao Youqian chuckled, stroking the tiger demon's head. "There's no need. It's not my first time beating a Heaven Origin Tiger Demon with sacred beast bloodlines into submission."
Ye Beixuan: "..."
Onlookers: "..."
Seeing Ye Beixuan speechless, Cao Youqian smiled and said, "This isn't the place to talk. Once we get to Yunlan Sect, let's catch up properly—and I'll tell you about some of the fun we had in the Taixu Secret Realm."
"Alright!"
Ye Beixuan nodded and followed Cao Youqian toward the city gates.
Just as the two arrived, the City Lord of Yunlan City was already there waiting with a group of Yunlan cultivators.
The City Lord stepped forward, cupping his hands. "I am Song Kui, City Lord of Yunlan. May I ask the names of you two gentlemen?"
Hearing that his surname was Song, Cao Youqian asked, "What's your relation to Song Zhaoyi?"
Song Kui was stunned for a moment, then respectfully replied, "By seniority, she is my grandaunt."
Cao Youqian said, "Since you're her nephew, I'll be merciful and let you remember this name—Cao Youqian of Wendao Academy."
The moment Song Kui heard that name, he trembled uncontrollably. Compared to small sects, a Semi-Saint level force like Yunlan Sect understood the conflict between the two great powers in the Taixu Secret Realm far better.
So this was the man who flattened the Black Tiger Lord with a single punch. That old man from the Zhan family truly died in vain.
"So it's Young Master Cao. May I ask what brings you to humble Yunlan City?"
Cao Youqian shrugged. "Just passing through. Or do you, a junior, intend to meddle in your grandaunt Song Zhaoyi's affairs?"
At that, Song Kui's expression changed again. His father was merely a son-in-law in the Song Clan, and his own status in one of Yunlan's four great families wasn't high. That's why he'd been sent out here as City Lord. He really didn't dare interfere in Song Zhaoyi's business.
But remembering the rumors circulating in the sect today, he couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that Young Master Cao is also here to find my grandaunt?"
"That's right. If you're free, lead the way."
Cao Youqian spoke as if it were completely natural, showing not the slightest fear of Song Kui's position as City Lord.
"Very well. This way, gentlemen, please."
Song Kui respectfully led Cao Youqian and Ye Beixuan into the city.
Riding on the tiger's back, Cao Youqian seemed to suddenly remember something and asked, "Wait—what did you mean by 'also' just now?"
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