Qing Yun snorted coldly. He had already prepared. A radiant shield suddenly appeared in his hand, enveloping his entire body in glowing light.
"You sure carry a lot of treasures," Liu Li said through gritted teeth.
Qing Yun replied calmly, "Isn't that the advantage of being an alchemist? Anyone who wants us to refine pills has to offer some form of payment. When it comes to wealth, who can compete with an alchemist? On the path of cultivation, it's always wealth, technique, companions, and land. Wealth comes first."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted repeatedly toward Yun Jin.
"Good disciple, are you hearing this?
We alchemists hold the highest status and the greatest fortune."
Yun Jin didn't know how to respond.
Liu Li scoffed, "So what? I command thousands of spirit beasts. Don't tell me your cold, lifeless tools are better than them. We beastmasters can commune with the heavens above and contract all living things below. That's the true great Dao."
She, too, looked at Yun Jin.
Yun Jin: "…"
Umm...
Does anyone here actually understand what's going on?
Just then—
A voice rang out.
"The world holds countless Daos, but I need only one sword. With that sword, I can cut through them all."
A massive sword descended, filled with overwhelming force, pressing down on both Qing Yun and Liu Li at once.
Their expressions changed at the same time. They no longer had time to argue, each unleashing their techniques to block the attack.
But the sword was far too sharp.
Even the combined efforts of two peak-level experts were not enough. It tore through their defenses in an instant, then split into two blades, each striking toward them.
Qing Yun and Liu Li's expressions darkened.
Damn it.
Sword cultivators really are all brawn.
The blade didn't land. In the next breath, the twin swords merged into one, and a figure even sharper than the sword itself appeared between them.
This man was...
Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted sharply.
He didn't recognize the individuals here, but even so, he could tell that each one of them stood at heights he could never reach.
But why were these powerful figures gathering around Yun Jin?
Ji Wusi smiled at Yun Jin. "When it comes to offense, no one surpasses a sword cultivator. Regardless of their techniques, as long as a sword immortal holds a blade, they are invincible."
In his hand, Ji Wusi held a net. Inside, Li Heng's Nascent Soul struggled furiously.
Recognizing Ji Wusi, Li Heng's expression twisted in fear as he cried out, "Alliance Leader! I've been framed!"
"You've been framed?" Ji Wusi sounded impatient. He turned to Qing Yun and held out his hand. "Hand it over."
"Hand over what?" Qing Yun snorted.
"Stop wasting time." Ji Wusi rested his hand on his sword. "We can settle it with a fight."
Qing Yun's mustache twitched with fury. Gritting his teeth, he tossed over a porcelain bottle. Ji Wusi opened it and let a pitch-black pill roll into his palm. A satisfied smile crossed his face.
He lifted the net.
Li Heng's Nascent Soul rushed to speak. "Alliance Leader, I swear I'm innocent. It was Zhao Wuji. He's the one who came to me…"
Zhao Wuji's face paled.
That bastard Li Heng sold him out without hesitation.
Ji Wusi didn't bother listening. He shoved the black pill directly into the Nascent Soul's mouth.
The soul tried to resist, but Ji Wusi simply lifted his hand slightly, and the pill was swallowed.
"Alliance Leader, I—" the Nascent Soul tried to speak.
A moment later, his hands clawed at his throat, face twisting in horror.
"One."
"Two."
"Three."
Ji Wusi lazily counted.
The Nascent Soul instantly dissolved into a puddle of black water, then evaporated without a trace.
Ji Wusi picked up the bottle again and casually gathered the rising vapor into it.
And with that—
Li Heng was erased from the world.
No corpse. No soul.
Worse than Ruan Jun's end.
"That's my personally refined Wandu Pill," Qing Yun said with a smile. "Best choice for murder and looting. See? Even when we kill, us alchemists are cleaner and more efficient."
He seized the moment to promote alchemy again.
Ji Wusi raised an eyebrow. "And yet, I only need one sword. You'll still hand over every pill."
Qing Yun stomped his foot. "Ji Wusi! What are you so smug about? All you sword cultivators are just muscle-heads. You act all high and mighty, but if you keep this up, don't think I'll ever refine pills for you again!"
Ji Wusi grinned. "Then I'll just take them."
"You've got some nerve," Qing Yun huffed.
"You two are so uncouth," Liu Li interjected smoothly. "Us beastmasters are far more elegant. We let spirit beasts do our bidding. No need to get our own hands dirty."
"Ha! Don't come begging me for pills then. Let's see how your beasts advance without them," Qing Yun barked, still unfazed despite the two-on-one.
"You think you're the only Grade Nine alchemist out there?"
"Exactly! No need to be so arrogant!"
And just like that, the three of them launched into a fierce argument.
Everyone from the Tianxing Sect was dazed.
But from their argument, they started to understand a few things.
This Qing Yun… was a legendary Grade Nine alchemist.
That Liu Li… likely one of the top beastmasters in the land.
And Ji Wusi, the one Li Heng had called "Alliance Leader" in panic, could take on both at once with ease.
Wait. These people… why were they all here?
The three Grand Elders of Tianxing Sect exchanged anxious looks.
That title—"Alliance Leader"—was ringing in their ears.
Could it be… the leader of the Demon-Slaying Alliance?
Everyone knew there was only one person who held that title.
The first sword cultivator under heaven. Possibly the strongest cultivator alive.
Sect Master of the Kunlun Sword Sect: Ji Wusi.
This talkative man standing before them—could he truly be that living legend?
The Grand Elders instinctively shook their heads.
It didn't feel like it. Not at all.
And that irritable old man… was really a Grade Nine alchemist?
That disheveled woman, hair a mess from yelling—was she truly one of the strongest beastmasters?
So this… was the world of the elite?
Most hadn't recovered from the shock, but Yun Jin, standing at the very center of it all, was even more overwhelmed.
The three great seniors were arguing like children. And every so often, they'd pause just to turn and ask her something.
"Xiao Jin, what do you think?"
"Don't you agree sword cultivators are way too rough?"
"Isn't my spirit beast adorable?"
"Who needs swordplay or beast taming? We alchemists can crush them with pills!"
Completely at a loss, Yun Jin could only nod awkwardly from time to time.
While the three continued their noisy bickering, over on the other side, Cang Li and Shen Yanye glared at each other, tension crackling between them like drawn swords.
The Grand Elders watched on in terror.
If a real fight broke out…
The entire Tianxing Sect might be reduced to dust.
None of them dared approach Yun Jin's group. Instead, they quietly moved toward Lin Ya.
One elder lowered his voice. "Lin Ya, who exactly are these seniors? Do they need anything? The sect is ready to assist in any way."
Lin Ya sighed deeply. "Elders… this is all way too much."
Their expressions grew solemn.
Even Zhao Wuji couldn't help but glance over.
Lin Ya's voice turned helpless. "I'm not actually familiar with these big names. They… they just…"
Seeing Lin Ya like this, the Grand Elders grew even more nervous.
Zhao Wuji began to feel a strange anticipation rise.
Could this be the start of a grand revelation?