Reaching an uninhabited area, Wei Zhong stopped and turned to face the escape lights pursuing him.
The three figures gradually halted. All were cultivators at the late Qi Refining stage, and their faces were vaguely familiar, suggesting they were Spirit Farmers from the Yan Clan.
"What do you mean by following me here?" Wei Zhong demanded.
The three exchanged knowing smirks. Their leader stepped forward. "Enough talk, Old Man Wei. Hand over your Storage Pouch. If we're satisfied, we might spare your life."
Another interjected, "Fellow Daoist Lin, why waste time arguing? Let's just finish him off here and split his belongings three ways. The old coot spent six or seven hundred spirit stones at the auction—he must have a considerable fortune."
As Spirit Farmers for the Yan Clan, they earned around a hundred spirit stones annually from their harvests. However, their expenses were equally staggering: pills, magic tools, and cultivation techniques drained their resources.
Most Spirit Farmers struggled to break even, lacking the financial means to improve their cultivation. They had become Spirit Farmers precisely because their mediocre aptitude offered no hope of advancing on the Great Dao.
Seeing Wei Zhong, the old fat sheep, depart, Yan Yuan's sinister intentions grew stronger.
Wei Zhong sighed softly. "Virtuous Nephew Yan Yuan, do you share these thoughts?"
A figure emerged from the forest below, pulling back his hood to reveal Yan Yuan, the same man who had once sought Wei Zhong's guidance in mastering the Spirit Rain Technique.
"Old Wei is truly remarkable," Yan Yuan said with a smile, as if victory were assured. "I hid myself so well, yet you still discovered me."
Wei Zhong shook his head. This crude attempt at concealment paled in comparison to Gongyangzi's methods. "Virtuous Nephew, is Brother Yan aware of your actions?"
Yan Yuan understood he was referring to his clan uncle, Yan Wenbo. "No, he doesn't. Knowing of your close friendship with Clan Uncle, I wouldn't dare inform him."
A hint of regret flickered across Wei Zhong's face. "Virtuous Nephew, your future shines brightly. Why consort with these Spirit Farmers to engage in the ways of a Robber Cultivator?"
After learning the Spirit Rain Technique from Wei Zhong, Yan Yuan had distinguished himself among the Yan Clan's collateral disciples. He became a Spirit Cultivation Apprentice, transcending his peripheral status and truly becoming a core member of the Yan Clan.
Hearing these words, Yan Yuan's smile vanished, replaced by a fierce, predatory grin.
"What's the point of being a Spirit Cultivator anyway? We're just glorified laborers for the Main Branch Disciples. We toil tirelessly to cultivate spirit medicine, only for the elders to hand it over to those privileged few with a single word, while we have to grind for Contribution points to earn even a fraction of it."
Wei Zhong observed the man's seething resentment, immediately realizing this young man hadn't been properly humbled yet. Born into a cultivation family, he had no concept of the struggles faced by Loose Cultivators. Now that he had reached the Core, witnessing the privileges of the elite had only fueled his discontent.
If you're so bitter, why take it out on an old man like me?
"Old Wei, please hand over your valuables. This nephew will ensure you have a dignified death."
Well, so much for any chance of survival.
"Virtuous Nephew, do you really think these three wastes can restrain me?"
The three Spirit Farmers bristled at the insult. We're all Spirit Farmers, all high-level Qi Refining cultivators. What makes you think you're better than us?
"Don't worry, Brother Yan. The three of us will subdue him right away."
Wei Zhong shook his head, the black sphere in his palm spinning rapidly as he activated it instantly.
Flying Throwing Technique - Master (12%)
Over the past few years, while Wei Zhong had focused on cultivating the Body Nourishing Art, he hadn't neglected his technique practice.
Wei Zhong's master-level Flying Throwing Technique was more formidable than ever. With a sharp crack through the air, the black sphere reached the leader of the Qi Refining cultivators in an instant, giving him no time to activate his defensive magic tool.
The jade pendant at the leader's ear shattered, forming a jade-colored barrier before him. A flicker of astonishment crossed his face.
Such rapid spellcasting! He wasted one of my life-saving magic tools.
It was a passive defense tool, triggered automatically.
Wei Zhong's expression remained unchanged. The black sphere pierced the jade barrier like a pebble through an eggshell, drilling a small hole before continuing its relentless trajectory toward the leader's skull.
The leader stared in disbelief, seemingly unable to comprehend how his defense had been breached so effortlessly.
Then, like a stone smashing into tofu, the sphere pulverized his skull into a bloody mess.
The master-level Flying Throwing Technique not only penetrated defenses but also detonated spiritual energy upon impact, greatly amplifying its lethality.
"Brother Lin!"
Before the remaining cultivators could react to the sudden turn of events, Wei Zhong transformed into a wisp of white cloud and materialized behind another of them in the blink of an eye.
Cloud Soaring Technique - Master (31%)
Wei Zhong raised his magic sword, its golden light dazzlingly bright.
Geng Sword Art - Proficient (45%)
Empowered by the Geng Sword Art, his mid-grade Tier 1 magic sword now wielded power comparable to a high-grade Tier 1 artifact.
With a hiss, the sword plunged into the second cultivator's magic robe.
The azure robe, adorned with swirling cloud patterns, was revealed to be a mid-grade Tier 1 garment, its value on par with a high-grade Tier 1 magic tool.
However, the unyielding Geng metal proved unstoppable. The sword tore a hand-sized gash in the robe and buried itself in the cultivator's side.
Sword energy erupted, critically wounding him.
In the blink of an eye, Wei Zhong had eliminated one opponent and critically wounded another, leaving only the Spirit Farmer and Yan Yuan, a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
Horrified, the two dared not fight further.
Yan Yuan dove into the forest below, his voice echoing, "Fellow Daoist Ke, please cover our retreat! I swear I'll take care of your family."
The Spirit Farmer remained alone, his face alternating between pale and green. After a moment's hesitation, he pulled out a small rattle drum.
Dong! Dong!
The childish sound momentarily stunned Wei Zhong, but a flash of golden light in his mind instantly dispelled the effect.
So, a magic tool that affects the Divine Soul.
A grin spread across Wei Zhong's face. Without missing a beat, he unleashed the Flying Throwing Technique.
Seeing that Wei Zhong was unaffected by the artifact and recognized the familiar casting gesture, the Spirit Farmer immediately felt his fate sealed.
Thwack!
Another headless corpse fell to the ground.
Wei Zhong left behind another swirling cloud of mist, ignoring the critically wounded man, and vanished into the forest, clutching a handful of shattered magic tool fragments.
Flying Throwing Technique - Rapid Fire.
Countless trees crashed down, felled by the technique's shockwaves.
Wei Zhong descended.
Yan Yuan lay sprawled among the fallen trees, one arm missing and his legs a mangled mess of flesh and bone. His remaining arm strained to activate a half-man-sized black shield, and his face twisted in despair as he saw Wei Zhong approach.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, tears welled up in his eyes, and he burst into a heartrending sob.
"Uncle Wei, I'm sorry! I was blinded by greed! Please, Uncle Wei, spare my life for Uncle Yan's sake! I beg you..."
Before he could finish, Wei Zhong conjured a vortex of spiritual energy in his palm. A pebble shot into Yan Yuan's brain, and a burst of flames reduced him to ashes.
Wei Zhong retrieved Yan Yuan's Storage Pouch, summoned his cloud of mist, and ascended once more.
Two headless corpses lay sprawled on the ground. A motley-feathered parrot confronted the last survivor, occasionally unleashing blades of wind from its wings to block his escape.
With a casual spell, Wei Zhong ended the man's life.
Nine-Colored landed on Wei Zhong's shoulder, cocking its head to study his weathered face.
Wei Zhong took out a red Pill, flicked it into the parrot's beak, and muttered, "At least you've earned your keep."
He gathered all the spoils, cleared the area, and departed.