"Interests! It’s all about interests!"

Zhu Yi roared, as if to vent all his pent-up fury and resentment. "The Righteous Path champions justice, yet how are their actions any different from bandits? The Demon Sect openly admits its evil, but it’s just another form of the strong devouring the weak! In this Martial Arts World, might makes right, and abundant resources are the foundation of power! The Righteous Path, the Demon Path... they’re nothing but facades for a struggle over interests! My Zhu Family... is just a pawn on the chessboard—a little bigger than most, but not big enough. Eaten by you today, swallowed by them tomorrow, hahaha..."

His laughter stopped abruptly. He gasped heavily, the madness in his eyes slowly giving way to lifeless despair.

He glanced at Chen Qing, his voice turning wretched. "The real Earth Essence Marrow Pearl... I swallowed it long ago, sealing it within me using a Secret Technique... Kill me, cut open my Dantian Sea of Qi... and you can take it... Just give me a quick death..."

Chen Qing’s eyes flickered. He wasn’t entirely convinced, but Zhu Yi’s expression didn’t look like he was lying.

He said nothing more, simply nodding. "Alright." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The Cloud-Coiling Spear flashed like cold lightning, instantly piercing Zhu Yi’s heart.

Zhu Yi’s body shuddered. The last spark of life in his eyes vanished completely. His head tilted to one side, and he died instantly.

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Qing deftly used his spear tip to retrieve a golden pearl from the man’s abdomen.

He hastily wrapped the pearl in a scrap of cloth.

Just then—

BOOM!

A massive explosion suddenly erupted from just outside. The entire dilapidated inn shook violently as roof beams collapsed and dust filled the air.

Someone had clearly used an explosive, something like a Thunder Fire Bomb!

Chen Qing frowned. With a flash of movement, he dodged the falling debris.

.....

「Meanwhile, outside the inn.」

The scene was utter chaos.

Yu Jiayao clutched the fake pearl, believing she had obtained the ultimate treasure. But she was pinned down by Lu Da and Stone Dragon of the Earth Element Sect, and Li Lei had also joined the battle to snatch it from her.

The three-way melee had left everyone wounded.

Powerful as Yu Jiayao was, she was simply outnumbered. Lu Da’s Earth Element Palm Power was especially formidable. After taking several direct hits, she had already sustained serious internal injuries, and blood was trickling from the corner of her mouth.

At that moment, Miao Zhicheng arrived in a hurry, his figure a blur as he charged into the fray like a gust of wind!

When he saw his own Elder, Yu Jiayao, surrounded and injured, his eyes instantly turned red with fury.

"You dare harm someone from Golden Sand Castle! You’re looking to die!"

With a furious roar, his Golden Slaughter Soul-Splitting Saber erupted in a blinding, cold glint. Man and saber moved as one, slashing straight at Stone Dragon, who was in the middle of trading a heavy blow with Yu Jiayao.

Stone Dragon was terrified and barely managed to turn and parry.

CLANG! SCHLICK—!

Miao Zhicheng’s full-powered, rage-fueled strike was anything but ordinary.

The flash of the saber passed. Stone Dragon’s weapon was sliced in two, and his arm was severed clean at the shoulder, sending blood gushing into the air!

"AHHH—!"

Stone Dragon let out a piercing shriek and staggered backward.

"Junior Brother Shi!"

Lu Da looked as if his eyes would pop from their sockets, his portly frame trembling with rage. "Miao Zhicheng! You’re vicious!"

"Vicious? Today, I’ll kill every last one of you opportunistic scumbags!"

Miao Zhicheng’s eyes were like ice, his killing intent flaring. He swung his saber and attacked again, clashing once more with Lu Da and a shocked and furious Li Lei.

All four were heavily depleted and covered in wounds; now, they were fighting in a blood-crazed frenzy.

Yu Jiayao, too gravely injured, quickly tossed the ’Earth Core Marrow Pearl’ and other treasures to Miao Zhicheng to draw their fire.

Grief-stricken and enraged by his junior brother’s grave injury, Lu Da’s attacks grew savage. He didn’t hesitate to trade blow for blow, hoping to force Miao Zhicheng’s hand.

Brave as he was, Miao Zhicheng was thrown into disarray by Lu Da’s desperate fighting method and Li Lei’s flanking attacks. He quickly accumulated several new wounds, his fresh blood staining his Dark Gold Martial Attire.

His old wounds had yet to heal, and now he had new ones on top of them.

Just as the four-way battle reached a stalemate, with everyone heavily wounded—

"Li Lei! Get out of here!"

Yan Yaoyang came sprinting frantically from the inn’s entrance, shouting hoarsely to Li Lei in the midst of the battle!

At the sound of his voice, Li Lei forced Miao Zhicheng back with a thrust of his spear and hurriedly asked, "Senior Brother Yan! What’s the situation inside? Where’s Junior Brother Chen?!"

Yan Yaoyang said hurriedly, "As I was running out, I heard a terrible scream from inside. I’m afraid... I’m afraid Junior Brother Chen has been killed! He’s dead! That Demon in there is too terrifying! We have to go, now!"

"What?! Junior Brother Chen is dead!?"

Li Lei felt as if he’d been struck by lightning, his heart seized by utter shock and horror.

He had seen Chen Qing’s strength with his own eyes—the man had even defeated Xiao Bieli. ’How could he have died inside the inn?’

’Just what kind of terrifying monster was that Demon Sect expert inside?!’

Overwhelming fear flooded Li Lei’s mind, and the allure of the fake pearl suddenly seemed meaningless.

He no longer dared to continue the fight. With a quick feint, he turned and followed Yan Yaoyang, desperately fleeing for his life.

Miao Zhicheng and Lu Da had also heard Yan Yaoyang’s words, and a chill ran through their hearts.

At that very moment!

SWOOSH!

A black shadow drifted out from the dust-choked ruins of the inn like a phantom. It was the Ghost Guard!

Her face was grim. Her gaze swept over the scene, and when she saw the heavily wounded Stone Dragon on the ground and the weakened Yu Jiayao, a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

’Perfect. More sustenance for me.’

Her body blurred. Quick as lightning, she lunged straight for the fallen Stone Dragon and the horrified Yu Jiayao!

"No!!"

Yu Jiayao only had time to let out a desperate scream.

The Ghost Guard’s claws descended without mercy.

THUMP! THUMP!

Two dull thuds, followed by a sickening, draining sound.

The Ghost Guard unleashed her Demon Skill, instantly and forcibly draining every last drop of True Qi and Essence Blood from the heavily injured Stone Dragon and Yu Jiayao.

Their bodies shriveled at a rate visible to the naked eye, turning into two desiccated husks in the blink of an eye!

Having absorbed all the True Qi and Essence Blood of two Late-stage Embracing Pill masters, the black-green Evil Qi swirling around the Ghost Guard surged violently. Her aura skyrocketed, becoming even more terrifying.