Chapter 9: "Killing a Soul Awakening Realm Expert."

Yuan Zhao screamed in agony as the golden chain of energy bound him tighter, crushing his spiritual energy and suppressing his movement. His once-arrogant demeanor had shattered, replaced by sheer panic and disbelief.

"You… You're not a mere Foundation Realm cultivator," he gasped, blood trickling from his mouth. "What… what are you?"

Ye Xiaotian's eyes glowed with a faint golden hue as he gazed at Yuan Zhao without emotion.

"I told you to leave," Ye Xiaotian said coldly. "You chose to stay. Now you'll pay the price."

Yuan Zhao struggled against the chains, his aura flaring wildly, but it was no use. The golden chains were unlike anything he had ever encountered they didn't just bind his body; they suppressed his very soul.

Behind them, Qin Lian was holding her ground against Yuan Ming. Sparks flew as their weapons clashed, and the air trembled with the force of their battle. Despite her injuries, Qin Lian fought fiercely, her Vermillion Flame Sect techniques blazing with fiery energy.

"Brother!" Yuan Ming yelled, his face contorted with rage. "Hold on! I'll kill this woman and help you!"

Qin Lian smirked through the blood on her lips. "You won't get past me."

With a burst of power, she unleashed a wave of flames that forced Yuan Ming back. Her eyes flicked toward Ye Xiaotian, who stood calmly over Yuan Zhao.

Who is this boy? she thought again. His spiritual energy… it's not like any Foundation Realm I've ever seen.

"You think you've won?" Yuan Zhao spat, his voice trembling with fury and desperation. "You don't know who you're dealing with! I'm a sect master of the Black Serpent Sect! Our elders will hunt you down! You and everyone you care about will be destroyed!"

Ye Xiaotian tilted his head, his gaze cold and unyielding.

"You're still threatening me?" He tightened the golden chains, and Yuan Zhao howled in pain. "Even now, you don't understand your situation."

Yuan Zhao's aura flickered weakly, his strength rapidly draining.

Ye Xiaotian knelt beside him, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "Your sect may come for me. Let them try. But you? You won't live to see it."

Fear finally overtook Yuan Zhao's rage. His eyes darted around, searching for any way to escape. "Wait! Wait… We can make a deal. I… I'll give you treasures! Information! Anything you want!"

Ye Xiaotian narrowed his eyes. "Information?"

Yuan Zhao nodded frantically. "Yes! The Black Serpent Sect has secret techniques, rare resources… We know the locations of hidden realms. I can give it all to you!"

Ye Xiaotian pretended to consider this for a moment before shaking his head. "You misunderstand. I don't make deals with people who threaten my family."

With a final surge of energy, the golden chains constricted, and Yuan Zhao let out one last, blood-curdling scream before collapsing to the ground.

Meanwhile, Qin Lian pressed her advantage against Yuan Ming. Her flames swirled around her, creating a blazing barrier that kept her opponent at bay.

Yuan Ming glared at her, frustration etched on his face. "Damn you, Qin Lian! You were supposed to be broken and weak!"

Qin Lian wiped the blood from her mouth and smiled grimly. "Looks like you underestimated me."

Suddenly, she felt a shift in the air. Turning, she saw Ye Xiaotian walking toward her, calm and composed, with Yuan Zhao's body lay on some distance and blood coming out of his body.

"Yuan Zhao is done," Ye Xiaotian said quietly. "Now it's your turn."

Yuan Ming's eyes widened. "Brother! No!"

He glanced between Qin Lian and Ye Xiaotian, calculating his chances of escape. The boy's power was beyond anything he had expected. Even if he defeated Qin Lian, he wouldn't stand a chance against both of them.

The clearing was silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the wind. Yuan Zhao's lifeless body lay sprawled on the bloodstained ground, his once-dominant aura completely extinguished. His eyes, wide with disbelief, stared into nothingness.

Suddenly, a soft glow emerged from his chest.

A shimmering white light floated upward, condensing into a miniature figure Yuan Zhao's Nascent Soul. It hovered in the air like a ghostly apparition, its translucent form identical to Yuan Zhao's physical body but much smaller.

"You bastard!" the Nascent Soul shrieked, its voice echoing with venomous rage. "You think you've won? You may have destroyed my body, but I'll return! One day, I'll kill you, and I'll make you suffer for eternity!"

The tiny soul twisted in the air and darted toward the sky, fleeing as fast as it could.

Ye Xiaotian's eyes narrowed. So that's the essence of a Soul Awakening expert. A Nascent Soul… If I let him escape, he'll return someday to seek revenge.

Without hesitation, Ye Xiaotian's figure blurred. In an instant, he vanished from his spot and reappeared in front of the fleeing Nascent Soul.

Whoosh!

Coating his hand with a layer of spiritual shielding, Ye Xiaotian reached out and grabbed the Nascent Soul mid-flight, wrapping his fingers tightly around it.

"Got you," he muttered coldly.

The Nascent Soul writhed in his grasp, its tiny face twisted in panic and desperation. "No! Let me go! Please! Don't destroy me!" Yuan Zhao's voice trembled with fear. "The Nascent Soul is my essence! I can regenerate my body over time if my soul remains intact! I'll give you treasures, techniques, rare resources anything you want! Just let me live!"

Ye Xiaotian's grip tightened.

On the ground, Yuan Ming watched in horror. His brother's Nascent Soul the very essence of his being was caught like a helpless insect.

"Boy!" Yuan Ming roared, his voice trembling with rage and desperation. "Let my brother go! If you destroy his Nascent Soul, you'll make the entire Black Serpent Sect your mortal enemy! Black Serpent Sect will hunt you to the ends of the continent! No one will be able to save you!"

Ye Xiaotian's gaze slowly shifted to Yuan Ming. His expression was calm, his eyes devoid of fear.

Without a word, Ye Xiaotian clenched his fist.

Crack.

The Nascent Soul shattered in his hand, disintegrating into countless fragments of light that faded into the wind.

Yuan Zhao was truly dead.

Yuan Ming fell to his knees, clutching his chest as though he could feel his brother's soul being ripped apart. His face contorted with grief, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Yuan Zhao…" he whispered, his voice trembling. "You… you killed him…"

A moment later, his grief transformed into fury.

Yuan Ming lifted his tear-streaked face to the heavens, his fists clenched. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Ye Xiaotian with burning hatred.

"Boy!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the forest. "I, Yuan Ming, swear to the heavens! I will not rest until I've avenged my brother! I will hunt you down, no matter where you hide! Even if it takes my entire life, I'll make you pay for this!"

Ye Xiaotian's expression remained cold and indifferent.

"You can swear all you want," he said softly. "But if you don't want to end up like your brother, I suggest you leave. Now."

Yuan Ming's body trembled with rage. His instincts screamed at him to retreat, yet his pride resisted. But when he met Ye Xiaotian's calm, unwavering gaze, a shiver ran down his spine.

He turned and fled, disappearing into the forest.

As Yuan Ming vanished, the tension in the air finally dissipated.

Ye Xiaotian took a step forward suddenly felt a large strain on his soul and he stumbled.

His body wavered, and his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. His face was pale, his lips dry, and sweat poured from his forehead.

"Heyyy..." Qin Lian snapped out of her shock and rushed to his side. She knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

His body trembled slightly under her touch, but she quickly realized that it wasn't physical exhaustion that had weakened him. His spiritual energy was still steady. Instead, his soul was in turmoil.

"Are you okay?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Ye Xiaotian gave a weak smile, his eyes half-closed. "It's nothing… I just… exhausted my soul."

Qin Lian frowned. "Your soul?"

Ye Xiaotian nodded slowly. "I still can't handle this body for too long. The new vessel puts too much strain on my soul… I've been forcing myself to endure it."

Qin Lian's eyes widened in understanding. "You mean… your body isn't your original one?"

Ye Xiaotian chuckled softly. "You could say that."

Qin Lian bit her lip. She didn't know what kind of secret Ye Xiaotian was hiding, but she could see that his soul was far more powerful than his cultivation realm suggested. Yet, even he had limits.

"You need to rest," she said gently. "Let's stay here for a while. I'll heal myself, and you can recover."

Ye Xiaotian nodded, leaning back against a large tree. His mind drifted back to the battle, replaying every move.

I need to be more cautious… Even if I can kill an Elementary Soul Awakening expert, the strain on my soul is too great. If I ever face an Intermediate one… I'll die for sure.

As Ye Xiaotian rested, a loud growl from his stomach echoed through the clearing.

Grrrrr.

He rubbed his stomach, embarrassed. He hadn't eaten anything in days.

A soft laugh came from beside him. Qin Lian opened her eyes, a playful smile on her lips. "It seems you're really hungry."

Ye Xiaotian smiled sheepishly. "I guess I am."

Qin Lian stood up, stretching her limbs. "Wait here. I'll make something."

She gathered some dry wood and started a fire. From her storage ring, she pulled out a large slab of meat and began cooking it over the flames.

Ye Xiaotian watched her curiously. "You have a storage ring?"

Qin Lian glanced at him and nodded. "Of course. Every sect disciple has one."

Ye Xiaotian mumbled "I should also get a new storage ring for myself, I don't know where the last one go." 

"Waittt..." Suddenly as if he thought of something his mind raced with ideas.  Can I use my spirit world as a storage space? Can I summon things directly without opening a portal?

Before he could think further, the delicious aroma of roasted meat filled the air. His thoughts paused as his mouth watered.

The scent was heavenly.

"Wait a little longer," Qin Lian said with a teasing smile. "It's almost done."

Finally, she handed him a portion of the roasted meat. "Here. Enjoy."

Ye Xiaotian eagerly took a bite. The rich flavor exploded on his tongue, and he moaned in delight. Juices dripped from his mouth as he chewed.

"So delicious!" he exclaimed. "Is this… Blue Mountain Cattle?"

Qin Lian nodded, smiling. "Yes. Blue Flame Cattle, to be exact. Their meat is both nourishing and delicious and since they are easy to breed our sect has a large farm of them."

Ye Xiaotian's eyes lit up with interest. A spirit beast farm… I could do the same in my spirit world.

"Can your sect provide me with some cattle?" he asked eagerly. "I'll pay for them."

Qin Lian raised an eyebrow, surprised by his sudden request. After a moment, she smiled mysteriously. "We can… But you'll have to come to my sect."

Ye Xiaotian considered it for a moment. He had no reason to remain here. The Vermillion Flame Sect might offer valuable resources and knowledge.

"Okay," he said. "After I rest, we'll go to your sect."

Qin Lian's smile widened. "Good."

After finishing his meal, Ye Xiaotian leaned back against the tree, closing his eyes. As the stars twinkled above, he felt his soul gradually recovering.

Beside him, Qin Lian sat cross-legged, keeping watch.

As the fire crackled softly, an unspoken bond began to form between them one forged through battle, trust, and shared destiny.

End of Chapter 9