Chapter 47: A Notorious Reputation (Part 3)

Han Yi's plan ultimately failed. After leaving the camp and struggling to navigate toward the heart of Heavenfall City, where the Great Qian's official garrison was stationed, he was soon intercepted.

His interceptor wasn't from the Blood God Sect, but a cultivator clad in the official robes of the Great Qian.

This cultivator exuded a vast, surging aura—one that Han Yi had witnessed in Martial Uncle Gu, the leader of their expedition, but this presence was even more formidable.

A mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Great Qian's official forces.

"Profound Pill Sect cultivator, this path is closed. Please turn back."

Han Yi's face paled. He opened his mouth to protest, but the words caught in his throat, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The man was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. The mere fact that he spoke politely to Han Yi showed deference to the Profound Pill Sect. Any defiance would result in swift suppression—a pointless death.

In the Cultivation World, might makes right. There was no room for petty arguments.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator's attitude perfectly reflected the Great Qian's official stance: non-interference, indifference. Fight amongst yourselves, but don't drag us into it.

Understanding the situation, Han Yi turned and left without a word.

The Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator blocking his path watched Han Yi depart with an impassive expression, then shook his head.

Tonight, the cultivators of the Profound Pill Sect faced grim prospects.

In truth, the cultivator himself was perplexed, a sentiment shared by all official cultivators of the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom in Taibai County. Why hadn't Great Qian intervened?

They had submitted detailed intelligence reports, yet their superiors remained conspicuously silent.

Were they simply allowing the Blood God Sect and the Profound Pill Sect to escalate their conflict unchecked?

If it were merely these two sects involved, it might be manageable.

The real concern was that Great Qian's refusal to intervene and quell the conflict could unleash sinister schemes in the shadows.

Great Qian had suffered significant losses during the recent Immortal-Demon War. If this internal fire were allowed to spread uncontrollably, the consequences could be dire.

What if a third sect joined the fray? Or a fourth? What if the three major sects, each led by Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, entered the conflict? Such an escalation could plunge the kingdom into chaos and even jeopardize its destiny.

There were undoubtedly critical factors at play, secrets beyond his current level of comprehension.

Well, let's just wait and see how this plays out.

The Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator had been meditating in his room, his divine sense constantly monitoring the city. When he noticed members of the Profound Pill Sect fleeing toward his position, he could no longer remain seated.

Without explicit orders from his superiors, he dared not intervene directly in the clash between the two sects. His only option was to personally block their path.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city...

Han Yi's anger and fear had reached a fever pitch as he turned back.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

Though Han Yi possessed numerous hidden cards, he knew he couldn't simultaneously face multiple Blood God Sect cultivators at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, especially when they were armed with High-Grade or even Top-Grade Magic Artifacts.

My only option now is to find a place to hide.

Fortunately, I've mastered the Turtle Breath Technique. I can only hope it works.

With no other choice, Han Yi knew that continuing to run would only increase his chances of encountering more Blood God Sect cultivators.

In this dire situation, long-term plans were useless. He would simply hide for as long as he could.

With a flicker of movement, Han Yi vanished from the street. Silently, he slipped into an ordinary tavern and descended into its cellar, seeking refuge.

Simultaneously, Han Yi circulated his mana according to the Turtle Breath Technique, transforming himself into a hibernating old turtle. As the mana flowed, his aura gradually diminished until it was almost imperceptible.

However, barely ten breaths later, an explosion erupted outside the tavern.

Boom!

A flicker of anxiety stirred in Han Yi's heart, but his mana remained perfectly stable, the Turtle Breath Technique unbroken.

"Kill them all!"

"Senior Brother Cui, run!"

"Escape this way!"

"Heh, look at these fish! They're mine—don't even think about snatching them!"

Angry roars mingled with contemptuous laughter outside the tavern.

Han Yi's heart skipped a beat. The voices sounded familiar. Then he remembered: one belonged to Luo Yunzhou, one of the ten disciples assigned to his team. Han Yi recalled him clearly because Luo Yunzhou and Lu Su were the only team members who had fought in the Great Immortal-Demon War.

"Senior Brother Cui? Could that be Cui Xingchen? Is he still alive?"

As these thoughts swirled through his mind, Han Yi remained motionless.

He wasn't a saint. He couldn't risk his life to save others.

It was far too dangerous.

But fate had other plans.

The next moment, a deafening rumble shook the ground as the battle outside intensified. The mundane tavern, lacking any protective formations, collapsed entirely.

"Damn it! What rotten luck!" Han Yi cursed, unable to sit still any longer. He refused to become the Profound Pill Sect's first casualty, crushed by falling rubble without even engaging in combat.

With a gentle flick of his finger, he compressed his mana into a concentrated point at his fingertip. The compressed energy erupted outward, shattering the massive boulder blocking the exit into gravel. In a flash, he floated effortlessly out of the cellar.

"Hmm, another one? He was hiding deep inside—almost missed him."

A Blood God Sect cultivator in crimson robes leaped over the courtyard wall, his eyes gleaming as he spotted Han Yi.

"Though he's only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining and probably doesn't have much wealth, something is better than nothing. And infusing him into the Blood Soul Banner will strengthen it."

"Die!"

With a light leap, the Blood God Sect cultivator hurled a blood-red banner into the air. The banner unfurled mid-flight, quivering as if sensing the scent of blood, and swooped down to envelop Han Yi.

Han Yi glanced upward, a murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

Hide when you can, but when hiding fails, throw everything you have into the fight.

Hesitating now, exposing his back to the enemy in this perilous moment, would be utter foolishness—a sure path to death. Han Yi knew this all too well.

"The brave prevail in a narrow encounter."

Whoosh!

Just as the enemy cultivator leaped out from behind the eerie Blood Soul Banner, Han Yi pinched his index and middle fingers together and flicked his wrist.

A dagger at his waist shot upward, piercing the air as it streaked toward the banner.

Tear!

The dagger slashed a long gash in the Blood Soul Banner, unleashing a piercing shriek like that of a vengeful ghost.

"My Blood Soul Banner! Damn you!"

Thud!

The Blood God Sect cultivator landed, his face contorted with fury and shock at the damage to his Magic Artifact. But before he could react, a dull thud erupted from his chest.

He instinctively looked down.

A gaping hole had been torn through his chest.

The dagger that had pierced him was so swift that he hadn't even registered the pain.

"You..."

He looked up, his pupils dilating wildly, and pointed a trembling finger at Han Yi, trying to speak.

Whoosh!

The same dagger that had slashed the Blood Soul Banner returned instantly. With another swift flick, it severed his head from his shoulders.

Thud!

The headless corpse crashed to the ground, blood gushing like a fountain, spreading a metallic stench.

"Phew!" Han Yi exhaled in relief.

"He really underestimated me, thinking my Sixth Layer Qi Refining cultivation realm made me an easy kill."

His fingers twitched.

Two daggers returned to him, hovering before him.

That's right.

Han Yi hadn't launched just one dagger earlier—he had launched two.