Chapter 149, First Foundation Establishment Kill, and the Cruel and Merciless Master Jiang

Translator: Raznick

 

With the release of Zhou Chun’s fingers, the arrow enveloped in white lightning transformed into a bolt of lightning hurtling towards Wei Tong, its speed akin to a flash.

 

In an instant, Wei Tong’s eyelids twitched, and he felt a surge of intense threat of death.

 

Without a moment to ponder, he hastily activated a protective artifact he wore.

 

A swirl of golden spiritual light erupted from his collar, forming a shimmering barrier that appeared before him in the blink of an eye.

 

However, this golden barrier, capable of deflecting a strike from a cultivator at mid Foundation Establishment, was, in Wei Tong’s horrified gaze, instantly pierced and torn apart.

 

Then, he felt a jolt of pain in his right chest, and half his body abruptly lost sensation.

 

Yet, his Divine Sense clearly perceived the condition of his body, both inside and out.

 

The condition was dire.

 

He saw that the connection between his right chest and shoulder had been pierced by an arrow, leaving a gaping hole, a mass of flesh, bone, and tissue entirely lost.

 

Simultaneously, the flesh and bone around the wound were scorched and shattered by lightning, all necrotic.

 

His body had lost sensation because of the intense electric shock that had sent him into a paralyzed state!

 

For a moment, Wei Tong felt as though his physical body had already perished, which was why he felt no pain.

 

But as the numbing effect of the lightning subsided, a wave of intense pain surged through him, and it was then that he realized he was still alive!

 

Then, a rush of overwhelming fear welled up from deep within.

 

“No, I can’t die! I absolutely cannot die here!”

 

He growled the words from his mouth, his eyes blazing with a fierce will to survive.

 

He swiftly channeled his spiritual power to protect his heart meridian, then retrieved a vial and quickly consumed several healing pills.

 

Next, he disregarded everything, directly slapping his storage bag to summon the turquoise flying artifact, and quickly jumped aboard, preparing to flee.

 

But just then, another lightning bolt hurtled toward him.

 

It was Zhou Chun, using spiritual power to draw upon the lightning energy contained within the longbow and unleash a spirit arrow.

 

Although this lightning bolt’s power was far less than the previous one, it wasn’t any weaker than an inferior second-grade mystical art.

 

Wei Tong, however, had been terrified by the previous arrow, believing it to be just as powerful.

 

Instantly, he closed his eyes in despair, instinctively channeling spiritual power to form a protective shield around himself.

 

Boom!

 

Accompanied by a booming explosion, the lightning bolt’s blast shattered the spiritual power shield Wei Tong raised and then sent him tumbling from the turquoise flying artifact.

 

I’m not dead?

 

It was only at this moment that he seemed to realize something, his face filled with the joy of escaping death.

 

The fleeting joy hadn’t even lingered for two breaths before it was swallowed by an endless tide of regret.

 

Because he still could have escaped just moments ago, there was still a chance!

 

But now, because he had abandoned all resistance with a heart ashen with despair, both the Earth Armored Bear locked in fierce combat with the Rock Dragon and the twin-blade artifact that had previously been skirmishing with Zhou Chun’s flying claws collapsed and plummeted, their power dissipating with their master’s surrender.

 

And the time bought by Zhou Chun’s lightning bolt had now arrived, simultaneously directing both a crimson claw and a long nail toward him.

 

At this moment, only the snake-shaped flying blade remained in Wei Tong’s hand. He strained to unleash it, but it was easily batted aside by the crimson claw.

 

Then, the golden nail, under Zhou Chun’s command, pierced his chest!

 

A gush of crimson blood erupted from Wei Tong’s chest, and his head soon shattered under the impact of the crimson claw.

 

A mid Foundation Establishment cultivator fell by Zhou Chun’s hand.

 

“Second Wei, you useless, worthless fool!”

 

In the distance, Su Qiang, upon witnessing Wei Tong’s death, was immediately both shocked and enraged, his face contorted in fury as he unleashed a torrent of curses.

 

He never anticipated that Wei Tong, a respected mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, wouldn’t just fail to kill Zhou Chun, a mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator, but would instead be killed himself.

 

And this outcome didn’t just lead to the failure of their mission; it also put them at risk of being surrounded.

 

It was utterly unforgivable!

 

“Damn it, you got lucky this time, but we’ll be seeing you again!”

 

A frustrated roar erupted from his lips, and Su Qiang immediately cast an art, once again unleashing that initial crimson-gold fiery special skill to impede Zhou Daoquan, then retrieving several artifacts and swiftly transforming into a streak of fire as he retreated.

 

Zhou Daoquan had already experienced Su Qiang’s formidable power. Though regret filled him for letting the man escape, he wasn’t about to force him into a desperate fight.

 

Forcing the opponent into a life-or-death struggle—even if he ultimately managed to kill him—risked Zhou Chun and himself sustaining grievous injuries.

 

Trading injuries for survival might seem like a worthwhile bargain in Su Qiang’s eyes.

 

But for Zhou Daoquan, it wasn’t.

 

After all, he still had to attempt the Violet Palace, and Zhou Chun had to cultivate the dangerous Golden Cauldron Mystic Art.

 

Should either of them suffer a debilitating injury at this time, it could leave a lingering weakness, ultimately thwarting their progress.

 

Even if that possibility was slight, Zhou Daoquan considered it an unnecessary risk.

 

Now certain that Su Qiang had genuinely retreated, he retrieved a Qi Restoring Pill to replenish his spiritual power and a pill for healing from his storage bag, swallowing them both before urgently flying towards Zhou Chun.

 

“Zhengchun, are you alright? Did you sustain any injuries?”

 

After landing beside Zhou Chun, Zhou Daoquan’s first instinct wasn’t to comfort his injured spirit pet, the Earth Armored Bear, but to inquire about Zhou Chun’s condition.

 

Clearly, in his heart, Zhou Chun’s importance far outweighed that of the Earth Armored Bear, a loyal companion for over a century.

 

This filled Zhou Chun with profound gratitude.

 

He quickly shook his head. “Thanks to the Earth Armored Bear’s desperate protection, I suffered no harm. Elder, you should quickly tend to it!”

 

“You’re safe, and that’s what matters. As for Xiong Shan, don’t worry about him; he’s tough, and these injuries will completely heal with a month of rest.”

 

Zhou Daoquan glanced at the spirit pet licking its wound, a light chuckle escaping his lips.

 

However, despite his words, he quickly approached the spirit pet, first showering it with praise, then retrieving a superior spirit beast ration and healing pills from his storage bag to feed the Earth Armored Bear.

 

Zhou Chun, sharp-eyed, clearly saw that among them was a small vial of spiritual honey.

 

It was evident that Zhou Daoquan hadn’t changed; he spoke of not being affectionate, but he genuinely cared for his spirit pet.

 

The Earth Armored Bear, having received its most beloved spiritual honey, completely forgot about the pain, radiating joy as it enveloped the small vial with its tongue, carefully and slowly sipping the spiritual honey within, as if afraid of finishing it in one gulp.

 

This nearly sent Zhou Chun into laughter.

 

Zhou Chun figured if it could use a storage bag, it might just collect the honey and dilute it with a hundred times the water for later consumption.

 

The taste might be considerably weaker, but it would certainly be filling!

 

After Zhou Daoquan fed the spirit pet, Zhou Chun also gathered the items Wei Tong had left behind.

 

Then, pointing at Wei Tong’s corpse, which was now fractured in four or five places, he asked, “Elder, why do you think these two would come after us?”

 

Zhou Daoquan’s expression immediately darkened upon hearing this, his voice dropping to a somber tone. “I suspect Master Jiang had a hand in it!”

 

“Do you think they were instructed by Master Jiang?”

 

Zhou Chun’s expression shifted, his tone becoming serious as well.

 

Zhou Daoquan immediately nodded. “Even if they weren’t, he must have revealed our identities and whereabouts!

 

“That fleeing fellow, since he cultivates a battle art, certainly isn’t some nobody. Once we return, we just need to inquire with the Wang Clan, and we’ll know. Let’s also remind the Wang Clan to be careful of that Master Jiang!”

 

“I agree. This time, the Wang Clan certainly owes us a huge favor. I will personally lead the gifts to visit and express my gratitude.”

 

“That’s only right.”

 

Zhou Daoquan nodded slightly, quite approving of his decision.

 

Thus, the two quickly mounted the Vermillion Flame Crane again and continued their return to the clan.

 

On the other side, Su Qiang, after fleeing the battlefield, grew increasingly angry.

 

He was angry that Wei Tong was disappointing and ruined everything.

 

He was also angry that the intelligence from Master Jiang was inaccurate, severely underestimating the target’s strength.

 

Fueled by his anger, he directly went to the Eastern Mausoleum market to confront Master Jiang.

 

“Now Second Wei is dead, and without him as a partner, I won’t be able to accomplish many things; the loss is immeasurable!

 

“And all of this is because of the incorrect information you provided, Master Jiang!

 

“Master Jiang, how will you compensate me for this?”

 

In the backyard of the pharmacy, Su Qiang, his face ashen, glared at Master Jiang and roared with anger, his tone full of fury.

 

After hearing his words, Master Jiang’s rosy, aged face instantly darkened.

 

He first swept a glance at Su Qiang’s angry eyes, then said coldly, “Wei Tong was a useless piece of trash; he’s dead, and you shouldn’t be so angry about it.

 

“As for claiming that I have inaccurate information, that’s simply unreasonable. I merely stated their cultivation, but I never said how strong they were, nor did I instruct you to take action and kill someone.

 

“Since you chose to act, you must bear the consequences of your actions!”

 

Speaking to this point, he continued in a frigid tone: “I am already being generous by not blaming you for startling the prey and damaging my reputation!”

 

Su Qiang, hearing his words, was infuriated to the point of laughter and involuntarily scoffed: “Damage your reputation? If you still care about your reputation, then you should compensate me accordingly, or else my loose tongue might reveal something that would be quite unfavorable to you, Master!”

 

“Is that a threat?”

 

Master Jiang’s eyes turned cold, his gaze fixed icily on Su Qiang.

 

Under his gaze, Su Qiang’s heart turned cold, as if he had been targeted by some ferocious beast.

 

But recalling his own strength and the leverage he held over the other party, he straightened his posture and retorted with a cold smile, “So what if I am? Do you intend to silence me?”

 

Since Wei Tong died, there was no one with his Piercing Cloud Vision and that flying artifact, making it difficult to continue hunting other Foundation Establishment cultivators—the bandit cultivator’s profession was unsustainable.

 

It would be better to lay his cards on the table with Master Jiang, to extort this old man properly, and then retire from this life permanently.

 

After a moment of eye contact with Su Qiang, Master Jiang seemed to discern his thoughts, and his expression darkened as he nodded slightly: “Very well, you thug. What compensation do you desire?”

 

Seeing him back down, Su Qiang couldn’t help but reveal a smug smile, immediately pleased and saying, “Of course it’s pills to enhance cultivation. You, Master Jiang, are an alchemy master; don’t tell me you don’t have them on you!”

 

“Very well, I will grant your request.”

 

Master Jiang responded in a cold tone and then reached out and patted his storage bag, retrieving three vials of pills and handing them to Su Qiang.

 

Unexpectedly, after Su Qiang received the vials, he immediately showed a displeased expression and said, “Only three vials? That’s too little!”

 

Master Jiang seemed to anticipate Su Qiang’s words and immediately said coldly, “Check them first.”

 

Su Qiang was slightly taken aback and then pulled out a vial of pills, raising his head to examine the pills inside.

 

Just then, the finger Master Jiang had hidden in his sleeve suddenly flicked, and a needle as thin as a strand of hair shot out from his hand, instantly piercing towards Su Qiang.

 

Facing this sneak attack, Su Qiang seemed to be prepared, and a layer of crimson light immediately enveloped him for protection.

 

However, he hadn’t expected that this protective light, which could withstand an attack from an ordinary late Foundation Establishment cultivator, would be easily pierced by the black needle, and he was instantly struck in the vital point on his forehead.

 

“You…”

 

Su Qiang, wounded in a vital spot, pointed at Master Jiang, seemingly wanting to say something.

 

But in the end, he didn’t even manage to utter a sentence before he turned a face of purple and collapsed to the ground.

 

Watching Su Qiang’s corpse, Master Jiang raised his hand to retract the thin needle artifact that had pierced his forehead.

 

The originally black needle artifact had now turned silver-white.

 

Seeing this, Master Jiang also showed a look of pain and sneered at Su Qiang’s corpse, “Hmph, to die from the venom of a Black-purple Serpent, which even Violet Palace Stage cultivators can be poisoned by, you should be grateful.”

 

Then he quickly searched Su Qiang’s corpse and burned the corpse to ashes with a fire.

 

Then he quickly left the pharmacy and headed to the market, to the quiet cultivation place of the Violet Palace cultivator in the Black Gem Pavilion.

 

Every cultivator entering the market had their approximate entry and exit times registered; if they didn’t come out by the appointed time, the market patrol team would look for them.

 

Cultivators like Su Qiang, especially Foundation Establishment cultivators, were prime targets for the market.

 

Therefore, killing was the easy part; the difficult thing was erasing all traces of the incident.

 

Fortunately, Su Qiang was merely a rogue cultivator, and Master Jiang himself possessed an extraordinary lineage, was an alchemy master of considerable skill, and held evidence of Su Qiang’s involvement in the assassinations of other cultivators.

 

With the right price, he was confident he could bury the matter entirely.

 

As for Zhou Chun and the others, who likely suspected Su Qiang and Wei Tong were behind it all, Master Jiang didn’t particularly care.

 

Mist Province and Ridge Province were far apart, and they had no proof; they wouldn’t risk bringing a Violet Palace Stage cultivator to confront him.

 

Furthermore, the forces backing Master Jiang were even stronger than the Zhou Clan!

 

If Zhou Chun and the others were even a smidge smart and showed a modicum of sense, this matter would simply be forgotten.

 

It was unfortunate that after this incident, obtaining the remaining Musk Spirit Stag spiritual musk in Zhou Chun’s possession would be impossible.

 

In Master Jiang’s heart, this was the most upsetting thing of all.