Chapter 87: Afraid

"Yes, yes…" Nian Jinqing scrambled to his feet, not even wiping the blood from his lips, and rushed upstairs to fetch something.

Ding Huan's spiritual sense could now extend about seventeen meters; he did not follow Nian Jinqing upstairs, but his spiritual sense clung to Nian Jinqing the whole time.

Nian Jinqing must have known he couldn't escape, so he acted with surprising frankness, taking down a long wooden box.

Ding Huan saw the long wooden box and knew it was made later; he opened it to find a one-meter-long blade inside. The blade emitted a dark, faint glow, its edge blurred into a hazy shape.

He grabbed the blade casually, and couldn't help but silently admire: what a fine blade.

This blade's quality was already on par with mid-tier cold weapons from the Changyi Continent.

Ding Huan didn't need to test it—his spiritual sense swept over the edge and knew instantly this was definitely a sharp weapon.

This blade now belonged to him.

Ding Huan put the blade back into the box, then said, "Go get all the Qi Stones and that third-grade ferocious beast's core."

When Nian Jinqing had gone to fetch the blade, Ding Huan had already seen that Nian Jinqing had at least a dozen Qi Stones.

He had never used these things before, and his main reason for wanting to go to the Kunlun Mountains was precisely for Qi Stones.

If they're right here, why go far away?

Nian Jinqing's hand trembled—not because he minded the dozen or so Qi Stones. If his life was gone, what did Qi Stones matter?

He was certain Ding Huan hadn't gone upstairs with him—how did he know about the Qi Stones? If Ding Huan had suddenly remembered, why did he remember the core too?

"Yes." Nian Jinqing didn't dare delay; he hurried upstairs again and brought down eleven Qi Stones and the third-grade ferocious beast's core, placing them in Ding Huan's hands.

Ding Huan held a Qi Stone for the first time, picking one up casually.

A rich surge of heavenly Qi flowed into his palm; Ding Huan's heart leapt—this was truly a good thing. If he had dozens of them, he'd reach fifth-grade Gene Cultivator in no time.

Although Ding Huan very much wanted to try it, he knew this wasn't the time.

He put the Qi Stones and the core into his backpack, then asked, "Where did you get these Qi Stones?"

"Jiji!" Lao Liu, seeing Ding Huan toss the Qi Stones into his backpack, let out a few longing chirps.

Ding Huan didn't even bother to look at Lao Liu—this guy was only coming with him to the Kunlun Mountains for profit, not his pet.

He didn't even have enough Qi Stones for himself—why should he give any to Lao Liu?

"From the Kunlun Mountains. I have a map."

Nian Jinqing walked over to the map, pointing at a valley's location, "I found them right here."

"Did you go alone?" Ding Huan asked, puzzled.

In his view, Nian Jinqing's strength was far too weak to hunt for Qi Stones in the Kunlun Mountains.

Nian Jinqing hurriedly said, "No, many people went then—including the Gene Alliance, the Martial Alliance, and top experts from the Top Ten Academies of Blue Planet."

I was weaker, so I got fewer Qi Stones."

Ding Huan knew Nian Jinqing was trying to lure him to the Gene Alliance—he actually had that idea now.

If Nian Jinqing still had over a dozen Qi Stones, how many must the Gene Alliance have?

Last time he raided the Gene Alliance headquarters and slaughtered everyone, he hadn't even asked about Qi Stones—what a mistake. Today, he couldn't miss this chance.

"Tell me the origin of this Starry Sky Blade," Ding Huan continued.

What he truly cared about wasn't this Starry Sky Blade, but the extraterrestrial spacecraft mentioned by Fei Tongtong.

For Ding Huan, leaving Earth was only a matter of time. If he couldn't leave via the Gene Alliance, he needed a reliable spacecraft.

Earth's spacecraft were decent, but still far below Ding Huan's standards.

Nian Jinqing hurriedly said, "Seven years ago, an alien spacecraft received a signal sent out by the Gene Alliance and found Earth…"

"I know that. Where's the spacecraft?" Ding Huan knew the Gene Alliance was asking for death—constantly broadcasting signals seeking extraterrestrial civilizations.

Though he didn't know what happened after, he was certain that after the spacecraft vanished on Earth, this was only the beginning.

"Yes, the spacecraft is now at the Federation Headquarters, on the Tuo Peninsula. It's jointly guarded by the Gene Alliance, the Martial Alliance, and the Federation Republic."

"How did you get the Starry Sky Blade?"

"I traded a map and some Qi Stones for it—I obtained the map to the Kunlun Mountain Martial Legacy."

Originally, my squad and I were hunting Tianxiang Lu in the Kunlun Mountains when we accidentally found a ruined ancient temple. Beneath it was a Daoist altar; the map was hidden beneath the altar."

I copied the map from the wall."

Nian Jinqing answered everything without holding back—he knew exactly what he should and shouldn't do now.

"Where's the altar?" Ding Huan asked next.

"Taken by the Gene Alliance—it was one of the items I traded for the Starry Sky Blade."

"Chairman…" Nian Jinqing had just finished speaking when shouts came from outside.

Nian Jinqing glanced at Ding Huan's expressionless face and could only say, "Come in, everyone."

In just moments, twenty-three high-ranking members of the Beasts' Guild entered the vast hall; when they saw the floor littered with corpses, all were stunned.

Several quick-reacting men had already drawn their pistols.

But no pistol was faster than Ding Huan's wind blades.

Ding Huan showed no mercy—wave after wave of wind blades slashed out, and in mere moments, all twenty-plus men fell.

Nian Jinqing's scalp prickled—he'd never thought himself inferior in slaughter, but today he finally understood what true slaughter was.

Everyone called him Nian Jinqing a slaughter demon, but Ding Huan's killing instinct was incomparably stronger.

He only needed to kill me—yet Ding Huan deliberately summoned everyone here and slaughtered them all. What else could this be but a slaughter demon?

Nian Jinqing was truly afraid—he feared Ding Huan would wipe out every last trace.

And that invisible blade edge—he'd always thought it was the Ghost Hand Crossbow. Now he saw clearly: it was true spiritual energy shaped into blades.

Only Martial Cultivators who reached the Primordial Realm could shape spiritual energy into blades. Ding Huan already can—what else could he be but Primordial?

He suddenly remembered the rumors about Ding Huan's students on the Human Corridor frontline—legend said they wielded invisible blade edges with devastating power. Clearly, the technique came from Ding Huan.

But could those students also be Primordial? That seemed impossible.

I just don't know if Ding Huan will go to the Human Corridor Frontline to save his students—if he does, that would be best.

At the Human Corridor Frontline, even if Ding Huan goes, he'll surely have to die.

Immediately, Nian Jinqing sighed; he was certain a man like Ding Huan would never go to the Human Corridor Frontline for a few students he'd casually taken on.

Because he himself was that kind of person—even when victory was assured, he wouldn't risk his life against ferocious beasts at any frontline for a few insignificant disciples. Isn't that a Bai Chi?

After killing these bastards, Ding Huan stretched out his hand, and the map hanging on the wall landed in his grasp.

Ding Huan rolled up the map and tucked it away with his blade, but the blade sheath was too long, leaving a bit sticking out.

Ding Huan didn't care; he looked at Nian Jinqing and said, "Do you know where we should go now?"

"I know, I know—we go to the Kunlun Mountains. There are no high-speed trains to the Kunlun Mountains here, but I have a plane…" Nian Jinqing hurriedly said.

"Not bad. Looks like keeping your life still has some value," Ding Huan said, praising him for the first time ever.

Nian Jinqing was inwardly terrified, but after hearing Ding Huan's words, he felt slightly relieved—he'd feared Ding Huan would simply flick his wrist and send an invisible blade slash his way.

"Going to the Kunlun Mountains isn't urgent. First, take me to Haiyun Mutated Materials. I want to see if my two friends have returned," Ding Huan said calmly.

"Yes, yes…" Nian Jinqing nodded hastily.

"Out. Lead the way," Ding Huan wouldn't be courteous to this ruthless bastard.

Nian Jinqing exhaled, walked into the courtyard, and looked at Ding Huan.

Seeing Ding Huan signal him to drive, he went to the side and brought his car over.

Before the car reached the entrance of Haiyun Mutated Materials, Ding Huan saw Fei Tongtong, eyes red, supporting Zhao Quan inside the shop, while Mu Tingyun, though pale, still looked reasonably healthy.

"Stop the car. Go tell Mu Tingyun and the others I'm leaving first—tell them not to wait for me," Ding Huan said, not moving, only speaking to Nian Jinqing.

Ding Huan knew Mu Tingyun and the others had appeared in the shop because they were waiting for him; otherwise, they wouldn't be there.

"Yes." Nian Jinqing quickly stopped the car, got out, and walked into Haiyun Mutated Materials.

"Will Teacher Ding come?" Mu Tingyun asked uncertainly.

Fei Tongtong didn't know if Ding Huan would come—if Lao Liu were here, Ding Huan would definitely come.

Now that Lao Liu wasn't here, she wasn't sure if Ding Huan would still come to say hello.

"Director Nian, you…" Before Fei Tongtong could answer, Mu Tingyun spotted Nian Jinqing approaching the door.

Nian Jinqing didn't dare enter; he only bowed deeply at the threshold. "I'm sorry—what happened before was the Beast King Group's fault. I apologize to you."

"Teacher Ding has business elsewhere and sent me to inform you—don't wait for him."

After speaking, Nian Jinqing bowed again, then turned and left.

"Tingyun, why is Chairman Nian… like this with Teacher Ding?" Fei Tongtong was stunned—if Teacher Ding and Nian Jinqing were allies, did they still have any path left?

Mu Tingyun shook her head. "It's fine. Nian Jinqing was forced by Ding Huan to come here and apologize. Look—he's breathing unevenly, covered in bloodstains—he's clearly badly injured."

After speaking, Mu Tingyun bowed deeply toward the door, thanking Ding Huan for saving her life.

"Teacher Ding, I delivered your message," Nian Jinqing said respectfully after getting back in the car.

"Good. Now drive to Dongxun Gene Center Tower," Ding Huan said, very satisfied.

Nian Jinqing shuddered—he finally understood: Ding Huan had never intended to go to the Kunlun Mountains right away. He was going back to the Gene Alliance's stronghold to settle accounts.

Truly not someone to cross—his thirst for revenge was simply too strong.

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