[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-54":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2280910,4462,"Chapter 54: The Unfavorable Deal","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-54",54,"\u003Cp>In one night, eight cultivators died in the old district; to ordinary people this was unimportant, but cultivators paid close attention to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because every cultivator knew how difficult it was for a Spirit Medium cultivator to kill eight opponents of the same level, and they all wanted to know why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, word casually spread that Li Yi had mastered a fist technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only if Li Yi possessed a powerful art could this be perfectly explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many cultivators grew restless, eager to learn Li Yi’s fist technique, but Li Yi had joined the Investigation Bureau and was completely unreachable; yet after extensive inquiries, they heard another rumor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s fist technique came from a ghost street in the Danger Zone, and he had taught it to Yang Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Information among cultivators was interconnected; uncovering these facts was not difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the Stable District.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yi was practicing the fist technique in the underground training hall, assuming a stance nearly identical to Li Yi’s, eyes closed, contemplating, feeling the qi within his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been practicing like this for a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Yang Yi’s talent, his terrifying physical condition, and various auxiliary devices, he had fully mastered Li Yi’s loose stance and replicated it perfectly, without the slightest deviation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A muffled explosion echoed through the silent training hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yi still stood with eyes closed; clearly, that punch had come from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fist power seemed to have been mastered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yi always felt something was missing, yet he couldn’t articulate what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the nearby floor lay several thick wooden boards, each bearing a fist imprint clearer than the last; the final board’s imprint matched exactly the one Li Yi had left, even deeper and sharper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This fist technique is truly brutal. Once you master this fist power, every strike leaves death or injury. No wonder Li Yi could fight nine at once, killing eight and crippling a Spirit Perception cultivator. If I had possessed this technique at the Spirit Medium stage, I could have done the same.” Yang Yi slowly opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had long known about the recent events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past two days, many people had contacted him through various means, seeking to buy this fist technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yi neither refused nor agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was thinking, weighing his options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to wait for the outcome of Li Yi’s case before deciding his next move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yang Yi, come out! Don’t hide! Li Yi is the person I introduced to you. If you treat him like this, I won’t stand idly by—today you must give me an answer.” A voice suddenly rang through the building, pulling Yang Yi from his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Lin, Director Yang is cultivating. You cannot disturb him.” The supervisor Xu Ming’s voice came from outside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out of the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door opened. Lin Yue, face icy, strode toward the training hall. She had heard the news of Li Yi’s killings and no longer wished to delay—she must resolve this quickly and return to check on Li Yi’s condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu, step out.” Yang Yi waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yue glanced at the training hall: “It seems you’ve nearly mastered Li Yi’s fist technique. You know why I’m here. No need for idle talk—I repeat: your deal with Li Yi was unfair. He gave you his technique; you should give him one in return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I ask you to hand over your Guiding Art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yi said calmly: “Li Yi voluntarily taught me the fist technique. I promised him a favor. This wasn’t a transaction, Lin Yue. This has nothing to do with you. Don’t get involved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yang Yi, your Guiding Art is worth less than the fist technique. Li Yi’s fist technique is unique. Your Guiding Art can be bought on the market for money. If you truly exchanged, you’d still profit.” Lin Yue stared at him: “Stop making excuses. Give me a straight answer: will you give the Guiding Art or not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you threatening me?” Yang Yi’s gaze sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not a threat—just reason. If you won’t hand over the Guiding Art, compensate Li Yi with one billion. That’s the price for the fist technique.” Lin Yue said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yi said: “Lin Yue, you know that right now Li Yi killed people and is in the Investigation Bureau. What matters most isn’t money—it’s someone ensuring his safety. I owe him a favor. I can use my connections to guarantee he walks out of the Investigation Bureau unharmed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Yi bears eight lives. That’s no minor crime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t fool me. Li Yi acted in self-defense—it’s not a serious offense. He also killed a wanted criminal, which offsets his crime. His case doesn’t concern you. I’ll handle it. Now: pay one billion, or hand over the Guiding Art.” Lin Yue said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yi sighed: “Lin Yue, you’re being unreasonable. I’m speaking to you only because you’re Qin Qing’s friend. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qin Qing? You dare mention Qin Qing? I haven’t seen her since. I heard she was severely injured hunting a transcendent creature with you—no one knows if she’s alive or dead.” Lin Yue’s anger flared instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yi said: “Qin Qing is perfectly fine. She’s recovering. She’s extremely important to me. I’ll take full responsibility. Rest assured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yue could no longer hold back: “If you truly wanted to heal Qin Qing, you’d have contacted major medical companies and devised a treatment plan long ago. But in three days here, I’ve seen no medical personnel come or go. Yang Yi, have you abandoned Qin Qing’s treatment? Are you saving the money from the transcendent creature hunt for your own cultivation? I’ll tell you this: even if you don’t pay, Qin Qing can heal herself—she owns half the earnings from that hunt. Do you plan to embezzle it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough.” Yang Yi roared, shaking the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Yue, I’ve been generous with you. If you push further, don’t blame me for being uncivil.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yue said: “What happens between you and Qin Qing is your private matter—I won’t interfere. But this deal between you and Li Yi? I’m taking charge. You must give me a clear answer. Don’t try to deceive me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Since you want an answer, here it is.” Yang Yi picked up the phone: “Xu, bring me the latest box from my room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Lin Yue: “You want one billion? I can’t pay it now. But I can give you something of equal value. From now on, this matter is settled. My fist technique has no further connection to Li Yi.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t think I don’t know your plan. Once you learn this fist technique, you can sell it—your profit will far exceed one billion. Either way, Li Yi loses.” Lin Yue sneered: “But Yang Yi, remember: don’t overreach. Today, Li Yi and I are weaker—we accept this loss. When the tide turns, don’t blame us for being merciless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe I act fairly. You’re the one being excessive.” Yang Yi said: “The item has arrived. Take it and leave. I no longer welcome you here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Supervisor Xu Ming arrived by elevator, carrying a box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll leave when I’m ready. Do you think I want to stay here? But I must inspect the goods to know if they’re worth anything.” Lin Yue took the box from Xu Ming, opened it—and her face darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the box was only one garment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s made from the hide of a Qiu Dragon. Worn, it keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer, and is incredibly resilient—even bullets can’t pierce it. There are few such items in the world.” Yang Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yue’s face darkened, and she exploded: “Bullshit! No garment can be worth one billion! Even if it’s Qiu Dragon hide, it’s still an impractical luxury—only someone idle enough would commission such a thing. Li Yi is just starting his cultivation—he needs money, resources, not a fancy coat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The item is yours. We’re even. Miss Lin, please leave now.” Yang Yi’s face was cold, signaling her to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yang Yi, I never thought you’d be this kind of person.” Lin Yue laughed bitterly with rage: “You act so respectable, but when your own great interests are at stake, you lose your moral compass. You’ve sunk lower and lower—barely hiding your thievery...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her words were cut short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderous boom erupted beneath Yang Yi’s feet, and his figure vanished from where he stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yue’s pupils shrank sharply; she instinctively raised her arm to block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fist slammed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fist power erupted—a muffled crash echoed through the training hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yue was thrown back over ten meters, barely stopping herself—but her forearm shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Yue, I warned you—if you pushed further, I wouldn’t be civil. Did you think I was just talking?” Yang Yi stood with hands behind his back, a hint of killing intent in his eyes, faint white auroras flickering around him: “That punch was just a lesson. Don’t force me to form a sword. Take the item and leave. This is the final warning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing such humiliation, Lin Yue was furious—but she forcibly suppressed the rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this moment, she understood Li Yi’s situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When your position is weaker, yielding is the wisest choice. No wonder Li Yi dared not even ask—he gave away the fist technique for free just to escape unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with my status, openly negotiating led to this. Had it been Li Yi, he’d already be dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yang Yi, from today, we’re enemies.” Lin Yue gritted her teeth, grabbed the box, and walked out without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew: if she didn’t take the garment, she’d leave with nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now that we’re enemies, why give her anything? Just kill her—save future trouble. If you won’t do it, I will.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Lin Yue left than a middle-aged man named Yang Ye emerged from the other side, his face grim as he demanded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Yue isn’t ordinary. She’s prominent in the Cultivator Association, and her master is no ordinary figure. That’s why I compromised. If anyone else came at me like this, I’d have killed them already.” Yang Yi stood calmly, hands behind his back: “But I never expected her to defend Li Yi? Their relationship must be special.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you from the start: control Li Yi. Don’t let him leave until he learns the fist technique. Yi, morality is for show. Those who achieve greatness are never soft-hearted.” Yang Ye said, clearly dissatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lin Yue’s involvement changes the nature of this. The fist technique ends here. She received compensation; she has no reason to bother me again. I must devote all my time, energy, and resources to cultivation—to becoming a Cross-Domain cultivator is the priority.” Yang Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Ye said: “What about Li Yi? That brat will surely harbor resentment—he might come back for revenge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Taking someone’s technique by force invites hatred. If he swallows this insult, fine. If he foolishly comes looking for trouble, I’ll deal with him.” Yang Yi spoke calmly, yet radiated absolute confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. When you must be ruthless, be ruthless.” Yang Ye nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yue, injured, carried the box into a car and left Yang Yi’s residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the car, she touched the broken bone in her arm, sweat breaking out from the pain—but then she realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Yang Yi’s fist power isn’t refined enough. Against me, it was enough—but against a true expert, its flaws would show. If Li Yi had struck me, my arm wouldn’t have broken—it would’ve been crushed into a fist-shaped imprint... Yang Yi, you’re enjoying your training now, but you’ll learn soon enough: grabbing small advantages leads to great losses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I made a mistake too. I overestimated myself—I thought my status and my master’s influence could force Yang Yi to hand over the Guiding Art for Li Yi. Now, how do I explain this mess to Li Yi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Lin Yue felt shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blamed herself for introducing Li Yi to this job, which led to all these troubles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, Lin Yue thought of another solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Find another Guiding Art through other means and give it to Li Yi—fulfill her promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the only option. But first, I must visit Li Yi and see how the Investigation Bureau plans to handle him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yue took several deep breaths, calming her resentment and fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Yi’s matter could wait—right now, her priority was confirming Li Yi was safe.\u003C\u002Fp>",2097,"2026-06-20T01:26:56.586Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0ee2f5296d3eaf6f6650b38a31b5f67ba31d3703cd40ecc288c8e7d0ec377ec9","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-55","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-53",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]