Chapter 465

At this moment, the dozen or so Mi Shan Sect cultivators watching by the river could not help but rejoice, their faces alight with excitement as they chattered among themselves, faintly audible words like “ninety-eight law patterns,” “slaying an equal-rank cultivator,” and “a level-one medium spiritual vein” drawing attention.

The man with a grim expression had somehow appeared beside Shi Qiuping; after seeing the fleeting joy on the young woman’s face, he bowed his fist and asked:

“Immortal Shi, our sect master has already won—should we not immediately send word back, lest other brothers in the sect act rashly?”

“You speak truly, Brother Duan. I’ll send a message talisman to my younger sister to calm the others.” The young woman startled, quickly recovering, and pulled a message talisman from her bosom, murmured a few words, then tossed it into the air where it burst into a flame and shot away.

The man with the grim expression made a similar move, releasing several message talismans as well.

He was none other than the cultivator Wang Yu had mentioned—the one named Duan Tianming.

…

Above the river, the blue pearl that had missed its target spun once in midair, then flew back toward the direction Wang Yu was gazing.

High in the sky, a faint blue light flickered, revealing an elderly man clad in blue sect robes; his expression was far from pleasant, and his gaze toward Wang Yu carried a trace of fear.

Clearly, the act of slaying an equal-rank cultivator with a single “Flame Blade” had made this sect elder, whose own cultivation was roughly comparable, deeply wary of Wang Yu.

After all, even if he had the backing of his sect, Wang Yu—the monster—was right before him. Would he truly dare kill him? No matter how powerful the Green Water Palace, it could not bring him back from death.

The elder, recalling the terrifying level-two spell just now, could not stop his eyelids from twitching.

A level-two ultimate spell with ninety-eight law patterns!

He had heard of such things before, but this was the first time he had ever seen a Foundation Establishment cultivator actually cast one—and its power far surpassed anything he could have imagined.

Thinking of this, the elder’s lingering anger over Miao Feng’s public execution vanished instantly; he forced a smile, bowed his fist, and said:

“I am Zhang Xiufu, an external steward of the Green Water Palace, responsible for the Hanlan Market. I came here only at Miao Daoist’s invitation, merely as a witness—I had no intention of interfering in your duel.”

“As for the Green Wave Pearl I released just now, it was only because I’ve known Miao Daoist for many years and wished only to save his life—not to ambush you.”

In just a few brief sentences, the sect elder had completely distanced himself from his actions.

“My apologies, my apologies—I had no idea you were from the Green Water Palace. It seems I misunderstood. If you have no objection, would you care to join me at my residence?”

“To be frank, I come from beyond the Chaotic Spirit Realm and have some matters I wish to consult with fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators.” Upon hearing the elder’s identity, Wang Yu’s heart tightened; after a swift shift of thoughts, he returned the bow with a smile.

“Since the Mi Shan Daoist invites me, I shall trouble you for a while.” Seeing Wang Yu’s amiable demeanor, the elder relaxed and readily agreed.

At that moment, a voice whispered into Shi Qiuping’s ear from Wang Yu:

“I’m heading back first. Take people to retrieve the corpse and everything on him.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Wang Yu turned with the elder and flew back the way they had come.

The young woman perked up immediately, summoning several familiar Mi Shan Sect cultivators and shooting toward the two corpses floating on the river.

The relics of a Foundation Establishment elder were unimaginably precious to Qi Condensation cultivators.

If they arrived too late, she truly feared someone might act recklessly.

…

Fifteen minutes later, a blue aura shot up from a mountain hollow, heading straight upstream.

In the pavilion of his estate, Wang Yu addressed the dozen or so Mi Shan Sect cultivators standing before him, all at Qi Condensation late stage or higher:

“Leave behind only the necessary personnel. The rest of you come with me upstream—we’re taking over all of the Black Sand Sect’s spiritual veins. From today on, the Mi Shan Sect will replace the Black Sand Sect as one of only two Foundation Establishment forces in the Hanlan River region.”

“Yes.”

The dozen highest-ranking Mi Shan cultivators responded in unison.

Several hours later, a fleet of level-one spiritual boats rose from the hollow, also heading upstream.

Almost simultaneously.

In the fortified chamber of the Black Sand Sect’s island upstream on the Hanlan River.

The refined-faced man’s letter slipped from his fingers; his face drained of all color.

…

In the Yuan family valley upstream on the Hanlan River, inside a large hall of blue bricks and red tiles.

Seven or eight Yuan family elders stood uneasily, all waiting anxiously.

At that moment, a young Yuan family member burst in, holding a letter, shouting before even entering:

“Miao Feng of the Black Sand Sect is dead! The Mi Shan Sect is sending people upstream!”

“What? Miao Feng is dead? That’s impossible!”

“Our intelligence said Miao Feng was only testing the Mi Shan elder’s strength—even if he lost, how could he be killed outright?”

“Did another Foundation Establishment cultivator interfere?”

The Yuan elders were stunned, speaking all at once.

“All of you—shut up! Show me the message.” At that moment, a cold voice rang out; from a side door emerged a stout old man with pointed ears, a thin face, and bright yellow hair.

“Greetings, Ancestor.”

The panicked Yuan clan members instantly felt reassured, bowing to the yellow-haired elder.

The young man who had brought the letter stepped forward respectfully and offered it with both hands.

The yellow-haired elder unrolled the letter, scanned it carefully, and his expression changed.

“Ancestor, is it true Miao Feng is dead?” one of the Yuan elders could not help but ask.

“Yes. And the Mi Shan elder killed him with a single strike—even Zhang Xiufu, present at the scene, could not save him.” The elder spoke slowly, his face darker.

“How could this happen? Is the Mi Shan elder a late-stage or even peak Foundation Establishment cultivator?” The Yuan elders were stunned again; someone still could not believe it.

“He is not even mid-stage, let alone late-stage. But this Mi Shan elder wields a level-two ultimate spell with ninety-eight law patterns. With that single strike, even if Miao Feng activated two artifacts and used a level-two superior talisman with over fifty law patterns, his gear was destroyed and he died instantly—no time to flee.” The elder spoke as if he had witnessed the duel himself, his eyes flashing.

Ninety-eight law pattern ultimate spell!

The moment he spoke, the entire hall fell utterly silent.