Chapter 111: Hunter and Prey

Evening, three days later.

Su Yun sat alone in the courtyard, holding a wine pot and drinking slowly.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled down, casting his shadow long.

Footsteps sounded.

Zhao Han hurried into the courtyard, his expression grave.

"Master, those five Yuxu Palace Disciple have left the city. They are heading north, likely returning to Yuxu Palace to report."

Su Yun put down the wine pot.

"Are you sure they are reporting back?"

Zhao Han nodded.

"I followed them for a while. From what I heard, they didn't find any clues in Qinghe City and plan to go back to replace the team."

Su Yun smiled.

"Replace the team? No need for such trouble."

He stood up and brushed off his robes.

"I will go see them off."

Zhao Han was stunned.

"Master, you are going alone? There are five Golden Core Stage cultivators…"

Su Yun waved his hand.

"Just five Golden Core Stage cultivators."

He walked out of the courtyard.

Reaching the gate, he suddenly stopped.

"By the way, tell Shen Ying not to wait for me tonight."

Zhao Han opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Su Yun had already disappeared outside the gate.

The night grew darker.

Su Yun rode the wind, pursuing towards the north.

With his speed at the Golden Core Stage fully unleashed, in just the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, five figures appeared ahead.

They weren't flying very fast, talking as they flew, completely unaware of anyone behind them.

Su Yun did not rush to act.

He kept his distance, following them.

After flying for another half an hour, a stretch of barren mountains appeared ahead.

This place was far from Qinghe City, with no human presence for a hundred miles.

Su Yun nodded.

This will do.

He channeled his Qi, and his speed suddenly increased.

Among the five figures, the leader at the Golden Core Late Stage was the first to sense something wrong.

He turned his head abruptly.

"Who goes there!"

Before the words could finish, a dark shadow had already rushed before him.

Su Yun did not waste words.

He raised his hand and struck out with a palm.

This palm strike had no frills; it was pure power crushing down.

The Yuxu Palace Disciple at the Golden Core Late Stage turned pale, desperately channeling his Qi to resist.

Bang!

He was sent flying backwards, crashing into a cliff. The cliff collapsed with a roar, burying him inside.

The other four finally reacted.

"Enemy attack!"

"It's that Su Yun!"

"Form the formation!"

Three at the Early Golden Core Stage and one at the Mid Golden Core Stage quickly gathered, forming a small battle formation.

Su Yun looked at them and smiled.

"A battle formation? Interesting."

He took a step, charging directly into the center of the formation.

The four attacked simultaneously; sword light and Spell bombarded him from everywhere.

Su Yun didn't even bother to dodge.

He just raised his hand and waved it gently.

Those sword lights and Spell exploded in mid-air, turning into dots of light filling the sky.

The four widened their eyes, and before they could react, a dark shadow had already rushed in front of the Mid Golden Core Stage cultivator.

It was a female cultivator, in her early thirties, quite good-looking.

Her face turned pale, and she raised her hand to block, but Su Yun's speed was too fast.

He tapped his finger on her glabella.

A golden light flashed.

"Enslavement successful"

"Acquired new slave: Liu Ruyan, Loyalty 60"

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for receiving a portion of Qi feedback from Enslavement, cultivation level slightly improved."

Liu Ruyan's body stiffened, and the terror in her eyes gradually turned into obedience.

She lowered her head, her voice submissive.

"Master."

The other three at the Early Golden Core Stage were completely dumbfounded.

Watching their Senior Sister instantly turn into an enemy, they didn't know what to do for a moment.

Su Yun did not give them time to think.

His figure flickered, rushing towards the three male cultivators.

The three turned and fled.

But their speed at the Early Golden Core Stage was not worth mentioning in front of Su Yun.

The first one was caught up to, and a palm struck his back.

The man screamed, fell from the sky, crashed to the ground, and fell silent.

The second one ran less than a hundred zhang before Su Yun shattered his protective Qi with a punch, killing him instantly.

The third one desperately burned his blood essence, his speed skyrocketing, but as soon as he ran three miles, a palm pressed onto his shoulder.

"Spare…"

Before he could finish, Qi surged into his body, shattering his heart meridians.

Three corpses fell from the sky, crashing into the barren mountains.

Su Yun withdrew his hand and brushed off his robes.

He turned to look at the collapsed cliff.

From the rubble of the cliff, a figure struggled to crawl out.

It was the leader at the Golden Core Late Stage.

He was covered in blood, his aura weak, but he was still alive.

Su Yun landed in front of him.

The man raised his head, looking at Su Yun, his eyes full of fear.

"You… you…"

Su Yun said nothing.

He raised his hand and tapped the man's glabella.

A golden light flashed.

"Enslavement successful"

"Acquired new slave: Zhao Wuchen, Loyalty 45"

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for receiving a portion of Qi feedback from Enslavement, cultivation level significantly improved."

Zhao Wuchen's body stiffened, the fear in his eyes gradually disappearing, replaced by obedience.

But his loyalty was only 45, indicating he was still struggling internally.

Su Yun looked at him and said indifferently:

"I know you are unwilling. But you should feel it; your life is in my hands now."

Zhao Wuchen lowered his head.

"This subordinate understands."

Su Yun nodded and turned to look at Liu Ruyan.

She stood obediently to the side, her gaze following him.

Su Yun walked over, reached out to pinch her chin, forcing her to look up.

Under the moonlight, her face was indeed quite good. Her features were delicate, her lips rosy red, with a touch of gentleness.

"What is your name?"

Liu Ruyan said softly:

"Replying to Master, this subordinate is Liu Ruyan, an Outer Sect Elder of Yuxu Palace."

Su Yun raised an eyebrow.

"Outer Sect Elder? With your cultivation, isn't it a bit low to be an Elder?"

Liu Ruyan's face flushed slightly.

"An Outer Sect Elder of Yuxu Palace only needs to be at the Golden Core Stage. This subordinate's Aptitude is dull, and I have been stuck at the Mid Golden Core Stage for many years."

Su Yun nodded.

He let go and looked at the two.

"You five have been out for so long; will Yuxu Palace become suspicious?"

Zhao Wuchen shook his head.

"No. Our mission this time was to investigate in secret, so there was no fixed deadline. It won't be until another half month passes without news that someone else will come looking."

Su Yun smiled.

Half a month, that's enough.

He looked at the two.

"From today on, you are still people of Yuxu Palace. Go back and report as you should, and do what you must. The only difference is that if there is any movement from the Immortal Alliance, tell me immediately."

The two said in unison:

"Yes, Master."

Su Yun waved his hand.

"Go. Dispose of those three corpses; leave no traces."

Zhao Wuchen and Liu Ruyan exchanged a glance and turned to dispose of the corpses.

Su Yun stood on the cliff, gazing at the night sky.

In his Dantian, the feedback of Qi that had just surged in was slowly circulating.

One at the Golden Core Late Stage, one at the Mid Golden Core Stage, plus the batch of people he had collected earlier—the feedback of Qi gathered together, pushing his cultivation level forward another step.

He was getting closer and closer to the Mid Golden Core Stage.

He looked down at his hands.

In his palms, light faintly flowed.

In that light, there was the Power of the Five Elements, the Thunder Spirit Power, the Blood Fiend Power, as well as the power of True Monarch Bingpo and the Blood-colored Girl.

The five forces intertwined and underwent Fusion, forming a brand new, more powerful force.

He clenched his fist.

Power surged within his body.

It was soon.

Soon, he would be able to reach the Breakthrough to the Mid Golden Core Stage.

By then, even if he encountered an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, he would have the power to fight.

Behind him, Zhao Wuchen and Liu Ruyan finished disposing of the corpses and walked over.

The two stood behind him, their expressions submissive.

Su Yun turned to look at them.

"After going back, do you know what to do?"

Zhao Wuchen nodded.

"This subordinate will say that no clues were found in Qinghe City, and we intend to expand the scope to continue the investigation."

Liu Ruyan added:

"This subordinate will cooperate with Senior Brother and not let anyone become suspicious."

Su Yun nodded with satisfaction.

"Go. Send any news here."

He threw a communication Jade Slip to Zhao Wuchen.

Zhao Wuchen took it, the two bowed, and they turned into streams of light, disappearing into the horizon.

Su Yun stood where he was, watching them go.

Moonlight spilled down; the barren mountains were silent.

He suddenly smiled.

Yuxu Palace.

Hehuan Sect.

Immortal Alliance.

Come, let them all come.

No matter how many come, he would collect them all.

He turned and flew towards Qinghe City.

The night wind blew, his robes fluttering.

Behind him, the barren mountains returned to silence.

Only the three disposed-of corpses proved that something had happened here.

But soon, even those traces would be blown away by the wind.

As if nothing had ever happened.

When Su Yun returned to the courtyard, it was already late at night.

The courtyard was brightly lit, and Shen Ying was standing at the door waiting.

Seeing him return, she hurried to greet him.

"Young Master, are you alright?"

Su Yun waved his hand.

"I'm fine. Go to sleep."

He walked into the bedroom and sat on the couch.

He closed his eyes.

In his Sea of Consciousness, True Monarch Bingpo and the Blood-colored Girl were still sleeping.

But their auras were stronger than before.

It was soon.

Soon, they would be able to wake up.

By then, he would have more power at his disposal.

Su Yun opened his eyes and looked out the window.

Moonlight spilled down, the night was gentle.

He smiled and lay down to sleep.