“President, Shen Lian went on a killing spree in the Heavenly Feather Sect—how could that possibly be fake? Besides, Jiang Hansheng and Gu Qingshan’s soul lamps have both gone out. Shen Lian’s name was even written on the auction house walls. Chen Tianhua, a renowned 5th grade Void Refining Realm cultivator, is dead, and he wasn’t the only one—three Void Refining Realm experts were killed in a row. If it wasn’t Shen Lian, who else could harbor such deep hatred?”
“Impossible! I don’t believe it! That must’ve been an accident. Shen Lian’s cultivation was crippled, and even if he somehow recovered, at most he’s only at the Spirit Transformation Realm. He absolutely couldn’t have the strength to kill that many Void Refining Realm cultivators. I don’t believe it! I absolutely refuse to believe it! How could he treat me like this? He’s not allowed to treat me like this!”
The guards were speechless. They truly couldn’t understand Su Yuheng’s logic.
Why did Shen Lian turn out like this? Didn’t she have any clue?
He single-handedly helped the seven of them grow into mighty figures, and how did they repay him?
Everything that had happened in the past few days—anyone with eyes could see Shen Lian had made up his mind to cut ties completely. From the moment he slaughtered people at the Heavenly Feather Sect, there was no turning back.
If they’d had even a shred of conscience and treated him just a little better, maybe things wouldn’t have escalated like this.
Of course, those thoughts could only be kept to themselves—never spoken aloud.
“Hong Ling, Lan Shang, I want you two to go scout the Gu Clan residence. Find out whether Shen Lian is there. If he is, figure out a way to capture him and bring him back to me.”
Hong Ling and Lan Shang were both stunned, almost thinking they’d misheard.
Gu Luoqing was a Primordial Unity Realm cultivator, and the two of them, mere Void Refining Realm bodyguards, would probably explode from a single glance of her spiritual pressure.
As if sensing their hesitation, Su Yuheng quickly pulled out two talismans.
“These two talismans not only conceal your aura, but also allow you to pass through any barrier under 9th grade. Even Gu Luoqing won’t notice you for a while. Once you’re inside the Gu estate, find Shen Lian. If Gu Luoqing discovers you, use the sound transmission stone immediately. I’ll be nearby and can rush over quickly.”
“Yes.”
Although extremely reluctant, Su Yuheng was still their president, and her orders had to be followed.
Left with no choice, they accepted the talismans and turned into mist, speeding toward the Longevity Chamber of Commerce.
“Shen Lian, you better not disappoint me. If you really dared to team up with that cheap woman Gu Luoqing, I’ll break your legs myself!”
“And I wonder how Junior Brother Ye is doing… I’m really worried. I’ll go check on him.”
Leaving behind that vicious threat, Su Yuheng turned into a green streak and flew toward the Heavenly Feather Sect.
At this moment, in the Gu estate’s alchemy room, Shen Lian was still circulating the pill’s medicinal power through his Five Viscera and Six Bowels, constantly flushing out the remaining poison.
About two hours later, dark, poisonous blood began to trickle from the corner of his mouth.
A stream of black smoke emerged from his back—clear evidence that the toxins had been purged from his body.
“Pu—”
Suddenly, Shen Lian’s eyes snapped open and he bent forward, violently spitting out a mouthful of pitch-black blood.
“Hu—”
He exhaled deeply, feeling a sudden lightness and comfort throughout his body.
“The toxins are gone. With a day or two of recovery, I’ll be back to peak condition. Now I need to start searching for medicinal cores that can temper my Physique.”
Just then, his ears twitched slightly.
“Hmm? More worthless fools looking to throw their lives away?”
With a sweep of his Divine Sense, Shen Lian locked onto his targets. A faint, twisted smile curled at the corners of his mouth. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Since you’re here, you may as well stay.”
He slowly rose, folded his fan, and opened the door to the alchemy room.
Deep within the bamboo forest not far away, the moment they saw the door open, Hong Ling and Lan Shang froze.
“You were right—Shen Lian really is hiding inside the Longevity Chamber of Commerce. This confirms he’s the one who killed the World Auction Chamber members.”
“What now? Should we notify President Su?”
“Don’t rush. Let’s confirm his current condition first. If we can, we capture him and hand him over ourselves.”
“Alright.”
The two made their decision and continued observing Shen Lian in secret.
But the next moment…
“You two pieces of trash, have you seen enough?”
A cold voice rang out behind them, making them both flinch in terror.
They turned around instantly—and met Shen Lian’s calm and confident gaze.
“You…”
Hong Ling stared in disbelief at Shen Lian, then looked back at the figure standing outside the alchemy room.
Only then did they realize that figure was growing fainter and more translucent—until it disappeared completely.
“A body image projection?”
“You’re not entirely ignorant.”
Shen Lian snapped his fan shut and turned away slightly.
Suddenly, violent gales rose around them. A suffocating killing intent swept through the bamboo forest like a wave.
The next second, his voice emerged—calm but chilling.
“Any last words?”
As the words fell, Lan Shang immediately drew a blue-green blade and slashed toward Shen Lian’s head from behind.
Clang—
But the moment the blade neared within one meter of Shen Lian’s vital point, it bounced off an invisible layer of protective true essence.
“Void Refining Realm?!”
“How is this possible?!”
Hong Ling and Lan Shang were both stunned, eyes wide as if they were staring at a monster.
Shen Lian didn’t even turn his head. He simply pointed his folded fan behind him.
“Since you don’t want to say any last words, then don’t speak again. Come on, you only have one shot.”
Instead, the overwhelming aura of death pierced straight into his soul.
Lan Shang felt it too.
“Shen… Shen Lian, we were sent by the president… She… she misses you very much…”
“Hahahahaha…”
What answered him was Shen Lian’s uncontrollable laughter.
Just that laugh made their heads spin painfully, like their skulls were about to crack open. They couldn’t help but clutch their ears in agony.
Yet the sound still burrowed into their minds, causing blood to seep from all seven orifices.
“That bitch misses me? Are you joking?!”
The moment his words fell, Shen Lian suddenly turned.
“Pu! Pu—”
Both Hong Ling and Lan Shang simultaneously vomited blood, unable to withstand the pressure surging from Shen Lian’s body, and collapsed to their knees.
At that moment, even their souls trembled in terror.
Was this truly the same Shen Lian they had once known?
Death loomed above them, yet they couldn’t even muster the courage to fight back.
“I’ve heard enough of these ridiculous excuses. Judging by your expressions, you’re in extreme pain, aren’t you?
No matter—watching ants flail in their final struggle is a fine way to pass the time.
Let your deaths serve as a message to that slut Su Yuheng… Everything I once gave her, I’ll take back, piece by piece.
And in the end, I’ll watch her die in despair as she drowns in her own downfall. Hahaha—”
Boom! Boom—
Amid his maniacal laughter, the heads of Hong Ling and Lan Shang exploded.
Blood instantly soaked the bamboo grove, leaving behind only two headless corpses kneeling on the ground.
“Hmph. Killing two pieces of trash is hardly satisfying. I wonder if this world’s so-called prodigies can give me a challenge.
I miss that first lifetime… every step was like walking on thin ice. Fighting for every opportunity, outwitting those Children of Destiny…
Too bad—those days will never come again.”
Leaving behind this remark, Shen Lian turned and calmly walked back into the alchemy room to continue his recovery.
After purging the toxins, he could clearly feel his strength had increased by over 30%.
But to Shen Lian, that was still far from enough.