Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Not Giving Me Face?

"Hurry, hurry! We’ve been in the Peach Garden for two days. If we don’t reach the tenth level within ten days, our Spirit Points will be completely drained.

All our effort will have been for nothing."

The murmur of conversation grew closer. Hearing the voices, Qi Yun raised an eyebrow.

’Old acquaintances.’

Two rapidly moving figures gradually appeared at the edge of his vision.

One of them had a graceful figure. Though dressed as a man, the corners of their eyes and brows held a natural, flirtatious charm.

The other had a gleaming bald head and a heavy, solid gait. He always wore a gentle smile, as if he couldn’t harm a fly.

Du Yunian, Shen Fan.

These two old acquaintances, who had come from Ling Family Mountain alongside Qi Yun, were actually meeting again today.

"I know, but there are just too many poisonous insects in this Peach Garden. Trying to rush to the tenth level in a short time is too difficult."

Taking out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her neck, Shen Fan panted slightly.

"These poisonous insects appear by sensing Qi, and they never stop. I have less than thirty percent of my True Qi left.

We should rest here first and recover our True Qi. Otherwise, forget the tenth level.

We might not even be able to break through the sixth."

"Heh, you forgot. This is a place of Spiritual Source. We can exchange Spirit Points for some Spiritual Source. Not only can it replenish True Qi, but it can also increase our Cultivation.

Otherwise, this Peach Garden wouldn’t be a blessed land, but a treacherous one—a deathtrap!"

As if they already knew a great deal about the Peach Garden, Du Yunian and Shen Fan walked over to the statue of the bird-headed, human-bodied deity.

With practiced ease, they used their Spirit Points to exchange for two balls of light.

But unlike Qi Yun, who would use these balls of light for Refinement to upgrade his Magic,

Du Yunian and Shen Fan, after receiving the Spiritual Source containing Daoist Intent, swallowed it in one gulp.

In an instant, a faint, divine light shone from their seven apertures. The exhaustion vanished from their faces, replaced by vigorous energy.

Their auras, which had been weak from overexertion, not only returned to their peak in a moment but even seemed to have improved slightly!

"Phew... Truly miraculous!"

Shen Fan savored the surging power within her body, her face filled with pleasant surprise:

"This Spiritual Source doesn’t even need to be refined! It merges perfectly with my body, replenishes my True Qi seamlessly, and leaves behind no toxins or impurities.

It’s even better than the finest Life Elixir!"

No matter how good an Elixir is, it always leaves behind toxins that take time to expel. But this Spiritual Source was incredibly pure and shockingly effective, truly a rare treasure.

"What did you expect? This Peach Garden is a True Monarch Level Shiyi Realm. The fact that it’s open to us this time is a complete stroke of luck.

That’s why we have to rush to the tenth level and beyond as quickly as possible. The things there are truly heaven-defying!"

Du Yunian revealed the secret of the Peach Garden.

"Heaven-defying? What could possibly be worthy of such a word?" A curious voice naturally interjected, sounding right by Du Yunian’s ear.

"Of course it’s..."

Hearing the question, Du Yunian subconsciously started to answer, but as his mouth opened, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

’That’s not Shen Fan’s voice. Who is it...?’

His heart tightened. Du Yunian swallowed and looked toward the direction the voice came from.

A familiar figure, hands clasped behind his back and a smile on his lips, was standing right behind them.

"Qi... Qi Yun?!"

The moment he saw Qi Yun, Du Yunian’s pupils contracted. Almost instinctively, his fingers went to a small, bronze-colored bell hanging at his waist.

Ever since learning of Qi Yun’s treacherous and hard-to-defend-against Illusionary Body Concealment Technique,

almost all the Outer Mansion Disciples had started to intentionally focus on defending against it.

His Evil-Tasting Bell had been purchased at great expense from a senior brother in the Inner Mansion.

It was said that it could even detect and give advance warning against an Invisibility Technique used by a Sixth Layer Qi Refining Cultivator.

But now...

Feeling the unresponsive Evil-Tasting Bell in his hand, a bitter smile touched Du Yunian’s lips.

’Damn it, his Illusionary Body Concealment Technique... it’s improved again!’

Sharply noticing Du Yunian’s reaction, Qi Yun smiled gently.

"We’re old acquaintances from Ling Family Mountain, after all. Why do you two seem so unhappy to see me?"

"No, no, it’s just that your Illusionary Body Concealing Skill is too profound, Champion Scholar. We were just caught off guard."

Compared to Du Yunian, Shen Fan reacted faster this time. She gave a dazzling smile and bowed apologetically to Qi Yun.

"Yes, yes, yes! That’s right! Please don’t misunderstand, Champion Scholar!" Du Yunian quickly forced a smile and chimed in, but a cold sweat had already broken out on his back.

"Good, that’s good." Qi Yun’s smile didn’t change as he slowly walked closer. "Since it’s been a while, why don’t we... have a little chat?"

"This..."

Knowing full well that Qi Yun had no good intentions, Du Yunian and Shen Fan still didn’t dare refuse this Champion Scholar, a man who could beat down a Master’s direct heir.

"What, not going to humor me?" The smile remained, but a hint of an icy glint in Qi Yun’s eyes sent a chill through Du Yunian and Shen Fan.

"We wouldn’t dare, we wouldn’t dare. How could we refuse an invitation from the Champion Scholar?" the two hurriedly explained.

"That’s what I thought. We’re old acquaintances, after all. There should be some camaraderie between us."

The icy glint in Qi Yun’s eyes vanished instantly, as if it had never been there. He smiled and rolled up his sleeves, looking very approachable.

But just as Du Yunian and Shen Fan breathed a sigh of relief and were forcing smiles, the countless grains of Abyssal Iron Sand that had been secretly spread across the ground erupted violently.

Countless thumb-thick, pitch-black iron chains shot up and entangled them. Before the two could react, they were completely trussed up, even their fingers tightly bound.

"Champion Scholar, you..."

Shocked and enraged by this sudden turn of events, Du Yunian jerked his head up to question him, only to see Qi Yun take a single step, his figure moving like the wind to appear before them.

He lifted a finger, and an invisible force precisely pried open their mouths.

Before they could react, Qi Yun flicked his fingers, and two strangely colored Elixir Pills, which gave off a faint, acrid scent, shot accurately down their throats!

GULP! GULP!

Two clear, uncontrollable swallowing sounds echoed.

Only after confirming the Medicine Pills had been swallowed did Qi Yun casually wave his hand. The tightly binding Abyssal Iron chains receded like a tide, disappearing back into his sleeve.

"What did you make us eat?!"

While frantically clawing at his throat and trying to circulate his True Qi to expel the pill’s power, Du Yunian glared furiously.

If he weren’t sure he couldn’t beat Qi Yun, he would have ripped this smiling tiger to shreds.

Shen Fan, by contrast, was much calmer. She clutched her chest, frowning as she felt the strange sensation in her body.

"Nothing much. Just a Five Poison Soul Corroding Pill I bought at a high price. One costs fifty Holy Essence.

It’s colorless, odorless, and melts in your mouth.

Once you swallow it, it immediately merges with your Divine Soul. Clawing at your throat won’t get it out." Smiling as he watched the color drain from Shen Fan and Du Yunian’s faces, Qi Yun said softly:

"It couldn’t be helped. We’re all Holy Sect Disciples; we know what to expect from each other.

I was just worried you two wouldn’t be able to be honest with me and speak freely, so I had to resort to this.

Please, bear with me.

Don’t worry, I’ve already prepared the antidote. The moment we leave this Peach Garden, I’ll present it to you with both hands."

Hearing Qi Yun’s words, Shen Fan and Du Yunian exchanged a look, a trace of helplessness appearing in their eyes.

Things having come to this, no matter how unwilling they were, they could only accept reality.

Seeing the two of them resign themselves to their fate, Qi Yun revealed a satisfied smile.

"Very good. In that case, let’s have... a nice, long chat."

...