The night was as dark as ink, the bright moon hung high, and the silver light poured down, draping Carefree Mountain in a layer of misty gauze.

Qin An lightly tapped the knife sheath with his knuckles, stepped out of the wing room, and walked slowly along the corridor.

At the end of the corridor, Yang Qing leaned on an iron whip, looking up at the moon.

Hearing the footsteps, he turned and said, "Mr. Qin, you haven't rested yet?"

Qin An nodded and stopped beside him: "You haven't rested either."

Yang Qing said quietly, "It's always hard to sleep when executing a mission. I look at the moon more, fearing that I might not see it next time."

Qin An shook his head, lightly stroking the sheath of the Cold Star Saber with his fingertips, the chill of the metal seeping into his skin.

After a moment, Yang Qing broke the silence: "Is Qian Yong still in the room?"

Qin An released his fingers and reversed his grip on the knife's handle: "I don't know."

"He's been acting very unusual today," Yang Qing leaned against the railing, his brows furrowed with doubt, "Usually he's very good at scheming and taking shortcuts, yet he volunteered for the Hunter Conference today, as if he's a different person."

Qin An mused: "I'm not very familiar with him."

Yang Qing sighed: "If I had even half of his cunning, I wouldn't be here."

Qin An raised his eyebrows without speaking.

It was surprising enough that Yang Qing, usually as cold and stern as a winter pond, would attend family banquets.

This sentiment now expressed revealed a hint of the changes time has wrought on him.

Yang Qing looked at the moon, surrounded by gathering clouds, his voice so soft it seemed to drift away on the wind: "A close friend perished due to power struggles, and thus I came to an understanding."

Qin An pondered: "That's understandable."

Yang Qing was mildly surprised: "Mr. Qin, you're not going to ask more?"

Qin An shook his head: "It's unnecessary."

He wasn't concerned with such matters. What he cared about was how many demon crystals could be collected at the Hunter Conference.

As for Yang Qing's change, it was merely another ebb and flow in the dye vat of Xunyang Prefecture.

A dark cloud silently covered the moonlight, and the silver glow around them suddenly dimmed.

Yang Qing wanted to speak to Qin An again, but his expression suddenly changed: "There's evil qi!"

Amidst the breeze, there was a faint scent of blood in the night wind.

If one didn't carefully perceive it, it would be completely unnoticed.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound suddenly rang out.

Yang Qing turned his head and saw Qin An had already drawn his blade.

The sword light was as snowy as it illuminated his calm brows and eyes.

"Let's go." Qin An held the straight blade and walked into the courtyard ahead: "Let's see how fun this Hunter Conference is."

At the end of the corridor, the door opened, and Qian Yong, carrying an iron hammer, rushed out, slightly stunned when he saw the two of them.

"You haven't rested?"

"Quickly inform Mr. Chen!" Yang Qing pointed his iron whip towards the forest with urgency: "Mr. Qin and I will attack the demons first!"

Before his words landed, Yang Qing clutched the iron whip and followed Qin An, disappearing into the vast night.

The mission was urgent, allowing no hesitation.

Qian Yong came to his senses, watched them disappear, and a sinister smile curled at his lips.

This was exactly what he wanted.

A burst of dense footsteps approached.

Mr. Chen and the four elders of the Zizai Sect had arrived in person.

Qian Yong wiped the cold expression off his face, casually pointing in a direction: "You lead the disciples to guard this vital path, the rest of the places are already defended by household officers, do not fail."

The direction he pointed to deliberately avoided the weak spot in the defense line.

Mr. Chen did not know the inside details, and upon hearing Qian Yong's order, he didn't think much of it and immediately led many disciples towards the indicated direction.

Qian Yong pulled up a chair, leaned back leisurely, a calculating cold light flickering in his eyes: "When the Zizai Sect turns into scorched land, I will carve a bloody path with the remaining force."

Only he knew exactly what was meant by "carving a bloody path."

…

Deep in the dense forest, the faint sounds of battle cries could be heard.

Qin An and Yang Qing rushed through the forest, gradually approaching the source of the cries.

Yang Qing's expression slightly changed: "These demons participating in the Hunter Conference indeed found the weakest defense area so easily."

Qin An furrowed his brows, feeling something was off.

Until they arrived at the location, the sounds of the cries began to subside.

In an open space ahead, the bodies of household officers lay haphazardly, each one covered with hideous wounds.

Yang Qing's eyes widened, a hint of sorrow flashed across his face, quickly suppressing his grief: "Mr. Qin, quickly up the mountain, the demons have already headed straight for the Zizai Sect!"

As an experienced Prefecture General, Yang Qing knew how to prioritize.

There was no room for mourning now, dealing with the demons was paramount.

Qin An glanced over the corpses: "Those who died were all Mr. Yang's people, Qian Yong's men arrived too late."

Yang Qing was slightly stunned.

At that moment, disorganized footsteps echoed from the woods.

Dozens of household officers rushed in panic.

The leading officer, full of anxiety, clasped his fists to beg forgiveness: "We were blocked by demons on our way, please punish us, my lord!"

Normally, Yang Qing would say nothing more.

But just now, Qin An had made a remark, and Yang Qing already had his suspicions.

Blocked by demons?

Yang Qing scrutinized the crowd.

Although their faces were covered in dust from the journey, there was an underlying order in their chaos, not like being blocked by demons.

Yang Qing suddenly thought of a possibility, feeling his hair stand on end.

These officers were Qian Yong's trusted aides. If they lied, then…

Yang Qing instinctively tightened his grip on the iron whip.

At this point, Qin An stepped closer: "Guard this place, and I will ascend the mountain with Mr. Yang."

Yang Qing's grip on the iron whip's handle stiffened slightly, not understanding Qin An's meaning.

Yet he said nothing, following behind Qin An, entering the dense forest.

Not until they were well away from the officers did Yang Qing dare to ask.

"Mr. Qin, what did you mean earlier?"

Qin An turned back and said: "Since we know the cause, let's turn the tables to our advantage."

Yang Qing collected himself, immediately understanding.

Qin An, moving like a specter, weaved through the dense forest, looking up mid-mountain: "You go to the other officers, everyone except Qian Yong's subordinates, gather at the Zizai Sect's main hall."

Yang Qing asked: "What about you?"

Qin An's lips quirked up: "I'll take a look at the main hall."

Yang Qing stood there, stunned: "Going alone?"

Qin An nodded: "Of course."

Yang Qing prepared to dissuade Qin An.

A single person going to the main hall, if encountered by more than two Pulse Condensation Realm demon beasts, there would be no chance of survival.

Yet before Yang Qing could speak, Qin An paused slightly.

"I'm not a fool, I know the importance of life." Qin An said calmly, "Mr. Yang, just trust me."

Hearing this, Yang Qing swallowed all his words back.

A moment later, he nodded heavily, "If things become impossible, do not show yourself, Mr. Qin."

With those words, Yang Qing parted ways with Qin An, heading in another direction.

Qin An looked back, stepping onto the Dragon Roar Wind Shadow Step, with battle intent igniting in his eyes.

This was indeed a bounty of demon crystals.

He was lacking a source of demon crystals, and now it was delivered to him.

If he was still at the initial stage of Pulse Condensation Realm, Qin An naturally wouldn't dare to do this.

But now he has achieved Great Success, and all his cultivation techniques are at the Pulse Condensation Realm, plus he has eight main meridians refined from earth vein crystals.

Even if it was Meridian Condensation Realm Perfection, it could not block his path.

Even if the opponent had the same eight main meridians in Pulse Condensation Realm, he could kill them with the Three Blades Unite and Blood Burning Secret Skill.

As for the Outer Elixir Realm.

During the Hunter Conference, each has their own task, it's impossible for a mere mid-low force to have an Outer Elixir Realm present.

If there was indeed an Outer Elixir Realm, they would have directly slaughtered the Zizai Sect, never allowing Qian Yong to collude internally and externally.

Under the moonlight, Qin An drew closer to the mountainside.

The Cold Star Saber seemed to resonate with the owner's mood, emitting a crisp and clear hum.

...

In front of the Zizai Sect's main hall, Mr. Chen's face was as pale as dirt.

The four elders, drenched in sweat, gazed at the dense crowd of demon beasts ahead.

They were about to lead the disciples to Mr. Qian for defense but were stopped here.

Ahead, hundreds of Gui Cang Realm demon beasts drooled three feet, their blood-red eyes locked on them.

The leaders were the Fox Demon, the Pseudo-God Statue, and Jiao Yu'Er.

Behind them stood seven figures at the Pulse Condensation Realm.

Not far away, bones and corpses were scattered, all disciples of the Zizai Sect.

The sudden attack earlier resulted in significant losses for the Zizai Sect in an instant.

Mr. Chen's heart was uneasy, his palms sweaty, "Why haven't Mr. Yang and Mr. Qin returned? Where is Mr. Qian?"

They only had five Pulse Condensation Realm experts here, if Qin An and the two others were added, there would be eight in total, not too skewed against the opponent's ten.

But now, barren and empty, not a single figure could be seen.

The others might be blocked outside or some other situation might have occurred.

Either way, it was a heavy blow to the Zizai Sect.

Jiao Yu'Er turned to the Fox Demon beside her, laughingly said, "Hu Yan, it's time to act, or are we waiting for them to return?"

Hu Yan sneered, "Act now!"

The Pseudo-God Statue, smirking, said, "You say act, and we act?"

Hu Yan's gaze grew colder, "Fo Yun, if your forces were at their peak, perhaps Carefree Mountain would fear a bit, but now you're just a couple of kittens, with not even a single Outer Elixir Realm, do you really want to seek death?"

Named Fo Yun, the Pseudo-God Statue said nothing, sinister light flickering in his eyes.

Jiao Yu'Er didn't respond, just found the scene rather entertaining.

The power of Carefree Mountain, similar to Jiao Long Hall, was a decent middle-tier in Xunyang Prefecture, with many Outer Elixir Realm experts.

Therefore, Jiao Yu'Er did not offend Carefree Mountain.

As for why there were no Outer Elixir Level experts this time, it was entirely normal.

After all, it was the Hunter Conference, and the Outer Elixir Level experts naturally had places they needed to be.

Seeing Fo Yun's silence, Hu Yan waved his hand again, "Leave no one alive!"

As the words fell, numerous Pulse Condensation Realm demon beasts advanced first, followed by a large number of Gui Cang Realm demon beasts.

The terrifying pressure seemed to connect to the heavens, as if it wanted to crush the entire main hall.

Fo Yun gritted his teeth, "Kill!"

The task of killing Qin An was temporarily set aside, as this was the flesh and blood of cultivators, an immense nourishment.

No matter how much they could grasp, even for Pseudo-Gods at the Pulse Condensation Realm, it was significant.

Mr. Chen clenched his jaws, "Charge!"

They had no choice.

Unable to flee, all they could do was fight to the last.

The disciples rallied their strength, plunging into the crowd of demon beasts.

Several figures suddenly flashed past.

Mr. Chen, along with the four elders, were already surrounded by ten terrifying existences at the Pulse Condensation Realm.

Jiao Yu'Er's eyes flashed with a hint of a sinister glow, "Old ones taste good, with chewy texture, I'll go first!"

With those words, Jiao Yu'Er transformed, revealing her true Jiao dragon form, reaching out her claws towards Mr. Chen.

Her cultivation at the level of Meridian Condensation Realm Perfection was terrifying to the extreme.

Mr. Chen only felt the pressure crash down like an avalanche, roaring as he raised his palms to the sky.

The cultivation technique of Zizai Sect, known as Free Palm, with this one palm, the surrounding clouds rapidly gathered.

If facing someone of the same realm, he could certainly battle for a bit.

But Jiao Yu'Er was at Meridian Condensation Realm Perfection.

Her claws tore through the clouds, striking Mr. Chen's chest.

Mr. Chen felt a sharp pain in his chest, flying backwards, crashing into the plaque of the Zizai Sect.

The plaque shattered immediately, and Mr. Chen fell heavily to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth and nose.

"Sect Leader!"

Some of the elders shouted.

Before the words could finish, Fo Yun and Hu Yan turned into residual shadows, already launching powerful attacks.

"Boom!"

A loud booming sound suddenly erupted.

Black Buddha light circulated on Fo Yun's body, transformed into a '卍' Buddha seal, blooming from his palm.

The two elders, with no time to think, struck together, resisting the '卍' Buddha seal.

The Buddha seal shattered, and the two elders were struck as if by lightning, their figures quickly retreating, spouting blood.

On the other side, a white fox tail appeared behind Hu Yan.

The fox tail split, white fur like fine needles, carrying powerful demonic power, swept towards the remaining two elders.

The remaining two elders continuously palmed, but how could they match up to a demon at Meridian Condensation Realm Perfection?

Just a few rounds, and they flew backwards, landing beside Mr. Chen, severely injured.

Within just a few exchanges, all four elders including Mr. Chen were injured.

Mr. Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, "Heaven wants to destroy Zizai Sect, in that case, I will rip some flesh from you demons before I die!"

"Rip some flesh?" Jiao Yu'Er giggled, lightly flicking her dragon claws, "You're not worthy, Zizai Sect will be exterminated today!"

With those words, her gaze turned cold, "Kill them all!"

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