All of Starfall Cityâs inhabitants were evacuated under Qi Pingâs orders; even Han Li and Zhang Daniu were forcibly sent away by Qi Ping.
This was because Qi Ping had no idea what sort of enemy he would soon face, or what outcome his current status might lead to.
So if the end was tragic, and the results were disappointing, Qi Ping would have Han Li and Zhang Daniu leave the Qingtian Realm with some resources first.
These two had served Qi Ping tirelessly for years. Without their help, Qi Pingâs journey to this point would have been several degrees more difficult, and he might never have had the chance to understand the Yin Yang Heaven Extinction Array and Five Elements Life and Death Array before conflicts exploded. Therefore, Qi Ping would naturally not want anything to happen to them.
No matter life or death in the coming confrontation, he would face it alone!
Fortunately, the massacre plan had been successfully executed, and the spoils were already taken away by bees through several underground passages Qi Ping had set up beforehand. So regardless of the outcome, Qi Ping wouldnât be at a loss with these as a backup.
Thus, although he might soon engage in the most challenging battle of his cultivation career, he remained calm, the calmest he had ever been.
He had one final task to complete: to draw more attention away for the Stone Spiritâs breakthrough!
...
In Starfall City, Qi Ping, dressed in white and spotless, sat cross-legged amidst the sea of corpses he had personally created, his demeanor unruffled.
It was uncertain how much time had passed, but suddenly, a figure with an overwhelmingly terrifying aura appeared in the sky above Starfall City!
The instant this figure appeared, it seemed to become the sole entity between heaven and earth, its immensely powerful aura sweeping across the area. Even a fraction of its pressure caused cultivators temporarily staying outside Starfall City to shudder, unable to summon any will to resist!
Golden Core!
This was a Golden Core Stage cultivator!
The cultivators outside Starfall City who hadnât yet gone far were filled with terror as they watched the oppressive figure.
Some knowledgeable individuals recognized the newcomer as none other than the Mid-Stage Golden Core cultivator known as Ye Yanwu, also called Red Flame Daoist!
Ye Yanwu had made a formidable name for himself when he first broke through to Golden Core several hundred years ago, and it was unexpected to see his reappearance today!
Moreover, heâs now already at the Mid-Stage Golden Core!
Ye Yanwu was known in his youth as someone who flouted conventions, so his appearance caused many cultivators to worry for Qi Ping.
Could Qi Ping truly preserve his life in such a confrontation?
Observing the furious silhouette of Ye Yanwu, an impossibly pessimistic thought arose in their minds: it would be difficult for Qi Ping to survive Ye Yanwu...
...
Indeed, as the cultivators surmised, Ye Yanwu was exceptionally furious!
The aura surrounding him began to erupt with his emotions; strands of flame spiritual power were exploding continuously in the air!
Ye Yanwu couldnât believe his eyes as he took in the scene within Starfall City!
All his people were dead!
In fact, everyone connected to his interests was accurately found and slain by Qi Ping!
The city was littered with corpses in horrific conditions!
"Gone... all gone!"
His heart was filled with excruciating rage!
Starfall City, which he built from scratch, had taken centuries to earn its reputation. It contributed substantial annual income to him!
But now, all his painstaking efforts were lost!
He thought of the sacrifices he had made within the Sect to maintain Starfall Cityâs existence and balance the relations, only for everything to be destroyed by one manâs hands today.
"Lin Ya!"
As Ye Yanwu gazed at Qi Ping standing immaculately in the city center, a stark contrast to the dead, an overwhelming killing intent and anger rose within him!
His shout shook the hearts of countless cultivators, and his monstrous killing intent made everyone involuntarily tremble!
Yet, facing this pressure and shout, Qi Ping merely observed the nearly frenzied Ye Yanwu calmly, unaffected by his aura.
The slaughter realm and power of heaven and earth surrounding Qi Ping shielded him from it all.
Qi Pingâs reaction immediately infuriated Ye Yanwu further, and the killing intent shot forth from his eyes, making Qi Ping seem like a clown in contrast.
"Do you think I fear the Sectâs rules too much to kill you?"
Watching Qi Pingâs calm demeanor, Ye Yanwu laughed in anger. His aura erupted instantly, and a terrifying flame giant hand covered a portion of the sky, making Qi Ping seem like an ant beneath it.
"Even if those old folks were here, they couldnât save you! I swear it!"
His furious and domineering voice rang out, revealing his determination to kill Qi Ping.
Previously, he refrained from killing Qi Ping because Qi Ping had yielded, and he was wary of leaving evidence for those observing him to use against him. But now, he could no longer care.
Facing the *flame giant hand* taking shape, Qi Ping finally stood up.
The moment he stood, his essence, Qi, and spirit peaked instantly!
A stable yet resolute killing intent suddenly shot from Qi Pingâs eyes!
"Elder Ye, disciple Lin Ya, I invite you to your death!"
With those calm yet cold words from Qi Ping, the atmosphere instantly hit its freezing point!
Countless cultivators froze in place, almost causing their minds to short-circuit from Qi Pingâs words.
This was something theyâd never expected, and if it were anyone else, they might have ridiculed it as foolish drivel.
But with Qi Ping, they hesitated because his strength and strategy proved he wouldnât shoot without bullets.
Even Ye Yanwu, at Mid-Stage Golden Core, frowned at these words, unsure of Qi Pingâs source of confidence. Like others, he thought Qi Ping wouldnât be baseless, yet he still found it absurd. How could this be?
How could a Foundation Establishment Stage youth threaten him at Mid-Stage Golden Core?
However, the answer soon became clear as a previously hidden array suddenly materialized!
Yet, this was not the most crucial aspect; the key was the array powered by the alternating flow of Yin Yang and Five Elements forces, harnessing an immense power of heaven and earth!
More terrifying was the spiritual power pressure from the merged Yin Yang and Five Elements forces, comparable to that of a Golden Core Cultivator!