Qin Yunâs eyes flickered, and he sighed softly:
"I knew you wouldnât be assured if I came alone, but I didnât expect that you would come personally. You really hold Qin Yun in high regard."
He knew that when he killed Elder Ye, the Vice Sect Leader was probably watching and just didnât intervene, wanting to use him to eliminate an elder from another faction.
There was a hint of self-mockery on his face.
From the beginning, he knew it was a choice: either use Jiang Baishanâs corpse to achieve himself or exchange his life for Jiang Baishanâs survival. Clearly, he chose the latter.
"Fifth Senior Brother, go!"
Qin Yun shouted in a low voice.
Jiang Baishanâs face changed repeatedly, and Lin Ruhua tugged at his sleeve. He opened his mouth but couldnât say anything. A sense of powerlessness surged in his heart. Staying to fight side by side? That would only mean two more deaths with no meaning; they would be burdens in front of such powerful experts.
He deeply stared at Ghost Mask, as if trying to carve him into his memory.
Jiang Baishan swore in his heart that if he survived today, he would avenge this great enmity in the future.
Without hesitating, he pulled Lin Ruhua and ran into the forest, leaving only a shout behind:
"Ba, stay alive and return to True Martial Mountain!"
Qin Yunâs body trembled, and a smile slowly appeared on his lips, growing larger and bolder, echoing through the mountains. He felt unprecedentedly elated.
Ghost Mask glanced at the departing Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua but didnât chase them. In his view, after dealing with Qin Yun, those two wouldnât escape. Letting them rejoice for now was fine.
He only fixed his gaze on Qin Yun, asking solemnly:
"Is it worth it? Killing him to silence othersâ doubts, you would still be one of the strong contenders for Saint Heir, and itâs possible you could rule the world in the future."
Qin Yun sighed deeply:
"Perhaps, as a friend of mine once said, some mistakes donât need to be made twice, just once is enough. Making them twice would be foolish."
Ghost Mask shook his head in disappointment:
"You are indeed a fool; I misjudged you. Do you think you can withstand me with your strength? Killing you, those two canât survive either. Youâve made the worst choice."
Qin Yun took a deep breath:
"Just trying my best. Please teach me."
The two stood facing each other, with an invisible aura surging, even the wind halted.
In Ghost Maskâs pupils, coldness gradually took over, matching the Bronze Ghost Mask, truly like a fiend from hell. He had murderous intent, looking at Qin Yun as if looking at a dead man.
Suddenly.
Ghost Mask struck.
He gently raised his finger and pressed down, and surging Power of Heaven and Earth condensed into a black imprint, like a giant pillar bearing down with a suffocating force.
Qin Yun neither dodged nor evaded.
He took it calmly.
Beside him, the Power of Heaven and Earth gathered, forming a barrier, and dark aura surged around his body, forcefully withstanding the blow.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion sounded, and Qin Yunâs body was instantly blasted into the woods, carving a terrifying trail. He continuously spat blood, with many bones already broken. The power of a single strike was so frightening, nearly crippling Qin Yun, and clearly, this wasnât Ghost Maskâs full strength.
Ghost Mask walked slowly over, his cold voice devoid of any emotion:
"Why not dodge?"
Qin Yun hung his head low and slowly climbed up, coughing out broken bones and visceral fragments, seriously saying:
"Since I entered the Demon Sect, Iâve received much care from the Vice Sect Leader. If not for you teaching me the Sad White Hair Secret Technique, I wouldâve died in the Blood Demon Pool. Accepting one finger from the Vice Sect Leader is barely repaying the kindness."
Ghost Maskâs steps paused, and his gaze flickered.
"Iâll give you another chance. Go bring Jiang Baishan back, and Iâll pretend none of this happened."
He had a renewed sense of appreciation. Although the earlier strike wasnât at full strength, he hadnât held back. It was not something an average Celestial Human Realm expert could withstand. Yet Qin Yun not only withstood it but was still in reasonably good condition.
Qin Yunâs black robe fluttered as he firmly shook his head:
"Vice Sect Leader, please teach me!"
An eerie power surged all over him, and a strange force spread. This was a nameless Secret Technique Qin Yun had once obtained by chance, which led to the birth of his Heart Demon. Later, he plunged into evil, further delving into this Secret Technique.
Eventually, in the Blood Demon Pool, leveraging various opportunities, he cultivated this Secret Technique to an unprecedented level, mastering it completely.
As he fully unleashed it for the first time, even Ghost Mask couldnât help but show a look of amazement.
But immediately, he shook his head:
"A bit impressive, but only just."
With an absolute power gap, no matter how exquisite the Secret Technique, it was futile. His strength, if placed on the Celestial Being List, was comparable to experts like the Heart Inquiry Sword, fundamentally different from Qin Yun.
Qin Yun naturally understood this as well.
He laughed wildly to the sky.
His entire body was enveloped in increasingly dense dark aura, and powerful forces surged from various parts of his body. Visibly, his white hair lost its luster, and the once slightly silver hair became pure white.
Moreover, his limbs, skin, and face withered at a visible pace, full of wrinkles, even his once sharp eyes gradually turned murky.
Qin Yunâs laughter turned hoarse, shrill like nails on glass:
"Vice Sect Leader, in the past, by burning four hundred years of life with the Sad White Hair Secret Technique, I stepped into the Celestial Human Realm. Today, I ask you to show mercy again by burning another four hundred years of life!"