31: Chapter 31 A fight to the death!

Zhao Qing's Meridians bulged across his entire body, and his Aura reached its peak, but that Death Qi also grew extremely intense.

He was burning his Essence!

Not his cultivation base, not his mana, but the Lifespan that every Cultivator treasures most.

The Baiyun Seal rose into the air once more. This time, it did not smash down; instead, it merged directly with Zhao Qing’s Sword Intent...

A beam of Sword Qi soared from the ground, pure white and carrying an Aura of world-ending destruction as it pierced straight toward the firmament!

The giant ape's laughter stopped abruptly as a sense of crisis surged toward it.

"Madman!"

The giant ape retreated violently, crossing its arms to protect its chest. Its dark gold fur stood on end, and its entire yao power condensed into a thick Protective Astral Wall.

But it was all too late.

Zhao Qing himself became a part of that Sword Qi.

Along with the Baiyun Seal, his entire cultivation base, and his remaining dozen or so years of Lifespan, everything was poured into this final strike!

"I have cultivated for three hundred and seventy-two years, walking step by step to reach this day."

"To die here... is worth it!"

The Sword Qi pierced through the horizon, transforming into a colossal sword that held up the heavens as it crashed straight into the giant ape...

In that instant.

The mountains within a radius of dozens of miles were swept by a sharp Sword Qi, leaving not a single blade of grass behind!

Shi Jian was pushed back over a hundred yards by the shockwave. His body smashed through two giant trees before he finally managed to stabilize himself, desperately protecting Sun Boan and the others beneath him.

A large patch of fur on his back was scorched away, the flesh blackened and mangled...

This time, the injury was substantial.

He couldn't withstand the aftershocks of a Golden Core self-detonation, even from such a distance.

As for the accompanying Immortal Slaves, Shi Jian couldn't care for so many people. Under this impact, all forty Immortal Slaves perished...

Not a single one survived!

When the light dissipated, there was nothing left in the sky...

No Zhao Qing, no Baiyun Seal, and no giant ape. Only a massive crater several hundred yards in diameter remained.

Several mountains had been leveled.

The soil at the bottom of the crater had been scorched into a glass-like glaze, still sizzling with wisps of green smoke.

The giant ape's mangled remains were scattered across the crater walls. Half of its body was shattered, and its dark gold fur was scorched black, but its chest was still faintly rising and falling; it wasn't quite dead yet...

However, that no longer mattered.

A purple-gold light streaked across the eastern sky...

This unnamed Golden Core Master from the Shangqing Sect had timed his arrival perfectly, waiting until Zhao Qing and the giant ape were both mortally wounded before finally showing up.

He landed on the edge of the massive crater and looked down at the giant ape clinging to life.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly into a smile.

One sword strike.

Clean and efficient, the giant ape's head fell to the ground.

The Monster Core hidden within the giant ape's belly was casually retrieved by the Unnamed Immortal Master. He held it in his hand, examining it for a moment, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Dark Gold Ape... tsk tsk~"

"An ancestral Bloodline of an ancient variant species. No wonder a waste like Zhao Qing couldn't take it down. But it doesn't matter; the mission is complete."

"Time to return and report. I must thank Senior Brother Luan Yuan for securing this good assignment for me."

The Unnamed Immortal Master put away the Monster Core and collected the Yao Beast's remains. His gaze then swept across the surroundings, and his voice rang out across the entire area:

"Master of Baiyun Temple Zhao Qing sacrificed himself for the Dao to eliminate a threat for our Shangqing Sect. This is a heroic deed that will be remembered for ages. I will certainly report this truthfully to the Sect."

"Young friends, the Yao General has now been eliminated."

"All of you, clear the mountains immediately and slay all high-rank Yao Beasts!"

Shi Jian lay in the ruins, seeing everything clearly.

A heroic deed for the ages?

*Ptooey*~ This Immortal Master from the Shangqing Sect was clearly waiting for Zhao Qing to die so he could reap a Level 5 Monster Core.

How much was an ancestral Monster Core from an ancient variant species worth?

It was worth at least tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, not even counting the carcass of the Yao General. This was a guaranteed profit of a hundred thousand Spirit Stones...

The fruits of battle that Zhao Qing had traded his life for were effortlessly pocketed by this Shangqing Sect Immortal Master without any justification.

But then again.

These were the rules of the cultivation world. The lives of the weak were worthless, serving as nothing more than stepping stones.

Shi Jian licked his scorched lips, devoid of any superfluous emotion. Right now, he was only thinking about one thing...

Zhao Qing was dead. The heavens of Baiyun Prefecture were likely about to change!

...

Three days later.

Cangshi Valley Camp, temporary Meeting Hall.

The Foundation Establishment Elders of White Cloud Temple all looked ashen-faced. This time, it wasn't a Golden Core Master from the Shangqing Sect who had come...

But a Foundation Establishment Disciple, who had come to deliver the upper Sect's orders:

"Baiyun Prefecture cannot be without a leader for even a single day. In consideration of past ties and Senior Zhao Qing's sacrifice for the Dao, White Cloud Temple will temporarily be managed by Daoist Yun Du."

"Our Sect will give you twenty years."

"If a new Golden Core Master can be born within White Cloud Temple within twenty years, then this county will remain under the control of White Cloud Temple."

"If not..."

"Our Sect will choose another Golden Core Master to establish a new Sect here. I hope you Fellow Daoists of White Cloud Temple will cherish this opportunity while you can."

"The Sect's sentiment will eventually run out."

Hearing this, Daoist Yun Du's forehead struck the ground, his voice hoarse:

"We shall obey the upper Sect's decree."

The Foundation Establishment Disciple nodded and handed over a Jade Slip, saying:

"The mountain clearing order continues to be in effect. Ensure the resources from the slain Yao Beasts are not short-changed. The Sect is pressing for them, so the faster the mountain clearing, the better."

"In six months, our Sect's Elder will arrive here to collect them."

With that, the Foundation Establishment Disciple left.

Without the slightest hesitation. Now that White Cloud Temple lacked a Golden Core Master, the Shangqing Sect's attitude had become increasingly cold...

They even sent only a Foundation Establishment Disciple to deliver messages.

It was clear that their status had plummeted.

Shi Jian's mouth curled into a silent grin. He didn't care about any of this; the survival of White Cloud Temple had little to do with him...

What he cared about was that there was no longer a Golden Core Master stationed in Baiyun Prefecture!

This meant that in the upcoming month of Mountain Clearing Operations, almost no Human Race Cultivators would be able to suppress him...

It would be much more convenient for his future actions.

...

The Mountain Clearing Operation continued.

Without the command of the Golden Core Yao General, the beast swarms in the Dafeng Mountains scattered, and the various Yao Beast species returned to fighting for themselves.

The difficulty of the purge dropped sharply.

But Shi Jian became even busier.

He volunteered to lead the Sun Clan and the others deep into the heart of the mountains. His reason was high-sounding: since he was a Yao Beast and familiar with the mountain environment, he was willing to pave the way for the army...

Daoist Yun Du had no reason to refuse.

A Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Great Yao volunteering to work for him was exactly what he wanted.

After all, a White Cloud Temple without a Golden Core Master was ultimately somewhat desolate. The subordinate forces that were usually polite...

...were now all speaking with playful, mocking tones.

Things were, after all, no longer the same as before.