Chapter 293 - 205: Great Harvest

Chapter 293: Chapter 205: Great Harvest

"Xie Yuan is strong, but... he couldn’t have killed a Tri-Phase expert, could he?"

Huang Zifeng was hesitant. He had already been stunned by Xie Yuan’s strength back at Lu the Third’s camp before they entered, but to say he could kill a Tri-Phase expert was a stretch.

Lin Zhen and the others all nodded subconsciously.

Qin Zhenyang came back to his senses and said slowly,

"He didn’t kill them directly, but you could say they died at his hands..."

He then recounted everything that had happened on the 3rd Layer to his junior brothers and sister, leaving them in a daze once more.

Huang Zifeng was silent for a long moment before sighing.

"I never would have thought... Not only is Xie Yuan’s strength astonishingly high, but his mind is also sharp and decisive. To think he could interfere in a battle between Tri-Phase experts and even come out on top. This..."

His expression was one of utter shock. He even began to doubt himself. ’Is it really appropriate to have Xie Yuan as my target?’

Lin Cheng and Lin Zhen both had looks of adoration on their faces as they whispered in unison,

"As expected of Master Xie..."

He could even play Tri-Phase experts for fools, making them dance like puppets on his strings!

Especially since Lu the Third’s son had died at Xie Yuan’s hands, the two of them were overcome with excitement and satisfaction, feeling as if Lu the Third himself would be next.

’Even if we can’t kill our enemy with our own hands, it would be just as good if Master Xie avenges us...’

A blush crept onto Lin Zhen’s face, and her eyes shimmered.

Pei Yu listened as if he were there, imagining himself being watched by masters from the east and west as he led a renowned Tri-Phase expert on a wild goose chase, leaving them to eat his dust. In the end, one died and another was severely wounded, while he floated away with the treasure... His eyes narrowed in sheer bliss. After a long moment, he finally sighed.

"Damn, that was satisfying!"

"Amazing, amazing. This Xie Yuan really is something else, huh?"

Seeing everyone’s enthusiastic reactions, Xie Yuan scratched the back of his head and had no choice but to chime in with a few perfunctory words to avoid seeming out of place.

Listening to others praise him to the skies right to his face was a bit embarrassing, but... it also felt pretty good.

’Aw, I’m not as amazing as you guys say... hehe.’

The group excitedly discussed Xie Yuan right in front of Xie Yuan, their conversation a mix of flattery and awe. Lin Cheng even brought his scholarly skills to bear, praising Xie Yuan as if he were the most righteous hero under the heavens. It gradually made Xie Yuan feel so abashed that he couldn’t help but look a little awkward.

After hearing Lin Cheng’s description, Qin Zhenyang couldn’t help but wonder how a Martial Artist who was practically the embodiment of justice had become a wanted criminal. But after hearing the Lin siblings describe Yu Chunsheng’s local deeds and reputation, he began to see Xie Yuan’s act of killing an official in a new light.

But his methods were certainly debatable... Recalling the decisiveness with which Xie Yuan had killed Jiang Chen, Qin Zhenyang thought to himself,

’He is indeed a heroic knight, but he truly has no regard for laws or rules, acting according to his own temperament. To be his friend is to have him go through hell and back for you; to be his enemy is to gain a terrible foe.’

Qin Zhenyang’s understanding of this Xie Yuan, who had appeared out of nowhere, deepened, and he grew interested in getting to know him and talking with him.

Meanwhile, Xie Yuan, who was right beside him, grew increasingly silent as he saw the group’s conversation become more and more animated, their interest growing as they continued to circle around the topic of him.

"Junior Brother Zhang, don’t you think Master Xie is really amazing?"

Seeing that Xie Yuan hadn’t said much, Lin Zhen’s gaze shifted to him.

Xie Yuan let out an "Er," and smiled awkwardly.

"Amazing. I think he’s pretty amazing too."

"Not just pretty amazing. He’s *extremely* amazing."

Lin Zhen corrected him earnestly, her expression a little dissatisfied, as if she were trying to sell her idol to someone who just didn’t get it.

Xie Yuan could only agree.

"Right, right, right, extremely amazing..."

’...It’s really hard to praise myself in public.’

Seeing him agree like that, Lin Zhen finally nodded in satisfaction.

Just then, a violent tremor interrupted their conversation.

The body of the tower suddenly began to tremble, emitting a deep RUMBLE. The group stumbled, their faces filled with shock and uncertainty.

"What’s happening?"

"Careful! Junior brothers and sister, get close to me!"

Cries of alarm rang out throughout the tower. Before anyone could figure out what was going on, they saw a flash of light, the scenery shifted, and they instinctively closed their eyes. Then, a wave of heat washed over them.

When he opened his eyes again, Xie Yuan was shocked to find he was back in the desert, right in the basin that had become a funnel.

He looked back and saw many people around him—all the various experts who had entered the ruins to explore. Right now, every one of them wore a dazed expression.

And at the lowest point of the basin, the large hole that was the entrance to the ruins had vanished. The sand was perfectly flat, and the illusory image of the Slaughter Tower above had also disappeared at some point, as if it had never been there at all.

Now, besides the occasional traces of city ruins, there was nothing unusual about the basin. It was as if the entire expedition into the ruins had been nothing but a mirage.

Xie Yuan quietly felt for the sword at his waist and sensed the heavy weight of the pack on his back, which helped to calm his heart.

’My things are still here. It wasn’t a dream...’

But seeing the dazed looks on the young experts who had explored the ruins, it was clear that none of them knew what had just happened.

SWISH SWISH—

The sound of something slicing through the air approached at extreme speed. Many figures rapidly appeared beside the young experts. Amidst the wary atmosphere, the Grandmasters retrieved their respective disciples and juniors.

"What happened? Where are the Slaughter Tower ruins?"

Many of the Grandmasters asked urgently. Obviously, having been outside, they knew even less about what had transpired.

Li Xingtuo and Lu Pei both rushed to the side of Xie Yuan’s group. Seeing that every one of them had returned in one piece, they nodded repeatedly.

"It’s good that you’re all back. Zhenyang, what happened inside? Why did the ruins disappear?"

It turned out that from the Grandmasters’ perspective outside, the ruins had been perfectly normal the entire time, and the illusion of the Slaughter Tower had been stable. But just a moment ago, it had suddenly begun to flicker and tremble, and then it vanished along with the large entrance hole. Immediately after, their disciples had all appeared out of thin air in the desert.