Chapter 421 - 386: Where is the Flaw?

Chapter 421: Chapter 386: Where is the Flaw?

"Who is this Suguo you were just talking about? His territory? He has territory in the wilderness?"

A flash of sorrow flickered in his eyes and was gone. Nie Yun set down the wineskin in his hand, suppressed the emotions in his heart, and suddenly asked.

"Suguo? He’s a bandit, one who’s claimed a mountain in the wilderness as his own kingdom. His true identity is a Demon!"

The middle-aged man said.

"A Demon?" Nie Yun was taken aback.

On the Qi Sea Continent, Demons were mostly suppressed in places like the Zi Qiong Mountain Range. They were rare elsewhere, or at least they didn’t dare show themselves openly. The Floating Heaven Continent was different. Demons were everywhere, and they could even do business out in the open, practically coexisting with humans.

Of course, this was all on the condition that they didn’t do anything to harm humans. Also, these Demons couldn’t be too powerful, lest they become uncontrollable.

"This Suguo specializes in robbing passing Camel Riders. But don’t worry, our Yi Family gives him a large tribute every year to pay our respects. It’s been peaceful for many years, so he probably won’t come looking for trouble!"

The middle-aged man said with a smile.

"I see." Nie Yun understood now. He nodded and said no more.

It wasn’t just Demons. Some humans also claimed mountains as their own and specialized in robbing traveling merchants. Some of these people had powerful backers, using robbery as a cover for more secretive dealings. Others had simply fallen on hard times and turned to banditry to support their families.

’But regardless, in my past life, I showed no mercy whenever I encountered them. A thief is a thief. No amount of reasoning can justify their actions or who they are.’

"It’s getting late. Everyone, let’s get some sleep! You’re injured, so you can stay in this tent."

After some eating and drinking, time passed quickly. Two Camel Riders were left to stand watch while the others were assigned their lodgings.

Because Nie Yun was injured, he was given special treatment: a small tent all to himself.

"You’re not from the mountains, are you? It’s impossible for someone from the mountains to reach the Ultimate Venerable Peak at such a young age!" Just as he was about to enter the tent, a cold voice sounded by his ear. He turned his head and saw the young lady named Yi Qing standing nearby, her brow furrowed as she looked at him.

Even though the Creation Qi on the Floating Heaven Continent was dense, reaching the Ultimate Venerable Peak at seventeen or eighteen still required countless Elixirs and top-secret Cultivation Techniques. The mountains had always been backward; how could they have such things?

"I..." Nie Yun hadn’t expected the girl to notice such a detail. Just as he was about to make something up, she cut him off. "I don’t care who you are, and it’s fine if you don’t want to say. We’re just a group of poor Camel Riders. If someone is plotting against us, we won’t let them go, even if we die trying!"

The girl’s tone was resolute and cold, as if she would become a Fierce Ghost and haunt him even in death if Nie Yun dared to move against her group of Camel Riders.

"Mm! I really am just a passerby with no ill intentions!" Nie Yun gave a self-deprecating laugh, surprised that a girl so young could possess such firm resolve.

’Do I really look that much like a bad guy? On the Qi Sea Continent, when I was following Tie Lan and the others, she suspected me. Now I’ve been rescued, and these people suspect me too... Sigh, was I born with a villain’s face?’

"You’d better be telling the truth!" Without waiting for Nie Yun’s reply, the girl turned and walked into her own tent.

’This girl...’

Hearing her threatening words, Nie Yun just smiled and shook his head. At the same time, he wondered, ’I haven’t said anything out of place this whole time. I shouldn’t have given anything away. Why does this girl suspect me?’

’Whatever. Maybe she’s just naturally suspicious.’

With a wry smile, Nie Yun stopped thinking about it. He entered the tent, sat on the ground, and began greedily absorbing the Creation Qi from the air to heal his injuries.

"Young Miss, you suspect that Nie Yun?"

Inside Yi Qing’s tent, the handmaiden attending to her saw her mistress’s frowning brow and asked softly.

"Yes," Yi Qing nodded.

"But his injuries didn’t look fake. He couldn’t have some ulterior motive, could he?" the handmaiden said, a little confused.

"I examined his injuries earlier. They’re real. But for him to recover this quickly... not even ordinary Elixirs could do that! I’m afraid he possesses the legendary special talent of Healing Dantian! Anyone with a talent like that is a target for every Major Sect. How could he possibly be from the mountains?"

"Besides, when he was drinking earlier, I was watching him. Every time he finished a drink, he would fall into a deep reverie filled with sorrow and sadness, as if haunted by some unforgettable heartache. That’s the look of someone who has weathered many storms, a look I’ve only ever seen in my father. How could a boy from the mountains have such an expression? How could I not be suspicious?"

Yi Qing explained her reasoning.

If Nie Yun had heard her reasoning, he would have felt utterly helpless. He never would have thought that the longing for his younger brother, which occasionally flickered in his eyes while he drank, would become her primary reason for suspecting him.

"Then... who is he?" Hearing her mistress’s analysis, the handmaiden’s face paled in alarm as she asked hastily.

"I don’t know, but there’s no need to worry. I’m at the Early-Stage Secret Realm. He’s just an injured person. And even if he fully recovers, he’s only at the Ultimate Venerable Peak. He’s no match for me at all! He’s not worth worrying about."

Yi Qing waved her hand dismissively.

"Hee hee, I knew you were the best, Young Miss! No demon or monster can hide from your sight!" The handmaiden giggled, her eyes filled with adoration as she looked at her mistress.

"It’s not that exaggerated. But if someone wants to put on an act in front of me, they’ll fail even if they’re a Secret Realm Powerhouse, let alone an Ultimate Venerable!" A powerful confidence shone in Yi Qing’s eyes.

"Of course! Our Young Miss Yi Qing is known as the number one genius of Rongtian City. That title isn’t for nothing! A mere Ultimate Venerable trying to put on an act in front of you? He must be dreaming!"

The handmaiden said with a laugh.

"Alright, that’s enough flattering. Hurry up and get to sleep. We have to get up early to travel tomorrow!" Yi Qing didn’t object to her handmaiden’s words. Instead, a confident smile appeared on her face as she nodded and gave the order.

It wasn’t that Yi Qing was arrogant. It was just that she had seen many men in her life, but she had never met a single one whose talent could match her own.

Although she was only at the Early-Stage Magical Power Realm, in terms of combat strength, she could even defeat those at the Late-Stage Magical Power Realm. Naturally, she wouldn’t pay any mind to an injured Ultimate Venerable.

’So that’s where I slipped up...’

Inside his tent, Nie Yun had taken in the entire conversation between the two. He shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and focused all his energy on recovering from his injuries.

Creation Qi truly lived up to its name, possessing the power of regeneration. Based on his own analysis, injuries this severe should have taken at least three or four days to heal completely. He hadn’t expected to recover sixty to seventy percent in just half a day and one night.

’Escaping through that spatial fissure was dangerous, but the benefits have been considerable. Under the barrage of the spatial storm, the True Qi in my body has become even purer, and my power has actually doubled again. What a pleasant surprise...’

After healing some of his injuries, Nie Yun discovered that after the impact of the spatial storm, the True Qi in his Qi Sea had become purer. Although the True Qi Amount seemed to be less, its power had nearly doubled!

Before, his True Qi Power was about 50,000 units of Elephant Giant Power. Now, it was so pure it was like bars of gold lying in his Qi Sea, having almost solidified. His power had reached a staggering 100,000 units of Elephant Giant Power!

To possess 100,000 units of Elephant Giant Power at the Ultimate Venerable Peak—stronger than even a typical cultivator at the Peak of Magical Power Realm. No one would believe it if he told them.

’My power has increased, but with my current injuries, I’d better not fight... Hm? Ai, it seems I don’t have a choice. There are always some blind fools who have to come looking for trouble...’

Just as he was marveling at his own strength, his Spirit stirred and his Celestial Eye opened, revealing a group of people stealthily approaching.

Originally, Nie Yun didn’t want to get involved. After all, he was just a passerby. But when he saw that they were all Demons, and their leader had reached the Primordial Saint Realm, he immediately changed his mind.

Towards Demons, whether in his past life or his present one, Nie Yun felt a natural disgust and wished he could slaughter every last one of them.

Rising to his feet in the tent, Nie Yun went to Yi Chang, who was on watch duty.

"Brother Nie Yun, what are you doing up?" Yi Chang was a little surprised to see the young man.

"Heh, wake everyone up. I think that Suguo fellow is here," Nie Yun said directly, not wasting any words.

"What? Suguo is here? Our Yi Family pays him every year. What’s he doing here now? You’re not lying to me, are you?" Yi Chang jumped in fright.

"If you don’t believe me, you can wait. Just don’t blame me when you’re all dead!" Nie Yun snorted.

"Ah, alright! I’ll sound the alarm now!"

Seeing the grave expression on the young man’s face, which didn’t look like he was lying, Yi Chang dared not waste any more time and hurriedly struck the warning gong.

DANG DANG DANG DANG!

A series of hurried chimes immediately woke the sleeping crowd.

"What happened?" The Camel Riders, most of whom slept fully clothed, all shot out of their tents upon hearing the noise.

"Suguo and his scum are here!" Yi Chang replied hurriedly to the questions.

"Bandits are here?" Hearing the name Suguo, everyone was jolted wide awake. They all looked around in unison, but the distance was pitch-black. All they could hear was the quiet whisper of the wind; there was no other sound.

"Where’s Suguo? You must have been dreaming!" one of the Camel Riders said, looking at Yi Chang unhappily.

"It wasn’t me, it was Brother Nie Yun who said it..."

Yi Chang sold Nie Yun out without a second thought.

"Him? He’s just some injured kid. As Camel Riders, don’t you think we’d know if bandits were approaching? How could you listen to him?" The skinny young man who had previously spoken of killing Nie Yun looked over with a contemptuous expression and snorted.

"Exactly! He’s just an Ultimate Venerable brat, a country bumpkin from the mountains who’s never seen the world. You listened to him? Is there something wrong with your head?"

Another person laughed.

"As Camel Riders, we’re the most sensitive to danger, and even we haven’t sensed anything. Yet you listen to some injured Ultimate Venerable kid. Yi Chang, are you still half-asleep and dreaming?"

The few people who spoke were of a similar age and status to Yi Chang, so their words were sharp and merciless.