Refining Ruins Cauldron

Outer gate canteen.

Inside the hall, disciples sat in small groups with acquaintances, engrossed in eating the food in their bowls.

Gu Qingyun has always been a loner, and having only recently joined the Longevity Sect, he doesn't know many people.

The person in charge of serving the food was a middle-aged man, whom everyone usually called Chef Ye. He was one of the head chefs in the cafeteria.

"Come on, eat more, you need to grow strong!"

Master Ye smiled and put more meat into Gu Qingyun's bowl.

"Thanks, Master Ye."

Gu Qingyun nodded and responded politely.

As the head chef of the cafeteria, Chef Ye comes into contact with many people and is naturally well-informed.

He suddenly called out to Gu Qingyun, lowering his voice as much as possible.

"Hey kid, stop standing there like an idiot all day. Did you offend your class monitor? He's looking for someone to replace you."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyun's expression turned solemn, and his heart sank completely.

If someone takes your place, isn't that just preparing to silence you?

"No, I haven't! I've always done my job properly!"

Gu Qingyun pretended to be stupid, as if he knew nothing about anything else.

"The class monitor told me to do a good job, saying the sect wouldn't treat me unfairly!"

As he spoke, he appeared anxious.

Upon seeing this, Master Ye couldn't help but glare at him.

"You can know a person's face but not their heart. Zhao Long is no good. Many of his disciples who offended him have disappeared without a trace... As for the rest, figure it out yourself."

Master Ye didn't intend to say anything more. He left a sentence and turned to serve food to the others.

Gu Qingyun looked grim and left with the bowl in her hand.

Master Ye was unaware that his conflict with Zhao Long had long since become irreconcilable; it was a matter of either Zhao Long's death or his own!

……

Night fell, fog rolled in the mountains, and the occasional cooing of night birds echoed through the forest.

Gu Qingyun picked up the spirit pot. Seeing that it was almost time to fetch water for the last time, he did not hesitate and walked towards the foot of the mountain.

This time, Gu Qingyun proceeded at a leisurely pace, following the predetermined route.

He held the watering can in one hand and put the other hand in his pocket.

His last Rejuvenation Pill was hidden there, which he could take immediately if necessary.

The roadside was lined with all sorts of branches, swaying in the night breeze and making rustling noises from time to time.

At this moment, Gu Qingyun focused his senses to the maximum and keenly noticed a very light footstep mixed in with the sound of the wind.

Even if it was only for a moment, it still couldn't escape his ears.

Gu Qingyun didn't make a sound and walked down the mountain without looking back.

At the foot of the mountain, beside the lake, this long mountain road finally came to an end.

Right now, the moonlight is reflected on the lake, illuminating the surroundings and adding a touch of brightness.

Gu Qingyun picked up the spirit pot, poured spiritual energy into it, and began collecting lake water.

In an instant, a figure suddenly emerged from the forest behind them, aiming straight for Gu Qingyun's vitals!

Having been prepared, how could he simply surrender?

He bent down abruptly and successfully dodged the attack!

The figure was clearly incredulous that Gu Qingyun had actually managed to dodge the attack!

In the darkness, Zhao Long's expression was faintly visible.

"Hmph! You piece of trash, you think you can dodge my palm strike?"

Gu Qingyun put down the spirit pot in his hand, slowly turned around, and met Zhao Long's eyes.

"Squad leader, why be so ruthless?"

His tone carried a hint of helplessness, but was mostly calm.

"Are you blind? You interrupted my good time, and you still want to live? You think you can live? You don't even deserve to live!"

Zhao Long sneered, his voice even colder, and a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

Gu Qingyun remained expressionless, his eyes calm as still water, and he sighed softly.

"If I said that the past is wiped clean, and I could swear I'd never tell anyone?"

He still wanted to stay in this place to cultivate, even though he was from the Longevity Sect.

If they really start fighting, it will be a fight to the death, and extremely troublesome.

However, Zhao Long burst into laughter upon hearing this, his expression becoming extremely ferocious.

"In this world, only the dead keep secrets; an oath is no match for a knife in hand!"

He took a sudden step forward, and his aura swept over us like a tidal wave.

The fifth level of Qi Refining was terrifying; the mere presence of his aura made it difficult for Gu Qingyun to breathe.

"You brat, die!"

Without any further hesitation, Zhao Long roared and charged towards Gu Qingyun like a cannonball.

He held nothing back, and before anyone knew it, he had already grasped a long sword, pouring all his spiritual power into it; its power was unimaginable!

With his back to the lake, Gu Qingyun had nowhere left to retreat.

Now, the only option is to fight to the death!

With the "Circulation and Refining Qi Technique" within his body pushed to its limit, he could sense that his senses seemed to have been enhanced again, and even Zhao Long's speed had slowed down a bit.

Gu Qingyun narrowly dodged the first strike and met Zhao Long's punch head-on!

boom!

With a muffled thud, Gu Qingyun staggered back several steps, still unable to regain his balance, and crashed to the ground, rolling several times before finally stopping.

puff!

He suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, and his life force weakened considerably.

His fists were tingling. Gu Qingyun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and quickly swallowed the last Guiyuan Pill.

The medicine took effect, quickly replenishing the body's spiritual energy. The purple aura reappeared, and the flow of spiritual energy accelerated even further.

Gu Qingyun then felt a little better.

On the other hand, Zhao Long only swayed slightly before coming to a steady stop.

He glanced at his fist with some surprise, then looked back at Gu Qingyun, his eyes filled with even more murderous intent.

"You've actually broken through to the third level of Qi Refining in such a short time?!"

It took Zhao Long nearly half a year to go from one to three, but Gu Qingyun only took one day!

This speed is absolutely something that someone with a mixed spiritual root cannot achieve!

There must be some kind of opportunity involved in him!

Thinking of this, Zhao Long's eyes burned with fervor as he forcefully suppressed the murderous intent in his heart.

"You handed over this opportunity, and you, a piece of trash, couldn't even seize it!"

"Be a good girl and I might give you a quick death, or even leave you a whole corpse!"

"Otherwise... humph!"

Zhao Long pressed closer, looking at Gu Qingyun lying on the ground like a dead dog with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Right now, Gu Qingyun seems to have no ability to resist at all. He can't even speak clearly, and he's barely breathing.

Zhao Long frowned slightly, thinking of personally searching for the opportunity.

However, this was the moment Gu Qingyun had been waiting for!

He pointed his fingers like a sword, drained all the spiritual power in his body, and instantly stabbed towards Zhao Long's vital chest!

The first move of the Seven Star Sword Technique: A Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire!

A strike, imbued with fire-attribute spiritual energy and shimmering with fiery starlight from his fingertips, instantly poured into Zhao Long's body!

The latter had no chance to react at all. His chest was completely blackened, and with a loud bang, he was blown away!

puff!

Blood traced an arc in the air as Zhao Long flew nearly three meters backward before crashing to the ground.

He stared in disbelief at the hole in his chest, blood gushing from his throat.

"This... is impossible..."

With his pupils dilated and lifeless, even in his last moments before death, Zhao Long still couldn't believe that he would fall into Gu Qingyun's hands!

How could someone with such a useless mixed spiritual root possess such powerful fire magic?!

This sword strike almost drained all of Gu Qingyun's strength.

At this moment, even just standing up was extremely difficult for him.

He walked step by step toward Zhao Long, his eyes filled with increasingly intense killing intent.

The balance of power has shifted, and all the past humiliations surged forth at this moment, transforming into boundless rage!

Zhao Long clutched his chest, fear appearing in his eyes for the first time.

The wound was charred, and the pitch-black opening was particularly deep, with even the internal organs scorched by the fire elemental power.

If we go to the pharmacy now and have the elders treat us, there might still be a chance for us to turn the tide.

But how could Gu Qingyun possibly let him have his way?

"You...you can't kill me..."

Zhao Long was weak and listless. He barely managed to sit up halfway, looking at Gu Qingyun with a terrified expression.

There was even a pleading tone in his voice.

That was the tone he used when talking to others on ordinary days!

In the face of life and death, all prestige is but fleeting smoke!

"What do you want?! I can give you anything... I can give you anything!"

"Spirit stones! Spirit herbs! Rejuvenation pills! They're all yours... all yours..."

Zhao Long kept taking out magical items from his treasure bag, scattering them all over the ground.

However, Gu Qingyun remained unmoved, looking down at Zhao Long as if he were an ant.

"Squad leader, you're foolish. If I kill you, these spirit creatures will be mine too..."

Under the moonlight, Gu Qingyun's voice was as light as a drifting cloud, yet it resounded loudly in Zhao Long's ears.

That overwhelming killing intent seemed to solidify, making it difficult for the latter to even breathe.

"This is the retribution you deserve!"

With those words, he stomped down!

Zhao Long could no longer resist, and before he could even utter a final plea for mercy, his heart was crushed on the spot!

With his last glimmer of life fading, Zhao Long breathed his last!