CHAPTER 576: CHAPTER 576: EXCHANGE IF FAKE

Nan ZaiXu took a step forward, his aura instantly becoming sharp and formidable, the killing intent almost tangible, causing the air within a hundred meters to violently stir.

A Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator, once taking action, the destructive power would be unpredictable, especially when it’s a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator filled with murderous intent.

"Xiahou Jun, you, as a prodigy, lack the awareness of one. What is a prodigy? A child favored by Heaven is a prodigy. Heaven granted you great talent, yet you chose to degrade yourself out of sympathy for these ant-like ordinary people. It’s utterly ridiculous."

Xiahou Jun sneered, "To hell with being a prodigy. Even if we’re Heaven’s favored, we are humans first. Even someone as strong as Qin Yi never looked down on ordinary people. Where do you get your sense of superiority from?"

"Qin Yi? Indeed a figure. Unfortunately, he fell too early, perhaps as heavenly punishment for his sympathy towards ordinary people," Nan ZaiXu said indifferently.

Xiahou Jun’s face was full of mockery, "Are you insane? Since when does kindness and justice get punished by the heavens? How much love do you lack in your life? Is everyone around you as insidious and ruthless as you, which twisted your mind like this?"

Mo Buwen shouted sharply, "Brother Nan, why bother with them? Since they insist on seeking death, we will fulfill their wish. Let them regret their betrayal."

"Brother Wu Zhao, I’ll give you one more chance. As long as you kneel before me and pledge allegiance, I’ll spare your life." Flower Demon’s small face was earnest, even somewhat pleading.

Wu Zhao looked disgusted, "Drop that nauseating act. You pretend to be innocent and naive, but to me, you’re no different from an idiot."

Flower Demon pouted resentfully, "Brother Wu Zhao, you forced my hand. If I tear you to pieces later, don’t blame me—it’s your own doing."

Saying the most vicious words with the most innocent face, that’s Flower Demon.

"Betrayed my Young Master, I’ll kill you first." Beside Mo Buwen, Cheng Ju roared in anger, unleashing his Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivation, charging at Mu Lingchen with formidable momentum.

Boom!

Cheng Ju raised his hand, unleashing a monstrous palm force that swept towards Mu Lingchen with flying sand and rocks.

Mu Lingchen’s expression changed slightly. A barrier felt like a mountain; crossing a major realm is even more daunting. Even at the Golden Core Late Stage, compared to Early Stage Nascent Soul, it’s a complete disparity. This palm left him horrified, unable to resist.

Rumble!

The void trembled, as if being torn apart, a purple claw shadow emerged from the rift, crashing with a bang, shattering Cheng Ju’s attack, and the storm swept outwards.

However, the purple claw shadow pierced through the storm, lightning-fast, appearing before Cheng Ju.

Cheng Ju’s face changed drastically, eyes filled with fear, his fist struck out, the violent force swept forward. Yet the claw shadow seized his fist, a crack, the ear-piercing sound of bones cracking was bone-chilling, and Cheng Ju’s agonized scream echoed, his fist crushed into a mist of blood.

Blood splattered, Cheng Ju’s wails of agony filled the air. But suddenly, a crack, the screams abruptly ceased, the claw shadow clutched his throat, and the once mighty Nascent Soul Realm cultivator was strangled like a chicken, crushing his windpipe.

Everyone was wide-eyed, dumbstruck.

The mighty experts of the nations all held their breath, the scene fell silent, the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

Such a strong cultivator, so easily slain by a suddenly appearing claw shadow, it was terrifying.

"Cheng Ju?" Mo Buwen snapped back, shouting in anger, watching helplessly as Cheng Ju’s body fell, stirring up a cloud of dust.

"Who, who is it? Come out!" Mo Buwen roared, Cheng Ju was his confidant, utterly loyal. Now, slain on the spot, and right before his eyes, it burned his face with shame and anger. Whoever acted was clearly slapping him in the face.

Someone sensed something, abruptly looking up to the sky.

A figure in black brocade, tall and slender, wearing a gold mask, stood in mid-air, their clothes fluttering with the breeze, appearing who knows when?

More and more people noticed the unexpected guest in the sky.

Xiahou Jun and others unintentionally smiled. Especially Mu Lingchen, who wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, thinking why couldn’t you intervene sooner, for Cheng Ju’s palm had left him anxious.

"Is it you?"

Mo Buwen yelled in anger. He recognized this person; back at Vermilion Bird Mountain, it was this masked figure who snatched Yun Mengyao from his grasp.

"Brother Mo, do you know him?" Nan ZaiXu asked.

Mo Buwen spoke sinisterly, "Remember I mentioned the masked man who rescued Yun Mengyao from me? It’s him."

"So it was him?" Nan ZaiXu’s eyes flickered slightly, "I remember you said this person claimed to be Qin Yi’s close friend. It seems his purpose aligns with ours. And he succeeded, so Xiahou Jun and the others dared to betray, entirely relying on him backing them up."

"No matter who he is, having killed Cheng Ju, he must die." Mo Buwen’s face was full of killing intent.

Nan ZaiXu was silent for a moment, then said, "This person’s cultivation is unfathomable, likely akin to ours. We should figure it out first."

"Who exactly are you?" Nan ZaiXu asked aloud, "And don’t try to deceive us with claims of being Qin Yi’s close friend. I can assure you, you are not Qin Yi’s friend. When I discussed tea and philosophy with Qin Yi, he never mentioned you."

Xiahou Jun and the others all had strange expressions, Mu Lingchen couldn’t help but laugh.

"You claim to be Qin Yi’s close friends?" Qin Yi’s mouth curled with a mocking smile.

Nan ZaiXu spoke with full seriousness, "This is known to everyone. The three of us were all close friends of Qin Yi, discussing the world and drinking tea, deeply connected."

"Oh really? How come I don’t remember having friends like you? When did I drink tea and philosophize with you? I’m quite certain I don’t have amnesia, so it must be you lying." Qin Yi said, slowly reaching up to remove the golden mask, revealing a face as handsome as a demon, eyes filled with mischief.

Nan ZaiXu and the others’ faces changed drastically, staring intently at Qin Yi, Mo Buwen said, "You say you’re Qin Yi?"

"Authentic and original," Qin Yi said indifferently.

"Impossible, Qin Yi is dead, that’s common knowledge. You can’t deceive us." Mo Buwen shouted in disbelief.

Mu Lingchen looked disdainful, "Calling you fools is an understatement. You don’t recognize Qin Yi, but are we to make mistakes?"

"Impossible, you’re impersonating. Qin Yi is dead!" Nan ZaiXu shouted.

Qin Yi said coldly, "If I hadn’t faked my death, how could you spirits and monsters have come out?"

Fake death?

The expressions of Nan ZaiXu and his companions became instantly colorful, turning blue and pale.