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Qi Yuan quickly collected the storage bags of Ma Chen and the other three. He sensed a fluctuation of mana at the logistics point and knew he had to return immediately.
In case Nie Ying and the others were defeated by the demon cultivators.
On his way back, Qi Yuan held several spirit stones in his hand, restoring the magic power in his dantian while pushing his speed to the limit. In no time, he reached the logistics point.
"Senior Brother Qi..."
"Brother Qi, you're back! We were ambushed by a demon cultivator just now."
"Senior Brother Qi, where are Senior Brother Ma and Senior Brother Lin? We haven't seen any sign of them yet..."
Qi Yuan paused briefly to answer the disciples' questions, then instructed a few of them to head to Liuyaopo to retrieve the bodies of Ma Chen and the others. This matter had to be reported to the Six Factions Alliance so that they could send someone to investigate. The bodies would serve as crucial evidence.
The traces left by the use of magic power were undeniable.
Qi Yuan stopped one of the disciples and asked him to summon Nie Ying. Then he walked straight into the hall, pulled out a Thousand Mile Sound Transmission Note from his storage bag, and briefly recounted the events before sending it to the Six Sects' headquarters.
The note shot off at incredible speed. It was said that only those at the Nascent Soul stage could detect the traces of such a talisman and intercept it.
The logistics team played a critical role in ensuring resources weren't severely damaged. Each team leader had been given a long-distance transmission note to report emergencies in a timely manner.
"Brother Qi, I'm glad you're back safely. I noticed a big commotion at Liuyaopo and was worried about you," Nie Ying said as she hurried into the hall. Upon seeing him unharmed, the tension in her face eased, replaced by a faint smile.
Qi Yuan looked up and paused. Nie Ying's beauty was undeniable, and her sudden charming smile struck like lightning, leaving him momentarily stunned.
"Thank you for your concern, Junior Sister Nie. I'm fine. Let me explain what happened," Qi Yuan said softly.
Nie Ying composed herself, though she had noticed his expression. Her heart fluttered slightly. Senior Brother Qi was not someone easily flustered.
"After receiving your instructions," she began with a smile, "I arranged for several disciples to hide at the center of the formation. As expected, the demon monk attacked at night, but our six sects successfully eliminated all the enemies and claimed victory."
"Oh? How strong were they?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.
"There were three in the early stage of foundation building. One even used a secret technique to push himself to the middle stage, but he fell to my sword," Nie Ying replied with a hint of pride in her voice.
Qi Yuan smiled. "I always knew Junior Sister Nie was as graceful as a fairy, but I never expected her to be as formidable as any man. I'm impressed."
Hearing this, Nie Ying's smile deepened. Her face lit up, and she stood a little straighter, clearly pleased with the praise.
"Brother Qi, we've brought the bodies back," a disciple reported.
Several disciples carried the bodies of Ma Chen and the other two into the hall. The disciple Qi Yuan had instructed earlier was leading them.
Nie Ying turned and froze at the sight. How had Senior Brother Ma and the others died? Her gaze shifted to Qi Yuan, silently seeking an answer.
Qi Yuan ignored her questioning look, rose to confirm the bodies' identities, and signaled for someone to store them securely.
The sinister energy lingering on the corpses was undeniable proof.
Searching through the storage bags would likely reveal further evidence — the combination of the two would confirm everything.
Nie Ying stepped closer. "Senior Brother Qi, what exactly happened?"
Qi Yuan caught the light scent of her perfume as she approached. He glanced sideways and replied, "The three of them were spies planted by the Demonic Path. Ma Chen tried to frame me and lure me into an ambush, but I handled them one by one."
Nie Ying's eyes widened. "You... killed them personally?" she asked cautiously.
"Is there a problem?" Qi Yuan smiled faintly, a hint of teasing in his expression.
A problem? It was a huge problem.
She had carefully checked the cultivation levels of the deceased. One was in the early stage of foundation building, one was in the late stage but had advanced using elixirs, and one had achieved late-stage foundation building through genuine cultivation.
Two late-stage foundation builders and one early-stage — and Senior Brother Qi had defeated them all by himself, despite being only at the middle stage of foundation building?
The pride she had just shown suddenly seemed foolish. She realized now that she had been the clown.
Nie Ying shot him a glare, both embarrassed and annoyed. "Senior Brother Qi truly hides his strength well. No wonder you've captured the hearts of Junior Sisters Chen Qiaoqian and Dong Xuaner. They admire you so much..."
Since returning from Yanling Fort, Dong Xuaner's playful nature had ensured the rumors spread quickly. Qi Yuan had inevitably become the target of envy among the male cultivators.
Considering the backgrounds and status of the two women, winning the affection of even one would save years of arduous cultivation.
Qi Yuan sipped his tea calmly. "Junior Sister Nie's victory over a demon cultivator at the middle stage of foundation building is impressive as well. There's no need to downplay your own achievement."
Nie Ying rolled her eyes, turned gracefully, and left with a flick of her slender waist. Staying any longer would only frustrate her further.
Once she was gone, Qi Yuan checked the storage bags of Ma Chen and the others. After counting carefully, he found only about a hundred mid-level spirit stones, along with a few low-level ones. There were some talismans and magic weapons, but the majority of the supplies were medicinal pills — likely purchased to recover after their previous battle.
None of the cultivation manuals stood out. There were a few on dark magic techniques, but their twisted and violent nature didn't appeal to Qi Yuan.
Finally, he found the demon cultivators' identity tokens. With this evidence, the matter would be resolved.
As for the storage bags, Qi Yuan decided to hand them over. The contents held little value to him, and he intended to buy better equipment from Tianque Castle and Jujianmen.
He had done the Six Factions Alliance a significant favor — eliminating spies and returning the items. Surely, they would offer him a worthy reward in return.
At dawn, several streams of light descended. Two men and one woman arrived. The leading man, Pei Wenjiang from Huadaowu, was in the late stage of foundation building, while the others, Yan Mo and Shi Junyan from the Qingxu Sect and Yanyue Sect, were in the middle stage.
Sensing their presence, Qi Yuan stepped outside to greet them.
"I wonder what brings you here?"
"Are you Junior Brother Qi Yuan?" the man asked. "I'm Pei Wenjiang from Huadaowu, and these are Junior Brother Yan Mo and Junior Sister Shi Junyan. We received an order from the Alliance last night to investigate the Demonic Sect's spies."
Pei Wenjiang's demeanor was polite and composed, giving off an air of elegance and ease.
Qi Yuan smiled. "I sent word last night, but I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly. Please, come inside."
Pei Wenjiang and the others nodded and followed him in.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Qi Yuan began to recount the events of the previous night.
(End of chapter)