The streets surrounding the Drunken Immortal Tower were now filled with Demon Sealing Guards.
The Greedy Daoist and his disciple, Li Ya, had already fled more than a mile away.
Pain radiated from the wound in his chest.
"That damn brat's weapon is strange. A single stab hurt more than ten stabs combined."
"Master, I will kill him sooner or later to avenge you!"
"Hah! Before you even get the chance, I have already made arrangements. He's as good as dead."
"That brat ruined everything! Not only was I supposed to take over the Drunken Immortal Tower today, but I also planned to capture those two beauties and bring them back to the Heavenly Dao Sect. He spoiled all of it!"
"Master, do you mean…?"
"Of course, I arranged for someone else to kill him. Do you think Yun Shuiyao's poisoning happened by accident? You and I came from outside the city together—when would I have had the chance to poison her drink?"
Li Ya thought for a moment before realization dawned on him.
"Master is truly brilliant! I deeply admire you!"
—
Qin Ming's chest burned with pain from severe internal injuries.
After all, the Greedy Daoist was a master at the Spirit Connection Realm.
That single palm strike should have killed anyone at the third level of the Body Refinement Realm.
Only because of Qin Ming's training with Strength Pills, which had toughened his muscles and bones, did he barely manage to hold on.
Liu Zonghuo supported him as they left the Drunken Immortal Tower.
The first thing Qin Ming did was buy red bean dumplings.
That was his original task for leaving the palace—to cover his tracks.
To avoid the Demon Sealing Guards patrolling the main road, Liu Zonghuo led Qin Ming into a narrow alley.
Since he hadn't gotten the chance to consult his master today, Qin Ming decided to ask Liu Zonghuo some questions instead.
"Senior Brother Liu, I have something to ask you."
"Go ahead."
"Is it very difficult to obtain Essence Souls?"
"Yes, they're rare and unpredictable. They usually appear in Spirit Realms formed where there have been intense conflicts between transmigrators and natives.
When we enter a Spirit Realm, we have to break through it. Only by escaping can we obtain an Essence Soul.
If we fail, we are forever trapped inside.
As far as I know, Spirit Realms are quite rare in Firefly Imperial City. However, they are more common in Cold Night City, Starlight City, and Aurora City!"
So that's how it is, Qin Ming thought to himself.
Once he grew stronger, he had to visit those three cities!
"Senior Brother Liu, does each level-up in talent require more Essence Souls than the last?"
"Of course! To reach level three from level two, you need two Essence Souls.
From level three to level four, I think you need three.
But the power increase is significant!
For example, my flame ability—at level one, I could only shoot flames two meters.
But after I leveled up to level two in my last Spirit Realm break, my flames can now reach four meters!"
"Congratulations, Senior Brother Liu, on your talent upgrade."
At that moment, Qin Ming's mind trembled.
He suddenly recalled the battle with the Greedy Daoist.
When the door was kicked open, Senior Brother Liu had used his flames against the Greedy Daoist.
But the flames only reached two meters and failed to harm him.
Yet just now, Liu Zonghuo claimed that after leveling up, his flames could reach four meters.
Realizing this inconsistency, Qin Ming instantly became alert.
Then he remembered—the master had been poisoned by a traitor.
Liu Zonghuo had never been particularly close to him, yet he had volunteered to escort him back.
Piecing it all together, a bold suspicion formed in Qin Ming's mind.
Liu Zonghuo was the traitor!
Qin Ming deliberately slowed his pace.
Feigning casual curiosity, he asked,
"Senior Brother Liu, Master was poisoned and attacked today. Who do you think the culprit is?"
"The culprit was a servant from the tavern. I saw Li Ya talking to one earlier today."
Lie Detection Activated.
[Lie Detected]
Qin Ming kept his face calm, but inside, a storm was raging.
How do I always end up in such dangerous situations?!
Liu Zonghuo was at the sixth level of the Body Refinement Realm.
Qin Ming was only at the third, and injured on top of that—how was he supposed to handle this?!
Quietly, Qin Ming slid his right hand into his sleeve, gripping the Poison Gu Blade.
He also took advantage of a coughing fit to discreetly hide the Demon Sealing Token against his chest.
[Warning: Danger Level Increased 50x! Luck Points Accumulation Rate Increased 50x During Danger!]
As expected!
The moment Qin Ming straightened up, Liu Zonghuo's expression completely changed.
"Qin Ming, seeing how badly you're injured, let your senior brother help you out!"
In the next instant, Liu Zonghuo suddenly gripped his blade and thrust it straight toward Qin Ming's heart!
At this life-or-death moment, Qin Ming went all in.
With his right hand clutching the Poison Gu Blade, he simultaneously stabbed toward Liu Zonghuo's throat!
Clang!
Liu Zonghuo's blade struck the Demon Sealing Token on Qin Ming's chest, unable to penetrate!
His expression twisted in shock.
But in that fleeting instant, Qin Ming—who had already prepared for this—plunged the Poison Gu Blade straight into Liu Zonghuo's chest!
Liu Zonghuo's face paled in horror.
He never expected Qin Ming's reaction to be this fast!
In desperation, Liu Zonghuo activated his Flame Talent.
"Whoosh!"
A burst of scorching fire exploded from his body!
Qin Ming was blasted backward, crashing heavily to the ground.
He coughed violently, his clothes charred and tattered, while the Poison Gu Blade in his grip was now soaked in blood.
At that very moment—
Because of the numerous Demon Sealing Guards patrolling the area, Yun Shuiyao had felt uneasy about letting her disciple return to the palace alone.
She and Qingxuan stood atop the tallest pavilion, gazing into the distance—
Just in time to witness the fight!
Just in time, Yun Shuiyao witnessed Liu Zonghuo's attack!
Her face turned pale with shock.
In an instant, she shouted in alarm—
"No! Liu Zonghuo is a traitor! Hurry! Save Qin Ming!"
...
Liu Zonghuo clutched his agonizing chest wound.
He couldn't understand—what kind of blade was Qin Ming wielding?
Why did just one stab hurt more than being cut ten times over?
With a furious growl, flames erupted from his hands once more—
A searing red fire burst forth, this time reaching four meters in length!
Qin Ming tried to leap up and dodge.
But the Seven Viper Poison within his organs had weakened him too much.
"PAH!"
Another blazing impact sent Qin Ming flying backward.
His clothes were now completely tattered, barely hanging onto his body.
He crashed into the corner of a wall, blood spilling from his mouth.
Liu Zonghuo staggered forward, still clutching his bleeding chest.
"Damn you, Qin Ming! Killing Yun Shuiyao today was supposed to be my ticket into the Heaven's Path Sect, and you just had to ruin it!"
Qin Ming spat out blood and cursed,
"Screw you, you traitorous scum! You're nothing but a pile of dogshit!"
"You dare insult me?!"
"BOOM!"
Another fiery blast slammed into Qin Ming, sending him rolling several meters.
Even his Poison Gu Blade was knocked from his grasp!
Liu Zonghuo stood over him, eyes filled with murderous intent.
"Why did you betray us? Master treated you well!"
Liu Zonghuo sneered.
"Bullshit! The Five Elements Alliance is full of weak-hearted fools!"
"The Heaven's Path Sect believes in supremacy and fate—that's the true path! And they offer far more Soul Essences!"
He stepped forward, raising his bronze dagger.
"Since I failed to kill Yun Shuiyao, I'll take your head instead! That'll be enough to prove my loyalty!"
Qin Ming tried to push himself up, but his severely wounded body refused to obey.
Blood kept pouring from his lips.
Liu Zonghuo himself was weakened from the stab wound but still loomed over Qin Ming, dagger in hand.
With a swish, the bronze blade plunged into Qin Ming's abdomen!
Liu Zonghuo twisted it cruelly—
"You like stabbing people, huh? Let's see how it feels!"
Then, with a sadistic grin, he yanked the dagger out and plunged it into Qin Ming's chest!
Blood splattered.
Liu Zonghuo smirked as he lifted his dagger again,
"Time to see how it feels to have your head cut off."
The icy blade pressed against Qin Ming's neck—
Just then—
A single drop of blood from Liu Zonghuo's chest wound dripped onto Qin Ming's hand.
Suddenly—
[Traveler's Ability Detected: Flame (Sequence 36). Copy?]
[You have already copied two abilities. Copying a new one will overwrite an existing one!]
Qin Ming gritted his teeth—
"Copy it! Overwrite the Lie Detection ability!"
[Copy Successful! Flame (Sequence 36) (Level 1) Acquired! Capable of unleashing a two-meter fire blast with immense power!]
Just as Liu Zonghuo's dagger touched Qin Ming's neck—
Qin Ming's right hand twitched.
In that instant—
He channeled every last ounce of his remaining spirit energy.
"WHOOSH!"
A pillar of flames erupted from his palm—
Blasting straight into Liu Zonghuo's face!
The scorching red flames burned Liu Zonghuo's eyes and face, causing him excruciating pain as he was blasted backward!
"AHH—AAAHH!!"
He screamed in agony.
"HOW DO YOU HAVE FLAMES?! HOW?!"
Qin Ming flipped over in an instant, snatching up the Poison Gu Blade beside him.
Liu Zonghuo was still clutching his burned face and eyes when—
Qin Ming lunged forward—
"SHHK!"
The blade pierced straight into Liu Zonghuo's throat!
Liu Zonghuo's eyes widened in utter shock.
He was completely frozen.