Chapter 214
The water needle technique struck in an instant.
In the blink of an eye, both the blood elixir old cultivator and Xiao Yize’s bodies were pierced through by the storm-like barrage of water needles.
“Perfect! Perfect! It’s done!”
Wang Kaiwei’s eyes burned with barely suppressed excitement. The Eastern Wilderness had promised a twenty-year lifespan-extending spirit pill as reward for Xiao Yize’s head.
Though such pills existed in the Tiger-Chasing Dynasty Treasury, the required merit points were astronomical—even risking his life repeatedly on the Eastern Expedition battlefield might not earn him enough.
Unlike prodigies like Hong Yao or Wenzi Shu, Wang Kaiwei barely ranked as third-tier among Condensing Essence cultivators. He couldn’t even match Song Kaiyang, Moon Watching City’s lord.
Before joining the Eastern Expedition, he’d failed three times to reach the peak of Condensing Essence. These failures drained his lifelong savings, while his dwindling lifespan haunted him like a waking nightmare.
Between life and death lies great terror.
Few could face death as calmly as Li Yuande. Many boast courage until death’s shadow falls upon them.
*Crack… crack…*
The splitting sounds shattered Wang Kaiwei’s triumph. His heart lurched as he stared at the ground, shouting, “Disaster!”
Xiao Yize’s “corpse” had dissolved into illusion, revealing a wooden stick.
*Whoosh—*
Wang Kaiwei shot toward the Eastern Wilderness without hesitation. He recognized Wanhuamen elder Mo Xian’s soul wood substitute—his betrayal was exposed. Survival demanded immediate flight.
A bone-chilling aura pursued him almost instantly.
“Eastern Wilderness allies!! Save me!!” he howled.
Three figures surged from the Eastern Wilderness frontline to intercept. Yet a thunderous declaration froze them mid-air:
“Tiger-Chasing’s Immortal Supervisory Arbiter Wenzi Shu stands here! Who dares intervene?!”
The three figures wheeled and fled. Their pitying backward glances spoke plainly:
*Friend, we lack the means to help. You’ve provoked forces beyond reckoning.*
"You fear death, and so do we!"
"Don’t leave!! I beg you!! I know Tiger-Chasing’s secrets!! Save me! I’ll tell you everything!!"
Wang Kaiwei read the refusal in their eyes but still screamed hoarsely in desperation.
The three figures didn’t hesitate, retreating to the Eastern Wilderness frontline without looking back.
The last flicker of hope in Wang Kaiwei’s heart died, leaving him hollow-eyed and deranged.
"Fine then! You’re the geniuses walking the Path of Cultivation! I’ll just rot here waiting for death!"
Roaring through bloody tears, he channeled every drop of true essence to charge at Wenzi Shu flying behind him – aiming to detonate his primordial dan and take his enemy down.
No longer fearing death, Wang Kaiwei focused solely on making Wenzi Shu pay. Ignoring the burning pain of piercing techniques, he lunged at his target with final desperate strength, laughter swallowed by white light.
BOOM!—
The thunderous explosion erased Wang Kaiwei’s existence. His true essence dissolved into rain pouring over the battle zone.
Xiao Yize stared at the dissipating essence before turning to the white-robed scholar beside him, awe chilling his bones.
Wenzi Shu had never moved from that spot.
There’d been no Eastern Wilderness rescuers, no warning bells, no life-for-life struggle. The entire chase existed only in Wang Kaiwei’s mind – illusions woven by spiritual technique.
From Xiao Yize and Yang Lingshu’s view, Wang Kaiwei had simply panicked, wailed, cracked, then suicidally exploded at empty air.
Xiao Yize shuddered. Falling under Wenzi Shu’s technique seemed worse than death itself.
"So this… is the power of Tiger-Chasing’s Twin Heroes?" he marveled inwardly.
Wenzi Shu calmly collected lingering essence from the explosion site.
"Pity… My first Condensing Essence kill in the Eastern Expedition battlefield is a Tiger-Chasing brother."
Storing the essence, he murmured, "The Dao’s path is long. Few reach its end. When facing Life and Death, today’s you could become tomorrow’s me."
Xiao Yize fell deep into thought. When he finally looked up, Wenzi Shu was smiling at him.
The lesson hadn’t been casual words – it was meant for him.
"My thanks for Master Wenzi’s guidance!"
"Good. You learn quickly."
Wenzi Shu led the group back to Tiger-Chasing’s camp. Besides Wang Kaiwei, they’d captured two other Condensing Essence traitors. Both were stripped of true essence and sent to the Prison for harsh interrogation.
Yang Lingshu received substantial battle merit, which he immediately transferred to Yang Lingrui as agreed. Before departing, they’d planned this – Yang Lingrui coveted a treasure from the Dynasty Treasury. Alongside searching for their Elder, gathering enough merit to claim it became their mission.