"Senior Brother, you're going to kill them until they hand over the evidence?" Zhang Da-niu stared at Qi Ping, eyes wide. Because of his own lack of strength and Qi Ping's previous need to lie low and lure out enemies, he hadn't even considered this approach. As expected of Senior Brother Lin Ya!
"Exactly! We needed to lie low, but that doesn't mean we have to swallow insults. Otherwise, the 'dramatic change' in my personality that I've projected to the outsiders would actually look more suspicious!" Qi Ping nodded.
"Senior Brother Ya is right! With the loss of domain-wide profits on the line, the powers behind Starfall City won't turn against us over this. Core resource competition within the sect is fierce. This plot isn't just targeting us; it's targeting them too!" Han Li agreed.
"Time is short. Follow me immediately!"
With that, Qi Ping took the lead, transforming into a streak of light as he shot out of the Qing-Immortal Manor and into the sky above Starfall City! He had spent these years having Han Li and Zhang Da-niu secretly gather evidence on all the key figures; now it was time for that effort to bear fruit.
Under the rules of the Qingyuan Sect, even though Qi Ping was an inner disciple and the supreme Warden of the region, he could not indiscriminately slaughter cultivators under his jurisdiction. Killing a few usually went ignored, but a mass slaughter would easily be used by his rivals to prosecute him. However, as Warden, he had certain authorities. It didn't matter if some evidence was missing; as long as he could confirm the general facts, he could use Soul-Searching to get the rest.
A moment later, Qi Ping, Han Li, and Zhang Da-niu were high in the sky, their auras released without restraint. Specifically from Qi Ping, under the influence of the elemental generation cycle, his violent Water-Fire Intent was even more terrifying than before. The slaughter-force of the Second-Stage Dao-Heart swept down from the heavens.
Such a spectacle instantly caught the attention of everyone in the city. Usually, there were height restrictions for Foundation Establishment cultivators flying in Starfall City; no one was allowed to hover at a height that looked down upon the entire city, let alone release such overwhelming pressure and killing intent.
"Who is that? So bold! Just because they're strong doesn't mean they can act like this. Don't they know Starfall City is ruled by Lord Lin Ya—" someone began to wonder aloud. But as they recognized the white-robed figure shrouded in killing intent, their doubt turned into sheer terror.
Wasn't that leading figure Lin Ya of the Qingyuan Sect?
"Wait... who offended this Great Deity?" Countless people were filled with unease.
Qi Ping's fearsome reputation remained, but his recent standing was much worse than before. Ever since rumors spread about his "collaboration" with the black industry bosses, the reputation he had gained in Lingxiao City for saving rogue cultivators and destroying the corrupt Huang Family had begun to fade. He had changed from a cultivator admired by rogues into a jackal sitting at the table, exploiting the lower class and ignoring their survival.
This had turned the hope of many high-level rogue cultivators into despair once more.
'So, the cultivation world is still the same as it ever was. The lives of ordinary cultivators are not lives. Who would truly care?'
'A human-beast must eventually have the realization of a human-beast. How could they ever expect the same safety and treatment as the upper class?'
'He couldn't escape the dye-vat after all. Our Qingtian Domain has had many people as admirable as Lord Lin Ya, but in the end, they either died or became the very thing they once loathed!'
'The world is broken! With a world like this, what hope is there? How can individual strength overcome the tide?'
However, for most people, this was just the way the world worked. It wasn't "bad," just "as it is." The sky might be dark, but at least there was room to survive and live one's life. If one encountered a lucky chance, there might still be an opportunity to soar.
Yet, a few held a different view.
"Perhaps Lord Lin Ya has no choice? No matter how strong he is, he is just one man. Can he truly fight against the entire ruling class?"
"Yes, if you become an anomaly within that class, it's easy to die!"
"I believe in Lord Lin Ya. I saw him save that rogue couple with my own eyes. He just needs time..."
"Perhaps one day, someone will break the shackles of the sky and make the world a little better?"
It was precisely because of the massive shift in Qi Ping's reputation that so many different thoughts flickered through people's hearts. Some thought it was just a "dog-eat-dog" fight between him and the faction bosses. Others held a sliver of hope...
The only thing they all shared was an intense curiosity. Qi Ping, a man of immense controversy, had appeared again in such a murderous fashion. What was he planning? It was obviously going to be something big!
Under the gaze of countless expectant and curious eyes, Qi Ping scanned the city. Then, he spoke coldly.
"Cloud-Rain Tower, Carefree Pill Pavilion, Fortune Commerce. I give you ten breaths of time to come and see me!"
His voice wasn't loud, and he didn't sound rushed, but reinforced by spiritual power and killing intent, it possessed a penetrating force that made people's scalps tingle. Once he spoke, he said no more, simply closing his eyes and standing motionless in mid-air.
The entire city fell silent.
One breath, two breaths, three, four, five...
Five breaths passed with no movement. Everyone held their breath, wondering if these three top-tier, famous factions would obediently step out. And if they didn't, what would the consequences be?
Just after the fifth breath, two figures shot out from the Cloud-Rain Tower and the Carefree Pill Pavilion. They were the heads of those respective factions. These figures, who were usually respected wherever they went, stopped at a position slightly lower than Qi Ping's feet. They cupped their hands in unison and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Lord Lin Ya!"
Qi Ping did not reply, his eyes remaining closed.
When the tenth breath passed, he opened his eyes. Seeing that Fortune Commerce had not appeared, his expression remained unchanged. He didn't explode in anger over a loss of face. He simply circulated his spiritual power, and a thumb-sized, abyssal-blue raindrop shot out from his hand toward the Fortune Commerce headquarters.
When that raindrop—which looked like a burning blue sapphire—appeared, everyone's scalps went numb!