This mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator was named Fu Li, and he was the person in charge of this provincial army attack. After spilling everything he knew, he looked at Qin Anwu with a weary expression. "Can you give me a quick death now?"
He nodded. "Yes." He drew his Clumsy Sword and swept it, ending his suffering.
Then, he looked up at the sky and muttered, "The operations of the Universal Heaven Gate, involving people in the provincial capital and the province... things are complicated." He then looked towards the courtyard ahead. "Then, I'll kill everyone involved."
Immediately, he gave a bitter laugh. "How can a mere obsession affect me, a magnificent Immortal Emperor? I didn't expect an honest, sincere person, solely focused on cultivation, to have such a strong obsession. Perhaps this is also why honest people get provoked."
"But it's true, at each stage, one must do what is appropriate. I've been detached from the lower levels for too long... Fine, if they come for us again, I'll just kill them."
He checked Fu Li's storage ring but didn't see a magnet. He checked Hu Ze's storage ring; still no discovery. "Could magnets be that rare? They shouldn't be."
After clearing the battlefield here, he went into the courtyard to clean up. The harvest was considerable. Aside from a large amount of gold, silver, and medicinal ingredients, there were over a hundred jars of wine, and specifically, over a hundred jars of aged wine, which made him exceptionally happy. The wine he drank before was all bought from the provincial capital, tasting ordinary... In his eyes, it was merely better than nothing. He drank those because, one, his stomach had adapted, and two, he wouldn't have energy if he didn't drink. He had to drink. A habit cultivated over millions of years couldn't simply be discarded at will; that was subjective. During combat, he needed energy, and there was no other way to replenish it except by drinking wine; that was objective. These new wines were different; their taste was acceptable, barely making it to the "fine wine" category.
"Looking at these jars, looking at this wine, I can tell this contact point has been established for quite some time, and quite a few late-stage Qi Refining cultivators have passed through here." Fortunately, he acquired several five-foot storage rings this time, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to fit everything.
After sweeping the courtyard clean, he went to investigate the cave above. He discovered that the cave was very large, with numerous small holes, most of which showed signs of having been occupied. Currently, some holes still housed people – severely injured Qi Refining or Spirit Nurturing cultivators. Those who could move either participated in the battle or fled; these couldn't move. Qin Anwu roused all those who could be roused, asking them about the Universal Heaven Gate's situation, verifying the information he had obtained earlier. There wasn't much discrepancy from his previous findings. Besides that, there were no new gains.
As he exited the cave, he saw two or three dozen torches surrounding the courtyard below. Looking closely, they were soldiers from Danzhou Prefecture. Not only provincial soldiers, but also Ye Tian and a few others. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he turned to walk towards the back of the mountain, a murmur drifting from behind him: "The Ye family's influence is truly considerable. But I hope you don't provoke me."
By the time he returned to the provincial capital, night was already deep. Qin Anwu, with his Clumsy Sword on his back, walked through the main streets and alleys, finally stopping before a small building in an alley. He knocked on the door.
A provincial soldier opened the door. Seeing Qin Anwu, panic flashed in his eyes, but he immediately feigned surprise. "Who are you? Who are you looking for?"
Qin Anwu extended his hand. "You answered incorrectly."
That provincial soldier was only at the sixth stage of Spirit Nurturing. Seeing Qin Anwu reach out to grab him, he hastily retreated. But it was too late; his neck quickly ended up in the other's hand. He felt his breathing constricted, a suffocating sensation.
Qin Anwu used his foot to close the door, holding the soldier by the neck in the small courtyard, and shouted, "Guo Qi! This young master is looking for you. Come out!"
A weak voice came from the main room, "Young Master Qin, this humble one is severely injured. Please excuse my lack of proper etiquette."
As these words spread, the doors of the main room and the two side rooms opened, and a Spirit Nurturing provincial soldier emerged from each. Seeing him, and seeing the provincial soldier with a purplish face in his hand, their faces filled with rage, yet they still clasped their hands and saluted, "Greetings, Young Master Qin."
Qin Anwu ignored them, staring directly at the main room and saying, "Guo Qi, are you sure you won't come out to see this young master?" Without waiting for a reply, he swung his hand, and the provincial soldier in his grip flew towards the main room. He, in turn, took out a jug of wine, pulled out the cork, and took two gulps.
The provincial soldier at the main room door saw his comrade flying towards him and immediately reached out to catch him. As a result, both men crashed into the room simultaneously. The provincial soldiers outside the two side rooms saw this, entered the courtyard, and stood before him.
"Young Master Qin, our captain is seriously injured and cannot come out to see you."
"Qin Anwu, the Prefect has already been captured; you are no longer the Prefect's young master."
"It seems you know something." Saying this, Qin Anwu lunged forward with a swift step, then grabbed the provincial soldier by the neck and pulled him back, fiercely slamming him onto the ground. He stepped on him with one foot, bent over, and said, "Speak, tell me everything you know."
The other provincial soldier exploded in anger. "Qin Anwu, we respect Prefect Qin Zhuan, which is why you are Young Master Qin. Otherwise, you're just a fool!"
Qin Anwu suddenly flashed, and the man hastily retreated. "Bang..." The man flew up in a spiral, spinning and spitting out teeth and blood. The one on the ground was just trying to sit up when he saw a foot appear, stomping on his chest, knocking him down, lying flat. He couldn't get a breath out, extremely frustrated.
The provincial soldier spiraling through the air flew across the courtyard, through the corridor, and into the main room, crashing into the two provincial soldiers who were trying to stand up, sending all three to the ground again. Seeing that Guo Qi still hadn't appeared, Qin Anwu lifted his foot and stomped down again with great force.
A soul-stirring scream came from under his foot, and then the source of the sound rapidly moved towards the main room. "Bang..." Four provincial soldiers piled up like an arhat, all falling to the ground.
"It seems this young master will have to invite you out." Qin Anwu said indifferently, taking steady steps towards the main room.
Just then, a violent pounding came from the main gate, and two figures subsequently appeared in the courtyard. "Qin Anwu, why are you here?"
Qin Anwu glanced indifferently at Ye Tian and Ji Tong. "My parents were ambushed, and it's related to Guo Qi. Why are you two here?"
Ji Tong roared, "Qin Anwu, when did you get to act as the provincial army's enforcer?"
Qin Anwu angrily roared back, "When did this young master act as the provincial army's enforcer?! He's connected to my parents' ambush; can't this young master even come here to ask questions? Tell me, who are you? What's your purpose here? What collusion do you have with the Dali Kingdom?"
Ye Tian immediately spoke, "Brother Anwu, you can't just speak carelessly."
Qin Anwu didn't even acknowledge him, taking a step directly in front of Ji Tong, pointing at his nose, and demanding, "Why aren't you answering me?!"
Seeing him about to go berserk, Ye Tian pulled Ji Tong behind him with one hand, clasping his hands apologetically and saying, "Brother Anwu, Ji Tong often speaks without thinking. Please forgive him."
Qin Anwu glanced at him. "Letting your dog bite people, then stepping forward to offer insincere apologies. Your act is truly disgusting."
After speaking, he continued towards the main room, leaving the master and servant with ashen faces, their veins throbbing.
The Ye family, a renowned great family in the province, also well-known in the Song Kingdom. Ye Tian, relying on the Ye family's might, was himself a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator and even brought another Qi Refining cultivator, yet he was humiliated by a mere Spirit Nurturing cultivator from a remote area.