From among the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Luo River Sect stepped forth a gaunt old man in black robes. Deep wrinkles carved across his face; his eyes were dim and spiritless. Lifting his eyelids slightly, he said hoarsely:

  “Each month, the one who kills the most enemies shall receive one Heaven-Severing Pill.”

  The moment the three words “Heaven-Severing Pill” were spoken, Yun Che clearly sensed the change around him. Almost every cultivator’s aura grew heavier; their breathing quickened.

  In Ma Liang’s memories, Yun Che had seen records of this pill. The Heaven-Severing Pill was exceedingly rare—fewer than thirty existed in the entire Fiery Nation. It was a treasured spiritual elixir that increased the chance of forming a Core. If taken at the Core Formation stage, it could stabilize one’s realm instantly upon breakthrough. Several of its primary ingredients had long since gone extinct. The remaining pills had been preserved carefully for thousands of years.

  Soon after, roughly five thousand cultivators were divided into multiple units and assigned various missions. Yun Che was among them.

  The forces dispersed, gnawing outward in all directions. Any cultivator they encountered was to be annihilated. Nascent Soul masters patrolled the skies, ready to provide support or intercept enemy Nascent Soul cultivators at any moment.

  Yun Che was assigned to the Eighth Squad of the Tenth Battalion. The squad had nearly thirty members from different sects: five at Foundation Establishment, the rest at roughly the thirteenth or fourteenth level of Qi Condensation. Their leader was a Core Formation cultivator from the Evil Demon Sect. For some reason, Yun Che was the only member from the Ming God Temple.

  Their mission: assist the Tenth Battalion in seizing a mid-sized spirit vein at the border.

  As a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Ming God Temple, Yun Che received a Dan-grade treasure. Its power, however, was mediocre. Because they were distributed in large numbers, their quality suffered. “Marginally useful” would not be an exaggeration.

  Just before departure, Feng Luan summoned Yun Che.

  Inside an elegant pavilion, Feng Luan stood by the window, gazing toward the Fiery Nation. After a long silence, she tossed him a jade slip.

  “Honger once said you were extremely strong in the Nether Domain space. Why then do you now display only mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation?”

  Yun Che accepted the jade slip and swept it with divine sense. His expression turned strange.

  Inside was half of a map. It marked seven or eight nations north of the Fiery Nation, clearly labeling their cultivation levels and the materials they produced.

  After brief contemplation, Yun Che’s eyes flickered. He understood.

  Feng Luan waved her hand.

  “There are three copies of this map. Kill fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators, and I will give you the second. Kill one hundred fifty before the war ends, and you shall have the final piece. You may leave.”

  Yun Che departed without a word.

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  There were no cheap favors in this world—only unequal exchanges.

  Compared to others, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Fiery Nation—especially Feng Luan—still retained a trace of humanity. Because of Zhou Zihong, she had once prevented an attempt to possess Yun Che’s body. As for the map, its meaning was obvious: if he had the ability, he could claim it. If he died on the battlefield, that too was fate.

  Originally, Yun Che had no intention of participating deeply in the war between the two nations.

  Now he changed his mind.

  The map was one reason.

  The Heaven-Severing Pill was the real one.

  A pill that increased the probability of Core Formation—he would have it.

  According to his plan, after cultivating the Nine Nether Cold Prison Art elsewhere and condensing three Cold Cores, his chances of forming a Core were already considerable—but not guaranteed.

  He would not tolerate failure.

  With the Heaven-Severing Pill combined with his technique, he was confident of at least an eighty percent success rate.

  A cold killing intent flashed in his eyes.

  The next day, the Yan Fen Alliance’s invasion force scattered.

  Ten Nascent Soul cultivators roamed within a radius of ten thousand li. If an enemy Nascent Soul appeared, they would instantly teleport to intercept.

  A squad of about thirty cultivators sped northward on sword light, stopping at a barren mountain.

  Their leader, Zhang Zili—a Core Formation cultivator of the Evil Demon Sect—spoke arrogantly:

  “The Tenth Battalion has begun attacking the spirit vein garrison. Reinforcements will come. Our task is to intercept anyone within five hundred li who attempts to pass through here. Spread out. Inform me immediately upon contact.”

  He then sat cross-legged, eyes closed.

  Zhang Zili barely acknowledged anyone except the five Foundation Establishment cultivators.

  Yun Che stepped lightly and flew far off, settling atop a tree canopy to meditate.

  Time passed.

  Suddenly, Yun Che opened his eyes and smirked faintly.

  Zhang Zili sensed it too.

  More than a dozen sword lights approached rapidly.

  Zhang Zili licked his lips, spat out a streak of black light that transformed into a pair of shears, and shouted:

  “Kill!”

  Both sides clashed instantly.

  The enemy had no Core Formation cultivators—only Foundation Establishment.

  Eight of them formed a strange sword array, trapping Zhang Zili within. Furious, he roared in anger.

  The remaining seven engaged the Eighth Squad.

  Yun Che did not intend to delay.

  His flying sword flashed—

  In an instant, it pierced through a Foundation cultivator’s chest.

  His Extreme Realm divine sense erupted silently.

  The remaining six Foundation cultivators’ eyes dimmed.

  Before his sword even reached them, their divine senses were shattered.

  To outside observers, all seven died by Yun Che’s blade.

  In truth, they were dead before it struck.

  Silence fell.

  Friend and foe alike stared at Yun Che in disbelief.

  The eight trapping Zhang Zili turned pale.

  “Retreat!”

  They fled instantly.

  Zhang Zili glanced at Yun Che, a trace of wariness in his eyes. He could not kill seven Foundation cultivators in the blink of an eye.

  He assumed Yun Che was concealing his cultivation.

  But now was not the time to dwell on that.

  He spat out his Golden Core and sent it roaring forward, striking three fleeing enemies down.

  The remaining five ignited milky-white qi around their legs and sped up dramatically.

  Zhang Zili sneered—

  But suddenly, the five collapsed midair.

  Yun Che approached swiftly from afar.

  Before Zhang Zili could speak, Yun Che’s voice rang out:

  “Over a hundred cultivators approaching from the rear!”

  As he spoke, Yun Che shot past him and vanished into the distance.

  Zhang Zili saw the incoming mass of sword lights and immediately retreated, cursing inwardly when he realized Yun Che was already gone.

  The Eighth Squad fled toward the spirit vein.

  Meanwhile—

  Yun Che traveled far, ensured no one was nearby, and stomped lightly.

  He slipped underground and used Earth Escape, heading west.

  He had just killed twelve Foundation cultivators.

  Thirty-eight more—and he would earn the second map.

  If he stayed with the squad, he would be safer.

  But if he wanted the Heaven-Severing Pill—

  He would have to act alone.

  After the hundred sword lights passed overhead toward the spirit vein, Yun Che emerged in a dense forest, watched coldly for a moment—

  Then followed.

  Only thirty Heaven-Severing Pills remain.

  Would you risk your life for a higher chance at Core Formation?

  When advancement depends on killing,

  has cultivation already lost its original meaning?

  Acting alone brings greater risk—and greater reward.

  Will Yun Che become the hunter… or the hunted?

  Or would the remaining twenty percent hold you back?