Chapter 39: Life-and-Death Struggle

Seeing Jiao Yujian remain unmoved, anxiety suddenly surged in Li Qing's heart.

In an instant, he made a decision.

"Senior Brother Jiao, something terrible has happened! Senior Brother Jue Hen has been slain by an intruding cultivator in black!" Li Qing shouted, feigning panic.

To dispel Jiao Yujian's suspicions, he had no choice but to take the initiative and speak of Jue Hen's matter.

Sure enough.

Upon hearing these words, Jiao Yujian finally lost his composure, his face contorted with horror.

"Jue Hen? That genius disciple of the inner sect?" Jiao Yujian's pupils dilated instantly.

Having just arrived, he had sensed scattered auras in the vicinity that felt somewhat familiar. The essence of that power was somewhat similar to the *Mystic Yin Water Control Technique*; initially, he had found it hard to believe. But after hearing Li Qing say it himself, he had no choice but to accept the fact.

For a moment, a sense of dread surfaced in Jiao Yujian's heart. He and Jue Hen were both at the late stage of Qi Refinement, but their statuses were worlds apart. Jue Hen was one of the sect's geniuses; his status was far beyond anything Jiao Yujian could compare to. Once Jue Hen fell, it might even prompt a Golden Core Elder to personally investigate.

His thoughts became completely chaotic. If what Li Qing said was true, the consequences would be unthinkable. Thinking of the methods of a Golden Core cultivator, Jiao Yujian couldn't help but feel a chill in his bones. To a Golden Core cultivator, he was nothing more than a slightly larger ant. Having cultivated in the sect for decades, he was well aware of their power.

In the next moment, Jiao Yujian walked quickly toward Li Qing. Along the way, he deliberately released his divine sense to probe the surroundings. Seeing no traces of other cultivators, Jiao Yujian finally felt a sense of relief.

"Junior Brother Li..."

"Is what you just said true?"

Jiao Yujian hurried toward Li Qing, his accelerating pace betraying his inner anxiety.

"Senior Brother Jiao, it's true," Li Qing explained to Jiao Yujian, his face appearing weak. "When I came here earlier to investigate the Jade-Devouring Insects, I suddenly saw Senior Brother Jue Hen... but before I could even greet him, a cultivator in black rushed out..."

Li Qing explained with a look of exhaustion. "My abilities were limited, and I was heavily injured by a single strike from that black-clad cultivator... After that, Senior Brother Jue Hen was slain on the spot..."

As he spoke, a look of "terror" appeared on Li Qing's face.

Hearing the details recounted by Li Qing, Jiao Yujian was finally certain that the deceased was indeed Jue Hen. His heart was now filled with complex emotions. He understood that Jue Hen was the contingency plan Wei Xuan had set for dealing with Li Qing. He just didn't know why things had changed so drastically, leading to a sudden encounter with an even more powerful enemy that cost Jue Hen his life.

Naturally, he did not suspect Li Qing; after all, in his eyes, Li Qing was merely a disciple at the fifth level of Qi Refinement.

Jiao Yujian shook his head bitterly. Thinking of the subsequent accountability from the sect, he felt immense regret. It was because of his own momentary greed that he had agreed to Wei Xuan's request. He never expected such an event to occur—that an inner sect genius would perish here.

In the next moment, anxiety surfaced on Jiao Yujian's face. As he drew closer, he realized that Junior Brother Li's injuries were even more severe than he had anticipated. Looking at him, it seemed the man could barely even stand. He naturally could not allow Junior Brother Li to die from these heavy injuries.

Regarding the scene of the previous battle, only he had witnessed the truth. If the other party died, it would be even harder for Jiao Yujian to explain.

"Hold on, Junior Brother. I still have a Solidifying Pill here."

Jiao Yujian rushed to Li Qing's side and immediately took a white jade-colored spiritual pill from his storage bag.

Seeing this, a flash of joy appeared in Li Qing's eyes. He immediately suppressed his intention for one last desperate struggle. His physical body was already severely damaged, and he hadn't expected Jiao Yujian to possess such a pill.

The Solidifying Pill was a special medicine targeting the physical body, classified as a high-grade Tier 1 spiritual pill. Most cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refinement began preparing for Foundation Establishment. The Solidifying Pill could help them stabilize and enhance their physical blood and qi, which was of great help when attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. The keys to Foundation Establishment were the physical body, the divine soul, and magical power; all three were vital.

After receiving the pill, Li Qing swallowed it without hesitation. Once the pill entered his body, the pure medicinal power immediately began to repair his internal injuries.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Li Qing slowly opened his eyes. His internal injuries had stabilized, and the wound on his right arm was slowly healing. Although he knew Jiao Yujian would not attack him now, Li Qing did not let his guard down, refusing to commit his full focus to refining the pill.

Just then, Jiao Yujian crouched slightly to examine a trace left by Jue Hen.

Seeing this, a fierce look appeared in Li Qing's eyes. A streak of dark, ghostly light slashed toward Jiao Yujian. Under the sudden surge of Li Qing's magical power, the Cold Water Sword activated its formation mid-flight.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Countless traces of freezing aura instantly condensed around the Cold Water Sword, striking toward Jiao Yujian like a massive cold tide.

Li Qing had to strike quickly. No one knew when the four guards of White Jade Island would arrive. Only by killing Jiao Yujian could he keep today's secret. After all, this man already knew about Jue Hen. Once he returned to the sect, the death of a core disciple would undoubtedly cause a massive upheaval. He did not want to gamble against the methods of a Golden Core cultivator.

It wasn't that Li Qing hadn't thought about fleeing the sect directly; he had the Sea-Suppressing Pearl, so he could still cultivate in the outside world. But he abandoned the thought immediately. If he fled now, he would instantly be branded a murderer by the sect. With his current strength, he would likely be caught before even leaving the range of the Thousand Realms Archipelago. Furthermore, his cultivation was too low. Li Qing was only at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement; he had no foothold in this cultivation world.

Jiao Yujian, who was observing the battlefield, suddenly felt a chill from behind. Recalling Jue Hen's death, a cold sweat broke out on him.

In an instant, a golden talisman flew out from his storage bag.

*Buzz! Buzz!*

A golden shield firmly enveloped him. This golden shield was one of Jiao Yujian's trump cards: the Vajra Protection Talisman, a high-grade Tier 1 exquisite talisman. Once activated, it could block a full-strength strike from a peak Qi Refinement cultivator.

Seeing the Vajra Protection Talisman activate, Jiao Yujian felt slightly more at ease. This expensive talisman was his life-saving trump card for critical moments. Even if the enemy was strong, their power was ultimately limited; otherwise, the fight with Jue Hen wouldn't have been so intense.

Taking advantage of this moment, Jiao Yujian turned around, his divine sense sweeping across immediately. He saw a purple figure charging toward him.

"Li Qing..."

Jiao Yujian wore a look of utter disbelief, for the purple figure was a face he knew very well.