Chapter 23: The Reason

Qian Tuo arrived at Tianshui Peak with complicated feelings. Qin Wu was just about to leave to prepare for the mission to Thunder Fissure Secluded Valley when he saw Qian Tuo land in front of his Immortal Cave and walk in.

“What are you doing here?” Qin Wu’s brow was tightly furrowed.

Qian Tuo’s embarrassment was obvious on his face: “It’s like this. Fang Ruoyan said that since we are both Disciples from the Taixu Sect, we should help each other. I was trapped in the Taixu Ruins for so long, so I should be more familiar with you. She asked me to come over to foster some feelings.”

“Of course, the real reason is to gather information on you, so that if we become enemies someday, it will be easier to deal with you,” Qian Tuo honestly stated Fang Ruoyan’s objective.

Qin Wu didn’t know what to say for a moment: “Isn’t she afraid I’ll kill you?”

“Because I told them before that my escape ability is extremely strong, so when I was trapped in the Taixu Ruins, you never managed to catch me.”

“…They believed that?”

Qian Tuo gave a strange laugh, filled with mockery: “People like us all have weaknesses left back in… hmm, our hometowns. Once we betray them, none of us can escape once the Teleportation Formation is built.”

“At most, they think I have a trump card I haven’t revealed. They never imagined I would defect directly.”

“Furthermore, the reason I’m participating in this mission is for my sister. The rest, to varying degrees, are here for the Holy Land’s resources. So, in their eyes, I am the least likely to betray them!”

“…” Qin Wu thought for a moment, stroking his chin, “The Formation over at the Taixu Ruins cannot be built without my consent, so do you think this Formation should be built?”

“Of course, it should be!”

Qian Tuo’s eyes immediately lit up. But if the reason was mentioned, it would inevitably bring up the Seventh Outpost. So, did he actually know about the existence of the Seventh Outpost?

Recalling Fang Ruoyan’s suspicion, Qian Tuo subconsciously asked: “Boss, speaking of which, I still don’t know your name.”

“…I really don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it.” His Disciple’s Jade Slip had his real name written on it, but the name Qin Wu was hard to reveal. “My name is… Qin You.”

“Then does Qin Wu have any relation to you?”

The moment this question was asked, Qian Tuo felt a surging killing intent rush toward him from Qin Wu. Cold sweat slid down his back, and he quickly said: “It was Fang Ruoyan!”

The killing intent gradually disappeared. Qin Wu frowned: “Explain clearly.”

Qian Tuo breathed a sigh of relief and explained Fang Ruoyan’s suspicion: “That’s why she sent Hu Jie to test you. However, Hu Jie is already dead. Currently, she has only mentioned it to me; others don’t know yet. I can kill her right now!”

Although Fang Ruoyan was also at the Qi Refining 5th Layer, she was valued by the Fang family, and she likely possessed quite a few Magic Treasures. Killing her would inevitably require a huge price.

“No need.”

Qin Wu sighed. Sometimes it was better for people to be a bit dull-witted. Why did they have to be so clever?

In an instant, he figured out a way for Fang Ruoyan to die. His gaze shifted back to Qian Tuo: “So what does my name have to do with building the Teleportation Formation?”

Qian Tuo didn’t answer that question but quickly started explaining the origin of their mission.

“The Seventh Outpost has long suffered from a scarcity of Cultivation resources due to population growth. That’s why they ventured out to explore the Taixu Ruins decades ago. But it was too dangerous there; the cost didn’t justify the reward. Later, they discovered the ‘admission token,’ and they thought of another method.”

“Have someone from the Outpost infiltrate the Taixu Holy Land. In the early stages, they focus all efforts on supporting one person, and in the later stages, they use the Holy Land’s resources to feed back to the Outpost.”

Qian Tuo sneered, pulling at the corner of his mouth: “But the person being supported is Fang Ruoyan, and the rest are just carefully selected helpers for her.”

Speaking of this, a murderous glint flashed in his eyes: “If Fang Ruoyan dies, I can suppress the remaining five people and make the Outpost support only me. I can give their resources to the Boss.”

Qin Wu clapped his hands, admiringly saying: “Not bad. I accept your suggestion.”

Before Qian Tuo could show joy, he saw Qin Wu draw his long sword. Due to the Master-Servant Contract, Qian Tuo was unable to move and could only watch with wide, furious eyes as Qin Wu stabbed into his heart.

“Why… why… Didn’t you say…”

Pulling out the long sword, Qian Tuo collapsed onto the ground. Because Cultivators possess strong vitality, it took a long time before he finally died completely.

【You have slain a Qi Refining Middle Stage Cultivator】

【Life Value + 15】

【Current Life Value: 75】

“Why did you kill him?” Consort Lian used her hair strands like hands to support her chin. “Although I don’t know what kind of power the Seventh Outpost is, what he said sounds very feasible!”

“It is precisely because it is feasible that I must kill him.” Qin Wu sheathed his long sword. If this plan revolved around Qian Tuo, his importance would greatly increase, and the Master-Servant Contract, which could potentially be dissolved by a high-level Cultivator, would no longer be safe.

The Cultivation Technique in the game panel was still more trustworthy.

【Do you wish to resurrect him and make him your subordinate?】

“Yes.”

【Ten Directions Taixu Sacred Method has taken effect】

【Your subordinate has been successfully resurrected】

【Note: This ability cannot be removed】

Qian Tuo opened his eyes and felt a strong sense of closeness when he saw Qin Wu.

In the next moment, he remembered the instant before his death. He touched his heart in disbelief; the area was smooth, but the blood that had clearly flowed out moments ago was still staining his clothes.

“Boss, what is going on?” He scrambled up from the ground, his face full of confusion.

Qin Wu just watched him quietly. Qian Tuo grew increasingly uneasy under his gaze.

“Actually, Fang Ruoyan guessed correctly.” Qin Wu walked over and patted his shoulder. The matter of the Cultivation Technique definitely couldn’t be revealed; he had long since prepared an excuse.

“Six months ago, you killed someone at the Seventh Outpost. No, or rather, you seized someone’s Spiritual Root.”

“However, I must thank you. If he hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have been able to enter the Seventh Outpost from the Taixu Ruins and possess his body.”

Qian Tuo’s face turned deathly pale. He knew exactly who Qin Wu was referring to. He had only thought there was some connection between the two, never imagining they were the same person.

Qin Wu sighed heavily: “But I have borrowed his body after all. Killing you just now was merely to avenge him. Now that Karma is settled, I can use you with peace of mind!”

“Impossible…” Qian Tuo mumbled. “I injected him with the highest quality purification agent back then, how could he have died?”

Qin Wu gave a forced smile: “You even stripped his Spiritual Root, why would you care if he lived or died?”

“We had no enmity, why would I kill him!”

Intense hatred burst from Qian Tuo’s eyes. He finally understood why Qin Wu had specifically targeted him back then: “The Spiritual Root was something my father forced me to take by threatening my sister’s life.”

That old bastard!

It wasn’t enough that he had harmed his mother; he had harmed himself too!

“Why? Does he have something special?” Qin Wu’s brows furrowed quickly.

He recalled that the original owner came from the First Outpost, and the quality of the Spiritual Root inside his body was also strange.

Could it be related to these matters?

“I don’t know.” Qian Tuo shook his head. “That old man just gave the order; he didn’t tell me the reason.”

Since he couldn’t figure it out, Qin Wu pondered for a moment: “Let’s not talk about this for now.”

Once his cultivation increased, he would naturally know the reason. What was important now were the Cultivation resources of the Outpost.

“When will the Teleportation Formation be built over at the Taixu Ruins?” Qin Wu asked.

“In seven days.”

Qin Wu stroked the mission Jade Slip Sun Qiankun had given him. This mission was a team mode, scheduled for four days later. Sun Qiankun was the leader, so he should still have one slot left.

“Go back and figure out a way to get Fang Ruoyan to accept a mission called Thunder Fissure Secluded Valley. You don’t need to worry about the rest.”

Since Sun Qiankun wanted to kill him, he naturally wouldn’t let go of the companion he recommended. This was a good way to eliminate Fang Ruoyan before the Teleportation Formation was completed.