"Aargh! Damn it!"

"Why is your Red Snake King poisonous!?"

Luo Lesheng roared in fury, the muscles on his face twitching uncontrollably.

The venom of a Poisonous Spirit Python was unlike that of an ordinary serpentine Demon Beast. Even a master at the Qi Refining Peak would be writhing in agony.

And Luo Lesheng had been hit at point-blank range, completely unprepared.

Without an Antitoxic Pill, he couldn’t suppress the venom in his system. The more he circulated his Magical Power, the faster the toxin spread. Regret began to swell in his heart.

A few days prior, when he met with Huang Li and Wu Shang and heard he was to personally dispose of a mere Qi Refining Third Layer servant, he had almost laughed out loud. ’Isn’t that like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?’

He had known Huang Suyu for years. Acting on intel from Huang Suyu, he had ambushed and killed numerous Cultivators out in the world and had done plenty of dirty work for him, including eliminating Wanxiang Sect disciples. He originally didn’t want to take this job; dealing with a mere servant was beneath him.

But the target was his benefactor’s brother. After some thought, he figured it wouldn’t be much trouble and agreed.

But as it turned out, this Qi Refining Third Layer servant was a treacherous Beast Master!

"BLECH!" Luo Lesheng spat out a mouthful of poisoned blood. He dodged a tail whip from the Red Snake King and hastily directed his Soul-Breaking Nail to strike the beast.

But he was grievously wounded and poisoned. Even his Divine Sense had been affected, weakening considerably.

The Soul-Breaking Nail struck the beast’s scales, sending sparks flying but leaving only a shallow scratch.

’If this Red Snake King had just appeared from the start, I might not be in such a sorry state...’

Luo Lesheng panted, the light in his eyes dimming.

A First Rank Fifth Stage Demon Beast was barely any weaker than a Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivator. ’Why bother with a sneak attack!?’

’No, that’s not right! He’s just a lowly Qi Refining Third Layer servant. How could he possibly afford to raise this Red Snake King?’

As he struggled on the brink of death, a flash of insight struck him. He remembered Yu Changsheng’s Mastery Level Magic.

’He must have some kind of secret!’

The Red Snake King, however, paid no mind to Luo Lesheng’s thoughts. It closed the distance and launched a ferocious assault.

It didn’t dare use too much of its venom, otherwise its own Defense Force would weaken, putting its life at risk.

Luo Lesheng’s strength had plummeted. The Magical Artifact in his hand was powerful, but he could no longer wield it effectively. The Red Snake King’s formidable Physique alone was enough to kill him.

Yu Changsheng relaxed the hand gesture for his Fireball Technique, watching his opponent’s final moments.

THUD! Luo Lesheng was slammed against a giant tree by the Red Snake King. His only arm, the one holding the Dharma Fan, was caught in its jaws.

"AAAAAH! I can’t accept this!"

The Magical Power in Luo Lesheng’s body surged wildly, but it was no longer enough to fend off the attack. A tearing pain shot through him as his only arm was ripped off.

Having lost both arms, he was finished. The Red Snake King flung him to the ground, and its tail came crashing down, smashing him into a mangled corpse.

Yu Changsheng looked away and calmly walked over. He picked up the Dharma Fan and the Soul-Breaking Nail, remarking with admiration, "Excellent Magical Artifacts. It’s a good thing he couldn’t use them properly."

An ordinary Qi Refining Cultivator would be lucky to have a single Magical Artifact, yet this man had two. It was clear he had a substantial background.

He crouched down and removed the Hundred Treasures Pouch from the corpse’s waist. A smile played on his lips, full of anticipation for its contents.

’Hm? They’re here? A pity. They’re a step too late.’

Suddenly, Yu Changsheng’s brow furrowed as he glanced in another direction.

Three figures were running toward them through the dim, dense forest. It was Huang Li and his men, who had been in pursuit.

"Hahaha! Is that damned servant finally dead?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Huang Li cackled as he approached, not getting a clear look at the person standing there.

It was only when his eyes widened that he realized the mangled corpse on the ground was Luo Lesheng.

"How is this possible!?"

"You... you’re just a Qi Refining Third Layer servant! How could you possibly have killed him!?"

As he reeled in shock, the two servant disciples beside him pointed, their faces deathly pale.

"Brother Huang, the snake... the Red Snake King!"

"A Tier One Fifth Layer Spirit Beast!"

Seeing the ferocious Red Snake King, the three of them gasped, their faces etched with terror.

"This guy’s a Beast Master!"

"A month ago, he was only at the Qi Refining Third Layer, yet he’s contracted a Tier One Fifth Layer Red Snake King!"

"Oh no! He didn’t come to the forest to escape—he came to kill us!"

Huang Li and the other two exchanged terrified glances. Without a word, they turned and fled.

But before they could get far, Yu Changsheng pointed a finger. A massive, scorching fireball struck one of the men, engulfing him in flames.

Meanwhile, the Red Snake King pounced on Huang Li, knocking him to the ground with a sweep of its tail. His Spirit Sword struck its body but failed to leave a mark.

"AAAAAH!"

Seeing this, the last servant disciple screamed and desperately cast his Wind Travel Skill, but he was no match for Yu Changsheng’s speed.

"Die!" Yu Changsheng’s eyes were cold as he caught up to the man. With a flick of his wrist, the Soul-Breaking Nail pierced through his skull.

Huang Li saw the gruesome fate of his men, his face a mask of horror. He knew he wasn’t getting away.

"You can’t kill me! My brother is a genius of the Sword Control Peak’s Outer Sect! In two years, he’ll be promoted to the Inner Sect! If you kill me, he will never forgive you!"

Huang Li’s body trembled as he shouted, the Spirit Sword clutched in his hand offering no sense of security.

"If you’re going to beg for your life, you should act like it. What do you call this? A threat?"

"Don’t you know this will only get you killed faster?"

Yu Changsheng sighed, his tone flat.

To be honest, he hadn’t wanted to kill Huang Li so soon. Doing so would make a direct enemy of Huang Suyu, the genius from the Sword Control Peak’s Outer Sect.

Huang Suyu had made a big name for himself over the past two years. Anyone who crossed him met a terrible end; he was known for his ruthlessness.

"You... don’t be rash. If my brother finds out... no, if my brother finds out you spared my life, he’ll be sure to reward you generously."

Seeing Yu Changsheng’s indifference, Huang Li was terrified.

"Do I look like an idiot?"

"Try to be a little smarter in your next life. Don’t be so arrogant. As for your brother, I doubt he’ll be able to trouble me anytime soon."

"After all, the one who kills you won’t be me. It will be Luo Lesheng."

With that, Yu Changsheng flung the Soul-Breaking Nail. Terrified, Huang Li scrambled to his feet and swung his Magic Sword, but he was a fraction of a second too slow.

THWIP! The Soul-Breaking Nail pierced through his heart.

Huang Li coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell backward, his eyes wide with disbelief, as if he couldn’t fathom that Yu Changsheng had actually dared to kill him.

This was the first time Yu Changsheng had killed anyone, yet he felt surprisingly calm.

’I just wanted to lie low and cultivate in peace. Why did you have to force my hand? I can only hope your brother, Huang Suyu, is sensible. Otherwise, I’ll just have to send him to join you.’

He took Huang Li’s Storage Pouch, muttering to himself.

According to his information, Huang Suyu had broken through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer two years ago. He was currently in seclusion, attempting to reach the Ninth Layer, and had no time to concern himself with outside affairs.

Meanwhile, Yu Changsheng had raised the Red Snake King from Tier One Third Layer to Tier One Fifth Layer in just one month. Given a few more months, if his enemy came knocking, it was far from certain who would be begging for mercy!