Chapter Twelve: More Obstacles Arise

Qu Yi summoned the life core of the Soul-Receiving Flower and effortlessly dealt with fifty adventurers. After devouring the Soul Flower of the Five-Star Earth Soul Demon, it would likely break through to the strength of a Five-Star Earth Soul Immortal soon, making it much easier to deal with Earth Soul Demons in the future.

Jin Zun, Mu Zun, and Tu Zun were all in a state of sudden enlightenment. The function of the earphones was obvious—other cultivators entering the Valley of Mysterious Sounds to seek breakthroughs could only rely on a bit of luck to have a chance at enlightenment. But Jin Zun, Mu Zun, and Tu Zun, thanks to the array in the earphones, utilized the mysterious sounds to stimulate their Soul Flowers, suddenly sensing a truth about speed, and thus entering a state of enlightenment.

Suddenly, Jin Zun opened his eyes, smiled at Qu Yi, then flew rapidly, his speed increasing until he became almost like a shadow. In an instant, he arrived beside Qu Yi and said with a smile, “This sovereign has already comprehended the Speed of Pursuit.”

The Speed of Pursuit was a type of forward-moving speed. Qu Yi smiled and nodded.

At that moment, Mu Zun also opened his eyes, nodded at the two of them, and suddenly took off. Mu Zun’s body moved like a fleeting shadow, flying at a seemingly constant speed. Soon, he arrived beside Qu Yi and said with a smile, “This sovereign has already comprehended the Speed of Withering.”

The Speed of Withering was a type of sustained speed.

A while later, Tu Zun also opened his eyes, looked at Qu Yi, Jin Zun, and Mu Zun, smiled, and quickly took off. Tu Zun’s body remained like a fleeting shadow, moving at a steady speed with a sense of weightiness. In the blink of an eye, he arrived beside Qu Yi and said with a smile, “Mu Zun, this sovereign has already comprehended the Speed of Carrying.”

The Speed of Carrying was also a type of sustained speed.

Qu Yi was overjoyed. Looking at his three avatars, he smiled and said, “This Valley of Mysterious Sounds is truly a treasure trove.”

Soon, Qu Yi had made plans to bring Water Zun and Fire Zun over at an appropriate time, allowing them to take this opportunity to break through and reach the level of Two-Star Earth Soul Immortals.

It wasn’t long before Longhu Wei also regained consciousness.

“Haha, Qu Yi, Jin Zun, Mu Zun, Tu Zun—I have solidified my cultivation as a Higher-Rank Soul Demon and reached its peak. I believe it won’t be long before I can comprehend the truth of speed and break through to the level of One-Star Earth Soul Demon,” Longhu Wei said excitedly.

Qu Yi smiled and said, “Brother Hu Wei, you truly have great talent.”

Long Huwei smiled awkwardly before saying nonchalantly, “Brother Qu Yi, it’s thanks to the headphones you gave me that I wasn’t only protected from the influence of the Mysterious Sound but also got a chance for enlightenment. Ah… they’re all in a state of enlightenment.” As he spoke, he was surprised to see several people around him still immersed in that state of realization. He had heard of individuals achieving enlightenment, but a whole group doing so was truly unbelievable. Suddenly, the other four members of Huwei’s Adventuring Party also woke up one after another, and their demeanor changed instantly. “Leader, I’ve reached the cultivation level of a Mid-Level Human Soul Demon Cultivator,” the four said almost in unison. Hearing this, Long Huwei’s face was filled with a smile. At that moment, Xiang Qing, Xiang Xing, and Xiang Zhong also woke up. Without saying a word, they immediately took off and began moving swiftly on the stone platform, using speed techniques in their movements. These three had, through a single act of enlightenment, already reached the cultivation level of One-Star Earth Soul Immortals. “Great, great, great! You all have made progress this time—this is truly wonderful,” Qu Yi exclaimed loudly. Immediately, everyone flew in front of Qu Yi, even Xiang Qing, Xiang Xing, and Xiang Zhong, who usually didn’t respect Qu Yi, came over with gratitude. Qu Yi smiled slightly and then said, “Since everyone’s strength has improved, let’s continue deeper into the Mysterious Sound Demon Valley.” At that time, the cheerful group noticed that none of the fifty members of the bandit adventuring party was in sight anymore; it seemed they had vanished into thin air. Yes, after killing those fifty, Qu Yi had destroyed their bodies as well. The secret of the Soul-Grabbing Flower’s core needed to be kept. “Brother Qu Yi, what happened to those fifty? Did you drive them away?” Long Huwei asked doubtfully. Although he knew Qu Yi was powerful, he couldn’t believe he could kill all fifty at once, especially since their leader was a Five-Star Earth Soul Demon Cultivator, so he asked. Seeing everyone looking at him, Qu Yi smiled and said, “They were scared away by the Mysterious Sound. That extremely strong sound made it impossible for them to stand steady, and they were afraid I would kill them in the chaos, so they fled.” Long Huwei and the others nodded in understanding. Then, Qu Yi led everyone deeper into the rocky area in search of the Laughing Thieves Guild. ※※※ “Long Huwei, we’ve finally found you.”

Just as Qu Yi and his group had walked a hundred li, a group of people suddenly appeared—a total of one hundred, seemingly from three adventure parties. A rough-looking party leader shouted.

Qu Yi and the others lined up in two rows, looking at the hundred people ahead with ease.

“Brothers, what do you want from me, Long Hu Wei?” Long Hu Wei now had some idea—someone who had framed him before was trying to get others to deal with him again.

“Long Hu Wei, you killed members of our Storm Bear Adventure Party. Of course, we’re here to avenge them,” snapped a party leader with the cultivation level of a Three-Star Earth Soul Demon.

“Long Hu Wei, my brother was killed by you, and you still dare to pretend you don’t know,” roared another party leader with the cultivation level of a Four-Star Earth Soul Demon.

“Long Hu Wei, five members of ourAutumn Swordfish Adventure Party died in your ambush. Pay with your life!” shouted the Five-Star Earth Soul Demon party leader harshly.

It turned out that someone from these three adventure parties had pretended to be Long Hu Wei to kill their members.

Hearing this, Long Hu Wei could only smile bitterly. He had always been with Qu Yi; where would he have the time to launch ambushes? Moreover, given his status, he would never engage in such deeds.

“You three from the adventure parties, don’t wrong an innocent person. Our party leader has always been with us and has never left.”

“You must be deceived by someone else. Our party leader would never ambush others.”

“Idiots! Are you three from the adventure parties fools? Can’t you see through such a scheme to frame someone?”

In an instant, the other four members of the Hu Wei Adventure Party started cursing in frustration.

“Whatever you say—whether it’s framing or you, Long Hu Wei, doing it yourself—either way, it’s related to you. So, our three adventure parties will capture you alive, lure out those who are trying to frame you, and then find out the real culprit.”

The Five-Star Earth Soul Demon party leader issued another fierce threat.

Hearing this, Qu Yi laughed heartily, drawing everyone’s attention before saying, “Alright, if you three adventure parties are capable, come and take them by force.”

With things having reached this point, Qu Yi decided not to argue further and instead use strength to clear these obstacles. After all, in the demon world, conflicts often ended in sword fights. Now, Qu Yi decided to be straightforward and stop caring.

“That’s right, brothers! Attack together and kill these twelve people,” sneered the Five-Star Earth Soul Demon party leader.

Immediately, a hundred people, including twenty strong warriors at the Earth Soul Demon level, took off together and surrounded Qu Yi and the others.
“Since that’s the case, Yuwen Tianlan, come out!” Qu Yi suddenly shouted fiercely.
Yuwen Tianlan, who was at the level of a Six-Star Earth Soul Immortal, had been cultivating inside the Dimensional Sphere. Now, Qu Yi finally let him out. As soon as he appeared, Yuwen Tianlan wielded the Wind-Embracing Sword and charged at the leader of the Five-Star Earth Soul Demon group. In an instant, he was right in front of the leader, his sword light flashing like a dragonfly’s wings as more than a dozen sword energies were sent out.
The leader of the Five-Star Earth Soul Demon group had rushed over quickly at first. But when Yuwen Tianlan suddenly appeared and flew toward him at high speed, he couldn’t react in time. Those dozen sword energies pierced his body simultaneously, and he realized his body had been torn into over twenty pieces.
With only his head left, the leader tried to fly away. But since Yuwen Tianlan had already launched an attack, how could he let him escape? Yuwen Tianlan quickly sent out another sword energy, splitting that head in two.
A beautiful yellow Soul Flower slowly rose before shattering into pieces.
At that moment, the death of the Five-Star Earth Soul Demon leader terrified the others. After all, the sudden appearance of a Six-Star Earth Soul Demon-level expert on Qu Yi’s side was beyond the ability of any of them to deal with.
“Damn, this kid is so cunning!”
“It’s over! The leader is dead; our Autumn Sword Adventurers Guild is doomed.”
“What are we waiting for? Run away now!”
In an instant, those over a hundred adventurers, seeing Yuwen Tianlan’s terrifying presence, didn’t dare advance any further and started to retreat.
Qu Yi then laughed loudly, “You lot, don’t even think about escaping!”
After saying that, he wielded the Wu Xi Sword and charged at the adventurers trying to flee.
“Kill them!”
Jin Zun, Mu Zun, and Tu Zun also acted without hesitation, using the Speed of Urgency, Speed of Withering, and Speed of Carrying they had just mastered. They instantly reached the fleeing adventurers and began to slaughter them.
The three of them even used these people to practice the speed techniques they had just learned, strengthening their own cultivation.
Long Hu Wei felt somewhat ashamed, realizing that because of him, strange people kept targeting Qu Yi, forcing him to fight repeatedly. At that moment, he vented all his resentment, flying toward the fleeing adventurers and swinging his Tiger Subduing Sword swiftly. His sword energies were like tigers, devouring numerous adventurers.
The other four members of the Tiger Might Adventurers Guild followed Long Hu Wei’s lead and fought fiercely as well.

Xiang Qing, Xiang Xing, and Xiang Zhong were stunned when they saw Yuwen Tianlan suddenly appear. Then they watched as Yuwen Tianlan effortlessly defeated the leader of those five-star Earth Soul Demons, making their hearts even more filled with sorrow. It became even more impossible for them to escape Qu Yi’s grasp.
“Kill them all!” Turning their grief into strength, Xiang Qing, Xiang Xing, and Xiang Zhong also leaped up to attack the adventurers.
The hundred adventurers, forced to endure both the disturbing sounds in the valley and the fierce pursuit by Qu Yi and his men, were wiped out within moments.