Chapter Seventy: Slaying in Fury

Lin Qingyun did not linger long in the palace of the Wind King. After handing over the information needed to treat the Wind King's fire poison wounds, he boarded the Wind King's private jet and hurried back to Ocean City.

This time, Lin Qingyun took the opportunity to inform them early about the presence of a world-class teleportation in this battlefield relic. By passing the news through the Wind King to the higher-ups, he hoped to draw greater attention. In fact, after this event, the area would only be a single point; as Earth's spiritual energy resurgence reached a certain level, it would become increasingly difficult to conceal and would gradually be discovered by other external civilizations.

However, for now, direct entry remained impossible—this would take some time. If the process could be delayed, it would buy more time for humanity and for Earth itself. After all, though Earth appeared to be flourishing, and cultivation civilization was rapidly advancing with the aid of technology, the past century’s spiritual resurgence had only just pushed open the door to cultivation civilization.

While Lin Qingyun was on the Wind King’s jet heading back to Ocean City, a new wave swept through the Ocean City—and indeed the entire global pill refining community. Its impact rivaled that of the recent freshman combat trials. The reason was that Lin Kunshan, chairman of Lin Medical Group, held a press conference to officially announce the latest version of the Xiaobo Foundation Pill, with overall efficacy doubled and the price increased by only thirty percent.

This instantly set off a global frenzy for the Xiaobo Foundation Pill thanks to its unbeatable value. Moreover, other related pills for inner demons and tribulations were unveiled, including some for the Ascending Cloud Realm.

All these were developed within less than two months by the combined efforts of Old Red Peak and Li Xiaobo. But the true reason for the enormous impact was that Old Red Peak’s improvements allowed Li Xiaobo’s research direction to integrate with other formulae. No one had expected that the Xiaobo Foundation Pill, originally just a transition from the Phoenix Initial Qi Refining to the Heartstring Foundation, would undergo such a rapid transformation in less than two months.

Many marveled that this was surely the handiwork of Old Red Peak, the pill refining master. Some even suspected he had already advanced to Pill Refining Grandmaster, for how else could he push the Xiaobo Foundation Pill through multiple iterations so quickly?

It was equivalent to five to ten years of iterative research achieved in a fraction of the time. Lin Kunshan, unconcerned with speculation, awarded thirty million in internal bonuses to Li Xiaobo and allocated another five hundred million in research funds to Old Red Peak. With these new pills, Lin Medical Group could expect to earn billions more in the coming year.

This didn’t even account for other effects. If Lin Medical Group were a publicly listed company, this wave alone would have sent its value skyrocketing by hundreds of billions.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Kunshan rolled out several pre-prepared plans, greatly mitigating the impact caused by Lin Kunlun’s disappearance.

Of course, Lin Kunshan hadn’t forgotten about the Cold Medicine Fire Embryo Pill. Since the news broke that Lin Qingyun was alive, Lin Qingfeng had been urging Lin Kunshan, and during Lin Qingyun’s retreat, Lin Kunshan tried to contact him, leaving messages when he couldn’t reach him.

On the plane, after handling other matters, Lin Qingyun glanced at the recent news about his second uncle and Lin Medical Group, and sent a reply. The message was simply a list of medicinal ingredients—rare materials needed for Lin Qingyun to refine the Mysterious Sun Pill. After sending the list, Lin Qingyun no longer bothered with Lin Kunshan; any further discussion would only waste time.

Zhang Baole was in a slump. Ever since Lin Qingyun publicly struck him at the auction and exposed his embezzlement, his luck had soured. The money he’d embezzled was gone, and he would never be allowed into Lin Medical Group again.

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Fortunately, his sister gave him some businesses to manage, and later involved him in targeting Lin Qingyun. Yet every attempt to move against Lin Qingyun failed to achieve its desired effect.

He thought Lin Qingyun’s departure from Ocean City for the freshman combat trials was the perfect chance to strike hard, perhaps even break his arm—but that attempt failed as well.

At first, he believed Lin Qingyun was dead. Zhang Baole boasted about his victory, explaining the difference between “a single feast” and “feasts every day.” Although he lost the Cold Medicine Fire Embryo Pill, he believed that Lin Medical Group would belong to him and his father in the future, and anything lost could be regained.

But reality slapped him quicker than he expected. Soon, news arrived that Lin Qingyun was alive—not only alive, but the champion of the freshman combat trials.

That wasn’t all; Li Xiaobo and Old Red Peak’s collaboration had produced a sensation.

Lin Kunshan cared nothing for Zhang Baole’s feelings; the research results of Li Xiaobo and Old Red Peak belonged to Lin Medical Group, and he fully promoted them. The bigger the commotion, the more frustrated Zhang Baole became.

In fact, many news stories about the Xiaobo Foundation Pill and other pills developed by Li Xiaobo mentioned how Zhang Baole was struck by Lin Qingyun and signed off the pill to Li Xiaobo.

Every day, people tried to contact him for interviews, reopening his wounds again and again. Zhang Baole grew more miserable, spending recent days hiding away with a few women, drinking for pleasure.

“Damn it, bang... bang bang…”

“Ah... Brother Zhang…”

While playing and drinking with the women, ignoring the outside world, Zhang Baole received an internal family call. After a few words, he flew into a rage.

He smashed many things. Though his cultivation was propped up by drugs to the Heartstring Realm, he was formidable in the eyes of ordinary people. In his outburst, the room was wrecked, and the women fled in terror.

Gasping for breath after his rage, Zhang Baole recalled that his nephew had told him to behave and stay out of Lin Medical Group affairs. The request came from Lin Qingyun, whose list of required ingredients was extensive and valuable. Most importantly, Lin Qingyun’s final words: “No negotiation. Originally I didn’t want so much, but since you tried to hire someone to kill me, the price is five times higher.”

Even Lin Kunshan felt Lin Qingyun’s price was exorbitant and didn't respond, lest it imply admitting to Xie Zhiqiang’s involvement. He also advised Lin Qingfeng to give up on the Cold Medicine Fire Embryo Pill.

But Lin Qingfeng was obsessed; he’d invested too much to back out. Even though Lin Kunshan had other alternatives, Lin Qingfeng insisted on reclaiming the pill.

Because of this, Lin Qingfeng and Lin Kunshan had some conflict.

At this time, Zhang Baole gave Lin Qingfeng some advice, claiming he still held cards to reverse the situation. He suggested another scheme against Lin Qingyun—if successful, everything could be regained.

Lin Qingfeng was annoyed by this, chastised Zhang Baole, told him to stay out of these affairs and focus on enjoying life, which further irritated Zhang Baole.

“Mr. Zhang, Xie Zhiqiang is here,” reported his bodyguard after a while.

“He’s here? Good. Perfect timing. He’s a super genius, risen and fierce—just what I need. You all look down on me, laugh at me, right? Well, I’ll deal with him myself this time. Watch how I ruin him.”

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Zhang Baole, still disheveled and bloodshot, walked out directly.

Xie Zhiqiang stood in the center of the living room, his one-armed figure even more somber. Zhang Baole had already arranged financial support, with all contracts in order, so the Ministry of Education’s investigation hadn’t affected them.

“You’ve met your sister, right? How about the environment and treatment I provided? Top-notch, something people like you could never imagine...”

“As for you, just work with me. You have talent; I’ll give you resources. Work hard; I’ll create another opportunity for you. Succeed, and you two will want for nothing the rest of your lives...”

Zhang Baole staggered in, pointing at Xie Zhiqiang.

“Our cooperation is over. I failed my mission, so I’ll only take the upfront payment, not the balance. Now I want to leave with my sister,” Xie Zhiqiang said, eyes lowered, voice deep.

“Hahaha...” Zhang Baole suddenly burst out laughing. “Over? Who the hell says it’s over? You botched the job, and you think that ends our partnership? Tell me, slap slap…”

Zhang Baole slapped Xie Zhiqiang’s face. Having just been humiliated, he now looked down on Xie, lording over him.

Two siblings with no background or influence, daring to negotiate after failing.

“I’ll return double the upfront payment. That should end it,” Xie Zhiqiang stood unmoving, enduring Zhang Baole’s slaps.

Before joining the freshman combat trials, Xie had never imagined he would, by letting go, break into the core, obtain the earth qilin’s flesh, or achieve such a high ranking.

Now, the rewards alone ensured he’d never worry about cultivation or his sister’s medical expenses again.

“Oh, so you’re riding high on the battle rankings now, got some money, huh?” Zhang Baole’s nose nearly touched Xie Zhiqiang’s, exhaling drunken breath, bloodshot eyes fixed on him. “You dare act tough in front of me now? If not for you, I wouldn’t have lost so much face. Think you’re impressive? Why didn’t you kill Lin Qingyun? Why didn’t you take his arm?”

“I’m telling you, you cooperate with me to deal with Lin Qingyun. Only when that’s done is the mission complete. Then you can have whatever you want. Those paltry rewards—you think I care? And your sister—if you don’t cooperate…”

Facing Xie Zhiqiang, Zhang Baole resembled a grown bully intimidating a meek student, just as he had when they first met. This time, his anger was even more oppressive.

Just as he refused Xie’s proposal and again threatened his sister, Xie Zhiqiang, who had kept his head down and endured the slaps and humiliation, suddenly moved—a flash of blade.

Gone?

That half a body—that...

His mind still functioning, a bit drunk, feeling no pain, Zhang Baole suddenly saw his lower half on the floor, saw Xie Zhiqiang below, and heard his bodyguards shouting and rushing forward.

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