Lin Qingxue tugged on Lin Qingchens wrist and said emotionally, Ruoyans finally broken through, shes a fourth-rank blademaster now!

Yes, thats right. Lin Qingchen stared at the girl in front of her before saying slowly, excitedly, Ruoyans finally a fourth-rank now.

Zhuo Yifeng, whod been standing by the side, slowly released his unclenched fist. Traces of blood fell from his palm as he did so, but he didnt seem to feel any pain. Instead, his tightly pursed lips traced a parabola upwards.

Yun Ruoyao, Yun Ruoyu, Yi Qianying, and Pei Ziao were all so shocked that their mouths were hanging open.

Brother Wang! After quite a while, Jin Feier and the rest of the Yue party finally reacted and called out.

No, thats impossible! Jin Feier shook her head and yelled out. How could Brother Wang lose to that ugly wench?!

But such an impossible feat had truly been accomplished: not only had Yun Ruoyan, as a third-rank blademaster, defeated three cultivators far surpassing her in cultivation, she had even broken through to fourth rank at the very end!

With the spiritual energy of a fourth-rank blademaster and the bracelets boost, she was effectively fighting at an early seventh-ranks capability, enough to decisively turn the match in her favor.

All Wang Kuang could feel was a huge surge of spiritual energy rushing toward him. His spiritual attack splintered against the wave of energy, and his body flew into the distance as a result of the impact.

Yun Ruoyan walked in front of him and prodded him with the spear in her hands. Do you admit defeat?

N-no, I dont. Despite his mouth being a fountain of blood, Wang Kuang slowly, arduously gasped, You, th-theres something amiss about you.

Something amiss? Yun Ruoyan knelt down, her gaze cold. What do you mean?

Wang Kuang didnt know what exactly was amiss, but there was surely no way she could have overcome his peak sixth-rank spiritual energy with her fourth-rank cultivation!

Even more curiously, that gust of spiritual energy was certainly not something a mere fourth-rank could wield.

It surely wasnt possible for someone to break through two ranks at once, no, based on that amount of energy, it must have been even more than that!

Unless

Wang Kuang made an incredulous expression as he pointed at Yun Ruoyan. You must be a demon!

A demon? Yun Ruoyan hesitated for a moment. There was a mysterious poison ravaging her body, her appearance had been ruined, she had rebirthed into this world holding a strong grudge if those werent characteristics of a demon, then what was?!

Thats right, Im a demon, Yun Ruoyan murmured, almost to herself. Her gaze became distant as she looked into the setting sun.

Brother Wang!

Wang Kuang!

Jin Feier and Pei Ziao ran over as they shouted, but they all stopped in front of the two combatants.

Yun Ruoyan knelt in front of Wang Kuang, thin and slender, as if any strong person would be able to lift her up without any effort, but it was this unassuming body of hers that had released such humongous strength just then.

Meanwhile, the tall and broad Wang Kuang was half-lying on the ground, his expression fearful as he looked toward Yun Ruoyan.

Demon, demon! He continued to call out.

Yun Ruoyan ignored him before standing up, his gaze sweeping over the Yue kingdoms party, before walking toward Lin Qingxue.

Only then did Jin Feier dare to approach.

Brother Wang, Jin Feier cradled Wang Kuang, crying as she fed him a pill.

Dont bother. Hisdantians been destroyed, and his aorta cut, Pei Ziao shook his head as he took Wang Kuangs pulse.

Brother Wang, how can this be, how can this be! Jin Feier began to cry out loud. It really shouldnt have been like this. Theyd always been the stronger party, the one bullying everyone else; theyd always been the killers, never the killed!

On his deathbed, Wang Kuang suddenly reached out and grabbed Jin Feiers hand, his small eyes widening all of a sudden. He pointed at Yun Ruoyans back and said hoarsely, Get revenge, get my brother to avenge me!

And then he spat out another mouthful of blood and stopped breathing entirely.

Compared to the despondent Yue kingdom party, Yun Ruoyans group was in far happier straits. Sister Ruoyan, youre amazing! Lin Qingxue pulled on Yun Ruoyans hand as she jumped up and down in excitement.

Her dismal, poignant thoughts were dashed to bits by her cousins exuberance.

I didnt let you guys down, did I? Yun Ruoyan smiled.

No, you didnt! Lin Qingxue nodded fervently. Youll never let us down, sister!

Ruoyan, your face Lin Qingchen was happy, but also a little worried. The wound on Yun Ruoyans birthmark had widened after the battle, and the pus that leaked out was sticking to her face. Some of it had flowed down her cheek and her neck, and there were bits of dirt, hair, and grime stuck to it, making her look horribly disfigured.

Yun Ruoyan gingerly touched the wound, but found that the affected area was numb and not particularly painful.

Its disgusting, isnt it? She frowned.

A little.

Yun Ruoyans forehead creased further. There wasnt a girl who didnt want to be beautifulor, if not beautiful, at least not disgusting.

Lin Qingchen glanced at Yun Ruoyan. Dont worry, you just have to clean it a little. Saying this, she took out some gauze and bandages.

Just clean up the pus, but dont bandage the wound. Grandfathers hypothesis was right: removing this buildup of pus will help expunge the poison from my body.

Sister Ruoyan, if all the poison in your bodys purged, are you going to be even stronger than you are now? Lin Qingxue asked.

Yun Ruoyan smiled cooly without replying.

Ruoyan, are you aware that youve made a grave mistake? Yun Ruoyaos voice came from behind.

What do you mean? Lin Qingxue turned around.

Yun Ruoyu stepped forward, a smile plastered on her face. Do you know who the person Yun Ruoyan just killed was? Wang Kuangs the second son of the most prosperous family in the Yue kingdom, the Wang family! Now that hes been killed like that, youll suffer the wrath of the Wangs, alright!

The second son of the Wang family. Yun Ruoyan suddenly recalled the close relationship between the Peis and the Wangs from the Yue kingdom in the past.

At that time, Yun Ruoyan had just married into the Peis, and Pei Ziao was still treating her nicely. When the Peis hosted a banquet, she had been in attendance.

The reason for the banquet was because the eldest son of the Wang family, Wang Meng, had just become a pillmaster-in-training at Kongming Academy.

At the time, she was so timid that she didnt dare to raise her head for the entire duration of the banquet, so she didnt know what he looked like. All she could remember was that the man wore a long green robe.

During the banquet, Pei Yingxiong effusively praised this young man for having begun his pillmaster training at such a young age, and that his future would be limitless. Moreover, he even gifted him with the Pei familys prized possession, the high-grade furnace that was now with her.

Three years hence, this eldest son of the Wang family initiated a challenge against Yun Ruoyans grandfather, Lin Zainan. During the competition, Lin Zainans constitution was greatly affected. He passed away not long afterwards, leaving behind two granddaughters who could barely fend for themselves and putting an end to a legacy of pillmasters that had lasted for centuries.

By that time, she had already broken off relations with the Lins. Because the Peis and Lins didnt get along at all, she never had a chance to attend to her grandfather despite how upset she was. This series of events had left her with lifelong regret.

Subconsciously, Yun Ruoyao caressed the bracelet on her wrist, which housed the high-grade furnace she had received from the Peis. Only then did the tension in her heart abate a little.

It seems like I truly killed the right person today, Yun Ruoyan muttered to herself. Just as Ill bear the anger of the Wang family, so too will they bear my anger.

What did you say? Yun Ruoyu frowned. Yun Ruoyans tone was so soft that she couldnt hear it clearly.

Yun Ruoyan turned around and looked at the Yun siblings. What I said was

She was interrupted by a beast howling atop a nearby cliff.

Carnivorous beasts are approaching! Pei Ziao loudly called out in alarm.

It had gotten dark all of a sudden, and the beasts that prowled on these carcasses were nocturnal creatures.

Their howls reverberated through the valley.

Look, the beasts are here! Liu Sheng pointed at the valley entrance and everyone looked over, seeing three or four pairs of lantern-like blue eyes.

Those blue-eyed beasts moved frighteningly quickly, and they were in the middle of the valley after mere moments.

A high-tier beast, the mystic-eyed lion! Qiuqiu pronounced from Yun Ruoyans mind. Just like the saber-toothed tiger, these lions move rapidly and are skilled at stealth despite their large vodies.

Quick, run! Someone screamed, and the crowd scattered as one.

Save me! A girls voice called for help from behind. Yun Ruoyan turned around and saw that a gigantic python had emerged from who-knew-where.

Using its big tail, it flung the young girl from the Yue kingdom, right by Jin Feiers side, up in the air, before opening its maw wide and swallowing the girl whole.

Yun Ruoyan turned back toward the front and ran as if her life depended on it.

She ran straight for the interior of the valley, where the crowd was gathered. Only when they found that none of the beasts were chasing them did they relax to take a break.

Were safe, Pei Ziao huffed. We should be fine now. Those beasts were likely attracted to the beast carcasses in the valley; theres no reason for them to chase us now.

Is that true? What if they really do come chasing us? Liu Shengs body was curved like a bow as he panted.

No, they wont. Pei Ziao shook his hands. Were all skin and bones, so those beasts carcasses are naturally far more appealing.

Ahhhh Hearing this, Liu Sheng sighed and plopped to the ground.

Brother Wang, Brother Wangs bodys still in the valley! Jin Feier suddenly called out. What do we do?!

Liu Sheng sat on the ground, burying his head between his knees, not volunteering any information.

Liu Sheng, Jin Feier pushed him and thundered, I told you to carry his corpse, so why did you run off without it!

Liu Sheng raised his head slightly and grumbled, Didnt you see the python that rushed down from the cliffside? If I hadnt reacted so quickly, Id have been swallowed alive, just like our poor junior!

So you threw Brother Wangs corpse aside?

What else could I do? I didnt want to die!

If you dont want to die, then youd better wait for the Wangs to behead your entire family! Jin Feier yelled maliciously at Liu Sheng before pointing a finger at Yun Ruoyan.

The first is you, and then your companions. Lin Qingxue was about to head over and bicker with her, but Lin Qingchen pulled her back.

You wont be able to escape, either. Jin Feier swiveled and pointed toward Pei Ziao. If not for your enticing Brother Wang, he wouldnt have brought us here to this damned thousand-beast valley.

Pei Ziaos eyes narrowed. Wang Kuang told you that I was the one who brought you here?

Thats right. Jin Feier smiled. Arent you scared? I know all your secrets; Brother Wang told me everything. Now, youd better go back to the valley and bring back his corpse, or Ill tell the Li imperial family everything I know

Before Jin Feier could finish speaking, a dagger was thrust into her heart. The man holding the dagger was none other than Pei Ziao.