CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: THE STONE MEETS LI ZHENG

The sudden sound of a sword being drawn startled the Fox Girl who was in conversation.

"Who is it!"

The eyes of the two Fox Girls turned blood red, filled with a terrifying ferocity, like a cold blood moon.

At the entrance of the pitch-black cave, Qin An walked in, holding a black knife, his calm gaze sweeping over the two Fox Girls one by one.

The Fox Girl on the left shouted sharply, "Someone from the Evil Extermination Bureau, kill him!"

The white fox tail behind the Fox Girl on the right expanded in the wind, sweeping towards Qin An like a sky-covering wave.

Qin An slightly raised his right hand, and the black long knife slashed across with a sharp wind.

"Ah!"

A shrill scream suddenly erupted. The white fox tail broke from the middle, the cut perfectly smooth.

Blood sprinkled like rain, staining the ground red.

Qin An used the Dragon Body Skill, appearing in front of the Fox Girl in the blink of an eye. Ignoring her miserable cries, the black knife plunged directly into her swelling chest.

The tip of the knife, stained with blood, pierced through the Fox Girl’s back.

Qin An, expressionless, slowly withdrew the black knife, gently wiping it on the white fox tail.

The other Fox Girl, realizing the situation was dire, transformed into a small white fox and frantically fled towards the cave’s exit.

But before she could take two steps, the black knife, with a burst of fierce wind, caught up and stabbed into the back of the Fox Girl.

The Fox Girl fell to the ground, twitching like a shrimp, her body growing cold.

Qin An drew out the black knife, slaughtering the two creatures that had turned back into foxes completely.

Once his proficiency in butchering increased slightly, Qin An absorbed all the Blood Crystals from the two Fox Girls before turning to the glowing wooden box, walking towards it slowly.

Originally, he came today to take the opportunity to kill Zhou Mo, but unexpectedly reaped a rich reward.

Not only were there three Blood Crystals, but there were also treasures left by the Multi-Treasure Toad.

Qin An came to the wooden box, lifting his eyes to scan it.

At this moment, the treasured light on the box was gradually dimming. When Qin An’s gaze swept over it, the contents were fully revealed.

A stone lay quietly in the box, yellow in color, with the treasured light emanating from it.

Qin An pondered slightly, covering his left hand with a layer of colorless Gang Qi, reached into the box, and grasped the stone.

As Qin An held it, the light on the stone gradually weakened until it disappeared completely.

"What is this?"

Qin An carefully examined it for a moment but was clueless about the stone.

The Multi-Treasure Toad was known for absorbing treasures; a stone placed at the deepest part of the box was assuredly not ordinary.

Though Qin An didn’t understand it now, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t in the future.

Thinking of this, Qin An placed the stone inside his clothing.

Apart from the two slaughtered Fox Demons, the surroundings were empty and barren.

With today’s affairs concluded, Qin An pondered for a moment, then walked towards the passage.

After returning, he planned to report the mission to Cheng Sufeng, incidentally pinning Zhou Mo’s death on the Multi-Treasure Toad.

Traversing the passage, the journey was smooth.

...

At the wellhead, there was a noise of the wind.

Qin An tapped his toes on the deep well’s walls, using the Dragon Body Skill, emerging in the courtyard outside after a few breaths.

But as soon as he entered the courtyard, Qin An sensed several icy stares sweeping over him.

The black knife remained unsheathed, gripped in Qin An’s hand.

When Qin An saw the people in the courtyard, his brows furrowed slightly.

A dozen or so copper-suited guards in dark clothing and carrying bronze plaques drew their weapons, surrounding him tightly.

Leading them was a tall, muscular middle-aged man, exuding a chillingly vicious aura.

The man’s waist bore a silver plaque, distinct from the bronze plaques of the guards.

"A Silver Guard?" Qin An squinted his eyes.

He didn’t know why these people had come here, but their intent didn’t seem friendly.

Li Zheng saw Qin An still holding the black knife and waved, "Capture him!"

Yesterday, Zhou Mo came to him, detailing Qin An’s matters and wishing to give Qin An a tough task to properly teach him a lesson.

As a Silver Guard, he normally wouldn’t involve himself, but Zhou Mo’s situation was different.

Firstly, because he had accepted many things from the Lin Family, and secondly because of Qin An’s position.

If Li Zheng remembered correctly, Qin An was taken by Cheng Sufeng from him.

His discord with Cheng Sufeng was well-known within Lingzhou’s Evil Extermination Bureau, so Li Zheng used his power to assign the task to Qin An.

But he was always uneasy, worried Zhou Mo might overdo things, so he came personally, only to witness this scene.

Zhou Mo was his trusted aide, now that aide was dead, yet Qin An lived. There had to be something fishy.

Coincidentally, since Qin An arrived, he decided to apprehend first, talk later.

Several dozen copper-suited guards advanced with weapons towards Qin An.

But before they could approach, Qin An swung the black knife, covering it with the Ice and Fire aura, ready to strike.

Li Zheng shouted, "Do you intend to defy orders?"

A mere copper-suited guard daring to draw a blade against him—absurd.

Qin An spoke calmly, "Zhou Mo and I were executing a mission, encountered the Multi-Treasure Toad. Together, we fought it. Zhou Mo, at the cost of his life, gravely injured the toad, and I killed it. Why should I be apprehended?"

Li Zheng paused slightly.

Qin An continued, "I’m not your subordinate. If you want to capture me, Mr. Cheng must come personally."

Li Zheng came to his senses, angrily replying, "Nonsense! Right and wrong cannot be judged by your words alone. Today, having encountered you, I will capture you! How dare you resist?"

With these words, the dozen or so guards lunged at Qin An.

Qin An, holding the black knife, executed the Flame Demon Three Cuts, a biting wind bringing in terrifying Yang energy.

The nearest guards clashed knives with Qin An, stepping back several paces, looking at Qin An with difficult expressions.

The Ice and Fire Profound Skill had long been perfected. Qin An’s strength had reached the Body Perfection level, and the power of ice and fire spread through his weapon, making them uncomfortable.

The other guards, seeing this, cautiously lingered nearby.

Li Zheng took in everything, slightly stunned.

This man could repel several of the same rank with one strike—no wonder Cheng Sufeng had to snatch him away.

Remembering this agitated Li Zheng’s anger further.

This talent should have been his, but Cheng Sufeng forcibly took him; since that’s the case, it’s time to give Qin An a lesson.

Thinking of this, Li Zheng drew his long sword, advancing towards Qin An.

"You may have reached Body Perfection, but you haven’t stepped into the Jade Bone Realm."

"Surrender now, and I might let you suffer less."

The long sword swung downwards, aiming for Qin An’s head.

With the wind howling like a dragon, if it struck true, it wouldn’t claim Qin An’s life, but would at least leave him half-dead.

Li Zheng’s heart gave rise to a trace of murderous intent.

Because of Qin An, he lost a trusted subordinate and missed the benefits from the Lin Family.

This person must die.

Since that’s the case, using this pretext to cripple Qin An’s cultivation could also reduce Cheng Sufeng’s power.

Qin An’s eyes narrowed, feeling a powerful pressure bearing down on him: "Such ruthless intent, wanting to ruin me with one strike."