Chapter 0625: Starting Over

Chapter 0625: Starting Anew

The Yang family's demigod manifested his spear and thrust it toward Qin Yun like lightning.

Bao Changshou’s gnarled hand intercepted the shaft of the spear in an instant.

"Outrageous!"

How could Bao Changshou allow someone to kill his disciple right before his eyes?

"You dare act so arrogantly at the gates of the Celestial Armory Palace? Do you still wish to return alive?" Bao Changshou’s body surged with dense energy mist, the overwhelming semi-immortal power stifling the onlookers.

Qin Yun stared at the spear, thinking with alarm.

A Monarch Artifact evolved from a Dao Artifact—rumor held no method existed to forge one directly.

Of course, that was just a legend.

If even Celestial Artifacts could be crafted, surely King Artifacts could be as well.

Naturally, evolving one from a Dao Artifact would be easier.

The Yang family's demigod had been blinded by rage moments before, having been thoroughly outsmarted by Qin Yun.

Jian Ruyan stood nearby, her heart quaked with fear.

She had finally witnessed the sheer audacity of Qin Yun, who had swindled Yuanling Mystic Pills from a demigod without a flicker of guilt.

She realized now that those who provoked Qin Yun in the Celestial Armory Illusory Realm had truly been courting death.

"Get lost!" Bao Changshou roared, driving the Yang family's demigod back.

Celestial Armory City was an Immortal Essence sect, meaning it could nurture demigods.

Thus, within the depths of the Celestial Armory Palace, mighty demigods waited in hiding.

Though the Yang family also had a few demigods, they were elderly and would stand no chance against a vigorous demigod like Bao Changshou in a real fight.

"Qin Yun, you will die a miserable death at our hands!" the Yang family's demigod snarled. "Let’s go! All Yang family disciples in Celestial Armory City, fall back at once!"

As promised, the Yang family members left the city, following their elders.

Talented disciples like Yang Shenglong would be welcomed in other sects.

Qin Yun had also spotted Ji Lang among the Medicine Immortal Valley's group earlier.

"Qin Yun, you better stay alive until the Martial Arts Championship begins. I'll win my sword back from you!" Jian Nanhu approached and declared.

"I've half a mind to pawn off that shabby sword of yours!" Qin Yun chuckled. "I’m worried I might do it on impulse!"

"You wouldn’t dare!" Jian Nanhu shouted, flustered.

That sword was dear to him.

"I have a feeling you’ll never beat me in this lifetime, so that sword is mine now. Selling it wouldn’t be a problem!" Qin Yun laughed.

Jian Nanhu wanted nothing more than to knock Qin Yun flat, but he wasn't strong enough.

"Don’t get cocky! I’ll take the crown in the Martial Arts Championship and take my sword back!" Jian Nanhu shot back.

"Let's move out!"

Jian Shitian was quite open-minded. Although Jian Nanhu had given his Dao Sword to Qin Yun, he didn’t object, as that was indeed Jian Nanhu’s weakness.

Jian Nanhu had relied too much on that sword. Now that he had passed it to Qin Yun, he was determined to discard his weakness and address his flaws.

At this moment, the great clans no longer dared to pressure Bao Changshou into expelling Qin Yun.

Because Qin Yun’s talent was absolutely formidable—even someone like Jian Nanhu had been defeated in just a few moves.

Moreover, there was Qin Yun’s terrifying talent as a Runes Master!

A battle-capable Runes Master was extremely rare.

Hu Jingxian, seeing Qin Yun overcome this hurdle, finally relaxed and let out a sigh of relief. After bidding him farewell, she left with the others from Demonmoon Island.

"Sect Leader, fifty Yuanling Mystic Pills!" Qin Yun said.

"Not right now—give me a few days!" Bao Changshou frowned. "Qin Yun, come with me. I have something important to discuss with you!"

"Alright!" Qin Yun nodded.

Soon after, Bao Changshou took Qin Yun into the Celestial Armory Palace, disappearing in a flash—no one knew where they had gone.

……

In a small pavilion atop a mountain within the Celestial Armory Palace, Qin Yun was brought by Bao Changshou to the balcony on the third floor, entering a study inside.

"Qin Yun, your trespass into the forbidden area is a grave offense. Do you understand?" Bao Changshou said sternly.

"I know I was wrong, and I won’t do it again!" Qin Yun also wanted to stay in Immortal Armory City—his goal was to cultivate an immortal body.

"Sigh!"

Seeing Qin Yun’s sincere attitude, Bao Changshou sighed. "To be honest, I don’t even know if I can protect you. You’ve offended a powerful figure!"

Qin Yun thought of the leader of the BlackClad Corps—that woman with the white mask.

It was understandable that she was furious after he had accidentally seen her body.

That woman was at the half-immortal realm, so her status was clearly exalted.

What Qin Yun hadn’t expected was that even Bao Changshou was so apprehensive of her.

"Is it the leader of the BlackClad Corps?" Qin Yun asked.

"Yes, precisely her!" Bao Changshou sighed. "She was the one who sent Granny Ma to capture you. Of course, she wasn’t specifically targeting you—after all, you violated the rules by trespassing into the forbidden area first!"

"Does she intend to imprison me for another hundred years?" Qin Yun asked with some concern.

"Well… you were expelled first and then readmitted as a disciple of our Immortal Armory City, so it’s hard to say." Bao Changshou shook his head. "I’ll have to go ask her and ascertain her position."

"Sect Leader, was it her idea to expel me from Immortal Armory City?" Qin Yun said with a wry smile. "Her status is so high, and if she doesn’t want me staying, my remaining would be meaningless."

"It wasn’t her idea—that decision was mine alone." Bao Changshou chuckled. "Besides, didn’t it help you? It spared you imprisonment!"

"Sect Leader, please tell that leader I wish to offer my apologies," Qin Yun said.

"Certain rumors have reached me about you in Immortal Armory City. Do you possess the Sky Lion Totem?" Bao Changshou looked at Qin Yun and asked.

"Yeah," Qin Yun acknowledged. "I also have the bloodline of the Sky Lion. Tell the sect leader—she might reconsider keeping me."

Bao Changshou nodded in surprise. "So the rumors were right! If that lady had wanted to get rid of you, she'd have kicked you out herself long ago—no need for me to step in. She probably just wanted to teach you a lesson!"

"Elder, can you set up a meeting with her? I want to apologize in person," Qin Yun said.

"I'll see what I can do," Bao Changshou said after a pause.

"And don't forget—my fifty Yuanling Mystic Pills! Also, I want to become a Core Disciple. I heard I need to pass your assessment first," Qin Yun added.

"True, but I need to check her stance on you before letting you take the assessment," Bao Changshou replied.

"Well, hurry it up then!" Qin Yun pressed.

Bao Changshou chuckled. "Stay here and rest. I’ll go find her right away!"

He showed Qin Yun to a cozy room and hurried off.

Qin Yun lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, and quickly fell asleep.

He already had sixty Yuanling Mystic Pills, but he felt it wasn’t enough.

Usually, seventy or eighty Yuanling Mystic Pills would be enough to cultivate the Yuanling and break through to the mid-stage of the Spirit Martial Realm.

But Qin Yun’s spiritual cultivation was bizarre—he was currently in the state of Starlight Spirit. If he successfully cultivated his Yuanling, it would evolve into Moonlight Spirit.

This would require an enormous amount of Yuanling Mystic Pills—he figured he’d need at least two hundred!

Moreover, achieving Moonlight Spirit came with serious risks.

Jian Shitian had warned him that it could accumulate a lot of Yin-Evil energy in his body.

Qin Yun wasn’t worried—his Nine Sun Divine Soul could crush any Yin-Evil energy.

Morning came. After waking up, Qin Yun left the room and went straight to Bao Changshou’s study.

Bao Changshou sat comfortably reading a book. Seeing Qin Yun awake, he asked, "Back to full strength?"

"Yeah, completely recovered," Qin Yun smiled. "Elder, what did that lady say?"

"She refuses to see you… and won’t let you become a Core Disciple either," Bao Changshou sighed. "Who knows what she's thinking? She’s capricious."

"Guess I should just go. She clearly doesn’t want me around," Qin Yun muttered with a frown.

"Hold on—she made it clear you can't be expelled from Immortal Weapon City. She even said if anyone tries to drive you out, they must inform her first," Bao Changshou quickly added. "Seems she’s not kicking you out—at least not yet."

"Then what’s her game?" Qin Yun frowned.

"Beats me!" Bao Changshou shrugged. "She said if you want to become a Core Disciple, you have to go through a period of observation first."

"So… is she still mad about me sneaking into the forbidden area?" Qin Yun asked cautiously.

"She’ll drop it—if you accept some punishment," Bao Changshou said with a grin. "Don’t blow your top when you hear this!"

"I won’t. Go ahead!" Qin Yun braced himself.

"Your entire progress in the Immortal Weapon Illusory Realm gets wiped! You’ll be back to square one if you re-enter," Bao Changshou dropped the bombshell.

Qin Yun's expression immediately changed, and he said angrily, "What gives her the right? I had so many good things in the Immortal Armory Illusory Realm—my Mystic Beast Bones, my points, my Mystic Runes..."

"Whether you agree or not, when you enter the Immortal Armory Illusory Realm again, you'll have to start from scratch," Bao Changshou said with a laugh. "Think of it as a challenge!"

"Test my damn luck!" Qin Yun cursed under his breath. "I had a whopping ten thousand points!"

He had around ten thousand points, ranking first!

Now, he had nothing left.

"Qin Yun, you were expelled from the sect and then returned, so you're just like a new disciple now. There's nothing strange about that," Bao Changshou quickly consoled him.

"Sect Leader, didn't you say that that important figure had no intention of driving me away? It was you who kicked me out of Immortal Armory City—you owe me big time!" Qin Yun pouted.

Bao Changshou hurriedly took out a rather large jade bottle and said cheerfully, "Here are fifty Yuanling Mystic Pills as compensation!"

"These were always rightfully mine!" Qin Yun snatched them over and said angrily, "And don’t forget about the tax exemption—you better handle it properly!"

"You have my word, I’ll keep my promises to you," Bao Changshou said with a smile.

Qin Yun felt extremely uncomfortable having everything reset.

But when he thought about how he had trespassed into the forbidden area and ultimately didn’t receive severe punishment, he took some comfort.