I'm quitting!

Chapter 11 The bass guitar rang once, and silver coins were exchanged.

The bamboo leaves rustled softly without any wind.

"Senior brother!"

Dan Xuanzi's voice was like a booming bell, causing the bamboo tips to tremble slightly, but Xianyunzi remained unmoved.

"Zhao Yi! What have you done to the sect leader?!"

"Heh, don't be hasty, you're next." Zhao Yi's eyes flashed coldly. "Today, we'll settle all our old and new scores!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xianyunzi extended his sword finger, and the bamboo leaves around him suddenly straightened like needles, transforming into a rain of green that shot out rapidly.

"Oh no!"

Dan Xuanzi was greatly alarmed—facing his senior brother, the sect leader, who had already reached the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, he dared not be careless in the slightest.

"start!"

Golden light surged like a tide. He held his hands in a circular motion, and nine semi-transparent illusory cauldrons condensed in his palms. The mouths of the cauldrons emitted radiant light, refining all the flying leaves in the sky.

Data surged deep within Xianyunzi's pupils, and he flashed forward, his five fingers joined together like a knife, aiming straight for Danxuanzi's heart. The latter hastily activated the Nine Cauldrons to intercept!

clang--!

Using the momentum of the cauldron, Dan Xuanzi returned the palm, knocking Xian Yunzi back several feet. The protective array of Qingyun Sect shimmered with layers of light at the edge of the bamboo forest.

Lin Xiaofan was forced to the threshold of the woodshed by the shockwave, and Maqiu had already crawled into his arms, trembling.

"This is troublesome..." Lin Xiaofan's heart sank. "This place is too close to Qingyun Sect. Master Dan is hesitant to go all out because he's afraid of harming the innocent."

Seemingly confirming his guess, Dan Xuanzi rose into the air and indeed led Xian Yunzi to the sky to fight. The two figures instantly turned into streams of light and disappeared into the clouds.

Zhao Yi stood at the edge of the battlefield, his sinister smile growing wider. Three data chains, like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, silently pierced towards Dan Xuanzi's back!

"Watch out!" Lin Xiaofan blurted out.

The moment the chains touched the golden light surrounding Dan Xuanzi, they melted away like snow meeting boiling water, making a sizzling sound.

Zhao Yi's pupils constricted sharply: "What?! Even that old geezer couldn't stop you, and you've only just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage!"

Lin Xiaofan's mind raced: Could it be that... the Awakened Ones' spirits are independent of the script, and they naturally have resistance to the data chains?

As his thoughts raced, he didn't notice that the sesame ball in his arms was sticking out its nose, sniffing at something.

"If that's the case, then I'll destroy you first!" Zhao Yi's face turned ashen as he shifted his target.

Lin Xiaofan felt a sweet taste in his throat—a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator?!

He forced himself to steady his swaying body and dashed into the depths of the bamboo forest.

"Trying to run?" Zhao Yi sneered, giving chase.

thump——

A soft sound suddenly echoed through the forest, and Zhao Yi's mind jolted, as countless fragments of the past surged through his mind.

He looked around; the blazing sun had disappeared, and night had fallen.

"The moonlight reflects the glint of swords like water, a century-old obsession has turned into vicissitudes... Do you really think... that position of sect leader can fill the hole in your heart?"

Unfamiliar voices came from all directions, elusive and unpredictable. Zhao Yi looked around, but still couldn't pinpoint their source.

"Hmph, playing tricks..."

He spoke dismissively, but tears welled up uncontrollably in his eyes.

"Wha...what happened..."

thump——

There was another soft sound, and Zhao Yi's movements suddenly froze.

"I...I just want to revive the Zhao family..."

He knelt on both knees, his fingers digging deep into the soil, his voice hoarse and broken: "If Dan Xuanzi hadn't been incompetent... how could the elders have forced me to sacrifice my own sister to refine pills... This position of sect leader should... should have belonged to my Zhao family!"

thump——

The third sound faded.

Zhao Yi completely broke down, tears streaming down his face, pounding the ground with his fists, crying like a child: "My little sister called me 'brother' before she died... but I couldn't even protect her remains! I couldn't protect them—"

However, the fourth note was delayed.

Zhao Yi still had tear stains in his eyes, but his mind quickly returned. He looked up abruptly—the sun was high in the sky, the bamboo shadows were dappled, and it was clearly still daytime.

"wrong!"

His eyes widened, and he finally locked onto his target—on the rocks by the stream, Lin Xiaofan was using his fingers as strings, maintaining a plucking posture.

"You little beast! How dare you mock this old man!"

Zhao Yi was furious, his killing intent almost solidifying.

"Uh..." Lin Xiaofan slowly moved back, his peripheral vision quickly sweeping across the surface of the stream—in the reflection, Dan Xuanzi's body was radiant with golden light, and the phantom of the Nine Cauldrons transformed into a cage, trapping Xianyunzi, who was clutching his head and howling, in the center.

still have a chance!

Lin Xiaofan suddenly raised his hand and pointed, shouting sharply, "Zhao traitor! Look at the bamboo leaves!"

"What?!" Zhao Yi, having just regained his senses, was like a frightened bird, and instinctively turned his head to look for the strange bamboo leaf.

In this fleeting moment—

Lin Xiaofan moved with lightning speed, leaping into the depths of the bamboo forest.

"You little beast! You've repeatedly mocked this old man; how can I allow you to live!"

A roar carrying intense killing intent pressed down from behind. Lin Xiaofan dared not hesitate for a moment, gritted his teeth and sped up, fleeing faster and faster.

Damn it... Everyone else starts by clearing mobs to level up, but I'm going straight to the boss! How am I supposed to do this?!

He ran frantically, but in less than three breaths, Zhao Yi's palm strike was already on his back.

"Damn it!"

Lin Xiaofan twisted his waist with all his might, trying to dodge, but his speed could not bridge the gap in their cultivation levels.

puff!

"Ahem...!"

The palm strike surged into his body, causing his blood and qi to boil. By the time his spirit returned, he had already been sent flying several meters away.

"Cough!"

He clutched his chest, his back pressed against a green bamboo pole, and his vision gradually blurred.

"Good lad... he actually has a protective magic weapon hidden away!"

Zhao Yi shook his right palm, which was covered with a layer of frost that he could not get rid of no matter how much he tried to use his true energy.

magic weapon?

Lin Xiaofan, her eyes half-open, caught a glimpse of shimmering light in the pool of blood: Oh… it was the ice crystal jade pendant she had given her…

The jade pendant was already broken, but wisps of residual cold air still seeped out.

"Damn it!" Zhao Yi frantically channeled his true energy, trying to force out the cold poison.

"squeak!"

He heard the sound of the little cat chirping in his ear, and felt a warm, wet sensation on his face—the little thing was licking him.

He managed to open his mouth: "Go...go quickly...!"

Sizzle—!

Before the words were finished, a piercing electrical sound exploded in the void.

What are you waiting for! Quickly drive the chains into his body!

"But...but!" Zhao Yi trembled, his gaze shifting back and forth between the sky and the icy hand.

"Shut up! Don't you want me to rewrite your sister's fate?"

"Well!"

Zhao Yi lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and sealed the meridians in his right arm—severing his right hand at the wrist!

"ah--!"

The excruciating pain caused his legs to buckle, and he nearly collapsed to his knees.

"Huff...huff..."

He was panting heavily when he raised his left arm and swung it sharply. A blood-red chain shot out through the air and headed straight for Lin Xiaofan.

"squeak--!!!"

A piercing scream tore through my eardrums.

Lin Xiaofan barely managed to open his eyelids, only to see that Ma Qiu had somehow appeared in front of him, her small body taut like a bowstring, letting out an angry roar at Zhao Yi.

"No...Mahjong...!"

The crimson chain pierced through the air, but Maqiu suddenly leaped up, opened its small mouth, and its two front teeth flashed with cold light as it bit down hard on the chain.

Click—!

Strange waves rippled outwards.

The data chain suddenly broke, and the red light quickly dissipated.

"Huh?! You're ***?! Impossible! I clearly erased your existence completely!"

The ball landed back on the ground, its small body trembling slightly, but it held its head high and stood tall, refusing to retreat an inch.

"It smells so good...it's delicious!"

The little guy lowered his head and sniffed the red bits left on his claws, his nose twitching incessantly.

High above, Dan Xuanzi sensed that Xianyunzi's resistance had weakened suddenly. Without hesitation, he let out a long roar that shook the heavens. Golden light shot into the sky, and the phantom images of the nine cauldrons suddenly closed in, firmly suppressing Xianyunzi within.

"Zhao Yi!"

Dan Xuanzi continued his relentless attack, swooping down towards the shore.

Zhao Yi's expression changed drastically. He suddenly pulled out a yellow talisman and slapped it against his chest. His figure then transformed into a blur and disappeared into the distance.

"Damn it! He got away!"

Dan Xuanzi landed with a thud, tearing off only a tattered piece of cloth from his fingertips.

"Senior!" He flashed to Lin Xiaofan's side, took out several pills from his storage bag, and stuffed them into Lin's mouth. "How does Senior feel?"

"Heh... Don't worry, you won't die."

"I wonder what kind of evil magic Zhao Yi used to be able to control the sect leader." Dan Xuanzi helped Lin Xiaofan to his feet, his tone full of admiration. "Senior is indeed a highly accomplished master. He managed to deal with that fellow without losing his composure, only suffering some physical pain."

"Ha..." Lin Xiaofan gave a wry smile, unsure of how to explain.

"Oh right... a sesame ball...?"

He looked down and saw that the little guy was staring intently at Xianyunzi, who was trapped by the Nine Cauldrons—no, to be precise, he was staring at the data chains wrapped around Xianyunzi.

In the lingering crimson scent, Maqiu smelled a strange fragrance—like decaying stars, or rusty moonlight.

That smell... made the little guy shiver with hunger.