Yun Sishi’s body crashed to the ground. A yellowed book slipped from his partially distended torso and fell onto the floor.

Qian Jin noticed the book, and his eyes immediately lit up. A book carried by an assassin is often the thing they cherish and value most. This man’s archery was exceptional; could this book be about that subject?

Qian Jin bent down to pick up the book, and as it settled into his hand, he froze momentarily.

The Divine Archer: Bi Yu Arrow Soul!

“A collection of archery techniques from the Bi Yu family? And it was written by the very person who awakened the Divine Archer bloodline? Bi Yu Arrow Soul, hailed as the greatest God of Archery in human history? Is this a windfall, or have I picked up a burning cinder?” For a moment, Qian Jin couldn't decide how to judge the situation. Even an ordinary person without the Bi Yu bloodline awakening would likely make good progress by studying the texts personally authored by Bi Yu Arrow Soul. However, if those possessing the Bi Yu bloodline found out about this, a hundred heads wouldn't be enough to save him. Legend said that even the most powerful Demon Martial Artists of the Demon Race would be greatly troubled upon hearing the name Bi Yu.

“Xiao Chang Lei Ming! Give me back my brother’s life!”

Shui Lian Ying’er cried out with a sharp, clear voice as she darted into the small grove of trees. Qian Jin turned to look in the direction of the sound, frowning slightly. Slaying three Ninth-Level Warriors in quick succession, even relying on fierce brute force and the might of the Dou Bing Zhanmadao (Battle Saber), the continuous bursts of extreme power had left his body feeling somewhat fatigued.

“And Xiao Chang Lei Ming…” Qian Jin sighed. Carrying the battle saber, he turned and ran back toward the recent battlefield, silently resolving that this time, he truly had to kill someone again. Xiao Chang Lei Ming had murdered his own comrade—someone who had saved his life three times—for the sake of a mineral vein. If Xiao Chang Lei Ming were allowed to live, he would certainly hire assassins to protect the secret of the mine.

The instant they exchanged blows, Qian Jin knew Xiao Chang Lei Ming had recognized him. If he didn't kill him now, he would surely be assassinated by Xiao Chang Lei Ming’s hired killers later.

It was unavoidable, for the sake of self-preservation!

Qian Jin carried the Zhanmadao through the jungle, traversing bushes, only to find that the previous battlefield was now empty, with only scattered footprints leading toward the entrance of the Four Seasons Valley.

“Enter? Or not?” Qian Jin frowned slightly, turning to speak to Bi Luo on his back. “I need to enter the Four Seasons Valley. Otherwise, Xiao Chang Lei Ming will definitely find a way to kill me to keep the secret of the Dou Shi vein safe. It might be very dangerous inside. If you don't want to go, you don't have to.”

Bi Luo clung to Qian Jin’s back. The fresh blood and scattered remains from the recent fight were chilling, yet resting on this broad back brought a wave of security. The person who had done the killing used somewhat violent methods, but it didn't inspire fear; instead, it instilled a feeling of reliability.

“I… I…” Bi Luo looked at the enemy blood staining Qian Jin’s body and whispered timidly, “I’ll go in too.”

Damn it! What rotten luck! Xiao Chang Lei Ming complained inwardly, How can I be so unlucky? He had brutally killed the companion he had known for several years simply to protect the secret of the Dou Shi mine. The entrance to the Four Seasons Valley rarely saw visitors, so why did someone have to show up today? And why did it have to be that blacksmith boy! Moreover, why was he so strong!

Xiao Chang Lei Ming’s steps faltered somewhat as he ran for his life. He kept looking back at the female swordswoman, Shui Lian Ying’er, pursuing him with a four-finger-wide greatsword, feeling increasingly suffocated.

Normally, he wouldn’t be chased around by one Shui Lian Ying’er, or even another one added to the mix. Xiao Chang Lei Ming was confident he wouldn't be forced to flee everywhere! But now, he had no choice. The brute force of Qian Jin’s previous strike had actually dislocated his arm! Both sides of his hand grip were split open! He couldn't even exert much strength in his legs. In this state, he was certain to be sliced into eighteen pieces by Shui Lian Ying’er.

“That damned blacksmith boy! I can’t kill you now, but I will definitely pay a hefty price to hire a Demon Subjugator warrior to kill you!”

Just a little further, once my legs recover some strength…

Xiao Chang Lei Ming muttered to himself, turning his head back to issue a threat. His eyes suddenly widened with immense shock. The blacksmith boy who had suddenly turned and charged into the woods during the previous fight was now, once again, charging into the Four Seasons Valley, carrying that chilling, terrifying Zhanmadao on his back, with the female magic student along for the ride.

What did he want? Kill me? Why? Was it because of the Dou Shi mine? It had to be! A flurry of thoughts raced through Xiao Chang Lei Ming’s mind, mixed with hatred and astonishment. This kid was also a warrior! Naturally, he would want to kill me to keep the Dou Shi secret! How could he be so bold? This was already considered the territory of the Four Seasons Valley! How dare he enter?

“Xiao Chang Lei Ming,” Shui Lian Ying’er panted, wielding her greatsword as she ran. The previous blood loss had significantly reduced her stamina and speed. “You… stop!”

“Stop? So you can chop me to death?” Xiao Chang Lei Ming glanced back at Shui Lian Ying’er but said nothing. Although his legs had recovered some strength, he dared not stop to counterattack the female swordswoman, especially since, not far behind her, was a young man carrying a broad, chilling Zhanmadao, radiating palpable killing intent.

“No good! He’s running much faster than me!” Xiao Chang Lei Ming’s heart leaped when he saw Qian Jin’s speed. If this continued, he would inevitably be caught by this kid soon.

As he ran, Xiao Chang Lei Ming looked up at the snow-white high mountains flanking the valley, then looked back at Qian Jin, who was now nearly catching up to Shui Lian Ying’er, and made a fierce decision.

You won’t let me live? Xiao Chang Lei Ming suddenly stopped. He gathered all the air in his lungs and roared back at the top of his voice, “Then we’ll all die together! Die together!”

His hysterical roar echoed repeatedly through the valley. Qian Jin suddenly felt the high peaks on both sides behind him begin to vibrate! The rumbling sound, which was initially only faintly discernible, instantly grew to the intensity of thunder. His skin could distinctly feel a cold current rapidly approaching, and the earth began to tremble.

“What is this…” Qian Jin looked back, and in his mind, he cursed every female ancestor of Xiao Chang Lei Ming, from the earliest to the present. An avalanche! A massive avalanche!

The snow on the high mountains on both sides of the valley, responding to the sound of Xiao Chang Lei Ming’s roars, had genuinely triggered an avalanche. The white snow roared as it rolled down, sweeping toward the valley. In an instant, it seemed to obscure the sky above the valley. The white snow rushed forward like a tsunami, emitting a booming roar, carrying destructive power, surging toward the valley floor.

Seeing this scene, Qian Jin instantly broke out in a cold sweat. With such momentum, let alone a Ninth-Level Warrior, even Fabredis, the Guardian of Oakland City, would have no choice but to turn tail and flee, or he too would perish.

“This time, I’m really in deep trouble.” Qian Jin spun around, grabbing Bi Luo off his back. He shook his shoulders repeatedly, tossing the large bundle of Bi Luo’s luggage onto the ground, then hoisted Bi Luo onto his back once more, setting off at a dead sprint toward the interior of the Four Seasons Valley!

Bi Luo looked at the bundle on the ground, biting her lip but saying nothing. In this situation, holding onto luggage would truly be courting death. However, the bundle contained samples given to her by her classmates, who had asked her to find more unique items in the Sunset Mountain Range. She wondered if they would use the loss of the items to bully her even more if she ever got the chance to return.

The shadow of death instantly enveloped the four figures in the valley. At this moment, everyone unleashed potential they had never imagined possessing in their lives.

Qian Jin had previously felt fatigued carrying Bi Luo while running, but now he couldn't sense even a trace of fatigue; it was as if he had inexhaustible energy, and not letting it out felt uncomfortable. Shui Lian Ying’er glanced at the avalanche, her face turning instantly pale, yet she stopped panting while running.

Xiao Chang Lei Ming, running at the front, also felt a surge of power in his body, and the speed of the three increased somewhat. The pursuing avalanche, mixed with the thunderous force of ten thousand jun, stirred up gusts of bone-chilling wind.

One minute, two minutes, ten minutes, fourteen minutes, sixteen minutes…

After running at full tilt for a prolonged period, Xiao Chang Lei Ming felt his legs growing weak. The heavy blow Qian Jin had struck him earlier began to manifest its aftereffects as his stamina waned, slowing his pace considerably compared to before.

Shui Lian Ying’er’s pale face had already flushed crimson. She was panting again as she ran. If the avalanche behind her hadn't stopped and continued to draw closer, she would have collapsed onto the ground for a good rest.

Tired! Qian Jin again felt the fatigue in his body. In the Endless World, he had trained his arm strength far more than his leg strength. Prolonged running quickly exposed this weakness.

Qian Jin finally caught up to Shui Lian Ying’er. Before the female swordswoman could speak after glancing at him, she heard Qian Jin’s exasperated roar: “Idiot! Drop that useless sword!”

“You!” A flash of anger crossed Shui Lian Ying’er’s eyes. Suddenly, her wrist smarted as Qian Jin snatched the greatsword from her grasp and flung it to the ground. Immediately following, her other wrist hurt, and she felt a pulling sensation, causing her steps to become unsteady.

“I’m only bothering with you because the way you look reminds me of an acquaintance! Otherwise, I wouldn’t care if you lived or died!”

Qian Jin threw the line back without looking, gritting his teeth as he dragged Shui Lian Ying’er, then forcefully increased his pace. Eventually, he simply scooped her up along with the Zhanmadao and hugged them both to his chest, ignoring whether Shui Lian Ying’er’s flushed face was from embarrassment or exhaustion, and ran for his life.

The Zhanmadao, plus Bi Luo, plus Shui Lian Ying’er.

Qian Jin truly felt the urge to discard them all—it was too heavy! If it weren't for the support of his Ninth-Level Battle Qi, if it weren't for the replenishment from the Blacksmith Breathing Technique, and if it weren't for the actual strength he had developed in the Endless World, he would have collapsed long ago.

How long was the entrance passage to this Four Seasons Valley? Qian Jin looked at the winding, seemingly endless tunnel of the Four Seasons Valley, groaning internally.

This is the fourth update today. I won't waste time with extra nonsense. The new book urgently needs monthly recommendation tickets. Everyone, stack your tickets to build a towering mansion! Thank you, thank you, I humbly request monthly tickets!

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