When Feng Wuya uttered that name, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Of course, Qin Yi knew it was only his imagination to Feng Wuya, this was likely just another ordinary conversation, nothing worth pausing over.
But within Qin Yi's heart, a storm was raging.
What was happening?
The Lord of Luoshan City wanted to deal with Su Meier?
He couldn't make sense of it.
Who was Su Meier, after all? The daughter of the Sect Master of the Xuan Sect her position sounded lofty, yes, but the Sect Master had many children. She might not even be among the favored ones.
Meanwhile, the City Lord of Luoshan… was unquestionably one of the most powerful figures Qin Yi had ever heard of.
How could such a great man suddenly decide to target her?
The difference in their status was like heaven and earth. What could Su Meier have done to draw the wrath of someone like him?
And more importantly once marked by such a person, could she possibly have a way to survive?
Countless questions raced through Qin Yi's mind, crashing and tumbling against one another.
Yet he forced himself to stay composed.He knew he had to appear indifferent—as though the name Su Meier meant nothing to him.
After a moment's silence, Qin Yi slowly raised his head and asked coolly,
"Who is Su Meier? What did she do? Why would the City Lord want her dead?"
Feng Wuya's sinister face curved into a cold smile, his voice low and heavy.
"It's not that the City Lord wants to kill her.A man of his stature wouldn't bother involving himself with someone so insignificant."
"He's merely… doing it on someone else's behalf.He accepted a favor—and naturally, he must repay it with one."
"But with his status, he would never personally make a move.He'll have someone else do it for him.And once that person strikes, whether the task succeeds or fails, the City Lord will wash his hands of it."
"And the one chosen to act… is me."
"My cultivation is far below hers.If I can kill her, then the City Lord cannot be accused of bullying a junior."
Hearing this explanation, Qin Yi's tense heart eased if only slightly.
So that was it.It wasn't the City Lord himself who wanted Su Meier dead, merely a transaction an exchange of favors.
That meant Su Meier's chances of survival were somewhat higher.
At least she wouldn't have to face that unfathomable City Lord directly.
Still, Qin Yi couldn't help but gain a new, deeper appreciation for just how shameless these demonic figures could be.
Not bullying juniors? What a joke.
As expected, the so-called "elders" of the demonic sects were all equally despicable.
He silently cursed in his heart, though his expression remained calm.Regardless of how vile this scheme was—it had nothing to do with him.
So why had Feng Wuya come all this way just to find him?
He didn't bother to hide his impatience.
"You're going after her, fine.But why involve me?"
"I don't even know her. We've never spoken.Even if you found me, I can't help you."
"And even if I could, why should I?"
"The secret realm quota came directly from Senior Brother Zhou.I owe you nothing."
Feng Wuya didn't seem surprised in the least. His cold eyes gleamed faintly in the dim light of the stone chamber.
He didn't get angry—instead, he calmly tossed out an unmistakable lure.
Yes, a clear, shining bait.
"If you help me this time, I'll tell you a way a certain path to Foundation Establishment."
"This path… I spent nearly ten years uncovering it.It's the safest and most reliable method I know."
"Ordinary people, I would never tell them.But if you help me just this once,I'll swear a Heart Demon Oath and tell you everything."
Qin Yi's brow twitched.
Foundation Establishment.
For any cultivator still trapped within the Qi Refining stage, those two words carried immense weight.
It was the threshold to a higher world,the leap of the carp through the Dragon Gate—the transformation countless cultivators dreamed of, yet could never achieve.
And now, Feng Wuya had placed that very opportunity before him.
If he agreed, he could obtain what others might spend a lifetime chasing.
But Qin Yi didn't bite.He coolly shifted the conversation elsewhere.
"You still haven't answered my first question."
For the first time, a flicker of surprise crossed Feng Wuya's face.
He hadn't expected that even after tossing out Foundation Establishment as bait, Qin Yi's attention would remain steady—focused still on that "unimportant" first question.
To a Qi Refining cultivator, "Foundation Establishment" meant everything.
There wasn't a single one among them who didn't crave it.
And yet this man could remain calm?
Perhaps… he had underestimated him.
For the first time, Feng Wuya's eyes held a trace of respect.He nodded slowly and said,
"Very well. I'll explain the first question now."
"The City Lord calculated that you""are her emotional tribulation."
"Her… what?" Qin Yi almost couldn't keep a straight face.
Emotional tribulation?What kind of nonsense was that?
Since when did cultivation involve love tribulations?
He half-suspected he had wandered into some strange romance novel world.
But Feng Wuya's next words made him quiet again.
"Cultivation is the act of defying the heavens.Even if you do nothing, calamities will still find you.They cannot be avoided, only faced."
"It's said that in ancient times, there were true mighty ones who could foresee their own tribulations.They prepared in advance, or even hid themselves away to escape them."
"But alas, those are only legends now.Such people no longer exist."
"In short, every cultivator has their destined tribulation.You cannot dodge it, you can only overcome it."
"Su Meier knows this well.Which means, she's likely been seeking out someone through whom she can pass this calamity."
"And if I'm not mistaken…""She's already approached you, hasn't she?"
Qin Yi's mind flashed at once to that enchanting face, Su Meier's flirtatious smile, her inexplicable closeness in the Scripture Pavilion.
He frowned deeply, then finally gave a slow nod.
"Yes… there was a woman who suddenly approached me out of nowhere.I didn't know who she was, but now that you mention it… it must have been Su Meier."
A faint smile curved Feng Wuya's lips.
"Then that settles it. You're the perfect means to deal with her."
"My offer stands: help me once, and I'll tell you the Foundation Establishment path."
Qin Yi fell silent again, lost in thought.
Of course, he couldn't pretend he had no interest in Foundation Establishment—that would be far too suspicious.
But he also couldn't possibly help Feng Wuya harm Su Meier.
After all, he wasn't what Feng Wuya thought, he was only a clone.
If he truly wanted to know the path to Foundation Establishment,he could simply have Liu Meng ask Su Meier directly.
Besides, Su Meier was still his greatest backer.And now this lunatic wanted him to join forces with an outsider, to attack her?
Did that sound remotely reasonable?
Worse still, knowing Su Meier's temperament, if she died, she'd likely make all her servants die with her.
That would mean Liu Meng's death as well.
No, that couldn't happen.
He could move against Su Meier, but only when Liu Meng was no longer of use.
Qin Yi finally raised his head after a long silence and said cautiously,
"Even if what you say is true… it's too late, isn't it?"
"We leave for the secret realm tomorrow.How could we possibly have time to act against her now?"
"And even if we succeeded—how would we escape the sect's punishment? The rules forbid private duels.Even if we killed Su Meier, the sect would punish us all the same."