Three Sins Against Heaven

Two months later.

Dylan Chen slowly opened his eyes, drawing a wisp of spiritual energy into his body without relying on Spirit Breaking Pills. An unusual aura surrounded him.

Qi Refinement Level One!

Everyone turned their heads in unison, looking at Dylan with envy. Stepping into Qi Refinement Level One meant he was no longer an ordinary person but a cultivator, just like Brian Qin.

But soon, Dylan spat out a mouthful of black blood, clutching his mouth and coughing uncontrollably. The crowd immediately became restless.

"This is merely the expulsion of impurities from his body. Continue with your tasks," Brian Qin explained indifferently. In a flash, he appeared in front of Dylan, handing him a blood-red pill. With a faint smile, his lips didn't move, but his voice was clear in Dylan's ear, "You're a smart person. Don't seek your own death."

Dylan nodded, swallowed the pill, and said nothing. He simply walked over to sit beside Little Tiger and Ryan Ji, keeping an eye on Little Tiger's movements. Although he didn't know what was about to happen, he sensed that he was about to fall into a dire situation.

Logically, having stepped into Qi Refinement Level One, he was now a true cultivator. But Brian Qin's gaze towards him hadn't changed; it was still cold and contemptuous, as if he could be killed at any moment if he made a wrong move.

This wasn't the gaze of one cultivator looking at another; it was more like looking at an insignificant object.

Dylan glanced at those who hadn't broken through yet and sighed inwardly, withdrawing his gaze. He couldn't speak—speaking would mean death. At this point, he could only protect Little Tiger and Ryan Ji, ensuring they didn't reveal the truth.

His Qi Sea was broken!

Like a balloon with a hole, he didn't know what this meant, but it couldn't be good for his future cultivation.

But he couldn't say it, nor did he dare to.

In fact, Brian Qin wasn't afraid of these people knowing. He just didn't want Dylan to say it out loud, fearing it would affect those who hadn't broken through yet.

Shortly after, Ryan Ji suddenly opened his eyes, spat out a mouthful of black blood, and looked extremely pained.

"Dylan, I..."

Dylan quickly covered Ryan Ji's mouth, leaning close to his ear and whispering, "Listen to me, don't say anything."

Ryan Ji nodded, his fists clenched tightly, enduring the intense pain in his body and the anger in his heart.

Soon, Little Tiger and Carol Yan also broke through, similarly spitting out a mouthful of black blood.

Two hours later, all the youths had broken through, their faces ashen. No one mentioned the broken Qi Sea, only anxiously wondering what they would face next.

Were they really cultivators?

Brian Qin nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.

"Follow me."

The youths looked at the red line that once separated life and death, hesitating to step forward until Brian Qin turned and coldly looked at them, prompting them to muster the courage to cross it.

Passing the bluestone square where they had tested their aptitude, passing through various areas, the youths began to get excited.

Even now, they couldn't believe they had crossed that red line until the mountains appeared before them, finally convincing them.

They had crossed it and were still alive!

Would the future be different?

Looking around, mountains surrounded them with no end in sight. Each mountain had numerous courtyards and cave dwellings.@@novelbin@@

The youths grew more excited. They had finally made it; this was where cultivators should live!

Brian Qin led the group to a stone platform where many people were already standing. Here, Dylan saw everyone who had tested their aptitude with them, including Mark Ye.

With a light wave of his sleeve, Brian Qin sent Dylan, Ryan Ji, Carol Yan, and two other youths towards Mark Ye. The usually cold and ruthless Brian Qin actually smiled at Mark Ye.

"Junior Brother Ye, these are the Spirit Slaves assigned to you this time. Each one has been carefully selected, so you can rest assured."

Spirit Slaves?

Hearing this term, Dylan immediately felt uneasy. It naturally referred to them, and though he didn't know what it meant, it didn't sound good.

And soon, he would find out what being a Spirit Slave truly entailed.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Qin." Mark Ye cupped his fists in salute, glanced at the five of them indifferently, nodded to Brian Qin again, and turned to leave.

The other two youths immediately followed, but Dylan stood still, as did Ryan Ji and Carol Yan.

Brian Qin's eyes narrowed, his voice forming a line that entered Dylan's mind, "Take those two and follow quickly. If you cause trouble now, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Dylan bit his lip, bowed to Brian Qin, and respectfully said, "Sir, could you assign someone else?"

"Hmm?"

Mark Ye stopped, slowly turned around, not looking at Dylan, his eyes calm, waiting for Brian Qin to handle the situation.

Brian Qin's face instantly darkened, and he shouted, "Who do you think you are to make demands? Let me tell you, Junior Brother Ye has exceptional talent and will have astonishing cultivation in the future. Following him is a blessing from your past life, so stop wasting my time!"

He had intended to use this opportunity to befriend Mark Ye, but Dylan's outburst might ruin that plan.

Dylan pointed at Little Tiger, gritting his teeth, "He's my friend. I don't want to be separated from him. Please, show some mercy."

Brian Qin snorted coldly, "If you say one more word, I'll kill him right now!"

Dylan stood frozen, his fists clenched so tightly that his palms turned white, feeling utterly powerless.

He knew Brian Qin was capable of such a thing.

Ryan Ji sighed, patting Dylan's shoulder.

"Let's go."

Dylan was silent for a moment, then turned to Little Tiger with a forced smile, "Little Tiger, take care of yourself. I'll come find you."

"Dylan, don't leave me!" Little Tiger immediately panicked.

"Junior Brother, they are yours. Today's incident is my fault for not managing them well. I will personally apologize in the future." Brian Qin smiled at Mark Ye, releasing a surge of spiritual energy to bind Little Tiger.

Little Tiger struggled desperately but could only watch as Dylan, Ryan Ji, and Carol Yan walked farther away under Brian Qin's spiritual energy restraint.

"Dylan, Dylan!"

Mark Ye turned and left indifferently, not caring whether Dylan and the others followed.

Hearing the heart-wrenching cries behind him, Dylan gritted his teeth and walked quickly away.

Little Tiger, wait for me!

On a green mountain ten miles away, Mark Ye walked to a courtyard halfway up the mountain, forming two hand seals. The light screen covering the courtyard rippled, and the gate slowly opened.

This courtyard was vast and more exquisite than anything Dylan and the others had ever seen. Along the way, no courtyard or cave dwelling they had seen could compare to this one.

It seemed that the treatment of a genius was indeed different from others.

Dylan exchanged a glance with Ryan Ji and followed the two other youths into the courtyard.

The gate closed with a bang, and the light screen rose again, enveloping the courtyard.

It felt less like a courtyard and more like a cage.

Following Mark Ye through twists and turns, they finally reached the depths of the courtyard, where a delicate pavilion appeared. This was undoubtedly Mark Ye's residence.

As for their living quarters, they soon saw the five low huts beside the pavilion. These huts were only slightly better than where they had lived before.

Mark Ye pointed at the huts, "Without my orders, you are not to leave, speak, or slack off in your cultivation."

"Yes," the five replied in unison.

Mark Ye gestured for the other two youths to enter the huts, then walked up to Dylan, Ryan Ji, and Carol Yan, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Is it so difficult to follow me?"