# 464
**Chapter 464: Yiyu’s Transfer Order**
After drawing that final stroke, Cao Yuan collapsed as though all strength had left him.
The black fiendish flames dissipated into the air. Drenched in sweat, he lifted his head, eyes bloodshot. Baili Pangpang had already stowed the relic that had been binding him and helped him up from the ground.
“Training time’s over?” Cao Yuan asked weakly.
An Qingyu nodded. “Time’s up.”
“Old Cao, you’ve tortured me all afternoon,” Baili Pangpang wiped sweat from his brow and tapped his own head. “Listening to your creepy laughter for hours—I’m still hearing echoes…”
“……”
Cao Yuan looked down at the tic-tac-toe grid on the floor. In the bottom-right square, a huge “X” sprawled across four spaces.
By the rules of tic-tac-toe, the mark was pure cheating, but that didn’t matter. Managing to scratch out any symbol while in his demonized state was a critical step toward mastering 【Black King’s Annihilation Slash】.
This attempt had shown him the key.
“Where’s Lin Qiye? Still at it?” An Qingyu remembered something and asked.
“He and Jialan went outside to train. No idea how it’s going…” Baili Pangpang glanced at the clock; it was getting late. “Let’s go look. Almost dinner time.”
The three left the warehouse, circled around, and finally heard distant booms.
Golden pillars of light lanced skyward, punching holes through heavy clouds. Blinding fire and darkness surged where the beams rose, terrifying energy rippling outward.
Cao Yuan’s expression twisted. “You sure… they’re just training?”
“Let’s get closer.”
They sprinted toward the noise and stopped at the edge of a scarred battlefield, stunned.
A blue figure and a black figure slammed together mid-air. Darkness and golden spear-light split the sky in two. Spectacular blossoms of flame bloomed overhead, mushroom clouds rising…
Lin Qiye gripped 【Prayer Abyss】 in his left hand, 【White Slash】 in his right. A silver cube hovered before him, and beneath his feet a colossal tree trunk coiled, its roots boring deep into the shattered earth.
He was covered in wounds, hair wild, face streaked with dirt and grime—looking like he’d crawled out of a brutal war!
“Jialan… that’s enough!” Lin Qiye shouted.
Whoosh—!!
A golden beam skimmed past him, inches from vaporizing him. Jialan stood on the ground, 【Celestial Gate】 leveled, killing intent cold. Her spear flicked, instantly skewering the towering tree through and through.
Baili Pangpang and the others were dumbstruck.
“They train that hard?” Baili Pangpang clicked his tongue. “Compared to them, Old Cao in demon-mode is kinda… cute.”
Cao Yuan’s mouth twitched.
“Jialan, really, time’s up!”
“Jialan, my bad—sincere apology!”
“Lunch is on me—two extra drumsticks! No, three!”
“……”
Lin Qiye zig-zagged through the air, dodging golden spears while pleading until his tongue nearly fell off.
At the mention of drumsticks, Jialan’s spear hesitated. After so long, her anger had mostly burned out. Since he was being so generous… maybe she could call it quits?
She raised four fingers.
“Deal! Four drumsticks! Done!” Lin Qiye exhaled in relief.
Only then did Jialan retract 【Celestial Gate】, snort at Lin Qiye, and stride back toward the warehouse.
Baili Pangpang and company hastily stepped aside.
“Qiye, your training is… intense,” Cao Yuan said solemnly. “Anyone watching would think Jialan was trying to kill you.”
Lin Qiye: …
“Back to eat.” He waved them off, too tired to talk, and trudged toward the warehouse.
Half an hour later.
Baili Pangpang, Cao Yuan, and An Qingyu stared at their empty bowls, then at the single drumstick in Zhou Ping’s bowl, then at Jialan’s bowl overflowing with drumsticks, and fell into deep thought…
“Qiye, why don’t we get any?” Baili Pangpang couldn’t help asking.
Lin Qiye pondered. “Because you three can’t beat me.”
“……”
——
Church of the Ancient Gods.
Yiyu, seated on a throne of thorns, looked down at the two figures below, satisfaction in his eyes.
“Excellent. Not only did you complete the mission and kill Baili Tuming, you even slew Baili Xin—beyond my expectations.”
Ninth Seat bowed. “Lord Yiyu, killing Baili Xin was chiefly Shen Qingzhu’s doing.”
Yiyu raised a brow, turning to the silent Shen Qingzhu, admiration deepening.
“Shen Qingzhu, well done. With Baili Xin and Baili Tuming dead, the Baili Group will be headless; their monopoly on Great Xia relics will crumble. A great boon for both the Church of the Ancient Gods and the 【Believers】.”
Shen Qingzhu inclined his head. “Thank you, Lord Yiyu.”
Yiyu seemed to recall something. “Next, I need you in Lintang City.”
“Lintang?” Ninth Seat asked. “Both of us again?”
“Not just you. Third Seat is already there; Seventh Seat is en route.”
Shen Qingzhu frowned, puzzled.
Ninth Seat pondered. “Lord Yiyu, what is our mission…?”
“Third Seat will brief you when you arrive.” Yiyu spoke calmly. “Once my main body finishes its current affair, I’ll join you.”
Ninth Seat nodded, asked no more, and left with Shen Qingzhu.
“Four Believers sent to Lintang at once—that’s nearly our entire remaining strength. What’s in Lintang?” Shen Qingzhu murmured outside.
“No idea,” Ninth Seat shook his head. “But Lord Yiyu has his reasons. We obey.”