Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Dagger Revealed

Lu Han took a grade-one Golden Healing Pill from his storage ring, crushed it, and sprinkled it over the injured leg of the Soul-stealing Mink.

“Little one, I only took your blood because I had no other choice. I should thank you, really. Don’t let yourself get caught again,” Lu Han said, gently placing the creature on the ground.

The Soul-stealing Mink squeaked twice, as if expressing its gratitude for being spared, then paused at the cave entrance to look back at Lu Han with a grateful gaze before vanishing.

“Isn’t it said that only beasts at the Earth King realm begin to develop intelligence? This little mink seems far more human-like!” Lu Han muttered, puzzled by the creature's expressive glance—it was only at the Innate realm.

Not long after the Soul-stealing Mink left, Jia Cheng’s illusion was dispelled.

Jia Cheng looked bewildered at first, then shook his head as realization dawned. He’d had no defense against the soul attack from the Soul-stealing Mink. The illusion he’d experienced had felt so real—he’d even seen the Scorpion Demon Leng Zhuang, whom he feared most. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he asked, “Brother Lu, where’s the Soul-stealing Mink?”

Jia Cheng glanced around, seeing no trace of the creature. Had Lu Han hidden it in his storage ring? He quickly dismissed the thought—everyone knew living beings couldn’t be stored in a ring. Had the mink escaped? Was Lu Han’s method for capturing it useless after all?

“The Soul-stealing Mink? It’s gone,” Lu Han replied with a shrug.

“Gone? So your supposed method for capturing it didn’t work?” Jia Cheng’s voice grew cold.

“It worked. I caught it, took two small vials of blood—one for you.” Lu Han handed Jia Cheng a tiny bottle.

Jia Cheng examined the vial, its blood crimson tinged with purple. He could tell it was truly the Soul-stealing Mink’s blood; its blood was unmistakably unique.

“You actually let it go? Do you have any idea how many gold coins one would fetch from the Wen family? And you just let it slip away?” Jia Cheng’s face twisted with anger.

“I told you from the start, all I needed was the mink’s blood. Now I’ve given you half of what I obtained. I haven’t broken our agreement, have I?” Lu Han replied.

“Just this tiny bottle of blood? I provided the clue, accompanied you to the Evil Wind Cave, and this is all I get? That can’t be right, Brother Lu!” Jia Cheng said coldly.

“To my knowledge, only a few drops are needed to cure poison. You know better than I do the value of this vial—it could cure at least ten people, couldn’t it?” Lu Han responded.

“Then why did you let the Soul-stealing Mink go on your own? We agreed to split it; I should’ve had a say in releasing it. But what’s done is done. Just give me the method for capturing the mink and we’ll call it even. What do you say?” Jia Cheng shifted his tone.

“You want the method, Brother Jia? But I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to master it,” Lu Han said, his expression odd.

He wasn’t lying—Jia Cheng truly couldn’t learn it. Unless he had a sapphire ring with an old man inside, as Lu Han did. The whole capture was really the work of Lu Han’s master, Old Man Ling; Lu Han himself was only incidental.

“So, you’re not willing to cooperate?” Jia Cheng’s face grew fiercer.

“What do you mean by that, Brother Jia?” Lu Han asked.

“Bah! An insignificant martial artist in the Postnatal realm dares address me as brother! If you know what’s good for you, hand over the method for capturing the Soul-stealing Mink. If I’m pleased, I might let you live,” Jia Cheng laughed, as if everything was under his control.

“So you intend to take it by force,” Lu Han said, his voice unchanged.

“Haha, exactly. Today I'll teach you a lesson! In the Chaos Soul Plains, you can trust no one but yourself! As for tuition, I’ve decided: the method for capturing the mink, and your sword is quite nice too.”

Jia Cheng pointed at the sword Lu Han carried on his back—the Azure Vault Sword. He’d recognized its value the moment he saw it.

He wasn't much interested in Lu Han’s storage ring. How wealthy could a Postnatal junior possibly be compared to him?

But Jia Cheng was mistaken. Lu Han’s current wealth could rival that of an average Xuan Lord.

“So this was your plan all along,” Lu Han said.

“I’m curious, how can you remain so calm? There’s only the two of us nearby; you can’t escape. You’d best cooperate,” Jia Cheng said coolly.

In truth, Jia Cheng had no intention of letting Lu Han live. The moment Lu Han revealed his method, his life would end.

But could Jia Cheng really do it?

“I’ve already given you your chance. I was grateful you brought me here, but now… Only one of us will walk out of here,” Lu Han said, stepping forward. With a burst of force, the stones beneath his feet were crushed.

“Haha, what a joke! It’s not one of us, it’s me! You’ll remain here in the Evil Wind Cave forever,” Jia Cheng laughed wildly, nearly shedding tears from amusement.

Postnatal Ninth Heaven versus Innate First Heaven—there was hardly any comparison.

“I, Jia Cheng, am feeling merciful today. If you cooperate, I’ll make your death swift,” Jia Cheng said with a cruel grin.

“And if I refuse?” Lu Han’s energy surged throughout his body.

“Then I’ll take it myself!” Jia Cheng shouted.

Lu Han was testing his patience with his arrogance. Just a Postnatal martial artist, yet his tone suggested he didn’t even regard Jia Cheng. When had Jia Cheng ever been looked down upon by a junior? His eyes flashed with murderous intent.

“I’d like to see if your Innate First Heaven peak is all it’s cracked up to be,” Lu Han said quietly.

A ringing sound—the Azure Vault Sword left its scabbard.

The temperature in the cave seemed to drop dramatically.

Lu Han stepped forward, moving like a bolt of lightning toward Jia Cheng. The ground beneath him cracked as he passed.

“You dare draw your sword against me?” Jia Cheng’s brows shot up.

Lu Han was actually taking the initiative. In his experience, Postnatal martial artists encountering an Innate realm would try to escape, running as far as possible.

Yet Lu Han did the opposite, attacking first.

“Let me show you the gap between you and the Innate realm.”

A flash of golden light—Jia Cheng drew his prized weapon, the Golden Light Mace, from his storage ring.

A clash—the Azure Vault Sword struck the Golden Light Mace. Both men retreated furiously, evenly matched.

Lu Han’s face was expressionless as he stared at Jia Cheng.

Shockwaves roiled within Jia Cheng’s heart. Though they’d only exchanged one blow, Lu Han’s strength exceeded his own.

When their weapons collided, Jia Cheng’s entire hand felt as if it had been frozen.

Though they seemed evenly matched, Lu Han was only at Postnatal Ninth Heaven, and had just broken through. If he were also at the Innate realm, Jia Cheng might already be on the ground.

“Who is this Lu Han, really? Is he truly from a minor family, as he claims?” Jia Cheng wondered.

“Is your name really Lu Han?” Jia Cheng’s expression flickered uncertainly, as if lost in thought.

“Without a doubt,” Lu Han replied.

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