Chapter 81: Prey Delivered Right to the Door

“How dare you ambush me, you must have a death wish!”
Longma shot a glance at the newcomer and, seeing that it was a human, no longer feigned weakness.
Its thousand-li horse body carried an instinctive fear only for high-level demon beasts, never for humans.
So, once it recognized who had arrived, it began cursing loudly.
“It speaks human tongue—it’s a spirit beast!”
“To think that I, Li Yuanfu, would chance upon a spirit beast—this must be fate!”
The middle-aged man was so excited he trembled from head to toe.
“You dare lay a hand on my spirit beast without my permission?”
A dissatisfied voice rang out.
Qingxi, naturally unable to stand by, swiftly closed the distance with a movement technique and placed himself before Li Yuanfu, activating data reading.
[Species: Human]
[Name: Li Yuanfu]
[Spirit Root: Common Grade]
[Cultivation: Early Innate Stage—Peak]
[Note: This man is a direct descendant of the Li Clan, a cultivation family in the Eastern Domain, uncle to Li Xingyao, and one of the clan elders. He is fond of wandering, and though his cultivation is high, he is known for idleness and mediocrity in combat.]
After perusing Li Yuanfu’s information, a faint smile played at Qingxi’s lips.
Had the intruder been an Innate cultivator of formidable strength, he might not have been a match.
But as things stood... even the system labeled the man’s combat ability as unimpressive. If he didn’t teach him a lesson, how could he make up for the bullying of Longma and Little Vajra Ape?
Li Yuanfu shot Qingxi a glance, sensed his aura, and burst out laughing. “Just a mere Qi Refining brat, and you dare covet my spirit beast? How shameless!”
“Shameless, your ancestors! He’s my master! Let me go, or you’ll regret it!” Longma cursed, glaring fiercely at Li Yuanfu, looking ready to bite if not released.
With Qingxi present, it feared nothing.
The little Vajra Ape was also roaring, its face contorted in ferocity.
But, entangled in the net of true qi, it could neither call upon its giant transformation nor exert its immense strength.
Had it been in giant form, its power would easily have broken free from a true qi net cast by an early peak Innate cultivator.
“What? You really are this spirit beast’s master?”
Li Yuanfu looked at Qingxi in disbelief. “It’s said that spirit beasts are proud and unruly—how could one possibly submit to you?”
“Hmph, how vulgar! My master is invincible and the most handsome of all. How could a frog in a well like you ever comprehend him?” Longma’s insults only grew more spirited and loud, making Li Yuanfu grit his teeth in anger.
“Infuriating! Even if I can’t have you, I’ll beat this insolent beast till it’s begging for mercy!” Li Yuanfu raised his hand, ready to strike.
“Stop!”

Qingxi unleashed his signature Sunfire Arrow, drawing the bowstring suddenly—three sharp cracks echoed, and a blazing arrow pierced the air, arriving in a flash.
“Petty tricks!”
Li Yuanfu sidestepped, full of confidence. “Your aim is poor—go practice for another ten years!”
Qingxi lowered the Sunfire Bow and pointed at the ground. “No, I hit my mark.”
Li Yuanfu frowned and looked back, only to find the arrow had severed the spiritual thread connecting him to the net of true qi, cutting off its supply.
At the same time, a crack had appeared across the surface of the net.
“Roar!”
The little Vajra Ape bellowed and, together with Longma, broke free from the collapsing net.
Under Li Yuanfu’s astonished gaze, the previously inconspicuous monkey swelled in size, becoming a two-meter-tall golden-furred giant ape, glowering at him with a cold, almost human, grin.
A surge of blood energy on par with a lower-grade Xuan-level demon beast flooded the area, weighing him down so much he could barely move.
“This…”
Li Yuanfu stood dumbfounded.
He gestured with his hands. “It was just so small, and now—how did it become so large…”
He hadn’t finished when the enraged little Vajra Ape swung a fist, carrying over ten thousand pounds of force.
“Spirit Essence Shield!”
Though Li Yuanfu’s combat prowess was mediocre, he was at least experienced. He hastily raised a rounded shield, but the ape’s furious punch shattered it in two blows.
“Your opponent is me as well!”
Qingxi leapt forward and struck with a perfected Vajra Fist.
Li Yuanfu hadn’t paid Qingxi any mind, blocking with a single-handed spirit shield, but he hadn’t expected the youth’s power to be even more overwhelming. Qingxi’s punch destroyed the shield in one blow.
“What is this strength?”
Li Yuanfu was stunned.
A youth at the peak of Qi Refining, shattering an Innate cultivator’s true qi shield with a single punch—who would believe such a tale?
“It seems I’ve kicked an iron wall!” Li Yuanfu realized the danger and poured more true qi outward, forming a hemispherical protective barrier.
But faced with the relentless fists of Qingxi and the little Vajra Ape, cracks kept appearing on the shield. Though he hastily mended them with more true qi, Li Yuanfu quickly found himself overwhelmed, sweating profusely.
“No, I can’t keep this up much longer.”
“Time to run!”
Fearing that Qingxi might have more helpers, Li Yuanfu dared not linger. With a burst of energy, he flung Qingxi and the little Vajra Ape aside and dashed away.
“Not so fast!”
A flash of white streaked through the air and slammed into Li Yuanfu’s back, knocking him to the ground with a cry.

The attacker was none other than the infuriated Longma.
Though not strong in battle, its speed was formidable—especially when charging at full tilt, its impact rivaled even Qingxi’s punch.
However, Longma felt a bit dizzy from the blow.
“Galloping Steed Tramples the Swallow!”
Shaking off the dizziness, Longma stomped down hard with all four hooves on Li Yuanfu’s back.
Li Yuanfu hurried to conjure another shield, but the little Vajra Ape lunged and smashed it with a single punch.
Qingxi seized the chance to land another blow, knocking Li Yuanfu unconscious.
“Serves you right for bullying me! Now you know who’s boss!” Longma pranced proudly atop Li Yuanfu’s back, its little steps full of satisfaction.
It realized that, when it wasn’t cowering, it could be quite formidable.
Qingxi, without hesitation, removed Li Yuanfu’s storage bracelet, a smile growing at his lips.
Though only a low-grade bracelet, it contained a trove of spirit herbs and demon beast materials—enough to exchange for at least two thousand points.
“Master, what should we do with this man?”
Longma pointed at the unconscious Li Yuanfu with its hoof.
“No hurry; he’ll be of great use tonight.”
Qingxi dragged the unconscious Li Yuanfu back to the old tower.
Qiu Yingying emerged from the inner room, and, seeing the bound Li Yuanfu, let out a soft gasp. “Isn’t this the Li Clan’s seventh elder? How did you catch him?”
The Li Clan was a renowned cultivation family in the Eastern Domain, on par with the Wang Clan, where Wang Miao hailed from. Each had a peak Innate cultivator overseeing their affairs, ranking just below the four great sects in influence.
Qiu Yingying had once taken note of the Li Clan and recognized all their Innate experts, so she had no trouble identifying Li Yuanfu.
Qingxi quickly recounted the entire incident.
“I never would have thought the three of you, working together, could capture an early peak Innate cultivator. I’m impressed,” Qiu Yingying said, surprised, though she had no doubts about his account.
After all, the giant-formed little Vajra Ape rivaled a lower Xuan-grade demon beast and could hold Li Yuanfu at bay alone.
With Qingxi’s Sunfire Arrow, especially when drawn to five notches, its power was no less than an early peak Innate’s.
And Longma, at the top of the human-grade beasts, made short work of someone like Li Yuanfu, whose fighting skills were average.
Before long, Li Yuanfu regained consciousness.
His eyes fluttered open, only to see Longma’s wicked grin—and he jumped in fright.