Chapter 466: Killing for the First Time
If encountering a gargoyle worth twenty to thirty thousand gold coins on the way out of Jing Yang Mountain Range was a pleasant surprise for Qi Han, then pulling out this torso spirit bone from its body was a delight on top of delight.
A normal ten-thousand-year spirit bone started at one hundred thousand gold coins.
This one came from a twenty-thousand-year gargoyle, its starting price would be at least one hundred and fifty thousand.
Among the six spirit bone positions, the most valuable were the head and torso bones. It was common for these two to cost twice as much as other spirit bones.
By that calculation, the gargoyle torso bone in Qi Han's hand could fetch at least three hundred thousand gold coins.
During the previous five days, after killing so many Golden Silk Demonic Apes, he had only obtained a thousand-year left leg bone, probably worth just over ten thousand gold coins. It was nothing compared to this harvest.
But before he could celebrate for long, a sharp "Watch out!" suddenly reached his ears. At the same time, he felt a gust of cold wind rushing toward him.
That male Spirit Engineer?
Qi Han felt both shock and anger.
He wasn't a block of wood, of course he had noticed the other party. But he hadn't taken him seriously at all. They didn't even know each other; there should have been no conflict between them.
Yet the other party had suddenly exploded into action, attempting to ambush him.
"Pururu!"
"Meow!"
With a soft call, Pururu—who had been lying on Qi Han's shoulder—instantly flashed away with him. When they reappeared, they were already behind Qi Sen.
The fully prepared strike shattered only an afterimage. Qi Sen's face still carried a trace of confusion.
Was it that simple? Dead just like that?
No— it was an afterimage!
He suddenly turned his head and saw Qi Han staring at him coldly. On the kitchen knife in Qi Han's hand, five ten-thousand-year spirit rings shimmered with a chilling glow.
Five rings?
A Fifth-Level Spirit Engineer?
No— why were all five spirit rings ten-thousand-year rings…?
Suddenly, Qi Sen remembered hearing the guards at the entrance of Jing Yang Mountain Range discussing another Fifth-Level Spirit Engineer when he first entered.
Could it be…
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but it was already too late.
As Qi Han unleashed a strike combining all five skills, in the next instant Qi Sen was swallowed by terrifying flames.
The gargoyle had been split in two because its body was inherently powerful. But when Qi Sen faced the same strike, under the nearly ultimate fire temperature, he was instantly reduced to ashes, leaving only a few spirit tools clattering onto the ground.
"..."
Letting out a soft breath, Qi Han's expression showed intense inner struggle.
This was the first time he had killed someone since transmigrating.
Previously, in the Star Dou Forest, when facing the father and son who had tried to seize Pururu and Zhui Yun, he had not delivered a killing blow.
After all, having received years of compulsory education, even after suddenly arriving in Douluo Continent and gaining great power, there were still traces of his former self that he could not erase.
Meng Yun subconsciously covered her mouth, her pupils shrinking slightly. Watching Qi Han reduce Qi Sen to ashes with a single strike, she couldn't decide whether to flee immediately to prevent being silenced, or remain to express gratitude for saving her life.
This man was also at five rings, but he didn't seem to be a Fifth-Level Spirit Engineer.
Five black spirit rings… what kind of physical constitution would it take to absorb such terrifying spirit rings?
With such overwhelming combat strength, could he be the rare control-type Spirit Engineer who specializes in manipulating spirit tools?
But that didn't seem right either. Control-type Spirit Engineers do not craft spirit tools themselves, but can manipulate them to unleash powerful force. Yet he hadn't used any spirit tools at all.
That knife… should be his martial spirit.
Meng Yun was filled with questions, but she didn't dare to speak at this moment.
Only after a long while did the young man before her—eyes tightly shut, expression strained—suddenly speak.
"You know that guy?"
"Huh?" Meng Yun snapped back to her senses. "Yes… we're from the same academy."
"Can you tell me about him?"
"Ah… o-okay."
Although she didn't know why Qi Han was asking, Meng Yun obediently told him everything she knew about Qi Sen.
As Qi Han listened, his expression gradually eased.
From the way the man had framed this female Spirit Engineer and tried to ambush him while he was distracted, it was obvious he wasn't a good person. But after hearing Meng Yun describe all of Qi Sen's past misdeeds, the psychological burden Qi Han felt from killing someone for the first time lightened considerably.
That guy truly deserved to die.
But… this girl and that man were from the same academy?
And they were actually students of the Sun Moon Royal Spirit Engineer Academy?
Would she report this to the academy and bring him trouble?
Killing to silence a witness was something Qi Han simply couldn't do. Thinking of this, he couldn't help frowning.
Seeming to read his thoughts, Meng Yun hurriedly waved her hands. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Qi Han looked into her eyes and silently nodded.
Her gaze was sincere. More importantly, she had no reason to reveal the matter.
After all, that man named Qi Sen had almost killed her just now, she must harbor hatred toward him as well.
For now, he would believe her.
"In that case, let's part ways here," Qi Han said.
With that, he was about to swing himself onto Zhui Yun's back and leave.
"Please wait!" Seeing him about to depart, Meng Yun quickly called out.
"What is it?"
"You saved my life. I don't know how to repay such a debt."
"Huh?" Qi Han turned to look at her again. Seeing the firm expression on her face, he couldn't help but laugh softly. "No need. I just happened to kill the gargoyle. If you really want to repay me, then consider keeping this a secret as your repayment. If the Sun Moon Royal Spirit Engineer Academy finds out, it would be quite troublesome for me."
As he spoke, he lightly pressed his legs against Zhui Yun's sides, signaling it to move.
Watching Qi Han's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Meng Yun stood there in a daze. Then she stamped her foot in frustration.
She should have asked his name. Perhaps they might meet again someday.
Looking down at the Level 5 storage spirit tool Qi Sen had left behind, Meng Yun shook her head.
She would have to bring this back and hand it over to the academy. As for the cause of Qi Sen's death, she would need to come up with a reasonably airtight explanation on the way back.
…
For Qi Han, Meng Yun was merely a minor episode. He quickly put the girl out of his mind. Aside from the lingering discomfort of killing someone for the first time, all his attention was now focused on the ten-thousand-year gargoyle torso spirit bone in his hand.
Although he had seen quite a few ten-thousand-year spirit bones at the Starlight Auction before, this was the first time he had personally held one and examined it. Naturally, he felt a bit curious.
But after staring at it for quite a while, he silently stored it back into his system space.
He couldn't figure out anything from it. Aside from a few ferocious spikes and patterns compared to a normal spine, it seemed like nothing special.
Where should he sell this spirit bone and that pile of materials in his system space?
Mingdu City?
The thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately shook his head.
Too high-profile. That didn't align with his goal of keeping a low profile during this trip to the Sun Moon Empire.
Better to find a large city nearby to sell everything first, then head to Mingdu City afterward.
With that in mind, Qi Han pulled up the map and quickly found a large city near Jing Yang Mountain Range called Banlan City.
"Zhui Yun, head that way."
"Neigh!"
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Latest Chapter: Chapter 505: Qi Han's Choice[1]
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/posts/becoming-food-in-155496005
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