Chapter 329: Brother Ye, I've Avenged You!
In that instant, everyone froze.
Cheng Xian and the other Human Immortals from the Mystic Spirit Realm were stunned that such a move could kill someone, while the Sword Pavilion members were simply shocked that Ye Xingfeng could be killed so easily.
Ye Guyue's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.
'Impossible!'
Although Ye Xingfeng was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and hadn't yet reached perfection, he possessed an exceptionally high-quality sword pill. His actual combat prowess was undoubtedly formidable among mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
How could he have been fatally wounded by Cheng Xian in a single strike?
This made no sense!
Thinking this, Ye Guyue abruptly shifted her gaze, locking onto Lü Yang's sorrowful expression. "...It was you! You dared to harm one of our Sword Pavilion's True Persons?"
"Fellow Daoist, don't speak nonsense."
Lü Yang sighed, his face unable to conceal his grief. "Brother Ye and I hit it off immediately, and we had no prior grievances. Why would I harm him?"
Lü Yang had thought these words would be enough to silence Ye Guyue.
However, he had underestimated the Sword Pavilion True Persons' lack of principles. Upon hearing this, Ye Guyue assumed an expression of righteous indignation and declared without hesitation:
"Of course it's because we wanted you dead!"
"You must have discerned Xingfeng's and my intentions, so you deliberately set a trap to kill him! A rogue cultivator who can't recognize kindness... truly a demon of Jiangbei!"
At these words, Lü Yang stared directly at Ye Guyue, only to find her utterly unrepentant, growing even more convinced of her own righteousness. "If you had died and reincarnated, you might have had the fortune to join our Sword Pavilion in your next life. Who would have thought you'd be so malicious!"
"Ungrateful wretch!"
With this thought, Ye Guyue's gaze toward Lü Yang brimmed with killing intent. Lü Yang, in turn, adopted an even more aggrieved expression.
"Fellow Daoist Ye, I'm also heartbroken by Brother Ye's death."
He sighed and continued, "But with enemies before us, shouldn't we unite against them first? We can't sacrifice the greater good for minor grievances."
"You— Hmph!"
Ye Guyue wasn't foolish enough to start infighting mid-battle, but she refused to cooperate with Lü Yang, deliberately distancing herself from him instead.
Seeing this, Lü Yang appeared even more wronged and couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
'What a shame. I can't take advantage of the chaos to eliminate a second one.'
—Ye Guyue's guess was entirely correct.
Yes, it was his doing.
Cheng Xian's full-power strike alone could never have killed Ye Xingfeng. Even caught off guard, Ye Xingfeng wouldn't have been critically wounded in a single blow.
But with Lü Yang's interference, it was a different story.
'[Sea of Sorrow Infusion] allows me to dissolve into qi, becoming formless and immune to divine abilities, while the smoke from my transformed body obscures others' divine senses!'
Ye Xingfeng had been fatally wounded by Cheng Xian's strike precisely because the [Sea of Sorrow Infusion] had blinded his divine sense. He hadn't sensed Cheng Xian's attack until it struck him—by then, it was too late. His divine abilities were rendered useless before he could even react.
'This is for hunting me down overseas in your past life!'
Lü Yang concealed his grief, inwardly sneering as he withdrew his gaze from Ye Guyue's alluring figure. Revenge was never something he rushed.
There would be plenty of time!
With this thought, Lü Yang turned his attention back to Cheng Xian, who remained composed. To him, who died didn't matter.
What mattered was that someone had died.
'At least one major threat is gone. That makes things easier for me...'
Cheng Xian pondered, glancing once more at Lü Yang before decisively retreating. Instead of engaging him head-on, he charged toward Yu Shao's position.
Soft targets first!
'This man's divine abilities are too unpredictable. I can't reclaim the Shen Metal from him quickly. Rather than waste time, I should secure at least one objective.'
Cheng Xian's reasoning was sound, but Lü Yang wouldn't give him the chance. With a thunderous explosion, Lü Yang's body dispersed into a vast sea of smoke, swallowing Cheng Xian whole. Within the mist, countless illusions emerged, each designed to stir Cheng Xian's inner turmoil.
"[Clarity]! [Purity]! [Awakening]!"
Standing amidst the smoke, Cheng Xian continuously uttered True Words, flames of heavenly light spilling from his lips and incinerating the surrounding illusions.
Had he been at full strength, he wouldn't have minded a prolonged battle with Lü Yang.
But his magic power was severely depleted. If he didn't secure victory soon, the injuries he had previously suppressed would return—and he'd perish without even needing to fight.
Lü Yang saw this clearly.
Thus, his strategy was simple: stall!
'[Sea of Sorrow Infusion] combined with [Essence of All Flowers] lacks direct offensive power, but in terms of confusion and entanglement, it's unparalleled!'
Moreover, the longer the battle dragged on, the more proficient Lü Yang became with the [Sea of Sorrow Infusion]. Even as Cheng Xian burned away the smoke with his True Words, the nature of the [Sea of Sorrow Infusion] ensured its persistence—born from the mind itself. As long as Cheng Xian's focus wavered, his own thoughts would fuel the illusions.
For every illusion destroyed, a new one would arise!
The result was Cheng Xian's magic power dwindling while his spirit teetered on collapse. Lü Yang, meanwhile, reaped the rewards without expending any effort.
'And I haven't even borrowed the Grand True Person's authority yet!'
By now, he had gathered four divine abilities. If he drew upon the Myriad Spirits Banner's power to elevate his two Void divine abilities to their rightful status...
He would instantly reach late-stage Foundation Establishment!
Though the duration would be brief and backlash severe, it would grant him combat power at the Grand True Person level—enough to turn the tide at a critical moment.
'No rush. Using it now would be wasteful.'
Lü Yang was well aware of how deceptive his current state appeared. Who would expect a rogue cultivator, not even perfected in mid-stage Foundation Establishment, to suddenly ascend to Grand True Person status?
Yet while he remained composed, Cheng Xian was on the verge of collapse.
'If this continues, I'm dead!'
Amidst the swirling smoke, Cheng Xian's expression darkened. Cracks began to spread across his previously flawless body—the suppressed injuries were returning.
At this moment, the life-and-death crisis finally overwhelmed his inexplicable fixation.
'Perhaps... retreat?'
'Why am I even fighting this battle? I have a bright future in the Mystic Spirit Realm. Staying here to risk my life is pointless.'
With this thought, Cheng Xian's resolve to flee solidified.
But would Lü Yang let him? In truth, Cheng Xian's desire to retreat had been deliberately provoked by the [Sea of Sorrow Infusion]!
"Boom!"
In an instant, a glint of golden light erupted within the smoke, unnoticed as it silently approached Cheng Xian's back.
Then came a deafening explosion. Cheng Xian's body had no time to react—just like Ye Xingfeng before his death. By the time he realized what was happening, Lü Yang's blade had already pierced his flesh. Boiling sword qi, akin to raging flames, surged through his limbs and bones.
[Yuan Tu Treasure Talisman]!
Since he was amidst the Sword Pavilion forces, Lü Yang couldn't use the Saint Sect's techniques. Instead, he unleashed all the sword qi talismans he had crafted independently.
And poured them into Cheng Xian's body in one go.
"No, don't—"
Before Cheng Xian could finish, countless sword qi erupted, riddling his body with holes.
To make matters worse, the severe damage destabilized his divine abilities, causing all his previously suppressed injuries to return at once.
The backlash exceeded his limits.
"Crack!"
With a resounding explosion, Cheng Xian's body shattered into fragments, which Lü Yang swiftly collected into the Myriad Spirits Banner.
Simultaneously, he didn't forget to shout: "Brother Ye, I've avenged you!"
With Cheng Xian dead, the already shaken Human Immortals of the Mystic Spirit Realm grew even more terrified.
And then—
"Boom!"
A thunderous roar echoed as the clouds parted.
Above the heavens, the azure-white hues finally dissipated, revealing the Demon-Slaying True Person Ye Guangji. His [No Killing] sword had already been sheathed.
His expression remained melancholic, filled with sorrowful sighs.
Yet in stark contrast to his demeanor, blood dripped steadily from his hands—holding the severed heads of Immortal Minghua and three Earth Immortals!