Chapter 696

Chapter 696: Yao Hongchen

"Understood, Elder." Having witnessed the techniques Ye Yun had displayed, the two finally understood his true power. With a single hand, he could effortlessly slaughter a Fifth Level Nascent Soul cultivator. His strength likely allowed him to ascend to the Earth Immortal realm at any moment. The only reason for his delay was probably the Xumi Treasure.

"Sigh, why do these Earth Immortal realm great cultivators refuse to ascend and instead compete with us for the Xumi Treasure’s benefits?" Exchanging helpless glances, they sighed after deducing Ye Yun’s cultivation level. Resigned to fate, they lowered their heads and guided Ye Yun, not daring to harbor rebellious thoughts.

As they departed, Ye Yun murmured into empty space as if conversing with someone. Moments later, he accelerated to match Qiu Xiao and Wan Sha’s flying speed.

"A Thunder Spirit Qi cultivator. Truly someone from a lineage where escape isn’t even possible." Transforming into lightning, Ye Yun’s speed far surpassed theirs. Knowing they couldn’t fight or flee, the two bitterly smiled and continued leading. Along the way, numerous Nascent Soul cultivators shot them strange looks. Qiu Xiao and Wan Sha kept their heads down, accepting their predicament.

"Elder, the canyon lies just a few hundred miles ahead." Observing wind patterns, Qiu Xiao reminded Ye Yun while preparing to leave after completing their task.

"Oh?" Ye Yun tilted his head at the retreating Qiu Xiao.

"Elder, Qiu Xiao likely intends to warn ambushers and trap you!" Seizing the chance, Wan Sha urgently whispered by Ye Yun’s ear.

"Damned fool! Next opportunity, I’ll slaughter you!" Qiu Xiao seethed inwardly. Their rivalry had persisted since the first layer, neither willing to relent.

"Possible indeed. Why not accompany me all the way into Medicine King Valley?" Ye Yun smirked at them.

"Elder jests! Using us as shields would cost our lives!" Trembling, Qiu Xiao and Wan Sha pleaded in unison: "Spare us lowly cultivators! If distrust remains, take him instead!"

"Ha! Such camaraderie—you’ll both come." Ye Yun laughed heartily.

Swallowing curses, the rivals glared murderously at each other, infuriated by their mutual exposure.

"An approaching Sixth Level Nascent Soul cultivator. Prepare." Ye Yun calmly noted their lingering hostility.

"Sixth Level!" Their brows twitched. Desperately, they schemed to kill the foe, escape, and entrap Ye Yun.

"Fight. If he lives, you die." Ye Yun threatened, oddly entertained as he withdrew from intervening.

"Trying to steal grain only to lose rice—now we pay with lives!" They grimaced at the approaching killer. Ye Yun stood smiling, two shadows seemingly guarding him.

"Scram, Fourth Level brats! Killing you sullies my hands!" The Arrogant Man sneered down at them.

"Fitting—we’ll dirty ours with your filth!" Though outmatched, Qiu Xiao couldn’t tolerate insults.

"Seeking death? Granted!" The man’s face darkened as his purple Immortal Sword flashed.

"Hopeless…" The duo struggled against the onslaught, their plight dire.

"Where’s that dirty blood now? Continue!" The Arrogant Man roared as they bled.

"Pah! Flaunting filthy blood—how did trash like you reach Nascent Soul?" They mocked, knowing taunts unhinged privileged youths.

Injured yet relentless, they watched their foe redden with rage. As the man attacked recklessly—

"Die." Ye Yun’s symbol unleashed mental force, shattering the man’s consciousness mid-air. Seizing the moment, Qiu Xiao and Wan Sha pierced his falling body.

"So… easy?" Stunned by their victory, they turned to Ye Yun with wry smiles—his assistance had been decisive.

"Thanks, Elder." They bowed deeply.

"Expected nothing. Merely nudged fate." Ye Yun glanced dismissively.

Only they knew the truth—without Ye Yun’s intervention, they’d have perished. This "favor" stemmed from his manufactured crisis.

"Must’ve obtained soul power."

"Tch. Lucky bastards."

"It seems that kid at the seventh-level Golden Core stage is unusual – he must be concealing his true aura as someone at the Seventh Level of the Nascent Soul stage."

Qiu Xiao and Wan Sha couldn’t kill the Arrogant Man, and the only one who’d acted here was Ye Yun. The ambushers in the green woods had been too frightened to strike, though a few Seventh Level Nascent Soul stage cultivators remained unwilling to give up on the tens of thousands of top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones.

To them, Ye Yun now resembled a supreme Immortal artifact – dangerous yet invaluable enough to justify the risk. Several cultivators joined forces to surround him. Ye Yun’s smile vanished as towering flames erupted from his palm. Fire Spirit Qi swirled around him like a coiled dragon, deterring further attacks.

"Sea of Heavenly Fire!"

His emotionless voice carried deadly finality. When the crimson tide materialized, it crashed through the canyon like molten waves. Nascent Soul cultivators caught in the deluge turned to ash within the magma. Ye Yun paid no heed, circulating the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique to replenish his depleted Fire Spirit Qi.

Qiu Xiao and Wan Sha paled upon witnessing this technique. What cultivation level could unleash such Divine Arts? Even Earth Immortal realm experts might not surpass this power. "Eliminate enough and the rest will scatter," Ye Yun observed coldly, directing his magma sea to consume everything. Each incineration strengthened the flaming tide, making it increasingly terrifying.

The ancient giant trees resisted the inferno, but Ye Yun didn’t care. Millennia-old defenses mattered little – he only needed to clear the pests.

"Elder’s mastery of the divine path sets an example for all cultivators. This humble Qiu Xiao admires you deeply." Knowing Ye Yun’s status must be extraordinary, Qiu Xiao fawned openly. Wan Sha followed suit, realizing befriending this terrifying expert might prove life-saving.

The path ahead widened significantly after the magma subsided.

"Much clearer now." Watching magma pools surface before him, Ye Yun guessed Medicine King Valley’s intervention. With a crack of his Fire Dragon Whip, he recalled the molten streams.

Several figures emerged ahead, silently observing.

"Might this venerable one have come to Medicine King Valley regarding soul power?" The speaker couldn’t discern Ye Yun’s true cultivation level – outwardly seventh-level Golden Core, yet possessing power surpassing Nascent Soul stage. They cautiously addressed him as a suppressed Earth Immortal realm expert.

"Who are you?" Ye Yun asked gently.

"This one is Yao Hongchen, leader of the Medicine King Alliance." The woman with crimson eyes bowed deeply. "By the Valley Master’s grace, I implore you not to treat lives as playthings."

Facing unknown power, she swallowed her pride. When Ye Yun approached her alliance, she’d rushed to prevent destruction.

"Yao Hongchen?" Ye Yun’s eyes narrowed. "I slew someone named Yao Feng. Any relation?"

Yao Hongchen’s eyebrow twitched before she smiled. "We never got along. That manipulative wastrel deserved punishment – I’d prepared the Suppressing Fire Pearl to teach him humility. Your slaying did us all a favor!"

"Then cooperation seems possible." Ye Yun nodded, aware her story contained half-truths – the poison in that "lesson" had already crippled 70% of Yao Feng’s cultivation.

"The honor would be ours. Please visit our alliance with your companions to discuss further." She gestured invitingly.

Ye Yun strode forward without hesitation. Qiu Xiao and Wan Sha exchanged uneasy glances before following.

_This one might clear obstacles for me,_ Yao Hongchen mused, crimson eyes glinting coldly as she trailed them. Being Medicine King Valley’s sole heir now, this forced deference rankled. She’d repay this humiliation tenfold when the time came.

"With Brother Ye Yun here, even Moon Dynasty and Moon Goddess Palace hold no fear!" Yao Hongchen toasted cheerfully.

"Why omit Sword Seeking Villa?" Qiu Xiao asked.

Yao Hongchen chuckled. "Their champion Lantian – pinnacle Nascent Soul stage wielder of the Supreme Sword of Inquiry – lies dead. Without him, they’re insignificant."

"But his legendary swordplay…" Wan Sha interjected.

"The Ultimate Sword Technique lives up to its name," she conceded. "I wouldn’t face it head-on. Pity such genius perished."

"Killed by some seventh-level Golden Core cultivator named Du Jianyin." Yao Hongchen’s gaze lingered on Ye Yun. "Had I not met Du Jianyin, I might mistake you for him, Brother Ye."

"Du Jianyin…" Ye Yun’s brow furrowed briefly.

"Shall we discuss third-layer treasure distribution?" Yao Hongchen smoothly changed subjects.

"No interest in soul power anymore?"

"That bait identified worthy allies." She laughed. "Third-layer treasures outweigh mere Immortal Spirit Stones."

"Clever scheming." Ye Yun applauded. Their sudden camaraderie left Qiu Xiao and Wan Sha silently drinking, knowing their place.

"Stay until World Tree awakens," Yao Hongchen proposed. "We’ll eliminate remaining obstacles then. As for Yao Feng…" Her eyes hardened. "I’d have killed him myself regardless."

"Directness suits you." Ye Yun nodded.

"More drinks!" she urged, including the nervous juniors. "Plenty of fine wine remains!"