Chapter 705

Chapter 705: Strike First

“I always knew Senior was powerful, but I never imagined you’d reach such heights. If I’d stayed a moment longer in that atmosphere, I might’ve dissolved into blood,” Jin An stammered, his voice trembling.

Golden Ling’er frowned, scanning their surroundings. “But this place feels off. Why is the ground covered in blood-like water? And earlier, I heard countless breaths—yet now it’s completely empty. Where did everyone go?”

“This…” Jin An hesitated, rarely showing uncertainty. He forced a bitter smile. “Senior’s aura must’ve overwhelmed us, distorting our senses. This area is clearly barren, yet we perceived crowds.”

“You’re right, Senior Brother.” Nodding, Golden Ling’er followed Jin An to the second layer to scavenge leftover heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

“Du Jianyin slaughtered at least ten thousand Nascent Soul cultivators. Most weaklings here are dead, thanks to you two. Especially you,” the Ancestor of the Sword Path remarked as Ye Yun sped forward like lightning. “When your blood domain erupted, it shattered Du Jianyin’s Myriad Sword Tribulation and wiped out everyone across three upper layers. Impressive. But how? Your mental power surged a hundredfold beyond your current realm. That shouldn’t be possible.”

“Perhaps his doing.” Ye Yun glanced at the Purple Shadow Divine Sword.

“Likely. Still, I wonder if keeping that sword is wise.” The Ancestor eyed the sentient blade at Ye Yun’s waist. Had he not seen it morph into a bloodied demonic weapon earlier, he’d never believe such a spiritual sword could harbor such darkness.

“Enough. It’s aided you this long—no use doubting it now.” The Ancestor chuckled at Ye Yun’s calm expression.

Ye Yun’s thoughts drifted. *That Blood Moon… the ancient temple’s records… What was that colossal creature?* He hoped it mere coincidence, though the link between the sword’s past masters and these events felt unnervingly real.

Meanwhile, Jun Ruolan studied the layers below. When the eerie ripple had surged, her body shuddered briefly. *Something monstrous awakened down there.* But it mattered little. Once she claimed the superb heavenly materials from the upper three layers and reached the Moon Goddess Palace’s domain in the Xumi Treasure’s fourth layer, even Ye Yun would fall. There, her Moon Refining Technique would peak—untouchable, unstoppable.

Unlike Jun Ruolan’s icy composure, Yao Hongchen’s nerves frayed. *What* was *that earlier? If I’d descended recklessly, I’d be dead. Some horror crawled up…* She shook her head. *No. Xumi Daoist forged this space. Any threats would’ve…* Her gaze flicked upward. *Let others handle it. Survival comes first.*

As Yao Hongchen climbed toward the next layer, space fractured before her. A figure emerged, smiling coldly.

“Brother Ye!” She forced cheer, but froze at the murderous intent in his eyes. “What’s this about?”

“Just settling overdue business. Surely you expected this?” Ye Yun’s tone dripped mock innocence.

“J-jokes aside! I’ve done nothing to cross you!” She eyed the Purple Shadow Divine Sword, desperation rising.

“Perfect timing. Had you teamed with Jun Ruolan, killing you’d be… inconvenient.” Ye Yun smirked.

“I’ll give you top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones! Brew peerless divine medicines! You know my skills—spare me!”

“Too late. A dead… acquaintance requested you join him.”

“Who?!”

“Yao Feng. He haunted me, furious over your Suppressing Fire Pearl lies.” Ye Yun pressed the blade to her throat. “Hand over what you gave Jun Ruolan. I’ll make it quick.”

“Fool! The Qianshou Ding protects me!” She summoned a black cauldron, true qi flaring.

Ye Yun laughed. “Why do you think I let you summon it?” Spatial laws surged from his palm into the cauldron. With a wrench, he tore out the sealed Spatial Dragon Soul.

“Ignorance hastens doom.” He struck the Qianshou Ding. Even drained, its defenses dwarfed most superb defensive Immortal artifacts.

Eyeing the vengeful Dragon’s Soul, Ye Yun snorted. “I owe you a favor, but this method… hardly fair to me.”

The Spatial Dragon Soul seemed to understand Ye Yun’s words, transferring most of its space power into his body. Sensing this unusual shift, Ye Yun rarely smiled and said calmly, "Then our contract takes effect now."

The Purple Shadow Divine Sword carried the remaining space power of the Spatial Dragon Soul. Guided by the dragon’s will, an overwhelming draconic aura erupted, making the soul appear a hundred times larger as it glared at Yao Hongchen who’d drawn it out.

In one gulp, it swallowed the Qianshou Ding. A spatial storm brewed within the Spatial Dragon Soul. Watching this, Ye Yun shrugged. With his improved grasp of spatial laws, there was no reason to stay. He turned away as a stable spatial gate appeared. His departure left the forty-seventh layer’s ancient tree interior consumed by violent spatial turbulence.

"Finally settled this matter." Ye Yun reappeared on the fifty-third layer, eyeing shattered plant corpses. Knowing Jun Ruolan must be nearby, he vanished again.

"What next?" he mused. "These common heavenly materials aren’t worth it. The truly superb treasures lie in the upper three layers."

"Made your choice?" The Ancestor of the Sword Path chuckled as Ye Yun relaxed.

"Decided." Ye Yun reactivated spatial laws. The dragon’s shared memories had deepened his understanding.

Reaching the sixty-sixth layer, he found himself early and unprepared. Vines entangled him until Fire Spirit Qi surged from within, igniting the entire floor. Scanning the blazing surroundings, he chose not to advance.

Who knew what dangers lurked above? The Medicine King Alliance remained unaware of Yao Hongchen’s death. If he stalled the Moon Goddess Palace while waiting for them, he’d gain control of a first-rate sect’s forces.

"But where are they? If they’re at the ninetieth layer, I’ll need cannon fodder. Jun Ruolan protects her people, but the alliance…" Ye Yun pondered controlling the alliance members. Though authorized by Yao Hongchen, sending them to die required justification.

"Any ideas, Ancestor?" Ye Yun sat cross-legged, seeking advice during his rest.

"Blame Yao Hongchen’s death on the upper layers. They’ll investigate regardless of your words."

Ye Yun smiled. "They’ll rage at me first, but still charge in." He’d wait here. When both groups arrived, even Jun Ruolan’s denials couldn’t stop the momentum. Sacrificing them saved effort.

Attributing everything to the upper layers forced them into becoming vanguards. Sensing pressure, Ye Yun watched hundreds of moon-robed figures materialize. His gaze settled on a black-robed woman. "Such grandeur, Jun Ruolan. A welcome party?"

"Vivid imagination," she coldly replied.

"Nothing to say about Yao Hongchen?"

"We journeyed together until crisis struck. He fell in the upper layers." Ye Yun kept his tone even.

Jun Ruolan’s face tightened. "Two red pills. Did you take them?"

"His body was destroyed. Why? Interested?"

"Not even bones remain. Then you’ll revisit the upper layers with me." She believed him – he wouldn’t lie about minor details, especially unaware of the pills’ purpose.

"Why involve me? I meant to lead the Medicine King Alliance against you."

"Lead corpses if you wish. You won’t enjoy it."

"You slaughtered them all?" Ye Yun hid his surprise. She’d annihilated hundreds of Nascent Soul cultivators the moment Yao Hongchen died.

"Insects. Dead insects. Will you walk?"

Ye Yun understood – she wanted him assisting openly. With many Seventh Level Nascent Soul experts present, fighting was unwise.

"Fine. I’ll join." He ignored hostile glares from Moon Goddess disciples.

They reluctantly parted for Ye Yun, respecting Jun Ruolan’s authority, then encircled him warily.