Chapter 116

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Chapter 116: Spirit Settling

Ye Yun hadn’t expected the Purple Shadow Sword to be retrieved so effortlessly. It appeared no barriers had been set within the sword itself—the true challenges had been obtaining the key in the fourth layer, then piercing through the fifth layer’s mist and defeating the exotic spiritual energy.

He gave a slight flick of his wrist, sending the purple light shadow spreading outward like crashing waves, blindingly radiant.

“Ye Yun, you deserve death. Truly deserve it. Even if you surrender Purple Shadow now, I’ll still carve your corpse into ten thousand pieces!” Hua Yicheng’s eyes burned crimson, his features twisted with fury.

Ye Yun shrugged. “Brother Hua, have your recent pressures driven you mad? Resorting to any means to unlock the Secret Vault? If returning Purple Shadow still earns me dismemberment, what’s left to discuss?”

Hua Yicheng choked on his rage, stunned that this typically taciturn youth now wielded such a cutting tongue.

“Exactly. Don’t tremble so—others might mistake fear for anger. Here’s a bargain: hand over all your treasures, and I’ll merely carve you into pieces. Fair, no?” Ye Yun taunted further, his sword pulsing with rippling light and shadow.

Hua Yicheng snapped. He lunged forward, a mirror-like spiritual weapon materializing in his left hand.

“Nine Hells Spirit Settling!”

His roar accompanied a beam of brilliance shooting from the mirror toward Ye Yun.

Ye Yun pointed sharply, summoning the Ice Spirit Soul Lock hovering at his side. The spiritual weapon surged forward, radiating coldness meant to freeze the very air.

Yet the mirror’s light possessed a strange, slowing power. Upon contact, the Ice Spirit Soul Lock’s advance turned sluggish, as if time itself congealed around it.

Ye Yun’s brow twitched. He channeled ice element energy into the weapon through his fingertips—but the energy vanished like clay oxen drowning in the sea, severing his connection.

Within moments, Ye Yun felt control over the Ice Spirit Soul Lock slipping. Its spiritual energy stagnated, circulation grinding to a halt.

Now he understood. Nine Hells Spirit Settling could immobilize even a medium-grade spiritual weapon like this, freezing its energy completely.

“A low-tier cultivator below the Qi refining stage dares dream of wielding the Ice Spirit Soul Lock’s true might? Ridiculous!” Hua Yicheng sneered, the Nine Hells Spirit Settling mirror floating above him, its light pinning the spiritual weapon in place.

Hua Yicheng sprang, sword arc blazing as he swung.

Ye Yun’s momentary shock dissolved into calmness. Though his weapon was sealed, he stepped toward the attack, lips curving in a faint smile.

“Thundercloud Emergence!”

Purple light shadow erupted. Thunder boomed as lightning snakes crackled through the air, scorching the stone chamber with their sizzling dance.

The Purple Shadow met Hua Yicheng’s strike head-on, thunderclaps shaking the room.

BOOM!

Heavenly lightning seemed to split the world. Wild strength tore through space, hurling chaos in every direction.

Ye Yun staggered under the recoil, the Purple Shadow vibrating violently in his grip. He retreated swiftly, dispersing the immense power before it could wound him.

As light faded, Hua Yicheng stood where Ye Yun had been moments before, face ashen.

The strike should have killed or crippled any Body Refinement Stage Seven cultivator. Yet Ye Yun’s spiritual power had matched his own—had Hua Yicheng reacted slower, his sword might’ve been torn from his grasp.

How? How could this boy harbor such vast energy while still in the Comprehending Qi Stage? It defied reason.

Hua Yicheng’s gaze hardened. If left alive, this youth would become a dire future threat.

Another realization chilled him: Ye Yun had clashed using pure spiritual power, not the converted true qi of Qi refining stage disciples. True qi transformed into spiritual power weakened significantly—if Ye Yun had hidden his true cultivation level, what devastation might a true qi-fueled Thundercloud Emergence unleash?

“So you’ve concealed your cultivation,” Hua Yicheng spat, unable to reconcile Ye Yun’s displayed strength with a Body Refinement Stage Seven’s limits.

Ye Yun smiled. "Indeed, Hua. You realized this too late."

Hua Yicheng’s face hardened. "Are all Heavenly Sword Sect disciples this scheming?"

Ye Yun chuckled. "I’m still far behind you in that regard."

Abruptly, Hua Yicheng’s expression turned solemn, a gentle glow flickering across his face. The Nine Hells Spirit Settling mirror above him erupted with blinding white light, flooding the stone chamber.

"Let’s see what tricks you can unleash without spiritual energy," Hua Yicheng snarled, features twisting viciously.

Under the mirror’s radiance, the ambient spiritual energy gradually thickened until it solidified completely.

Ye Yun grimaced as his spiritual power turned leaden and unresponsive. If sealed completely, how could he counter Hua Yicheng? Then he noticed Hua’s pallid complexion and the blood trickling from his lips.

"Brother Hua," Ye Yun feigned concern, "Why harm yourself to seal this space’s energy?"

Hua Yicheng bared his teeth. "You hid your cultivation and planned to use Ice Spirit Soul Lock and Fire Flame Explosive Cloud against me. Now your true qi is sealed – we’ll settle this with raw strength!"

His robes shredded as his body swelled, muscles rippling beneath taut skin.

Ye Yun’s expression sobered.

"You thought I stagnated my cultivation just to master dual elements?" Hua Yicheng discarded his sword, hammer-like fists raised. "Fool! Body refinement and Heart Calming form cultivation’s foundation. Witness true physical power!"

Ye Yun suddenly grinned.

"Still smiling?" Hua Yicheng scoffed. "Had you struck earlier, you might’ve broken the Nine Hells Spirit Settling. Now you’ll taste my fists."

Ye Yun rubbed his nose. "Funny you mention physical strength. My true forte isn’t cultivation level…" He flexed his hands. "…it’s my body."

Hua Yicheng roared with laughter. "Body cultivation? You? The agony required? The heavenly materials and earthly treasures needed? An outer disciple lecturing me about body refinement? Ridiculous!"

"Test me then."

Hua Yicheng lunged bull-like, fists whistling toward Ye Yun’s face. Ye Yun stood rooted, casually raising a pale fist.

The collision echoed through the chamber. Hua Yicheng’s devastating punch froze mid-air, halted by Ye Yun’s unassuming knuckles.

"Disappointing," Ye Yun taunted. He knew body refinement’s brutal demands – but Hua Yicheng was merely mid Qi refining stage. How formidable could he be?

The Heart of Immortals and Demons had reforged Ye Yun through Marrow Cleansing. Every fiber thrummed with power forged beyond mortal limits. This sealed battle played perfectly to his strengths.

"Impossible!" Hua Yicheng recoiled before charging again, fists tearing the air itself.

Ye Yun’s smirk widened. "Let’s end this."

Crossed fists hammered downward.

BOOM!

Cracks spiderwebbed across the wall where Hua Yicheng crumpled, robes in tatters.

"Well, Hua?" Ye Yun dusted his hands. "How’s my body cultivation?"