Chapter 125

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Chapter 125: Seizing the Path

A beam of light shot straight up from the floor. Voices echoed through it before any figures appeared.

“Peak Master Ouyang, look! The passage to the seventh level seems to have opened!”

A raspy voice, like a cracked gong, rose through the light beam.

“It truly is the seventh level. The treasures on the sixth level were already priceless—what must lie here?” Ouyang Wentian’s voice quivered with greed. Even a sixth-level Foundation Establishment expert like him, a master of his own peak, had been thrilled by the sixth level’s rewards.

“Once the passage fully stabilizes, we’ll charge in!”

“Du Jianming, do you want the Du family’s last disciples to die here?” Ouyang Wentian snapped coldly.

“Ouyang Wentian, don’t push us too far!”

The arguing voices traveled up the light beam, reaching Ye Yun’s ears.

Ye Yun’s face paled. The seventh level was an empty room with bare walls and no exits. Dealing with Hualun, who’d seized Hua Yicheng’s body, was manageable—but if Ouyang Wentian’s group arrived, Ye Yun would be cornered.

_What do I do?_

Panic clawed at him. He’d never expected to meet Ouyang Wentian in Hualun Hall’s final layer. Every treasure or spirit pill he’d taken from Hualun would make them target him. Even surrendering everything wouldn’t save him—they’d kill him for daring to reach this floor first.

But the seventh level had no escape. He could only stare at the glowing beam erupting from the floor.

The voices grew louder as the beam solidified. Once stable, the passage would open fully. Ouyang Wentian’s group would storm in, sealing Ye Yun’s fate.

Desperate, Ye Yun’s eyes locked onto the light beam.

It formed a half-foot-wide circle on the floor. Though the voices echoed from below, the beam’s center still showed the seventh level’s ground.

_If this is a spatial gate… could I enter it and teleport back to the sixth level?_

The wild idea struck him. Maybe he could reverse the teleportation, slip into the sixth level during the chaos, and escape.

He shook his head instantly. If he did reach the sixth level, Ouyang Wentian would kill him on sight for coming from above.

Ye Yun gritted his teeth. Then an idea flashed.

With no other exits, the beam was his only chance. Better to risk entering it now than wait here defenseless. Even if he appeared in the sixth level, he could lie—claim he’d come from the fourth or fifth layer. They might doubt him, but it wouldn’t spark instant murderous intent like catching him in the seventh level.

The beam pulsed, nearly solid.

Ye Yun didn’t hesitate. He leaped into the glowing spatial passage.

As he landed, the beam fully stabilized. The floor rippled like water, dissolving into a shimmering starry path stretching into endless blue.

Ye Yun inhaled sharply and plunged into the starry path’s azure glow.

The moment he fell, figures materialized ahead in the starry void.

“Peak Master Ouyang!” Sun Yidao shouted. “Someone’s in the passage before us!”

Ye Yun felt sharp gazes pierce him. He yanked his sleeve over his face and hurtled deeper into the stars.

“Capture him! He’s been to the seventh level—the treasures are on him!” Ouyang Wentian roared, hurling a blast of light toward Ye Yun.

But this was a spatial passage forged by Hualun at her peak. Though the figures seemed near, they were already a thousand miles away.

A gentle golden light shot out, but it didn’t touch Ye Yun. They watched his figure shrink into the distance among the stars until he became a tiny speck and vanished completely.

"Did anyone catch his face? Seal off a hundred-mile radius after exiting the great tomb. We must track him down!" Ouyang Wentian barked urgently. He suspected the treasures of the seventh level might’ve been stolen by that star-falling intruder.

But how could a mere glimpse of Ye Yun’s retreating back help them?

The light beam stabilized, smoothing the starry path.

Ouyang Wentian’s group finally reached the seventh level of Hualun Hall.

Empty. Not even a single insect remained.

"Someone beat us here," Ouyang Wentian growled, his face darkening with murderous intent.

"What makes you so certain?" Du Jianming challenged.

Elder Yin tapped her dragon-headed cane against a dark stain. "That’s fresh blood. Thousand-year-old blood wouldn’t remain in Hualun Hall."

Understanding struck instantly. Recent visitors had fought here. The victor had taken everything – likely the same man who’d vanished down the starry path.

Murderous glints flashed in the group’s eyes. Ouyang Wentian demanded coldly, "Did anyone see his face?"

All shook their heads. In their excitement during the celestial descent, they’d only registered a hooded figure disappearing before they’d blinked.

"I memorized his silhouette."

The icy voice cut through the hall like unsheathed steel. A sword-like youth stepped forward.

"Name?" Ouyang Wentian’s eyes narrowed at the sword intent radiating from the young man.

"Du Jianyin. Finest swordsman of the Du family’s new generation."

Ouyang Wentian glanced at Du Jianming, realizing this was the clan’s rising star rather than its current leader.

"Who told you to speak?!" Du Jianming roared, recognizing their lost advantage. Keeping this knowledge within the Du family could’ve meant exclusive claim to the treasures.

The cold youth didn’t flinch. "The thief might have Golden Pill master’s sword manuals. I’ll inspect them when found."

"You overstep!" Du Jianming’s face purpled. His nephew had just turned their private advantage into public hunting.

Ouyang Wentian’s lips curled. "First finder’s rights to you, then."

"Keep your rewards. In three years, I’ll test if Absolute Sword Peak’s master deserves his reputation."

Gasps filled the hall. Challenging the renowned swordsman? Madness!

Ouyang Wentian’s smile stiffened. "Impudent whelp!"

"Bravo!" Du Jianming guffawed, thrilled by his nephew’s audacity. "Show him true swordsmanship in three years!"

Du Jianyin simply gazed at his blade and retreated.

"Enough!" Ouyang Wentian’s voice cracked like thunder. "We leave. This place holds nothing now."

A cavernous voice boomed through the ruins: "Foolish children! You think to plunder Hualun Secret Vault unchecked?"

Before they could react, the floor exploded. Stone fragments became shrapnel as the ancient hall disintegrated around them.