Chapter 154

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Chapter 154: Crushed by One Sword!

"Don’t open your mouth too wide, lest the mountain wind blows your teeth out!"

A lazy voice tinged with mockery came from behind Duan Chenfeng and Yu Minghong.

The two froze momentarily before whirling around in delight, finding Ye Yun rising to his full height while stretching leisurely.

"Ye Yun, did you also break through to the Qi refining stage?" Duan Chenfeng blurted, darting closer.

Ye Yun grinned. "Since both of you succeeded, how could I lag far behind?"

Duan Chenfeng roared with laughter, clapping Ye Yun’s shoulder. "Good! Our trio shall drive these fools out!"

"Right! Now it’s our turn to strike back," Yu Minghong added excitedly, wiping blood from his lip.

Ye Yun nodded. "Simply beating them out would be too kind."

The three exchanged glances and laughed heartily.

Zhong Ying observed them coldly. "Done laughing? Prepare to die."

He gestured, and four black robe disciples began encircling them.

Ye Yun held up a hand. "Wait."

"Begging for mercy now? Too late!" Zhong Ying sneered.

Narrowing his eyes, Ye Yun clarified, "I meant you should consider negotiating."

Zhong Ying barked a laugh. "Negotiate? Leave your treasures and cut off an arm. Then we’ll let this go."

Ye Yun applauded. "Well said! You’ll leave your treasures and maim yourselves. Deal settled."

Zhong Ying gaped momentarily before rage contorted his features, murderous intent erupting from him like tangible smoke.

"Seeking death!"

This insolence from a mere first-level Qi refining disciple enraged him beyond measure.

Ye Yun spread his hands. "A fourth-level Qi refining black robe disciple breaking his word? How disappointing."

"PERISH!" Zhong Ying’s fist exploded forward, condensing into a glowing hammer of energy aimed at Ye Yun’s face – far deadlier than the strike Duan Chenfeng had dodged earlier.

Ye Yun didn’t retreat. Instead, he stepped into the blow, fist crackling with newly forged true qi from his breakthrough.

BOOM!

Their colliding fists detonated like thunder, shockwaves ripping through the air.

Zhong Ying felt a surge of immense power force him back two steps. Raising his head, he saw Ye Yun standing rooted like an unshakable mountain.

"How?" Zhong Ying barely trusted his own eyes. He knew that punch’s strength – none present could withstand it. Even Qin Chong’s third-level Qi refining late-stage cultivation would’ve left him gravely wounded.

"This is the fourth level of Qi refining? Pathetic." Ye Yun scoffed, advancing steadily.

Zhong Ying’s face twisted. "Qin Chong! Qin Tian! Kill him together!"

Duan Chenfeng and Yu Minghong moved to block, but Ye Yun stopped them with a wave. "Rest your injuries. I’ll deal with this." His calm tone suggested he faced novice servant disciples rather than black robe Qi refiners.

The two retreated smiling, sitting cross-legged behind him.

Zhong Ying’s group gaped at being so dismissed. Rage ignited their eyes, murderous intent hardening.

"Since when do new disciples dare act so insolent?" Qin Chong roared skyward.

"We’ve seen countless ‘geniuses’ fail. This Ye Yun’s no different."

"Even if he escapes Tian Zhu Peak, he dies regardless," Zhong Ying intoned like death itself.

Ye Yun chuckled. "Must you always chatter? Fight already! Come at me together."

His robes flapped wildly as he stood hands-behind-back, an immovable Ancient Mountain of the Gods.

The baffled black robes exchanged glances – never had they seen such audacity from a first-level Qi refiner.

"Kill!" Zhong Ying barked.

Qin Tian and another disciple lunged, spiritual weapons flashing. Ye Yun coldly raised his right hand, purple light rippling outward.

"Thundercloud Emergence!"

Watery light exploded into crackling lightning. Before the attackers closed in, a massive electric snake formed with deafening thunder.

Zzzt-CRACK!

The serpent pierced through both men. When lightning faded, they lay twitching, breath shallow, spirits fading.

One strike. Ye Yun had nearly killed a third-level and second-level Qi refiner.

"I said come together." Ye Yun flicked his wrist, purple light retracting.

Zhong Ying and Qin Chong stared. Impossible! A first-level cultivator defeating higher realms?

Qi refining’s seven levels began with condensing true qi (first level), then opening the body’s eight meridians in the Zhou Tian realm (second level) – foundational stages every cultivator knew. Yet here…

However, upon reaching the Third Level of Qi Refining – the Form Transformation stage, everything changed. True qi could be released and shaped into various forms for attack and defense, unleashing immense power. This represented the true essence of the Qi Refining Stage. Only by attaining this Third Level could one truly establish themselves in this cultivation realm and wield formidable strength.

Yet how could Qin Tian, a Third Level Qi Refining expert, have been so easily overwhelmed, nearly slain in a single strike?

Zhong Ying and Qin Chong remained stunned, staring at the fallen Qin Tian with undisguised shock.

"Now it’s your turn," Ye Yun declared calmly, hands still clasped behind his back. The Purple Shadow Sword hovered above him, its faint tremors scattering shimmering purple light shadows. "Will you fight together or take turns?"

"Arrogant fool!" Zhong Ying’s face darkened as he stepped forward.

A gentle red glow suddenly enveloped his body. From his palm emerged a spiritual weapon shaped like an eagle, its wings slowly unfurling.

"Survive this technique – Great Roc Dominates the Skies – and I’ll spare you," Zhong Ying stated flatly, as if Ye Yun’s earlier defeat of two opponents had never occurred.

"That’s supposed to be a roc? Looks more like a plucked vulture," Ye Yun remarked with a mocking squint.

Without another word, Zhong Ying clapped his hands. The eagle artifact shot skyward and exploded into a shrieking blood-colored great roc that blotted out half the heavens with its crimson wings.

Ye Yun’s brow twitched as oppressive force washed over him, momentarily stifling his breath. A deep inhalation dispersed the pressure – this was nothing compared to Su Hao’s domineering aura that he’d previously withstood.

Purple light shadows swirled around Ye Yun’s clenched fist before erupting skyward in a burst of radiant particles.

"Thundercloud Lightning Sword, Second Form: Thunderous Strike!"

Ye Yun thrust his sword forward. The sparkling particles transformed into cascading purple lightning that pummeled the crimson raptor.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Under the relentless assault, the blood-colored great roc dimmed visibly, scarlet energy bleeding from countless wounds. Pressing his advantage, Ye Yun flicked his blade. From the swirling purple radiance, the Divine Sword shot forth like an arrow piercing the demonic bird’s skull.

POP!

The great roc’s head exploded in a shower of blood light.

"Now… BURST!"

Ye Yun’s command summoned fresh lightning strikes that riddled the disintegrating creature. Like electric seeds detonating within rotten fruit, they shattered the remaining form into dissipating crimson mist.

CLANG.

The eagle artifact clattered to the ground, its luster extinguished.

"Senior Brother Zhong," Ye Yun mused, advancing with Purple Shadow Sword in hand, "I did warn you about your mediocre cultivation level."