Chapter 261
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Chapter 261: Encounter
Ye Yun sat cross-legged on the ground, instantly slipping into a state of complete focus. With Su Yinxue guarding him, he could cultivate without distractions. As she had said, the Soul-Cutting Mountains held countless dangers, so a higher cultivation level was crucial.
His true qi had reached its peak, and his physical body was already formidable. Once he broke through to the third level of Qi refining, his strength would surge. Though advancing the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique was excruciatingly difficult, each breakthrough multiplied his power tenfold—an unbelievable feat.
True qi churned violently as the Little Absorption Technique activated. The faint glow around the top-grade spirit stones surrounding Ye Yun dimmed visibly. In moments, half of the hundreds of stones had shriveled.
Su Yinxue stared in disbelief. These weren’t low-grade stones but hundreds of top-grade ones. Even she would need three days to absorb them fully. Yet Ye Yun had devoured half in under an hour. How could someone at the second stage of Qi refining withstand such a torrent of spiritual energy without exploding?
Unbeknownst to her, the Heart of Immortals and Demons resided within Ye Yun. As his cultivation grew, so did his mastery over it. The Heart acted like a bottomless pit, absorbing endless spiritual energy and refining a fraction into pure energy for his use. Its true power was beyond his comprehension—evident from how its previous owner had casually defied golden-armored warriors capable of moving mountains.
The Heart swallowed the energy, returning less than a tenth for Ye Yun’s cultivation. Soon, the remaining stones dwindled to faint, crumbling fragments.
A tiny muscle in Ye Yun’s right shoulder twitched. A strange sensation flooded his body, followed by cracks echoing through his bones. His body trembled, enveloped in a soft glow.
Purple mist rose above his head, coalescing into shifting shapes.
Su Yinxue frowned. She’d never seen anything like this.
“Senior Sister Yinxue, what’s wrong with Brother Ye?” Yu Minghong asked anxiously.
“Sister, is he okay?” Su Ling fretted.
Su Yinxue shook her head. “It must be a critical breakthrough moment.”
“Relax. Ye Yun’s a monster. No danger here,” Duan Chenfeng drawled, lounging against a rock and glancing at the distorted mountaintop.
“He’s right. The energy isn’t chaotic, so his qi is stable,” Su Yinxue said, surprised by Duan Chenfeng’s insight.
The group nodded—her foundation establishment stage authority was undeniable.
Ye Yun’s trembling intensified. The purple mist solidified into a pulsing, heart-shaped halo.
“Keep watching the peak. I’ll monitor Ye Yun,” Su Yinxue ordered, probing the halo with her mental intent but sensing nothing.
Suddenly, Su Ling gasped. “Look! Something’s appearing on the mountaintop!”
A distorted face materialized in the twisted space above, sharpening into clarity. A beam of light erupted, and a white crane burst through the clouds, charging toward them.
Su Yinxue’s starry eyes narrowed. The low-level spirit beast carried five youths.
“Haha! We searched all day, and here you’re hiding, Sister Su!” a mocking voice rang out.
The crane closed hundreds of zhang in seconds, depositing the group.
“Murong Wuhen. It’s you,” Su Yinxue said flatly.
“Long time no see, Sister Su,” Murong Wuhen replied, hands behind his back. His eyes glinted as they landed on Ye Yun.
"Yes, it’s been a long time. I didn’t expect your cultivation level to have grown to this extent," Su Yinxue said, her brows slightly furrowed as she sensed a faint wisp of mental intent emanating from Murong Wuhen. Though indistinct, it undeniably existed.
"Compared to Senior Sister Su, I’m still slightly inferior. I’ve barely reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and it’s not yet fully stabilized," Murong Wuhen replied with a smile. Despite his humble words, an unmistakable pride permeated his tone.
"Senior Sister Su, it’s been a long time for us too," a youth stepped out from behind Murong Wuhen. Clad in snow-white robes with a sword slanting across his back, he carried an air of transcendent detachment.
"Jiang Ruchao, you’ve actually reached the Foundation Establishment stage?" Su Yinxue’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"Why shouldn’t I, when Senior Sister managed it? I’m merely two months younger. Achieving Foundation Establishment at eighteen is hardly remarkable—especially compared to Junior Brother Wuhen here." The white-robed youth spoke impassively.
Su Yinxue remained silent, her gaze sweeping over Murong Wuhen’s group. Two had reached Foundation Establishment, while three others stood at the pinnacle of the Qi refining stage, poised to advance. The strength of Absolute Sword Peak’s delegation was unexpected.
Murong Wuhen particularly stood out. His talent rivaled—even slightly surpassed—his elder brother Murong Wuqing’s, though he lacked the latter’s single-minded dedication. For him to achieve Foundation Establishment at seventeen was extraordinary. Even Murong Wuqing hadn’t broken through until nearly twenty—a testament to Wuhen’s staggering potential.
"Did you descend from the mountaintop?" Su Yinxue demanded coldly.
"The mountaintop? You’ve noticed too, then. A powerful spatial magical array blocks access," Jiang Ruchao replied with a dismissive wave.
"Since you haven’t been there, we’ll take our leave." Su Yinxue turned toward Ye Yun, preparing to rouse him.
"Senior Sister Su," Murong Wuhen interjected sharply, "if I’m not mistaken, Ye Yun cultivates the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique during a critical breakthrough. With Thunder Spirit Qi churning within him, abrupt awakening could trigger conflict between the energies. The consequences—ranging from cultivation regression to death and spirit dissolution—would be… unpredictable."
Su Yinxue froze. If true, disturbing Ye Yun might indeed prove catastrophic.
"Murong Wuhen! State your purpose!" Su Ling snapped.
"Ah, Junior Sister Su Ling! How I’ve missed you," Jiang Ruchao turned with mock warmth.
"Miss my foot! Keep that yin-yang talk up and I’ll have Uncle Ouyang discipline you!" Su Ling retorted hotly.
"How terrifying," Jiang Ruchao chuckled. "Strange—Master always praised your wit, yet you seem unaware he contests Peak Master position against your Uncle Su Hao?"
Su Ling’s face paled. She offered only a cold snort.
"Your demands?" Su Yinxue’s voice turned glacial.
"Fear not—we’ll spare your lives. Merely collect an arm from each. Survival remains possible… with luck." Jiang Ruchao smiled benignly.
"Arrogant fool!" Frost coated Su Yinxue’s words.
"Shall we test that?" Jiang Ruchao shrugged, smirk widening.
"Ugh—who’s rotting here?"
Duan Chenfeng’s nasal voice cut through as he pinched his nose theatrically.
"Who are you?" Jiang Ruchao’s eyes glinted dangerously.
"You dare swagger about ignorant of my name? How delightfully suicidal." Duan Chenfeng’s sneer could curdle milk.
"Die!" Jiang Ruchao’s finger flashed, lethal light streaking toward Duan Chenfeng’s face.
"Beware!" Su Yinxue and Yu Minghong cried.
Duan Chenfeng grinned savagely, stepping forward to meet the attack.
