Chapter 287
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 287: Maliciousness
The clear bell sound shattered the tense atmosphere. Thirty criminals leaped up, their hands glowing. Linked together, they channeled power into the leader at Foundation Establishment stage four.
Instantly, a powerful aura surged upward. Thirty Foundation Establishment stage cultivators joining forces created overwhelming pressure, making Ye Yun and the others shudder.
Earlier, the criminals had cooperated but lacked this terrifying energy. Now, the difference was stark.
Ye Yun knew they couldn’t withstand this new assault.
“Well done, Jun Ruolan! Drive off the True Fire Flying Lion now!” Duan Chenfeng shouted excitedly.
“Don’t hesitate, Junior Sister Ruolan! Don’t let it escape!” Su Yinxue added, amazed the bronze bell’s spiritual energy boosted the criminals’ power enough to challenge the beast.
Yu Minghong watched eagerly, heart racing. Even Jun Ruolan’s four disciples buzzed with excitement. Though this trial allowed life-and-death combat, no deep grudges existed between sect members. The True Fire Flying Lion, however, had burned five Tian Zhu Peak disciples to ashes. Without Ye Yun’s true fire immunity, they’d all be dead.
The criminals hovered midair, coldly gathering power against the lion.
The True Fire Flying Lion growled lowly, sensing danger. Nearby spirit beasts trembled; a few brave ones crept backward.
Su Ling stood beside Ye Yun. “Can it survive this strike?”
“Yes, but it’ll be hurt.” Ye Yun smiled.
They shared a glance and whispered, “Or maybe it won’t get scratched.”
As they spoke, the criminals funneled all their wild strength into their leader. He unleashed a hurricane-like blast.
“Ten Thousand Currents Return to the Sea, Divine Ancient Mountain!” Jun Ruolan intoned. The raging energy solidified into a colossal mountain crashing downward.
The impact shook the earth, enough to crush even the True Fire Flying Lion’s tough body.
_Boom!_ Dust and energy waves engulfed the area. Yet the lion floated unharmed, watching Jun Ruolan with narrowed eyes.
The attack hadn’t targeted the lion—it had struck where Ye Yun stood. The true qi-formed mountain left a ten-zhang-wide pit… empty.
Earlier, as Ye Yun and Su Ling murmured their prediction, they’d secretly dashed toward Jun Ruolan while everyone focused on the criminals’ aura.
Jun Ruolan, controlling the criminals via secret techniques, missed their movement. No one expected the strike to veer toward Ye Yun.
“Ye Yun!”
“Brother Ye!”
Shouts drowned in the explosion’s roar. Su Yinxue and Duan Chenfeng paled—Jun Ruolan’s ultimate move had attacked their ally, not the beast.
Everyone believed Jun Ruolan’s strike would target the True Fire Flying Lion. Since it wasn’t human and the conflict with it was nearly life-or-death, uniting against it seemed the wisest choice.
Yet Jun Ruolan defied expectations, directing her overwhelming attack at Ye Yun instead.
“Jun Ruolan, you vile wretch!” Duan Chenfeng roared, his voice booming like thunder.
Jun Ruolan’s face twisted with rage as she glared coldly at him.
“Well said! Who’d expect such treachery from a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect—betraying her own brotherhood to slaughter comrades while the True Fire Flying Lion looms?” Su Yinxue’s sword hummed with fury.
“This ends today. We fight her to the death,” Yu Minghong declared, his usual calm shattered.
The trio’s wrath rang clear.
Jun Ruolan’s icy gaze burned with murderous intent, her fingers twitching subtly.
Above, the True Fire Flying Lion watched curiously. Though dim-witted, it grasped the humans’ strife, yet couldn’t fathom why Jun Ruolan attacked her own.
Pity—Ye Yun had somehow foreseen danger, dragging that girl aside moments before the Ancient Mountain of the Gods crushed them.
“As we thought—that strike couldn’t harm the True Fire Flying Lion.” A languid voice cut through the settling dust, revealing two figures.
Ye Yun and Su Ling emerged, his mocking tone slicing the air.
“You survived?” Jun Ruolan stared in disbelief. The combined strike of thirty criminals—Ten Thousand Currents Return to the Sea, Ancient Mountain of the Gods—was unstoppable. She’d feigned targeting the lion before pivoting to Ye Yun at the last instant. Certain death, evaded inexplicably.
“You still breathe. Why wouldn’t I?” Ye Yun stood unscathed, Su Ling’s hand in his as dust cleared.
“Ye Yun!”
“Brother Ye!”
Su Yinxue and the others rushed forward, elated.
“You dodged that? Not bad!” Duan Chenfeng clapped Ye Yun’s shoulder, grinning.
“Necessary skill when snakes lurk among us,” Ye Yun replied.
“How did you escape?” Su Yinxue pressed, marveling at his unfathomable prowess. That strike would’ve obliterated her instantly.
“We never trusted her to fight the lion,” Su Ling explained, clinging to her sister’s arm. “We moved before she struck.”
Su Yinxue exhaled in relief—had they perished, she could never face Su Hao and Shui Qingxuan again.
“Any last words, Jun Ruolan?” Su Yinxue’s voice turned glacial.
Jun Ruolan smirked. “My stance unclear? Shall I demonstrate again?” Light danced at her fingertips.
Ye Yun waved dismissively. “Spare the theatrics. If those criminals could strike again, you’d have done so already.”
“Shall we test that theory?” she sneered.
“Two choices,” Ye Yun interrupted. “Join us against the lion, or die here.”
Jun Ruolan’s laughter tinkled mockingly. “Or thirdly—”
“We kill you ourselves,” Duan Chenfeng growled.
Turning to the beast, Jun Ruolan called, “Great Flying Lion! Let’s crush these insects together—their chatter wearies me.”
Stunned silence fell. Even her Tian Shen Peak disciples gaped. “Senior Sister—this is madness!”
Ye Yun’s group radiated lethal coldness.
The True Fire Flying Lion’s rough voice rumbled: “No objections here.”
