Chapter 666

Chapter 666: Sword Slash

"Roar!"

Knowing his kin could no longer hold out, the high-level troll roared as it charged toward Ye Yun’s innate One Sword energy. Though Ye Yun felt the troll’s actions were tragic, he showed no mercy. After releasing the sword strike, the Ice Spirit Qi within him erupted again, forming a massive ice energy palm that smashed forward.

"Why struggle so desperately against me?" Ye Yun sighed as he watched the original troll group scatter into fragments. A blazing Fire Spirit Qi shot from his hands, engulfing the troll’s corpse.

The unquenchable flames couldn’t be extinguished even in water. Enraged, the troll charged again as if defending its race’s honor.

Though Ye Yun didn’t despise this tragic act, he knew it wasn’t time for hesitation. Thunder Spirit Qi surged within him, lightning crackling across his body. Using spatial laws, he teleported onto a troll consumed by Fire Spirit Qi just as it tried to grab him.

Lowering his head with a faint smile, Ye Yun sent violent currents through the troll’s palms. The stench of burnt flesh filled the air as the troll fell lifeless.

"Pointless roaring only deepens your race’s misery. Mindless creatures, trapped here yet blindly accepting your fate…" Ye Yun muttered. His Thunder Spirit Qi flared once more. By the time an incense stick would burn, the grassland lay littered with troll corpses.

"Finished already? Not bad." The Ancestor of the Sword Path observed Ye Yun perched on a high-level troll’s corpse, the Purple Shadow Divine Sword gleaming against its chest. Sensing Ye Yun’s melancholy, the Ancestor chuckled, "You seem troubled. Is it because of these trolls?"

"Born as playthings yet oblivious to it. Such stupidity disgusts me," Ye Yun replied coldly.

"Hah! Why dwell on such things? Live each day joyfully—that’s how I’ve survived! Who cares about wisdom or foolishness?" The Ancestor laughed heartily.

"Our paths differ." Ye Yun stood, pulling his sword from the troll’s chest. The blade remained spotless. In a flash of white light, he vanished.

"Different, eh?" The Ancestor muttered self-mockingly.

"Senior’s back already?" Golden Ling’er cried out excitedly from within the Deceptive Array.

"Did you defeat all the trolls?" Jin An shouted as Ye Yun approached.

White light flashed as Ye Yun materialized between them. Dismissing the array, he smiled, "Took some time, but you didn’t wait long. Let’s move on."

"I should’ve watched! You finished too fast," Golden Ling’er pouted.

"I thought we’d wait all night, yet it took under two hours!" Jin An added.

"Apologies for being efficient," Ye Yun chuckled dryly. "Next time, I’ll let you spectate."

"Who needs watching? The real treasure’s deeper anyway!" Golden Ling’er clung to Ye Yun’s arm cheerfully.

"Then let’s proceed. The jade tablet’s guidance stopped at the entrance." Ye Yun held up the glowing pink fragment, its light brightest when facing southeast. "The treasure lies this way."

*So boring! When will I get to help?* Golden Ling’er thought, hiding her pout. Though grateful Ye Yun handled dangers she and Jin An couldn’t face, she longed to contribute.

"Ancestor, that high-level troll nearly broke my defenses earlier," Ye Yun remarked. "Three of them—no wonder you gave three soul power boosts."

"I scouted them first with soul power! You’re lucky there were few. More could’ve formed arrays—even without your fire poison, escape would’ve been impossible," the Ancestor retorted.

"Like when the low-level trolls roared together?"

"Treat their Spiritual Shock lightly again, and next time you’ll lose more than cultivation stability!" The Ancestor warned. "Their mental assault felt like a hammer to your consciousness, didn’t it?"

Ye Yun nodded. "I barely shook it off with true qi."

"Good reaction. In my youth, their mental arrays nearly killed me during my cocky phase," the Ancestor admitted.

"Proper defense could block it," Ye Yun countered.

"Against low-levels, maybe. High-levels in formation? You’d fall." The Ancestor’s gaze hardened as he eyed the pink fragment. "The True Roaring Four-Tailed Flower surpasses these trolls. Its venom and petal edges rival supreme Immortal artifacts."

"Facing three high-level trolls without your soul boost would’ve cost me dearly." Ye Yun watched the Ancestor absorb herbs from Yao Feng’s stash. "Yao Feng’s collection lacks soul-nourishing items?"

"Mostly pill ingredients. Sell them at Medicine King Valley—you dislike pill-based cultivation anyway."

"Need more soul materials." Ye Yun knew strengthening the Ancestor’s soul power was crucial. Currently limited to arrays and sword enhancements, a stronger soul could suppress enemies directly.

Glancing at his companions, Ye Yun frowned. Golden Ling’er’s defensive Immortal artifact could withstand Third Level Nascent Soul attacks, and Jin An might reach Second Level with resources. But keeping them safe during the coming battle against the Four-Tailed Flower would test his focus.

The Purple Shadow Divine Sword hummed, sensing his rising battle intent.

"Wonder where Du Jianyin is now," Ye Yun mused. "Should stir trouble for him—his smugness irritates me."

The Ancestor snorted. "He’ll fight you on sight! Prepare your One Sword fusion technique. With the Heart of Immortals and Demons, you’ll recover quickly if you purge the fire poison first."

"Remember—fuse no more than 10% spiritual power! Your Golden Core body can’t handle more," the Ancestor warned.

"10% seems low," Ye Yun argued, though he trusted the advice. His Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique-hardened body rivaled mid-grade Immortal artifacts, surpassing most Seventh Level Nascent Soul experts.

"You nearly died last time! Without the Heart, you’d be dust in the Time and Space Hall," the Ancestor reminded.

"Still, risks are needed here." Ye Yun’s eyes narrowed. "I’ll study that flower carefully. It dies before we advance further."