Chapter 681

Chapter 681: Breaking Through

When Ye Yun arrived at the vast area ahead, he saw the disciples of the Moon Goddess Palace gathered together, using their array’s power to combat a massive black puppet. The enormous black puppet struck down like a mountain, and the disciples struggled to hold it off while seeking a breakthrough.

"Moon Goddess Shattering Fist!"

The Moon Goddess power within Zhang Yanhua surged again, concentrating in his right fist. He unleashed another punch, and the swirling energy around him coalesced into his fist, crashing into the mountain-sized black puppet.

"Boom!"

The explosion roared as Zhang Yanhua glanced at the shattered armor on his fist. His expression remained steady, and he struck again. Moon Goddess brilliance flooded the puppet, freezing it in place.

"Elder Brother remains unmatched," the nearby disciples murmured in awe after the puppet fell. They disbanded the array, their admiration clear. Zhang Yanhua’s talent and strength had long earned him the title of elder brother.

Jun Ruolan, however, didn’t intervene. She stood apart, watching coldly as if waiting for greater threats. Trivial matters weren’t worth her attention—only if Zhang Yanhua failed would she act. Let others chase petty glory.

Her eyelashes flickered. Sensing distant turbulence, she spoke flatly, "Advance."

"Senior Sister, what about Elder Brother Zhang?" a female disciple ventured.

"Let them handle their own battles. We seek treasures, not applause," Jun Ruolan replied.

No one protested. Her orders were law.

"Calculating every move… Recklessness here would doom me," Ye Yun thought, hidden. He’d watched them clear the first layer, snatching a few heavenly materials and earthly treasures while most went to the Moon Goddess Palace.

"Where’s Du Jianyin? Strange he hasn’t caused chaos yet—"

Whoosh!

A violent burst of sword energy shot toward Jun Ruolan, splitting into dozens of blades mid-air.

"If you’re here, Ye Yun must be lurking too," Jun Ruolan said, casually raising a hand. The sword energies—capable of shredding Fifth Level Nascent Soul cultivators—dissipated like mist.

"Hmph! If that coward appears, I’ll gut him first!" Du Jianyin hissed, white jade sword gleaming. His hair whipped wildly as he glared.

"Another loss to him, I see," Jun Ruolan remarked, noting his fury.

"Silence! Without his tricks in the Time and Space Hall, I’d have claimed the Stagnation Stone!" Du Jianyin spat. True, Ye Yun’s spatial laws had outmaneuvered him—but in a death match, who’d win? Their paths differed: Du Jianyin severed obstacles with his blade; Ye Yun absorbed them. The comparison rankled.

"So you’re Du Jianyin?" Zhang Yanhua studied him, then smiled. "I lost to you once. Fighting Ye Yun would be… enlightening."

"Beat him, and I’ll crush you next. Then you’ll grasp the gap between us," Du Jianyin sneered. Zhang Yanhua’s Sword Path had once intimidated him, but now? The man’s status meant little.

"Moon Goddess Palace’s elder brother boasts loudly," Du Jianyin mocked.

"You dare—!" disciples shouted, but he laughed. "Your ‘elder brother’ crumpled under my Sword Energy. You’d challenge me?"

"Persist, and even if I fall, I’ll leave you bleeding for Jun Ruolan to finish," Zhang Yanhua said coldly.

Du Jianyin scoffed. Beating Zhang Yanhua was possible, but escaping unscathed? Unlikely. Worse, Jun Ruolan’s involvement would tip the scales—90% chance of defeat. Only his ultimate Sword Path might save him.

"Truce until the treasure is ours?" Zhang Yanhua offered.

"Fine. Afterward, we settle this," Du Jianyin agreed.

"Fools overreaching," Jun Ruolan muttered, turning away.

"That’s it! Those three have joined forces against you," the voice of the Ancestor of the Sword Path rang out. "Can you handle them?"

"Troublesome, but not impossible. Let’s wait. Their alliance won’t hold," Ye Yun sighed, though a mocking glint flashed in his eyes at the fragile coalition.

"So this is the third trial." Du Jianyin shattered the final puppet with his white jade sword, sneering at Moon Goddess Palace disciples scavenging for heavenly materials and earthly treasures. "Is this how a top sect behaves? Like starved beggars at a feast? Pathetic."

"What did you say?" A Sixth Level Nascent Soul cultivator from the group whirled around angrily.

"You dare object? Would your pitiful cultivation challenge me?" Du Jianyin leveled his blade, murderous intent radiating toward the man.

The disciple snorted and resumed searching, knowing better than to confront the swordsman.

"Too restrained," Ye Yun observed through the Ancestor’s spiritual link. "Since when does Moon Goddess Palace tolerate such insults? They could crush Du Jianyin easily."

"Then you’d swoop in for spoils? Don’t fool yourself – they’re prepared for scavengers like you," the Ancestor chuckled. "Best prepare for battle."

"Revealing myself now would be suicide. All three want me dead first, especially that sword-obsessed fool." Ye Yun leaned against cold stone, watching the trio.

"Then what? Wait until they gift-wrap the treasure? Share your last wishes now," the Ancestor joked as tension thickened between the three groups.

"My death ends us both. Focus – the real fight’s ahead." Ye Yun’s gaze fixed on the third trial’s swirling portal, recalling the spatial dragon egg’s memories. Only those with overwhelming combat power could breach the Reverse Array’s pressure.

True fear awaited beyond – not of external threats, but the darkness within one’s soul. Those conquering this would face the final life-and-death trial for the Xumi Treasure’s riches. Only one victor permitted. The treasure’s ancient will enforced this ruthlessly.

Ye Yun shadowed the Moon Goddess Palace disciples clearing the second trial. Cloaked in the Ancestor’s Deceptive Array and spatial laws, he slipped through undetected.

At the third trial’s threshold, Jun Ruolan and Zhang Yanhua halted their followers. The weaker disciples wisely remained behind to scavenge.

Du Jianyin suddenly slashed his white jade sword, sending twin Sword Energy arcs at his rivals.

"Seeking death?" Jun Ruolan crushed the attack in her jade palm, frost coating her words.

Zhang Yanhua’s crescent blade flashed, precisely countering the strike. "Explain yourself."

"Testing if you’re worthy opponents." The swordsman’s attention shifted to an approaching black figure. He raised his blade, stance tightening.

"Move aside." Ye Yun’s casual stroll became a lightning dash toward the portal.

All three moved to intercept. Ye Yun activated twin sword talismans. Opposing Sword Might forces collided, creating momentary chaos. He slipped through the distraction into the trial.

The Ancestor roared with laughter. "Sneaky brat! Even I didn’t foresee that gambit!"

"Quiet." Darkness swallowed Ye Yun. All sensory links severed. Shadowy tendrils probed his psyche, morphing into nightmare visions – ravenous beasts, drowning voids, burning cities.

"Foolish theatrics." Ye Yun yawned at a hydra-headed monstrosity. "Try harder."

"Need help crushing these illusions?" The Ancestor’s voice echoed strangely in the mental space.

"Let Du Jianyin exhaust himself first. We’ll claim the prize when they’re weakened." Ye Yun sat cross-legged as shadowy claws raked his form harmlessly.

"These visions breed despair."

"They’re amusing. Wake me when something interesting happens." Closing his eyes, Ye Yun meditated while horrors screeched around him.