Chapter 690

Chapter 690: Killing

“Haha, it seems you still have quite the luck with women. Even such an ice-cold beauty like Yue Lengxuan is melting for you. Why not just accept her?” The Ancestor of the Sword Path laughed heartily as he observed Yue Lengxuan’s growing fondness toward Ye Yun. He couldn’t help imagining what might happen if they allied.

“Some would weep, others mourn.” With his weathered insight, he recognized Yue Lengxuan’s peerless talent and beauty. Even Jun Ruolan lacked her bewitching allure.

Ye Yun’s potential was limitless. Forming even a superficial bond now might prove invaluable once his cultivation level soared beyond reach. Perhaps this very thought lingered in Yue Lengxuan’s mind.

“Since all four of you have passed the Dragon Gate, leave. Staying here holds no purpose.” Ye Yun ignored Yue Lengxuan’s overtures. The more beautiful something appeared, the deadlier its poison—a truth he knew well.

To Ye Yun, enemies remained enemies. A snake’s cold-blooded nature would never abandon its desire to strike back, no matter the kindness shown. Yue Lengxuan’s shifting demeanor and the unreadable glint in her eyes only heightened his wariness.

His pride refused to let him become another’s pawn. Her sudden warmth instead ignited his murderous intent. If she pressed further, he would retaliate without hesitation.

“Place it in the Dragon Pearl to nurture.” Ye Yun handed the orb to the Ancestor, who carefully infused his soul’s origin into it.

The golden Dragon Pearl turned milky white, blazing like a miniature sun. The Ancestor suppressed its radiance using the two extremes of the Sword Path, though traces of sacred light still seeped through.

“No one answers the questions in my heart. Perhaps they never will.” A fleeting insight crossed Ye Yun’s mind before he crushed it ruthlessly. When his eyes reopened, only detached indifference remained.

Yue Xia accidentally met Ye Yun’s gaze and suddenly stood on a corpse-littered plain. Withered yellow flowers dotted the blood-soaked earth as a murky river crawled toward the horizon.

“What is this?!” As Yue Xia plunged deeper into the vision, a shadow shrouded in darkness loomed. A thunderous roar shattered the illusion just as he reached to unveil it.

“What’s wrong with him?!” Moon Ling and Yue Hua channeled spiritual power into Yue Xia’s convulsing body, only to watch him collapse onto the golden floor, his true qi and spiritual power raging wildly.

“A self-made doom, yet no honorable victory.” A blood moon flickered in Ye Yun’s eyes before vanishing under sudden light. He turned away indifferently as Yue Xia awoke trembling, the nightmare’s horrors etched into his soul.

“What happened to you earlier?” The Ancestor asked, having noticed the odd glint in Ye Yun’s eyes.

“Saw something trivial. It’s nothing.” Ye Yun’s gaze drifted to the Purple Shadow Divine Sword resting quietly at his side, its blade hinting at secrets he longed to uncover.

“What’s wrong with him?” Yue Lengxuan frowned. She’d only seen Yue Xia glare hatefully at Ye Yun before his collapse.

“Ask him yourself.” Ye Yun shrugged coldly. He’d grown weary of these self-important ants who’d crumble beneath his fingertips.

Yue Lengxuan sighed and produced a moon-white pill. “Give him this Demon-Purging Pill. Kill him if it fails.”

Her icy command chilled the others. Years of loyalty meant nothing—Yue Xia stopped convulsing after swallowing the pill… then fell lifeless.

“Wasting medicine on trash?” Yue Lengxuan’s voice held no remorse. “Everything serves the Sun and Moon Dual Souls.”

The remaining three exchanged bitter glances but obeyed. They understood: Yue Xia’s murderous intent toward Ye Yun had doomed him. By eliminating him, she signaled her willingness to discard old tools for new alliances.

Her ruthlessness planted doubt in Yue Xiao’s heart. If she’d sacrifice a longtime subordinate so casually, when would his turn come?

“That woman’s vicious!” The Ancestor chuckled, sensing the group’s dwindling numbers. “She’s cornered you into compliance.”

“Another reason for caution,” Ye Yun mused. He didn’t flatter himself—no mere charm warranted killing a useful subordinate. This was pure calculation, a brutal bid for trust.

“The second trial.” Ye Yun eyed eighteen dragon-like pillars ahead. “Who will test it?”

Yue Xiao stepped forward reluctantly. “I’ll—”

“Moon Ling. Yue Hua. Both of you. Now.” Ye Yun’s command brooked no argument.

“Why don’t you go?!” Yue Hua spat.

A sword arc flashed. Yue Hua dropped mid-sentence, throat gushing blood. Moon Ling howled curses until another strike silenced him forever.

“This is bullying.” Ye Yun sheathed the Purple Shadow Divine Sword coldly. “The path of cultivation recognizes no fairness.”

He turned to the sole survivor. “Yue Xiao. Follow.”

As Ye Yun and Yue Lengxuan conversed casually past the shattered pillars, Yue Xiao trembled. These weren’t cultivators—they were demons clad in human skin. What hope remained when loyalty meant nothing?

The Ancestor praised Ye Yun’s swordplay.

“Child’s tricks.” Ye Yun marched onward, the three deaths already forgotten. Yue Xiao followed, knowing his life hung by a thread.