Chapter 703

Chapter 703: Zhang Yanhua’s Mental Demons

“Brother Ye Yun, we should hurry to the thirtieth layer. The Moon Goddess Palace members don’t care about these lower-tier heavenly materials and earthly treasures. They’re aiming straight for the superb heavenly materials in the upper three layers,” Yao Hongchen said with a bitter smile, envy flashing in her eyes.

While the Medicine King Valley toiled to collect treasures, the Moon Goddess Palace ignored the lower layers entirely, their sights set only on the top prizes. The gap between them was staggering.

Hearing this, Ye Yun told the Ancestor of the Sword Path to scan for Jun Ruolan’s location using his soul’s origin. If she was nearby, they’d use spatial laws to intercept her.

“We can use spatial laws, but your little friend Du Jianyin is still stalking you. Ha! His hatred runs deep,” the Ancestor chuckled, amused by Du Jianyin’s stealthy pursuit.

Ye Yun smirked. “Let him follow. If he dares ambush me, I’ll show him that anything I want ceases to be his the moment I claim it.”

“No wonder he despises you,” the Ancestor laughed, knowing Ye Yun meant every word. Du Jianyin’s plight was almost pitiable.

But it mattered little. The Ancestor had already noted Du Jianyin’s movements, and Ye Yun had a plan. By teleporting ahead, they’d let Du Jianyin gather the remaining treasures—only to seize them later.

With a faint smile, Ye Yun enveloped Yao Hongchen in white light. “Sister Hongchen, since you insist, we’ll abandon these lower-tier treasures and pursue Jun Ruolan.”

“A shame, but necessary,” Yao Hongchen sighed, allowing the spatial laws to whisk them away. As their figures vanished, a shadowy figure emerged, sword arcs reducing pursuers to gore.

“If Ye Yun heads for the upper layers, I’ll claim every treasure in the lower ninety. That’ll suffice as compensation,” Du Jianyin muttered, slashing an ancient tree with his jade sword.

“There you are.” Spotting Moon Goddess Palace disciples ascending the tree, Ye Yun materialized calmly. Jun Ruolan noticed them and handed leadership to three Seventh Level Nascent Soul disciples before blocking Ye Yun and Yao Hongchen.

“Here to scavenge?” Jun Ruolan’s hands radiated dark energy, barring their path.

“Planning to kill us?” Ye Yun remarked, recognizing the murderous intent.

“Test me,” she replied coldly.

“That Moon Demon Palm of yours outdoes even the Moon Goddess Shattering Fist. Engaging carelessly would leave me half-dead,” Ye Yun said, unfazed.

Yao Hongchen summoned her Qianshou Ding, wary of the demonic energy coalescing around Jun Ruolan. The latter sneered. “Moon Demon Palm!”

Moonlight erupted, laced with demonic shadows. The thirty-third layer trembled as explosions tore through the space.

Yao Hongchen raised her cauldron defensively, but Ye Yun merely said, “Sea of Heavenly Fire.”

Crimson lava surged, devouring the Moon Demon Palm’s shadows. The demons writhed briefly before dissolving.

“If this is your best, I’ve won,” Ye Yun said, smiling as Jun Ruolan’s expression darkened.

“I used thirty percent power. At full strength, your flames would vanish,” she retorted.

“But you’ll save your Moon Goddess power for what’s ahead. Wasting it here would please others,” Ye Yun replied, gesturing downward. Before she could react, he teleported away.

Jun Ruolan turned to Yao Hongchen. “Since he fled, you’ll pay.”

Yao Hongchen retreated, clutching her Qianshou Ding. But sensing no true murderous intent, she produced a blood-red pill radiating life energy. Jun Ruolan snatched it.

“Leave now. Lingering will cost you more pills,” Jun Ruolan said, eyeing the precious resource.

“Unfair! I gave you an Infant-Breaking Pill!” Yao Hongchen protested. She’d only crafted four such pills—one for herself, one for her sect leader, yet Jun Ruolan now demanded two.

“Ye Yun isn’t interested in you,” Jun Ruolan scoffed.

“Your jokes are frosty,” Yao Hongchen grumbled, handing over a second pill.

“I don’t joke.” Jun Ruolan soared upward, a streak of white light.

“Without void-shattering power, I can’t stop his spatial laws,” she mused. Speed was her only advantage now.

“They skipped the fortieth layer’s guardian spirit?” Jun Ruolan shredded a monstrous plant with a Moon Goddess Shattering Fist, barely slowing.

Yao Hongchen trailed her, appalled. “A demoness masquerading as a fairy. How does the Moon Goddess Palace tolerate her?”

Every threat—plant or beast—was obliterated. Only the largest survived briefly.

“Better her ally than enemy,” Yao Hongchen muttered, grateful for her Qianshou Ding’s protection.

Suddenly, she frowned. “Where’s Zhang Yanhua? The Moon Goddess Palace’s senior brother should be here.”

But urgency overruled curiosity. The top layers’ treasures demanded focus.

In darkness, Zhang Yanhua sat before his moon blade, the Infant-Breaking Pill hovering tauntingly.

As the sect’s “child chosen by destiny,” his pride had shattered when sword techniques crushed him without a fight. Mental demons clawed at his resolve until a voice—clear as spring water—steadied him.

Shattering the pill, he declared, “My path is mine alone!”

Moonlight blazed as his Moon Refining Technique devoured a hundred top-tier Immortal Spirit Stones. His cultivation surged, breaking through to the Seventh Level Nascent Soul’s peak.

Eyes gleaming with twin full moons, he rose. “This time, I won’t fail.”

A phantom lingered as he raced toward the World Tree, newfound resolve eclipsing doubt.