Chapter 706

Chapter 706: Seizing the Opportunity

“Since he chose to agree, he won’t dare break his promise unless we reach the upper three layers.” Jun Ruolan waved her hand, signaling her juniors to release Ye Yun. She glared at him coldly. “You’d better behave. Otherwise, I won’t spare you.”

“Speaking to your ally like this displeases me.” Noting Jun Ruolan’s protectiveness toward her Moon Goddess Palace disciples, Ye Yun dropped his joking tone. “As agreed, I’ll assist you when needed. But when competing for the superb heavenly materials and earthly treasures in the upper three layers, we’ll rely on our own methods.”

“Agreed.” Jun Ruolan nodded, then frowned at Ye Yun’s black robe. “Why are you dressed identically to me?”

“How petty. Can’t I wear the same color?” Ye Yun retorted, annoyed by her nitpicking.

He inwardly sighed. This robe was his last clean one—had he known earlier, he’d have changed to avoid matching Jun Ruolan. Their mirrored outfits created awkwardness, though Moon Goddess Palace disciples wouldn’t gossip. Who’d spread rumors about their revered Yue Xiao wearing “matching robes” with a Golden Core stranger?

Jun Ruolan itched to slap his smug face but restrained herself due to the crowd.

“What’s so special about that blood-colored pill?” Ye Yun asked as they advanced.

“You already possess soul power. This alchemy pill rapidly heals external injuries without draining Immortal Spirit Stones. It’s a high-level heavenly material and earthly treasure.” Jun Ruolan saw no reason to hide this.

Ye Yun’s brows lifted. “Hence your desperation?”

Ordinary wounds healed quickly for her. Needing the pill implied severe internal injuries—something her pride would normally reject.

“During my second-layer battle against Du Jianyin, he unleashed the Myriad Sword Tribulation to kill me. I countered with Moon Demon Palm. Though I failed to kill him, I now understand his technique. Next time, I’ll prevail.”

Jun Ruolan regretted their stalemate, a life-and-death clash. Meanwhile, Ye Yun had effortlessly crushed Zhang Yanhua using the supreme Immortal artifact Fire Flame Triad to obliterate the Moon Goddess Shattering Fist. Was Ye Yun truly this powerful now?

“Myriad Sword Tribulation…” Ye Yun smirked, recalling how he’d shattered it with one strike, leaving Du Jianyin stunned. The man’s Sword Path had been matched by Jun Ruolan and destroyed by Ye Yun—a devastating blow.

“Only Jun Ruolan remains a threat. Using spatial laws to teleport, I could snatch two superb treasures in the upper three layers, leaving one…” Ye Yun pondered securing all three, but Jun Ruolan’s interference risked splitting the spoils. Worse, Moon Goddess Palace disciples would claim most high-level treasures from the ancient trees—an unacceptable outcome.

“No choice.” He resolved to kill the treasure-keeper, grab everything, and teleport away. Even if Jun Ruolan anticipated this, escaping was certain.

Boom!

Thunderous vines lashed at the Moon Goddess Palace group. Jun Ruolan watched impassively as her disciples fought, uncaring of mounting casualties.

“Aren’t you overdoing it? These are your juniors. Will you let them die fighting alone?” Ye Yun frowned at the carnage.

“Everything serves Moon Goddess Palace. You wouldn’t understand.” She scoffed at his naivety.

“See this, boy? Major sects cull the weak to strengthen themselves. This is why I avoid them.” The Ancestor sneered at Jun Ruolan’s callousness—likely the sect leader’s order, but her apathy felt genuine.

“If you don’t care, neither do I.” Ye Yun watched the surviving disciples celebrate the fallen thunder vines, his thoughts unreadable.

“Next layer.” Jun Ruolan pushed onward without letting them rest. The disciples obeyed instantly, stirring Ye Yun’s envy.

He desired such absolute loyalty—even to suicidal orders. But Jun Ruolan had wasted this potential by slaughtering Medicine King Valley disciples.

“We’re only on the seventieth layer, facing guardian spirits this strong. Without your help, over a hundred may die. How will you explain that to your sect?”

“This doesn’t concern you.” Jun Ruolan’s voice chilled. “Top sect disciples fight proudly for glory. Stop interfering.”

Had the sect leader not forbidden her from acting past the sixtieth layer—forcing elite disciples to gain experience—she’d have intervened.

“Then I’ll stay out of it.” Ye Yun ascended after the guardian spirit fell, their goals aligned.

Eightieth layer. Surveying the wounded—even Seventh Level Nascent Soul disciples gravely injured yet shielding others—Ye Yun shrugged. “Why fear them now? With so many dead or hurt, they’re irrelevant.”

He admired their camaraderie but felt no pity. Jun Ruolan’s indifference meant their deaths were inevitable—timing mattered little.

Ye Yun glanced at the spiritual plants around him – those semi-sentient flowers and creeping vines – and smiled. His techniques far surpassed these barely-conscious flora. With minimal expenditure of spiritual power and true qi, he could easily obliterate them all. Dealing with injured Moon Goddess Palace disciples would be equally simple.

He watched impassively as Moon Goddess Palace members collapsed around him. While ascending, his peripheral vision caught Jun Ruolan’s figure. Narrowing his eyes, he kept his thoughts hidden.

"Ninety layers already?" The towering statue before him prompted immediate action. Ye Yun suddenly struck the treasure-collecting disciple he’d been observing, sending the man flying. Snatching the storage pouch mid-air, he blurred toward the final three layers.

Chaos erupted among the remaining disciples.

Ye Yun moved too quickly for countermeasures. Only Jun Ruolan reacted, unleashing Moon Goddess Shattering Fist. Her strike met dissolving white light as Ye Yun vanished. Snarling, she transformed into moonlight pursuing him upward.

Guardian statues crumbled beneath her furious blows. Matching Ye Yun’s speed, she breached the upper three layers.

"Ancestor, break this with soul power," Ye Yun commanded, facing the restriction. The Ancestor of Sword Path’s power shattered the barrier instantly, revealing a crystalline crimson flower. Ye Yun stored the superb heavenly treasure in his Thunder Sound Metamorphosis ring, already overflowing with loot.

His entire assault took mere moments – from the ninetieth layer through three final obstacles, seizing every treasure in sight. Turning to leave, he found Jun Ruolan blocking his path.

"You cling like shadows. What am I to do?" He chuckled.

"Surrender the third layer’s treasures or face consequences," Jun Ruolan hissed, pale hands shrouded in dark energy. True combat power radiated from her.

"Save our duel for the final layer. Tend your wounds first – I show no mercy to the injured." White light engulfed Ye Yun as he vanished. Jun Ruolan’s fist shattered ancient bark where he’d stood.

"Done sightseeing?" Ye Yun materialized in the second layer where Golden Ling’er lounged. "Let’s move."

"Finally!" She jumped up eagerly.

Jin An inquired, "Senior, everything settled?"

"Moon Goddess Palace interfered, but ninety percent of the ancient tree’s treasures are mine." Ye Yun nodded at Jin An’s envious look. "You’ll have your day."

"Flattery won’t make me stay here with Ling’er." Jin An’s wry smile acknowledged their survival as victory enough.

At the ancient tree’s summit, only scattered Nascent Soul cultivators remained. Du Jianyin’s earlier massacre and Ye Yun’s Blood Moon purge had culled their numbers dramatically. Even Du Jianyin hadn’t anticipated such overwhelming power – though Ye Yun knew the swordsman would return stronger after conquering his mental demons.

"Company approaches," warned the Ancestor as Ye Yun prepared for the fourth layer. Surging Moon Goddess power announced Zhang Yanhua’s arrival, his moon blade slicing air.

"Seventh Level Nascent Soul? Impressive." Ye Yun remained relaxed before the prodigy dubbed destiny’s chosen.

"Our battle will measure true strength." Three blade lights flashed, effortlessly dodged.

"No pill-enhanced progress. Commendable." Ye Yun observed.

"Thanks to you." Zhang Yanhua’s grip tightened. "I’ll end this here."

"Save it for the final layer." Ye Yun waved dismissively. "Immortal Spirit Stones wait, and I’ve no wish to bleed here."

"Then I’ll wait where victory matters." The moon blade vanished as Zhang Yanhua departed.

"Freak," Ye Yun muttered, grudgingly impressed. Their next clash would decide everything. Unlike these sect-backed rivals, he was a wandering cultivator – this treasure might be his only chance.

Golden Ling’er cheered as they approached the Deceptive Array. "Let’s leave this awful place!"

"Senior," Jin An ventured, "was that really Zhang Yanhua? The Fifth Level Nascent Soul who defeats Seventh Levels?"

"You know him?"

"Everyone knows the Moon Goddess Palace’s rising star. That you rival him…" Jin An trailed off, mistaking Ye Yun’s genuine ignorance for modesty.

Ye Yun shrugged. Hailing from distant Jin Kingdom, he cared little for local fame. Only Du Jianyin concerned him – their years-long rivalry demanded constant vigilance.