Chapter 69: Alarm

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Alarm

At that moment, a strange look crossed Lin Chuang’s face. He wasn’t surprised that the others had obtained keys, since they were all at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Realm.

But Yi Xiaoyao...

’A guy at the Foundation Establishment Second Realm got a key and is still standing here?’

’Are that long-faced youth and his two companions idiots? Why would they pass up such an easy target?’

’Or maybe it’s because Ye Ping is protecting Yi Xiaoyao, making it awkward for them to make a move?’

In any case, how could Lin Chuang possibly pass up such a quick and easy chance to get a key?

"Kid, with your pathetic level of strength, you’re not qualified to possess a key. Hurry up and hand it over."

Lin Chuang said coldly as he walked toward Yi Xiaoyao.

Ye Ping’s eyes shifted. She was glad she had given the key to Yi Xiaoyao for safekeeping; otherwise, she would have never been able to hold onto it.

"If I’m not qualified to have a key, then you’re even less qualified, you moron." Yi Xiaoyao put the key away and grinned at Lin Chuang.

Anger flared in Lin Chuang’s eyes at his words. The Spiritual Power he had at the ready instantly flooded his right fist.

"You have such a low Cultivation, yet you dare act so arrogantly before me! Since you’ve rejected the chance I’ve given you, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

A Breaking Sky Fist, carrying a fierce gale, hurtled toward Yi Xiaoyao.

In the face of this punch, Yi Xiaoyao simply laughed. He raised his hand, clenched it into a fist that instantly turned an abyssal black, and shot it forward to intercept the blow.

BANG!

The clash of their Spiritual Power erupted in a brilliant flash against the night sky.

But the vicious smile on Lin Chuang’s face suddenly froze. He found that the Spiritual Power in his right fist was draining away at an alarming rate, and Yi Xiaoyao’s strength far exceeded his imagination.

’What! This kid is clearly only at the Foundation Establishment Second Realm! How is he so strong?!’

Utterly shocked, Lin Chuang seemed to piece something together. His expression changed drastically as he tried to pull back his fist and retreat.

But Yi Xiaoyao had no intention of letting him go so easily. Five streaks of Sword Qi suddenly shot out from his abyssal black fist, piercing straight through Lin Chuang’s own and severing his five clenched fingers.

The pain was so intense it felt like it was tearing into his very soul.

"AHHH!!!"

A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air. As Lin Chuang stumbled back, he clutched the mangled stump of his right hand, his face a mask of terror and agony as he stared at Yi Xiaoyao.

His earlier suspicions were now confirmed in the most brutal way possible.

It all made sense now. Why Yi Xiaoyao dared to accept a two-star mission with such a low Cultivation. Why the long-faced youth was watching him with such profound wariness. Why no one dared to try and steal his key.

Five fingers was the price Lin Chuang had paid for this understanding.

The expressions of the long-faced youth and his two companions grew tense. Seeing Lin Chuang’s fate, they realized that Yi Xiaoyao had actually gone easy on them.

The other four members of Lin Chuang’s team were just as stunned as the long-faced youth had been earlier, staring at Yi Xiaoyao in utter disbelief.

"Still think my strength is a joke?"

Yi Xiaoyao asked, looking at the four of them with a faint smile.

The four of them remained silent, their expressions grim.

Lin Chuang was the strongest among them, yet he had been utterly defeated by Yi Xiaoyao. The implication was obvious. As this realization dawned on them, the four warily took several steps back.

Yi Xiaoyao chuckled and turned to Lin Chuang, who was doubled over in pain.

"And you. Still want to take my key?"

The question made Lin Chuang’s face, already contorted in agony, twitch violently.

Just then, the interior of the Spirit Stone Vein suddenly blazed with light. All the braziers had been lit, and figures began to rapidly converge on their position, forming an encirclement.

"This is bad! Lin Chuang’s scream must have alerted the guards inside!"

Ye Ping cried out, her face paling. She looked anxiously toward Yi Xiaoyao, having subconsciously begun to rely on him as her pillar of support.

Before Yi Xiaoyao could speak, the other young cultivators had gathered together, alarm written on their faces.

"There are twenty guards in the vein, and only ten of us. We’re no match for them in a head-on fight."

"Our advantage was the element of surprise, but now we’re exposed. The mission’s a wash."

"Let’s fall back! It’s every man for himself!"

The group quickly and anxiously came to a consensus, preparing to flee.

Only Yi Xiaoyao stood his ground, a slight frown on his face as he watched the guards close in, a glint in his eyes.

"Wait."

His calm voice stopped them. Everyone turned to look at Yi Xiaoyao, confused.

"Hey! If we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late!" Ye Ping urged.

Yi Xiaoyao drew his longsword and pointed forward. "Each of you take on one of them. Leave the rest to me."

"What?"

Everyone gasped. ’He must be insane,’ they thought. ’He wants to fight twelve guards by himself?’

"This is no time for jokes!" Ye Ping said, her brow furrowed.

Yi Xiaoyao’s gaze was firm. ’I refuse to let my first trial mission end in failure.’ Besides, given the circumstances, escaping the guards’ encirclement would be nearly impossible even if they retreated now.

"I’m not joking. If we retreat, at least half of us will be killed or wounded. The other option is to stand and fight with me."

Yi Xiaoyao’s voice was filled with such confidence it seemed to have a magical quality, calming the frayed nerves of the others.

Yi Xiaoyao was right. They were in a valley with only a single way out.

Their twenty opponents were intimately familiar with the terrain and were closing in from both sides to surround them. Once they discovered their ten fallen comrades, they would surely fight to the death to stop them.

The chances of escape were slim to none.

Everyone looked at Yi Xiaoyao in unison.

"We admit you’re strong, but what you’re suggesting—taking on twelve guards by yourself—is impossible. If you want to get yourself killed, fine, but don’t drag us down with you!"

Yi Xiaoyao gave them an indifferent glance. "I’m giving you a chance to live."

The group exchanged uncertain glances. Lin Chuang, however, didn’t believe Yi Xiaoyao for a second and decisively broke away to flee.

Seeing Lin Chuang try to escape, two of the twenty guards split off to pursue him.

Having already lost the fingers on his right hand, Lin Chuang had no hope against two pursuers at the Same Realm as him. His face dark, he had no choice but to fall back.

Seeing this, the rest of the group reluctantly stayed put. At least with Yi Xiaoyao, they would only have to face a single enemy each.

SWISH SWISH SWISH...

The twenty guards quickly appeared within a few hundred feet, closing in rapidly.

"Who are you people?! How dare you come after our Spirit Stone Vein!"

"You killed ten of our brothers! Not one of you is leaving here alive today!"

"Men, kill these thieves!"

The twenty guards, their faces contorted with rage, charged toward Yi Xiaoyao’s group with long blades in hand, radiating an overwhelming Killing Intent. Every single one of them exuded the aura of the Foundation Establishment Fourth Realm.

Ye Ping’s face was ashen as she looked at Yi Xiaoyao. She couldn’t understand how this young man could remain so calm. ’Isn’t he afraid of death?’

"Hey, don’t be reckless. If..."

Before Ye Ping could finish, a terrifying Qi erupted from Yi Xiaoyao. He transformed into a ghostly shadow and shot toward the approaching guards.