Chapter 412 - 389: Defeating an Enemy with 1 Slash

I had intended to write more, but I’ve come down with a cold and my head is all fuzzy. I’ll do my best to write a longer Chapter tomorrow. Thank you, my friends, for your subscriptions, monthly tickets, Recommendation Tickets, and gifts.

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WHOOSH!

High above the Celestial Pool on Xuli Mountain, Zhang Ye executed a saber strike with casual grace. The attack was perfectly formed. One moment, it seemed to be hundreds of yards away, but in the blink of an eye, it traversed the intervening space and appeared right before Xuli Qiqi.

Faced with such a terrifying Saber Technique, even someone as powerful as Xuli Qiqi couldn’t help but pale. She whipped the Red Silk in her hands again and again, barely managing to block Zhang Ye’s strike.

Xuli Qiqi flashed back several yards and let out a sigh of relief. "Your Saber Technique is becoming more and more formidable, Zhang Ye. That last strike felt like it came from an Ancient War God, filled with the aura of the Ancient Wilderness. I almost couldn’t stop it."

Zhang Ye sighed. "This technique is called the Cloud-Breaking Slash. I comprehended it from a fragment of an Ancient Blade Tip. It’s a shame I can’t find all the pieces of the Ancient Divine Saber. If I could, my understanding of the Saber Dao would deepen, and my combat strength would soar."

Zhang Ye had learned from the Fourth Hall Master that the saber had shattered into five pieces. He himself possessed two. Of the other three, one was with a Hall Master of the Great Peace Kingdom True Hall, another with a Hall Master of the Great Rong Kingdom, and the final piece was in the hands of an Elder from the Great Marsh True Hall.

Even though he knew where the fragments were, Zhang Ye had killed numerous young experts during the Thirteen Countries’ Rookie King Tournament, offending these very True Halls in the process. Trying to retrieve the fragments from them now was next to impossible.

Suppressing his regret, Zhang Ye calculated the time. "Qiqi," he said, "I’ve been here for over a month. It’s time for me to return to the True Hall and await the Envoy from the Sect."

Xuli Qiqi nodded. "Alright. It’s time for me to leave, too."

Zhang Ye was a man of iron will who never hesitated. Having made his decision, he simply waved to Xuli Qiqi. "I’m sure we’ll meet again!"

With those words, Zhang Ye activated his Body Technique and flew at full speed toward the Wei Kingdom’s Zhen Dian Mountain.

A while after Zhang Ye left, Xiaobi flew out of the underwater grotto. She glanced at Xuli Qiqi and giggled. "Miss Qi, you seem so reluctant to see him go. Why don’t you just become his Dao companion and cultivate together?"

Xuli Qiqi froze for a moment, then shook her head. "I’m used to being alone; I don’t wish to live with anyone. Besides, Zhang Ye is a man of resolute will, entirely devoted to his path. He would never even consider a Dao companion. Now, go and pack your things. We’ve been in the Land of Divine Abandonment long enough. It’s time to see the outside world."

...

WHOOSH—

Zhang Ye flew through the sky at top speed, feeling utterly refreshed in body and spirit. During his month on Xuli Mountain, he had not only made great strides in his Saber Technique, but his Celestial River Righteous Qi had also grown much more powerful. The three Ancient Powers within him were now fifty percent fused. He only needed to fuse the remaining half to break through to the True Dao.

In addition to his Saber Technique and Celestial River Righteous Qi, Zhang Ye’s Body Technique had also seen massive improvement. His self-created Tornado Body Technique was fast, but it produced an unpleasant, thunderous rumble as he flew. After studying Xuli Qiqi’s Body Technique during their spars, he had created an entirely new one.

Zhang Ye called this new technique the Thunderbolt Body Technique.

When he flew using the Thunderbolt Body Technique, the sound of him tearing through the air was significantly quieter, yet his speed was several times faster than the Tornado Body Technique.

After flying for thousands of miles, Zhang Ye suddenly felt a sense of being watched. He had felt this same sensation once before, when he was leaving the Wei Kingdom’s Zhen Dian Mountain.

A chill went down Zhang Ye’s spine. ’I’m likely being followed.’ He subtly scanned his surroundings before abruptly accelerating. In the blink of an eye, he was dozens of miles away.

Thirty times the speed of sound!

That was Zhang Ye’s current top speed. At such a terrifying velocity, even the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi was thrown into disarray, leaving a visible trail in his wake.

Once he reached thirty times the speed of sound, Zhang Ye’s entire body began to tremble violently from the force of the air battering against him. A person with a less durable physique would have been torn to shreds instantly, dying on the spot.

After flying for tens of thousands of miles at thirty times the speed of sound, Zhang Ye finally shook the feeling of being watched. Just as he was about to push his speed even further to return to the Wei Kingdom True Hall in one go, four figures suddenly appeared dozens of miles ahead of him.

Though not as fast as Zhang Ye, the four figures were still moving at an incredible speed. Zhang Ye’s eyesight was exceptional; a single glance from a distance told him they were all Half-Step True Dao Experts. They were subtly maneuvering to block his path, forcing him to slow down.

Zhang Ye’s brow twitched, and a cold sneer touched his lips. He had no desire for complications, but he was certainly not one to shy away from trouble. Since these four were foolish enough to block his way, a blazing killing intent erupted in his heart. He was prepared to kill them all, no matter the cost.

The men who blocked him were four middle-aged cultivators. The leader wore black, with long hair that fell to his waist and a sharp gleam in his eyes. Of the four, his aura was the most profound and unfathomable. Even Zhang Ye dared not take him lightly.

Beside the long-haired man in black stood a burly warrior wielding twin hammers. His muscles bulged, rippling with a dazzling metallic sheen. He and his hammers seemed to be a single entity, and his casual stance alone radiated an aura of absolute dominance.

Blocking Zhang Ye’s right flank was a man with twin swords. He was lean and wiry, looking exceptionally tough. He held two Long Swords in a reverse grip, and a chilling Sword Qi instantly filled the air for hundreds of feet around him. Birds in the sky sensed this terrifying Sword Qi and veered far away from him.

The last of the four was a tall, powerfully built man carrying a large purple saber. The weapon in his hand only enhanced his imposing, majestic presence.

The long-haired man in black stared at Zhang Ye from a distance. "Zhang Ye," he said coldly, "do you know who we are?"

Zhang Ye had intended to attack the moment he was in range. Hearing the man speak, however, he paused. "And who might you be?" he asked slowly.

The long-haired man in black spoke with arrogance. "You’re a dead man either way, so I’ll grant you the mercy of knowing why. I am Ling Huangyu of the Da Ling Kingdom True Hall. You murdered our genius disciple, Ling Kongyun, and today I will use your blood as an offering to Junior Brother Ling."

The man with the twin hammers boomed, "I am Yangx Dashuang of the Great Peace Kingdom True Hall. Zhang Ye, you defeated my junior brother, Yangx Guyuan, and stole first place in the Rookie King Tournament. I’ve come to see for myself just what you’re capable of."

The man with the twin swords spoke, his voice dripping with killing intent. "I am Helian Mumu of the Great Marsh True Hall. Zhang Ye, you murdered my junior brother, Helian Bi Bi. Today, I will take your head with these two Treasure Swords."

The final man, the one with the purple saber, let out a booming laugh. "Remember the name, Zhang Ye! I am Chu Gaotian, head disciple of the Great Rong Kingdom True Hall! You murdered our genius disciple, Chu Yuxiang, and today I will use my Purple King Saber to hack you to pieces!"

After hearing their introductions, understanding dawned on Zhang Ye. ’So they’re here for revenge on behalf of Helian Bi Bi, Chu Yuxiang, Ling Kongyun, and Yangx Guyuan,’ he thought. ’Their Cultivation is quite high. That Ling Huangyu’s Innate True Qi has probably reached eighty-five percent. No wonder they dared to ambush me.’

Zhang Ye’s Spiritual Power had always been strong, and it had grown even more so during his month on Xuli Mountain. He could tell at a glance that Ling Huangyu of the Da Ling Kingdom was the most powerful of the four. The next strongest was Yangx Dashuang, who seemed to possess some ancient bloodline; his aura was nearly on par with Ling Huangyu’s.

Helian Mumu and Chu Gaotian had both only recently reached the Half-step True Dao realm, making them the weakest of the group.

As Zhang Ye assessed them, the four masters—Ling Huangyu, Yangx Dashuang, Helian Mumu, and Chu Gaotian—began to slowly close in. All four were Half-Step True Dao Experts, and their combined aura was as heavy as a mountain range. As they drew nearer, it felt as if four great mountains were descending upon him.

Zhang Ye was a veteran of countless battles. The instant the four began to move, so did he. His body blurred into a streak of azure light and vanished.

HISS!

The four masters had locked onto Zhang Ye’s position, so they felt it the moment he activated his Body Technique. But they had never imagined his speed would be so terrifying. All four drew a sharp, collective breath and heightened their guard.

BOOM!

The four had barely raised their guard when Zhang Ye suddenly appeared beside Helian Mumu and chopped down with a Hand Blade!

Helian Mumu’s expression changed drastically. He felt as if Zhang Ye’s attack had descended from the heavens themselves, carrying a profound and mysterious power. Though he held his twin swords ready, he had the gut-wrenching feeling that he would be unable to block it!

It was impossible to dodge, impossible to evade!

A feeling of despair flooded Helian Mumu’s heart.

"AARGH!"

Helian Mumu roared, his twin swords lashing out like two silver dragons, hoping to intercept Zhang Ye’s hand. But his desperate move was futile. The moment his swords struck out, Zhang Ye’s Hand Blade had already slammed into his chest.

CRACK!

The sound of shattering bone echoed. Helian Mumu’s vision went black, and his body plummeted downward like a stone.

A single strike! With just one strike, he had beaten Helian Mumu to within an inch of his life!

HISS!

Ling Huangyu, Yangx Dashuang, and Chu Gaotian all drew a sharp breath in unison, their eyes filled with utter disbelief. "Impossible! How can Zhang Ye be this powerful?"

(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.com to vote with Recommendation Tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)