Chapter 785 - 786: Luring the Snake out of its Hole

BOOM!

Only the lead Martial Emperor managed to hastily swing his saber and block Ye Xuan’s attack, barely saving his own life. However, the terrifying power of the lightning blast left his entire body numb. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression listless.

’What terrifying strength.’

His face was filled with horror. He hadn’t expected a young man like Ye Xuan to possess such terrifying cultivation. It was completely different from his initial assessment.

’As expected of a Martial Artist wanted by Infinite Mountain. His talent is simply staggering.’

"You’re a dog of Infinite Mountain. Die!"

Ye Xuan roared furiously and brandished the Sword of Judgment.

The lead Martial Emperor’s expression turned cold. He raged, "Junior, even if your cultivation is also Tier Eight First Layer, you’re at best my equal. How dare you be so arrogant!"

As his voice fell, a giant flaming bear materialized above the Martial Emperor’s head. As several rings of starlight flickered, terrifying flame power descended upon his saber. It transformed into a fiery blade nearly ten feet long, which he brought down madly upon Ye Xuan.

A terrifying aura of fire swept out, searing the very air. It carried a powerful, imposing intent, and all the naked eye could see was a wave of blades like a sea of fire.

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

Several large trees nearby were instantly incinerated to ash.

BOOM!

The flaming saber and the lightning sword clashed. A terrifying force erupted from the impact and instantly surged into the Martial Emperor’s body.

PFFT!

Spitting out another mouthful of blood, the Martial Emperor staggered back, his face pale with horror.

’How is this possible? This kid is even stronger than me! He shattered my ultimate move in a single strike!’

The lead Martial Emperor’s face was filled with panic, all traces of his earlier composure gone. Seeing Ye Xuan about to strike again, he violently spat out a mouthful of blood essence. The Profound Energy in his body instantly ignited like a flame.

WHOOSH!

His figure abruptly transformed into a streak of fiery light and vanished into the mountain forest.

Ye Xuan sheathed his heavy sword. The anger on his face vanished, replaced by a playful smirk.

"I’ve had my fun playing with those three wastes. Now, don’t you dare disappoint me."

A cold glint flashed deep in Ye Xuan’s eyes.

In terms of cultivation, the man who fled was merely a First Layer Martial Emperor. How could he possibly withstand a single blow from Ye Xuan?

If Ye Xuan wished, a single glance could have been enough to kill him.

However, that was not Ye Xuan’s intention.

Ye Xuan’s goal was to use that man to lure out the experts from Infinite Mountain.

Purple Beauty City was full of powerful experts. If he dared to make a move inside the city, he would surely provoke other Martial Artists. If he attracted the attention of a few Nine Heavens Martial Emperors, things would become dangerous.

But after that battle, Ye Xuan was confident that as soon as the experts from Infinite Mountain got news of him, they would come at once. And that would be his time to slaughter.

"You’d better not disappoint me."

With a cold smile, Ye Xuan’s figure flickered and vanished into the forest.

This place was too close to Purple Beauty City; it wasn’t an ideal spot for an ambush. He had to find a more secluded location to set a more perfect trap.

「At the eastern gate of Purple Beauty City, from which Ye Xuan had previously departed.」

SWISH!

A battered figure appeared, spattered with blood. It was none other than the Martial Emperor who had just escaped from Ye Xuan with his life.

"I am Fire Blade Martial Emperor of Purple Beauty City! I need to see the experts from Infinite Mountain!"

The Fire Blade Martial Emperor spoke urgently, before the two black-armored guards could even ask any questions.

"We are who you’re looking for. What do you need?"

A figure silently appeared in front of the Fire Blade Martial Emperor. It was a man with a gaunt face, whose cultivation reached as high as Tier Eight Second Layer. The aura he exuded was so oppressive that the Fire Blade Martial Emperor didn’t even dare to look him in the eye.

This was Infinite Mountain’s Iron Palm Martial Emperor, the person in charge of the eastern gate.

’As expected of an expert from Infinite Mountain. What a terrifying aura.’ The Fire Blade Martial Emperor was secretly shocked but didn’t dare to delay. He quickly sent a voice transmission: "Your Excellency, I have found the fugitive wanted by Infinite Mountain."

"What?" The Iron Palm Martial Emperor was startled, his gaze instantly sharpening. "Is what you’re saying true?"

"It is true. In an attempt to help Your Excellencies capture this man, I and two of my brothers attacked him. Who would have thought his strength was so astonishing? My two brothers fell, and I myself was injured."

As the Fire Blade Martial Emperor spoke, he handed a projection to the Iron Palm Martial Emperor.

It was a recording of the three of them ambushing Ye Xuan.

He had recorded the battle with the original intention of using it as evidence to make demands of Infinite Mountain. He never expected it would now serve as the perfect way to earn the trust of their expert.

’It really is him.’

The Iron Palm Martial Emperor’s eyes narrowed. ’He’s so young, yet he’s already a Tier Eight First Layer Martial Emperor and even defeated this Fire Blade Martial Emperor. His talent is truly astounding.’

A thought flashed through his mind, and the Iron Palm Martial Emperor immediately shouted, "All men, on my command! Move out!"

As his voice fell, the Iron Palm Martial Emperor shot into the sky, taking the Fire Blade Martial Emperor with him.

Behind them, the remaining few experts from Infinite Mountain followed closely.

"Lead the way," the Iron Palm Martial Emperor said coldly to the Fire Blade Martial Emperor.

"Yes."

The Fire Blade Martial Emperor hastily flew ahead.

However, because he had just used up so much Profound Energy in his hasty escape, on top of being injured, his speed was less than impressive.

’At this speed... if that Xuan Ye gets away, we’ll be in trouble.’

The Iron Palm Martial Emperor was growing anxious. He took out a Pill and flicked it into the Fire Blade Martial Emperor’s hand, saying coldly, "Take it."

"Yes." The Fire Blade Martial Emperor quickly swallowed the Pill. He immediately felt a gentle medicinal power spread through his body. His previously injured frame began to recover at an astonishing rate.

’What incredible healing power. This must be an Eighth Grade Healing Elixir.’

The Fire Blade Martial Emperor was shocked. Although he too was a Martial Emperor, he was just a Loose Cultivator. This was the first time he had ever taken such a high-grade Healing Elixir.

’Infinite Mountain truly lives up to its name, casually handing out Eighth Grade Pills.’ The thought that he might have a chance to join such a sect filled the Fire Blade Martial Emperor’s heart with ecstasy.

After his injuries healed, the Fire Blade Martial Emperor’s flying speed increased dramatically.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Streaks of light tore across the sky, speeding toward Ye Xuan’s last known location.

「Meanwhile, in an inn in Purple Beauty City.」

The three core elders of Infinite Mountain were meditating with their eyes closed.

Suddenly, the expressions of all three changed. They each took out a communication jade slip.

"That Xuan Ye has been found? In the mountain forest hundreds of miles east of Purple Beauty City?"

Delighted surprise showed on all three of their faces.

The next moment, three powerful streaks of light shot out of the inn at the same time, disappearing into the eastern sky.

「Half an incense stick later.」

The men led by the Iron Palm Martial Emperor were the first to arrive at the mountain forest where the battle had taken place.

"Sirs, the kid is gone."

The Fire Blade Martial Emperor said with some trepidation as he looked at the empty forest.

He had already expected this; Ye Xuan wouldn’t have just obediently waited here. He could only hope that the experts from Infinite Mountain had come prepared.

"Don’t worry. He can’t escape."

The Iron Palm Martial Emperor gave a cold smile. He suddenly produced a translucent jade disc and absorbed a trace of the battle’s lingering aura into it.

A red needle inside the jade disc immediately began to spin rapidly before finally pointing east of the forest.

"Hmph. This Tracking Disc can trace any aura within ten thousand li. Unless that Xuan Ye can escape ten thousand li in such a short time, he has no hope of evading our pursuit."

A cold smirk played on the Iron Palm Martial Emperor’s lips as he led the group in pursuit, following the direction of the red needle.

’There’s even a Profound Artifact like this?’ The Fire Blade Martial Emperor watched from the side, his heart trembling with fear. ’Infinite Mountain is truly a first-rate power. With a tracking treasure like this, who could possibly escape their hunt once they’ve been offended?’

’Hmph. You killed my brothers earlier. Now you can just wait for death.’

Killing intent surged in his eyes, and a cold, chilling smile spread across the Fire Blade Martial Emperor’s lips.

「Meanwhile, in a hidden valley hundreds of miles east of the forest.」

Ye Xuan’s figure slowly materialized.

"This place... shall serve as the graveyard for the people of Infinite Mountain, then?" Ye Xuan mused with a faint smile, then sat down cross-legged in the valley.

「An incense stick’s time later.」

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Several streaks of light appeared above the valley.

The Iron Palm Martial Emperor and his men immediately spotted Ye Xuan in the valley below. To their astonishment, when they arrived, Ye Xuan was still cultivating in the valley.

"This kid..."

The Iron Palm Martial Emperor’s gaze was ice-cold. He, along with the Fire Blade Martial Emperor and the other experts from Infinite Mountain, descended and instantly surrounded Ye Xuan.

They hadn’t expected Ye Xuan to be so brazen as to actually wait for them here.

"You’re finally here. A little faster than I expected," Ye Xuan said, standing up unhurriedly. "But... did Infinite Mountain only send a few small fry to hunt me this time?"

Among these people, the strongest, the Iron Palm Martial Emperor, was merely a Tier Eight Second Layer expert. There were two other Tier Eight First Layer experts, four Tier Seven Third Layer Martial Kings, and the Fire Blade Martial Emperor. Such opponents couldn’t even begin to pique Ye Xuan’s interest.

"Such an arrogant brat! The sirs from Infinite Mountain are right in front of you, and you still haven’t surrendered obediently!"

The Fire Blade Martial Emperor was the first to step out from the crowd, roaring furiously. He was trying his best to show off in front of the Iron Palm Martial Emperor and the others.

"Just you guys?" Ye Xuan sneered, his expression calm and unbothered.

The Iron Palm Martial Emperor frowned. He didn’t understand where Ye Xuan’s confidence came from, that he still dared to speak to them like this. He carefully spread his Profound Sense throughout the entire valley, confirming that there was indeed no one but Xuan Ye—and no ambush.

"Iron Palm Elder, let me handle this man. The rest of you just need to stand guard for me. I will make this person understand the consequences of offending our Infinite Mountain."

A Tier Eight First Layer Martial Emperor Elder from the Infinite Mountain contingent stepped forward slowly. A sneer played on his lips, and his words and attitude showed he didn’t take Ye Xuan seriously at all.

"No!"

The Iron Palm Martial Emperor raised a hand, stopping his proposal. His gaze was grave as he said, "In a moment, we will all attack together. We must capture this boy at the first possible opportunity."

"Iron Palm Elder, isn’t that making a mountain out of a molehill? He’s merely a First Layer Martial Emperor. Why do we all need to attack? I alone can capture him easily," the Martial Emperor Elder who had spoken before said, looking perplexed.

"Do as I say."

The Iron Palm Martial Emperor’s expression was grim. He didn’t know the source of Ye Xuan’s composure, but he felt an inexplicable sense of unease from the boy. And it was this unease that made him make this decision.