Chapter 761: Courting Death

“Die!”

“Weak humans, become sacrifices for the great lords of the Spirit Demon Race.”

As scores of Martial Artists flew into the passage, countless evil, cruel, and ferocious roars suddenly rang out. One after another, powerful figures exuding a sinister aura followed close behind.

These Martial Emperors were all drenched in blood. Their eyes were pitch black, and wisps of black Demonic Qi swirled around them, making them look like demons emerging from hell.

These Martial Emperors were the very same top experts who had been possessed in the Spirit Marrow Pool.

At this moment, the faces of these possessed Martial Emperors were filled with malevolence as they charged toward the passage, launching a merciless pursuit of the fleeing crowd.

But just as they were about to enter the passages, a humming sound—WHIRRR—rang out. The countless passages on the abyss walls suddenly lit up with brilliant rainbows of light. This light formed a curtain, instantly blocking the path of the Demonic Qi-wreathed Martial Emperors.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The Martial Emperors slammed into the light curtain and were sent flying. Sizzling sounds of burning emanated from their bodies as wisps of white smoke rose, and they began to roar in agony.

Ye Xuan was surprised. ‘So the passages have this kind of function, able to block these possessed demons from entering.’ It seemed the purpose of this Trapping Array was likely to suppress the entity within the abyss and prevent these demons from leaving.

WHIRRRRRR!

At the entrance of the passages, a radiant light bloomed. Lines of Profound Mysteries and runes flickered, forming a vast curtain of light on both sides of the abyss. Beneath it, the demons bared their fangs and brandished their claws. Their faces, illuminated by the glow, looked even more savage and terrifying as they stared fearfully at the radiant light before them.

The black light in one of the demon’s eyes flickered, as if it had been bewitched. With a roar, it charged violently toward the barrier of light.

With a loud THUD, the demon was thrown back. But this time, the light barrier didn’t just repel it; a hazy glow also enveloped it.

Amidst a bloodcurdling scream, white smoke quickly billowed from the demon’s entire body. In the end, its physical form was incinerated into nothingness, turned to ash and dust.

“Damn you, humans! Damn you!”

The remaining demons let out furious, hoarse roars. They stared fearfully at the light curtain covering the passages and, after lingering for a moment, soon rushed out of the abyss, disappearing from Ye Xuan’s sight into the vast expanse.

‘The Martial Artists still searching for ore veins in this mysterious land are out of luck.’

Ye Xuan sighed to himself. The sudden connection of this Ancient Demon Land with the Celestial Yin Valley had drawn an unknown number of Martial Artists into this mysterious place, many of whom had come here through the passages to search for ore veins.

Some of them had gathered at the altar, but many others were still searching for ore veins across the vast landscape. These people had no idea what had just transpired at the altar and in the abyss. Once discovered by those demons, they would surely face a dead end.

Ye Xuan looked down.

At the bottom of the abyss, boundless black mist churned like a devil, exuding endless terror.

Waves of chilling pressure emanated from below. The mere aura seeping out was enough to make Ye Xuan’s heart palpitate.

‘Forget it. I originally wanted to go down and investigate, but I’d better not. Even a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor barely escaped with his life. If I go down, it’ll be even more dangerous.’

Ye Xuan shook his head and was about to leave.

Suddenly—

BOOM!

A terrifying shockwave swept in from the edge of the abyss, slamming heavily into the passage where Ye Xuan stood.

The attack came too suddenly, appearing before Ye Xuan in an instant. It contained an explosive, soul-shaking power. At the critical moment, Ye Xuan’s figure flashed. He was like a lone leaf drifting in the wind, flying backward with the shockwave and avoiding the core of the blast.

‘Who was it?’ His gaze was like lightning as he stared intently toward the outer edge of the abyss, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

“A mere First Layer Martial Emperor actually managed to block Yuchi Shang’s sneak attack. To have survived this long, you truly are extraordinary.”

A chilling voice rang out. SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! Several figures shot out from the side, instantly surrounding Ye Xuan.

“Yu Chi Bugong, it’s you?”

A look of astonishment crossed Ye Xuan’s face.

He never would have thought that Yu Chi Bugong and the others, who had fled in panic just moments ago, hadn’t actually left through the passages during the crisis. Instead, they had hidden themselves to the side, waiting until the demons were gone to launch a brazen attack on him.

“It is I.” Yu Chi Bugong stepped forward, a savage look on his face as he sneered, “Brat, I heard you were leaving with the Xiao family. What’s the matter? Did that old dog Xiao Wuji abandon you? That makes sense. A First Layer Martial Emperor is just a piece of trash. If it were me, I wouldn’t have brought you along either.”

“Patriarch Yu Chi Bugong, do you think Patriarch Xiao Wuji is as shameless as you? And an elder of your Yuchi family, Yuchi Shang, just tried to assassinate me. If I weren’t somewhat capable, I’d probably be dead at the hands of your Yuchi family’s elder by now. Yu Chi Bugong, as the Patriarch of the Yuchi family, aren’t you going to give me an explanation?” Ye Xuan said coldly.

“Give you an explanation?” Yu Chi Bugong couldn’t help but laugh, his gaze as cold and sinister as a viper’s. “Xuan Ye, it seems you haven’t yet grasped your situation.”

“My situation? What situation?” Ye Xuan said coldly.

He sneered inwardly. ‘This Yu Chi Bugong is really digging his own grave.’

Ye Xuan had long been extremely displeased with the Yuchi family. Back in the Celestial Capital Prefecture, they had been at odds with his Profound Light Pavilion at every turn.

It was only because of their deep background and terrifying strength that Ye Xuan had always held back.

Moreover, as the rulers of a second-tier power like the Celestial Capital Prefecture, the Yuchi family was bound to have a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor overseeing them, which made Ye Xuan quite wary of them.

But now, after breaking through to the Martial Emperor realm, Ye Xuan’s strength had increased severalfold. Just moments ago, as he watched Yu Chi Bugong and the others rush into the passages, his only regret was not having a chance to deal with them. Who would have thought they’d deliver themselves right to his doorstep?

“Haha, ‘what situation’ indeed.” Yu Chi Bugong sneered, then glanced at Ye Xuan with suspicion. He couldn’t see the slightest trace of fear on Ye Xuan, which puzzled him.

‘Where does a mere First Layer Martial Emperor like Ye Xuan get the nerve to face me without any fear? Isn’t he afraid I’ll kill him? Or does he have some trump card to escape from me?’

As for waiting for someone to rescue him, that was absolutely impossible. Before making a move on Ye Xuan, Yu Chi Bugong had already scanned the vicinity. Right now, there was no one else in these passages besides their group.

It was also impossible for Xiao Wuji and his people to be hiding nearby.

“Patriarch, why waste words on this brat? Let me have some fun with him. He’ll find out what his situation is soon enough.”

From among the Yuchi family’s Martial Emperors, a middle-aged man with a cold gaze stepped forward. A sinister, chilling smile played on his lips as he looked at Ye Xuan with a hint of mockery in his eyes.

“Alright, Yuchi Jie, you go and take this brat down. Remember, don’t play him to death,” Yu Chi Bugong sneered.

“Don’t worry, Patriarch.” Yuchi Jie gave a vicious grin and, without any more nonsense, thrust his hands out to grab Ye Xuan.

A powerful sense of restraint appeared between heaven and earth, instantly enveloping Ye Xuan’s body. Two terrifying Profound palms, one from the left and one from the right, closed in like giant pincers, completely sealing Ye Xuan in.

Although Yuchi Jie’s attitude and tone were dismissive, he showed no mercy in his first move. He unleashed his cultivation at the Peak of Tier Eight Second Layer to its fullest. The terrifying spatial restraint and Profound palms were enough to suppress and even kill an ordinary Second Layer Martial Emperor.

A look of great surprise appeared on Ye Xuan’s face as he seemed to hastily swing out his Sword of Judgment.

KABOOM!

The black greatsword, crackling with lightning, struck the two Profound palms, immediately producing a violent roar. Amidst the terrifying Profound power, it actually managed to create a tiny crack on Yuchi Jie’s palms.

“Break for me!”

Ye Xuan roared, and the lightning on the Sword of Judgment grew ever more brilliant. His eyes were sharp, and he appeared to be using all his strength. Gradually, he split an opening in Yuchi Jie’s palms, and a large amount of Profound power gushed out.

Amidst the violent roar, Yuchi Jie and Ye Xuan both took a step back.

“Huh, this Xuan Ye really has a few tricks up his sleeve. No wonder he was able to make it this far and not die with only a Tier Eight First Layer cultivation,” Yu Chi Bugong said with a surprised and astonished look on his face.

Yuchi Jie’s cultivation was at the Peak of Tier Eight Second Layer, while Ye Xuan was merely at Tier Eight First Layer—not even at the peak of it. As a Triple Peak Martial Emperor, Yu Chi Bugong could see this very clearly.

Normally, with Ye Xuan’s cultivation, Yuchi Jie should have been able to kill him in an instant. But the reality was that he had not only withstood Yuchi Jie’s attack but had also broken through his Profound palms. It was obvious that Ye Xuan’s talent was astonishing, even allowing him to challenge those at a higher level.

An elder at the side chuckled and said, “Patriarch, for this Xuan Ye to establish a business as large as the Profound Light Pavilion in the Celestial Capital Prefecture at such a young age, and to be proficient in Alchemy, Soul Refining, and Array Refining, his origins must be extraordinary. It’s not impossible for a First Layer Martial Emperor to block the attack of a Peak of Second Layer like Yuchi Jie.”

Another elder of the Yuchi family sneered, “But no matter how heaven-defying his talent is, it doesn’t change the fact that his cultivation is only at the First Layer of Martial Emperor. He’s just barely hanging on. If Yuchi Jie attacks with his full strength, I refuse to believe he can last for long.”

“Second Elder, that’s a certainty.”

“Then let’s just see how long this brat can survive against Yuchi Jie.”

The elders chatted and laughed, not taking Ye Xuan seriously at all.

“Yuchi Jie, is that all the skill you have?”

While Yu Chi Bugong and the others were discussing amongst themselves, Ye Xuan sneered at Yuchi Jie.