Chapter Forty-Two: The Death of Wu Lie

Every cultivator of the Ye clan, upon mastering the art of Qi Refinement, would embark on a journey to temper themselves, walking the line between life and death, their bodies baptized by combat and bloodshed.

Thus, any Ye clan cultivator who survived the Qi Refinement stage and stepped into the Foundation Establishment phase was not to be underestimated.

Ye Yun attacked with the Dragon Fist; his opponent, in turn, controlled his flying sword, sending four beams of sword light in a ruthless counterattack. Their contest was one of sheer ferocity.

If Ye Yun insisted on striking Wu Lie, then the four sword beams would inevitably slash at him as well.

To Wu Lie, Ye Yun was merely a fledgling youth, likely to hesitate and withdraw his attack midway.

Once Ye Yun retreated, the entire battle would fall under Wu Lie's control.

But Wu Lie had underestimated him. Ye Yun had no intention of backing down. The crimson dragon forged from his inner energy pierced straight through Wu Lie’s chest, unleashing a torrent of blood.

Wu Lie felt his breath halt abruptly. He looked down to see a fist-sized hole in his chest, through which his barely beating heart was faintly visible. Agonizing pain and a bone-chilling cold swept across his body in an instant.

“I... I...” His lips moved, but no further words came. His gaze faded, and with a dull thud, he collapsed to the ground.

Blood mingled with rainwater as it flowed freely. The flying sword, which had manifested as four beams of light, lost its brilliance and fell from the sky.

Ye Yun’s crimson, upturned hair reverted to its natural black, now drenched and clinging to his scalp. Most of his inner energy was spent, and his steps wavered slightly as he walked.

He ignored the dying Wu Lie lying in the pool of blood and instead picked up the fallen sword. It was a double-edged blade, each edge grooved for blood, its surface inscribed with intricate patterns beyond Ye Yun’s understanding.

“Unexpected. In the end, I, Wu Lie, didn’t die of old age, nor at the hands of a formidable foe, but by a mere thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy. To be so powerful at Qi Refinement’s peak—what would he become if he stepped into Foundation Establishment? Heh... Ye Peng, Ye Peng, even you could not have foreseen Ye Yun’s talent, could you? How foolish, how utterly blind—everyone misjudged him...”

Wu Lie’s eyes were lifeless, blood bubbling from his lips, his heartbeat weakening until all was silent and his body grew cold and stiff.

Ye Yun stored the flying sword in his Dragon-Phoenix Pendant, then moved to Wu Lie’s corpse, searching it thoroughly. He found two jade bottles, each containing three True Qi Pills, a spirit stone, and a small item—a yellow talisman.

The Ye clan had no practitioners of talisman arts, nor any such traditions, so this talisman must have come to Wu Lie by other means. Its purpose and efficacy remained unknown.

Rain continued to pour, soaking Ye Yun to the bone. He made no attempt to shield himself with inner energy, instead seeking shelter beneath an ancient tree nearby, his gaze lingering on Wu Lie’s corpse.

He was not troubled by guilt or remorse for the killing; Ye Yun was simply reflecting on the gains and losses of the battle.

In truth, his victory owed much to the power of the Crimson Flame Demonic Technique. The Nine Totem Combat Arts were remarkable, but with his current cultivation, he could not fully unleash their potential.

Without the Crimson Flame Demonic Body, which greatly amplified his strength, he would have stood no chance against a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.

True Qi, magical treasures, and spells—they easily overwhelmed those in the Qi Refinement stage, and this was no empty boast.

After a brief rest, Ye Yun put the matter behind him, intending to delve deeper into Sunset Mountain and further temper himself. For half a year, he had battled the Azure-Feather Firebird countless times, and after the fight with Wu Lie, he believed his current strength would suffice to subdue the great beast.

The spirit stone obtained from Wu Lie was immediately refined, replenishing his depleted inner energy and allowing him to recover rapidly.

To Ye Yun’s delight, his inner energy, which had already reached the limit of Qi Refinement, improved further after refining the spirit stone.

Examining himself inwardly, his dantian resembled a vast crimson ocean. Red inner energy surged like water, unceasing and powerful. At the center, a vibrant red flame flickered like a candle, its aura connecting the dantian to the boundless sea of crimson energy.

This was a strand of Crimson Flame Essence, embodying the foundation of Qi Refinement—a treasure of utmost importance.

“That foolish bird has moved again,” he muttered.

He found the Azure-Feather Firebird’s previous nest empty; the bird had even scorched all traces with a burst of flame, ensuring Ye Yun could not track it.

The recent heavy rain had washed away any lingering clues.

Ye Yun was unaware that this was merely the Firebird’s second nest; it had burned the third as well and retreated further into the depths of Sunset Mountain.

The Azure-Feather Firebird was the strongest Foundation Establishment beast in this region. Without it, fighting other Foundation Establishment beasts felt like bullying them. With a sigh, Ye Yun decided to return home.

“Blood...”

Suddenly, Ye Yun’s sharp senses detected the scent of blood amidst the rain and wind. Though faint, his cultivation made him acutely sensitive to such things.

He had spent years training in Sunset Mountain, fighting countless beasts, and could distinguish their blood easily. But the blood mingled in the wind was not only from beasts—it was human as well!

“Could it be someone training in the forest, locked in battle with a beast, and both sides suffered heavy losses?” Ye Yun wondered, and immediately set off, following the scent.

This area of the forest was close to the Ye clan’s territory near Cloudwater City, and most who ventured here for training were Ye clan cultivators.

Ye Yun was not one to meddle in others’ affairs, but within his power, he would lend aid to those in need.

Not all people were as cold-hearted as Ye Peng.

One’s heart could be hardened, ruthless to enemies, but humanity should never be forgotten. Since childhood, his master, Ye Yu, had taught him this.

As he drew closer, the scent of blood thickened, causing Ye Yun to frown. The stench was overwhelming—so strong that countless lives, both human and beast, must have been lost to create it.

He traversed over ten miles, entering the perilous region of Sunset Mountain, where Qi Refinement-level beasts were scarce and powerful monsters lurked. Even encountering a late-Foundation Establishment beast was quite possible.

Originally, Ye Yun intended to wait until reaching Foundation Establishment before training here.

Now, he entered ahead of schedule, nerves taut and vigilance high.

Upon arrival, the scene astounded him.

Dozens of cultivators surrounded a deep cave entrance. Ferocious, giant beasts surged forward, clawing and biting, desperate to break through the blockade and enter the cave.

ps: Second update...