Hua Qianxue frowned, looked around, and then coldly shouted, "Whoever came, don't hide anymore, come out all of you."
As her voice fell.
In the forest, except for the sound of the wind, there was no extra movement.
Hua Qianxue snorted coldly. The next moment, a flash of light appeared in her hand, and a sword shining with fierce brilliance suddenly appeared out of thin air!
The moment Ye Chen saw this sword, he felt a shocking sharpness.
Hua Qianxue's sword was of an unknown higher grade than the one in his hand.
The grades of weapons are divided into Spiritual, Law, Dao, Saint...
Ye Chen's sword was previously used by his third uncle, Ye Zhenming, just a low-grade Spiritual Artifact.
As for the grade of Hua Qianxue's sword, Ye Chen couldn't tell; the only feeling was that it was very strong, terrifyingly sharp, and contained a cold chill. The surrounding world witnessed, therefore, became like a cold winter, with frost even condensing on the surface of plants.
Hua Qianxue swung her sword!
"Swish!"
A Sword Qi composed entirely of ice, as long as three zhang, hovered in the air, then slashed towards a nearby hill.
"Boom!"
The hill exploded, flattened to the ground.
A middle-aged man, holding a young man, shot out from the rolling dust.
Hua Qianxue shouted coldly, her figure flashing, instantly approaching the middle-aged man, swinging her sword horizontally.
A thick layer of Primordial Energy emerged from the middle-aged man.
However, under Hua Qianxue's sword's edge, this layer was like thin paper, easily torn apart. Both the middle-aged man and the young man he was holding were cut into two by Hua Qianxue's sword.
"At least you're at the Peak of the Sea of Qi, but you don't even dare to show your face, shameful."
Hua Qianxue snorted coldly, her expression carrying a hint of disdain, but more so, indifference.
Witnessing this scene, Ye Chen's heart was shaken.
A powerhouse at the Peak of the Sea of Qi, facing Hua Qianxue, was practically only a match for an instant kill. How strong exactly is Hua Qianxue?
"Buzz!"
At this moment, another anomaly abruptly arose!
Three fires appeared in the air, resembling three blazing suns, simultaneously attacking Hua Qianxue.
The scorching heatwave swept through.
Within a range of several hundred meters, all the foliage instantly turned to ashes.
Ye Chen quickly manipulated his sword essence to protect himself, resisting the impact of the heatwave!
Spirit Master, this is the technique of a Tier Three Spirit Master!
Ye Chen faintly perceived that within those three dazzling fire lights, each contained a Spirit Seal.
Spirit Masters are incredibly mysterious and extremely noble.
He had witnessed a Spirit Master's technique before when, a few years back, a Tier Two Spirit Master passed through Qingyun City, and Zhang Feng of the City Lord's Mansion personally went out to greet and properly entertain that Spirit Master and sent him off respectfully, not daring to offend.
And now, a Tier Three Spirit Master has come to kill him for a spot as an Inner Sect Disciple of the Celestial Sword Sect...
Along with the two Sea of Qi Realm powerhouses just killed by Hua Qianxue...
Ye Chen felt a sense of powerlessness!
Alongside the powerlessness, there was anger!
Only now did he truly understand how terrifying those words from Gu Yue, an elder of the Celestial Sword Sect, were.
Many strong ones would come to kill him to ensure their descendants enter the Celestial Sword Sect as Inner Sect Disciples!
The Huang Family of Qingyun City was just the beginning.
Now is the moment those words from Gu Yue truly erupt with power!
Can Hua Qianxue withstand a Tier Three Spirit Master?
Ye Chen was very worried!
In the blink of an eye, the three sun-like flames had already reached Hua Qianxue.
Hua Qianxue still maintained her indifferent expression, thrusting her sword.
The cold on her sword's surface was instantly replaced by flames!
Aside from the flames, a howling gale surrounded the sword!
The combined force of wind and fire lent Hua Qianxue's thrusting sword immense power, immediately surpassing the three Fire Attribute Spirit Seals!
"Boom boom boom!"
The three sun-like firelights exploded successively.
A strong storm swept through, stripping a layer of earth several hundred meters around.
Three dim Spirit Seals wavered in the storm.
Hua Qianxue swung her sword again.
The three Spirit Seals shattered.
Next, a cry of agony came from a distant tree, and an elder's corpse fell from its lush canopy!
This elder was evidently the Tier Three Spirit Master who had acted in the dark. His Spirit Seals shattered, leading to a fatal backlash.
Hua Qianxue's figure flickered, returning beside Ye Chen.
A faint layer of radiance appeared on her, making her look holy and noble.
"I will protect him for three days."
"After three days, if someone in the True Essence Realm strikes, I won't interfere. But whoever in that realm or above makes a move, they will die!"
Hua Qianxue glanced at Ye Chen and said blandly, "What are you standing there for? Start a fire. We'll rest here tonight."
Ye Chen nodded, then immediately started a fire.
During the process of starting the fire, he was still immersed in Hua Qianxue's overwhelming aura of dominance.
This is strength!
If he had such strength, what would he have to fear? He could directly storm the Celestial Sword Sect and seek revenge on Gu Yue!
The desire to become stronger was overwhelmingly strong in Ye Chen's heart, like a seed quickly taking root and sprouting.
When the bonfire was lit.
Hua Qianxue said lightly, "Everyone who came tonight has left."
Ye Chen took a deep breath and said, "Thank you!"
Hua Qianxue replied, "I will keep my word. Within three days, it won't matter who comes; after three days, you must handle anyone below the Sea of Qi Realm yourself.
This is also the teacher's intention.
I can tell you clearly, the teacher wants you to follow his path.
But only the top talents have the qualifications to walk his path.
You managed to kill Huang Tianxiong, a True Essence Realm Third Layer, with your Gathering Yuan Realm Eighth Layer cultivation. You can be considered a talent, but only the weakest kind.
Because Huang Tianxiong is also trash. Although he's at the True Essence Realm Third Layer, he's the weakest of that level in Unparalleled County!
This journey to Unparalleled County marks the start of your trial.
If you can fight your way through, you pass.
If you can't, even if the teacher blames me, I won't care about your life or death."
Ye Chen's eyes flickered, and he said, "Miss Hua, what is your cultivation level?"
"Peak of the Sea of Qi, capable of killing anything below Primordial Embryo!" Hua Qianxue said indifferently.
The initial three realms of Martial Dao cultivation are Gathering Yuan, True Essence, and Sea of Qi.
Above the Sea of Qi are the Primordial Wheel, Primordial Embryo, and Mortal Transcendence.
In other words, Hua Qianxue can cross ten minor realms and, with the Peak of the Sea of Qi cultivation, slay experts at the Elemental Wheel Realm Tenth Layer!
Ye Chen was once again shocked and said, "Miss Hua, did you just use Blazing Sword Intent, Icy Sword Intent, and Tempest Sword Intent?"
Hua Qianxue said, "That's right!"
Earlier, Yang Tianji said she was not as good as Ye Chen.
Hua Qianxue was very unconvinced.
But now, seeing Ye Chen's admiring look towards her, beneath her indifferent expression, her heart felt a bit happy.
Ye Chen said, "I've heard that in the Sword Dao, there's a realm called Human-Sword Unity. Miss Hua, have you reached Human-Sword Unity?"
Hua Qianxue was furious!
Human-Sword Unity is her sore spot!
This bastard Ye Chen had the audacity to poke at her sore spot directly.
In her view, Ye Chen already had one foot in Human-Sword Unity and was now deliberately showing off before her.
Can she tolerate this?
The look she gave Ye Chen was colder than when she killed earlier.
Little did she know, Ye Chen didn't even realize he had achieved Human-Sword Unity. He was just purely curious when he asked.
A layer of goosebumps appeared on Ye Chen's skin.
A woman's heart is like a needle in the sea, unpredictable, with a face changing like June weather!
"Miss Hua, I feel a bit urgent. I'll go resolve it." Ye Chen quickly said; of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best one.
Hua Qianxue said, "Everyone around has left. For three days, they won't dare to act rashly. Go a bit farther. If any stench drifts over here, I won't let you off!"
Ye Chen rolled his eyes, quickly left, found a secluded spot, and said, "Elder Qingyi, can I come in now?"
"The issue with the Sword Tomb isn't resolved yet, later."
"Just a moment. I'll be quick."
Luo Qingyi gave a light hum.
Ye Chen, with just a thought, appeared inside the Sword Tomb.
As soon as he entered, he was stunned!
Previously, the Sword Tomb, although filled with tombstones and shrouded in thick Demonic Qi, was at least orderly.
But now.
Cracks were everywhere, and many tombstones he hadn't refined were already covered with fissures. There were even many demons equivalent to Gathering Yuan Realm Tenth Layer martial artists surrounding!
What happened?
Is this what Luo Qingyi meant by the Sword Tomb having issues?
Each demon, upon discovering Ye Chen, immediately roared and rushed over.
"Scram!"
Luo Qingyi's loud shout sounded, a beam of green light swept over, and suppressed all these demons on the ground, unable to move.
"Elder Qingyi, what happened?"
Although Luo Qingyi's face had a layer of faint light obscuring her features, Ye Chen could see a murderous coldness in her eyes.
Even colder than Hua Qianxue's earlier gaze by countless times.
"Isn't it all because of your good deeds!" Luo Qingyi coldly rebuked.
"What did I do?"
Luo Qingyi snorted coldly and said, "You were only focused on enjoyment at the time. You were satisfied, felt great, and vented it all, but did you know, because your life aura declined to the extreme, the remnant souls of the Celestial Demons suppressed in the tenth layer of the Sword Tomb all rioted. If I hadn't desperately suppressed them, all the Celestial Demon remnant souls would have combined, and there would be chaos in the world, countless lives lost!"
Ye Chen looked embarrassed and said, "Elder Qingyi, I didn't know it would be like this..."
Luo Qingyi said, "You are the Master of the Sword Tomb; the Sword Tomb is already closely linked with you. Your life aura directly affects the stability of the Sword Tomb.
This time, I could suppress it, but next time, I can't guarantee it.
Remember, before seeking pleasure, consider the consequences! Being the Master of the Sword Tomb, being a man, you must know responsibility!"
The reasoning, Ye Chen understood.
But Luo Qingyi's words made him feel a bit odd.
Ye Chen no longer wasted words and said, "Elder Qingyi, I want to get stronger, I want to start refining the tombstones now!"
Luo Qingyi frowned slightly but didn't stop him.
After all, several times before, she thought Ye Chen's body couldn't take it, but he always managed.
Moreover, she increasingly believed there was something peculiar about Ye Chen's body.
Although Yang Tianji had spent a Spirit Seal's energy to heal him, recovering this swiftly to the point of being lively and still capable of killing was beyond Luo Qingyi's expectations.
Ye Chen walked to the center of the tombstones, operated his Sword Yuan beyond his body, and instantly covered ten tombstones!
The ten tombstones immediately transformed into Sword Qi, inundating Ye Chen.
And this was just the beginning!
Ye Chen's controlled Sword Yuan continued to spread!
In the blink of an eye, another five tombstones transformed into Sword Qi, rushing into his body.
Ultimately, in one breath, he refined eighteen tombstones before stopping!
Witnessing this scene, Luo Qingyi couldn't help but curse, "Madman!"