The three great factions' ambitions were vast. They wanted nothing less than to annihilate the Hehuan Sect to the last man. For this purpose, they stationed more than fifty cultivators at the entrance, laying down a sealing barrier.
Those who truly joined the battle numbered around sixty.
Against the Hehuan Sect's thirty-some disciples, they still held an overwhelming advantage, yet this imbalance also gave the sect's ordinary elites a narrow chance to resist.
"Senior Brother Ye, they've sealed the exit with a barrier—what do we do?"
Su Yutong repelled three enemies with a strike, then glanced at the shimmering net of light overhead, sending an anxious voice transmission to Ye Lingyun.
The rest of the Hehuan disciples were each besieged by two opponents, faring miserably. One after another, their desperate messages pressed against Ye Lingyun's mind.
The constant barrage of pleas only darkened his expression further. Irritation churned into frustration, then into rage.
His original plan had been simple.
If possible, he would lead some disciples out, ensuring that survivors returned to the sect. Their testimony would spread word of his valor, elevating his reputation enormously.
But if it proved impossible, he would abandon them without hesitation, saving only himself.
He had not expected the three factions to be so ruthless as to lay a barrier beforehand, leaving no chance of escape for anyone.
In such a situation, even escaping alone was difficult.
"Hold on, I'll think of something."
After blasting back Su Su and Lin Xian'er, he sent a perfunctory reassurance.
Then his eyes hardened with murderous light.
"Master, it seems I'll have to trouble you today."
"My soul force is nearly exhausted. I can aid you once more, but after that, I'll fall into deep slumber. You must be certain of this choice."
A melodious, ethereal female voice echoed in his mind.
Ye Lingyun glanced at the white jade ring on his finger, a flicker of struggle crossing his eyes.
This ring was his greatest secret.
Though he bore the surname Ye, he was born of a concubine, his status no better than a servant's. It was only because he obtained this ring and worshipped the spirit within as his master that he had risen swiftly to his current heights.
Once the spirit within the ring fell asleep, he would lose her guidance—and his cultivation progress would slow drastically.
Yet in the end, he steeled his resolve.
"Master, I've decided."
There was no other choice.
With the barrier sealing the exit, if it was not broken, he could not flee.
So long as the Hehuan disciples still lived, they could buy him time. There was still a chance to turn the tide.
If they were all slaughtered, then even with his master's aid, he could not.
"As you wish."
The voice replied again, soft yet inexorable.
The next moment, an immense surge of soul force poured into his sea of consciousness.
Ye Lingyun groaned, head splitting with pain, as though his skull would explode.
But along with the agony came a sense of overwhelming might—
The feeling that, with but a thought, he could erase everyone present.
It was no illusion. With the spirit's soul force now within him, it was indeed possible.
Unfortunately, his own body was too weak. He could only draw upon a tiny fraction of it.
Even so, his strength rose to a shocking degree.
With a thought, the bronze mirror in his hand flared brighter than ever before.
Waves of spiritual power rippled outward. A massive beam split in two as it burst forth, slamming into Lin Xian'er and Su Su.
Puchi!Puchi!
Both women spat blood, sent tumbling through the air.
The entire battlefield fell silent, stunned.
"Something's wrong."
From atop the icy peak, Wang Jianqiang narrowed his eyes. He had been watching Ye Lingyun closely all along, and at that instant he caught it—the faint gleam from the white jade ring, followed by Ye's sudden surge of power.
Clearly, that ring was no ordinary trinket.
"Does it amplify cultivation? Or something else…?"
Wang Jianqiang frowned deeply. This Ye Lingyun clearly harbored a great secret.
"Impossible!"
In the canyon below, Su Su and Lin Xian'er exchanged a glance, shock plain on both faces.
A moment ago, Ye Lingyun had only been a mid-stage Foundation cultivator, barely holding them off by virtue of his spirit treasure.
Yet now, in the blink of an eye, his aura rivaled late-stage Foundation.
Had he been concealing his strength all along?
Doubt gnawed at their hearts, and both hesitated, falling back from further assault.
But while they hesitated, Liu Qing'er's eyes lit with battle intent.
Sensing Ye Lingyun's sudden might, she grew only more eager.
She slashed her sword.
Puchi!
Bai Xiruo's defense shattered instantly, a bloody gash opening across her shoulder as she staggered back in disbelief.
"You were hiding your strength all this time!"
Her eyes widened. She had just traded evenly with Liu Qing'er—yet now, she couldn't even block a single blow.
"To me, battle is a way to temper my sword intent. Crushing foes with absolute strength brings no tempering."
Liu Qing'er's voice was cold as steel.
"But now, I've found a better whetstone."
Her gaze locked onto Ye Lingyun. In an instant, sword intent enveloped him.
The next heartbeat, she herself became like a flying sword, a streak of brilliance hurtling straight toward him.
Their clash shook the canyon, waves of power sweeping outward.
With the spirit's soul force reinforcing him, Ye Lingyun's strength was on par with late-stage Foundation. Armed with his spirit treasure, he was even stronger.
Liu Qing'er was only mid-stage Foundation, her weapon merely a high-grade artifact sword.
Yet her sword intent was so fierce it defied reason. Even without secret arts, even with only basic sword forms, she fought him evenly.
"This woman is terrifying!"
Watching, Wang Jianqiang's eyes went wide.
He could challenge Foundation cultivators only because his Saint Body of Time defied realm suppression.
Mu Lingxi could slay Foundation cultivators only because her heaven-defying art let her manifest three lives.
But Liu Qing'er—neither strong body, nor forbidden technique, nor esoteric sword arts. Only pure sword intent.
And with that alone, she was battling across realms.
Utterly monstrous.
Realizing how dangerous she was, Ye Lingyun's expression turned grim.
His master's power had a time limit. If Liu Qing'er stalled him long enough, he would be exposed.
A ruthless light flared in his eyes.
"Get out of my way!"
He recklessly overstrained himself, unleashing a storm of soul force.
The terrifying wave swept across the canyon.
Liu Qing'er's face paled as she staggered back.
Ye Lingyun's soul sea cracked, pain splitting his mind, but he dared not linger.
"Follow me—break the barrier!"
Enduring his agony, he barked an order and charged straight toward the sealed entrance.
High on the mountain, Wang Jianqiang narrowed his eyes, then turned to Ye Qinxue behind him.
"Xue'er, follow him."
"At the crucial moment, give him a good strike from the shadows."