Chapter 1100: Self-Inflicted Trap

After leaving the Soul Sect, Yun Che headed straight west. To return to Blackfiend City, he needed to cross the Blackfiend Mountain Range. Despite the large number of Soul Sect disciples ambushed there, he was confident that with his Flickering Moon, Vanishing Shadow skill, he could navigate through them safely with a little care, effectively rendering them negligible.

After all, compared to such a small, negligible risk, bypassing the Blackfiend Mountain Range was simply too unrealistic.

He estimated that these Soul Sect disciples, who were forced to follow orders and lie in wait, probably didn't believe they would actually catch their target.

Upon entering the Blackfiend Mountain Range, Yun Che's spiritual perception immediately detected the presence of numerous Soul Sect disciples and defensive profound formations. He scoffed, then swiftly advanced, silent and unseen, bypassing the many disciples and formations, quickly penetrating deep into the Blackfiend Mountains.

The Blackfiend Mountain Range was exceedingly foggy at night, significantly hindering both vision and perception. Consequently, the Blackfiend Mountains were far safer for Yun Che at night than during the day, making the entire journey completely uneventful.

Just then, not far ahead of him, a profound light suddenly shot into the sky, strikingly bright against the night.

"This is... a profound formation being triggered! No! Why would anyone break into a place like this at this hour? Could it be a profound beast?"

Undoubtedly, with so many ambushes laid, the sudden triggering of a profound formation was like poking a hornet's nest. All the Soul Sect disciples lying in wait nearby were instantly alerted; shouts erupted, and they swarmed towards the spot. Yet, from the direction where the profound formation flared, instead of a profound beast's roar, a girl's high-pitched scream echoed.

"Huh? Ahh!! Who... who are you? Are you all bad guys? Waaah... so scary!!"

Yun Che, who had been scoffing, heard this voice and instantly froze, his eyes widening.

"This... voice..."

"Could... it... be..."

"Little Jasmine!?!?!"

Yun Che frowned deeply. He slowly climbed a tall tree nearby and looked into the distance.

Within the profound formation, shimmering with profound light, a petite and delicate figure was firmly trapped. She wore a rainbow-colored dress, and her creamy white face was astonishingly perfect. Even in the darkness, her eyes still sparkled with starlike brilliance.

It was Little Jasmine!

Trapped within the profound formation and suddenly surrounded by a large group of people, she seemed very frightened. She cowered, her exceptionally beautiful, starlike eyes timidly surveying those around her.

"How could she be here!?"

"And at a time like this, she triggered a Soul Sect profound formation!"

Seeing the girl, the Soul Sect disciples exchanged bewildered glances.

"How is it just a little girl?"

"Her profound strength is only at the Sovereign Profound Realm... No! How did she get here? Someone must have brought her."

"Hiss... This little girl's looks... Hiss... The Young Master would surely like her. Oh, no, no, should we capture her and hand her over to the Sect Master first, or what?"

Listening to their words, Little Jasmine grew even more frightened. In a panic, she stammered, "You... you can't bully me... and you certainly can't capture me! I-I... I'll tell you, my brother-in-law is Ling Yun, the most famous person in the Blackfiend Realm right now. If you dare bully me, he... he definitely won't spare you!"

"#@%..." Yun Che nearly spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.

Undoubtedly, the sudden mention of "Ling Yun" from Little Jasmine's mouth was the second time she had fiercely poked the hornet's nest. The Soul Sect disciples, whose gazes had been varied, all froze simultaneously, then their expressions drastically changed.

"Ling Yun... she said Ling Yun!"

"Seize her! Take her down immediately!!" a leader shrieked.

Watching all this unfold, Yun Che's face twitched uncontrollably. He had no time to ponder why or how this little girl had appeared here. Only one thing was absolutely certain: if she fell into the Soul Sect's hands, her fate would be utterly miserable—especially after she had so unwisely shouted out his name.

However, countless elite Soul Sect disciples were ambushed here, along with powerful Vice Hall Masters and Hall Masters whom he definitively couldn't match. If he revealed himself to save her, it would be tantamount to walking straight into a trap.

"..." Yun Che took a deep, silent breath. "No, I absolutely cannot get involved with her. She's no relative of mine. Not only have I saved her twice, but last time she nearly got me killed, which angered me enough to scold her fiercely."

"If I save her again this time, it would be outright suicidal, foolish, and idiotic."

His mind made up, Yun Che looked away.

With a command, the nearest Soul Sect disciples swiftly surged forward. Seeing the menacing crowd rushing towards her, the helpless girl let out a terrified shriek: "Waaah—Help me!!"

Amidst the girl's screams, a crimson fiery shadow suddenly exploded in mid-air without warning. Like a meteor falling from the heavens, it descended with a terrifying, instantly surging blast of air.

Boom!!

Fiery light erupted, and sword energy roared. Hundreds of surrounding Soul Sect disciples were instantly engulfed in a chasm of death, their bodies torn to shreds amidst terrified screams. The profound formation trapping the girl was shattered in an instant, and the fiery shadow snatched Little Jasmine, shooting into the sky like a storm and soaring away.

The girl's shriek stretched long and drawn out. Once she recognized the person beside her, it transformed into a joyful exclamation: "Wow! Brother-in-law!"

"Shut up!!" Yun Che roared through gritted teeth, his speed at full throttle.

"Damn it... why do I always feel like I'm possessed whenever I encounter this little girl! I just can't control my hands!!"

"Damn it!!"

The sudden turn of events threw the Soul Sect members into chaos.

"Who is it!?"

"Ling Yun! It must be Ling Yun!!"

"It's Ling Yun!"

"Ling Yun has appeared!! Surround and kill him immediately!"

"Quickly inform the Sect Master and the Grand Hall Master!!"

What they had thought would be a fruitless wait had actually yielded their target. All the Soul Sect disciples, who had been quiet for half the night, erupted. Disciples from the sixty-four halls of the Soul Sect, whether startled by the commotion or receiving transmitted messages, immediately surged towards Yun Che from all directions like a raging tide.

He was firmly locked onto by countless auras, with many more rapidly approaching from all directions... among them were over a dozen auras, each strong enough to completely overwhelm him alone.

"The Sect Master was truly wise; he guessed you would definitely come here!"

"Ling Yun, let's see where you run this time!"

"By the Sect Master's order, this time, there's no need to capture him alive. Kill him on sight!!"

Little Jasmine huddled tightly in Yun Che's arms, fearfully asking, "Brother-in-law, why are there so many bad guys here...?"

"Don't speak!" Yun Che roared. With the Soul Sect surrounding them, the consequence of his exposure was a near-certain death... not to mention having to divide his attention and strength to protect a little girl!

"Brother-in-law, why do you always appear right away whenever I'm in danger? Have you been secretly following and protecting me?"

"If you say one more word... I'll throw you down!"

"Brother-in-law said last time he wouldn't care about me anymore, hehe, I don't believe him."

"#@%..." (This little girl actually laughed out loud!)

"Ling Yun, prepare to die!!"

In the sky, shrouded by night and gray mist, countless dark figures soared into the air, forming an immense net that enclosed Yun Che and Little Jasmine, rapidly tightening around them.

Flames burned in Yun Che's pupils. He grabbed the Heavenspun Sword with his right hand, its blade igniting with fire. Without even looking, he unleashed a single destructive strike.

This sword strike poured out his full strength.

The more enemies he faced, the more he could display the extreme power of a heavy sword.

Boom!!

The sky trembled. Amidst continuous roars and screams, all Soul Sect disciples within several miles of Yun Che were sent flying, crashing down chaotically like dumplings; some were severely injured, while others died instantly. Yun Che pulled his sword forward. Stepping with the Illusionary Light Thunderclap, even while carrying Little Jasmine, his figure remained as swift as a streaking light, piercing into the surging Soul Sect ranks like a sharp dagger. The Heavenspun Sword, with a whistle like a descending hurricane, swept horizontally.

Boom!!!!

Another deafening roar echoed as a vast destructive force, accompanied by scorching flames, exploded across the sky, turning the night crimson. Under the red light, flesh and blood splattered, and corpses lay strewn everywhere.

Just two sword strikes, and all Soul Sect disciples were terrified to their core. Their charging momentum instantly slowed, their scalps tingled, and their hearts trembled wildly; they simply couldn't believe their eyes.

Everyone in the Soul Sect knew the name Ling Yun, but their impression of him had always been that he possessed extremely strong stealth abilities and only dared to plot in the shadows, never daring to show himself.

They never imagined in their wildest dreams that Ling Yun, now exposed before their eyes, would be so terrifying!

Severely surrounded, under intense aura suppression, and all of them the Soul Sect's most elite disciples, yet they lay scattered as corpses after just two of his sword strikes!

Yun Che's profound energy surged throughout his body, maintaining his speed at its absolute peak, leaving enemies behind him in layers. He was certain that if he slowed down even slightly and was surrounded from all directions, it would undoubtedly mean certain death.

The Heavenspun Sword in his hand swept in wide, powerful arcs, blasting away the surging Soul Sect disciples in layers. The weakest of these disciples were at the Divine Origin Realm, with many being Divine Spirit Realm experts. Yet, before Yun Che, who only possessed profound energy at the early Divine Spirit Realm, not only could they not resist, but even being touched by his residual power would result in death or severe injury.

For a time, the Blackfiend Mountains trembled, hurricanes howled, sword energy roared, and blood, severed limbs, and shattered bones flew everywhere.

This unexpected situation left all the Soul Sect disciples utterly horrified, but Yun Che kept his teeth clenched. Wielding the sword with one hand not only greatly reduced its power but also significantly increased his energy consumption. Nevertheless, this was temporarily sufficient against ordinary Soul Sect disciples.

But they were *only* ordinary Soul Sect disciples.

If a Divine Tribulation Realm expert arrived and exerted even a little suppression, followed by a full encirclement by these Soul Sect disciples, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He had to find a solution immediately, or he would be completely finished here tonight!

Forcing his way out was a pipe dream. Severing everyone's aura lock and then using the double cover of night and dense fog to hide... that was the only feasible method.

"Damn it! Of all the people to get into trouble... why did it have to be her, Little Jasmine!"

A series of impacts rang out as dozens of black lightning bolts pierced through the sword energy storm, striking Yun Che's back directly. The sounds, however, were dull, like striking a steel plate. Yun Che staggered slightly, his upper garment ripped, but his exposed skin showed only a few shallow marks, without a single drop of blood. The Soul Sect disciples who had successfully landed their attacks hadn't even had time to show joy before their eyes nearly popped out in shock.

After obtaining the Buddha Heart Divine Veins, Yun Che's speed in circulating profound energy was extremely fast, and his ability to wield the Heavenspun Sword naturally far surpassed his past capabilities. However, wielding the sword with one hand at this moment, his vulnerabilities were also far greater than before. Although these Soul Sect disciples found it difficult to get close, their profound energy and lightning profound power continuously pierced him like a downpour. While unable to inflict severe injury, they quickly left his body covered in bloodstains.