Chapter 128: Continuous Slaughter

The two hunting parties had clashed for only a moment, but Lu Ye and his companions were already showing signs of disadvantage. Tao Tiangang was injured, and Song Xie had been beaten into a desperate retreat; their defeat and death were only a matter of time. While Qiao Qiao'er's side could still hold steady for now, it offered no help to the overall situation. As for Xie Jin, he was injured, so merely keeping his opponent occupied was already a struggle.

The situation was dire for Lu Ye and his companions. If things continued this way, Tao Tiangang or Song Xie would soon be killed, at which point the battle would become irreversible.

He had to break through!

Lu Ye’s thoughts raced. As he swung his blade, forcing the mustachioed body cultivator back, he raised his hand and summoned his small bell spirit artifact. Spiritual power surged into it, and the bell shot out with a whoosh, expanding rapidly before crashing down onto the fifth-level spell cultivator.

He chose this particular spell cultivator because the opponent had been standing still while casting spells, making him a difficult target to evade. Moreover, if trapped by the small bell, the spell cultivator wouldn't easily escape, and casting spells within its confines might accidentally harm himself.

With a resonant clang, the small bell completely enveloped the spell cultivator.

Song Xie was currently doing his best to maneuver and dodge. Seeing the spell cultivator trapped, a flicker of struggle and hesitation crossed his face. He then turned and rushed towards Tao Tiangang. He didn’t know how long the small bell could trap the opponent, but it was undoubtedly an opportunity. As long as he could join forces with Tao Tiangang, even if they couldn’t defeat Tao Tiangang’s opponent, they could at least hold out for a while.

He had just considered seizing the chance to escape, but quickly dismissed the thought. He knew that if the others were killed, he certainly wouldn't survive either, so a desperate fight was better than a humiliating retreat.

With Song Xie's assistance, Tao Tiangang’s side finally stabilized. Together, the two were able to hold off the fifth-level cultivator for a time.

On the other side, after deploying the small bell, Lu Ye charged at the mustachioed body cultivator, hacking and slashing relentlessly. However, the opponent crossed his arms in front of him, taking blows without retaliating, blocking all of Lu Ye’s attacks.

Seeing this, Lu Ye raised his hand and launched a spell. The 'Fat Bird' struck the opponent squarely, exploding with a boom. The man’s face was immediately scorched, but he seemed to be wearing some protective gear under his clothes, as the spell didn’t have the intended effect.

He staggered back a few steps, gritting his teeth, "Impressive!"

Despite a cultivation difference of one level, the opponent could only parry against Lu Ye, which highlighted Lu Ye’s formidable strength.

No sooner had he spoken than Lu Ye kicked out at him. The opponent roared, his body surging with vital energy and blood, as a layer of blood mist appeared on his skin. He unleashed a punch, aiming for the sole of Lu Ye’s foot.

The instant their spiritual energies collided, both figures stumbled backward. Lu Ye felt a numbness in his foot and almost lost his balance, but the mustachioed body cultivator fared even worse; Lu Ye's kick sent him sprawling to the ground.

Before the body cultivator could get back on his feet, Lu Ye charged straight at him, his long saber descending like a violent storm.

The body cultivator roared, spiritual power and vital energy intertwining, making the protective blood mist on his skin even denser.

However, as Lu Ye's slash, enhanced with the 'Sharpness' spirit pattern, landed, the protective mist visibly thinned.

Not far away, violent sounds emanated from within the small bell spirit artifact. The glow of the spiritual bands encircling the bell was rapidly fading. Soon, the trapped fifth-level spell cultivator would break free, and the hard-won opportunity would be lost.

He had to kill this body cultivator quickly; only then would they have a chance to survive!

Lu Ye steeled his heart, attacking almost recklessly. He hacked, slashed, and thrust his blade repeatedly, but every strike was blocked by the body cultivator. Even when a blow occasionally landed, it failed to wound the opponent's vital points.

The spiritual light on the surface of the small bell grew increasingly dim, almost on the verge of extinguishing.

"You're all dead!" the body cultivator snarled, grinning despite being relentlessly assaulted. He sensed Lu Ye’s anxiety, knowing that once his companion broke free, victory would be theirs.

This was why he was only taking blows and not retaliating: the situation was in their favor. He didn't need to take any risks; he simply had to hold his ground.

As Lu Ye’s next slash landed, the bracer on the body cultivator’s arm shattered with a crash, making him flinch. He had long heard that this tiger-riding figure possessed formidable spirit artifacts, which was why he had worn extensive protective gear for this fight, aiming primarily to hold off the opponent. Yet, he realized he had still underestimated Lu Ye.

It could be said that Tai Luo Sect had chosen him specifically to deal with Lu Ye.

Seeing Lu Ye slash down again, he no longer dared to take the blow head-on. He reached for his storage bag, clearly intending to pull out a spiritual talisman. At a moment like this, whatever he retrieved would surely be for defense, most likely a Golden Body Talisman.

But at that very moment, his shoulder suddenly sagged, and a sharp whistling sound rang in his ear. The sound was extremely strange, causing him to feel dizzy and his mind to momentarily falter.

He quickly circulated his vital energy and spiritual power, and the blood mist, which had just been extremely thin, suddenly became dense again.

A mournful scream came from behind him. He didn’t know who had ambushed him, but he knew he had injured the attacker.

Seeing Yiyi’s figure, clinging to the mustachioed body cultivator’s shoulder, suddenly dim, Lu Ye’s expression turned grim as his long saber descended.

Yiyi had not appeared in combat for the past few days; primarily because without a physical body, her role was very limited. However, at this critical moment, she resolutely chose to act, creating an excellent opportunity for Lu Ye.

The opponent had just pulled the spiritual talisman from his storage bag, but before he could activate its spiritual power, the long saber descended.

The bracer had already shattered, and there was nothing left to withstand the saber, enhanced with ‘Sharpness’. The strike pierced through the opponent’s protective spiritual power, severed the arm holding the talisman, then cut through the blood mist and into the opponent’s neck, sending blood gushing.

The mustachioed body cultivator grunted, clenching his teeth in intense pain. The severed arm made him lose his composure even more, but at this critical life-or-death moment, he actually used his other hand to grab Lu Ye’s wrist, resisting the brutal slash.

Lu Ye shifted his stance, raised his other hand, gripped the tip of the saber, and pushed down fiercely.

They were inches apart, their eyes locked.

A slicing sound of blade on flesh resounded, and blood spurted out. The mustachioed body cultivator’s eyes widened as he half-knelt before Lu Ye, his mouth twitching as if trying to speak.

With a decisive swish, the 'Sharpness'-enhanced long saber cut through the last resistance, severing his entire neck.

The headless corpse swayed and toppled to the ground.

The fifth-level body cultivator was dead!

Just as Lu Ye, with Yiyi’s cooperation, powerfully slew the fifth-level body cultivator, the small bell spirit artifact also finally neared its limit, its surface spiritual light almost extinguished.

Lu Ye wiped a streak of blood from his face and looked around. He saw Xie Jin being forced back step by step by his opponent, and Tao Tiangang and Song Xie struggling to hold on against another fifth-level cultivator. Their combined efforts shouldn't have been so difficult, but Tao Tiangang had already been seriously injured before Song Xie arrived to assist, making the situation very unfavorable for them.

He also saw Qiao Qiao’er fiercely battling the fourth-level cultivator with her long whip; the situation there seemed evenly matched for the time being.

Without hesitation, he swiftly charged towards the small bell. As he neared it, he gestured with his hand, and the bell immediately flew back to him.

*Boom*... a spell suddenly burst forth, striking empty air. It was the spell cultivator who had been trapped inside, having suddenly regained his freedom. Though disheveled, he couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

He had fought desperately to escape, casting spells within the confined space and inflicting wounds upon himself. Fortunately, he had acted with some restraint, so while he looked disheveled, he wasn’t seriously harmed.

No sooner had he escaped than a flash of brilliant saber light streaked before his eyes. The spell cultivator hadn't yet grasped the situation when Lu Ye’s saber shattered his protective spiritual power. Under the powerful slash, his head, still bearing a smile, flew high into the air.

He had no idea that in the short time he was trapped, one of their own fifth-level cultivators had already died—and it was the most resilient body cultivator!

How could an unprepared spell cultivator like him possibly block such a sudden, unexpected strike?

In an instant, the situation dramatically shifted.

Of Tai Luo Sect’s four fifth-level cultivators in the hunting party, only two remained. This sudden change not only made their remaining companions almost jump in shock, but even Xie Jin and the others found it hard to believe.

However, what followed was wild joy.

They had initially thought this was a battle to the death, but who knew there would be such a dramatic turn of events? To consecutively kill two fifth-level cultivators with a fourth-level cultivation—indeed, only such a ferocious individual could single-handedly cut through Tai Luo Sect’s defenses.

Lu Ye, saber in hand, charged towards Qiao Qiao’er’s side. He chose this direction because a fourth-level cultivator would be easier to dispatch; he had just slain two fifth-level cultivators, and his spiritual power was still surging, needing a moment to settle.

Moreover, the long whip in Qiao Qiao’er’s hand was well-suited for a coordinated attack with him.

In the battles of the past few days, a certain understanding had developed between them, so seeing Lu Ye approaching her side, Qiao Qiao’er immediately retreated.

The fourth-level cultivator opposing her, seeing two of his senior brothers dead, was already terrified to the core. Seizing this opportunity, he naturally turned to flee. However, he had only run two steps when a whip sound echoed behind him, directly binding his neck.

Qiao Qiao’er gave a fierce tug, pulling the man into the air.

The fourth-level cultivator brandished his weapon, striking at the long whip behind him, but before he could land a solid blow, Qiao Qiao’er had already retracted the whip.

He landed awkwardly. He looked up, and Lu Ye’s figure was already in his sight. Facing the saber slashing straight down, he hastily raised his weapon to block.

However, his feet were still bound by the long whip, and a powerful pull made him unstable. Lu Ye’s saber had already struck him.

"Go help!" Lu Ye withdrew, charging towards Xie Jin’s side.

Qiao Qiao’er whipped the head of the fallen fourth-level cultivator, making it explode. She shouted, "Which side do I help?"

Lu Ye had no time to answer her; he had already charged into the fray. Teaming up with Xie Jin against the remaining fifth-level cultivator, the opponent's face was now filled with despair. His expression was utterly bizarre, as if he didn't know whether to cry or laugh, but the ferocity of his attacks only increased.