Chapter 1706: Fast Kill

Warships buzzed, unleashing a barrage of fierce attacks towards the grey mist-shrouded area. In an instant, many life signatures within were extinguished.

While the Filth Clan did not fear death—even initially using heavy casualties to gain a strategic advantage—the situation was different now. The Filth Clan was currently busy deploying measures to stabilize the wormhole and naturally did not wish to be disturbed by the Jade Snail cultivators.

Within the grey mist, counterattacks immediately began. Cultivators below the Moon Bloom realm from both sides clashed from a distance.

Such a battle was extremely advantageous for the Jade Snail cultivators because they could move freely while fighting. However, it was highly unfavorable for the Filth Clan. Although the area covered by the grey mist was not small, it had its limits, restricting their maneuverability.

This restriction led to a sharp increase in casualties for the Filth Clan.

In just the short span of an incense stick's burning time since the battle began, nearly a thousand life signatures within the grey mist had perished.

Despite this, the Filth Clan's Moon Bloom cultivators remained motionless. They seemed utterly indifferent to the deaths of their own cultivators, continuing to busy themselves with their arrangements.

As large numbers of Filth Clan members died, their defiling power dissipated and spread, seemingly expanding the area covered by the grey mist.

This was also the fundamental reason why the Jade Snail cultivators, despite initially holding a strategic advantage and blocking the wormhole entrance, were eventually forced back by the Filth Clan's aggressive assault.

“That's enough,” Qiu Wu observed quietly, speaking softly.

Currently, the Filth Clan had not yet sent reinforcements, as there was no movement at the wormhole. However, this didn't mean they would never send more troops if the situation continued like this. With the wormhole present, it would be quite simple for the Filth Clan to bolster their forces.

Therefore, from the very beginning, Qiu Wu had no intention of deciding the outcome with such tactics.

The clash among the Moon Bloom cultivators was the key!

As long as victory could be secured at the Moon Bloom level by eliminating all enemy Moon Bloom cultivators, the remaining forces could be completely annihilated.

“Attack!” At Qiu Wu's command, numerous Moon Bloom cultivators from their side moved in unison, charging towards the area shrouded by the grey mist.

Each person had their own target; these had all been pre-arranged.

Previously, the Jade Snail Moon Bloom cultivators might have been constrained, having experienced firsthand the troublesome nature of the defiling power. But now that Lu Ye had demonstrated a method to rapidly disperse that power, they no longer had any lingering concerns.

Furthermore, knowing that if this battle failed, the Jade Snail would face annihilation, the Moon Bloom cultivators held nothing back. As they entered the fray, they furiously channeled their spiritual power, their murderous intent powerfully locking onto their targets.

Qiu Wu had assigned Lu Ye a target at the early Moon Bloom stage, which was undoubtedly based on his cultivation level. Lu Ye had not offered any opinion when the arrangements were made, thinking that an early Moon Bloom target would be fine, just to see what the Filth Clan was truly like.

“My lord, please be extremely careful!” Ma Shangsi's voice reached his ear. He was undoubtedly more concerned about Lu Ye's safety than that of the Jade Snail.

Lu Ye nodded and charged into the grey mist.

He carefully sensed his surroundings and soon realized that the defiling power within the grey mist was somewhat similar to the waters of the Myriad Manifestations Sea. It possessed extremely strong corrosive properties, though its corrosive strength was far inferior to the Myriad Manifestations Sea's waters.

In the Myriad Manifestations Sea, even Sun Glimmer realm cultivators could not resist the corrosive power of the water if they delved too deep.

While the defiling power in this grey mist was very potent, it didn't reach that extreme level.

At the very least, Lu Ye could feel that he could resist it by channeling his spiritual power for protection. The only cost would be a slightly higher consumption of spiritual power than usual.

If he could resist it, other Moon Bloom cultivators likely could too.

In other words, without external interference, a Moon Bloom cultivator with ample spiritual power would not be corroded by the defiling power, even if they stayed there indefinitely.

However, this changed once a battle with an enemy occurred.

During intense combat, a cultivator's protective spiritual power could not be maintained at all times. If there was a slight disruption in spiritual power circulation or a vulnerability emerged during fierce fighting, the defiling power would immediately invade the body.

The Jade Snail Moon Bloom cultivators likely had all experienced this.

Therefore, in this environment, no race could gain an advantage when fighting the Filth Clan, as a portion of their strength had to be diverted to protect themselves.

After just a brief perception, Lu Ye comprehended the various characteristics of the grey mist. Ahead, the aura of many living beings approached, their cultivation levels varying.

Most were Star Constellation realm, and Lu Ye even detected the aura of Divine Sea realm cultivators among them.

Normally, Divine Sea realm cultivators could not leave their realm or physically traverse the void of space, as their physical bodies would be unable to withstand the ubiquitous spatial energy without reaching the required standard.

Only at the Star Constellation realm did one gain this qualification.

But there were exceptions to everything.

Among the Insect Race, not to mention Divine Sea, even many True Lake Insect Race members possessed the ability to operate in space, relying on special carapaces specifically bred by their insect nests. These unique carapaces could withstand spatial energy, ensuring the Insect Race's survival.

The Blood Race had their Blood Sea, allowing higher-cultivation cultivators to ferry lower-cultivation cultivators across space.

The situation with the Filth Clan was clear at a glance: the defiling power within the grey mist undoubtedly created a suitable operational space for these Divine Sea Filth Clan members. Within this area, there was no spatial energy whatsoever, so Divine Sea Filth Clan members could naturally operate without hindrance.

However, whether Divine Sea or Star Constellation, none were a match for Lu Ye in his current state. He didn't even feel the urge to draw his blade, instead unleashing a series of fire-elemental spells with a raise of his hand.

He hadn't done this in a long time. With the Talent Tree accompanying him, his mastery of spell arts was actually quite profound.

Flames surged skyward, illuminating the starry void. Lu Ye pressed on, carving a bloody path directly through.

Ahead, the Filth Clan Moon Bloom cultivator, targeted by his spiritual sense, let out a roar and charged forward fearlessly. Its spiritual power surged ceaselessly, and its aura was exceedingly ferocious.

Only then did Lu Ye realize what his opponent truly was.

It was actually a star beast!

Having learned a lot about the Filth Clan from Ma Shangsi, Lu Ye immediately recognized that his opponent was not a true Filth Clan member, but merely a slave enslaved by them!

The Filth Clan was different from other races; while it was a race, it was more of a general term.

This was because the 'race' encompassed everything; any living being could become a Filth Clan member, with the sole condition being that they retained their sentience after being infected by the defiling power.

The defiling power was extremely corrosive. Most beings, once corroded, would lose their rationality, retaining only instincts. Such beings served as slaves to the Filth Clan.

However, a very small number of beings could still maintain their sanity. Such beings, regardless of their previous race, would become Filth Clan members.

The star beast before Lu Ye was clearly just a slave. Sensing Lu Ye's malice, it charged forward recklessly.

Lu Ye had anticipated this.

Among the dozen or so Moon Bloom cultivators here, there must have been true Filth Clan members; otherwise, a group of mindless slaves alone could not achieve anything.

However, before the battle began, no one could distinguish between a true Filth Clan member and a slave.

As he drew closer, Lu Ye finally saw the star beast's appearance clearly. It was entirely a rotten ball of flesh, oozing green liquid all over. Its appearance reminded Lu Ye of the Corpse Race; those decayed corpses behaved in a similar manner.

The star beast, resembling a rotten ball of flesh, was the size of a house. Its four limbs were incredibly short; its two claws were almost negligible, while only its two legs were sturdy and thick. Its head was pitifully small, making its entire body disproportionately unbalanced.

Lu Ye had never seen such a star beast before, but star beasts came in countless bizarre and varied forms, so he wasn't particularly surprised.

Without further ado, he unleashed a torrent of furious spells directly at it. In an instant, flames surged skyward, engulfing the star beast.

A furious roar erupted as the star beast's massive body was continuously forced backward by the impact, unable even to approach Lu Ye.

Though a martial cultivator, Lu Ye's spiritual power was exceptionally pure, and the power of the spells he unleashed was naturally not to be underestimated. He was confident he could dispatch such an enemy with ease.

The continuous collision of spells caused the star beast's flesh to begin tearing apart, and green liquid splattered everywhere.

Just as Lu Ye was about to press on and finish it off, another furious roar erupted from the star beast within the enveloping flames, followed immediately by the sudden burst of hundreds of green lights.

The green light dazzled the eyes, turning Lu Ye's vision verdant in an instant, and simultaneously, he felt a shock to his spiritual sea.

However, multicolored light quickly bloomed, and his spiritual sea, which had been agitated by the shock with surging waves, swiftly calmed down.

When Lu Ye looked again, he clearly saw what the green lights that had impacted his spiritual sea actually were.

They were, in fact, hundreds of emerald-green eyes, growing all over the star beast's rotund body. All of them were now open, continuously emitting green light, appearing utterly bizarre.

This was clearly a star beast's ability, and it had the effect of attacking the soul.

Without the Seven-Colored Divine Lotus, Lu Ye might have suffered a minor setback. Of course, it was impossible for the opponent to kill him using such a method. Although he had only recently advanced to the Moon Bloom realm, Lu Ye's soul tenacity was far beyond that of an average Moon Bloom cultivator.

With spell attacks preventing the star beast from approaching, and its hundreds of glowing eyes failing to produce any effect, a normal star beast would have undoubtedly turned and fled by now.

However, this star beast had long lost its sentience and was merely controlled by the Filth Clan. It had no intention of escaping and continued to foolishly charge towards Lu Ye.

Another fire dragon roared forth, tearing through the star beast's chest, burrowing into its flesh, and exploding with a thunderous roar.

This was followed by a continuous barrage of various spells.

Three breaths later, the star beast's decaying flesh completely shattered, and the Moon Bloom beast perished!

As soon as the commotion ceased, the Jade Snail Moon Bloom cultivators were slightly startled. Everyone immediately pulsed their spiritual senses to check the situation.

Anxiously, they feared they would discover an unfavorable outcome for their side. To everyone's surprise, however, it was Lu Ye's battle that had concluded!

How long had it been? They had only just charged in and engaged their enemies, yet Lu Ye had already dealt with his opponent? This speed was simply too fast.