Chapter 1707: Master and Servant Join Forces

In the area shrouded by grey mist, Ma Shangsi was already engaged with the enemy, under immense pressure, and thus had no time to investigate the situation elsewhere.

The reason for his immense pressure was primarily that he was facing two enemies, both at the late-stage Moon Realm. This was unavoidable. Their side had fewer Moon Realm cultivators than the enemy, and as one of their two strongest Moon Realm cultivators, he naturally had to exert more effort. This was Qiu Wu's arrangement.

Despite the pressure, it wasn't a major problem, as Ma Shangsi immediately deployed his Blood Sea, enveloping both enemies within it. When Blood Cultivators fight, using the Blood Sea to create a favorable environment for themselves is the most common and versatile method. As the Blood Sea expanded, not only were the two late-stage Moon Realm enemies enveloped, but also many Star Realm and Divine Sea cultivators in the vicinity were covered.

In a different location, Ma Shangsi would even be confident in annihilating all enemies within his Blood Sea. However, the environment here was ultimately abnormal. Within the expanded Blood Sea, dense corrupted power was even eroding the Blood Sea itself.

Ma Shangsi immediately sensed trouble. He secretly estimated that he could sustain this for at most the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Once that limit was passed, his Blood Sea might not even be maintainable, and if that happened, he would certainly be severely weakened. Therefore, he was eager to eliminate one of the late-stage Moon Realm enemies. However, even though he was at the peak of the Moon Realm, he was essentially still a late-stage Moon Realm cultivator. How could it be so simple to quickly slay an enemy of the same cultivation level?

As he was pondering what to do, he suddenly felt someone intruding into his Blood Sea. Ma Shangsi instinctively sensed it, startled slightly, and quickly transmitted a message: "Holy Venerable?" It was Lu Ye, who, after dealing with his own opponent, immediately charged in. Lu Ye was aware of their deployment strategy and naturally understood Ma Shangsi's current pressure, so he came to assist immediately.

"You guide, I kill!" Lu Ye instructed simply. Ma Shangsi quickly agreed, simultaneously activating the power of the Blood Sea to keep the two late-stage Moon Realm enemies separated, while also guiding Lu Ye. Two breaths later, Lu Ye arrived at a location within the Blood Sea, clearly sensing the aura of a late-stage Moon Realm cultivator ahead, and could even discern their rough outline. It appeared humanoid; its original race was unclear. But judging solely from its violent aura, it was likely another transformed, mindless Corrupted being!

Staring at the blurred outline, Lu Ye swiftly advanced, raising his hand to grasp the hilt of his Panshan Blade. As if sensing Lu Ye's hidden killing intent, the figure suddenly turned, and with a fierce surge of spiritual power, lunged towards Lu Ye. The Panshan Blade unsheathed at that very moment. A faint burst of radiant light blossomed, then rotated like the moon. Cleaving through waves, the dense, almost corporeal Blood Sea was sliced open with a massive gap. The blade light swept deep, cutting ten miles before its ferocious power gradually dissipated.

Ma Shangsi, who had been closely monitoring Lu Ye's situation and ready to assist at any moment, gaped in astonishment, as if he had witnessed something unbelievable, his expression momentarily dazed. It was only when the aura of the late-stage Moon Realm cultivator suddenly vanished that Ma Shangsi jolted awake. An enemy, difficult even for him and at the late-stage Moon Realm, was actually cut down by the Holy Venerable with a single strike! The Holy Venerable... is he that strong?

Because Lu Ye unleashed his power within Ma Shangsi's Blood Sea, Ma Shangsi clearly perceived the terror of that strike. It was not a blow an early-stage Moon Realm cultivator could possibly deliver. If he himself were to face such a strike, even if he didn't die, he would certainly not fare well. Ma Shangsi was bewildered.

"Let's kill him together!" Lu Ye's voice rang in his ear. Ma Shangsi snapped back to reality and immediately charged with Lu Ye towards the other late-stage Moon Realm cultivator. Meanwhile, Lu Ye's right arm, holding the blade, trembled slightly, giving him a faint feeling of exhaustion. It was a sensation he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Since passing Wang Xiu's trial on the way back to Kyushu and inheriting the 'Drawing Blade Slash' technique, maintaining that spirit pattern on his Panshan Blade, several months had passed until this day. The nurturing of the Drawing Blade Slash spirit pattern had long reached its limit. Even when crafting the scabbard with Han Dong, Lu Ye hadn't given up on maintaining this spirit pattern, as it was his strongest trump card at the moment, and he never knew when it might be needed. And it truly was put to use now.

This was Lu Ye's first time performing the Drawing Blade Slash. Its power was even greater than he had anticipated; it was, frankly, a strike that his cultivation level shouldn't have been able to unleash. This resulted in his body enduring immense strain; he couldn't even perfectly control that single strike. When he had just dealt with the early-stage Moon Realm Star Beast, Lu Ye hadn't even unsheathed his Panshan Blade, deliberately saving this first strike for the late-stage Moon Realm cultivators here. The plan proceeded smoothly: the early-stage Moon Realm Star Beast was brutally blasted by his spells, and one of the late-stage Moon Realm cultivators here was instantly annihilated by his single blade strike, without a chance to react.

Within the Blood Sea, only one late-stage Moon Realm cultivator remained. Even if Lu Ye didn't intervene, Ma Shangsi had the ability to resolve it. However, the environment of this battlefield was ultimately disadvantageous to their cultivators, so a swift conclusion was still necessary. Trapped within the Blood Sea, the remaining late-stage Moon Realm cultivator was already disoriented and unsure of the situation. When Lu Ye and Ma Shangsi, master and servant, jointly encircled and attacked it, it immediately became flustered.

Ma Shangsi also knew there was no time to delay, so he held nothing back. As a peak Moon Realm Blood Cultivator, he was a combination of spellcaster and body cultivator. Under his furious assault, the enemy in the Blood Sea could only parry, completely unable to retaliate. Lu Ye hovered nearby, seizing opportunities to strike with his blade. Before the enemy could retaliate, he would retreat far away. When the enemy's attention was again drawn by Ma Shangsi, he would rush back to deliver another strike.

In barely ten breaths, the late-stage Moon Realm cultivator suffered several blade cuts, each wound deep enough to expose bone. As Lu Ye's cultivation progressed, the Panshan Blade was upgraded to a Spirit Treasure, its inherent sharpness further enhanced. Now, augmented by the 'Divine Edge' spirit pattern Lu Ye applied, it could be said that within the same cultivation realm, virtually no flesh-and-blood body could withstand the Panshan Blade's strikes, unless protected by a defensive Spirit Treasure. However, after its upgrade to a Spirit Treasure, the Panshan Blade gained another characteristic: exceptionally powerful destructive force against defensive Spirit Treasures. So, even if the enemy truly manifested a defensive Spirit Treasure, it wouldn't change the overall outcome, merely delaying it for a short while.

The physique of a late-stage Moon Realm cultivator is very powerful. Normally, such an enemy, even if wounded by Lu Ye, could quickly recover. But the strange power of Liao intertwined with the wounds, hindering their healing. Therefore, although the enemy's several massive wounds currently weren't bleeding much due to their deliberate control, they remained stubbornly unhealed.

"Ma Shangsi, Blood Induction Art!" Lu Ye commanded with a low shout, shaking his long blade as a strange power permeated the surroundings. The invisible Liao power entwined in the enemy's wounds was immediately stimulated. Instantly, several already significant wounds were torn open, becoming even larger. At the same time, Ma Shangsi also activated the Blood Induction Art.

The Blood Induction Art was not a particularly advanced technique for Blood Cultivators; normally, a True Lake Realm Blood Cultivator would already be qualified to practice it. Its function was simple: to draw blood from the enemy's wounds, accelerating blood loss. Therefore, when fighting Blood Cultivators, it was best not to get wounded. Even if one was injured, recovery should be swift, otherwise, exposed wounds would provide Blood Cultivators with an opportunity to employ the Blood Induction Art. Especially in the unique environment of the Blood Sea, the Blood Induction Art, activated by Ma Shangsi, a peak Moon Realm cultivator, could be infinitely empowered and magnified.

As the enemy's several massive wounds abruptly tore open, Ma Shangsi's Blood Induction Art was already activated. In an instant, from those wounds that had previously bled little, blood now gushed forth like pillars! Within this area, the already dense Blood Sea became even thicker. Ma Shangsi frantically urged the Blood Induction Art, even involuntarily licking his lips, as if savoring a delicious meal. Indeed, the gushing vitality and blood of a late-stage Moon Realm cultivator was food for a Blood Cultivator like Ma Shangsi. After the blood spurted out, it merged into the Blood Sea, which Ma Shangsi could later refine to strengthen his own Blood Sea.

Suddenly suffering such severe injuries, the late-stage Moon Realm cultivator roared skyward, as if sensing its imminent demise. With a thought, its divine sense locked onto Lu Ye's position, and it charged forward ferociously. With its movements, its body rapidly shriveled, a clear sign of severe blood and qi loss. The effects of this loss were not limited to just these; a cultivator's very foundation was draining away with it. Thus, the aura of this late-stage Moon Realm cultivator visibly weakened.

Lu Ye didn't dodge at all. He met the charge with his blade, and in a swift maneuver, before the enemy could react, he used Ma Shangsi's assistance to get behind the enemy. As his long blade swept out, a faint beastly roar resonated, lunging forward with bared fangs. The next instant, another late-stage Moon Realm aura vanished!

At this moment, across the battlefield, the Moon Realm cultivators of Jade Snail were filled with surprise. The annihilation of a late-stage Moon Realm aura was too significant to conceal, even with the cover of Ma Shangsi's Blood Sea. When Lu Ye slew the first late-stage Moon Realm cultivator, Qiu Wu and the others had already noticed. Beyond their joy, there was more shock, because the speed was astonishing. They all knew Ma Shangsi's cultivation was at the peak of the Moon Realm, but even a peak Moon Realm cultivator fighting two late-stage Moon Realm opponents wouldn't resolve one so quickly. Lu Ye's ability to quickly defeat an early-stage Moon Realm opponent was already surprising enough, but compared to the battle achievements on Ma Shangsi's side, it seemed insignificant. Indeed, all the Moon Realm cultivators of Jade Snail thought it was Ma Shangsi's doing; this was a normal reaction. Qiu Wu's heart was stirred. Lu Ye and his servant had given him two huge surprises right at the start of the battle, making him suddenly feel that this fight might not be as difficult as anticipated.