Chapter 1709: Intense Battle

The Filth Clan's expeditions across the void, appearing and disappearing without a trace, rely solely on the supreme treasure of the starry sky, the Skyfrost Mirror. This artifact can randomly deploy Skyfrost Chill to any location in space, freezing shattered space and thereby creating wormholes that can be traversed.

However, these wormholes, formed by the Skyfrost Chill, are inherently unstable. They can at most sustain the passage of cultivators at the Moon Splendor realm and carry significant risks.

Thus, the Filth Clan's conquest strategy typically involves first dispatching a contingent of Moon Splendor cultivators to stabilize the situation and secure the terrain at the wormhole's exit. They then employ methods to fortify the wormhole. Once the wormhole is stable enough for Sun Glimmer cultivators to pass through, the overall situation can be decided.

This explains why the Filth Clan, despite initially holding the upper hand, remained hidden in the contaminated area instead of pursuing. Unsure which star system they had landed in, or if any Sun Glimmer cultivators were present, they chose to secure the wormhole and implement measures to stabilize it as a precaution.

Lu Ye had previously been somewhat puzzled. Although the number of Moon Splendor cultivators deployed by the Filth Clan here was not insignificant, a dozen or so was certainly not many.

Even though Ma Shangsi had mentioned that the Filth Clan was active on multiple battlefronts across the starry sky, and that their current opponents represented only a fraction of the Filth Clan's total strength, with their vast numbers, it seemed they could easily dispatch dozens, if not hundreds, of Moon Splendor cultivators.

It wasn't until the giant Filth Clan member arrived that Lu Ye grasped the crucial detail.

It was still because of the wormhole!

He keenly noticed that the wormhole visibly destabilized upon the giant Filth Clan member's arrival. This fluctuation affected the wormhole's overall stability, making it more chaotic than before.

In other words, while the wormholes created by the Skyfrost Mirror could be used by Moon Splendor cultivators, the passage of each individual cultivator affected the wormhole's stability.

This explained why the Filth Clan initially sent only a dozen or so Moon Splendor cultivators: it wasn't that they didn't want to send more, but that they couldn't!

This number was likely determined based on the perceived strength of the cultivators from Jade Snail.

From the Filth Clan's perspective, these initial dozen or so Moon Splendor cultivators, leveraging their positional advantage, would be sufficient to secure the wormhole. Once they successfully implemented measures to stabilize it, Sun Glimmer cultivators could pour through, leaving Jade Snail with no means of resistance.

The Filth Clan's plan was sound. If Lu Ye hadn't fortuitously stumbled upon this battle, Jade Snail's current foundation would indeed have faced a significant crisis.

However, by a stroke of luck, Lu Ye was visiting Jade Snail with Ma Shangsi, and they both arrived at the scene.

Currently, on the main battlefield, the Filth Clan's Moon Splendor cultivators had suffered heavy losses. Without reinforcements, all their previous arrangements and efforts would be in vain.

This was why the giant Filth Clan member had arrived. Not only him, but other Moon Splendor cultivators were also traversing the wormhole and were expected to appear soon.

After some skirmishes, the Filth Clan had likely understood the situation in Jade Snail, discerning the embarrassing fact that there were no Sun Glimmer cultivators present.

If Jade Snail had possessed Sun Glimmer cultivators, they would certainly have intervened by now. The fact that only Moon Splendor cultivators had participated so far indicated that Jade Snail was not a powerful star system.

This made Jade Snail an ideal target for the Filth Clan's conquest, prompting them to immediately dispatch reinforcements.

Two separated Blood Treasure avatars reached the contaminated pagoda and destroyed it with a simple raise of their hands. Although this structure was deployed by the Filth Clan, it was not inherently sturdy, making its destruction easy.

As this contaminated pagoda shattered, Lu Ye distinctly felt another tremor in the wormhole.

He immediately realized his choice was correct: destroying these pagodas would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Filth Clan's subsequent plans.

The two Blood Treasure avatars immediately split up and began acting independently.

Meanwhile, at the wormhole's exit, the giant Filth Clan member and Ma Shangsi were locked in a fierce battle.

On the surface, the fight appeared to be evenly matched, but in reality, Ma Shangsi was under immense pressure. It wasn't that his strength was inferior, but rather that the contaminating power constantly corrupted his blood sea and magical energy. While short-term engagement was manageable, over an extended period, the power he could exert would inevitably diminish.

In contrast, the giant Filth Clan member was completely unaffected by the contamination, thriving within it as if in their natural element.

Fortunately, Lu Ye was also there.

The master and servant had previously teamed up to kill several Moon Splendor cultivators. Although it was their first collaboration, their coordination was incredibly fluid. While Ma Shangsi engaged the giant Filth Clan member, Lu Ye activated his Evasive Maneuvers, his form flickering back and forth like a ghost, his blade flashing incessantly.

The giant Filth Clan member roared in fury as massive wounds appeared one after another on its body.

Lu Ye increasingly recognized the might of the Artifact-grade Mountain-Splitting Blade!

Although the Giant race's physical toughness wasn't as great as the Stone race's, their physical strength alone ranked them among the top ten across the entire starry sky.

They were naturally thick-skinned and tough, and this particular giant, a Moon Splendor peak cultivator who came through the wormhole, would likely not be significantly threatened by even ordinary artifact-grade weapons.

But the Mountain-Splitting Blade could!

Inherently unparalleled in sharpness, and further enhanced by Lu Ye's Divine Edge Spirit Mark, the Mountain-Splitting Blade could pierce through any physical defense as long as the enemy's cultivation was below the Sun Glimmer realm.

Flesh curled back from the numerous wounds, presenting a gruesome sight. Yet, such injuries, even for a Star Constellation cultivator, let alone a Moon Splendor peak one, were merely superficial.

However, the giant Filth Clan member distinctly felt something was wrong. Wounds that should have healed quickly were now mending extremely slowly. Furthermore, a very strange power seemed to linger around the wounds, and it was this power that impeded their recovery.

The giant Filth Clan member roared repeatedly. While clashing with Ma Shangsi, it repeatedly sought an opportunity to eliminate Lu Ye, realizing that this constantly moving human was a nuisance.

However, the Evasive Maneuvers, inherited from Yan Xi, were exceptionally ghostly. Lu Ye would typically strike once and retreat, and with Ma Shangsi's blood sea obscuring his movements, the giant Filth Clan member found no openings whatsoever.

After another fierce collision, Ma Shangsi pulled back, eyeing the giant Filth Clan member chillingly. Meeting his gaze, the giant Filth Clan member's heart sank, realizing something was amiss.

Having previously fought against the Blood Clan, it naturally understood how disadvantageous it was to face a Blood Clan member with its current myriad wounds.

Without hesitation, the giant Filth Clan member lunged towards Ma Shangsi's position.

Ma Shangsi sneered, allowing the giant's enormous spiked club to strike him. He seemed to shatter, transforming into a mass of bloody mist that dissolved into the blood sea.

But the next moment, the giant Filth Clan member's expression changed. Its many wounds were suddenly ripped open by an invisible force, becoming even larger. Blood, which it had intentionally kept from flowing too much, now gushed out.

It knew this was the Blood Clan's Blood Drawing Art!

Normally, this blood art wouldn't be very effective in battles between cultivators above the Star Constellation realm, as such cultivators possess strong physiques and rapid self-healing abilities. Without wounds, the Blood Drawing Art had no room to be effective.

However, the wounds inflicted by the Mountain-Splitting Blade were not easily healed. Combined with the Blood Drawing Art unleashed by a peak Moon Splendor cultivator like Ma Shangsi, even the giant Filth Clan member couldn't resist.

Feeling its blood gushing out uncontrollably, the giant Filth Clan member panicked. It dashed back and forth, searching for its enemies, but found neither Ma Shangsi nor Lu Ye.

This was the frustrating aspect of fighting a Blood Clan member within a blood sea: they could move freely. Unless one possessed an overwhelming advantage, there was rarely a good way to counter a Blood Clan opponent.

Under normal circumstances, the giant Filth Clan member could have escaped this area to seek another opportunity. However, its primary responsibility upon arriving from the wormhole was to guard its exit.

It was practically pinned down here; how could it flee?

"Get out here!" it roared, its magical energy surging as it swung its spiked club, churning the blood sea violently.

Ma Shangsi did not show himself, allowing the giant to rampage within the blood sea. In fact, this was precisely what he wanted, as the more the giant Filth Clan member struggled, the more powerful the effect of his Blood Drawing Art became.

Lu Ye also hid somewhere in the blood sea, coldly observing the giant Filth Clan member's discomfited figure.

A moment later, Ma Shangsi suddenly exclaimed, "Oh no, more Moon Splendor cultivators are coming through the wormhole!"

Judging by the aura, it was clearly another being no weaker than the giant Filth Clan member.

Working with Lu Ye to handle one giant Filth Clan member, Ma Shangsi felt no pressure at all. They had already established an advantage, and now all he needed to do was hide in the blood sea and continuously channel the Blood Drawing Art. Under the pull of this art, once the giant Filth Clan member's blood was completely drained, death would be inevitable.

However, if another enemy comparable to the giant Filth Clan member arrived, Ma Shangsi would be uncertain of success, especially as the influence of the contaminating power on him grew stronger with time.

With a shift in thought, Ma Shangsi made a decision: "Holy Venerable, I'll go kill him!"

In this situation, only by first eliminating the giant Filth Clan member could he fully concentrate on dealing with the incoming enemies.

"Don't panic!" Lu Ye calmly replied.

Forcibly eliminating the giant Filth Clan member at this moment would be very dangerous. The opponent had already sensed trouble, and while he and Ma Shangsi were hidden, once they revealed themselves, they would undoubtedly face a full-force counterattack, adding unnecessary peril.

Against the giant Filth Clan member, victory was already assured, so there was no need to take unnecessary risks.

"But..." Ma Shangsi still had doubts, but he quickly understood why Lu Ye was so calm. From all directions, powerful auras suddenly surged into the blood sea, heading towards the wormhole's location.

Those were Jade Snail's Moon Splendor cultivators, along with Lu Ye's five Blood Treasure avatars!

Earlier, Ma Shangsi had been preoccupied battling the giant Filth Clan member and then fully focused on channeling the Blood Drawing Art, so he hadn't fully perceived the situation on the outer battlefield. Only now did he realize that Jade Snail's Moon Splendor cultivators had already dealt with all their opponents, completely eliminating the invading Filth Clan Moon Splendor cultivators!