Chapter 1721: Old Man Will Kill Your Companion First

The commotion from the Yueyao’s fight was significant, attracting a large crowd of cultivators who gathered from all directions, pointing and gesticulating.

While conflicts occasionally broke out on the Myriad Manifestation Sea, battles between Yueyao-level cultivators were uncommon, usually occurring during disputes over Spirit Islands. Such an unusual event naturally drew the cultivators’ keen interest.

The two Yueyao who were ambushing Tang Jun — one a Weapon Master and the other a Body Cultivator — initially thought the task would be simple. After all, it was a coordinated surprise attack by two against an elderly Mid-stage Spell Cultivator; failure seemed impossible. They intended to finish quickly. However, once the fight began, they realized they had underestimated the situation.

Tang Jun’s strength was indeed unremarkable; since the start of the engagement, he had shown no intention of counter-attacking, relying solely on a few defensive artifacts to protect himself. He was clearly holding out for reinforcements. After considerable effort, the two finally broke through Tang Jun’s defensive artifacts, only for old Tang to conjure yet another red talisman. They had never encountered a Yueyao so terrified of death, nor could they fathom how Tang Jun possessed such immense wealth. While the previous defensive artifacts were merely four or five-star items—expensive but not prohibitively so—the red talisman was the key. It was worth at least two million spirit jade. Had it not been for the protection provided by this red talisman, how could a Mid-stage Yueyao like Tang Jun have lasted this long?

But its endurance had limits. Even a formidable red talisman could not withstand ceaseless attacks. The protective light barrier formed by the talisman was now extremely dim, on the verge of collapsing. Within ten breaths at most, they were confident they could break through the talisman’s defense and kill Tang Jun.

Just then, the Late-stage Yueyao Body Cultivator suddenly looked up and spotted a mass of red mist rapidly approaching the battlefield. His expression darkened as he announced, “Someone’s coming!” They were well aware of Tang Jun’s background. Furthermore, after the fight began, Tang Jun’s purely defensive posture clearly indicated he was waiting for rescue, so they had somewhat anticipated this situation. What they hadn’t expected, however, was how quickly Tang Jun’s reinforcements had arrived. This location was not close to Three Realms Island; under normal circumstances, a Yueyao traveling from there would not have reached them so swiftly.

The Body Cultivator briefly sensed two auras within the red mist: one was a Late-stage Yueyao, like himself, and the other was only an Early-stage. After a brief hesitation, he made his decision: “I’ll intercept them. You hurry up!” As he spoke, he moved to meet the red mist.

A few breaths later, they met. The red mist suddenly expanded, transforming into a sea of blood that enveloped the Body Cultivator, who watched in astonishment. Inside the sea of blood, Lu Ye’s figure did not stop, bursting directly out and rushing towards Tang Jun. Although he could likely defeat the Body Cultivator quickly if he teamed up with Ma Shangsi, the immediate priority was to save Tang Jun’s life. Tang Jun couldn’t afford any more delay. The distance between them rapidly closed.

Beside Tang Jun, the Mid-stage Yueyao saw Lu Ye’s rushing figure. After a slight hesitation, he ultimately chose to abandon Tang Jun and move directly to confront Lu Ye. At the same time, he cast a sinister glance at Tang Jun, threatening, “I’ll kill your companion first, then come back for you!” With these words, he charged directly towards Lu Ye.

A flicker of struggle crossed Tang Jun’s pale face. Being old and wise, he instantly saw through the opponent’s intention: they were clearly trying to force him to abandon the red talisman’s protective power. The red talisman he had purchased with great expense from the Myriad Manifestation Merchant Guild indeed offered exceptional protection; otherwise, he couldn’t have endured the furious assault of two Yueyao stronger than him for so long. However, this talisman had a drawback: once activated, he couldn’t move, essentially becoming a stationary target. This was why he had remained in place—partly due to the talisman, and partly because he truly couldn’t escape.

Now that Lu Ye had come to save him, he naturally couldn’t stand by and watch Lu Ye fall into danger. Although he sensed Lu Ye was a Yueyao, it was clear he had only recently advanced, perhaps not even having stabilized his current realm. What good outcome could there be against a Mid-stage Yueyao? The opponent’s intention in threatening him was simply to force him to abandon his defense and launch an offensive. Despite his clear mind, in this situation, Tang Jun gritted his teeth and voluntarily dispelled the red talisman’s power, intending to coordinate with Lu Ye for a pincer attack.

Yet, no sooner had he done so than the Weapon Master, who had been charging towards Lu Ye, suddenly turned around. With a cold smile on his face, he swung his staff at Tang Jun. Tang Jun sighed, knowing full well this would happen, but he had no choice. Facing the formidable blow, Tang Jun could only force his nearly depleted spiritual power to manifest a spell and meet the attack. As their spiritual powers collided and surged, Tang Jun’s spell dissipated, and the opponent’s fierce attack struck him. With a cry of alarm, Tang Jun plummeted downwards like a kite with a broken string. He was almost at the end of his tether. Although his opponent had also expended considerable energy, there was an inherent disparity in their strengths, and this single clash clearly revealed who was superior.

The staff-wielding Weapon Master clearly intended to finish him off, but the opportunity was gone. Sensing Lu Ye’s rapidly approaching aura, he could only turn and sweep his staff out horizontally. Fueled by spiritual power, the staff unleashed a massive phantom image, striking horizontally for a hundred miles.

Lu Ye’s figure suddenly vanished from the Weapon Master’s sight, startling him. The next instant, Lu Ye inexplicably appeared close by, in front of him. Lu Ye’s hand rested on his saber sheath, his eyelids slightly lowered, his expression calm, yet the fury in his eyes blazed like an erupting volcano.

A clear ringing sound echoed as the Mountain-Severing Saber slid from its sheath, and a flash of light passed. The staff-wielding Weapon Master’s body suddenly stiffened slightly. In astonishment, he looked down at the artifact weapon in his hand. This five-star artifact was now split precisely in half, its cut surface as smooth as a mirror. An incredulous look flashed in his eyes. He truly couldn’t believe his artifact had been sliced in half by a single saber strike! Although it wasn’t a defensive artifact, it was still an artifact, inherently sturdy. It shouldn’t have been as brittle as a wooden stick. His gaze slowly shifted to his chest, where a thin line of blood seeped out. A sudden panic seized him... A searing pain spread through his entire chest. The bloodline erupted into a gush, and his vision began to tilt...

Behind him, Lu Ye had already sheathed his saber. He grabbed Tang Jun, who was about to fall into the Myriad Manifestation Sea, and asked, “How are you?” Old Tang seemed dazed. The near-death experience had caused a momentary blank in his thoughts. It took a while for him to slowly regain his composure: “I won’t die.” Then he urgently added, “Don’t mind me, deal with the enemy first!”

Lu Ye released his arm and shook his head: “No need!” Old Tang was stunned. Why no need? But he soon understood. When he looked up, the figure with its back to them suddenly gushed blood, split in two from the middle, and tumbled into the Myriad Manifestation Sea, plunging into endless darkness.

Old Tang was dumbfounded. He had been dazed by the Weapon Master’s blow moments ago and hadn't clearly seen what happened, so he didn’t understand how this person had died! Although he hadn’t seen the specifics, Tang Jun knew that the opponent’s death was inextricably linked to Lu Ye. One encounter, a weaker cultivator defeating a stronger one, killing a Mid-stage Yueyao? Tang Jun was inwardly horrified.

“Come with me!” Lu Ye enveloped Tang Jun with spiritual power and rushed towards Ma Shangsi. Of the two Yueyao who had ambushed Tang Jun, one was already dead; Lu Ye had no intention of letting the other escape. Although he didn’t know the full story, if he hadn’t arrived so quickly, Tang Jun would surely have been dead. Since the opponents intended to kill, he naturally wouldn’t show mercy!

However, just as they began to move, the sea of blood around Ma Shangsi suddenly churned, and a figure shot out from it—it was the Body Cultivator! At that moment, the Body Cultivator’s vital energy was surging, and he bore some injuries, clearly having fought with desperation. After escaping the sea of blood, he didn’t pause, employing some unknown escape art to flee rapidly in one direction.

By the time Lu Ye reunited with Ma Shangsi and Tang Jun, the Body Cultivator had already fled a significant distance. Lu Ye glanced, suppressed his murderous intent, and did not pursue. There was little point in chasing at this stage; his cultivation was weaker than the opponent’s, and with the Body Cultivator using an escape art, it would be difficult to catch him.

The sea of blood dissipated, and Ma Shangsi reappeared, breathing heavily. He looked at Lu Ye with unease: “I have failed the Holy Venerable’s trust by not stopping him. This subordinate deserves death!” Lu Ye shook his head: “It’s not your fault.” Normally, Ma Shangsi’s Blood Sea Art should have had no trouble trapping the Body Cultivator. However, during their journey, Lu Ye had made him unleash his Precious Blood and activate a Blood Escape Art, causing him to expend too much energy in a short time and suffer a loss of vitality. Therefore, he wasn’t at his peak when fighting the Body Cultivator, which allowed the opponent an opening. Killing one of them wasn’t a total loss.

Tang Jun stood to the side, looking at Ma Shangsi with suspicion and uncertainty, wondering if his injuries were so severe he was hallucinating. Why was a Late-stage Yueyao so deferential to Lu Yiye? Ever since Lu Ye sliced the Mid-stage Yueyao with one strike, nothing seemed real anymore...

“Let’s go back first,” Lu Ye said, glancing at the many onlookers around them. He summoned his Star Shuttle, taking Ma Shangsi and Tang Jun back the way they came. He had many questions, but this was clearly not the place to talk.

After Lu Ye and the two others departed, the onlookers began to discuss fervently, having just witnessed a truly astonishing battle. Among Weapon Masters of the same Yueyao level, a Mid-stage one was actually slain by an Early-stage cultivator with a single strike. Not only that, but his own artifact weapon was cut into two pieces. Such a thing had never been seen, let alone heard of, before.

On the Star Shuttle, Lu Ye silently assessed himself. The strain from the Draw Saber Strike was immense; although it was just one strike, it had caused considerable internal damage to his flesh and blood. Fortunately, such damage was minor for a Yueyao and would soon heal.