Chapter 2476: Young Phoenix Clan

The young man’s words were inexplicable. Fu Wei, standing beside him, timidly asked, “Dao Brother, is there some misunderstanding?”

The young man slowly looked at him, sizing him up. He then raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “Bu Clan?”

Fu Wei offered an obsequious smile. “Dao Brother’s insight is truly remarkable…”

Though he had just told Lu Ye that the Bu Clan was somewhat known in the Star Abyss, the truth was that very few people recognized them. Anyone who could identify his Bu Clan origin with a single glance was clearly no ordinary individual; it was even probable that their background had some connection to the Bu Clan.

Fu Wei was utterly perplexed as to how Lu Ye could have incurred the wrath of such a person. However, recalling that Lu Ye had even killed Perin, who hailed from Hundred Battle City, it seemed that incurring enmity with anyone was no longer surprising.

Just as he was about to speak again, the young man coldly spat out a single word: “Scram!”

“Huh?” Fu Wei was taken aback; the situation was turning out differently than he’d imagined. Then, he suddenly caught a flash of golden light in the young man’s eyes. His expression immediately changed, and he found himself involuntarily drifting backward. Simultaneously, he urgently transmitted a message to Lu Ye: “Senior Brother, I fear I cannot afford to cross this individual. You should also steer clear of him!”

He then fled without a backward glance.

Lu Ye’s eyes narrowed slightly. Fu Wei had clearly recognized something, though Lu Ye himself wasn't sure what it was. He could only vaguely deduce from Fu Wei’s reaction that the young man possessed a significant background.

The young man continued to scrutinize Lu Ye’s disheveled appearance, his eyes filled with disgust and disdain. He mocked again, “How did a wretch like you even dare to enter? Wouldn’t it have been better to meekly remain in the Outer Realm? Why come to the Inner Realm and stir up trouble?”

“Do we know each other?” Lu Ye asked slowly.

“Are you even worthy?” the young man scoffed.

“Since we don’t know each other…” As Lu Ye uttered his final word, his form shot like lightning towards the young man. In an instant, he swept past him, his blade light, condensed like snow, striking out horizontally. He tilted his head slightly and added, “Who gave you the audacity to come spouting nonsense in front of me?”

His eyes narrowed slightly, as the strike, which had gathered all his current strength, was surprisingly blocked by the opponent’s crossed arms.

As their Dao powers clashed fiercely, Lu Ye immediately realized that this individual was a formidable adversary, even more powerful than Perin.

“Three hundred Dao?” the young man remarked, still having the presence of mind to assess Lu Ye’s true strength. “That’s tolerable, but ultimately, you are still not worthy!”

With a powerful surge from his arms, Lu Ye was immediately thrown backward. Yet, like a relentless shadow, the young man pursued him closely, his fists blurring into a flurry of strikes.

Lu Ye raised his saber to parry, feeling the outpouring of brute force and secretly alarmed.

He saw no indication that the young man was using a Dao weapon, yet his strength was incredibly formidable. This suggested only one possibility: the young man’s Dao weapon was one that could merge with his body, offering both offense and defense. Furthermore, it had to be a Dao treasure, as nothing else could provide such a powerful enhancement.

If not for Baqiu’s earlier sword attack, Lu Ye could have easily dispatched his opponent. However, with his current impaired strength, he was genuinely struggling to cope.

He had previously assumed that someone like Perin represented the pinnacle of Integration Dao cultivators that a top Harmonious Dao City could produce. Only now did he realize how short-sighted he had been.

This inexplicably appearing young man was even stronger than Perin. This competition for the wonder treasure truly seemed to be full of hidden talents.

What truly concerned Lu Ye was not the young man’s formidable strength, but his baffling words. From the moment they met, everything he said felt shrouded in mystery.

Lu Ye wanted to ask him what he meant, but this was clearly not the moment. He would only be able to inquire properly after subduing his opponent.

The two, who had never met before, suddenly engaged in battle like mortal enemies. If it were merely a slight disparity in strength, Lu Ye could manage, as he quickly discerned something after just a few moments of fighting: the young man’s combat experience seemed to be quite lacking.

Furthermore, his opponent was clearly seething with immense rage, and his focus was noticeably disturbed. Dealing with such an enemy could usually be resolved simply by matching their strength.

However, the differing characteristics of their Dao weapons put Lu Ye at a disadvantage.

The Pan Mountain Saber was an offensive Dao weapon, meaning its defensive capabilities were inherently weaker than its offensive power. The extent of this disparity depended on the current cultivation level of the Pan Mountain Saber itself.

His opponent, however, was different. His integrated Dao weapon provided both offense and defense, with its power enhancing his own protective capabilities.

This meant that even if Lu Ye managed to land a fortunate blow, it would be futile if he couldn’t penetrate the opponent’s defenses. Yet, if he took even one hit from his opponent, he would undoubtedly be injured.

This single advantage was something someone of Perin’s caliber could never hope to match.

Therefore, even though Lu Ye surpassed his opponent in combat experience and technique, he was ultimately the one suffering disadvantages.

Just as Lu Ye pondered how to break the stalemate, he suddenly saw a sarcastic smile play on the young man’s lips, and a punch slammed down fiercely.

Lu Ye’s heart lurched, instinctively sensing trouble. However, faced with such a ferocious assault, he couldn’t retreat and was forced to receive the blow head-on.

The instant fist and saber connected, a peculiar force passed through the Pan Mountain Saber, directly impacting his body and instantly shattering his protective Dao power.

His recently healed injuries burst open again, Lu Ye’s chest caved in sharply, and he was sent reeling backward uncontrollably!

He frowned. That last blow… had given him a strong sense of déjà vu, but the critical situation left him no time to ponder it.

The young man, having gained the upper hand, was relentless and had already pressed his attack. He shifted from his previous furious onslaught, his punches now becoming slow and deliberate.

Lu Ye unleashed a fierce saber strike.

To his astonishment, the same situation as before reoccurred. Though he had clearly parried the opponent’s strike with his saber, a surge of wild power still bypassed the Pan Mountain Saber and slammed into his body.

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted from his lips!

Lu Ye’s eyes instantly brightened as he finally realized what was happening, simultaneously forming some conjectures about his assailant’s identity.

He suddenly crouched slightly, gripping the Pan Mountain Saber in a reverse grip. It whirled like the moon, and as the blade light erupted, a lotus flower abruptly materialized, its lotus-like saber blades spinning and dancing.

Lotus Sun!

The attacking young man frowned, hastily halting his momentum to avoid getting caught within the spinning lotus blades. Although he had verbally dismissed Lu Ye as a wretch and his demeanor was filled with disdain, their exchange had clearly shown him that Lu Ye was not an easy target.

If not for the peculiar secret technique he cultivated, even with his current slight advantage in strength, he might not have gained the upper hand.

As the lotus blades danced, Lu Ye suddenly burst forth from their midst, his body wreathed in solidified saber energy forming petals. Like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, he charged directly at the young man.

In that very instant, the disparity in their combat experience became evident.

The enemy was caught completely off guard. Lu Ye pushed his movement technique to its limit, his figure erratic and evasive, never engaging in a direct confrontation, always hitting and retreating instantly.

After repeated exchanges, the young man’s expression quickly turned impatient.

Watching Lu Ye dart around like a rabbit again, the young man’s expression hardened. His aura subtly shifted, and an odd power began to swirl around his fists.

Here it comes! Lu Ye’s eyes narrowed. He knew exactly what awaited him, yet he showed no hesitation. He still brought his saber down as before, because this was the moment he had been waiting for.

As he expected, his opponent met his attack with a fist, his face displaying a mix of ruthlessness and mockery, as if taunting Lu Ye for not learning from his previous mistakes.

Just like the several collisions before, the instant fist and saber connected, a slight curve appeared at the corner of the young man’s mouth.

However, the next instant, that curve vanished without a trace. His unfailingly effective secret technique had found no room to operate this time. The long saber his opponent wielded suddenly vibrated violently twice, and a torrent of wild Dao power burst forth like water from an opened sluice gate, causing him to panic and quickly attempt to block it with all his might. Yet, he still failed.

Blood splattered as the young man grunted, using the force of the impact to retreat. His right fist, however, had been nearly split open by Lu Ye’s strike, exposing the bone within.

Lu Ye didn’t pursue. He merely stood his ground, lightly shaking the Pan Mountain Saber, and gazed at his inexplicably appearing enemy. His voice was filled with certainty: “The Ox-Striking Secret Art! You are from the Phoenix Clan!”

He had never understood why this individual harbored such intense animosity towards him and spoke such baffling words, especially since they had never met before.

It was only after their clash began that Lu Ye recognized something familiar.

The Ox-Striking Secret Art, a technique designed to bypass defenses, originated from an ancestor of the Phoenix Clan and has been passed down through generations, according to Su Yan. Lu Ye had once practiced this very art with Su Yan. Although his mastery wasn’t complete enough to employ it in life-or-death combat, having practiced it meant he was certainly familiar with it.

The handsome young man opposite him had repeatedly struck him by channeling offensive force through the Pan Mountain Saber, using the subtle principles of the Ox-Striking Secret Art.

Recalling earlier, when the young man had bypassed the restriction set by Fu Wei—the barrier itself showed no ripple, yet its interior was utterly chaotic—it was clearly also thanks to the Ox-Striking Secret Art.

With this confirmed, discerning his opponent’s origin became easy.

No wonder this individual was even stronger than Perin.

Although Perin hailed from one of the Ten Great Harmonious Dao Cities and had received excellent cultivation in Hundred Battle City, he was simply not on the same level as a true member of the Phoenix Clan.

“She even told you that?” The young man’s expression became contorted, a mix of agony and disbelief on his face.

Seeing his reaction, Lu Ye wondered if this man might be a romantic rival. Why else would he react so strongly?

The “she” he referred to was undoubtedly Su Yan.

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. “What’s so surprising about that?” he said, casually slashing with his saber. A subtle distortion rippled across the blade.

The young man’s eyelids twitched, and he looked even more distressed. “She even taught you *that* secret art?”

He could, of course, discern that Lu Ye’s saber strike incorporated some spatial mystique. The more he realized this, the harder it was for him to accept. This was a secret art of the Phoenix Clan; how could it be casually taught to an outsider, especially to *this* guy?

Lu Ye continued to provoke him. “She taught me a great deal. She’s… wonderful!”

The young man looked on the verge of collapse, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. “I’m going to kill you!”