Chapter 63: Sealing the Throat

Of the four cultivators, three were male and one female. The woman, at the Spirit Stream Second Layer realm, was scantily clad and alluring. She nestled intimately against a Spirit Stream Third Layer realm cultivator, who held her in his arms. They appeared very affectionate. This Third Layer realm cultivator was strikingly handsome, with noble features. Dressed in luxurious attire, he wore a sword at his waist and a bulging storage bag, clearly indicating a person of extraordinary status.

Another Spirit Stream Third Layer realm cultivator was a sturdy man. His clothes clung tightly, revealing well-defined muscles beneath. He stood protectively in front of the embracing couple, resembling a bodyguard.

The Spirit Stream Fourth Layer realm cultivator was a gaunt man, thin as a bamboo pole, vigilantly scanning his surroundings.

Lu Ye and Big Tiger’s arrival went unnoticed. The man and the tiger hid about ten zhang away, peering through gaps in the scattered rocks.

Lu Ye didn't know how Yiyi had been trapped, but cultivators possessed mysterious and unpredictable methods, always employing techniques Lu Ye didn't understand. The immediate priority was to rescue Yiyi. The Fourth Layer realm cultivator, in particular, exerted significant pressure, not to mention there were four of them in total.

“Young Master, what is that?” the woman's melodious voice inquired. Though the Profound Spirit Bell had been triggered, none of them had clearly seen how. Only the bell's owner could ascertain the situation.

The handsome man, still embracing her, formed a hand seal with one hand. After a brief moment of sensing, he raised an eyebrow. “Interesting,” he mused, “is it a spirit body?” The Profound Spirit Bell was his spirit artifact, a remarkably powerful and discreet defensive item.

“A spirit body?” The woman instinctively recoiled, deliberately burrowing deeper into the man's arms. “Young Master, I'm scared.”

The young master chuckled heartily, patting her slender waist. “There, there, don't be afraid,” he assured her. He then signaled to the Fourth Layer realm cultivator. “Senior Brother Zhang,” he instructed, “go test it.”

Senior Brother Zhang nodded in assent. “Understood,” he replied. He strode towards the large bell lying inverted on the ground. Upon reaching it, he suddenly unleashed a punch.

A resounding clang echoed, followed by Yiyi's shrill screams from within the bell, clearly indicating she had been harmed.

“ROAR!” A tiger's roar reverberated through the forest as the snow-white figure burst from its hiding spot, lunging directly at Senior Brother Zhang.

Big Tiger had been provoked. Although Lu Ye had previously told it to remain calm, and it had seemingly listened, seeing Yiyi harmed, its primal instincts ultimately overrode what little reason it possessed. This sudden attack startled not only the four cultivators but also caught Lu Ye completely off guard. He was still devising a plan to rescue Yiyi...

As Big Tiger lunged, a foul stench filled the air. The woman shrieked, truly terrified this time. The sturdy man immediately shifted his position, interposing himself between the young master and the woman. Meanwhile, Senior Brother Zhang, possessing the highest cultivation, grimaced. He formed a hand seal, and streaks of lightning began to flicker at his fingertips.

However, his expression changed an instant later. Behind Big Tiger's agile form, another figure suddenly darted out. It was Lu Ye. With Big Tiger's reckless charge, he had no time to strategize, practically rushing out right behind the beast. Using Big Tiger's bulk as cover, he managed to gain a precious few moments.

He charged straight for the young master!

Among the four, the young master was clearly the one in charge. If he could subdue the young master, all their problems would be resolved. It was a desperate measure, but the only option available.

“Stop him!” Senior Brother Zhang roared, unleashing a palm strike towards Big Tiger. A visible bolt of lightning erupted from his palm, striking the tiger. Big Tiger roared in pain, its powerful roar shaking the sky and sending a visible wave of air surging forward. That single roar caused Senior Brother Zhang's mind to momentarily waver. *What a fierce creature,* he thought to himself, a shiver running down his spine. *If it were to fully mature, its strength would surely far surpass other beasts of its cultivation level.*

He reached into his storage bag, and two curved blades instantly appeared in his hands. Gripping them with the blades reversed, he charged at Big Tiger.

Meanwhile, Lu Ye pressed one hand to his saber hilt, channeling spirit energy into his legs. Like a gust of wind, he charged towards the sturdy man. The sturdy man let out a low roar as spirit energy surged through him. His tight-fitting clothes shredded, and his already robust frame seemed to swell noticeably. He then reached into his storage bag, pulling out a two-foot-long hammer, which he held defensively across his body.

Simply standing there, he exuded an aura of impregnable defense. Breaking through his blockade to seize the young master behind him would be no easy feat. Moreover, the young master himself was no ordinary person; he was a Spirit Stream Third Layer realm cultivator, with a Spirit Stream Second Layer realm woman by his side.

The distance between them rapidly closed. Lu Ye placed his other hand on his saber hilt, mimicking a drawing motion. Yet, when he raised his hand, no saber light flashed. Instead, a burning fire snake materialized from thin air, coiling and striking towards the sturdy man.

“A Fire Serpent Talisman!” the sturdy man bellowed, cursing the enemy's cunning under his breath. The opponent had feigned drawing his saber, only to surreptitiously unleash a spirit talisman, catching him completely off guard. At this moment, the most prudent course of action would naturally be to evade the talisman's attack. While the Fire Serpent Talisman was potent and had a wide area of effect, he could indeed dodge it if he chose, though doing so would inevitably put him in a passive position.

However, with the young master directly behind him, how could he possibly evade?

Gritting his teeth, he hastily pulled out a Golden Body Talisman, slapping it onto his chest. Simultaneously, he activated his protective spirit energy, enveloping his entire body.

Flames erupted. The coiling fire snake consumed the sturdy man's figure. The very next instant, he burst out of the flames, completely unscathed, charging towards the approaching Lu Ye. Swinging his large hammer, he roared defiantly, “A mere spirit talisman? You think that can harm me?”

No sooner had his arrogant words left his lips than a saber flash cut through the air. He stumbled back involuntarily, clutching his throat, his weapon clattering to the ground.

“Hmph... hmph...” He gasped for breath, but blood gushed uncontrollably between his fingers, impossible to staunch. He couldn't comprehend it. How could his meticulously honed spirit energy fail to even withstand a single saber strike from his opponent? While the Fire Serpent Talisman had shattered the Golden Body Talisman he had used, he still maintained his protective spirit energy. Furthermore, he was a body cultivator, which was precisely why he always stood in front of the young master.

In the cultivation world, body cultivators were renowned for their resilience; powerful ones could even withstand the spells of spell cultivators with their bare flesh. Though he was a minor body cultivator and couldn't fully leverage their advantages, he certainly shouldn't have been utterly bypassed by a single saber strike.

Yet, in reality, Lu Ye's saber had cleaved his throat. Had his physical body not been exceptionally robust, that single strike would have decapitated him entirely! The spirit artifact long saber, enhanced with a Sharp Spirit Mark, possessed destructive power far beyond the body cultivator's wildest imagination.

Lu Ye himself was surprised. He hadn't intended to kill his opponent with a single strike; he had instinctively swung the saber merely to force him back. Yet, the outcome of that strike was unexpectedly devastating.