Chapter 65: Combination Punch

This battle came unexpectedly; Lu Ye didn't even know who his opponent was. But the moment he charged out with Dabai, the outcome of this struggle was sealed: it was a fight to the death.

In the cultivation world, there's no room for reason; cultivation level is the only truth. A Spirit Creek Realm second-layer cultivator trying to reason with others would surely fail and might even put himself in danger.

After making his move, he consecutively killed two of their opponents, sealing their fate in a fight to the death.

Although Senior Brother Zhang was willing to swear a Heaven's Secret Oath to drop the matter if Lu Ye released the young master, that was just his personal vow!

One must understand that Lu Ye had captured a sect's young master. Such a figure, after suffering such a significant loss, would never let the matter rest. Even if Lu Ye forced the young master to make a Heaven's Secret Oath, he still had an entire sect behind him! Others would not be bound by that oath.

The most likely outcome would be Lu Ye being hunted down by the entire sect.

To avoid this outcome, there was only one solution.

Utter annihilation.

Of the four cultivators, two were dead, and one was gravely wounded. The young master's neck had been slashed by a long saber, blood gushing like a spring. He raised a hand to cover his neck, but it had little effect.

Just as Senior Brother Zhang's furious roar faded, Lu Ye kicked the young master squarely in the back, sending him flying towards Zhang Wu.

"Save me!" the young master shrieked, flailing in mid-air.

Seeing the young master flying towards him, and vaguely discerning Lu Ye charging at him from behind the young master, Zhang Wu was momentarily thrown into disarray.

If he didn't catch the young master now, the young master would surely hit the ground, worsening his injuries and possibly making salvation impossible. Although the young master's neck was gashed, the attacker had shown some restraint, and timely intervention might still save him.

But if he caught the young master, he wouldn't be able to block the opponent's attack!

That split-second hesitation made Zhang Wu realize the enemy's cunning.

He ultimately didn't dare let the young master fall. His failure to protect the young master this time meant punishment was inevitable, but as long as he could preserve the young master's life, he wouldn't have to die himself.

But if the young master died, he would certainly face death.

Zhang Wu inverted his two curved blades, stepped forward, and caught the flying young master, simultaneously activating his protective spiritual energy.

He had clearly seen his opponent's cultivation level: merely Spirit Creek Realm second-layer. His own fourth-layer cultivation was far superior. He was confident that even if the opponent attacked, his protective spiritual energy could withstand it.

A piercing sound...

The sound of a long saber piercing flesh resounded. The young master, just caught by Zhang Wu, suddenly wide-eyed and mouth agape, let out another shriek of intense pain.

Zhang Wu's pupils constricted to their extreme in that instant. He watched in horror as a long saber pierced through the young master's chest and plunged directly towards him.

He fully activated his protective spiritual energy.

If he had seen how Lu Ye broke through the body cultivator's defense earlier, he wouldn't have been so blindly confident. Unfortunately, he had been fighting Dabai just then and hadn't clearly seen how the body cultivator died.

The gleaming saber blade flashed with light, imbued with a sharp spirit pattern. Even the protective spiritual energy of a Spirit Creek Realm fourth-layer cultivator could not withstand this piercing strike. The protective energy only slightly impeded the saber's advance before being pierced.

Zhang Wu felt a sharp pain in his chest. In this life-or-death crisis, he suddenly hunched his body, preventing the saber from penetrating deeper.

At the same time, he released the young master he was holding. He crossed his two curved blades, parrying the long saber.

The blade had entered three inches into his flesh but could go no further. Zhang Wu let out a long breath. Just as he thought he had blocked the attack, a strong gust of wind suddenly assailed him from behind.

"Damn it!" Zhang Wu immediately realized what was happening. Although the opponent was alone, he had a snow-white tiger; the attack from behind must be Dabai.

Just as he was about to react, his shoulder suddenly sank as if a heavy weight had been placed upon it. At the same time, a fierce shriek echoed in his ears, causing his mind to momentarily waver.

The young master, pinned between Lu Ye's long saber, was not yet dead. He faced Zhang Wu, mouth wide open, watching the delicate, doll-like spirit body pounce behind Zhang Wu and shriek into his ear.

Immediately after, Dabai's robust form pounced, its two front paws slamming onto Zhang Wu's upper back.

The irresistible force made Zhang Wu's hunched body straighten instantly. He lurched forward a few steps, and with a tearing sound, the long saber pierced through his chest, emerging from his back!

Having successfully struck, Lu Ye immediately withdrew his saber and leaped back. Not only he, but Dabai, who had delivered a blow to his back, also skillfully retreated several yards.

Almost simultaneously with Dabai's retreat, Zhang Wu swung his two blades backward, stabbing only air.

He stumbled backward a few steps uncontrollably, his body went limp, and he quickly propped himself up with his curved blades, thus avoiding falling to his knees.

Lu Ye looked at the wound on his chest and frowned. His saber strike had been aimed at the heart, but the outcome was not as intended. The strike was off-target, failing to immediately take the opponent's life.

As Lu Ye withdrew his saber and Zhang Wu stumbled away, the young master, who had been pinned between them, collapsed to the ground. Blood stained the ground beneath him, and after a few slight twitches, he became motionless.

At this moment, Zhang Wu no longer cared to check on the young master's life or death. He only knew that he would likely die here today!

He, a Spirit Creek Realm fourth-layer cultivator, had been, in mere moments, completely disoriented by a Spirit Creek Realm second-layer cultivator and Dabai, using a combination of attacks...

If he hadn't experienced it himself, no one would believe it.

What quality spirit artifact was in his opponent's hand? It could pierce his protective spiritual energy with a single strike!

Feeling his injuries, Zhang Wu knew he was beyond saving. Although he wouldn't die immediately, such wounds would only worsen without immediate treatment. And given his opponent's ruthless demeanor, it was clear he wouldn't be allowed to leave this place alive.

He gasped a few times, then raised one hand and pressed it onto the back of his other hand. A faint red glow immediately appeared on that hand's back.

Lu Ye watched him warily. In his mind, Zhang Wu was already gravely wounded, so there was no need to engage him in a fierce, head-on fight. He only needed to slowly wear him down, and eventually, he could deliver the killing blow.

But when he saw the red glow on the back of Zhang Wu's hand, he suddenly had a bad feeling!

"Amber!" Lu Ye exclaimed, already charging at Zhang Wu with his saber.

Zhang Wu quickly got up, his body unsteady, blood gushing from his chest. Yet he grinned savagely, "The Nine Stars Sect will never let you go. You're dead!"

Lu Ye brought his saber down, and Zhang Wu raised his two blades to block the attack. However, he was unable to defend against Dabai, who seized the opportunity to lunge from the side. Dabai viciously bit Zhang Wu's thigh, tearing off a large chunk of flesh.

Yiyi also emerged, clinging to Zhang Wu's back and continuously screeching fiercely, doing her best to contribute.

Dabai, having torn off a chunk of flesh, was kicked away by Zhang Wu. Yiyi, clinging to his back, was shaken off by his protective spiritual energy. Zhang Wu shifted his twin blades, causing Lu Ye's center of gravity to shift. Although Lu Ye quickly regained his balance, a flash of gleaming blade light was already in his sight.