Chapter 692: No Morality in Martial Arts

The Wind Rises Across the Nine Provinces

Pang Wanhai was somewhat dissatisfied with the previous arrangements made by the sect master, Xiong Tieshan.

As a cultivator who had dedicated his life to blade techniques, Pang Wanhai's greatest desire was to fight a battle against an equally matched expert. Ideally, this expert would also specialize in blade techniques, as such a life-or-death struggle could elevate his own blade arts to the next level.

Looking across the entire Feng Province, Ye Ying was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.

When the plan to ambush and kill Ye Ying was being formulated, Pang Wanhai volunteered, but Xiong Tieshan refused him.

Of course, he knew why Xiong Tieshan refused him: Xiong Tieshan feared that Pang Wanhai might gain something from fighting Ye Ying. Moreover, Xiong Tieshan believed that secret techniques like the Overlord Blade Art would surely be kept close by Ye Ying. Just as Pang Wanhai was interested in the Overlord Blade Art, so too was Xiong Tieshan.

Whoever could kill Ye Ying would have the opportunity to acquire that secret technique.

Xiong Tieshan was the sect master, while Pang Wanhai was merely a deputy. Although dissatisfied, Pang Wanhai had no choice but to obey the sect master's command.

However, it turned out that the secret manual for the Overlord Blade Art was not carried by Ye Ying; instead, it was left at Overlord Blade Villa and ultimately fell into Pang Wanhai's hands.

This was also why Pang Wanhai had remained at Overlord Blade Villa for the past few days instead of returning to the Divine Intent Sect. If he returned, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep the secret manual.

He wanted to study it for a few more days...

While he had acquired the secret manual by chance, the inability to face a blade expert like Ye Ying was ultimately a regret.

Unexpectedly, besides Ye Ying, his sixth son at Overlord Blade Villa was also incredibly powerful.

This couldn't help but lift his spirits.

Seeing Ye Xiong defeated, Pang Wanhai raised his blade, pointing it from a distance, his fighting spirit surging. "Boy, withstand three of my strikes, and I'll spare your life!"

Having witnessed Lu Ye's strength firsthand, Pang Wanhai was naturally not so arrogant as to believe he could kill his opponent in three strikes. However, Lu Ye had just finished a major battle and was injured, so it was uncertain how much of his full strength he could wield. This gave Pang Wanhai complete confidence.

Moreover, even if Lu Ye genuinely survived three of his strikes, what then? To believe such empty words would be utterly naive.

If a casual lie could make his opponent believe him, then this "Ye Six" was not worth worrying about at all.

Even before unleashing his lethal move, the verbal offensive was already complete.

As he finished speaking, Pang Wanhai lunged forward, his spiritual power surging around him, clearly demonstrating his powerful cultivation at the ninth level of the Cloud River Realm.

Then, he saw Lu Ye suddenly float backward. A small flag had appeared in Lu Ye's hand at some point, and he waved it gently...

"This is..."

Pang Wanhai's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately sensed trouble.

By the time he wanted to retreat, it was too late.

A visible barrier of light suddenly appeared out of nowhere, descending like a transparent giant bowl and completely enveloping him.

"An array!" Pang Wanhai's eyes widened in fury.

Could this "Ye Six" actually set up arrays? And clearly, he came prepared!

"Damn it..."

While waiting here earlier, Lu Ye hadn't been idle. Although his current strength was considerable, he never underestimated the enemy's power.

During his wait, he had already set up numerous arrays within the small courtyard.

Ye Xiong and Pang Wanhai, both martial cultivators, were completely ignorant of array formations. They noticed no abnormalities around them and discovered no clues whatsoever.

When fighting Ye Xiong, Lu Ye hadn't activated the power of the arrays because Ye Xiong posed little threat to him.

Now, against Pang Wanhai, it was perfectly timed.

Although he also wanted to fight a cultivator at the ninth level of the Cloud River Realm to test his current strength, this was clearly not a good moment.

Using arrays to deal with him was the best option.

Pang Wanhai reacted swiftly, attempting to escape the moment he sensed something was wrong. However, the containment array was already active. Even as a ninth-level cultivator, he couldn't directly break out of its range. He crashed headfirst into the transparent barrier, only causing ripples to spread across its surface.

Lu Ye then fiercely waved the array flag in his hand downwards again.

The next instant, within the light barrier of the containment array, numerous killing arrays erupted.

Immediately, lightning snaked across the space, golden arcs slashed wildly, and pillars of fire erupted like dragons. Within that confined area, spiritual energy became chaotic, and the scene was terrifying.

Finally, with a tremendous explosion, a massive fiery blast shot skyward.

Before his journey to the Hundred Arrays Pagoda, Lu Ye couldn't have set up such a complex composite array. At the very least, he wouldn't have been able to integrate so many arrays within such a confined space. However, that journey had greatly enhanced his mastery of array formations, making this feat no longer difficult.

The powerful impact caused the containment array's light barrier to collapse.

From the towering flames, a figure suddenly shot out, fleeing outward without looking back.

It was Pang Wanhai, who, having endured the power of multiple killing arrays in such a confined space, had somehow not died instantly.

However, compared to his imposing entrance, he was now in an utterly pathetic state.

His clothes were tattered, his face was blackened, and his body was covered in countless wounds, from which blood flowed freely. Even his aura, that of a ninth-level Cloud River Realm cultivator, had become extremely weak.

Such injuries, though not fatal, were certainly severe.

Only one thought surged through his mind.

"That brat has no martial ethics! Shouldn't a proper martial cultivator engage in close combat with the enemy? How could he resort to playing with array formations? Is this something a martial cultivator should be doing?"

Martial cultivators were traditionally known for their stubbornness and straightforwardness; such individuals were completely unrelated to array formations.

Nor had he ever heard that 'Ye Six' was skilled in array arts.

"Escape! I must escape this place immediately. My current condition is unsuitable for combat."

Though severely wounded, Pang Wanhai felt only resentment, not fear. With his speed, a sixth-level cultivator couldn't possibly catch him. As long as he survived this ordeal, he would repay this hundredfold, even a thousandfold.

As he was thinking this, a sudden chill ran through him, and his senses detected a sharp aura rapidly approaching him.

He turned to look back, his pupils contracting sharply.

"How is this possible!"

"How could this 'Ye Six' be so fast!"

"And what's with those fiery red wings?"

Before he could fully comprehend, a bright blade light had already spread across his vision.

Pang Wanhai gritted his teeth and turned, raising his blade.

Boom...

In the violent collision, Lu Ye's pursuing figure paused slightly, while Pang Wanhai's body plummeted downwards like a falling meteor.

Lu Ye flapped the twin wings behind him, following like a shadow.

He was determined to utterly annihilate him!

A moment later, from the midst of the ruins, Lu Ye strolled out. He lightly flicked the Pan Shan Blade in his hand before sheathing it.

Behind him, Pang Wanhai knelt on the ground, his eyes still filled with horror and disbelief, but his aura had completely dissipated.

He never imagined he would die here.

Just a short while ago, he had been enthusiastically studying the Overlord Blade Art...

In the small courtyard, within a protective array, the young girl who bore some resemblance to Ye Liuli was pale but her eyes were bright.

Thanks to the protective array, the aftershocks of the battle hadn't harmed her. Even when the house she was in collapsed, the array's barrier blocked everything.

Having no cultivation, she didn't understand the true peril of the previous battle. But she had seen Lu Ye beat Ye Xiong like a dead dog, and watched the once-imposing Pang Wanhai flee in disarray, his fate now unknown.

Her heart was stirred; so, Young Master Six was truly this powerful!

The thick dark clouds in the sky dispersed, and bright moonlight streamed down, mirroring the girl's current mood. No one would bully her anymore.

The battle here erupted suddenly and ended quickly.

Lu Ye's engagement with Ye Xiong lasted only about twenty breaths. From the moment Pang Wanhai made his move to his death, a similar amount of time had passed.

Therefore, it was only now that other cultivators in the villa, having heard the commotion, rushed over.

Figures gathered around, looking on. They saw Pang Wanhai's kneeling corpse, and Ye Xiong lying on the ground like a dead dog, his vitality drained, looking as if he had aged many years overnight.

They also saw a figure who should not have been there at all.

"Young Master Six..." someone murmured.

These arriving cultivators could, for the most part, be considered disciples of Overlord Blade Villa.

Although Overlord Blade Villa was a family-style force, the Ye family alone couldn't sustain such a vast enterprise. Thus, Ye Ying and Ye Xiong had taken on many disciples over the years.

When Overlord Blade Villa was breached earlier, many had died in battle, some had fled, and quite a few had barely survived.

Those who remained at Overlord Blade Villa now were mostly the ones loyal to Ye Xiong.

However, while these individuals possessed some cultivation, few were in the Cloud River Realm, and their overall cultivation levels were not high.

At this moment, the arriving disciples looked at Lu Ye and Ye Xiong lying on the ground, their expressions complex.

When Overlord Blade Villa was breached, many of them hadn't known exactly what had happened; they only vaguely realized the truth after the dust settled.

Regardless, a family colluding with outsiders was ultimately not a glorious matter. For the past few days, many surviving disciples had been tormented internally, feeling that their future was uncertain.

With such events unfolding again tonight, they felt even more bewildered.

"Kill him..." a weak voice rose, coming from Ye Xiong on the ground. "Quick, kill him!"

Having used all his strength to execute the Overlord Blade technique, Ye Xiong was truly exhausted. Pang Wanhai, his former reliance, was also dead. To survive, he could only hope these disciples would act.

Although these disciples were not exceptional, if they swarmed him, there might still be a chance.

No one moved.

Putting aside the shock of Pang Wanhai's death, Lu Ye's identity as Young Master Six alone made them unable to act.

After a long moment, one disciple clasped his hands in respect towards Lu Ye and said, "Young Master Six, take care!"

Saying this, he turned and left.

It was absolutely impossible to attack Lu Ye, but he also couldn't very well stay. After much thought, he decided it was best to leave.

Given the changes Overlord Blade Villa had undergone, whether Overlord Blade Villa would even exist in Feng Province in the future was now uncertain.

One person led, and others followed.

Seeing that Lu Ye showed no intention of stopping them, the undecided disciples knew that even if they stayed, they likely wouldn't be welcomed. Thus, they all departed one after another.

In a short while, all the cultivators who had arrived had left.

Only Ye Xiong's unwilling and impotent roars echoed through the night sky.