Chapter 703: Nine Elders Martial Evil

In the center of Medicine Valley, a dozen scattered thatched huts served as the residences for the Medicine Valley Master and the apprentice pharmacists.

Inside the innermost thatched hut, a tall, uninhibited man with shoulder-length black hair stood before a woman, his expression rather impatient. "If I respect you, I'll call you Little Medicine Immortal," he said. "If I don't, what can you do even if I flatten your Medicine Valley?"

The Heavenly Ravine Sect had sealed off Medicine Valley. The leader was naturally not the Eighth-Order cultivator Lu Ye had slain with a few blows; such a major undertaking was not something an Eighth-Order cultivator could be entrusted with.

Therefore, the one leading the team this time was none other than the Heavenly Ravine Sect's Ninth Elder, Wu Xie.

Within the Heavenly Ravine Sect, the number of elders was exceptionally large, and every single one was at the Ninth Order of the Cloud River Realm. It was said their ranks extended beyond fifty. The positions and ranks of these elders were not immutable; the higher a cultivator's rank, the stronger their power. With dozens of elders, all at the Ninth Order of the Cloud River Realm, who could possibly feel weaker than anyone else? Therefore, within the Heavenly Ravine Sect, the elders' rankings often changed. However, the ten elders ranked in the top ten had never changed positions. From the First Elder to the Tenth Elder, these ten individuals could be said to be the mainstays of the entire Heavenly Ravine Sect. They would not act unless absolutely necessary.

This time, for Little Medicine Immortal, Wu Xie, ranked ninth, personally made an appearance, which could be considered a great show of respect. He intended to invite Little Medicine Immortal back to the Heavenly Ravine Sect's headquarters. Previously, the Heavenly Ravine Sect and Medicine Valley had coexisted peacefully because Little Medicine Immortal's network was too vast. If the Heavenly Ravine Sect truly offended her, they would surely face significant trouble. But now, the sect was planning a major undertaking. Regardless of success or failure, the entire Heavenly Ravine Sect would stand against the cultivation world of Dragon Ascent. At that time, it was inevitable that people would come to Snow Province to besiege them. Once hostilities began, casualties would be unavoidable. If Little Medicine Immortal and her apprentice pharmacists were present, they could provide timely treatment for injured Heavenly Ravine Sect cultivators.

He said he was inviting her, but in reality, whether Little Medicine Immortal agreed or not, he intended to take her.

As expected, Little Medicine Immortal did not agree to his demands, which made Wu Xie quite impatient. After just a few words of disagreement, he became angry.

A gentle voice rang out: "This place is merely where living people are treated, and I am merely a healer. Ninth Elder, why must you flaunt your might before me?"

"Little Medicine Immortal!" Wu Xie roared. "Do not refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. You should know who I, Wu Xie, am. Since the Sect Master has sent me to handle this matter, you should know the consequences of refusing me! Even if it's just your corpse today, I will take it back!"

"Who among us isn't bound by life and death?" Even facing the suppressed rage of a Ninth-Order Cloud River Realm cultivator, Little Medicine Immortal remained calm and composed, meticulously sorting the medicinal herbs before her.

"Very well!" Wu Xie's lips curled into a sinister sneer. He had already made up his mind: if he couldn't take Little Medicine Immortal alive, he could still bring back her corpse to report back, which was also the Sect Master's original intention in sending him to handle this matter.

Just as he was about to make his move, he suddenly sensed something. He turned his head and looked towards the valley entrance, letting out a sharp cry: "How dare you!" As his words fell, he vanished from sight, only a distant streak of light streaking towards the valley entrance. He had sensed the commotion of Lu Ye slaying the black-clad cultivator.

Inside the thatched hut, Little Medicine Immortal looked up, gazing towards the valley entrance. Divine light flickered faintly in her eyes. Despite numerous obstructions, she seemed able to see the situation there with perfect clarity. A faint sigh, almost inaudible, escaped her lips.

At the valley entrance, the scene was chaotic. With Lu Ye charging at the forefront, and the many cultivators who had come seeking medical help following closely behind, the Heavenly Ravine Sect cultivators were momentarily forced into a steady retreat. Although they were more numerous, they were utterly unable to withstand the assault of Lu Ye's long saber.

Until a certain moment, Lu Ye suddenly looked up. He saw a streak of light rapidly approaching from the direction of Medicine Valley. Before the person even arrived, overwhelming fury erupted: "How dare you kill a disciple of my Heavenly Ravine Sect! Even death cannot atone for your crime!"

"Lu Ye, be careful!" Yi Yi cried out softly. She had already sensed the newcomer's immense power. As her words fell, Amber, who had been crouching on her shoulder, assisting her in caring for Ye Liuli, leaped and landed on Lu Ye's shoulder. Amber was like a cat whose fur had bristled. Her body crouched slightly, her fur stood on end, and a low growl rumbled in her throat. Only when facing a threat would Amber appear like this.

In Lu Ye's vision, everything around him had vanished, leaving only the rapidly approaching, imposing figure.

Strong, very strong!

Lu Ye had encountered many Ninth-Order Cloud River Realm cultivators. Aside from those in the Cloud River Battlefield, he had already slain two Ninth-Order Cloud River Realm cultivators in this Dragon Ascent Realm. One was Pang Wanhai from the Divine Will Sect, and the other was Sun Qi from the Heavenly Ravine Sect. However, despite all being Ninth-Order, the feeling they gave him was completely different. In terms of strength, Sun Qi was undoubtedly stronger than Pang Wanhai. But this newcomer was even stronger than Sun Qi. The unique environment of the Dragon Ascent Realm created a disparity in strength among these Ninth-Order Cloud River Realm cultivators whose cultivation couldn't advance. Since their cultivation couldn't improve further, they could only hone their combat skills and deepen their foundations. The Ninth-Order Cloud River Realm cultivators in Dragon Ascent had truly pushed the Cloud River Realm to its absolute limit. Therefore, even with the same cultivation level, their actual strength could be vastly different. Just like the gap between the "Three Great Scourges" and ordinary Heaven-Ninth cultivators in the Spirit Stream Battlefield back then.

"It's the Heavenly Ravine Sect's Ninth Elder, Wu Xie!" Zhuang Bufan's voice rang out beside Lu Ye's ear. "He's a sword cultivator. Brother Ye, be careful."

Almost simultaneously with Zhuang Bufan's warning, a streak of green light shot out from Wu Xie's hand. Its fierce qi locked onto Lu Ye, and its sharp aura caused Lu Ye's skin to sting as if being cut. Sword cultivators were always known for their lethality, possessing the strongest offensive power and the most aggressive nature among all cultivation paths. In a comparison of strength among cultivators of the same rank, sword cultivators often suppressed all other paths. Not to mention, Wu Xie's cultivation was even higher than Lu Ye's.

The incoming green light contained a flying sword, and all its ferocity and sharpness emanated from this sword. Even without being directly targeted by this flying sword, the cultivators following Lu Ye could not help but halt their steps. A chill ran through each of them, and in their terror, they felt an illusion of the apocalypse. With a single sword strike, everyone felt their hopes extinguished, and suddenly felt that living seemed meaningless.

Zhuang Bufan bit down on his tongue, forcibly tearing himself free from that negative state, his heart filled with horror. He had long heard that the Heavenly Ravine Sect's top ten elders were all incomparably powerful. Only upon seeing them today did he realize the truth of those words. Just the flying sword of Wu Xie, ranked ninth, had reached the realm where it could sever one's will before severing their body. It was hard to imagine how powerful the elders ranked above him must be. He looked at Lu Ye with deep worry, unsure of what fate awaited Lu Ye.

But the sight that met his eyes greatly astonished him. Facing such a sword strike, this Brother Ye actually stomped his feet on the ground. Where he stood, the earth cracked, and a pair of deep footprints appeared on the ground. He shot out like an arrow released from a bowstring. Fiery red spiritual power surged around his body, engulfing him as if in flames. Wu Xie's sword intent had no effect on him whatsoever. This was because his mental fortitude was sufficiently strong. Intent, such an ethereal, intangible, unseen, and untouchable thing, targets the mind. Therefore, even though Lu Ye had never encountered such a lethal move before, his sufficiently strong mental fortitude allowed him to resist the sword intent's influence on him.

"Hmm?" Wu Xie was momentarily stunned. Watching Lu Ye counterattack under his assault, his eyes showed surprise. He had never seen such a Sixth-Order Cloud River Realm cultivator. He immediately let out a cold snort: "No wonder you dared to kill my Heavenly Ravine Sect disciples; you clearly have something to rely on!" In his opinion, Lu Ye must have been guided by a master. Perhaps he came from a top-tier sect; otherwise, how could a mere young lad display such prowess? If this were before, and Wu Xie had such a thought, he might not have delivered a killing blow. If he truly provoked a top-tier sect, his future days would not be easy. But now, he no longer cared about such considerations. The entire Heavenly Ravine Sect was about to stand against the Dragon Ascent Realm, and sooner or later, they would draw the encirclement and suppression of the three hegemonic saber sects. What did killing a young man of unknown origin matter then?

With a single thought, a hundred swords rose. The green sword light suddenly split into a hundred streams. They enveloped Lu Ye in a suffocating deluge. This scene terrified the cultivators below into silence. Zhuang Bufan's expression also changed, and he gasped, "It's over." In his opinion, Lu Ye could not possibly survive such a sword strike.

However, immediately after, a figure charged out from within the boundless sword light. Blood splattered. Lu Ye's clothes were tattered, with visible wounds and torn flesh. The lethality of sword cultivators was terrifying. The lethality of Ninth-Order Cloud River Realm sword cultivators was even more terrifying. But even more terrifying than that was the lethality of a veteran Ninth-Order Cloud River Realm sword cultivator like Wu Xie… Had he not activated his Defensive Spirit Mark to protect his body, he would have had absolutely no chance of blocking that sword strike.

"Such a strong physical body?" Wu Xie was somewhat surprised. Others might not have clearly seen what happened in that instant, but how could he not have seen it clearly? The strange spiritual power barrier that suddenly appeared, and the shimmering mysterious patterns—this technique could clearly only be wielded by a Battle Mark Master. That alone would have been fine, but the crucial point was that the young man's physical body was abnormally strong. After his flying sword broke through the opponent's defensive technique, it failed to inflict fatal injuries. The opponent currently looked disheveled, but in reality, they were only superficial wounds.

As his thoughts raced, Lu Ye had already lunged forward. On his shoulder, Amber roared furiously, and an invisible shockwave spread with the sound waves, directly assaulting Wu Xie's mind. Wu Xie felt as if his head had been struck by a hammer, and golden stars burst before his eyes. Although he shook it off in an instant, a glimmer of saber light had already appeared in his vision. Immediately following were points of saber light, descending like a curtain of stars. Wu Xie's pupils contracted. A great unease welled up in his heart. Only then did he belatedly realize that he had underestimated this young man.