Chapter 972: Taking Someone

Zhou Ze's words were polite, but his attitude was unyielding. He clearly understood that no matter what, he couldn't let Lu Ye take Zhou Wang today. If Zhou Wang fell into Lu Ye's hands, he might survive today, but he would surely die later!

In the center of the encirclement by numerous Zhou family cultivators, Lu Ye and Xiao Xinghe's blade energies crisscrossed, yet they couldn't break through the Zhou family's blockade. The situation became tense.

Although both possessed the ability to fight beyond their cultivation level, at this moment, two fists couldn't contend with many hands. The number of Zhou family cultivators was simply too great; if they truly intended to corner them, Lu Ye and Xiao Xinghe's methods would be insufficient to break free.

Fortunately, these cultivators knew their limits and dared not strike with full force or even initiate attacks. They merely defended passively.

Lu Ye's offensive was incredibly sharp, and with his current fifth-level True Lake Realm cultivation, the Zhou family cultivators fighting him were caught off guard, resulting in constant injuries and cries of alarm. He remained completely unruffled.

Simply as a disciple of the Azureblood Sect, he couldn't have caused such a commotion or possessed the ability to act this way. After all, the Zhou family was a third-rank cultivation family, not somewhere just anyone could barge into.

However, he was now a member of the Law Enforcement Hall of the Judicial Department, backed by the entire Judicial Department of Bingzhou Guard. This was his confidence in forcibly entering the Zhou family's compound today.

Xiao Xinghe was unaware of Lu Ye's true intentions, but their recent time together had taught him that his junior brother never made pointless efforts and always acted after careful planning. So, even though the situation was temporarily unfavorable, Xiao Xinghe remained calm.

He vaguely felt that his junior brother surely had a backup plan.

Moreover, even if his junior brother didn't have a backup plan today, at worst, they would leave the Zhou family covered in dust, but their lives would be in no danger.

Lu Ye did indeed have a backup plan. While contending with the numerous Zhou family cultivators, he had been intently sensing the movements within the courtyard.

He dared not use his divine sense, as a powerful cultivator from the True Lake Realm, possibly Lin Yinxian, must be present in the Zhou family. Rashly using divine sense would likely be detected by her.

Until a certain moment, from within the encirclement, Lu Ye suddenly turned his head to look in one direction. Through the layers of obstructing figures, he vaguely saw someone dart out from the courtyard, rapidly fleeing outwards.

The target, named Lu Ye, who was hiding in the courtyard, evidently couldn't sit still any longer, or perhaps had received instructions to change his location.

The Tracking Disk had just been given by Zhou Ze to Zhou Wang. As long as the target Lu Ye moved, and Lu Ye (the protagonist) didn't have the Tracking Disk, it would be difficult to find him again.

The target Lu Ye had a good plan, but little did he know that Lu Ye (the protagonist) was waiting for precisely this moment.

There were several True Lake Realm auras in the courtyard. Lu Ye (the protagonist) had never seen the target Lu Ye before. If the target hadn't run out on his own, Lu Ye (the protagonist) wouldn't have known who he was, and even if he rushed into the courtyard, he might not have succeeded.

His self-exposure saved Lu Ye (the protagonist) a great deal of trouble.

As Lu Ye (the protagonist) wielded his long blade, his aura erupted with a roar.

In a trance, the surrounding Zhou family cultivators vaguely had the illusion of a crescent moon hanging high behind Lu Ye. Those with keen minds immediately changed their expressions: "Blade Intent!"

There was no high-hanging crescent moon at all; it was merely the effect of pure blade intent on his presence.

A deeply refined aura emanated from Lu Ye. Even Xiao Xinghe, who fought alongside him, felt his skin tighten. Although he had spent some time with Lu Ye and seen him in action, he had never witnessed the might of Lu Ye's full-power strike. In that instant, Lu Ye felt completely unfamiliar to him, incredibly aggressive. This aggression targeted not just the aura, but also the mind.

It made everyone facing him feel the same deterrent as a rabbit encountering a tiger.

This aggression and deterrence had a tremendous impact during intense combat.

As the long blade slashed down, beneath the high-hanging crescent moon, streams of moonlight cascaded vertically like water.

Each stream of moonlight was a bolt of blade light, swift as silk.

Overlord Blade, Seventh Form: Arc Moon!

"Careful!" someone quick-witted exclaimed, hastily defending himself.

Sizzling sounds filled the air as numerous Zhou family cultivators surrounding Lu Ye were sent sprawling, blood splattering everywhere.

They dared not strike Lu Ye and Xiao Xinghe with heavy force, but Lu Ye acted without any reservations.

The earlier declaration, "Those who dare obstruct official duties shall be killed without mercy," was not just an empty threat. If not for the overwhelming number of Zhou family cultivators taking turns to block his and Xiao Xinghe's attacks, there would likely be casualties everywhere by now.

If the first form of Overlord Blade, 'Myriad Stars,' was suited for one-on-one combat, then the seventh form, 'Arc Moon,' was perfect for situations where one faced many.

Under 'Arc Moon,' the tight formation finally showed a flaw. Although the Zhou family cultivators rushed to mend it at their fastest speed, Lu Ye was already enveloped in fiery red spiritual energy. This energy twisted and surged around him, forming countless intertwined Yin-Yang Five Element symbols.

He looked as if he was encased within a burning egg.

As the eggshell shattered, a cry echoed through Ding Tian City. A gigantic fiery phoenix soared, flapping its wings, and before the group of Zhou family cultivators could even react, it forcefully burst out of the encirclement, lunging directly towards the direction where the target Lu Ye was fleeing.

Sensing the movement behind him, the target Lu Ye turned to look back, and his eyes met the magnificent, blazing figure of a fiery phoenix. He paled in shock, hastily conjuring his artifact to strike at the phoenix.

However, the fiery phoenix did not dodge. It allowed the artifacts to strike its body, its flames swirling, its aura becoming even more fierce.

The distance between them rapidly closed.

In the blink of an eye, the fiery phoenix's phantom submerged the target Lu Ye's location, and a shrill cry of agony rang out.

The numerous Zhou family cultivators, who had just come to their senses, all froze in place, staring dumbfounded at the scene.

The burning flames suddenly dispersed, revealing two figures. At this moment, Lu Ye (the protagonist) held the target Lu Ye by the arm with one hand, his blade resting against the target Lu Ye's neck with the other, his gaze fixed intently on a certain spot within the Zhou family estate.

Just as he was about to succeed, he felt a faint aura from Lin Yinxian. She seemed to be about to make a move, but Lu Ye (the protagonist) acted too quickly, causing her to suppress her original intention. Lin Yinxian's powerful aura flickered and vanished.

After quietly observing that direction for a moment, Lu Ye (the protagonist) withdrew his gaze.

Looking at the figure he had captured, who was somewhat disfigured by the burns, he asked gravely, "What's your name?"

The fiery phoenix's power was immense. Lu Ye (the protagonist), at the fifth level of the True Lake Realm, had captured someone who was at the seventh level of the True Lake Realm. So, although Lu Ye quickly dispersed the fiery phoenix, the target was still severely burned. His clothes were scorched and stuck to his raw, bleeding skin, causing him to twitch in pain.

He gritted his teeth and refused to answer, merely looking with pleading eyes at the spot Lu Ye (the protagonist) had just been staring at, clearly hoping for his own Lin Yinxian to come rescue him.

"No one can save you," Lu Ye (the protagonist) said calmly.

That Lin Yinxian hadn't been able to make a move just now, and certainly wouldn't now.

She likely valued the target Lu Ye greatly; otherwise, she wouldn't have hidden him despite knowing he committed a crime. But now that the person was in Lu Ye's (the protagonist's) hands, if she were to forcefully interfere, even if she silenced Lu Ye (the protagonist) and Xiao Xinghe here, the Judicial Department would not let it go.

The Zhou family was indeed a third-rank force, but before the entire Judicial Department, they were still inferior.

Holding a high position, she had to consider not just temporary honor or disgrace, or the life of one individual, but the future of the entire family.

"This isn't Lu Ye! Daoist Niu, you've got the wrong person!" Zhou Wang shouted, his face contorted in frustration.

To his utter surprise, so many people from the Zhou family had failed to stop Lu Ye.

It was truly a huge miscalculation. Who could have imagined that a cultivator at the True Lake Realm (referring to Lu Ye, the protagonist) could display such formidable strength, let alone such earth-shattering explosive power?

Neither 'Arc Moon' nor the fiery phoenix were techniques that ordinary cultivators could employ.

Of course, the main reason was their apprehension; they didn't dare truly harm Lu Ye (the protagonist) and Xiao Xinghe, which gave Lu Ye (the protagonist) an opportunity.

If that had been a life-or-death battle, Lu Ye (the protagonist) might have been able to protect himself, but Xiao Xinghe would have surely died on the spot.

"Whether I've got the wrong person or not, we'll know after an interrogation at the Judicial Department!" Lu Ye (the protagonist) naturally ignored him. He didn't recognize the target Lu Ye, but there were others who did. The nightingale (informant/spy) here was still with Xiao Xinghe. He called out to Xiao Xinghe, "Third Senior Brother, let's go!"

Xiao Xinghe silently nodded and soared into the sky.

"Who dares to leave?!" Zhou Wang roared, leading a group of Zhou family cultivators to surround them again.

Lu Ye (the protagonist) ignored him, merely looking towards Lin Yinxian's cultivation retreat in the Zhou family estate and calmly stating, "Your Excellency should be aware of the Judicial Department's operational style. Now that I have taken the person and intend to leave, if the Zhou family insists on obstructing, I can also choose not to take the person, but to take his life instead! It amounts to the same!"

As he spoke, his Pan Mountain Blade twitched slightly. The target Lu Ye immediately grunted, and blood welled up from his neck.

Suddenly, a divine sense surged. Others couldn't detect it, but Lu Ye (the protagonist) sensed it clearly.

A moment later, Zhou Wang dropped his previous aggressive stance, cupping his fists and saying, "Daoist Niu, you've misunderstood. The Zhou family isn't deliberately obstructing. It's just that he... his injuries are quite severe. Would you permit our Zhou family's medical cultivators to treat his wounds first?"

This was clearly a secret instruction from Lin Yinxian. She understood that at this stage, the person was certainly not coming back, and continuing the commotion would bring no benefit to the Zhou family.

Lu Ye (the protagonist) glanced at the target Lu Ye and scoffed, "Such minor injuries won't kill anyone!"

The target Lu Ye's injuries looked gruesome, but he was a True Lake Realm cultivator after all; how could he die from something like that?

Changing his tone, he continued, "However, since the elder has spoken, I'll give that much respect. Eighty li west of the city, the Zhou family can send medical cultivators later. I'll only wait for the time it takes an incense stick to burn!" As he finished speaking, he turned and left! Xiao Xinghe followed closely.

Just as they flew out of the Zhou family's estate, they saw a refined figure swiftly approaching from afar, his aura fierce.

It was Xiao Xinghe.

Lu Ye (the protagonist) was greatly surprised: "Didn't I tell you to wait over there? Why did you run over here?"

Xiao Xinghe replied, "I noticed movement over here and guessed you were fighting, so I thought I'd come to support... Is it over?"

"It's over."

"Did we win?" Xiao Xinghe glanced at the target Lu Ye, whom Lu Ye (the protagonist) was holding, and exclaimed in admiration, "Captain, you're amazing."