Chapter 927: Time Power Targets Ye Xiaotian

Ye Xiaotian's eyes narrowed, and his expression became somewhat serious.

A dwarf?

Looking up, behind the rapidly approaching hexagonal crystal, over a dozen figures hastily followed. Their clothes were stained with dried blood, they were disheveled, and their bodies emanated a chilling killing intent, like warriors who had temporarily retreated from a battlefield to recuperate.

"Trialists..."

Ye Xiaotian immediately saw that the strongest among them had a cultivation level no higher than a Grandmaster in the Yin-Yang realm. However, this was under the condition that their cultivation suppression was lifted in the Yunlun Mountains. In the Tiansang Spirit Palace, within the same realm, most of them probably couldn't defeat the top cultivators among the thirty-three in the inner court, such as Rao Yinyin, Su Qianqian, or even the deceased Zhang Xinxiong, who had suppressed his cultivation for several years for the Royal City Trial.

Ye Xiaotian took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. Even though these people had touched a raw nerve, why bother getting angry with mere nobodies?

With a "snap," Ye Xiaotian reached out and, in a single motion, caught the rapidly approaching hexagonal crystal, which hadn't even swerved, in his palm.

"Good!" the scar-faced man leading the people hurrying from behind shouted excitedly. "Brother, you did well! Give me this Holy Power treasure, and I'll transfer 50,000 points to you."

Ye Xiaotian hovered slightly in the air, watching the group approach, unmoved.

The dozen or so people were still a bit far away. It took them a moment to draw closer. As they rode the wind, hushed whispers accompanied them: "How strange. Is this dwarf an idiot, or is he mute and can't speak?"

"No, the strangest thing is that the Holy Power treasure clearly possesses sentience. Why did it flee on its own when we pursued it, but when it reached that dwarf... it didn't escape?"

This group wasn't stupid; they all noticed that something was odd. Not just the situation, but the dwarf also seemed a bit strange.

A graceful man in white robes appeared contemplative. Soon, he patted the scar-faced leader's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Brother Leizhou, there's something off about this person. I can't discern his cultivation level; he's either no ordinary human or a monster."

How could there be an ordinary human in the Yunlun Mountains?

The scar-faced man, called Leizhou, landed before Ye Xiaotian upon hearing this, his expression solemn. He carefully scrutinized the person in front of him. He had the appearance of someone in their twenties, but his height was only that of a boy of ten-odd years, reaching only up to Leizhou's chest. For a faster developing youth, even a ten-year-old might be taller than this.

Leizhou squinted, tentatively asking, "This... Esteemed Sir, my brothers were quite offensive in their words just now. Allow me to apologize on their behalf first. May I ask, who are you?" He cupped his fists in a bow, but his gaze quickly fixed on the hexagonal crystal in Ye Xiaotian's hand.

A treasure containing holy power should possess sentience and resist being bound, yet in the hands of the person before him, it was as if it had returned to its rightful owner, showing no sign of struggle, which was extremely eerie.

Ye Xiaotian still kept his eyes lowered, only slowly floating up to align his height with the person in front of him, so he wouldn't have to look up. Then he said indifferently, "My humble name is Zhou Can."

Zhou Can? Leizhou and the others exchanged glances, shaking their heads, indicating that none of them had heard of such a person in the Yunlun Mountains. They knew Zhou Tiansan, who had been high on the points leaderboard, but Zhou Can...

Leizhou relaxed and chuckled, "Brother Zhou Can, my offer still stands. How about you return this Holy Power treasure to me, and I'll transfer 50,000 points to you?" Without waiting for the person to respond, Leizhou paused, then added: "Everyone who has made it this far in the Royal City Trial is a hero. I, Leizhou, never like making unnecessary enemies; I prefer to make friends."

"Seeing that you dare to travel alone near the Ninth Dragon Vein, you must have something to rely on. To be honest, I, Leizhou, can't discern your true strength. Since that's the case, we're strangers meeting by chance; how about we both give each other some face?"

A murmur rose from the group behind him; they seemed dissatisfied with their leader's attitude toward such an unarmed dwarf. But Leizhou simply raised a hand, silencing their chatter. As the saying goes, anyone who has survived in the Yunlun Mountains until now, besides being lucky, is capable. Leizhou didn't believe he would be so coincidental as to directly encounter someone incredibly lucky. Therefore, he subjectively believed that the person before him must have some real skills. Avoiding making enemies whenever possible was also one of the reasons why Leizhou had survived until now.

Ye Xiaotian calmly watched the dozen or so people land in front of him, beginning to covet his treasure. The resentment in his heart about being called "dwarf" was, however, erased by Leizhou's eloquent words. He subtly glanced at the empty space to his side, then after a moment's thought, Ye Xiaotian suddenly raised the hexagonal crystal in his hand and smiled, "50,000 points might not be enough."

Leizhou raised an eyebrow. Seeing the person before him had an extraordinary demeanor and remained calm, he immediately suppressed his brothers' vulgar remarks and said: "A Holy Power treasure is only worth 100,000 points. For me, Leizhou, to offer you half is already giving you, Brother Zhou Can, ample face. If you try to open your mouth wider..." His words trailed off. He shook his head slightly, saying no more, thinking that an intelligent person wouldn't need further explanation.

"We're not to be trifled with!" his brothers behind him couldn't suppress their anger, shouting, "Hey, dwarf! Don't push your luck!"

Leizhou's face darkened, and he suddenly turned his head, roaring, "All of you, shut up!"

"Oh, oh..." His brothers immediately cowered, pulling back their heads.

Ye Xiaotian watched and smiled, knowing that those behind were mere small fry, and was no longer annoyed. He simply looked at the crystal in his hand and said, "This is no ordinary Holy Power treasure."

"What do you mean, Brother Zhou Can?" Leizhou unconsciously touched the large saber at his hip, frowning.

"This is a 'Holy Source Crystal'," Ye Xiaotian stated.

Upon realizing this, the thirteen people in front collectively froze in shock.

"A Holy Source Crystal?!" Leizhou's eyes widened. His arm suddenly tensed, causing the blade of the saber at his waist to push out of its sheath, glinting sharply. The dozen or so people behind him were equally stunned.

"Impossible!"

"How could this be a 'Holy Source Crystal'? The holy power it leaks is only a tiny bit."

"The 'Holy Source Crystal' is what the Eighth Sword Immortal referred to as the 'Root of Sanctification'. Its holy power fluctuations should be much stronger. How could it be so similar in terms of holy power fluctuations to the spirit sword we found earlier..."

Before he could finish, Leizhou turned around again and sternly roared, "All of you, shut up!"

Everyone immediately fell silent, realizing they had said too much.

Ye Xiaotian found it amusing. This group wasn't simple. In such a short time, they had already found a Holy Power treasure? According to what they said, the "Holy Source Crystal" was not significantly different in terms of holy power leakage from the spirit sword they had found earlier. So, operating under the assumption that they didn't recognize a "Holy Source Crystal," they mistook it for an ordinary "Holy Power treasure"?

Realizing this, Ye Xiaotian's expression became subtle. He glanced at the empty space to his side again, then looked back and said, "A 'Holy Source Crystal' is incredibly valuable, worth 100 million points. Do you think I look like a beggar, wanting to trade it for 50,000 points?" Ye Xiaotian chuckled. His tone was incredibly gentle as he calmly stated something that would make most people furious.

Leizhou increasingly felt that the person before him was not simple. But where would he get 50 million points to give to Zhou Can? If he truly had the ability to earn 50 million points within ten days, he should now be the Dragon Lord of the Ninth Dragon Vein, instead of seeking other opportunities to earn points because of the "Treasure Hunt" mission.

"You say it's a 'Holy Source Crystal,' but what proof do you have?" Leizhou gazed at the hexagonal crystal in the other person's hand, and the greed in his eyes gradually intensified.

"Heh, ignorant junior," Ye Xiaotian shook his head and chuckled, injecting spiritual energy into his hand. A nearly transparent, profoundly mysterious holy light swept across the surroundings, seeming to purify one's mind. In just an instant, Leizhou and all his brothers behind him felt as if bathed in a spring breeze; their past confusions regarding rules and the Great Dao vanished like melting snow, and they achieved sudden enlightenment.

"Big Brother, I..."

At the very back, a black-clad man with a sword suddenly twisted his face, then closed his eyes tightly and sat down cross-legged. In just a moment, he opened his eyes. Spiritual energy surged around him, and dao principles faintly appeared.

—Signs of a surging Qi Sea!

He had broken through!

"Brother Wuguan..." Leizhou suddenly stammered, his lips beginning to tremble.

The black-clad man with the sword, named Wuguan, was incredibly excited, ecstatically exclaiming, "Big Brother, the Yin-Yang Realm! I've broken through to the Yin-Yang Realm! I took that final step!"

After this exclamation, complete silence fell over the entire area. Even the exuberant Wuguan seemed to realize something. Everyone's gaze again fell upon the hexagonal crystal in "Zhou Can's" hand, like a pack of wolves starved for ten days encountering a lamb and its tiger friend, their eyes glowing green.

The tiger was indeed a bit scary. But this tiger looked a bit malnourished. If they could take him down, that little lamb could solve their endless confusion and cure their lifelong hunger!

"Brother Zhou Can..." Leizhou's gaze could no longer move away from the "Holy Source Crystal." In his murmured words, a chilling killing intent was brewing and beginning to erupt.

"What's wrong?" Ye Xiaotian smiled, moving the "Holy Source Crystal" from his right hand to his left. "Thinking of killing to seize treasure?"

Everyone's gaze collectively followed from right to left, making the scene quite comical for a moment.

The next second, with a clang, Leizhou drew his saber, brandishing its sharp edge through the air. "Apologies, brother, but I truly don't have 50 million points to give you. This time, I owe you. In your next life, just pray you don't possess a treasure without the power to protect it, and end up in prison!"

"As for this 'Holy Source Crystal,' I, Leizhou, will take it! Brothers, kill!"

With that final shout, Leizhou and the five brothers at the front simultaneously drew their swords and charged forward. The remaining seven, led by Wuguan, who were behind, formed hand seals, launching attacks with sword techniques or spiritual skills, bringing down a suppressive force. Flashes of blades and swords, and lights of water and fire, erupted simultaneously.

This skilled coordination immediately showed Ye Xiaotian why this small team had been able to survive in the Yunlun Mountains until now.

Quite formidable... he thought to himself. But only "quite formidable" in comparison to junior Grandmasters. Ye Xiaotian had almost forgotten how many years it had been since he last experienced attacks of similar intensity. Perhaps when his hair hadn't yet turned white? Perhaps before he entered the Holy Palace? He couldn't remember.

But these people were also quite endearing, endearing enough to make him recall his past and bygone experiences. So, facing this group of pitiful creatures, who moved like slow motion in his eyes, Ye Xiaotian subtly lifted his foot and took a step forward.

With a "whoosh," his figure suddenly passed through the crowd and the elemental torrents, untouched by a speck of dust.

"Ah—"

A chorus of wails, however, rose from behind him. "Who? Who attacked me?"

"Dongwu, you dog, can't you aim better? Your flames are burning me!"

"Wuguan, what's wrong with you? Can't you control your sword intent after just breaking through? Damn it, my leg was almost severed by you!"

Those charging at the front were complaining. Those who had launched attacks from behind were dumbfounded. They clearly saw all the blades and swords strike "Zhou Can," and all the sword techniques and spiritual skills hit "Zhou Can." Yet, as if he existed in a different spacetime, all attacks passed through him like mist, causing "Zhou Can" no harm whatsoever.

"This..." After turning around, Leizhou, carrying his saber, patted out the flames on his backside. Recalling the scene just now, a chill ran down his spine. "Zhou Can's" peculiar move reminded him of a terrifying attribute—spatial attribute!

"Surely not?" At that moment, Leizhou's heart was trembling. He was well-informed, so he increasingly felt that the thought he had just had might actually be true. But if this person truly possessed the spatial attribute... By the Eighth Sword Immortal, how did they suddenly provoke such a monster? Spatial attribute users are extremely rare in the world, and every single one is a monstrous existence!

"I will only kill one person as a warning. The rest of you have ten breaths of time to disappear from my sight."

Just as Leizhou and the others were still in shocked thought, "Zhou Can," who had unknowingly moved behind them, spoke indifferently, like the grim reaper swinging his scythe, ready to harvest lives.

Leizhou suddenly turned his head. Wuguan and the others also abruptly turned around. They saw "Zhou Can" in the back, as he spoke, slowly extend two fingers and lightly pinch the air. It was as if he had grasped an invisible sheet of paper and was slowly pulling it out of thin air.

A tearing sound.

Blood splattered.

Leizhou suddenly felt the ground sinking and the world spinning. Then, as the world spun and spun, he saw his own headless corpse...

"I'm dead?"

With a "pop," Leizhou's headless body and head transformed into streaks of light, teleported out of the Yunlun Mountains by the trial jade pendant.

All the remaining people were struck silent with terror.

"Spatial attribute!"

"This guy has spatial attribute, this is the ability of 'Spatial Slice'!"

"Damn it, who exactly did we provoke? Big Brother Leizhou..."

Ye Xiaotian watched their panic, smiled faintly, raised a finger, and softly said, "Ten!"

With a "whoosh."

No one dared to resist further. Like startled birds or beasts, they immediately fled.

"Run!"

"We can't fight at all! Spatial attribute users completely overpower others. Run!"

Ye Xiaotian watched everyone scatter and flee. The smile on his lips faded, but only then did a truly serious expression appear in his eyes.

"Come out..." Looking at the sky to his side, Ye Xiaotian said calmly. He had been waiting here not for Leizhou and his group to make a move, but for the faceless man, wanting to see how long he could remain hidden.

"Clap, clap, clap!"

Applause rang out.

Ye Xiaotian suddenly found his thoughts sluggish and space frozen. The dust and debris raised by the recent battle moved slowly in the wilderness; the fleeing members of Leizhou's team found their steps heavy and difficult.

"Shhh..."

As the wind blew, the twelve fleeing individuals visibly aged, then withered, crumbling into dust in the void.

"Why be so kind as to spare the lives of these small fries who might expose your identity, letting them spread information to Rao Yaoyao?" A faint, ethereal voice resounded.

Then, light bloomed in an unnamed spot in mid-air. Subsequently, a golden-robed man, carrying a saber and a sword on his back and wearing a Yama mask, stepped out of the void. Behind him followed two large guards. With a single step, he traversed space and time.

The golden-robed masked man arrived before Ye Xiaotian and lifted his chin. "No need to thank me. I've spared the lives of all of them for you, including the one you 'kindly' killed."