Chapter 69: Rotating Shifts

Chapter 69: Rotation and Ruin

*Puff!*

Once more, a spray of fresh blood erupted, the disciple recoiling violently from the impact. Like a broken sack, he was flung from the martial platform, crashing into the ground below and gouging a deep pit.

"This... he's already defeated?"

"That was far too... too fast!"

The disciples watching from below the platform were clearly caught off guard. They had envisioned grand displays of profound arts and secret techniques, but none had materialized. More accurately, there had been no opportunity for them to even be unleashed before Ye Chen swiftly dispatched two core disciples of Human Yang Peak.

"Ye Chen, you truly deserve to die!" another disciple from Human Yang Peak roared, rushing onto the platform.

"Yellow Mountain Seal!" This disciple was more astute, recognizing the futility of close combat against Ye Chen. He launched a powerful technique from the outset.

"I’ve even slain old men of the True Yang Realm, and you, a mere whelp, think you can intimidate me?" Ye Chen’s aura was overbearing. He didn't retreat; instead, he advanced. His left hand, wreathed in Thunderclap Palm energy, shattered the Yellow Mountain Seal, while his right hand, delivering a Tremor Fist, sent the disciple reeling back.

"Bind Body Vine Art!" As he retreated, the disciple's hands rapidly formed seals. Immediately, numerous vines erupted from the martial platform, snaking towards Ye Chen like sentient serpents. This disciple was clearly a wood-attribute cultivator, capable of unleashing such a technique.

*Zheng!*

Ye Chen, with a flick of his wrist, drew his Crimson Sky Sword. He executed the Swift Shadow Mirage profound steps, his sword flashing to sever the encroaching vines. In two or three steps, he closed the distance to the disciple and brought his sword down with overwhelming force.

"Earth Escape!" Seeing the imminent danger, the disciple vanished underground with a *whoosh*.

"Get out!" With a stern shout, Ye Chen unleashed his Tremor Fist upon the martial platform.

*Boom!*

The platform shuddered violently, and the disciple who had just burrowed underground was flung out by the shockwave. Ye Chen's speed was incredible, like the wind itself. Before the disciple could even land, Ye Chen had already seized his leg.

What followed was Ye Chen's signature move, one he had honed to perfection.

*Boom!*

Accompanied by a resounding crash, the disciple whose leg Ye Chen held was slammed repeatedly into the ground. Like those who had suffered the same fate before him, he was battered so thoroughly that his insides felt on the verge of erupting.

"Again... another one crippled," many onlookers sighed from below the platform, seemingly growing accustomed to Ye Chen's brutal methods.

*Zheng!*

*Zheng!*

As two streaks of sword light sliced onto the platform, a disciple from Earth Yang Peak entered the fray.

*Pound!*

*Pound!*

Ye Chen's sword strikes were lightning-fast, shattering the two sword lights. He then retreated rapidly, for the incoming disciple had exhaled a cloud of smoke that billowed across the platform, obscuring the view of those watching.

*Pound!*

*Clang!*

*Buzz!*

Only the sounds of furious combat echoed from the smoke-shrouded platform, a clear indication that Ye Chen and the disciple were locked in a fierce struggle.

"This is Illusion Smoke Mist. I wonder if Ye Chen can break through it."

"I’ve heard that Illusion Smoke Mist can cause significant trouble for many cultivators, even those with decent cultivation."

"Is that true?"

*Boom!*

A loud explosion from the platform silenced the murmuring crowd below. A figure, covered in blood, was sent flying backward. By the time they landed, they had already lost consciousness.

"Enough, there's no need to look. He's been smashed half-dead by Ye Chen again."

Soon, the Illusion Smoke Mist dispersed, revealing Ye Chen's figure on the platform.

"He's injured," Bear Two exclaimed, his eyes immediately spotting a bloodied gash on Ye Chen's back and a sword scar on his shoulder.

"Wear him down!" The disciples of Earth Yang Peak stirred, seemingly unwilling to grant Ye Chen even a moment's respite.

The battle recommenced. This Earth Yang Peak disciple proved stronger than Ye Chen had anticipated, and more importantly, possessed multiple secret arts that made him difficult to defeat despite not winning defensively. By the time Ye Chen had battered him half-dead, Ye Chen had sustained numerous new wounds.

"Kill!" A core disciple from Human Yang Peak surged forward, unleashing a powerful attack from the outset. Subsequently, a continuous stream of core disciples from both Human Yang Peak and Earth Yang Peak rushed onto the martial platform. Each of them fought with ruthless intent, leaving no quarter, their attacks consisting of devastating killing moves. And the later the fighters, the stronger they were, their array of secret arts seemingly inexhaustible.

Though Ye Chen possessed the strength to challenge opponents in higher realms, he could not withstand such a relentless rotation of powerful foes. With each core disciple he defeated, new bloody marks appeared on his body, his daoist robe now stained crimson.

"If he keeps fighting like this, he'll be worn down and killed sooner or later," Bear Two clenched his small fists, gritting his teeth.

"War!"

Throughout the arena, Ye Chen's defiant roar echoed. His vitality seemed boundless, like an immortal little titan, incredibly tenacious. He had already crippled several core disciples, yet his spirit remained unyielding.

*Ah!*

*Ah!*

Compared to Ye Chen, the expressions of the Earth Yang Peak and Human Yang Peak disciples were far more grim. They were all favored disciples of their respective peaks, carrying high hopes. Each was outstanding, each possessed a cultivation that surpassed Ye Chen’s, yet they were being beaten by a mere Qi Condensation Realm cultivator until they were searching for their teeth on the ground.

News of the battle situation had already reached Human Yang Peak and Earth Yang Peak.

"Waste! All of them are wastes!" Ge Hong was enraged. These were the core disciples he had personally trained, yet they were being defeated by a single Qi Condensation Realm cultivator. How could he not be furious?

True Man Qing Yang was in no better state. Upon hearing the disciples’ report, he too erupted in thunderous anger. Ye Chen’s strength far exceeded his expectations, and he began to doubt the wisdom of sending his core disciples into the fray prematurely.

In contrast to Ge Hong and True Man Qing Yang, the expression of Old Daoist Zhong from Heaven Yang Peak was rather peculiar. He sat beneath a crooked-neck tree on Heaven Yang Peak, hands clasped, muttering and scolding incessantly. "This old man has cultivated the Dao for a hundred years, and I am truly blind! A Qi Condensation Realm cultivator, ah! What incredible talent this is, ah!"

It had to be said, he was the most insightful of the three. Although his disciples had their own entanglements with Ye Chen, he had taught them with a clear mind. At least he did not engage in petty schemes, unlike True Man Qing Yang and Ge Hong. Looking at the situation now, his decision had been wise. If he had sent his disciples to confront Ye Chen, who knew how many would have returned standing?

"What a sin, ah!" Old Daoist Zhong covered his aged face, his heart aching.

*Boom!*

On the Wind and Cloud Platform, another disciple from Earth Yang Peak was battered by Ye Chen until he was unrecognizable.

"How many is this?" a disciple below the platform subconsciously asked.

"The fifteenth," someone replied with a sigh.

"More than half of the core disciples from Human Yang Peak and Earth Yang Peak have been crippled by Ye Chen!"

"But I don't think Ye Chen is doing too well either."

Upon hearing this, many turned their gazes towards the martial platform. There, Ye Chen was dripping with fresh blood, his wounds so numerous they were painful to behold. He staggered several times, almost collapsing onto the platform. The continuous rotation of opponents from the two peaks, despite his Dan Sea, had left him somewhat depleted of true energy.

"Kid, retreat. If you keep fighting, something will happen," Bear Two urgently called out from below the platform.

Ye Chen nodded. He knew his own condition. Continuously engaging in battle, even with his strong physique, would likely lead to his death on this platform. Moreover, he had been fighting against core disciples from the Fifth to Seventh Layers of the Human Yuan Realm. The remaining core disciples were mostly from the Eighth and Ninth Layers of the Human Yuan Realm, with two even having one foot in the True Yang Realm. Although he was confident he could still defeat a disciple from the Eighth Layer of the Human Yuan Realm, it would come at a bloody cost, one he could not afford.

With this thought in mind, he intended to turn and leave. However, from Earth Yang Peak, a disciple had already stepped forward. This disciple's face was grim. In his hand, he held a spiritual jade fan, making him appear quite refined and polite. Yet, he possessed two sharp, mean lips, and his face was even painted with the rouge and powder women would use. One might have mistaken him for a woman.

"This one is Xu Kang. This junior offers his respects." The purple-robed disciple did not immediately attack, but first announced his name, not forgetting to cup his hands in a salute towards Ye Chen.

However, perhaps no one noticed that in the instant he cupped his hands, a silver needle, no thicker than a strand of hair, was shot out. Although Ye Chen was extraordinarily vigilant, it still found its mark.

Soon, the poison carried by the silver needle rapidly spread throughout Ye Chen's body. His skin, centered around the needle's entry point, began to blacken, the speed of the spread catching him off guard.

*Puff!*

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, Ye Chen's body staggered, almost falling.

"In a Wind and Cloud Confrontation, you dare to use poison!" Ye Chen glared coldly at Xu Kang, a chilling light flashing in his eyes.

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