Chapter 71: Reversed Black and White

## Chapter 71: Inverted Black and White

"The Wind Cloud Duel relies entirely on voluntary participation," Ye Chen said, his voice light. "Today, I have no desire to fight further. Is that not permissible?"

"You have nearly crippled my junior brothers, and now you simply wish to depart, leaving a mess behind? That is a rather simplistic notion," a cold laugh echoed as a disciple in a white robe approached slowly.

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed as he swept a glance over the newcomer. From this disciple, he sensed an obscure aura, one that instilled caution within him.

"That is Jiang Hao, the first true disciple of Human Yang Peak," Xiong Er whispered, a subtle warning in his tone. A flicker of apprehension towards Jiang Hao was also evident in his small eyes.

"Ye Chen, after your victory, you intend to leave? Do you consider us nonexistent?" Another voice chimed in immediately, and a disciple in purple robes drifted over, his aura no less potent than Jiang Hao's.

"Zi Shan, the first true disciple of Earth Yang Peak," Xiong Er again transmitted his voice to Ye Chen.

"Both have one foot already in the True Yang Realm." Even Ye Chen's brows furrowed at this realization.

He inwardly admitted that even in his peak condition, facing both of them would be a formidable challenge.

Furthermore, it was not just the two of them; the true disciples of both Human Yang and Earth Yang Peaks had emerged. No matter how arrogant he was, two fists could not contend with four hands.

Unless... unless he once again summoned that demonic bloodline, allowing his combat power to surge. Only then could he suppress the multitude. However, the demonic path was the sworn enemy of the orthodox sects. Should he reveal it, he would instantly face the thunderous assault of the Heng Yue Sect's powerful figures.

"Ascend the fighting stage obediently, otherwise you shall not leave this place today," Jiang Hao sneered, his gaze fixed on Ye Chen.

"Senior Brother Jiang, are you forcing me to fight?" Ye Chen looked at Jiang Hao with a cold gaze. "The Wind Cloud Duel relies entirely on voluntary participation. Is forcing me in this manner not a disregard for the Heng Yue Sect's rules?"

"And what of it?" Zi Shan smiled playfully. "At most, we shall be sent to face the wall in reflection."

"With numbers, you bully the few. Relying on strength, you bully the weak. Do you still possess any shame?" Xiong Er glared angrily at the numerous true disciples surrounding them. "Taking turns to fight against someone in the Qi Condensation Realm? As true disciples, you are unworthy."

With that, he moved to pull Ye Chen towards the exit.

"Where do you think you're going?" Unexpectedly, a true disciple from Human Yang Peak immediately made his move, a palm striking out from behind.

Ye Chen's eyes turned icy. How could he have anticipated that a disciple of Human Yang Peak would dare to openly launch a sneak attack beneath the stage?

Events unfolded in rapid succession. He spun around abruptly, his Thunderbolt Palm colliding forcefully with the incoming strike.

Boom!

A thunderous roar echoed through the air. Ye Chen, not in his peak condition, was struck by the palm, coughing up blood as he retreated.

Zheng!

Before he could regain his balance, from his flank, a true disciple from Earth Yang Peak actually unsheathed his killing sword, its point aimed directly at Ye Chen's back.

"Despicable!" Xiong Er roared in fury, immediately swinging his spiked club to intercept the thunderous sword strike for Ye Chen.

Seeing the situation, another Earth Yang Peak disciple in the crowd made his move, a punch exploding outwards.

Ye Chen passively retaliated, once again spitting blood as he was forced to retreat.

"Die!" Behind him, a green-robed disciple from Human Yang Peak suddenly attacked, a finger thrusting through Ye Chen's back before flipping his hand and striking Ye Chen again with a palm, sending him stumbling.

Pu!

A flash of blood light erupted. Ye Chen, who had just managed to stabilize himself, was pierced through the shoulder by a sword.

"Come meet your end!" A shout rang out as the true disciples of both peaks all moved in unison, completely surrounding Ye Chen and unleashing killing moves with every strike.

This scene sent shivers down the spines of the surrounding onlookers.

Who would have imagined that the true disciples of Human Yang and Earth Yang Peaks would dare to openly attack beneath the stage, and furthermore, swarm a single intern disciple who was merely in the Qi Condensation Realm?

"This is a violation of sect rules! Are they not afraid of receiving sect punishment?"

"Exactly! Why isn't Elder Dao Jie intervening?"

"Can you still not see it? The disciples of Human Yang and Earth Yang Peaks dare to openly attack like this because they must have powerful backing, so much so that even Elder Dao Jie dare not rashly intervene. Furthermore, I heard that Elder Dao Jie is not in the sect today."

"Then, does that mean Ye Chen is certainly doomed?"

Boom!

As the discussion raged, a booming sound reverberated through the Wind Cloud Stage.

Looking over, in the direction of the chaotic melee, someone had actually used the Heavenly Thunder Curse! A group of true disciples were all blasted into a sorry state by the aftermath.

The scene was chaotic. Amidst the swirling smoke, Ye Chen's staggering, blood-drenched figure emerged.

"Come then!" Ye Chen strode forward, his handsome face now possessing a somewhat ferocious expression.

Looking at his hand, he was actually still holding four Heavenly Thunder Curse talismans. It appeared he was the one who had used the Heavenly Thunder Curse just moments ago.

Perhaps, he had been forced into this. His body half-dead, unable to resist the siege of the many true disciples, he had resorted to this, risking a violation of sect rules to use the Heavenly Thunder Curse and deter the surrounding true disciples.

"Ye Chen, you actually disregarded sect rules to use the Heavenly Thunder Curse!" Immediately, sounds of reprimand arose from all sides.

"You all dared to openly siege me beneath the Wind Cloud Stage, so why can I not use the Heavenly Thunder Curse? In any case, death is the outcome for both sides. The Yellow Springs Road will not be lacking any of you," Ye Chen said with a look of madness, sneering as he gazed at the many true disciples. He was going all out, intending to drag as many of them as possible down with him on the road to the afterlife.

"He truly is insane," the many true disciples gnashed their teeth.

"I am insane," Ye Chen licked the fresh blood from the corner of his mouth. "If you have the guts, then come! Under the Heavenly Thunder Curse, we shall all turn into dust together."

"Ye Chen!" A stern shout suddenly rang out. Outside the crowd, a group of people had already surged forward. Leading them was none other than the chief disciple of the Discipline Hall, Yin Zhi Ping.

"You have such audacity, openly using the Heavenly Thunder Curse within the sect just now," Yin Zhi Ping roared as he approached. His stance was already abundantly clear. Regardless of which side he belonged to, he was absolutely not on Ye Chen's side.

"Senior Brother Yin, you only saw me use the Heavenly Thunder Curse. Could it be that you did not see them sieging me beneath the stage?" Ye Chen sneered, glancing at Yin Zhi Ping, but the Heavenly Thunder Curse in his hand remained poised.

"That is still no reason for you to use the Heavenly Thunder Curse."

"A joke! If a knife is at your neck, will you obediently allow yourself to be slaughtered? I used the Heavenly Thunder Curse purely for self-protection."

"Since that is the case, then we shall seek the truth at the Discipline Hall," Yin Zhi Ping said coldly. Immediately, an electric light darted out from his sleeve. Upon closer inspection, it was actually a glowing rope, resembling a swimming serpent, its speed astonishing.

Perhaps Yin Zhi Ping's sudden move, coupled with the rope's strange speed, was enough to catch Ye Chen off guard. He was instantly bound securely.

Ye Chen struggled, but the mystical properties of this rope far exceeded his expectations. Not only did it possess the ability to seal his true qi, but it also bound his physical movements, leaving him unable to budge from his spot.

"Take him away!" Yin Zhi Ping shouted.

Immediately, disciples from the Discipline Hall rushed forward, coming to escort Ye Chen away.

To demonstrate fairness, Yin Zhi Ping also ordered the Discipline Hall disciples to drag the true disciples of the two peaks out of the crowd as well.

However, at the moment they left the crowd, Yin Zhi Ping and the true disciples of the two peaks exchanged a smile, as if the current scene had already been pre-planned.

Their small actions were not lost on Xiong Er.

Although he was unreliable, he was nevertheless very intelligent. This was fundamentally a conspiracy between the two peaks and the Discipline Hall. They had colluded, already in cahoots. Ye Chen, taken away today, would likely face a difficult time surviving.

"Xiong Er, take Hu Wa and the others and leave Heng Yue!" Ye Chen, being dragged away, roared hysterically.

Perhaps, he too had seen through the situation. Once he entered the Discipline Hall today, survival would be incredibly difficult. He did not want the people he cared about to continue being bullied daily after his death. All he could do was entrust Hu Wa and the others to Xiong Er.

Seeing Ye Chen being dragged away, Xiong Er gnashed his teeth in anger. He only regretted that the backing of the two peaks was too strong. Even as a member of the Xiong family, it would be incredibly difficult to preserve Ye Chen's life.

Backing?

Thinking of this matter, Xiong Er's eyes brightened.

"Comparing backing? Then this old man will find a backing for Ye Chen that none of you can afford to provoke!"

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