Chapter 340: Against Hundreds with a Smile

"You are merely trying to send others ahead to scout. With the Blood Kill Stele now revealed, the dangers within are self-evident. For those who desire greater rewards... I apologize, but you are free to enter the hall; I, Zhuo, will certainly not hinder you. For those who continue to wait with me, the agreed-upon terms remain unchanged."

Zhuo Shouyun's unyielding stance left the instigators in an awkward position, making it difficult for them to back down. Two years had already been wasted. If they were to enter the Shadow Corrosion Hall now, the most easily acquired benefits would be long gone, already taken by others. Furthermore, the fact that not a single person had returned indicated a sudden shift within the hall, causing the danger to skyrocket. One of their primary reasons for remaining outside was to wait for someone to emerge, then purchase information with spirit stones to formulate their subsequent plans.

Many, including early and mid-stage Core Formation cultivators, had joined Zhuo Shouyun's group simply because they were waiting anyway and figured they might as well gain some benefits from him. With so many of them, how could they possibly fear Wang Yu alone? What a joke!

The atmosphere grew silent for a moment. Zhuo Shouyun glanced at several key individuals in the crowd, where he had prepared his backup plans. Success or failure depended on this moment. If he failed, he would distance himself from Wang Yu, seek his own opportunities, and, if encountered, immediately use the Blood Abyss Sacred Talisman to escape. Judging by Wang Yu's demonstrated combat power, he felt it wasn't yet time to make a move; retreat was the best strategy. If he succeeded, he would no longer concern himself with these trivial matters, focusing instead on finding opportunities suitable for himself. As a blood cultivator, the Blood Abyss Sacred Land was also perfectly suited for his cultivation.

As for the possibility of his opponent not showing up, he hadn't considered it. Beyond opportunities like the Blood Kill Stele and the Rosy Blood Fruit, even the Blood Infant Fruit, a spiritual treasure, would eventually emerge from the Shadow Corrosion Hall. He didn't believe his opponent wouldn't be tempted.

However, the truth was that, apart from the Rosy Blood Fruit, Wang Yu had little interest in the other opportunities. His direct confrontation with Zhuo Shouyun actually went against his true nature. He was not one for such reckless behavior, nor was attracting attention his primary intention. The contract was one reason, but another part of it was to gauge his own combat power limits—to understand his capabilities, which would greatly benefit his progress on the path of cultivation.

Returning to the main point, faced with Zhuo Shouyun's aggressive words, those present chose to de-escalate, even if it meant swallowing their pride. A little loss of face was better than gaining nothing at all.

"Young Master Yun, you jest," one female cultivator said. "How could this humble one suddenly raise the price? We will, of course, stick to what was agreed upon."

"Hahahaha, that's reasonable," another chimed in.

"I am not someone who doesn't know what's good for them," added a third.

"Then we shall follow Young Master Yun's words," a fourth concluded.

The commotion gradually subsided. Just then, Zhuo Shouyun suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming as he watched a dazzling aurora streak across the distant sky at incredible speed. "He's here!"

"Hmm?"

"He actually came."

"I didn't expect there to be someone so fearless in this world."

"Perhaps he's just confident?!"

"That's not entirely impossible."

"I'd like to see what this Wang Yu, with so many elites present, is capable of."

In the sky, the unmasked, dazzling aurora halted at the periphery. Wang Yu fixed his gaze on the cultivators blocking the entrance to the Shadow Corrosion Hall, a slight smile playing on his lips. As if under no pressure, he said to Zhuo Shouyun, "You've waited long enough."

Zhuo Shouyun took a small step back, his expression not particularly pleased. Although his opponent's arrival aligned with his expectations, he wasn't as excited as he thought he would be when it actually happened. Because... his opponent was too confident!

"Wang Yu, I admit you are highly capable. Few people can push me to this point... What's the point of serving a good-for-nothing like Zhuo Shouqing? If you can abandon the darkness and embrace the light, I will put aside past grievances and treat you as a brother."

Zhuo Shouyun spoke sincerely, but Wang Yu shook his head. "I wouldn't dare be brothers with someone like you. Don't you think it's more challenging to defeat the strong as the weak?"

"—Arrogant!"

Before Zhuo Shouyun could reply, someone else couldn't resist showing off. A burly cultivator with a broadsword strapped to his back, a formidable figure, stepped forward, pointing at Wang Yu and shouting, "You wet-behind-the-ears brat, how dare you spout nonsense in front of your elders? Why don't you go look in a mirror and see if your baby fuzz has shed yet!"

"Hahahahaha!!"

These words immediately drew laughter from the entire crowd. Those not affiliated with Zhuo Shouyun's faction discreetly moved away but kept their eyes fixed on the scene. Hearing this, they, too, burst into laughter.

Wang Yu's expression remained calm; his gaze, like that of a man looking at the dead, fixed on the broadsword-wielding strongman. Based on his aura, this person was likely a cultivator from Barbarian Ghost Peak.

"Hey, what kind of look is that? What... can't I be your grandpa?!"

From an age perspective, these people could indeed be his grandparents, or even several generations older. Perhaps having been 'a grandson' too many times when he was weak, Wang Yu's psychology had somewhat changed after gaining power. To him, any offense was always a capital crime.

*Swoosh—*

A distance of a hundred zhang was covered in an instant. Wang Yu's perfected Aurora Escape Technique allowed his speed to surpass ninety percent of Core Formation cultivators. When he advanced to the grand completion or full mastery stage, he would be even faster than early Nascent Soul cultivators. It was a top-tier escape divine ability, transforming into light to travel!

*Splish—*

Just as the broadsword-wielding strongman reacted, attempting to draw his blade, Wang Yu had already crashed into him. In an instant, blood rained down. Drizzling blood beads, shattered bones, and flesh fragments were sprayed outwards, painting an area of nine zhang in a gruesome scarlet.

Wang Yu, unstained, had his eyes lit up by a crimson glow. Extremely terrifying killing intent emanated from him, transitioning from ethereal to tangible, as if another sea of blood had materialized above the Blood Demon Sea. All living beings floated and drifted helplessly within this sea of blood. A half-bodied Asura rose from the ground, its disdainful gaze sweeping over everyone. The pressure of confronting a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood was felt by all simultaneously.

"This... how is this possible?"

"That was Ox-Ghost of Barbarian Ghost Peak, a Core Formation Layer 6 cultivator, who once single-handedly slew three rogue Core Formation cultivators... and he was annihilated in one strike!"

Honestly, the terrifying power Wang Yu displayed shocked many. Having painstakingly cultivated to their current realm, and with most of them supported by their families, they still had plenty of life to enjoy. Why would they willingly risk their lives for mere benefits? Under the threat of Wang Yu's power, the scales that weighed Zhuo Shouyun's offered terms began to tip.

Wang Yu's spiritual sense was incredibly keen; he immediately noticed the shift in atmosphere. His daring arrival wasn't purely reckless; it was partly based on his assessment that Zhuo Shouyun couldn't truly make them submit. Since it wasn't a certain death situation, why fear a confrontation?

With the death of the broadsword-wielding strongman, the sea of blood formed by Wang Yu's killing intent expanded slightly. The upper limit of his Killing Fist's power could grow through slaughter. How could he possibly pass up such an excellent opportunity? "Those families and old fogeys behind them better pay attention," he thought. "It's your own people seeking death, not me, Wang, being excessively bloodthirsty."

He muttered to himself. The next instant, hundreds of Wang Yu phantoms materialized, simultaneously launching attacks towards all targets. The cultivators who had been sitting back, letting the broadsword-wielding strongman be their guinea pig, were utterly terrified. Multicolored divine abilities and magic treasures lit up before the Shadow Corrosion Hall, yet all that could be seen were bursts of blood mist and heads being flung into the air. The terrifying Netherworld Demonic Dragon was unstoppable, the Yellow Spring Demonic Sword's sharpness was fully revealed, and auroras flashed everywhere. The quickest to die were the early-stage Core Formation cultivators who were merely spectating and trying to take advantage of Zhuo Shouyun. Their numbers weren't large, and they were closely followed by the mid-stage Core Formation cultivators. Wang Yu was like the King of Hell marking souls for death; whoever he pointed at, died!

The team of over a hundred elite Core Formation cultivators, while intimidating in appearance, were mostly dead weight—useless in a real fight. Seeing this, Zhuo Shouyun remained unperturbed. The more Wang Yu killed and the more spiritual energy he expended, the less he would have to pay later. His truly deployed forces remained unharmed. This was a confrontation between cultivators of the same sect. Life and death were determined by fate, and everyone had to be responsible for their own decisions. Moreover, with two old demons backing Wang Yu, he showed no mercy in his killing.

In less than fifteen minutes, as if slaughtering chickens and dogs, bodies rained down. Thirty to forty heads were impaled to form a mound of skulls, erected in the very center of the sea of killing intent. This high-quality slaughter fully satisfied Wang Yu's desire, expanding his sea of killing intent by half.

Those fellow disciples who had deliberately kept their distance watched in horror, filled with relief and apprehension. Fortunately, they had retreated early; if they had been caught up in this, wouldn't they have simply collapsed?

"This Wang Yu is truly terrifying. No wonder he could suppress Lu Chenzhou; they're all monsters!"

On the field, the remaining targets were becoming increasingly difficult to deal with. Wang Yu could no longer achieve instant kills, and many cultivators fled, leaving significant open space in the area. Taking a few breaths, Wang Yu took out a top-grade spiritual power pill, preparing to swallow it. From afar, Zhuo Shouyun suddenly shouted, "Now!"

A late-stage Core Formation cultivator formed hand seals and cast a spell. The spiritual pill in Wang Yu's hand rapidly turned into a pile of ash, startling him. What kind of secret technique was this? He had never seen or heard of it before...

*Boom—*

At the same time, the sea of blood suddenly exploded with a wave. Jian Nanxing leaped out from it, lunging at Wang Yu with a sword strike. Wang Yu, holding the Yellow Spring Demonic Sword reversed and close to his arm, parried the serrated golden sword. Behind him, the Asura of the sea of blood punched towards Jian Nanxing. Unexpectedly, the opponent completely ignored the impact of the killing intent on his mind, opening his mouth and spitting out a blood arrow. The blood arrow was incredibly fast, completely piercing Wang Yu's shoulder.

A strange, blood-elemental spiritual power eroded him, savagely invading his meridians, attempting to obstruct the normal flow of spiritual energy. This power, different from their last fight, made Wang Yu realize that Jian Nanxing had likely lost his self, perhaps even transformed by Zhuo Shouyun into a monster similar to a blood demon. Without a conscious mind, he wouldn't be affected by the Killing Fist. "—How ruthless!"

Attacks followed one after another, giving Wang Yu no chance to breathe. Innumerable runes vanished into the void, completely sealing off the space. From all directions, crimson chains shot forth. Wang Yu only managed to cover himself with the Fiend Dragon Armor and released his Ice Dragon Pill Flame in the form of an Ice Dragon Art, which coiled around him for protection. However, the crimson chains pierced directly through the ice dragon, quickly wrapping around Wang Yu, and the sealing runes rapidly spread. In the blink of an eye, Wang Yu transformed from a butcher into a lamb on the chopping block. The situation changed with astonishing speed, leaving everyone wide-eyed.