Ye Qiu stood proudly in mid-air, having forcefully slain both Yao Meng and Wei Wuji. His white robes fluttered without any wind, making him appear even more extraordinary and transcendent.
The disciples of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect were completely stunned by his display.
“Too powerful. He disposed of two heaven-chosen geniuses as though it were nothing. This kind of battle prowess truly deserves to be called invincible within the same realm.”
“Not just these two. Think of all the others who died by his hand: Tuoba Xiong of the Desolate Ancient Holy Land, Pei Gang of the Soul-Severing Sect, Jiang Wudao of the Yin-Yang Cult, Cao Mao, heir of the Great Qian War God family, and An Ruoxi of the Heaven-Mending Sect.”
“Worthy of the man our Saintess has chosen. Fierce. Absolutely ferocious!”
“Young Master Ye is practically a god!”
Some of the younger female disciples stared at Ye Qiu with stars in their eyes. One rather pretty disciple murmured dreamily, “So handsome. If only I could find a Dao companion this amazing…”
Her companion ruthlessly crushed the fantasy. “Stop dreaming. Are you as beautiful as the Saintess?”
…
Nestled in Ye Qiu’s arms, the little white fox secretly raised her head, glanced at his strikingly handsome face, and a hint of infatuation appeared in her emerald eyes.
“This stinking man can actually be quite charming sometimes.”
Then, assuming her usual ancient-and-wise tone, she said, “Ye Changsheng, your combat strength is acceptable.”
Ye Qiu laughed. “Yao Meng is the Saintess of the Desolate Ancient Holy Land, and Wei Wuji is a prince of the Great Wei Dynasty. Both are genuine heaven-chosen geniuses, yet I finished them off in moments. And you call that merely ‘acceptable’?”
“What, do you want me to praise you?” The little white fox huffed proudly. “Compared to this queen, you’re still far from enough.”
Ye Qiu couldn’t help smiling. “I never noticed before, but for someone so small, you certainly talk big.”
The little white fox gave an inward snort. This queen’s true age is far greater than yours, brat.
“Ye Changsheng, hurry up and figure out how to gain the golden coffin’s acknowledgement. Plenty of cultivators entered the Undying Mountain this time. Don’t let someone else snatch it away.”
“Relax. As long as I’m here, nobody can take it.” Ye Qiu was utterly confident.
Among the cultivators who had entered the Undying Mountain, the highest cultivation was only peak Cave Heaven realm, and several of those had already died by his hand. The only one who truly warranted his attention was Wu Hua.
“I’ll first obtain the golden coffin’s recognition, then settle the score with Wu Hua.”
With that thought, Ye Qiu stepped forward and instantly appeared before the golden coffin.
Blood offering had failed, so he tried other methods, yet still could not gain its acknowledgement.
“Fine. I’ll store you away for now and study you properly later.”
Ye Qiu opened his Qiankun pouch and shouted, “Store!”
The golden coffin, however, lay motionless on the ground, showing no reaction at all.
“Even the Qiankun pouch can’t hold it?” Ye Qiu was astonished.
His Qiankun pouch could contain divine artefacts like the Qiankun Cauldron and even living divine beasts such as the young qilin, yet it was powerless against this coffin.
“Just what do I have to do to earn its recognition?”
Frowning, Ye Qiu circled the coffin while pondering solutions.
“Swish!”
Suddenly, an icy killing intent pierced the air.
Pale, almost invisible silhouettes appeared behind Ye Qiu without warning. A thread of golden light flashed and stabbed towards the back of his head.
Inconceivably fast.
“Master Ye, watch out!”
The Azure Cloud disciples’ pupils contracted. That golden thread had appeared too swiftly and suddenly. Even as they shouted the warning, they knew that if they had been in Ye Qiu’s place, they would have been killed before even noticing it.
“Boom!”
At the critical moment, Ye Qiu shifted half a metre sideways and spun around with blinding speed.
“Chi!”
The golden light struck his chest. The War God armour blocked it, but the impact still churned the qi and blood within his body, nearly making him cough blood.
Only then did Ye Qiu clearly see that the golden light was actually a slender finger wrapped in radiance, sharp as a golden divine sword.
“Boom!”
Ye Qiu threw a punch straight at the finger.
Instantly, the finger withdrew. At the same time, the faint silhouette vanished like mist, leaving no trace.
Everything seemed as though it had never happened.
Ye Qiu’s expression darkened. Had he not been wearing the War God armour, that single finger would probably have gravely wounded him.
“Ye Changsheng, the move used against you just now was the Buddhist Formless Tribulation Finger,” the little white fox said.
Ye Qiu replied, “If I’m not mistaken, the Formless Tribulation Finger is a divine ability of the Great Thunderclap Temple on Mount Ling, correct?”
“How do you know that?” The little white fox was slightly surprised.
Instead of answering, Ye Qiu countered with a question. “I’m rather curious. You’re a member of the demon race, yet you know so much about Buddhist divine abilities?”
The little white fox gave a dismissive snort of disdain. “That’s nothing. This queen knows plenty of divine abilities from every sect and clan under heaven.”
“Oh? I didn’t realise I was carrying an omniscient little know-it-all!” Ye Qiu teased, not taking her boasting entirely seriously.
Then his gaze swept the surroundings.
Although the attacker had vanished quickly, Ye Qiu already knew who it was.
“Wu Hua, you’re supposedly the Buddha-son of the Great Thunderclap Temple, yet you enjoy launching sneak attacks from behind. Have you no shame?”
At these words, the Azure Cloud disciples paled.
“Could that phantom that attacked Master Ye really have been the Buddha-son Wu Hua?”
“We’re in trouble now. The Buddha-son Wu Hua is a disciple of the sacred monk of Mount Ling. His cultivation is no weaker than Master Ye’s.”
“Master Ye has met a true rival.”
“…”
Lin Daniao cursed loudly, “Attacking from behind. Despicable coward.”
Ye Qiu’s voice rang out again. “Wu Hua, since you’re already here, why keep hiding? Do you enjoy playing the shrinking turtle so much?”
Still no reply.
“You won’t come out? Fine. I’ll drag you out myself.” Ye Qiu immediately activated his Heavenly Eye.
In that instant, everything within a thousand li appeared clearly before him. Not even dust motes hidden in the air could escape his gaze.
Soon, he located Wu Hua.
Somehow, Wu Hua had used a divine ability to conceal himself in the air only thirty metres away. The fellow was cunning; he had even stopped breathing and completely suppressed his aura. Without the Heavenly Eye, Ye Qiu would never have detected him.
After spotting Wu Hua, Ye Qiu did not linger with his gaze. He swept past casually, finally letting it rest in the direction of the Azure Cloud disciples.
“Wu Hua, you crafty monk, hiding behind them. Are you planning to attack the Azure Cloud Sword Sect disciples?”
The moment he spoke, the disciples jumped in fright and spun around, weapons raised, facing an enemy they could not see.
“Ye Changsheng, that bald donkey isn’t there. He’s…” The little white fox hurriedly sent a mental transmission, but before she could finish, Ye Qiu cut her off.
“Wu Hua, I am here. You will not harm a single one of them. Prepare to die!”
With that, Ye Qiu began walking slowly towards the group of Azure Cloud disciples.
One step. Two steps. Three steps…
On the third step, he whirled around abruptly.
