“Undying Divine Medicine?”
Upon hearing the name, Elder Changmei drew in a sharp breath.
Ye Qiu explained, “The Undying Divine Medicine, also known as Golden Silk Soul-Reviving Herb, can sustain life even if the primordial spirit is damaged, as long as the person still has a single breath left.”
“So powerful?” Elder Changmei’s eyes blazed with excitement. He rubbed his fists together and said, “Little brat, we have to seize this divine herb.”
Ye Qiu replied, “It isn’t ripe yet. We move when it ripens.”
Just then.
Whoosh.
Several powerful auras rapidly approached.
“Someone’s coming.”
Ye Qiu and Elder Changmei concealed themselves.
The next moment, seven figures swiftly appeared nearby. They stared at the Undying Divine Medicine atop the stone, greed burning in every pair of eyes.
Each of them carried a long sword on their back.
“It’s people from the Qingyun Sword Sect,” Elder Changmei transmitted to Ye Qiu. “Now this will be interesting.”
Once the seven Qingyun Sword Sect disciples arrived, the group from the Ancient Desolate Holy Land immediately rose to their feet and regarded them with hostile glares.
The leader of the Ancient Desolate Holy Land contingent was a youth at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. He shouted at the Qingyun group, “What do you think you’re doing?”
The Qingyun party was also led by a youth. He sneered and said, “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Chen Fan. Chen Tianming is my cousin.”
“I want this divine herb so I can present it to him.”
“I hope you will step aside.”
The Ancient Desolate youth barked, “Do you understand the meaning of first come, first served?”
“I warn you, we discovered this divine herb.”
“If you try to take it by force, do not blame us for showing no mercy.”
Chen Fan laughed. “You discovered it, that is true, but have you actually obtained it?”
The Ancient Desolate youth replied, “Only because it has not yet ripened.”
Chen Fan said, “It has not ripened, and it remains ownerless. Whoever claims it will depend on whose ability proves greater.”
The youth’s expression turned icy. “Ability, is it? Very well, let us see whether you possess it.”
“But I advise you to consider carefully.”
“You have only seven people, while we outnumber you by double.”
Chen Fan remained unfazed. “Double the number, so what? You are nothing but trash.”
At those words, fury flared in the eyes of everyone from the Ancient Desolate Holy Land.
Though they were not as exceptional as Qi Tian or Xiao Yichen, they were still regarded as geniuses within their holy land. Hearing Chen Fan’s insult, they were all enraged.
“Such arrogance.”
The youth shouted, “If your Qingyun Sword Sect is so mighty, why did you cower like turtles in your shells when several great powers provoked you?”
Chen Fan’s face darkened abruptly. “Trash like you dares call us cowards? Outrageous.”
“Let me tell you this. Once my cousin obtains the Dragon Emperor inheritance and returns, he will marry Saintess Yun Xi.”
“Then he will force the sect master to abdicate, and he will become the new master of the Qingyun Sword Sect.”
“When that happens, he will wipe out every one of your great powers.”
“You are all dead men walking. If you know what is good for you, get out of my way at once. Otherwise, I will start by exterminating you.”
Thick killing intent radiated from Chen Fan’s eyes.
Yet the Ancient Desolate group did not yield an inch.
“A handful of mere Nascent Soul cultivators dares to spout such madness. It seems the Qingyun Sword Sect has truly fallen,” the leading youth declared.
Chen Fan roared, “Good dogs do not block the path. Are you moving or not?”
At that, murderous intent flooded the faces of the Ancient Desolate disciples.
He actually called us dogs. Seeking death. Boom!
In the same instant, battle intent surged from the entire Ancient Desolate group. They said nothing more, but their actions made their stance clear.
“Not moving, are you? Good. Very good. I will obliterate you right now.”
Chen Fan’s gaze turned frigid. He raised a hand and swept it forward. “Kill!”
Immediately, the other six Qingyun Sword Sect disciples drew the long swords from their backs and charged.
The Ancient Desolate disciples refused to show weakness. They summoned their own weapons and rushed to meet them.
For a time, the air rang with ceaseless clashes.
A chaotic melee erupted. Both sides fought fiercely, blows flying back and forth.
Clang!
Chen Fan drew the long sword from his back and joined the fray.
It had to be admitted that the man had the strength to back his arrogance. His power was formidable, especially his swordsmanship, which differed greatly from anything Ye Qiu had previously witnessed.
In the past, Ye Qiu had observed that the sword techniques used by Yun Xi and other Qingyun disciples were upright and honourable, imbued with the air of true gentlemen.
Chen Fan’s swordsmanship, however, was cunning and vicious, insidious and ruthless. Every strike aimed to kill. He seemed less a swordsman and more an assassin.
In the blink of an eye, four Ancient Desolate disciples fell beneath his blade.
“This fellow is a vicious one,” Elder Changmei remarked.
Ye Qiu’s expression remained impassive. He glanced at the Undying Divine Medicine on the stone and noticed that the colour of its leaves had grown deeper.
“It is almost ripe.”
He looked back at the battlefield.
So far, the Qingyun Sword Sect had lost only one member, while the Ancient Desolate side had already lost eight or nine, most of them slain by Chen Fan.
The man’s swordsmanship was treacherous and bizarre, each strike fatal and merciless.
A little while later.
Suddenly, a rich, heart-refreshing fragrance spread through the air.
Ye Qiu quickly raised his head. On the stone, the Undying Divine Medicine now radiated intense golden light. Every leaf appeared cast from pure gold, shimmering with star-like brilliance.
The divine herb had ripened!
At that moment, both sides paused their combat and turned toward the Undying Divine Medicine.
Then they resumed their deadly struggle.
Chen Fan grew even more ferocious, his attacks sharper than ever. In mere moments, several more Ancient Desolate disciples collapsed.
Seeing the battle reach such intensity, Elder Changmei said, “Little brat, it’s time to act!”
Yet Ye Qiu remained perfectly calm. “No hurry.”
Elder Changmei urged, “While they are fighting each other, we can quietly dig up the herb. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”
Ye Qiu replied, “Wait a little longer.”
“What are you waiting for?” Elder Changmei asked.
Ye Qiu said, “An opportunity.”
“What opportunity?” Elder Changmei looked baffled.
“You will know when it arrives,” Ye Qiu smiled. “Rest assured, the divine herb will be ours in the end.”
Several minutes passed.
More and more corpses littered the ground.
The scene was utterly gruesome: brains, severed limbs, shattered torsos, spilled entrails scattered everywhere, resembling a field of carnage from the Asura realm.
Fewer and fewer combatants remained.
In the end, three survivors remained on the Qingyun Sword Sect side, while only one endured from the Ancient Desolate Holy Land.
That lone survivor was none other than the peak Nascent Soul youth who had earlier spoken with Chen Fan.
“Now it is our turn.”
With those words, Ye Qiu stepped forward.
