“Die!”
The white powder covered everything, billowing out towards Ye Tian as Wang Hong roared, her face twisted. Grabbing her spear with her remaining hand, she flung it forward with an explosion of True Qi.
Wang Hong’s eyes were red with madness and her entire being was focused on this one killing strike. Even if she couldn’t defeat Ye Ba afterwards, she could still save her life and escape.
But with Ye Tian alive, she had no outs.
And handing over her treasure?
Wang Hong had never planned on following through, and even if she did, she knew that Ye Tian and Ye Ba would never spare her.
The un-toxic limestone powder flew forward, hopefully blinding Ye Tian as Wang Hong seized an opportunity with a furious thrust of her spear.
Angered and terrified, Ye Ba cried out hurriedly, warning Ye Tian.
“You lose! Your nephew is finished!” Wang Hong sneered, all of her True Qi flowing through her, the power of a Peak Stage Level Nine warrior stirring up the wind and dust around her into a storm.
Her strike contained every last drop of Qi in her body and even a Level Ten Martial Artist would’ve needed to defend themselves with all of their power; she refused to believe that an Early Stage Level Nine warrior like Ye Tian could blindly parry her spear strike.
But as time unfolded, Wang Hong’s pupils shrank as her face fell.
Her world narrowed as everything else faded away; only Ye Tian’s pair of cold and indifferent eyes remained.
Under his piercing blade of a glare, Wang Hong trembled.
“I’ve been waiting… Thundering Palm!” Ye Tian chuckled dryly. He sent out a roaring palm strike, the nine Palm Shadows shooting forward with a hurricane of wind, blowing aside the limestone powder.
“Ah…”
Wang Hong’s ploy backfired as the powder covered her face, filling her eyes and blinding her.
All her experience couldn’t prevent her panic, and her mighty spear strike skewed off course and lost its power.
And at just the right moment, Ye Tian gestured powerfully with his saber, knocking the spear aside.
Clang!
The clashing of weapons burst in a wave of sound as a powerful force passed through the spear, up the Scarlet Saber and into Ye Tian, but he easily dissipated the force by retreating a few steps with Little White.
Wang Hong suffered the full force of the rebounding power, spitting out another mouthful of blood. Blinded and weakened, she called out in terror, stabbing randomly with her spear.
“Little White, go!” Ye Tian called out a command, smiling coldly at Wang Hong’s flailing. His tiger moved forward and he cut down with his saber, shooting out another blade of Saber Intent.
Wang Hong heard his saber slicing the air and hurriedly shielded herself with her spear.
But the fine iron of the spear was thrust forward in vain, unable to resist the sharp Saber Intent.
Ye Tian rode closer, striking again, his Saber Intent growing in power as he built up momentum, cutting at Wang Hong’s neck. The ugly woman lifted her right hand and blocked again, but she could no longer save herself. Blood fountained as her arm and head flew, separated from her fallen trunk.
The bloody aftermath had Ye Ba clicking his tongue in disturbed amazement. He hadn’t thought that Ye Tian would be so ferocious against another human being, but in truth, his style fit entirely with his hunting, every blow a fatal strike.
But even for a tough brave man like Ye Ba, Wang Hong’s mutilated torso filled him with nausea and he had to tear his eyes away.
Ye Tian, however, had no qualms. He cleaned his blade and sheathed it as he nudged Little White forward to examine the body.
“Ye Tian, what are you doing? Let’s go or else we won’t be able to avoid the Wang Family’s people,” Ye Ba called out, unable to keep his silence. She was already dead; did Ye Tian want to mutilate her corpse?
“Uncle Ba, come and see if she’s hiding anything,” Ye Tian called back, waving Ye Ba over.
Ye Ba grew even more anxious, barely able to spare a nauseating glance at Wang Hong’s corpse. “You really think she had a treasure? Why can’t you search her yourself?”
But even as he complained, he moved forward, dismounting and beginning the search.
Ye Tian chuckled, joking: “Uncle Ba, relax. I won’t tell Auntie. Look, the ugly woman has a pretty good figure.”
“Piss off, you brat!” Ye Ba retorted, moving forward and setting aside the broken spear, patting down Wang Hong’s body.
But Ye Ba’s eyes fell open with surprise as he searched her, the pooling blood and mutilated torso unable to hide her magnificent twin peaks.
“She really does have a great figure, but her face…” Ye Ba murmured, blushing for a moment at Ye Tian’s words before he focused and carefully searched her robes.
After a moment, Ye Ba had set aside a pile of objects—a couple tael of silver, a Martial Skill Manual, and a fist-sized green crystal.
The green crystal immediately attracted Ye Tian’s attention.
“En?” Ye Ba grunted in surprise, immediately noticing the Spiritual Qi around him thickening and even the True Qi flowing within him growing in strength! It was immediately clear that this green crystal was a cultivation treasure.
The fist-sized green crystal ball shone brilliantly.
But of course its appearance wasn’t its true value. As soon as the green crystal was brought out into the open, without even approaching it, Ye Tian could sense the Spiritual Qi around him congealing, his pores opening, and his cultivation improving.
Even with his Yellow Martial Spirit, Ye Tian felt as if his cultivation had multiplied. He could only imagine how tremendous the crystal’s effect was on Ye Ba’s Orange Martial Spirit.
Powerful Martial Spirit Power! This thing feels like its made from pure Martial Spirit, just like the Martial Spirits I’ve devoured! Ye Tian observed in amazement, stepping forward and picking up the green crystal, his eyes gleaming brightly.
As soon as he picked up the crystal, the Martial Spirit hidden in Ye Tian’s soul opened its eyes, greedy hunger gleaming from its stare as Martial Spirit Power flowed from his hand into him, absorbed by his spirit.
Ye Tian’s Martial Spirit grew more and more powerful, the yellow light growing brighter and brighter as its color finally turned green.
“En? It’s shrinking?” Ye Ba’s eyes fell wide as the green crystal grew noticeably smaller, shrinking and shrinking.
“Uncle Ba, what is happening?” Ye Tian gasped, his face filled with astonishment as he secretly giggled to himself. Obviously, he was devouring the power in the green crystal.
Ye Ba could only watch in wide-eyed disbelief as Ye Tian concentrated on circulating his devouring ability, the fist sized crystal quickly vanishing.
“This…” Ye Ba stuttered, rubbing his eyes, examining Ye Tian’s empty palm with shock.
Ye Tian could barely hide his glee; his Yellow Martial Spirit had disappeared and in its place was a fully fledged Green Martial Spirit.
Green Martial Spirit!
Yes!
After absorbing the green crystal’s energy, his martial spirit had jumped up a grade!
“Uncle Ba, let’s return before the Wang Family people get here,” Ye Tian announced, examining the book disinterestedly, giving the Low Yellow Martial Spear Skill to Ye Ba.
“En, let’s. The ugly woman has gifted us a Black Blood Horse—we can travel much faster now!” Ye Ba replied, recovering from his shock and hurriedly mounting Wang Hong’s horse.
Ye Tian climbed back on top of Little White and the two men galloped away.
Since Ye Ba was now riding the Black Blood Horse, Ye Tian no longer made Little White hide his speed and the tiger roared, pouncing forward with its full might, easily passing Ye Ba as they rushed back home.
“Ye Tian, wait for me!” Ye Ba called out, spurring the Black Blood Horse forward as they both quickly disappeared into the mountainous forest.
Some time later, a middle-aged man on a Black Blood Horse rode over, stopping in front of Wang Hong’s corpse.
Wang Tian had caught up.
“En? Little Hong…” Wang Tian’s eyes narrowed and his face fell as he jumped down from his horse, kneeling beside Wang Hong.
“Such a miserable death? With Little Hong’s strength, even I would’ve needed time to deal with her. Did Ye Shi come out here?”
Wang Tian wondered, his face dark.
He turned back to Wang Hong’s headless corpse, a complicated look on his face as he sighed. “I’ve been an unworthy father. If we continued down this road, we would’ve fought sooner or later. This might’ve been for the best—now, you’ll rest in peace. Your father will avenge you.”
Wang Tian cradled Wang Hong in his arms, climbing atop his horse and heading back home.
Since Ye Shi had made a move, Wang Tian could do nothing even if he gave chase. He might’ve even rushed to his death if he did; after all, there were now two Level Ten experts in the Ye Family Village.
“Da da da…”
The hoofbeats of galloping horses filled the air around the Ye Family Village.
All the villagers turned to welcome Ye Tian and Ye Ba.
The news soon spread, and Ye Shi and Ye Feng both rushed out to the village gates.
“Hahaha, our heroes have returned!” Ye Shi called out, laughing.
Ye Feng was right behind him, smiling. “Ye Tian, how was the trip?”
Ye Meng and the Martial Instruction Elder were soon by the gates as well, and together, the group of experts headed for the Village Chief’s home.
Ye Tian turned and greeted everyone as Ye Ba dismounted, whispering into Ye Shi’s ear: “Village Chief, we’ve got big news.”
“En?” Ye Shi grunted, his expression flickering. He hid his trepidation and nodded guilelessly, whispering back: “Later, when we’re alone.”
Ye Feng, Ye Meng, and the Martial Instruction Elder all picked up on the signs, growing serious. If their vice-captain was warning them of something big, then something truly worrying must be brewing.
Otherwise, Ye Ba would never have ruined their homecoming good spirits.