Chapter 555 565: Sending You on Your Way

Wen Qingye had killed the black-robed man with a single sword strike, and everyone present was dumbfounded. For a moment, no one could process what had happened.

The black-robed man was one of the seven Venerables of Taiyi Pavilion. It was well known that aside from the last few, all seven Venerables of Taiyi Pavilion had established their own spheres of influence, possessing considerable strength and power.

They were considered the pillars of Taiyi Pavilion, yet now, one had been slain by a new disciple from the Celestial Profound Sect. This outcome was utterly beyond their expectations.

This had undoubtedly weakened Taiyi Pavilion's strength significantly. If killing Hankong had been about eliminating Taiyi Pavilion's potential and its rising stars, then killing this black-robed man was a direct blow to the sect's overall power.

"Venerable Zhuo is dead?" Luu Jing muttered to himself. "It's over. How are we going to explain this to the Upper Sect?"

Seeing this, Ouyang snapped back to his senses and roared at the members of the Heaven-Burying Sect, "Heaven-Burying Sect, Siyun Mansion, Asura Sect, Inference Void Sect! Whoever kills Wen Qingye and brings me his head will be rewarded with one Spirit-Grade Pill!"

A Spirit-Grade Pill!?

Hearing Ouyang's words, everyone's faces filled with shock, then ecstatic joy. A single Spirit-Grade Pill could absolutely raise their cultivation by an entire level.

One by one, they turned to look at Wen Qingye, their eyes filled with greed, as if the Spirit-Grade Pill itself were beckoning to them.

"I'll kill him!"

A Life and Death Realm Third Layer Heaven expert roared and shot forward. The Sword Aura from his weapon flew like a bolt of white silk, aimed straight for Wen Qingye's throat.

A smirk played on Wen Qingye's lips. 'My cultivation is no longer at the Destruction Realm Eighth Layer Heaven. It's the Life and Death Realm Third Layer Heaven now—a world of difference.'

He lifted his arm, and his One Thought Sword carved a near-perfect arc as it slashed forward.

The Sword Aura was like traceless water, like smoke in the wind.

PFFT!

Blood gushed from the Life and Death Realm Third Layer Heaven expert's neck, spraying dozens of feet into the air before raining down below.

A Life and Death Realm Third Layer Heaven expert, killed in a single strike!

Everyone fell silent.

"Th-that... Tang Yuan is dead?"

"Killed in one move... That's terrifying. A Life and Death Realm Third Layer Heaven expert was actually killed in one move."

"What kind of Secret Technique did Wen Qingye use to increase his power to such a degree so suddenly?"

Everyone was stunned into silence, their eyes filled with disbelief. Even those who had been eager to try their luck took a few steps back.

Ghost Child forced Hua Lie back with a single move and snorted coldly. "Hmph. That kid is simply courting death."

An ordinary expert might not see what was happening, but how could Ghost Child miss it? Wen Qingye's Lifespan was currently draining at an astonishing rate—a speed that even he found secretly shocking.

Ghost Child shouted to the crowd, "Just hold him off! He'll be dead in less than forty-five minutes!"

Hearing Ghost Child, the members of the Heaven-Burying Sect's faction were all shaken and exchanged glances.

"Let's attack together and stall Wen Qingye!"

"Right, if we all attack together, what can he do?"

...

With a collective roar, thirteen experts from the various factions swarmed forward. Most of them were at the Life and Death Realm Second or Third Layer Heaven. They formed a semicircle, a veritable flood that completely cut off all of Wen Qingye's escape routes.

Wen Qingye took a small step back, his eyes darkening. But instead of retreating further, he gripped his sword and charged forward to meet the thirteen experts.

BOOM!

Sword Auras danced, Primordial Qi exploded.

The fourteen of them formed a small battlefield, and the piercing roars of their battle resounded, seeming to scatter the very clouds in the sky.

However, some of the more perceptive onlookers noticed subtle changes in Wen Qingye's face, hair, and beard—the kind of mature changes that come with the passage of time.

The aftereffects of the Spirit Blood Sacrifice were beginning to show. Wen Qingye's Lifespan was being consumed at a rapid pace.

Tangg Guanzhong glanced at Wen Qingye out of the corner of his eye, his brow furrowing slightly. He then looked up at Ouyang and said slowly, "You set this trap this time just to kill me, didn't you?"

Ouyang shook his head with a cold smile. "Not just you. Hua Lie and Situ Yun too, along with the rising stars of your three peaks. After today, your Celestial Profound Sect will be gravely weakened. Our previous attacks on those kingdoms were merely bait to lure you all to this remote northwestern region."

Eight swords circled around Zhang Bubai as he slowly drew his ninth. He sneered, "Tangg Guanzhong, I admit your talent is outstanding and that you've propped up the most remarkable generation of the Celestial Profound Sect. But right now, you still fall a little short."

Tangg Guanzhong's expression darkened. "To think you know the situation of my Celestial Profound Sect like the back of your hand. I didn't expect that. This was my mistake."

"Enough with the nonsense. Killing this man would be like severing an arm from the Celestial Profound Sect. Let's attack together."

As Zhang Bubai finished speaking, his nine swords took flight, circling around him. Clusters of sharp Sword Auras shot out, flickering in and out of sight. They exuded a hint of razor-sharp intent, causing some of the surrounding experts to break out in a cold sweat.

"Fall back! The Invincible Nine Swords is coming!"

"Such a sharp Sword Dao aura! I heard Zhang Bubai has been cultivating his Sword Dao arduously on Cloud Gazing Mountain, hoping to comprehend Heavenly Dao Swordsmanship. Don't tell me he's actually broken through to the Heavenly Dao Realm?"

Ouyang shouted, "Good! I'll hold the line. We must kill him today!"

One of the swords began to glow with an incomparably brilliant light, and the nine blades seemed to start stacking on top of each other, forming a strange connection between them.

One sword merged, two swords merged...

A grave look appeared in Tangg Guanzhong's eyes.

「At that exact moment.」

Everyone seemed to feel a sudden chill and subconsciously looked toward the source of the coldness.

Wen Qingye slowly tightened his grip on his sword. There wasn't a single uninjured spot on his body; he was covered in sword and saber wounds. These people were all cunning old foxes, their hit-and-run tactics and coordinated attacks remarkably exquisite.

But they hadn't gotten off easy either; many of them were also wounded.

DRIP! DRIP!

Blood dripped onto the ground. Wen Qingye's lips were chapped and cracked, but the divine light in his eyes remained.

An expert from the Inference Void Sect shouted, "Wen Qingye, surrender! You don't have much Lifespan left!"

By now, stubble had appeared on Wen Qingye's upper lip, a clear change from just moments before. Everyone now obviously understood the reason for his overwhelming power.

He was using a Secret Skill that burned his Lifespan.

Wen Qingye gave a cold smile, ignoring the Inference Void Sect expert's words. He took a deep breath, looked at the One Thought Sword in his hand, and said softly, "With this next strike, I will send you all on your way!"