Chapter 733: You Dare Touch Me

Chapter 733: Chapter 734: You Dare Touch Me

‘He’s still not dead?’

Ye Xuan frowned. The moment he’d struck the killing blow, Zhan Shang had used a portion of his own blood essence, Profound essence, and soul to create a clone puppet. The puppet took the attack in his stead, while his real body seized the opportunity to escape.

It was an escape technique that Human Race Martial Artists were completely incapable of performing. Only someone from the Soul-devouring Race like Zhan Shang could likely use it, leaving Ye Xuan amazed.

“Brat, you actually managed to injure me! Damn you!”

Zhan Shang’s face was twisted in rage and frustration. He was a proud member of the Soul-devouring Race! Even though he had possessed a human body, his cultivation was still at the Tier Eight Second Layer of the Martial Sovereign realm.

Who would have thought he’d be injured by a mere Tier Seven Second Layer Martial King? The disparity was so great he couldn’t wrap his head around it.

He still vividly remembered back in Ancient Yang City when he had tried to possess Ye Xuan. He had been driven out of the boy’s body and nearly perished, ultimately forced to possess Qi Cheng of Infinite Mountain before making a hasty retreat.

After recovering for so long, he had thought he would be more than capable of killing Ye Xuan and claiming his body. He never expected that after another clash, he would still be no match for him. It was a massive blow to his pride.

“Injuring you is just the start. Today is the day you die.”

Ye Xuan paid no mind to Zhan Shang’s thoughts. His gaze turned cold as he prepared to attack again.

He knew Zhan Shang’s origins all too well. As long as he could kill him, Ye Xuan would spare no effort.

With his three abilities that countered Zhan Shang—the Sword of Judgment, the Devouring Martial Soul, and the Endless Molten Flame—he refused to believe he would let his opponent escape again.

But just as Ye Xuan was about to strike, his expression suddenly changed. The next moment…

WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH…

The heavily injured Xiaohai and Erhei, as well as the unleashed Endless Molten Flame, Zhenyuan Stone, and other treasures, were all instantly recalled by Ye Xuan. He then turned and fled.

Zhan Shang’s ferocious expression also changed abruptly. The black mist receded into his body, and with a flicker, he was about to vanish from the spot.

“I’ve finally found you two. You think you can run from me? Stay right where you are.”

A chilling voice echoed through the void, accompanied by a terrifyingly powerful fluctuation of energy.

BOOM!

Ye Xuan felt the space around him suddenly freeze. A terrifying pressure, like a great mountain, slammed down on him.

“A domain! The domain of a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor!”

A bitter smile touched the corner of Ye Xuan’s lips. His rapidly fleeing figure slowed to a crawl, as if he were a snail carrying a heavy shell.

It wasn’t just him; Zhan Shang faced the same predicament. Trapped by the astonishing spatial restriction, his body was difficult to move, pinned firmly in the void.

WHOOSH!

The next moment, the proud and domineering figure of the Blood Sword Martial Emperor materialized before the two of them.

“You two really made me work to find you.”

A smile played on the Blood Sword Martial Emperor’s lips as he gazed indifferently at Zhan Shang and Ye Xuan, a bone-chilling coldness emanating from him.

“A Human Martial Emperor.”

Zhan Shang’s eyes darkened, a trace of panic in them.

He knew full well that before he was suppressed, he wouldn’t have given a Human Martial Emperor like this a second glance. Killing one would have been as easy as crushing an ant.

But after being suppressed for ten thousand years, his power had been limited to the extreme. Although he had recovered some of it, he had at most reached the level of a human Tier Eight Third Layer Martial Sovereign. It was completely unrealistic for him to contend with a Human Martial Emperor.

A Nine Heavens Martial Emperor was supreme.

This wasn’t just an empty saying. No matter how heaven-defying a Martial Sovereign was, they could only surrender helplessly when facing a Martial Emperor.

Ye Xuan obviously understood this as well. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach as his mind raced, searching for a way to escape.

At first, he had wondered how the Blood Sword Martial Emperor had found him. But when he saw the small, blood-colored rat in front of the emperor, he gave a helpless, bitter smile. “So it was a Spirit-Seeking Blood Rat…”

The Spirit-Seeking Blood Rat was extremely sensitive to Heaven and Earth Profound Qi, even more so than an ordinary Nine Heavens Martial Emperor. As long as a Martial Artist had passed by within the last few hours, it could sense the changes in Profound Qi.

“Oh? You’re quite knowledgeable, boy, to recognize my Spirit-Seeking Blood Rat. You must be that Tier Seven Martial King who obtained the Earth Fire. You really made me work to find you.”

The Blood Sword Martial Emperor swept a cold glance over Ye Xuan. After speaking, he closed his eyes slightly to sense the aura in the passage. He then snapped them open, his gaze burning with fervor. “What dense Fire Element power! Is this the power of the Earth Fire? Tsk tsk, even I can feel a slight tremor in my heart. The Earth Fire truly lives up to its name.”

The Blood Sword Martial Emperor had clearly mistaken the aura of the Endless Molten Flame in the passage for the aura of the Earth Fire Ye Xuan had obtained.

A hint of suspicion then appeared on his face. He murmured, “Strange. Why is the Heaven and Earth Profound Qi here in such turmoil? And there’s a gloomy, cold aura… Were you two just fighting?”

“Forget it. Why bother with the details.” The Blood Sword Martial Emperor shook his head again, his gaze finally settling back on Ye Xuan. He said coldly, “Boy, hand over the Earth Fire and your Storage Ring. And you,” he gestured to Zhan Shang, “you hand over your Storage Ring too. If I’m in a good mood, I might just spare your lives.”

The Blood Sword Martial Emperor looked down on Ye Xuan and Zhan Shang, his expression full of contempt.

Hearing this, a flicker of rage appeared in the depths of Zhan Shang’s eyes. He was a venerable member of the Soul-devouring Race! When had a mere Human Race Martial Emperor ever shown him such disrespect?

But in a situation where he was outmatched, he could only suppress his anger and turn to look at Ye Xuan instead.

He knew Ye Xuan’s personality very well; this was someone who was definitely even more unyielding than he was.

At that moment, Ye Xuan’s mind was racing like lightning.

He knew very well that there was no escaping a Martial Emperor. A Martial Emperor’s domain was different from a Martial Sovereign’s Domain Realm barrier. With his cultivation, he had no hope of breaking free, let alone shaking off his pursuer.

To get away, he would have to find another way.

His eyes shifted slightly, and an idea quickly formed in Ye Xuan’s mind.

“You want both of us to hand over our Storage Rings? Surely you’re joking. You’re just a Loose Cultivator Martial Emperor. Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you act so presumptuously before me?”

Faced with the Blood Sword Martial Emperor’s threat, Ye Xuan suddenly let out a cold laugh. His tone was haughty and aloof, his posture superior. Not only did he show no fear, but his expression was filled with disdain.

‘Is this kid trying to get himself killed?’ Zhan Shang was startled. He never thought Ye Xuan would dare to be so audacious in the face of a Human Martial Emperor. ‘This guy really has a death wish.’

As expected, the Blood Sword Martial Emperor flew into a rage upon hearing Ye Xuan’s words. BOOM! A terrifying pressure descended, slamming down on Ye Xuan as a cold glint flickered in the emperor’s eyes.

“Boy, calling yourself ‘this young master’ in front of me, the Blood Sword Martial Emperor? I see you’ve grown tired of living. Very well. Since you want to die, then I will grant your wish.”

Killing intent radiated from the Blood Sword Martial Emperor. With a thunderous sound, he struck out with his palm. A massive hand of Profound energy appeared between heaven and earth, reaching out to grab Ye Xuan.

The hand was enormous and solid, giving off a sense of invincibility.

As the hand was about to crush him, Ye Xuan remained completely unfazed. The disdain on his face deepened. He looked at the Blood Sword Martial Emperor as if he were already a dead man and said coldly, “You dare touch me? I am the Young Lord of Infinite Mountain. If you so much as harm a single hair on my head, you will be making an enemy of Infinite Mountain. You’d better think this through. Offend my Infinite Mountain, and it won’t matter if you’re a regional powerhouse or a heaven-defying Loose Cultivator—you will surely die. From the highest heavens to the deepest earth, no one will be able to save you.”

Ye Xuan’s voice was icy, filled with boundless fury.

“You’re the Young Lord of Infinite Mountain?”

The hand the Blood Sword Martial Emperor had sent out instantly froze in front of Ye Xuan. A solemn expression appeared on his face.

It had to be said, the title of “Young Lord of Infinite Mountain” had indeed intimidated the Blood Sword Martial Emperor.

He, the Blood Sword Martial Emperor, was a Nine Heavens Martial Emperor, true, but he was at the most basic level. And as someone who came from the ranks of Loose Cultivators, he had no major power to back him.

But what was Infinite Mountain? It was one of the most famous first-rate powers on the Celestial Profound Continent, and it held a great reputation in the Profound Domain as well.

If this young man before him really was the Young Lord of Infinite Mountain, and he killed him, it was very possible that, just as the boy had said, no one in heaven or on earth could save him.

However, it would be ridiculous if he let himself be scared off by a few words from Ye Xuan.

The Blood Sword Martial Emperor narrowed his eyes and said, “I have been in the Profound Domain for a long time, and I have never heard of Infinite Mountain having a ‘Young Lord.’ Who do you think you’re fooling, boy?”

Infinite Mountain was a first-rate power on the continent with a clear hierarchy and numerous positions.

The Blood Sword Martial Emperor had heard that the lowest rank in Infinite Mountain was Outer Sect Disciple, followed by Inner Sect Disciple. Above them were Core Disciples, and above them were Seed Disciples. This was the ranking for genius disciples.

Beyond that, there were management positions like Deacons, Elders, and Grand Elders, but he, the Blood Sword Martial Emperor, had never heard of any “Young Lord.”

“That just shows how ignorant you are.”

Ye Xuan rejoiced internally. He knew the title he had thrown out had startled the Blood Sword Martial Emperor. He said coolly, “Infinite Mountain has stood on the Celestial Profound Continent for thousands of years. Its inner workings are not something a common Loose Cultivator like you could possibly know. How about this: you’ve heard that Infinite Mountain has a small number of Seed Disciples, right? These Seed Disciples all climbed their way up step by step from being Outer Sect Disciples. Every single one who becomes a Seed Disciple is a peerless prodigy of their generation in Infinite Mountain, a future pillar of the sect who receives the utmost attention.”

“But above the Seed Disciples, there is the position of Young Lord. The Young Lord’s status is far above that of a Seed Disciple. If Seed Disciples are groomed by the sect’s Grand Elders, then the Young Lord is the heir to the Mountain Lord of Infinite Mountain.”

“The Mountain Lord?” The Blood Sword Martial Emperor was shocked.

The Mountain Lord was the title of Infinite Mountain’s strongest expert. Anyone who could hold that title was a heaven-defying figure at the Martial Emperor Third Layer, possessing an incredible status even in the Profound Domain. They were absolutely the kind of expert who could make the entire Profound Domain tremble with a stomp of their foot.

“That’s right.” Ye Xuan gave a cold smile. “Now that you know my identity, do you still dare to make a move against me?”