268: Chapter 268 A Child's Honest Words Lead to Trouble

Ling Jianming's face darkened. "Refusing a polite offer! Ah Fu, teach this brat some rules!"

The True Martial Eighth Stage guard, "Ah Fu," gave a shout of acknowledgment. His large, palm-like hand, carrying a gust of wind, grabbed directly for Ye Tian's shoulder, intending to throw him out.

Ye Tian's eyes turned cold as he lowered his shoulder slightly. He integrated the "Deflect" technique from the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art into his movement while simultaneously stepping out with the Taixu Star-Shift Steps, sliding half a step away like a swimming fish.

Ah Fu's grab missed, and he was momentarily stunned. He clearly hadn't expected this True Martial First Layer brat's movement to be so slippery.

Meanwhile, Ye Tian flicked a finger hidden in his sleeve, sending a wisp of True Yuan to strike a certain acupoint on Ah Fu's wrist.

The force wasn't heavy, but it disrupted the flow of his Qi and blood.

Ah Fu felt a numbness in his wrist, and the True Yuan circulation in his entire arm instantly became sluggish, causing his Move to involuntarily slow down.

Ye Tian took this opportunity to place three hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones in front of the elderly stall owner while simultaneously picking up the star fragment.

"Payment cleared, goods received."

He spoke indifferently, not even looking at Ling Jianming or Ah Fu as he turned to leave.

His movements were as smooth as flowing water, so fast that the surrounding people didn't fully react.

Ling Jianming was first stunned, then flew into a rage!

Right in front of him, an "ant" at the True Martial First Layer had not only evaded his guard's capture but also taken the item he had his eye on?!

"Bastard! Take him down! Dead or alive!"

Ling Jianming shouted harshly, and with a "clanging" sound, he drew his own sword. The sword light was like a rainbow, piercing straight toward the center of Ye Tian's back!

This strike was swift and ruthless; he already had killing intent!

Ah Fu also suppressed the discomfort in his arm and let out a furious roar. His True Martial Eighth Stage Aura erupted fully as he threw a punch. The wind from the punch surged, blocking Ye Tian's path of retreat.

Exclamations instantly rang out within the Huihai Market as the crowd retreated one after another.

Ye Tian sneered inwardly, knowing that this wouldn't end peacefully today.

He hadn't wanted to cause trouble in Yunni City, but the other party was pushing him too far.

Very well, this was the perfect chance to test his newly comprehended "Cloud-Breaking" Sword Intent in actual combat!

He was just about to turn and counterattack.

Suddenly!

A child's voice, filled with a bit of innocent curiosity, rang out from a corner of the market. The voice wasn't loud, but it strangely rose above the noise and reached the ears of several people on the scene: "Daddy, why is that big brother in the bamboo hat glowing with such a pretty and powerful little sword inside him?

It looks much better than that mean big brother's sword!"

The speaker was a little girl of about four or five years old, held in her father's arms and wearing pigtails. She was staring with wide, dark eyes and pointing at Ye Tian with a face full of innocent naivety.

In an instant, the movements of Ling Jianming and Ah Fu, who were about to strike, came to a sudden halt. Incredible ecstasy and greed instantly erupted in Ling Jianming's eyes as he stared fixedly at Ye Tian!

And the masked old man behind the stall also suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of sharp light passing through his cloudy gaze!

Oh no! Ye Tian's heart sank.

This girl... she seems to have been born with spiritual eyes that can see through illusions?

She had actually seen the phantom of the ancient sword pill he was nurturing in his Dantian?!

The little girl's dark eyes were clear and innocent, and her chubby finger pointed at Ye Tian. Her tone was full of the excitement a child feels when discovering a novel toy.

Her father was a simple-looking middle-aged man. Upon hearing this, his expression changed drastically. He hurriedly covered his daughter's mouth and whispered a scolding, "Nannan, don't talk nonsense!"

At the same time, he looked at Ling Jianming and Ye Tian in terror, bowing repeatedly as he clutched his daughter and shrunk back into the crowd.

However, it was already too late.

The sword light Ling Jianming had aimed at Ye Tian's back stopped abruptly, and the greed on his face almost became tangible!

He stared dead at Ye Tian!

A pretty little sword?

Better looking than his own Earth Rank Low Grade Spiritual Artifact?

Combined with the special Sword Intent fluctuations his father, Ling Juexiao, had sensed coming from the direction of Ancient Sword Manor, the recent abnormal warnings from the Sword Pavilion's "Heaven-Peering Sword Mirror," and this person's strangely slippery movement when facing his True Martial Eighth Stage guard's capture...

All the clues instantly connected!

"ancient sword pill?!

Is the ancient sword pill from the Ancient Sword Manor's Legacy on you?!"

Ling Jianming almost growled the words, his voice somewhat distorted by excitement!

He no longer cared about any star fragment; that was merely a potential clue, but the person before him likely hid the true treasure!

The guard Ah Fu also realized this. The flesh on his face twitched, and a sharp light burst from his eyes. His True Martial Eighth Stage Aura was no longer held back, sweeping toward Ye Tian like a raging tide. Simultaneously, his body shifted, forming an encirclement with several other guards to completely block all of Ye Tian's retreat paths.

This time, it was no longer a simple lesson, but a capture to seize the treasure!

The surrounding crowd went silent for a moment, then erupted into a roar of discussion!

"ancient sword pill?!"

"The legendary Origin Dao of the Sword treasure refined from the lifelong cultivation of Ancient Sword Manor Sword Cultivators?"

"My god! Does such a treasure really exist? And it's on this brat in the bamboo hat?"

"No wonder Young Pavilion Master Ling lost his composure... a treasure like that is enough to make even Sea Transformation Realm experts go mad!"

"This kid is finished! Possessing a treasure brings trouble, and now that it's been exposed publicly, the Wanren Sword Pavilion will never let him go!"

"Quick, back away! Be careful not to get caught in the crossfire!"

The masked old man behind the stall had opened his eyes at some point. His cloudy gaze swept between Ye Tian and Ling Jianming, finally landing on Ye Tian with a flash of a strange expression before returning to its calm state. He silently picked up the three hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones Ye Tian had just placed on the stall, as if the imminent battle had nothing to do with him.

Pressure bore down on Ye Tian from all directions.

The sharp Sword Intent of Ling Jianming at the True Martial Ninth Stage, the powerful Aura of Ah Fu at the True Martial Eighth Stage, the Qi-locking of several True Martial Realm Middle Stage guards, and the countless covetous gazes—both overt and covert—from the surroundings...

Ye Tian's heart sank to the bottom.

The worst-case scenario had happened!

The existence of the ancient sword pill had actually been inadvertently revealed by a child!

Now, it wasn't just the Wanren Sword Pavilion; likely the entire Huihai Market, and soon the forces of the entire Yunni City, would be stirred into action!

He had instantly become the target of everyone.

He had to escape immediately!

Once he was pinned down, if the Wanren Sword Pavilion's reinforcements or even Ling Juexiao himself arrived, there would truly be no chance of survival!

But how to escape?

The enemy's Qi had already locked onto him, and the encirclement was complete.

Force his way out?

Exposing his true cultivation might temporarily repel Ah Fu, but Ling Jianming was no slouch, and with others watching like tigers, if he were delayed for even a moment...

Thoughts raced through Ye Tian's mind.

His gaze swept over Ling Jianming's greedy, handsome face, then glanced at the middle-aged man clutching his daughter as they retreated in panic into the crowd, and finally landed on the fragment he had just purchased.

"Young Pavilion Master Ling,"

Ye Tian suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of intentional panic, "What... what ancient sword pill are you talking about?

I don't understand.

I only came here to buy a fragment; I have no intention of making an enemy of the Sword Pavilion.

If you want this fragment, just take it!"

As he spoke, he actually held the star fragment out slightly toward Ling Jianming, while his feet moved imperceptibly half a step toward the masked old man's stall.

Show weakness to the enemy, divert attention, create chaos, and get closer to that mysterious old man!

Seeing this, Ling Jianming sneered, the triumph in his eyes growing even stronger. "Scared now? Too late! I want the fragment, and I want the ancient sword pill on you even more! Hand it over obediently, and you can avoid the pain of soul-searching and essence-refining!"

He didn't believe Ye Tian's words at all, but he didn't strike immediately either. Ye Tian's slippery movement from earlier made him somewhat wary, and he also had his own calculations.

Although this was a hidden part of the Huihai Market, there were still many eyes and ears. It would be best if he could force the boy to hand it over voluntarily. If not, he would need to end the battle quickly with thunderous means to avoid other forces playing the mantis stalking the cicada.

He quietly gave Ah Fu a meaningful look.

Ah Fu understood and gave a cruel grin. Without further nonsense, he channeled True Yuan into his right fist and threw a punch at Ye Tian from a distance!

Simultaneously, the other three guards drew their weapons and harassed him from the flanks, their sword lights and blade shadows blocking Ye Tian.

This time, it was no longer a casual capture, but killing Moves!

They were forcing Ye Tian to respond with his full strength, thereby exposing more of his background, or simply heavily wounding and capturing him!

Facing this unavoidable joint attack, a cold light flashed in Ye Tian's eyes.

Showing weakness was fine, but he absolutely could not allow himself to be seriously injured!

The Taixu Star-Shift Steps were instantly activated, allowing him to slip through the gaps between Ah Fu's punch and the blade lights of the two guards!

At the same time, he secretly channeled a wisp of Sword Qi into the fragment he held in his left hand!

"Clang!"

The fragment collided with the longsword of the third guard. The guard felt a surge of power transmit through his sword, shaking it so hard it nearly flew out of his hand!

Ye Tian used this counterforce to drift back even further, getting closer to the masked old man's stall.

"Eh?"

Ling Jianming's brow furrowed.

Ye Tian's movement technique was a bit too exquisite!

And that block just now—even though he used the fragment—the condensed strength that came through was definitely not something an ordinary True Martial First Layer Cultivator could possess!

This kid was indeed strange; was he hiding his cultivation?

But at most, he would be at the True Martial Fourth or Fifth Layer!

"Ah Fu, use 'Thousand-Jin Suppression'! Suppress him directly!"

Ling Jianming ordered coldly, the killing intent in his heart intensifying.

No matter how much cultivation Ye Tian was hiding, he was determined to get the ancient sword pill. Any delay might lead to complications!

"Yes, Young Master!"

Ah Fu growled and slammed his fists together. Earth-yellow True Yuan surged wildly, transforming into the phantom of a massive seal above his head. It radiated an immense suppressive force that locked onto Ye Tian and crashed down!

This was his signature technique, using sheer force to crush opponents, specifically designed to counter those with flexible movement.

Before the giant seal even arrived, the terrifying pressure caused the ground around Ye Tian to crack inch by inch. The air solidified, and his movements became sluggish!

He was about to be completely suppressed!