289: Chapter 289 Catching a Turtle in a Jar

Lijian Villa, deep within the hidden culverts.

The sound of rushing water masked the slight movements Ye Tian made. He carefully probed forward, avoiding the active water inlets.

According to the map provided by "Grey Rat," this hidden culvert should lead to an abandoned drainage pond on the western side of the villa, near the dungeon.

He needed to emerge there and then find an Opportunity to infiltrate the dungeon area.

After traveling for about the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, light from a grate above appeared ahead, and the water flow merged into a slightly larger reservoir at this point.

Above the reservoir was a square exit sealed by iron bars. Outside the exit appeared to be a secluded courtyard filled with miscellaneous items.

Ye Tian floated to the surface and held his breath to listen.

It was very quiet outside, with only the occasional sound of patrolling Disciples' footsteps passing by.

The timing was perfect.

He gently pushed the iron bars open, leaped out of the reservoir, quickly restored the bars to their original position, and then hid behind a pile of old wooden boxes, observing carefully.

This was indeed a remote servant's courtyard on the west side of the villa, filled with damaged tools and junk; very few people came here.

According to the map, if he headed north through a moon gate and bypassed a small bamboo grove, he would reach the outer perimeter of the dungeon.

Ye Tian was about to move when his gaze inadvertently swept across the dirt beneath his feet.

There were several fresh footprints there that were starkly different from the old marks surrounding them!

The footprints were very shallow, indicating the visitor had intentionally suppressed their aura, but they were pointed directly at the iron bars of the reservoir he had just emerged from!

Someone had been here!

And not long ago!

A chill instantly rose up Ye Tian's spine.

He suddenly realized that there might be a problem with "Grey Rat's" information!

Or, the information itself was true, but it had been leaked!

The opponent had known about this infiltration path for a long time, and might have even deliberately left a flaw, waiting for him to walk into the trap!

"Not good! It's a trap!"

Without hesitation, Ye Tian turned and retreated violently toward the moon gate he had come from!

However, it was already too late.

"Heh, Little Friend Ye, since you've come, why be in such a hurry to leave?"

An indifferent voice abruptly rang out above the courtyard.

Immediately after, outside the moon gate, from the direction of the bamboo grove, and at the other two exits of the courtyard, over a dozen figures appeared simultaneously!

These people were all dressed in the cyan-gray sword robes of Wanren Sword Pavilion Core Disciples. Their cultivation was at least at the fifth level of the True Martial Realm, and the three leaders had even reached the ninth level of the True Martial Realm!

They had already formed a sword formation, sealing off all of Ye Tian's escape routes.

The person who had just spoken walked slowly through the main entrance of the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

The newcomer wore a mysterious black sword robe with silver trim. He had a lean face and a three-stranded long beard, appearing to have the air of a transcendent immortal. However, his long, narrow eyes revealed an icy coldness when they opened and closed. This was the Master of the Wanren Sword Pavilion, Ling Juexiao!

Ling Juexiao's gaze fell upon Ye Tian.

"This Pavilion Master already expected that you would find a way to infiltrate. I just didn't expect you to choose this... stupidest path."

Ye Tian's heart sank.

The opponent was not only prepared but had even accounted for the help he might receive!

This was a complete trap!

From the moment Old Abacus sent the message—or rather, from the moment Qiu Qianchuan colluded with Ling Juexiao—they had been leading him step by step into this dead end!

Letting him in was merely to shut the door and beat the dog, preventing him from causing trouble on the perimeter or escaping!

"Ling Juexiao, the dignified Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion and a high expert of the Sea Transformation Realm, is using such low-handed methods to scheme against a junior?"

Ye Tian responded coldly while secretly observing his surroundings, looking for a chance to escape.

"Low-handed?"

Ling Juexiao shook his head gently, his tone flat. "Any method that achieves the goal is a good method. The ancient sword pill on your person, as well as the Opportunity you obtained in the Dragon Slaying Abyss, are worth a bit of this Pavilion Master's effort. As for you..."

He paused, his mouth curling with contempt. "You are nothing more than a slightly stronger ant. Hand over the ancient sword pill and everything you've obtained, cripple your own cultivation, and perhaps I'll leave you an intact corpse so you can accompany your Junior Brother on the road to the Yellow Springs."

As he spoke, he lightly raised his hand.

Two Disciples immediately stepped out from behind, escorting a youth who was covered in blood, breathing weakly, and bound by Spirit-Suppressing Chains. It was Hou Xiaojie!

He was roughly thrown into the center of the courtyard. His body was covered in whip marks and wounds of various ages. His face was as white as paper. The moment he saw Ye Tian, a burst of light erupted in his dim eyes, and he shouted hoarsely, "Senior Brother, go! Don't worry about me! They've set an inescapable net—ugh!"

Before he could finish, a nearby Sword Pavilion Disciple kicked him hard in the stomach, forcing the rest of his words back down. Xiao Jie curled into a ball in pain, coughing up blood-flecked foam.

"Xiao Jie!"

Ye Tian's eyes nearly split from rage, and his killing intent boiled over. He almost charged forward regardless of the consequences.

"Don't move."

Ling Juexiao's voice remained flat, but a terrifying pressure of the Sea Transformation Realm suddenly descended, weighing down on Ye Tian, causing his movements to freeze and his internal blood and Qi to churn.

"This Pavilion Master's patience is limited. Hand over the items, or... watch as his bones are dismantled piece by piece before you. Deacon Qiu has quite a bit of experience with death by a thousand cuts; I'm sure you don't want to witness it firsthand."

"Pavilion Master Ling, why waste words with this little bastard! Just take him down, search his soul and refine his spirit—is there anything we wouldn't get?!"

A voice full of venom rang out.

The one-armed Qiu Qianchuan walked out from a side door. His remaining left hand gripped a new blade, and he stared fixedly at Ye Tian with a gaze that wished to swallow him alive.

"This little bastard took my arm and caused me to lose my mountain shattering blade; this enmity is irreconcilable! Once we have the items, I will personally deal with him!"

Qiu Qianchuan's appearance caused Ye Tian's last bit of hope to vanish.

Two great experts of the Sea Transformation Realm Middle Stage, plus a sword formation of over a dozen elite Disciples, had completely cornered him in this small courtyard.

And Hou Xiaojie was right at their feet, liable to lose his life at any moment.

This was likely the most dangerous predicament he had encountered since stepping onto the path of martial arts!

He couldn't see a single ray of hope!

"Senior Brother... go..."

Xiao Jie's weak voice came again.

Ye Tian gritted his teeth, his heart struggling. He couldn't hand it over! If he gave up the ancient sword pill and the "Gu Hong" Legacy, he, Xiao Jie, and the Dragon Ape would all face a dead end! But if he didn't, Xiao Jie would die a miserable death right before his eyes! What should he do?!

"It seems you've chosen the hard way."

Ling Juexiao lost his patience, his eyes turning cold. "Very well, this Pavilion Master will first cripple your cultivation, then slowly deal with your Junior Brother to see how tough your bones really are!"

With that, he pointed toward Ye Tian from a distance!

A streak of cyan Sword Qi pierced straight toward Ye Tian's Dantian!

Its speed and power far surpassed anyone he had ever seen! And this was merely a casual strike from a Sea Transformation Realm Sword Cultivator, yet it contained such terrifying destructive force!

Ye Tian roared, the liuguang sword unsheathed, and he slashed violently at that cyan Sword Qi!

"Clang!"

Amidst the explosive bang, Ye Tian was sent flying backward, slamming hard into the courtyard wall, leaving a human-shaped indentation in the stone. He felt a sweetness in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood. His right arm holding the sword was in agonizing pain, the skin between his thumb and forefinger split open, and the cracks on the liuguang sword expanded again as its spiritual light almost completely dimmed.

A strike from the Middle Stage of the Sea Transformation Realm, even if done casually, was not something he could easily withstand! If not for his powerful Physical Body and unique Sword Intent, that single hit would likely have crippled him directly! The gap was simply too large!

"Oh? You could actually take a finger strike from this old man without being crippled? It seems your Physical Body has undergone special tempering."

Though Ling Juexiao's eyes showed a hint of surprise, his attitude remained unchanged. "No wonder Deacon Qiu suffered at your hands. However, an ant is an ant in the end."

He was about to strike again.

"Wait!"

Qiu Qianchuan suddenly spoke with a sinister smile. "Pavilion Master Ling, crippling him directly is too easy for him. Why not... take him to the execution platform outside? In front of all the onlookers, let him watch his Junior Brother be sliced to death, and then we'll slowly deal with him. Let everyone know the consequences of offending my Shadow Calamity Tower and the Wanren Sword Pavilion! And let those fools who still harbor illusions about him give up hope entirely!"

Ling Juexiao pondered for a moment and nodded. "Very well. Noon is approaching; it's time to let the spectators see the 'main course.' Take them to the execution platform!"

"Yes!"

The surrounding Disciples shouted in unison. Several of them stepped forward with specially made Spirit-Suppressing Chains, intending to bind the heavily injured Ye Tian.

Ye Tian struggled to stand, but the previous strike had damaged his internal organs and thrown his True Yuan into chaos, making it difficult to gather strength for a moment.

Just as the chains were about to be placed on him, the Dragon Ape, who had been unconscious, suddenly snapped its eyes open. Using its last ounce of strength, and to the shock of everyone, its body size instantly swelled to the height of a man. It then opened its large maw and spat out white flames and a blood-colored sword-bane breath at the two Disciples holding the chains!

"Roar!!"

The power of the breath was far less than in its prime, but it contained multiple types of overbearing energy—especially that trace of slaughtering sword-bane originating from the dark-red book page, giving the breath an aura of absolute destruction!

"Careful!"

The two eighth-level True Martial Realm Disciples' expressions changed drastically as they hurriedly swung their swords to block.

"Sizzle!"

"Ah!"

Breath and sword light collided. The white flames were mostly neutralized by the Sword Qi, but that wisp of blood-colored sword-bane easily pierced through their protective True Yuan and instantly vanished into their bodies!

In the next moment, the two Disciples' faces were instantly covered by a layer of blood-red, and a crazed red light full of slaughterous desire erupted in their eyes. They had actually fallen into a demonic state instantly, turning their sword blades and hacking toward their fellow Disciples beside them!