312: Chapter 312 The Bottom of the Sulfur-Poisoned Heart Lake

This toxic lizard actually possessed the strength of a Peak Third-Order beast (equivalent to the True Martial Ninth Level), and its stealth capabilities were extremely potent; Ye Tian didn't sense it until the very moment it launched its attack!

“Watch out!” Ye Tian reacted with lightning speed, instantly slashing sword at the lizard's tail!

Where the lightning flashed, the toxic lizard's tail was severed. Foul-smelling poisonous blood splattered, immediately corroding pits into the rocks. The lizard let out a hiss and retreated back into the sediment.

However, the commotion of this brief clash seemed exceptionally loud in the silent depths of the poison mist.

Almost at the same time, Ye Tian keenly sensed at least four powerful auras filled with killing intent locking onto their position from different directions!

The weakest of these auras was at the True Martial Ninth Level, while the two strongest had reached the Early Stage of the Sea Transformation Realm! Furthermore, they were moving extremely fast, closing in from all sides!

“We’ve been discovered! Is it a trap, or did the noise just now draw them in?” Ye Tian’s heart sank. He hadn't expected the guards inside Sulfur Valley to be so tight and their reaction so swift.

“Ye Tian, you little thief! It really is you! You dared to kill an Elder of my Sword Pavilion; today, I will make sure you wish you were dead!” A furious voice exploded, making the surrounding poison mist churn.

Before the voice had even faded, a massive wind blade had already cleaved through layers of poison mist, slashing down toward Ye Tian’s head! Its momentum far exceeded that of Yin Li from before!

Is it Ling Juexiao?! No, the voice is wrong, but the power of this wind blade is definitely among the best in the Sea Transformation Realm!

Ye Tian’s pupils constricted. Without time to overthink, he shoved Xiao Jie behind a nearby giant boulder and met the attack head-on!

He didn't dare take it directly. While executing the Taixu Star-Shift Steps, he channeled the power of thunder, moving as fast as wind and lightning!

Even so, the wind blade still grazed his protective True Yuan, leaving a bloody gash on his shoulder with its sharp energy.

“Hmph, your movement technique is decent! Let’s see how long you can keep dodging!” The thick mist billowed as a Wanren Sword Pavilion Elder, holding a longsword, appeared ahead.

This person’s aura was a notch stronger than Yin Li’s. He was the other Sea Transformation Realm Elder stationed in Sulfur Valley, Feng Shi, with a cultivation at the Peak of the Early Stage Sea Transformation Realm.

Simultaneously, a figure emerged from the mist in each of the other three directions.

To the left was a pale-faced Ghost-Masked Assassin from the Shadow Calamity Tower, wielding a shortsword (Early Stage Sea Transformation Realm).

To the right was a burly Body Refining Elder from the Wanren Sword Pavilion, wielding a heavy hammer (True Martial Tenth Level Great Perfection).

Behind them was an elite Shadow Calamity Tower assassin holding a strangely shaped curved hook (Peak True Martial Ninth Level).

The four of them had Ye Tian and Xiao Jie completely surrounded!

Clearly, Yin Li’s death had thoroughly enraged the enemy. They had not only mobilized the strongest guard force in Sulfur Valley but also notified other nearby experts, seeking to encircle and kill Ye Tian in one fell swoop.

“Kid, to die at the hands of our joint efforts, your life can be considered worthwhile.”

Elder Feng Shi pointed his longsword diagonally, his tone indifferent. “Hand over the ancient sword pill, reveal the secret of that remnant soul and the reason for your sudden surge in cultivation. I might then decide to give that little brat beside you a quick death.”

The Ghost-Masked Sea Transformation Realm assassin from the Shadow Calamity Tower licked his poisoned shortsword and let out a sinister cackle. “Elder Feng, why waste your breath on him? Once we take him down and search his soul, what secret won't we get?”

“I’m quite interested in this boy’s soul.”

The burly Elder swung his heavy hammer, sending sulfur deposits on the ground flying. “Why talk to him? Just kill him! I want to avenge Elder Yin Li!”

Tigers and wolves in front, a dead end behind, his own state unrecovered, and Xiao Jie to protect.

Ye Tian’s heart sank to rock bottom, but his eyes grew increasingly calm.

Because he knew very well that the more desperate the situation, the more he needed to stay calm; otherwise, there was only a path to death!

His gaze rapidly scanned the surroundings—thick mist, toxic slurry, soft ground, corrosive vents... thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning.

A direct confrontation would mean certain death.

Only by utilizing this extreme environment to create chaos would there be a slim chance of survival.

And that chance might lie in the vaguely visible toxic slurry lake ahead!

“You want my things?” Ye Tian raised sword, his aura peerless and domineering. “Then it depends on whether you have the life to take them!”

Before his voice had even finished echoing, he actually struck first!

But his target wasn't any of the people; instead, he stomped hard on the edge of a corrosive vent beside him!

The ground shook violently, and the vent suddenly expanded. A geyser of acidic mud shot into the sky, spraying toward Elder Feng Shi directly in front and the Ghost-Masked Assassin to the left!

At the same time, with a wave of his left hand, he threw several low-grade Explosive Flame Talismans he had bought in Crimson Flame Town toward the burly Elder on the right and the assassin behind. They exploded with a boom; though not fatal, they were enough to briefly disrupt their vision and perception.

“Trivial tricks!” Elder Feng Shi snorted coldly. With a wave of his longsword, a wall of wind appeared out of thin air, blocking all the incoming mud and poisonous miasma. The Ghost-Masked Assassin also shifted his body, dodging most of it.

But this brief distraction was enough for Ye Tian!

Seizing the opportunity, he dashed desperately toward the toxic slurry lake to the front-right!

Simultaneously, he threw out another handful of low-grade Talismans—this time Spirit-Disturbing Talismans and Mist Talismans. He didn't seek to harm the enemy, only to further confuse this already murky poison mist area.

“Trying to run? Chase him!” Elder Feng Shi’s eyes turned sharp. He hadn't expected Ye Tian to be so decisive and cunning. He instantly transformed into a breeze and gave chase.

The Ghost-Masked Assassin followed like a shadow. The burly Elder and the elite assassin also followed with roars.

Ye Tian sped along like a swimming fish. He didn't flee toward the toxic slurry lake in a straight line; instead, he moved in circles, constantly using the terrain to create obstacles and leading his pursuers toward hidden sulfur toxic insect nests.

“Kid, you can’t escape!” Elder Feng Shi was losing face as he failed to catch up. Seeing an opening from dozens of yards away, the green light on his longsword surged as he thrust it forward!

The sword light transformed into dozens of wind blades that shrouded Ye Tian. Unlike Yin Li’s direct attacks, these wind blades possessed a tracking property.

This was his ultimate technique: Wind Extreme · Thousand Blades Soul-Chaser!

At the same time, the Ghost-Masked Assassin had also sneaked to Ye Tian’s flank, his shortsword stabbing directly at Ye Tian’s waist.

The burly Elder roared, throwing his heavy hammer. It flew through the air and slammed into the ground in front of Ye Tian, blocking his path.

The three great experts unleashed their killing moves one after another! Ye Tian was attacked from both front and back, his situation becoming perilous!

With a fierce glint in his eyes, he suddenly spun sword. Lightning exploded, forming a circular sword curtain that shielded his body, blocking most of the wind blades and the Ghost-Masked Assassin’s sneak attack, though the impact left his blood and Qi churning.

At the same time, facing the incoming heavy hammer, he kicked out in mid-air against the side of the flying weapon, using the force to propel himself a great distance further toward the toxic slurry lake!

“Puff!” Forcing himself to borrow that power aggravated his internal injuries. Ye Tian felt a sweetness in his throat, and a trickle of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth. However, he also successfully widened the gap between himself and the burly Elder, drawing closer to the toxic slurry lake.

By now, he could clearly see the full extent of the toxic slurry lake.

The lake wasn't large, about ten yards across. The water was a dark, viscous brownish-yellow, with bubbles constantly churning on the surface.

In the center of the lake, a magnificent golden-red light could be seen flickering deep below—it was the suspected location of the “fire spirit marrow liquid”!

However, the poison mist hovering over the lake had almost condensed into liquid form, and the rocks along the shore were pitted with corrosion. It was extremely dangerous.

With pursuers behind and a dead end ahead, Ye Tian suddenly turned his head to look at Elder Feng Shi, the Ghost-Masked Assassin, and the burly Elder who were closing in again, a cold smile curling on his lips.

“Everyone, don't you want the ancient sword pill and the secrets?” Ye Tian said mockingly. “If you have the ability, come into this lake and take them from me!”

With that, under the astonished gazes of the three, Ye Tian actually leaped, jumping toward the center of the lake where the deadly toxic slurry churned!

“Madman!!” Elder Feng Shi’s face changed drastically as he cried out in shock.

The Ghost-Masked Assassin and the burly Elder also stopped in horror, watching the figure instantly swallowed by the viscous brownish-yellow slurry and the few large bubbles that gurgled to the surface. They looked at each other, for a moment not daring to step forward.

Jumping into the Sulfur Poison Heart Lake?

Forget the True Martial Realm; even for those like them in the Sea Transformation Realm, entering without special protection would mean certain death!

Did that kid know he had no way to escape and would rather seek his own death than fall into their hands?

“Search! I want him found, dead or alive! Guard the lakeshore and wait for him to be forced out by the toxic slurry, or... turn into a puddle of pus!” Elder Feng Shi quickly regained his composure and gave the order with a dark expression.

He didn't believe Ye Tian could actually stay inside for long.

However, a trace of unease faintly rose in his heart. The madness in the boy’s eyes before he jumped didn't look like someone seeking death; it looked like he had some kind of trump card...

The corrosive toxic slurry instantly enveloped Ye Tian, and his protective True Yuan was consumed at an alarming rate.

Even more terrifying was the pervasive, filthy fire poison that eroded his Divine Soul. Intense pain and a sense of numbness struck him simultaneously.

But at this life-or-death moment, the fire jade essence in Ye Tian’s bosom flickered a few times!

At the same time, his Five Elements Sword Body began to operate spontaneously, assimilating the fire-attribute energy within. It actually formed a light membrane on his body's surface, temporarily withstanding the most violent erosion of the toxic slurry.

“Go down! The energy source is at the bottom of the lake!” A faint thought entered Ye Tian’s mind—it was Venerable Jiehuo!

This sleeping remnant soul of the Venerable had actually been stimulated by the fire energy here and briefly awakened for an instant!

Ye Tian’s spirits were lifted. Enduring the pain and using the momentum of his descent, he dove toward the golden-red light at the bottom of the lake that was growing brighter and brighter!