89: Chapter 89 Murong Yun Appears When He Wants to Kill Chen Ao!

Ye Chen plunged headlong into the colorful Mushroom Forest filled with a sweet fragrance.

Upon entering the forest, the cloying scent grew even thicker; inhaling it into his lungs actually caused a faint dizziness and a strange sense of pleasure.

The giant mushrooms all around were like bizarrely shaped umbrellas, blocking out most of the light.

This left the interior of the forest dim, with soft ground covered in moss and decaying branches and leaves.

Ye Chen immediately held his breath and switched to internal circulation, while simultaneously circulating his Hunyuan True Essence to quickly neutralize the invasive hallucinogenic fragrance.

The Ice Lotus Imprint also emitted a cool sensation, protecting his mind.

To him, this Mushroom Forest was an excellent battlefield for an ambush.

He moved swiftly through the forest, using the massive mushrooms to conceal his figure.

At the same time, he constantly changed directions, leaving behind messy tracks.

His Divine Sense spread out quietly like a spiderweb, sensing the pursuers behind him.

"He entered the Mushroom Forest! Be careful, the fragrance is poisonous!"

Chen Ao's voice came from behind, filled with caution.

"Chase him! He can't have run far! Split up and flank him!"

Another person shouted.

Six figures quickly dispersed, searching toward the depths of the Mushroom Forest in a fan formation.

Clearly, they did not want to give up, relying on their numbers to try and surround him.

Ye Chen hid behind a large mushroom nearly a zhang in diameter that emitted a faint purple fluorescence, restraining all his aura like a stubborn rock.

Through his Divine Sense, he clearly saw.

Two Disciples at the Third Level of the Wheel Sea Realm were cautiously approaching the direction where he was hidden, one from the left and one from the right.

One of them held a long saber, while the other gripped a pair of water-parting daggers.

Now!

At the moment the saber-wielding Disciple passed the side of the mushroom where Ye Chen was hiding and his vision was blocked by the giant cap, Ye Chen moved!

He didn't draw his sword but instead flickered out from behind the mushroom like a ghost.

His left hand joined fingers like a sword, condensing a wisp of refined Hunyuan True Essence.

He silently tapped toward the "Fengfu Point" on the Disciple's nape!

Simultaneously, he flicked a finger of his right hand.

A tiny golden-red spark shot toward the knee of the Disciple holding the water-parting daggers on the other side!

"Puff!" "Chish!"

Two soft sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

The finger aimed at the nape hit its mark with precision!

The saber-wielding Disciple felt a numbness in his nape and his vision went black; without even letting out a groan, he slumped to the ground.

The golden-red spark shot at the knee also instantly pierced through the protective true essence.

A small hole exploded in the Disciple's knee, and the searing pain made him scream and drop to one knee.

In the blink of an eye, he had dealt with two people!

Without pausing for a moment, Ye Chen's figure blurred, and he vanished behind another cluster of giant mushrooms nearby.

"There's movement over there!"

"It's Junior Brother Wang and Junior Brother Li!"

"Get over there, quickly!"

The shouts of Chen Ao and the other three quickly approached.

When they arrived.

They only saw the saber-wielding Disciple unconscious on the ground and the Disciple with the water-parting daggers screaming as he clutched his blood-drenched knee.

Meanwhile, Ye Chen was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it! This kid is playing tricks!"

Chen Ao's Face was ashen, filled with both shock and rage.

He hadn't expected that in this hallucinogenic Mushroom Forest, Ye Chen's counterattack would be so fierce and precise.

"Senior Brother Chen, this Mushroom Forest is advantageous to him. Should we..."

A Disciple at the Third Level of the Wheel Sea Realm hesitated slightly.

"What are you afraid of! He's just one person, and he's still injured!"

Another Golden Flame Peak Disciple at the Fourth Level of the Wheel Sea Realm said sharply.

"Search separately in pairs and look out for each other! Signal immediately if you find him!"

The four split into two groups, with Chen Ao and that Fourth Level of the Wheel Sea Realm Disciple in one.

The remaining two at the Third Level of the Wheel Sea Realm formed the other group and resumed the search.

But this time they were more cautious, keeping closer to one another.

Like a hunter in the dark of night, Ye Chen moved silently through the Mushroom Forest.

Using the terrain and the mushrooms for cover, he constantly changed positions while sensing the movements of the two groups.

"Deal with the weaker group first."

Ye Chen's gaze locked onto the two Disciples at the Third Level of the Wheel Sea Realm.

They were back-to-back, searching nervously, clearly frightened by what had happened to their companions.

Ye Chen circled to their side and hid behind a "fire cloud mushroom" that was entirely crimson and emitted a scorching aura.

The heat emitted by this fire cloud mushroom interfered with the enemy's Divine Sense detection.

He silently calculated the distance and angle.

Just as the two passed a "Ghost Tear Mushroom" draped with countless pale blue mycelia that looked like tears.

Ye Chen struck!

He didn't attack directly but instead flicked his finger, sending a wisp of icy finger wind.

It shot toward the largest, fullest blue fungal tear at the top of that Ghost Tear Mushroom!

"Snap!"

The fungal tear burst!

A thick blue mist with strong paralyzing and hallucinogenic effects.

Instantly exploded, enveloping the two Disciples within!

"Not good! It's poison!"

The two cried out in alarm and tried to hold their breath and retreat, but they had already inhaled a small amount of the mist.

Immediately, they felt dizzy, their hands and feet went numb, and their movements became sluggish.

Now!

Ye Chen lunged from behind the fire cloud mushroom, the ice scar sword unsheathed.

A hazy gray sword light flashed as he used the Move "Profound Ice Thorn: Extreme," aiming for both of their throats!

His speed reached the limit, taking advantage of the moment they were trapped by the poisonous smoke and their reactions were slow!

"Puff! Puff!"

Two blood blossoms bloomed.

The two clutched their gushing throats, their eyes filled with terror and disbelief as they slowly collapsed to the ground.

Two more dealt with!

Without even a glance, Ye Chen retreated rapidly, vanishing once more into the shadows of the Mushroom Forest.

At this moment, his breathing was slightly hurried; the repeated attacks were a significant burden for him while his injuries were still unhealed, and his true essence was nearly thirty percent depleted.

But the results were brilliant: four of the six were gone, leaving only Chen Ao and that Fourth Level of the Wheel Sea Realm lackey.

"Junior Brother Liu! Junior Brother Zhao!"

Chen Ao's roar came from nearby, clearly having heard the commotion.

He and the lackey rushed over, only to see two corpses still twitching.

As well as the blue poisonous smoke and the smell of blood permeating the air.

"Ye Chen! I will tear your body into ten thousand pieces!"

Chen Ao's eyes were bloodshot, and he trembled all over with rage.

How long had it been since they entered the Secret Realm, and four of the five helpers he brought had already fallen!

This was simply a humiliating disgrace!

More importantly, the ruthlessness, decisiveness, and eerie methods Ye Chen displayed caused a chill to rise in his heart for the first time.

"Senior Brother Chen, this kid is too sinister. This Mushroom Forest is his home ground, we..."

The Fourth Level of the Wheel Sea Realm lackey was also scared, his voice trembling.

"Shut up!"

Chen Ao interrupted sharply, a flash of madness in his eyes.

"He's killed four people in a row; his consumption must be massive! His injuries have surely worsened as well! Now is the best time to kill him! Follow me, he won't have run far!"

He suppressed his fear and carefully sensed the surrounding aura and traces.

As an elite of the Golden Flame Peak, he also had his strengths.

Soon, he locked onto a direction—where Ye Chen had just retreated.

The extremely subtle traces left on the ground, carrying fluctuations of Hunyuan True Essence.

"This way!"

The two of them, one following the other, chased in the direction where Ye Chen had disappeared, their speed faster and their killing intent even thicker.

Ye Chen indeed hadn't gone far. He was hidden in a pile of rocks at the edge of the Mushroom Forest.

While swallowing a Medicinal Pill to recover his true essence, he also adjusted his breathing.

He knew that Chen Ao would never let things go and would definitely come after him.

He needed to recover some of his condition to Face the final battle.

Sure enough, in less than half an incense stick's time, the figures of Chen Ao and that lackey appeared outside the rock pile.

"Ye Chen, get out here! I know you're hiding here!"

Chen Ao pointed his long sword at the rock pile and shouted sharply while his Divine Sense scanned carefully.

Ye Chen slowly stepped out from behind a giant rock; his Face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes were sharp as knives.

He looked at Chen Ao, then glanced at the nervous lackey beside him, and said indifferently.

"Only you two are left. If you leave now, there's still time."

"Arrogant!"

Chen Ao laughed out of extreme anger.

"You dared to kill my fellow Disciples and still have the nerve to boast! Today, this place will be your burial ground! Junior Brother Zhang, let's go together and kill him!"

Although the lackey surnamed Zhang was afraid.

But he had no choice but to act. Gritting his teeth, he and Chen Ao attacked Ye Chen simultaneously from the left and right!

Chen Ao's long sword was crimson, his sword Moves ruthless, aiming straight for Ye Chen's vitals.

The Zhang-surnamed Disciple used a pair of Mandarin Duck Axes, his Moves insidious, specializing in attacking the lower body.

Coordinating with Chen Ao, they blocked off Ye Chen's path of retreat.

Facing their final joint attack, Ye Chen knew he could no longer hold back.

The little Hunyuan True Essence remaining in his body circulated with full force, and a gray glow rose once more on the ice scar sword.

He activated the "Phantom Step" under his feet.

His figure split into two, turning into two afterimages that were hard to distinguish from reality, meeting the two attackers respectively!

"Clang! Clang!"

Two loud clangs.

Ye Chen's true body faced Chen Ao; the hazy gray sword light and the crimson Sword Gang collided violently, and a wave of air exploded.

Ye Chen let out a muffled groan and slid back several steps, his blood and qi churning in his chest as his old injuries throbbed with pain.

Chen Ao's arm was also shaken to numbness, and he was horrified in his heart.

This kid still had such power even while heavily injured?

Meanwhile, the afterimage split off by Ye Chen faced the Zhang-surnamed Disciple.

The afterimage was naturally no match and was shredded by the Mandarin Duck Axes after a few Moves.

However, it also bought Ye Chen a moment of respite, forcing the Zhang-surnamed Disciple to slow down.

"Now!"

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Ye Chen's eyes flashed with cold light, and ignoring his own state, he forcibly raised his Qi.

The gray light on the ice scar sword suddenly retracted, transforming into a single point of profound Chaos color, and he thrust the sword towards Chen Ao!

It was not the large-scale devouring of "Primal Chaos Return to Ruins." Instead, it was the condensation of all the Primal Chaos intent and Nirvana Sword Intent into a single point—the "Primal Chaos Destruction Stab"!

This strike was fast, accurate, and ruthless.

It pointed directly at a tiny flaw in Chen Ao's sword Move, revealed because he had been knocked back!

Chen Ao was greatly alarmed; it was too late to change his Move, so he could only block horizontally with his sword.

"Puff!"

The Chaos sword tip struck the spine of the crimson longsword.

There was no loud noise, only a faint sound, as if something had been punctured.

Chen Ao's longsword, which was of a not-low grade, actually had a hole the size of a grain of rice punctured into it by the Chaos sword tip!

An indescribable, terrifying Sword Intent that seemed capable of disintegrating everything and returning it to nothingness surged along the blade and fiercely rushed into Chen Ao's body!

"Ah—!" Chen Ao let out a miserable scream.

He only felt a destructive force rampaging crazily through his Meridians; wherever it passed, his True Essence dissipated and his Meridians tore apart!

He spat out blood violently, and the longsword in his hand slipped from his grasp.

His whole body seemed as if its bones had been extracted, collapsing softly to the ground, his Face pale as gold paper, and his aura instantly withered to the extreme.

Although he did not die immediately, he had completely lost his combat ability, and his Dantian and Wheel Sea were likely damaged!

"Senior Brother Chen!" Seeing this, the Disciple surnamed Zhang was scared into a state of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. Daring not to fight anymore, he turned and wanted to flee.

"Want to leave?" Ye Chen's cold voice sounded.

He endured the injuries that had worsened again due to forcibly using his ultimate Move, as well as his nearly exhausted True Essence, and gathered his last bit of strength between his eyebrows.

"Soul-Shocking Spike!"

An invisible Spirit Stab shot out and instantly submerged into the back of the Disciple surnamed Zhang's head.

The Disciple surnamed Zhang's body stiffened, the light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and he fell to the ground, devoid of any aura.

Silence.

At the edge of the Mushroom Forest, there was only the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the mushroom caps, and Chen Ao's weak, painful groans.

Ye Chen used his sword to support himself on the ground, breathing heavily, blood constantly overflowing from the corners of his mouth, and his vision blacking out in waves.

The continuous fierce battles, especially the final forced activation of the "Primal Chaos Destruction Stab" and "Soul-Shocking Spike," had caused his injuries to compound, his True Essence to be completely exhausted, and his Divine Soul to be nearly withered.

But he forced himself to hold on and did not collapse.

Ye Chen walked to Chen Ao's side.

Chen Ao's eyes were unfocused, filled with fear and despair. Looking at Ye Chen, his lips trembled.

He seemed to want to beg for mercy, but could not make a complete sound.

Ye Chen looked at him, his eyes devoid of any pity.

Being kind to an enemy is being cruel to oneself.

He raised the ice scar sword, intending to end his life. However, just at this moment—

"Junior Brother Ye, spare him." A gentle voice suddenly came from the Mushroom Forest nearby.

Ye Chen's heart rang with alarm, and he turned his head abruptly.

He saw that Murong Bai had appeared ten zhang away, smiling at him.

He was still in his calm and indifferent manner, as if the bloody battle just now had nothing to do with him.

"Senior Brother Murong?" Ye Chen's eyes narrowed. He tightened his grip on the sword hilt, secretly raising the remaining True Essence in his body, alert to the extreme.

What was Murong Bai's intention in appearing at this moment?

"Junior Brother Ye, no need to be nervous." Murong Bai walked over slowly, took a glance at the dying Chen Ao on the ground and the other corpses, and shook his head slightly.

"Mutual slaughter between fellow Disciples is, after all, a misfortune for the Sect. Although Chen Ao brought this death upon himself, since he is already crippled, it would be better to spare his life and hand him over to the Sect's Law Enforcement Hall for disposal. It would also show that Junior Brother Ye considers the friendship of fellow Disciples, how about it?"

His tone was gentle, as if he were discussing, but Ye Chen felt an invisible pressure.

Murong Bai's strength was unfathomable, and his own state right now was extremely poor.

If the other party had malicious intentions, he would have no chance of survival.

"Senior Brother Murong's words are very reasonable." Ye Chen's thoughts spun rapidly, and he slowly sheathed his sword.

He knew that with Murong Bai stepping in, he had to give this Face.

Moreover, killing Chen Ao would be satisfying, but it would also mean an endless feud with Golden Flame Peak and might even give others grounds for criticism.

Crippling him and handing him over to the Sect might be better.

"It is best that Junior Brother Ye can think this way." Murong Bai smiled, his gaze falling on Ye Chen's pale Face.

"Junior Brother's injuries are not light, and this place is not suitable for staying long. The hallucinogenic aroma of this Mushroom Forest is not beneficial for healing. Thirty miles ahead, there is a 'Clear Heart Pool'."

"The pool water has the effect of clearing the heart and calming the spirit, and assisting in healing, and it is relatively safe. Junior Brother can go there to adjust your breath. As for here..." He glanced at the messy scene. "I will handle it."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Murong." Ye Chen cupped his hands.

Regardless of what purpose Murong Bai had, at least for now, he seemed to be helping him.

"Fellow Disciples should help each other." Murong Bai nodded, saying no more.

He walked to Chen Ao's side, took out a Medicinal Pill, and stuffed it into his mouth to keep him alive. He then took off his token, seemingly recording something.

Ye Chen did not linger, took a Medicinal Pill, barely summoned a sliver of strength, and staggered away in the direction Murong Bai had indicated.

He knew he had to find a safe place to heal and recover his strength as soon as possible.

In this Secret Realm, danger was everywhere, and the fight just now was probably just the beginning.

Watching Ye Chen's back disappear into the depths of the Mushroom Forest, the smile on Murong Bai's Face gradually faded.

He walked to the corpses and carefully examined the wounds.

Especially the terrifying injury on Chen Ao's body, which had been eroded by the Chaos Sword Intent, a glint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Hunyuan True Essence, Nirvana Sword Intent... and that powerful Divine Soul attack. Ye Chen, oh Ye Chen, the secrets on you are more than I imagined."

He muttered to himself, then shook his head.

"However, being too sharp is not necessarily a blessing. Golden Flame Peak will probably not let this go easily. That old guy Elder Wang He is one to hold a grudge."

After Murong Bai finished handling the scene and wiped away some obvious traces, he picked up the unconscious Chen Ao and drifted away, as if he had never appeared.

...

Ye Chen forced himself to hold on, walking for about twenty miles in the direction Murong Bai had indicated, and finally heard the sound of gurgling water.

Pushing aside a patch of dense vines, his vision suddenly opened up, and a small water pool appeared.

The pool water was clear to the bottom, and a few small white flowers emitting a faint fragrance grew by the pool.

The air was filled with an aura that calmed the mind. It was the "Clear Heart Pool."

He checked the surroundings, confirmed there was no danger, and then walked to the pool side.

He first scooped up the cool pool water to drink a few mouthfuls, and then washed the blood from his Face.

As the pool water entered his stomach, a cool sensation actually spread out, allowing the stinging pain and fatigue of his Divine Soul to be eased a little.

"What a treasure land." Ye Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

He found a flat rock by the pool and sat cross-legged.

He activated a simple defensive Formation Plate he had found in the Poison Doctor's ring, then took out the Medicinal Pill given by Elder Li and began to heal with all his might.

This time, he was severely injured.

His Meridians were fractured in many places, his Wheel Sea was dim, his True Essence was exhausted, and his Divine Soul was damaged.

Without ten days or half a month, it would be difficult to recover.

But he did not have that much time.

The Secret Realm was only open for one month, and he had to recover as soon as possible to head to the Chi Yang Valley.

"I can only take a risk." A trace of determination flashed in Ye Chen's eyes.

He took out the "golden toad fruit" obtained from the "verdant phosphorus ghost flower."

This fruit contained pure toxic power, but at the same time, it was a potent medicine that could stimulate potential, stimulate vitality, and assist in Breakthrough!

If used improperly, it would lead to death from poison.

But if combined with the harmonization of Ice Fire True Essence and Primal Chaos Qi, it might have miraculous effects, accelerating the recovery of his injuries.

And perhaps... take the opportunity to charge at the Third Level of the Wheel Sea Realm!

Ye Chen did not hesitate anymore and swallowed the "golden toad fruit."

The fruit melted upon entering his mouth, turning into a scorching, spicy, and surging torrent of life force that rushed into his limbs and bones!

Highly toxic poison and vitality coexisted, crazily impacting his already fragile Meridians and internal organs!

"Puff!" Ye Chen spat out a mouthful of black blood, his Face instantly turning crimson, then changing to purple.

His body trembled violently, as if about to explode.

He endured the inhuman pain and crazily circulated the "Hunyuan One-Qi Art"!

The Primal Chaos Qi acted like the gentlest solvent, attempting to harmonize and guide the violent medicinal power.

The Ice Lotus Imprint emitted cold qi, suppressing the scorching toxicity.

The Dark Red Ember pulsed, releasing vitality to repair the damage.

The jade booklet's clear radiance protected his Divine Soul, maintaining his spiritual platform from being extinguished.

Several forces intertwined, collided, and merged within his body.

His body seemed to have become a battlefield, and also like a furnace.

Time passed bit by bit.

The aura on Ye Chen's body was sometimes violent, sometimes weak, and his complexion changed unpredictably.

Sweat, mixed with blood and black Impurities, constantly seeped out from his pores.