96: Chapter 96 The Netherworld Decree: Kill Liu Yunfei!

"Liu Yunfei! Chen Ao! You actually dare to collude and strike me so viciously! The Sect will never let you go!"

Leng Ningshuang's cold voice carried anger and weakness.

That Core Disciple, Liu Yunfei, sneered.

"Leng Ningshuang, don't act so noble. In the Secret Realm, the weak are prey to the strong. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for discovering a secret you shouldn't have."

"And for taking something you shouldn't have. Hand over the 'netherworld token' and all your gains, and I might leave your corpse intact."

Chen Ao also stared at Leng Ningshuang with a face full of resentment and shouted harshly.

"Senior Brother Liu, why waste words with this bitch! Kill her quickly to avenge Senior Brother Qin Lie! And that little bastard Ye Chen is definitely with her; he might be hiding nearby!"

"netherworld token?"

Ye Chen's heart stirred.

It seemed that Leng Ningshuang had a fortuitous encounter after they separated.

She had obtained something called the "netherworld token," which attracted the greed and pursuit of Liu Yunfei and the others.

This Liu Yunfei actually colluded with Golden Flame Peak to strike his own fellow Disciple so viciously; his heart was truly wicked.

Seeing Leng Ningshuang stumble back again under Liu Yunfei's sword strike.

Chen Ao and another Golden Flame Peak Disciple took the opportunity to attack from both sides, blades and swords striking out together.

They were about to kill Leng Ningshuang on the spot.

Cold light burst from Ye Chen's eyes. No longer hiding, his figure was like lightning as he lunged out from behind the mushroom clusters.

The ice scar sword brought forth a gray, sharp Sword Gang, slashing directly at the back of Chen Ao's neck!

At the same time, with a wave of his left hand, several "Ice Spike Talismans" and "Blazing Fire Talismans" were activated, turning into a storm of ice and fire.

Enveloping the Golden Flame Peak Disciple and Liu Yunfei.

Not seeking to wound the enemy, but only to obstruct them and break the siege!

"Ye Chen! It's you, you little bastard!"

Hearing the sound of breaking air, Chen Ao turned his head in horror.

Seeing Ye Chen, he was both shocked and furious, hurriedly swinging his blade to block.

"Clang!"

As blade and sword met, Chen Ao felt an irresistible force surge through him. His long saber flew from his hand, and the webbing between his thumb and forefinger split open.

His entire body was sent flying backward, slamming hard against the rock wall. He spat out blood wildly, his aura instantly withering.

His eyes were filled with unbelievable horror.

Ye Chen's strength was more than just a level higher than during the arena battle?!

The other Golden Flame Peak Disciple was also blocked by the Talismans and retreated in disarray.

Liu Yunfei swung his sword to shatter the ice-fire storm.

His gaze turned cold as he looked at the suddenly appearing Ye Chen, a hint of surprise and killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"Ye Chen? I didn't expect you to still be alive; you're truly lucky. However, since you're here, stay here forever!"

Seeing Ye Chen, a complex ripple flashed through Leng Ningshuang's cold eyes.

There was surprise, and also a hint of relief.

"Junior Brother Ye, be careful. Liu Yunfei has already entered the Demonic Path and colluded with Golden Flame Peak. He wants to seize the 'netherworld token' to open the Netherworld Ruins and plot something nefarious!"

Ye Chen stood in front of Leng Ningshuang, holding the ice scar sword.

Facing Liu Yunfei, his expression was calm, but his gaze was as sharp as a blade.

"Senior Brother Liu, as a Core Disciple, you collude with others to harm your Junior Sister. Are you not afraid of the Sect's Law Enforcement Hall?"

"Law Enforcement Hall? Here, I am the law!"

Liu Yunfei grinned hideously, and the aura around him suddenly surged.

It even faintly carried a trace of Nether Qi from the same source as the soul-eroding yin wind; he clearly had another fortuitous encounter in this Secret Realm.

"Since you both want to die, I will fulfill your wish! Everyone, attack and kill them!"

His longsword vibrated, and with sharp killing intent, he was the first to pounce toward Ye Chen!

Chen Ao and the other Golden Flame Peak Disciple also suppressed their injuries and attacked again.

A more dangerous melee suddenly broke out on this Underground Riverbank!

On the Underground Riverbank, killing intent rose again.

Liu Yunfei's sword light was like lightning, carrying a chilling Nether Qi as it pierced directly toward Ye Chen's face.

Chen Ao and the Golden Flame Peak Disciple also struck from the left and right, their blades and swords sealing off Ye Chen's path of retreat.

The cooperation of the three was even more seamless than the previous Shadow Fiend assassins.

Furthermore, they were already wary of Ye Chen's strength, and their strikes were all-out efforts.

Ye Chen's eyes were cold as he faced the three-man encirclement.

He neither dodged nor avoided, instead pushing Phantom Step to its limit.

His figure, like a ghost, slammed violently toward the side of Chen Ao, who was the most heavily injured and weakest!

At the same time, gray Hunyuan True Essence flowed over the ice scar sword.

A move of Hunyuan Wind Severing Slash, carrying a Sword Intent that could break through anything, struck later but arrived first, slashing toward Chen Ao's neck!

He was actually posing in a life-risking stance to trade injuries for a life, aiming to disable one person first!

"Little bastard!"

Chen Ao paled in horror. He had not yet recovered from his heavy injuries and had just been wounded by Ye Chen again.

How could he dare to take this sharp sword strike head-on? He retreated in panic, his offensive instantly scattering.

Ye Chen forced Chen Ao back, his figure not stopping as his feet twisted strangely.

He actually passed through the gap in the encirclement between Chen Ao and the other Golden Flame Peak Disciple.

The ice scar sword swept back, blocking the sword strike from Liu Yunfei!

"Clang!"

An ear-piercing sound of clashing metal!

Ye Chen only felt a surge of cold, strange True Essence with corrosive power traveling down the sword.

It made his arm go numb and his blood boil, causing him to slide back several steps as his chest felt tight.

Liu Yunfei's cultivation was at the Middle Stage of the Fifth Level of the Wheel Sea Realm, and having absorbed Nether Qi, his strength was indeed formidable.

"You have some skill, but it ends here!"

Liu Yunfei sneered, his longsword vibrating again as faint black runes appeared on the blade.

It emitted an even more somber aura.

"Nether Sword Art—Yellow Springs Guide!"

The sword light turned into a winding black stream of light.

As if drawn from the Nine Nether Yellow Springs, carrying a mournful Sword Intent that snatched Souls, it attacked Ye Chen once more.

Wherever it passed, even the air seemed frozen and corroded.

At the same time, the Golden Flame Peak Disciple also regrouped and slashed his blade toward Ye Chen's back.

Chen Ao also gritted his teeth to suppress his injuries and attacked with his sword from the side.

Ye Chen was caught in a three-sided pincer attack; the situation was critical.

"Junior Brother Ye, catch the sword!"

Just then, Leng Ningshuang's cold, low shout came from behind him.

A purple light shot over, and Ye Chen caught it with a backhand; it felt ice-cold in his hand.

It was actually a short sword, entirely purple and ancient in design, radiating a sharp Sword Intent.

The word "Zixia" was engraved on the blade.

It was clearly a high-grade Spiritual Artifact, Leng Ningshuang's spare sword.

"Thank you, Senior Sister!"

Ye Chen's spirits lifted. With the Zixia short sword in his left hand and the ice scar sword in his right, he had dual swords in hand.

He pushed Phantom Step to its limit, his figure weaving through the three-man assault.

With the dual swords, he parried, blocked, attacked, and defended, actually managing to temporarily withstand the offensive.

"Dual Sword Style? Hmph, just bells and whistles!"

A hint of impatience flashed in Liu Yunfei's eyes. The offensive of his black longsword grew even more urgent, with layers of sword shadows enveloping Ye Chen.

He could see that although Ye Chen's movement technique was strange and his swordplay was exquisite.

But his cultivation was still a huge level lower; he would surely lose in a long battle.

However, Ye Chen's dual swords were not being swung randomly.

The ice scar sword focused on defense, with Hunyuan True Essence flowing to neutralize and dissolve the Nether Qi in the opponent's attacks.

The Zixia short sword focused on offense; although it wasn't his usual weapon.

But with his understanding of the Sword Dao and the inclusiveness of Hunyuan True Essence, he could still unleash impressive power.

The sword light was nimble, specifically targeting the opponent's vital points. In coordination with the ice scar sword, there was a faint sense of mutual complementation.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

The sounds of clashing metal rang out like popping beans.

Under the three-man siege, although Ye Chen was at a disadvantage, his steps were not disordered. His defense was airtight, and he occasionally counterattacked.

This also left Chen Ao and the Golden Flame Peak Disciple in a frantic state.

Leng Ningshuang also suppressed her injuries, swallowed a Medicinal Pill, and after a brief moment of breath adjustment, immediately joined the fray with her sword.

Though she was injured, her sword technique Realm was extremely high. The Zixia sword light blossomed, aimed directly at Liu Yunfei!

She knew very well that as long as she could entangle or even defeat Liu Yunfei, the remaining two, Chen Ao and the other, would be of no concern.

"Leng Ningshuang, you're looking for death!"

Liu Yunfei shouted in anger, forced to split his attention to deal with Leng Ningshuang's attack.

Although his strength was greater than Leng Ningshuang's, her swordplay was exquisite, and she fought without fear of death, making it difficult for him to win quickly.

The battle temporarily fell into a stalemate.

Ye Chen's pressure eased slightly, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

He knew he had to break the stalemate as quickly as possible.

Leng Ningshuang's injuries were not light; a prolonged battle would be disadvantageous.

Furthermore, the commotion here was too great and might attract other troubles.

Ye Chen's mind whirled, and he suddenly showed a weakness.

While blocking Chen Ao's attack with the ice scar sword, he deliberately overextended his strength, causing his figure to slightly stall.

"A good opportunity!"

Seeing this, a fierce light flashed in the Golden Flame Peak Disciple's eyes, thinking Ye Chen was exhausted.

He slashed his blade fiercely toward the opening in Ye Chen's left ribs!

"Watch out!"

Leng Ningshuang cried out.

However, at the moment the Golden Flame Peak Disciple's blade was about to hit his body, a cold arc curled at the corner of Ye Chen's mouth.

The Zixia short sword in his left hand suddenly left his hand, turning into a purple stream of light.

It wasn't an attack on his current opponent, but was instead shot toward Chen Ao, who was about to join the pincer attack from the side!

At the same time, his right hand's ice scar sword swiveled at an incredible angle, the gray sword light suddenly contracting.

Once again, it turned into that point of deep Chaos color, neither dodging nor avoiding.

Facing the incoming long saber, he thrust his sword out!

"Primordial Chaos Destruction Stab!"

The target was not the Golden Flame Peak Disciple, but the high-grade long saber in his hand!

Ye Chen saw that although this person's saber technique was fierce.

But his cultivation was only at the Early Stage of the Fourth Level of the Wheel Sea Realm, and the long saber he held was an extension of his power.

As long as his weapon was destroyed, his combat power would instantly decrease!

"What?!"

The Golden Flame Peak Disciple didn't expect Ye Chen to advance instead of retreating, much less that he wouldn't attack the person but the blade first!

It was too late to change his move.

"Puchi!"

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

The Chaos sword tip landed with pinpoint accuracy on the center of the long blade's spine.

It hit the node where the True Essence circulation was most concentrated, yet also most fragile!

It was like a red-hot iron wire piercing into a block of ice.

Under the erosion of the Primordial Chaos Destruction power, the long blade emitted a mournful wail.

The blade instantly became covered in cracks, lost all its spiritual light, and then, with a "crack," it snapped into two!

"My blade!" the Golden Flame Peak Disciple shrieked in shock, his mind severely shaken.

His life-bound Spiritual Artifact had been destroyed.

He immediately suffered a backlash, groaned, spat blood from the corner of his mouth, and his aura became chaotic.

At the same time, the Purple Cloud short sword shooting toward Chen Ao was also clumsily parried by him.

But the action strained his injuries again, causing his face to turn pale.

In the blink of an eye, Ye Chen had destroyed one man's weapon and injured another's mind!

"Seeking death!" Seeing this, Liu Yunfei was furious.

With one sword strike, he forced back Leng Ningshuang, his figure turning into a black shadow as he lunged straight at Ye Chen.

The black longsword, carrying a monstrous Nether Qi, struck down in anger.

"Nether Sword Art — Naihe Bridge!"

The sword light transformed into a long black bridge spanning the Void Realm, as if it were going to ferry Ye Chen's Soul to the Nether, with a terrifying might.

Ye Chen had just performed the "Primordial Chaos Destruction Stab"; his old strength was spent, and new strength had not yet been born.

Facing this angry strike from Liu Yunfei, he seemed unable to dodge.

"Ye Chen!" Leng Ningshuang's face turned pale with alarm.

Regardless of her own safety, she forcibly urged her True Essence.

She thrust her sword toward Liu Yunfei's back in an attempt to save Ye Chen by attacking his assailant.

However, Liu Yunfei did not dodge or evade.

Instead, the Nether Qi on his body surged.

Ignoring Leng Ningshuang's sword, the black longsword in his hand still slashed fiercely toward Ye Chen's head!

He was willing to be injured just to eliminate Ye Chen, the variable!

Seeing the black sword light about to strike, the shadow of death instantly enveloped him.

Yet, in Ye Chen's eyes, there was no fear, only a flash of madness and determination.

He looked up sharply; the Ice Lotus Imprint between his brows was brighter than ever before.

A pure, ancient Chaos cold qi burst forth!

At the same time, the Dark Red Ember in his Dantian pulsed crazily.

A hot, vital current of life intertwined with the Chaos cold qi.

"Ice Fire Annihilation Domain!"

Ye Chen roared, forcibly unleashing his final strength, along with the Origin of ice and fire and the intent of Chaos!

A strange Domain, barely a few feet in diameter, where ice crystals and flames bloomed and annihilated simultaneously, eventually returning to the void of Chaos, expanded abruptly from him as the center!

Within the Domain, time seemed to freeze, and space twisted slightly.

The descending black sword light slowed down the moment it entered the Domain.

The Nether Qi upon it was annihilated frantically!

Although it was only a rudimentary form and the range was extremely small, at this life-and-death moment, it was enough to save his life!

"What?!" Liu Yunfei's expression changed drastically.

He felt as if he had fallen into a swamp of Chaos; his sword momentum, True Essence, and even his spiritual perception were all heavily suppressed and interfered with!

How could this be? What kind of power was this?!

It was this momentary stagnation!

"Soul-Shocking Spike!"

From between Ye Chen's brows, an invisible Spirit Stab, more condensed and sharper than before, shot out silently.

It pierced straight into Liu Yunfei's Divine Soul, which was momentarily exposed due to the shock of the Domain's appearance!

"Ah!" Liu Yunfei felt a sharp pain in his Divine Soul, his vision went black, and the "Naihe Bridge" sword momentum completely collapsed.

His own movements also became stiff due to the damage to his Divine Soul.

"Now!"

Ye Chen endured the intense pain of his Divine Soul tearing and his True Essence drying up from the forced activation of the "Annihilation Domain" and "Soul-Shocking Spike."

He stomped hard on the ground, his body surged up, and he gripped the ice scar sword with both hands.

He poured his last bit of Hunyuan True Essence, along with all the strength of his Physical Body, fiercely into the sword.

He thrust it out toward the stiff, Soul-injured Liu Yunfei!

There were no bells and whistles, only a forward-moving determination!

"Die!"

The ice scar sword transformed into a grey stream of light, like dawn piercing the darkness, and thrust straight into Liu Yunfei's heart!

"No—!" Liu Yunfei sensed the fatal threat.

He let out an unwilling roar, wanting to dodge and parry, but the intense pain in his Divine Soul and the sluggishness from the "Annihilation Domain" made him a beat too slow.

"Puchi!" The sound of the sharp blade entering flesh was dull and clear.

The tip of the ice scar sword pierced through the Nether shield that Liu Yunfei had hastily gathered.

It stabbed into his left chest, protruding from his back!

Blood gushed out like a fountain.

Liu Yunfei's body stiffened suddenly.

The madness, resentment, and unwillingness in his eyes were quickly replaced by boundless fear and darkness.

He looked down at the sword tip protruding from his chest, and then at Ye Chen, who was close at hand, pale-faced but with cold eyes.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but only blood foam spilled out.

"You, you..."

He spat out two words with difficulty, and then the light in his eyes dimmed completely, his head tilted, and he died.

His body was kicked away by Ye Chen and fell to the ground.

A generation of Core Disciple, Liu Yunfei, at the Fifth Level of the Wheel Sea Realm, had fallen!

All of this, though long to tell, actually happened in just two or three breaths.

From Ye Chen revealing a flaw, to destroying the blade, injuring the mind, unleashing the "Annihilation Domain," and launching the "Soul-Shocking Spike," and finally the fatal strike on Liu Yunfei, it all happened with lightning speed, dazzling to the eye.

Not until Liu Yunfei's body hit the ground with a dull thud did Chen Ao and the Golden Flame Peak Disciple with the broken blade and injured mind wake from their trance.

Their faces were ashen, and their eyes were filled with boundless fear.

What had they just seen?

Senior Brother Liu Yunfei... killed by Ye Chen?!

How could this be?!

That was a Core Disciple, a Fifth Level of the Wheel Sea Realm expert!

"Run! Run quickly!"

Chen Ao was terrified out of his wits, having lost any desire to fight, and turned to flee for his life back the way he came, not even caring for his severely wounded fellow Disciple.

The Golden Flame Peak Disciple also let out a strange cry, dropped his broken blade, and scrambled to follow him.

Ye Chen leaned on his sword, gasping heavily, watching the backs of the two as they fled, but he had no strength left to chase.

The series of outbursts just now, especially the forced, incomplete "Ice Fire Annihilation Domain" and the final fatal sword strike, had almost completely drained him.

At this moment, he felt empty, his Meridians aching, and his Divine Soul weak.

Everything before his eyes was turning black, and he could collapse at any moment.

"Junior Brother Ye!"

Leng Ningshuang hurried forward, supporting the swaying Ye Chen and stuffing a warm Medicinal Pill into his mouth.

Her own face was as pale as paper.

Having forcibly withstood Liu Yunfei's strike earlier had aggravated her injuries, and she was at her limit as well.

The Medicinal Pill entered his abdomen, turning into a gentle, warm current that nourished Ye Chen's parched Meridians and Wheel Sea.

Ye Chen caught his breath and looked at Leng Ningshuang.

"Senior Sister, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just surface wounds."

Leng Ningshuang shook her head.

Looking at Ye Chen's pale face and the wound on his chest torn by Liu Yunfei's Sword Qi, a complex, indescribable emotion flashed in her cold eyes.

There was concern, shock, and a hint of lingering fear.

"You... too reckless."

"If we didn't fight, we would have been the ones to die."

Ye Chen smiled bitterly and struggled to stand straight.

He looked at Liu Yunfei's corpse, then at the direction in which Chen Ao and the other had fled, and said in a deep voice, "We cannot let them leave alive. If Liu Yunfei dies in the Secret Realm, it might be covered up, but if they go out and talk, it will be a big problem."

Leng Ningshuang nodded, a flash of murderous intent in her eyes.

"They won't get far; they are both injured. I will go after them."

"Together."

Ye Chen took the Medicinal Pill and forcibly summoned a sliver of True Essence.

Letting a tiger return to the mountain would lead to endless trouble; he had to eliminate the threat once and for all.

Without another word, the two chased in the direction Chen Ao and the other had fled.

Chen Ao and his companion were severely injured and terrified, so their speed was not fast.

After chasing for less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they reached a fork in the road and caught up with the Golden Flame Peak Disciple who had lost his blade and was lagging behind.

Seeing Ye Chen and Leng Ningshuang chasing after him, the man was scared out of his wits and knelt down to beg for mercy.

"Senior Sister Cold, Senior Brother Ye, spare me! It was all forced by Liu Yunfei and Chen Ao! I don't know anything, I..."

Before he could finish his words, Leng Ningshuang's sword flashed, and she ended his life.

For those who collude to harm fellow Disciples, she would not be soft-hearted.

"Chen Ao ran that way."

Leng Ningshuang pointed to a darker, foul-smelling fork in the road to the left.

The two chased into the fork.

This fork seemed to be a lair for some kind of Yao Beast, with bones and excrement scattered on the ground.

Not long after chasing, Chen Ao's terrified scream and a dull thud came from ahead.

The two quickened their pace and rushed around a corner.

They saw Chen Ao leaning against the rock wall, his face pale and his whole body trembling.

In front of him stood a huge, lizard-like Yao Beast!

Its body was covered in pale white bone armor, and foul-smelling saliva flowed from its mouth!

The Yao Beast had a ferocious aura, reaching the Late Stage of the Third Rank, and was staring fixedly at Chen Ao with scarlet eyes, clearly regarding him as prey that had intruded into its territory.