107: Chapter 107 Hilly Ambush

Leaving Qingmu Town, Ye Tian took a relatively remote but shorter route through the "Woma Hills," heading straight for Liuli City.

With his cultivation having advanced significantly to the Peak of the Third Layer of Ningyuan, combined with Blood Shadow Step and his partially converted Stellar True Essence, he was capable of handling most dangers.

After all, the Blood Blade Sect's pursuit order was still ringing in his ears, and his grudge with Zhao Qianju of the Liuyun Sect remained unresolved; keeping a low profile was always the right choice.

The Woma Hills featured undulating terrain and dense forests where Yao Beasts often appeared. Ordinary merchant caravans didn't dare cross easily, but for Ye Tian, it was a natural trial ground.

As he traveled, he familiarized himself with the properties of Stellar True Essence, integrating Astral Power into his Overlapping Wave Fist and Blood Shadow Step. Both power and speed improved, giving him more confidence for the upcoming Liuli Xuan Sect examination.

However, just as he passed through a Black Pine Forest and stepped onto the final stretch of the official road to Liuli City, an obscure yet intense aura of killing intent suddenly locked onto him!

"Hmm?"

Ye Tian's footsteps halted instantly, his eyes scanning the clearing in the forest ahead.

He subconsciously circulated Blood Shadow Step, his figure becoming blurred.

"Hehe, you little bastard are quite sharp! Unfortunately, you won't escape today even if you had wings!"

A sinister voice rang out, carrying bone-deep hatred.

Before the voice could fade, three figures slowly stepped out from different directions, surrounding Ye Tian.

The leader was an old acquaintance, Elder Zhang of the Blood Blade Sect!

His face was still somewhat pale, and the wound on his side didn't seem fully healed, but his aura was even more ferocious than during their last encounter, with the resentment in his eyes nearly overflowing.

Beside him stood two men also dressed in Blood Blade Sect attire, one holding a saber and the other a sword, both at the Peak of the Yuan Condensation Second Layer.

What made Ye Tian's gaze narrow most was the young man standing behind and to the side of Elder Zhang with a perverted look in his eyes—the Blood Blade Sect Young Lord, Xue Li!

He actually came too?

His cultivation was still at the Qi Gathering Ninth Stage, which seemed pitifully weak in the eyes of the current Ye Tian.

"It really is a small world for enemies."

Ye Tian's expression was calm.

Elder Zhang's injuries hadn't healed, but he had brought two helpers, and with Xue Li present, the other side had certainly come prepared.

Although this place was remote, it wasn't far from the official road. He had to end the fight quickly to avoid attracting more trouble.

"Kid, didn't expect this, did you? This Young Lord has come personally to send you on your way!"

Xue Li fanned himself with a folding fan. "Last time outside Liuli City, you were lucky enough to escape. Let's see where you can run this time!"

"Elder Zhang, cripple his cultivation. This Young Lord wants to deal with him personally!"

Elder Zhang gave a sinister laugh and stared at Ye Tian. "Don't worry, Young Lord. This time, he definitely won't escape again! Formation!"

At his command, the two men at the Peak of the Yuan Condensation Second Layer immediately shifted their footing, forming a combined attack Formation with Elder Zhang. Their internal energies linked, and their killing intent blocked all of Ye Tian's paths of retreat.

This Formation was clearly one they had specifically practiced to deal with Ye Tian.

"Little bastard, give me your life!"

Elder Zhang was the first to attack, using that same sharp blood-colored claw technique, but this time, the claw wind carried a sinister force that corroded blood and Qi!

Simultaneously, the other two men struck with saber and sword, cooperating from the left and right with ruthless Moves, sealing off Ye Tian's space to dodge.

Facing the combined attack of the three, Ye Tian's eyes were cold!

The Stellar True Essence within his body erupted!

After the tempering in the Falling Star Rift Valley and the nourishment of the star core, his True Essence, in both quality and quantity, far exceeded those of the same level!

"Starfall Finger!"

Starlight suddenly appeared at his fingertips!

This time, it was no longer a Move created on the fly, but a strike containing the initial Profound Truth of the Star Qi Induction Art!

The finger wind was like a star, striking second but arriving first, piercing straight toward Elder Zhang's claw technique!

The finger wind and the blood claw collided, instantly emitting a piercing tearing sound!

Elder Zhang only felt a scorching force instantly tear through his claw energy, surging up through the Meridians in his arm!

His face changed drastically, and he retreated in horror, while frantically circulating his True Essence to neutralize that Astral Power!

"How is this possible?! Your True Essence..."

Elder Zhang was both shocked and furious. In such a short time, Ye Tian's strength had actually surged to such an extent?

At the moment he retreated, Ye Tian's Blood Shadow Step erupted with full force, passing through the gap between the saber-wielding man on the left and Elder Zhang.

Simultaneously, he threw a left punch. Dragon-Elephant Power surged, layered with the explosive force of Stellar True Essence!

"Overlapping Wave Mountain Collapse!"

The saber-wielding man never expected Ye Tian's speed to be so fast and his power so fierce!

In his haste, he blocked with his saber, but felt a force like a mountain torrent rushing in!

The blade shook violently, the webbing of his thumb split, and the long saber flew out of his hand!

The punch's force penetrated his body, shattering his sternum completely. He was sent flying backward, snapping a large tree, and died on the spot!

An instant kill of a Peak Yuan Condensation Second Layer!

The other man with the sword was instantly terrified, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and his sword momentum couldn't help but stall.

Ye Tian showed no mercy, turning his body again. Starlight reappeared at his fingertips as he pointed toward the man's throat!

"Save me!" The sword-wielding man was so terrified he didn't know what to do, subconsciously screaming.

Elder Zhang suppressed his injuries and lunged forward with a roar to rescue him, a blood-colored palm print striking toward the back of Ye Tian's heart!

However, Ye Tian had already sensed it. With a shift of his Blood Shadow Step, he avoided the palm wind. The direction of the Starfall Finger remained unchanged, but its speed increased by another thirty percent!

"Puchi!"

His fingertip instantly pierced through the sword-wielding man's throat!

The latter's eyes widened as he clutched his spurting neck and slowly collapsed.

In the blink of an eye, the two helpers at the Peak of the Yuan Condensation Second Layer had fallen!

All of this happened too fast—so fast that the playful smile on Xue Li's face had only just frozen before immediately turning into terror!

"No... impossible!"

Xue Li screamed, retreating repeatedly, trembling all over as he looked at the god-of-slaughter-like Ye Tian.

Elder Zhang was both shocked and terrified!

He hadn't expected that in just a few days, Ye Tian would have become strong to this extent!

He knew that if they couldn't kill Ye Tian today, it would be they who died!

"Blood Blade Secret Art, Blood Ignition!"

Madness flashed in Elder Zhang's eyes. He suddenly bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of essence blood. Blood-red light surged around him, and his aura instantly climbed to a level close to the Fourth Level of Yuan Condensation!

This was a life-risking forbidden technique with a massive cost!

"Little bastard, die for me!"

Acting like a madman, Elder Zhang turned into a blood shadow. His speed exploded as both claws struck out, blood-colored claw glows enveloping Ye Tian with power several times stronger than before!

Facing this life-risking strike, Ye Tian's expression was solemn, not daring to be careless.

Astral Power from his Dantian flooded into his Meridians!

Stellar True Essence circulated at his fingertips, transforming into a spherical gas!

Inside the sphere, nebulae swirled, with destructive power held in check but ready to erupt!

"Starfall Finger, Starburst!"

Ye Tian gave a low shout and thrust the energy ball toward the oncoming blood-colored claw glows!

This was a killing Move he had comprehended from the Star Qi Induction Art, highly compressing violent Astral Power before releasing it instantly!

Although its speed wasn't as fast as a regular Starfall Finger, its lethality was much stronger.

"Boom!"

Starlight and blood glow collided violently, producing a deafening roar!

Piercing light illuminated the entire forest clearing.

The violent energy shockwave snapped all the surrounding trees!

After only a moment's stalemate, the starlight annihilated the blood-colored claw glows with overwhelming force and struck Elder Zhang heavily!

"No!"

Elder Zhang let out a desperate scream as his protective True Essence shattered, and his body was completely swallowed by the starlight!

As the light dissipated, only a scorched deep pit and a few wisps of black smoke remained.

Elder Zhang was left without even a corpse!

Xue Li had long since collapsed to the ground in terror, his crotch soaked. His face was pale as a ghost as he watched Ye Tian approach step by step in horror.

"Don't... don't kill me! I am the Blood Blade Sect's Young Lord! My father is the Blood Blade Sect Leader! If you kill me, the Blood Blade Sect will never rest until you're dead!"

Xue Li threatened incoherently, tears and snot streaming down his face.

Ye Tian walked up to him and looked down at him with icy eyes: "Never rest? From the moment you all ambushed me, it was already a fight to the death."

"No! I can give you Spirit Stones! Cultivation Techniques! Women! Just let me go!"

Xue Li kowtowed desperately.

Ye Tian shook his head, without a hint of pity in his heart.

To be kind to your enemies is to be cruel to yourself.

This Xue Li was petty and vindictive with a malicious mind; leaving him alive would lead to endless trouble.

Whoosh...

A flash of starlight flickered and vanished.

Xue Li's pleas for mercy stopped abruptly. A tiny red dot appeared at the center of his forehead, the light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and he fell to the ground dead.

Expressionless, Ye Tian cleaned up the battlefield, collecting their Storage Pouches and valuables, especially any Blood Blade Sect tokens or Cultivation Techniques Elder Zhang might have had.

Then, with a flick of his finger, he shot out a few wisps of True Fire, turning the corpses to ash and erasing most traces of the battle.

After finishing all this, he glanced in the direction of Liuli City.

This trouble with the Blood Blade Sect probably wouldn't be resolved so easily.

Joining the Liuli Xuan Sect to gain greater strength and background was the best path.

He didn't linger any longer, his figure turning into a stream of light as he quickly disappeared at the end of the official road.

In the forest clearing, only scorched earth and ash remained.

The Elder and Young Lord of the Blood Blade Sect had perished here.