270: Chapter 270 The Ghostly Blue Reaper

The timing of the three deep blue cold glints appearing was too coincidental; they had clearly calculated the exact moment Ye Tian reached the cave entrance!

Moreover, this bone-chillingly cold energy actually slowed Ye Tian's blood flow, bringing a sense of numbness to his limbs.

This was not just a True Yuan attack, but also contained some kind of insidious cold poison!

The assassins of the Shadow Calamity Tower were indeed ruthless and experienced; their first move was a killing blow!

"Crap!"

Ye Tian had just undergone the conflict with Ling Jianming and the mental strain of sneaking all the way; encountering a sudden ambush now, a momentary gap indeed appeared in his mind.

For a professional assassin, seizing such a fleeting gap was second nature!

He couldn't dodge it!

Given his current position and posture, no matter how he dodged, at least one cold glint would inevitably hit a vital spot!

At this life-and-death moment, the chaos bead deep within Ye Tian's Sea of Consciousness suddenly vibrated, and a current of air instantly flowed throughout his body, slightly dispersing the invading cold energy and restoring the sharpness of his thoughts and physical reactions!

He made the most precise judgment almost instinctively!

No dodging or evading—using offense as defense!

Since he couldn't dodge, he would tank one and counterattack!

The target was the cold glint aimed straight at his throat!

Because that was the "main attack point" where the assassin expected him to dodge or block, having the most follow-up variations and being the most lethal.

While the two aimed at his heart and Dantian might be "secondary attacks" or "distractions."

"Hah!"

Ye Tian let out a low growl, and his entire body's True Yuan instantly condensed into two fingers!

He didn't draw the liuguang sword from his waist; that would be too slow!

Using his fingers as a sword, he unleashed the "Cloud-Breaking" intent, and the silver cold star at his fingertips lunged toward the deep blue cold glint shooting at his throat!

Simultaneously, he twisted his body as much as possible, shifting his heart and Dantian vital points slightly from their original positions. At the same time, he fully circulated the Dragon Elephant Art, a faint golden luster appearing beneath his skin as he pushed his hard qigong to the limit, preparing to endure the impact!

*Chii!*

The silver finger-sword and the deep blue cold glint collided half an inch before Ye Tian's throat, exploding simultaneously. Chaotic energy sprayed in all directions, shredding the surrounding broken wooden boxes and fishing nets!

Ye Tian felt a strange, bone-chilling cold force from his fingertips trying to drill into his Meridians. Simultaneously, a massive force numbed his entire right arm, making his blood surge. A sweetness rose in his throat as a mouthful of blood welled up, which he forced back down.

But his finger strike was equally indestructible. The silver cold star instantly crushed the core of the deep blue cold glint and, with undiminished momentum, followed the path of the opponent's attack to pierce back into the shadows!

*Puff! Puff!*

Almost at the same time, of the other two deep blue cold glints, one grazed the edge of Ye Tian's chest, leaving a trail of blood, while the other hit the side of his lower abdomen. Although the Dragon Elephant Art neutralized most of the force, it still broke the skin, leaving a wound that emitted wisps of cold air!

Sharp pain accompanied by bone-chilling cold instantly spread!

"Hmph!"

A muffled groan came from the shadows, tinged with a hint of astonishment.

Clearly, Ye Tian's ruthless counterattack, meeting offense with offense, had exceeded the assassin's expectations.

Especially that condensed finger force attacking in reverse; although the assassin had neutralized most of it with a secret technique, the residual Sword Intent still caused his breath to hitch.

This momentary stall was enough for Ye Tian!

Enduring the sharp pain and cold in his chest and abdomen, the Taixu Star-Shift Steps beneath his feet instantly erupted. He no longer sought stealth, only speed!

He charged toward the lake surface outside the waterway exit diagonally ahead!

He intended to escape using the water!

"Trying to run?!"

In the shadows, a figure shrouded in black night-traveler clothes flickered into view. A pair of oddly shaped Water-Dividing Spikes in his hands thrust toward Ye Tian's back again, thirty percent faster than before!

This person's movement technique was eerie, his Aura cold, and his cultivation had reached the Peak of the Ninth Stage of True Martial Realm!

Furthermore, he specialized in assassination and stealth, making his combat strength more threatening than Ling Jianming of the same level.

Feeling the bone-chilling killing intent and the faster, stronger attack from behind, Ye Tian knew that if he didn't completely resolve or shake off this person, escape would be extremely difficult.

Once delayed for even a moment, if the people from Wanren Sword Pavilion or other coveters arrived, he would surely die.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and the ancient sword pill he had been suppressing finally moved!

*Weng!*

Within the Dantian, the ancient sword pill vibrated gently, and an incomparable Sword Dao Origin Aura instantly surged into Ye Tian's limbs, merging with his own True Yuan.

His entire Aura suddenly shifted, and the Aura of the Seventh Stage of True Martial Realm instantly erupted!

His forward momentum didn't decrease; it even increased. Without looking back, he pointed a finger behind him!

This time, it was no longer a simple finger-sword.

Atop his fingertip, dark golden light flowed, and the faint sound of a dragon's roar and a sword's hum echoed!

That was the Origin Sword Qi of the ancient sword pill!

Ancient Sword: Void-Breaker!

*Clang!*

The finger-sword collided with the Water-Dividing Spikes!

A violent wave of air exploded, kicking up waves several feet high in the lake water near the waterway exit!

"What?!"

For the first time, horror appeared in the black-clad assassin's eyes. He felt a Sword Dao will from the Water-Dividing Spikes that seemed capable of severing everything!

His pair of High Grade Profound Rank Spiritual Artifact Water-Dividing Spikes, forged from thousand-year profound ice cold iron, actually let out an overburdened "crack" as fine fissures appeared on the blades!

Even more terrifyingly, that power was unstoppable, instantly crushing his protective True Yuan and slamming violently into his Meridians!

*Puff!*

The black-clad assassin sprayed a large mouthful of blood containing ice shards into the air, flying backward and slamming into the stone wall of the waterway, his Aura weakening instantly.

He never would have imagined that this target, whom they viewed as a turtle in a jar, would hide such terrifying cultivation and trump cards!

The Sword Intent contained in that finger-sword... was far beyond his understanding!

Ye Tian also let out a muffled groan, a trail of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth.

Forcing the ancient sword pill's Origin to produce such a strike put a massive strain on him. Combined with the injuries from tanking the two cold glints earlier, his blood was surging, his True Yuan was in disarray, and his injuries were significant.

But he didn't dare stay for a moment, not even having time to check if the assassin was dead or alive. Using the recoil force, he plunged into the icy lake water outside the waterway!

*Splash!*

Water splashed everywhere as Ye Tian's figure was instantly swallowed by the lake.

Almost two or three breaths after Ye Tian entered the water, several whistling sounds echoed. Ah Fu arrived at the waterway exit with two guards from the Wanren Sword Pavilion and two other men of varying dress with cold Auras.

They saw the black-clad assassin slumped against the stone wall, gasping for breath, as well as the bloodstains on the ground and walls and the ripples on the lake surface that hadn't yet settled. They instantly understood what had happened here!

"Chase him! He's injured; he won't get far!"

A fierce light flashed in Ah Fu's eyes, and he leaped into the lake without hesitation.

The others looked at each other and also jumped into the water one after another.

The temptation of the ancient sword pill was enough for them to take the risk.

The icy lake water instantly enveloped his body, and a stinging pain and sense of cold erosion came from his wounds.

Ye Tian gritted his teeth, fully circulating the Star Qi Induction Art. While resisting the cold poison, he also concealed his Aura and dove toward the depths of the lake.

In his hand, he tightly gripped that fragment, which vaguely pointed toward a certain direction in the center of the lake.

He didn't swim straight in that direction; instead, he first wove through the water plants, reefs, and shipwreck remains at the bottom of the lake, trying to shake off the pursuit.

He knew that tracking underwater was harder than on land, but as long as blood or an Aura was left behind, it remained dangerous for Cultivators with special tracking methods.

After swimming for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the dull pain in his chest and the cold in his abdomen grew heavier, and his True Yuan consumption was massive.

He found a natural crevice formed by a dense patch of water plants and a giant reef, quietly slipped inside, held his breath, and suppressed his Aura to the limit. Simultaneously, he took out the soul-nourishing wood core and pressed it to his brow to nourish his damaged mind, then swallowed several Medicinal Pills for healing and True Yuan recovery.

There were faint sounds of water being disturbed outside; clearly, the pursuers were still searching nearby.

Ye Tian remained calm, silently circulating his power to force out the cold poison that had invaded his wounds.

This cold poison was quite troublesome, but under the flowing clear light of the chaos bead, combined with his powerful Physical Body and True Yuan, it was gradually suppressed and dispersed.