271: Chapter 271 A Beast Trapped in a Net, Blood Stains the Lake

About half an hour passed, and the commotion outside gradually faded, but Ye Tian didn't dare be careless.

He sensed carefully, and after confirming it was temporarily safe, he began to treat his wounds.

The chest was just a flesh wound; applying Golden Sore Ointment would suffice.

The wound on his lower abdomen was deeper and corroded by cold poison, the flesh turning somewhat black.

He used True Yuan to force out the residual poisonous blood, then used the chaos bead's clear glow to cleanse the wound, finally applied the best Muscle-Generating Powder, and wrapped it tightly with clean cloth strips.

After doing all this, he was drenched in sweat and his face was pale.

Although this attack was dangerous, it also gave him a clearer understanding of his own strength.

A cultivation level of the Seventh Stage of True Martial Realm, combined with the ancient sword pill and the "Cloud-Breaking" true intent, was enough to instantly heavily injure or even kill an assassin at the Peak of the Ninth Stage of True Martial Realm.

But the consumption was also enormous, and once exposed, the consequences would be endless.

"I must leave the vicinity of Yunni City as soon as possible, find a safe place to heal, digest the gains from the Ancient Sword Manor, and stabilize my cultivation.

Then, I will go search for clues about that Sword Scripture."

Ye Tian calculated in his heart.

He definitely couldn't return to the inn; it must be under surveillance.

Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape... hopefully they are clever enough not to have been exposed.

He had to find a way to notify them or agree on a place to meet.

He cautiously extended his Divine Sense from his hiding place, and after confirming no one was nearby, he floated upward and quietly poked his head out from a thicket of lush reeds near the water's surface.

It was near dawn, and a layer of morning mist shrouded the lake, making visibility low.

In the distance, the lights of Yunni City were dim, and the sound of voices faintly came from the direction of the pier.

He identified the direction and slowly swam toward the hilly area across the lake from Yunni City.

There, the water was shallow with many mudflats, and the terrain was complex, suitable for temporary hiding and observing the movements in the city on the opposite bank.

Just as he swam to about a hundred zhang from the lakeshore, a huge fishing net, shimmering with the cold light of metal, suddenly and silently spread out beneath the calm water surface ahead!

The fishing net covered a very wide area, almost blocking all his routes forward, and it was hung with countless barbs—clearly a specially made Magical Artifact designed specifically for underwater capture!

Simultaneously, from the left, right, and rear, the water surged as four figures wearing diving suits and holding underwater weapons like Water-Dividing Spikess and Hook-Scythes burst through the water, surrounding him in the center!

These people had fierce auras and cold eyes, with cultivation levels between the True Martial Fifth Stage and the Seventh Stage of True Martial Realm. They coordinated perfectly, clearly a well-trained underwater combat team.

"Hehe, kid, we've been waiting for you for a long time!"

The leading man sent a voice transmission, his voice carrying a cruel grin. "You offended the Wanren Sword Pavilion and the Shadow Calamity Tower, and you still want to slip away from this Falling Star Lake? Do you treat this lake bottom like your own backyard? If you know what's good for you, hand over the ancient sword pill, and I'll leave you a whole corpse!"

Ye Tian's heart sank instantly.

It turned out the opponent had already set up a second, or even third, blockade on this seemingly most likely escape route!

These water ghosts might not be direct subordinates of the Wanren Sword Pavilion or Shadow Calamity Tower; they were likely local underworld forces from Yunni City who lived off the water, attracted by the heavy reward.

Their individual strength might not be as good as the previous black-clad assassins, but in this underwater environment, with superior numbers and preparation, the threat was equally fatal!

A giant net blocked the path ahead, pursuers closed in from behind, and strong enemies were on both sides.

Ye Tian's injuries were not yet healed, and his True Yuan was mostly consumed; he was truly in a desperate situation!

He slowly clenched his fists, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

It seemed he wouldn't be able to leave without carving out a blood-soaked path.

In the cold lake water, Ye Tian was surrounded by five people, with a giant net blocking his way.

The leader was a One-eyed Man; his left eye wore an eyepatch, and his right eye sparkled with sharp light. He had a short, hard, iron-gray stubble on his chin, and his exposed neck and arms were covered in water rust and old scars. He was clearly a ruthless character who lived on the water year-round, with a cultivation of the Seventh Stage of True Martial Realm.

The way he looked at Ye Tian was filled with greed mixed with experienced caution; he clearly knew the target wasn't easy to deal with, but relying on numbers, the terrain, and Ye Tian's injuries, he felt victory was within his grasp.

"Kid, don't think about playing tricks!"

The One-eyed Man's voice carried the tone of a water bandit. "This 'Gold-Entwining Net' is the tool I use to earn my living; it specifically breaks the protective True Yuan of you landlubbers!"

"The 'Qi-Breaking Barbs' on the net are coated with the poison of the 'Black Water Snake'—it kills instantly upon drawing blood. The taste won't be pleasant!"

He used words to apply pressure while gesturing to his companions.

The four water ghosts (two at the True Martial Sixth Stage, two at the True Martial Fifth Stage) closed in slowly with tacit understanding, using various weapons: some used Water-Parting Emei Spikes, some used Hook-Scythe Spears with barbs, and two others used poisoned blowguns and Water-Parting Shuttles. They were clearly veterans accustomed to combined underwater attacks from both near and far.

Ye Tian suspended himself in the water. Under the effects of the cold lake water and the Medicinal Pills, his wounds had temporarily stopped bleeding, but the cold Qi hadn't been cleared, his chest and abdomen throbbed with pain, and his True Yuan was only at fifty or sixty percent.

His face was cold and stern as his gaze swept around, his brain working rapidly.

Fighting head-on was definitely not the best strategy; he had to end it quickly and break the deadlock in one strike!

His gaze finally landed on that giant "Gold-Entwining Net."

His Divine Sense spread quietly, instantly capturing that the edges of the giant net were controlled by two special metal "Main Ropes" shimmering with runes, held by the two True Martial Sixth Stage water ghosts on the left and right.

Of these two water ghosts, one was tall and thin like a bamboo pole with sinister eyes. The other was short, stout, and sturdy, with arms as thick as iron.

Break the "Main Ropes," and the net would break itself!

"Attack!"

The One-eyed Man shouted and was the first to strike!

His Water-Dividing Spikes slashed out, and two water arrows shot silently toward Ye Tian.

Simultaneously, the four water ghosts moved together!

The tall, thin water ghost and the short, stout water ghost pulled the Main Ropes hard, and the giant net tightened and loomed over.

The one with the Hook-Scythe Spear swept at Ye Tian's lower body.

The two using hidden weapons either blew out poisonous needles or threw shuttles, blocking the space above and below!

Facing the all-around attack, a fierce light flashed in Ye Tian's eyes. He condensed most of his remaining True Yuan into his legs and back, activated the Dragon Elephant Art's hard qi, and simultaneously performed the underwater variation of the Taixu Star-Shift Steps, suddenly sinking and twisting!

"Puff! Puff! Ssh!"

Most of the attacks missed or caused grazing wounds, but Ye Tian also gained new injuries: his left shoulder was grazed by a poisonous needle, and his right leg was slashed by a Hook-Scythe.

He let out a muffled groan, blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth, but he took the opportunity to rush to the planned position, only three zhang away from the tall, thin water ghost!

And he was in a staggered straight line with the One-eyed Man and the short, stout water ghost.

"He wants to take the rope! Stop him!"

The One-eyed Man was experienced and saw through it instantly, urgently sending a voice transmission while moving rapidly, his Water-Dividing Spikes aiming straight for the back of Ye Tian's heart.

The short, stout water ghost also pulled the Main Rope hard, causing part of the giant net to loom over Ye Tian, while he also brandished his Water-Dividing Spikes and stabbed.

At the very moment the tall, thin water ghost pulled the Main Rope hard, causing the rope to be taut and its runes to shine brightest, Ye Tian no longer held back and communicated with the ancient sword pill in his Dantian!

"Buzz!"

Sword Qi surged into his right arm, and he pointed his fingers to "slash" through the air toward the taut metal Main Rope in the tall, thin water ghost's hand!

A dark gold thin line flashed by!

"Clang!"

The Main Rope in the tall, thin water ghost's hand, made of hundred-refined cold iron mixed with mithril, snapped upon contact!

The cut was smooth!

"What?!"

The tall, thin water ghost was hit by the backlash of his own force, staggering in horror.

The giant net became unbalanced and tilted.

After unleashing this strike, Ye Tian's face was deathly pale, and his aura plummeted. The backlash from forcibly activating the ancient sword pill's Origin added injury to injury, and his True Yuan was almost completely depleted.

Behind him, the One-eyed Man's Water-Dividing Spikes and the short, stout water ghost's attack were already close at hand!

At the line between life and death, Ye Tian relied on combat instinct to forcibly twist his body, using his left hand to perform the Heart-Piercing Finger evolved into palm force, striking the side of the One-eyed Man's Water-Dividing Spikes.

"Clang!"

Palm and spike collided; Ye Tian's left arm shook violently, his palm bones felt like they were about to crack, and he spat out blood, but he used the force to flip sideways, avoiding his vital organs.

The One-eyed Man's Water-Dividing Spikes grazed his ribs, bringing up a mist of blood and cracking his ribs.

The short, stout water ghost's Water-Dividing Spikes, however, stabbed into his left shoulder blade, passing straight through!

The intense pain almost made Ye Tian faint, but he bit the tip of his tongue and used the two forces of impact to roll toward the opening in the giant net created by the broken rope!

"Stop him! He's at his limit!"

The One-eyed Man was both shocked and furious, chasing after him urgently.

The other water ghosts also lunged forward frantically.

Covered in blood and with blurred consciousness, Ye Tian mustered his last bit of strength and threw a fragment in his hand toward the face of the water ghost with the blowgun who was chasing closest!

"Clang!"

The fragment was knocked away, causing a slight delay.

Ye Tian had already rolled and squeezed through the gap in the giant net by force!

The broken hooks added several more deep-to-the-bone wounds to his body, his blood staining the lake water red.

"Pursue! He can't run!"

The One-eyed Man was flying into a rage, leading the charge through the gap to pursue.

Relying on his final will to survive, Ye Tian swam desperately toward the nearby lakeshore mudflats.

The pursuers were close behind, and the water flow caused by the One-eyed Man's Water-Dividing Spikes touched his ankle.

Ten zhang... five zhang... three zhang...

Ye Tian suddenly kicked off the silt at the bottom of the lake and lunged forward with all his remaining strength!

"Splash!"

His upper body burst out of the water, and he collapsed onto the pebbled mudflat.

He tried to stand up but fell again due to his heavy injuries and exhaustion.

"Haha! Kid, let's see where you can run now!"

The One-eyed Man and the other water ghosts had also rushed onto the shore, surrounding him in a fan shape. Looking at Ye Tian, who was slumped in a pool of blood and at his last breath, their eyes showed cruel greed.