49: Chapter 49 Chaotic Battle for Treasure, A Sparrow Awaits from Behind

Escaping by jumping out the window seemed the safest option, but it was also the most likely to expose him to both sides, making him a living target.

Drawing disaster to others would create too much commotion and might not even be effective.

He could hide himself, like a viper lurking in the shadows, waiting quietly for the right moment to reap the greatest benefits from the chaos!

With Xuanbing Pavilion and Yinkui Sect biting each other like dogs, it was the perfect time for the fisherman to profit!

Lin Ye made a prompt decision; instead of rushing to the window, he curled his body, slinking into the shadows in the corner of the room like a civet cat, activating his Qi Concealment Technique to the fullest, suppressing his aura to the absolute limit until he seemed to merge with the wall.

At the same time, he gripped the ancient ring yuan sha tightly in his left hand, ready to unleash its power at any moment, while his right hand clutched several low-power "Ice Explosion Talismans" he had purchased from the market.

His gaze, meanwhile, was fixed intently on the battle downstairs through the cracks in the door and the holes in the wall.

The battle downstairs was in full swing.

Murong Bai's swordsmanship was exquisite; as he swung his ice-crystal longsword, frost filled the air, enveloping the figure in black robes.

However, the figure in black robes had strange footwork, moving like a ghost, always managing to dodge the sword's edge at the last possible second, while the chilling, bone-corroding aura in his palm strikes constantly eroded Murong Bai's protective spiritual light.

"Scum of Yinkui Sect, how dare you run wild in Frost Snow City!"

Murong Bai roared angrily, his sword momentum intensifying.

"Hehe, Murong Bai, hand over the key fragment to the 'Ice Soul Secret Realm', and I will spare your life!"

The figure in black robes spoke in a raspy, grating voice, his attacks ruthless.

Ice Soul Secret Realm? the key fragment?

Lin Ye's heart stirred; could the ancient Restriction previously discovered by the Black Ice Mercenary Group be the so-called "Ice Soul Secret Realm"?

And the key fragment... could the dark red metal lump he had obtained be one of them?

No wonder Xuanbing Pavilion was so nervous!

While he was thinking, the situation in the battle suddenly changed!

Seeming to want to end the fight quickly, the figure in black robes suddenly slapped a black leather pouch at his waist; a flash of black light emerged from the pouch, and two black shadows shot out, transforming upon landing into two pitch-black humanoid Puppets with metallic-sheened joints!

Red light flickered in the Puppets' eyes as they lunged fearlessly at Murong Bai, while the figure in black robes flickered, turning into three afterimages and attacking Murong Bai from different angles!

"Shadow Puppet Technique! You are a Shadow Envoy of Yinkui Sect!"

Murong Bai's expression changed, his sword light splitting to deal with both the two Puppets and the main body of the figure in black robes simultaneously, immediately increasing the pressure on him.

The other two men in black also released their own Puppets, engaging in a chaotic melee with the Xuanbing Pavilion Disciples.

The inn's lobby was already cramped, and now it was in complete disarray; the sounds of Magical Artifacts colliding, the roars of Puppets, and the screams of Cultivators were endless.

Cultivators (whether Xuanbing Pavilion Disciples or men in black) were constantly being injured, falling to the ground, or even dying.

Their Storage Pouches and Magical Artifacts were scattered all over the floor.

Like the most patient hunter, Lin Ye scanned the chaotic battlefield.

His goals were clear: first, fish in troubled waters and pick up valuable loot; second, look for an opportunity to see if he could deliver a fatal blow to Murong Bai or the figure in black robes (provided both sides were severely injured); third, if possible, retrieve that dark red metal lump (the key fragment).

The opportunity arrived!

A Xuanbing Pavilion Disciple was sent flying by a punch from a Puppet, crashing through the stair railing and landing right below Lin Ye's room, his chest caved in, clearly beyond saving.

His Storage Pouch slid from his waist and rolled into a corner.

Meanwhile, another man in black was forced back by a Sword Qi blast from Murong Bai; he stumbled backward, his back completely exposed, and he was less than ten meters away from the wall where Lin Ye was hiding!

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Ye's eyes as he flicked his right finger!

An "Ice Explosion Talisman" shot out silently, landing precisely on the weak point of the man in black's protective spiritual light on his back.

The Ice Explosion Talisman activated instantly!

Bang!

An ice-cold, bone-chilling mist exploded; although the power was not enough to severely injure a Late Stage Qi Refining man in black, the sudden explosion and the assault of cold air caused him to pause, and his protective spiritual light shook violently.

It was this momentary opening!

The Xuanbing Pavilion Disciple (Qi Refining level 6) who had been fighting the man in black seized the opportunity and thrust his sword through the man's throat!

The man in black's eyes widened, and he collapsed in disbelief.

Under the cover of the mist from the Ice Explosion Talisman, Lin Ye slid down from the shadows of the second floor like a ghost; with a sweep of his right hand, he snatched the Storage Pouch of the dead Xuanbing Pavilion Disciple, while his left hand moved like lightning, swiping at the waist of the deceased man in black and snatching another Storage Pouch!

After succeeding, he didn't hesitate for a moment; using the cover of the mist and the chaotic battlefield, he retreated back into the shadows of the second-floor corner; the entire process took less than two seconds—it was dizzyingly fast, and because the battlefield was so chaotic, no one even noticed!

With two Storage Pouches in hand, feeling heavy, he didn't have time to check them carefully and quickly put them away.

He cast his gaze back toward the heart of the battlefield.

The battle between Murong Bai and the figure in black robes (the Shadow Envoy) had reached a fever pitch.

Murong Bai's swordsmanship was fierce, but the figure in black robes' Puppets were troublesome, and his own Cultivation Technique was strange and insidious; both were already wounded.

Murong Bai's left shoulder had been grazed by the figure in black robes' Yin Wind Palm, turning black and slowing his movements; the figure in black robes' right arm had been slashed by the ice-crystal Sword Qi, leaving a wound deep enough to see bone, dripping with blood.

A situation where both sides would be severely injured seemed imminent.

As for that dark red metal lump (the key fragment), it had just been casually shoved into his bosom by the Tri-Eyed man, who was currently fighting a Puppet and in grave danger.

Lin Ye held his breath, waiting for the best opportunity.

Finally!

Murong Bai roared and unleashed his ultimate trump card; his ice-crystal longsword shone brilliantly, transforming into a massive ice Dragon phantom that roared as it charged toward the figure in black robes!

The figure in black robes also shrieked, and the two Puppets lunged forward fearlessly, while he himself turned into black smoke and merged into the Puppets; the three forces combined to clash head-on with the ice Dragon!

Boom!!!

An earth-shattering explosion erupted in the center of the inn's lobby!

The violent shockwave blew away all the tables, chairs, and walls, even affecting the second-floor corner where Lin Ye was hiding, causing most of the wall to collapse!

Dust and smoke filled the air, and screams rang out one after another.

When the dust and smoke slightly cleared, Murong Bai was seen kneeling on one knee, supporting himself with his sword; blood was leaking from the corner of his mouth, and his face was as pale as paper, clearly having exhausted himself and suffering serious injuries.

The figure in black robes was in an even worse state: the two Puppets had been blown to pieces, and he himself had fallen out of the black smoke, with a deep sword mark on his chest, nearly disemboweled, his aura extremely withered.

The Tri-Eyed man and the other Xuanbing Pavilion Disciples and men in black suffered heavy casualties; very few were still standing.

It was now!

A fierce look flashed in Lin Ye's eyes as he shot out from the ruins like an arrow from a bow; his target was neither Murong Bai nor the figure in black robes, but—the Tri-Eyed man who was lying on the ground, severely injured, struggling to reach into his bosom (apparently trying to retrieve a Medicinal Pill)!

When the Tri-Eyed man saw Lin Ye charging over, a trace of shock and resentment flashed in his eyes; he wanted to resist, but his injuries were too severe, and his movements were a beat too slow.

Lin Ye pointed his right hand like a sword, pushing his [Severing Flow] Sword Intent to the limit; his fingertips emitted Sword Qi that was light blue with starlight, as fast as lightning, thrusting directly at the Tri-Eyed man's throat!

Pfft!

The Sword Qi pierced his throat; the Tri-Eyed man's eyes widened, he clutched his neck, making gurgling sounds, then collapsed and died.

Lin Ye didn't stop for a second; he snatched the Storage Pouch from his waist and simultaneously fished out the dark red metal lump from his bosom, stuffing it into his own bosom without even looking at it.

The whole process was swift and clean.

"Little thief! How dare you!"

Murong Bai's eyes were splitting with rage; he recognized that Lin Ye was the same Loose Cultivator who had bought the metal lump earlier; he hadn't expected him to dare to snatch food from the tiger's mouth!

He forced himself to gather a breath of Spiritual Qi and swung a freezing Sword Qi at Lin Ye.

The figure in black robes (the Shadow Envoy) also saw this scene, and a black light flashed in his eyes; disregarding his own severe injuries, he opened his mouth and spat out a blood arrow as black as ink, emitting a foul, fishy stench; it was launched later but arrived first, shooting toward Lin Ye!

Two attacks, one from the left and one from the right, blocked Lin Ye's path of retreat!

Lin Ye had anticipated this; the moment he seized the Storage Pouch and the metal lump, he exploded the power of his "Mystic Jade Body" under his feet, stomping hard on the ground, and his body shot backward like a cannonball; at the same time, the ancient ring yuan sha on his left hand flashed slightly, and a thin shield mixed with star-silver and dark red halos appeared in front of him.

Bang! Bang!

The freezing Sword Qi and the pitch-black blood arrow hit the shield almost simultaneously!

The shield shook violently, making an unbearable "crack" sound, and was instantly covered with cracks, but it ultimately blocked the angry strikes from the two severely injured men!

Lin Ye was also shaken by the recoil, his blood churning, a sweet taste in his throat, but he used the force to speed up even more, crashing through the back wall of the inn like a kite with a broken string and landing in the narrow alley behind!

"Pursue! Kill him!"

Murong Bai roared, struggling to stand up, but the movement aggravated his injuries, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

The figure in black robes (the Shadow Envoy) groaned in misery, his injuries worsening, leaving him unable to pursue.

The other Xuanbing Pavilion Disciples and men in black who could still move were intimidated by the previous explosion and Lin Ye's ruthlessness, and for a moment, no one dared to pursue him immediately.

Landing in the alley, Lin Ye didn't hesitate; he pushed his speed to the limit and ran for his life in the opposite direction of the main street!

The alley was winding, and the houses were low.

Like a startled rabbit, Lin Ye ignored his injuries, pushing the power of his "Mystic Jade Body" to the limit as he wove through the complex alleys, changing direction from time to time to shake off any potential pursuit.

The dark red metal lump in his bosom grew slightly warm, resonating with the ancient ring yuan sha.

The two newly acquired Storage Pouches also felt heavy, but he had no time to check them right now.

He had to leave Frost Snow City immediately!

Although Murong Bai and the Shadow Envoy of Yinkui Sect were severely injured, their influence remained; once they recovered, they would surely search the entire city for him!

The city gates must have already been locked or were under strict inspection.

He needed to find a place to hide temporarily to let the storm pass, or... find another way out.

From the alley entrance ahead, there were sounds of commotion and orderly footsteps; it seemed the City Lord's guard had heard the explosion and was rushing over.

Lin Ye immediately turned into another, more remote alley, only to find that he had blundered into a dead end.

At the end was a high wall, and behind the wall seemed to be the backyard of a large mansion.

He was about to turn back the way he came, but the shouts of the guards and the sounds of their search were already coming from the alley entrance behind him.

With a high wall in front and pursuers behind.

Lin Ye's eyes narrowed; no longer hesitating, he leaped up, grabbed the top of the wall with both hands, and flipped over inside.

Inside the wall was a long-abandoned, overgrown courtyard.

In the center of the courtyard was a dry well.

And standing by the dry well was a person!

A young woman in moon-white robes with a cold expression and an ethereal aura was holding a compass, seemingly calculating something regarding the dry well.

Hearing the commotion, the woman turned her head, her eyes as clear as a cold pool, looking calmly at Lin Ye, who had flipped over the wall, covered in blood, and with a chaotic aura.

Their eyes met.

Warning bells rang in Lin Ye's heart, and his right hand had already gripped the bone spike (which he had made himself previously).

The woman's aura was profound, at least Qi Refining level 8, and she gave him an inexplicable sense of pressure.

The woman saw Lin Ye, and a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes; then her gaze fell on his blood-stained clothes and the bulging Storage Pouch at his waist, and she looked at his disheveled state from flipping over the wall, seemingly understanding something.

Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice was as cold and clear as an ice spring:

"Are you also here to look for the entrance to the 'Ice Soul Secret Realm'?"