In that instant, everyone was stunned.
Cheng Xian and the other Human Immortals from the [Mysterious Spirit Realm] were shocked that someone could be killed under such circumstances, while the disciples of the Sword Pavilion were purely astonished that Ye Xingfeng could be slain.
Ye Guyue widened her beautiful eyes in disbelief.
'Impossible!'
Although Ye Xingfeng was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and had not yet reached perfection, he possessed a high-quality Sword Pill, making his actual combat strength formidable for his level.
How could he be severely injured by Cheng Xian's single strike, leading to his demise?
It made no sense!
With this thought, Ye Guyue abruptly shifted her gaze, staring intently at Lu Yang, who wore an expression of deep sorrow.
"Was it you? Did you dare to harm a true person of our Sword Pavilion?"
"Fellow Daoist, please do not speak recklessly."
Lu Yang sighed, his face showing unmistakable grief. "Brother Ye and I hit it off at first sight. We had no prior enmity. Why would I want to harm him?"
Lu Yang believed these words would be enough to silence Ye Guyue.
However, he underestimated the Sword Pavilion's sense of righteousness. Ye Guyue responded with a look of moral indignation, stating without hesitation:
"Of course, it's because we wanted you dead!"
"You must have discerned the intentions of Xingfeng and me, so you deliberately set a trap to harm him! Ungrateful rogue cultivator... truly the demon of Jiangbei!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yang stared directly at Ye Guyue, who appeared composed, seemingly unaware of any wrongdoing in her words. Instead, she became even more resolute:
"If you were to die and reincarnate, perhaps you would have the chance to join our Sword Pavilion in the future. But to think you are so malicious!"
"Unappreciative!"
With this thought, Ye Guyue's gaze toward Lu Yang now carried a murderous intent. Lu Yang, noticing this, displayed an even more aggrieved expression:
"Fellow Daoist Ye, I am also deeply saddened by Brother Ye's death."
He sighed again, saying, "But with a formidable enemy before us, we must unite and fight together. We can't afford to let minor grievances cause greater losses, can we?"
"Hmph!"
Ye Guyue, not being a fool, knew it was impossible to have internal strife at this critical moment. However, she was unwilling to cooperate with Lu Yang and instead distanced herself from him.
Seeing this, Lu Yang felt even more wronged and couldn't help but sigh, thinking:
'What a pity, I can't take advantage of the chaos to eliminate a second one...'
—Ye Guyue's suspicion was spot on.
Indeed, it was his doing.
Cheng Xian's full-force strike alone could not have killed Ye Xingfeng. Even if Ye Xingfeng was caught off guard, it wouldn't have been enough to fatally wound him in a single blow. 𝖗𝖆𐌽Ö𝐁Ë𝙎
However, with Lu Yang's involvement, it was a different story.
'[Sea of Sorrow Infusion] allows me to transform into a sea of Qi, ever-changing and impervious to divine abilities. Moreover, the mist formed from my transformed body can obscure spiritual senses!'
Ye Xingfeng was severely injured by Cheng Xian's strike because his spiritual senses were clouded by the [Sea of Sorrow Infusion], making him completely unaware of Cheng Xian's attack. By the time he realized it, it was too late. His divine abilities couldn't be activated in time, leading to his sudden death.
'That's for hunting me down overseas in my previous life!'
Lu Yang withdrew his sorrowful expression, a cold smile forming in his heart as he shifted his gaze away from Ye Guyue's graceful figure. He never rushed his revenge.
There would be ample time in the future!
With this thought, Lu Yang looked again towards Cheng Xian, who appeared calm. After all, to him, it didn't matter who died.
What mattered was that someone had died.
'At least one formidable enemy is gone, making things a bit easier for me...'
Cheng Xian pondered, glancing once more at Lu Yang, then decisively retreated, avoiding direct confrontation, and instead charged towards Yu Shao.
Pick the softest persimmon first!
'This person's divine abilities are bizarre; I can't take him down quickly. I can't retrieve [Shen Jin]. Rather than wasting time, it's better to achieve a tangible goal first.'
Cheng Xian's strategy was clear. However, Lu Yang wouldn't give him the chance. With a loud explosion, his figure dispersed, transforming once again into a vast sea of mist. Within this sea, clouds and fog surged, engulfing Cheng Xian and manifesting numerous illusions, each stirring the distractions in Cheng Xian's heart.
"[Clarity]! [Purity]! [Awakening]!"
Standing amidst the sea of mist, Cheng Xian continuously chanted true words, with heavenly light and fierce flames flowing from his lips, burning away all the illusions around him.
If he were still at his peak, he wouldn't mind entangling with Lu Yang.
However, at this moment, his magical power was greatly depleted. If he couldn't secure a quick victory, once his previously suppressed injuries returned, he would perish without needing to be struck again.
Lu Yang noticed this as well.
Therefore, his tactic was simple: drag it out!
'[Sea of Sorrow Infusion] combined with [Essence of All Flowers] may lack direct offensive capabilities, but in terms of confusing the mind and entangling the enemy, it's unparalleled!'
Moreover, as time passed, Lu Yang's mastery of the [Sea of Sorrow Infusion] deepened. Even though Cheng Xian continuously used true words to burn away the mist formed by divine abilities, the marvel of the [Sea of Sorrow Infusion] lay in its ability to regenerate from the heart. As long as Cheng Xian couldn't maintain his composure and was swayed by illusions...
Then all his arising thoughts would become nourishment for the [Sea of Sorrow Infusion].
No matter how much he burned here, more would emerge there!
The result was that Cheng Xian's magical power was continuously eroded, his mind teetering on the brink, while Lu Yang reaped the benefits without any loss.
'And I haven't even invoked the power of a Great True Person yet!'
At this moment, he had already gathered four divine abilities. If he were to draw power from the Myriad Spirits Banner and elevate the two illusory divine abilities to their rightful status...
He would immediately reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment!
Although the duration wouldn't be long and there would be backlash afterward, it would still be the combat strength of a Great True Person, enough to secure victory at a critical moment.
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'No rush, using it now would be a waste.'
Lu Yang was well aware of how deceptive he appeared at the moment. Who would expect a rogue cultivator who hadn't even perfected the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment to suddenly become a Great True Person?
While he remained composed, Cheng Xian was reaching his limit.
'If this continues, I will die!'
Amidst the layers of mist, Cheng Xian's expression grew solemn, his once flawless body beginning to show cracks—his previously suppressed injuries were returning.
At this moment, the crisis of life and death finally overwhelmed the inexplicable obsession in his heart.
'Perhaps... I should retreat?'
'After all, why should I continue fighting? I have a promising future in the [Mysterious Spirit Realm]. Staying here and fighting to the death is not worth it...'
With this thought, Cheng Xian felt a desire to retreat.
But would Lu Yang give him the chance? In fact, this very thought of retreat was something Lu Yang had deliberately induced using the [Sea of Sorrow Infusion]!
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a flash of golden light exploded within the vast sea of mist, hidden and hard to detect, silently approaching Cheng Xian from behind.
Then came a thunderous explosion. Cheng Xian had no time to turn around. Like Ye Xingfeng before him, by the time he reacted, Lu Yang's blade had already pierced him. The boiling sword Qi, like raging fire, entered his flesh and rapidly spread throughout his body.
[Yuan Tu Treasure Talisman]!
Being in the Sword Pavilion's camp, Lu Yang naturally couldn't use the techniques of the Saint Sect. He could only bring out all the sword Qi talismans he had previously crafted.
Then, he stuffed them all into Cheng Xian's body in one go.
"No, don't..."
Before Cheng Xian could finish speaking, thousands of sword Qi erupted, instantly turning him into a sieve.
To make matters worse, having suffered another severe injury, Cheng Xian's divine abilities became unstable, and all his previously suppressed injuries returned at this moment.
This resurgence immediately exceeded his capacity to endure.
"Crack!"
With a loud bang, Cheng Xian's body split apart, shattering into countless fragments, which Lu Yang then swept into the Myriad Spirits Banner.
At the same time, he didn't forget to shout:
"Brother Ye, I have avenged you!"
With Cheng Xian's death, the already shaken Human Immortals from the [Mysterious Spirit Realm] became even more terrified.
And at that moment...
"Boom!"
A loud explosion dispersed the clouds and mist.
In the sky, the blue and white hues finally faded, revealing the figure of Daoist Dangmo, Ye Guangji. The [No Kill] sword had already returned to its sheath.
His expression remained melancholic, his sighs filled with sorrow.
However, in stark contrast to his demeanor, blood dripped steadily, and in his hand, he held the heads of Celestial Immortal Minghua and three Earth Immortals!