Chapter 317: Ye Dun, the Man on Top

Wang Feng knew that Blood Demon Manku's survival skills were impressive, and while the Skyburst Grenade wouldn’t take his life, he never imagined Manku would come out unscathed!

Being hit by a Skyburst Grenade at such close range and not getting injured? Is that guy invincible or something? If he had known, he should have thrown three or four grenades at once.

"That monster is catching up." No time for jokes now. Wang Feng swiftly cast Wind Sprint and Rabbit Spirit on their legs: "Run!"

Manku was seething with rage. The Blade Temple is nothing but scum!

First, the Frost Spirits teamed up against him, and then Wang Feng lobbed a Skyburst Grenade. Luckily, his Blood Demon Art was at its peak, and with ample soul power, he could dissipate into a blood mist to evade an attack when in danger. This trick had saved him from Hei Wukai before. Otherwise, with the sudden explosion of the Skyburst Grenade in his hand, even a god couldn’t have reacted fast enough! At that range, it would’ve been deadly or left him crippled.

What about dignity? What about integrity? What about the honor of the Blade Temple? Has it all been eaten by dogs?

Damn it, I’ll make sure that bastard dies!

By the way, Hei Wukai, the people from Ice Spirit, and this Wang Feng—they’re all working together! It’s as if they conspired to gang up on me. They’re practically begging for death!

Manku’s eyes burned with fury.

Although losing to Hei Wukai made Manku furious and he shouted about revenge, he knew the truth deep down.

While consuming life energy could quickly restore and even enhance his cultivation, Hei Wukai’s level was clearly a step above his. In their last encounter, he even felt that Hei Wukai hadn’t used his full strength. Honestly, seeking revenge on Hei Wukai was something Manku needed to carefully consider. His tough talk was just a mask for his humiliation, and he also wanted other War Academy members to suffer.

But Wang Feng and those from Ice Spirit were different. He couldn’t stand these lowlifes messing with him!

That worthless scum has to die!

………

In the first layer of the Misty Forest, there was still a choice to fight or not, but in the second layer of the Dark Cavern, there was no choice at all.

Not only because of the narrow paths, but also because in this dark environment, human fear, primal instincts, and the nature to kill were being infinitely amplified. Except for a few strong individuals who could maintain their composure, most people had already become cautious and jumpy.

Everyone was on edge, like a tightly wound spring. In the dark environment, the first reaction upon discovering someone was often to strike first, resulting in plenty of friendly fire incidents. The psychological pressure was immense, and a significant number of people had already begun to regret entering this layer.

The cavern’s terrain was incredibly complex, with honeycomb-like network caverns being just a small part. As disciples from both sides continued to delve deeper and wander around, opening up more of the 'map,' the full picture of the cavern gradually became clear.

Ahead lay a vast cavern, with the ceiling about seventy to eighty meters high. Strange lights drifted slowly across the ceiling, resembling plants or some strange creatures. It was too far to see clearly, but whatever they were, they seemed quite docile, showing no intention of attacking the humans below. They just hung quietly on the ceiling, occasionally moving, like stars in the night sky, casting their faint light down, making this vast cavern much brighter than the surrounding narrow tunnels.

The cavern stretched for miles, extremely spacious, with an irregular polygonal shape. Honeycomb-like entrances densely covered the walls around the cavern, some opening on the ground, others several meters or even tens of meters above.

Scattered on the ground were a few corpses, not of monsters, but of disciples from the War Academy and the Blade Temple. These bodies were already cold, having been dead for some time, and their Soul Tokens had long been taken.

Ye Dun, Jiaoxi, Maxwell, Gule, and Zhao Ziyue were gathered here, their attention not on the corpses on the ground, but on a figure in the center of the cavern wielding a massive blade.

It was a short-handled circular blade, the arc of which was as large as a millstone, with one side as thick as two to three centimeters, more like an axe. The strong warrior carried it on his shoulder with one hand, exuding a sense of immense power.

The warrior had short hair, about an inch long, and a scar running from his left eye to his right jaw. He wore golden armor and a red cape draped over his shoulders. At his feet lay several corpses of Holy Sanctuary disciples, clearly from a recent battle, yet it seemed to have cost him little energy.

"The blood debt at your feet must be repaid with blood," Ye Dun spoke calmly.

The scarred warrior’s eyes burned with intensity. Facing five of the Blade Temple's top ten, with all exits blocked, he showed no fear.

"Bullshit! If I don't kill, am I supposed to wait to be killed?" The scarred golden warrior grinned, a mix of roughness and cunning. Alone against five of the top ten, today would likely not end well. "Coming here and spouting nonsense, are you trash planning to gang up on me? Or fight one-on-one?"

Hum!

The Eternal Spear trembled slightly as Zhao Ziyue stepped forward.

"Ming Ji, you think too highly of yourself," Zhao Ziyue chuckled. "To kill you, I alone am enough!"

"Got guts," Mingji chuckled, slightly lowering the Soul-Severing Blade on his shoulder, a ripple of soul power emanating from the circular blade.

One-on-one? He didn’t believe the Holy Sanctuary crew would really keep their word, but at least he wouldn’t have to face a five-on-one assault right off the bat. This gave him a slim shot at escaping, and maybe... he could take one out first!

His eyes gleamed; opportunities had to be fought for: "Come on, show me what the Eternal Spear’s got!"

Both of them let loose their soul power. Zhao Ziyue was clearly focused entirely on his opponent, but Mingji couldn’t afford to ignore the other four. If he wanted to break through, he’d have to focus on Jiaoxi. Once he got past her, it would be easier.

But he had just one shot.

Zhao Ziyue made his move. The Eternal Spear cut through the shadowy air, and Mingji countered with the Soul-Severing Blade. Boom...

Soul power exploded. Zhao Ziyue was pushed back three paces, while Mingji not only held his ground but charged ahead, bringing the Soul-Severing Blade down with a roar, "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Boom~~ Boom~~~ Boom

Three rapid-fire strikes nearly knocked the Eternal Spear from Zhao Ziyue’s hands. Mingji was one of the fiercest warriors among the Nine Gods' top ten, matching Zhao Ziyue in style, but the difference became clear once they clashed. Of course, Zhao Ziyue was also holding back a bit; he wasn’t planning to go all out.

Mingji’s eyes suddenly lit up with ferocity. The Soul-Severing Blade spun in a wide arc, carving a flawless arc in the air. If he could cripple Zhao Ziyue in one move, the opportunity would be his. The other four—Ye Dun and Jiaoxi were agile martial artists, Maxwell was a Battle Mage, and Gule was a Thunder Mage. If he went full throttle, these guys wouldn’t be able to stop him!

Zhao Ziyue sneered, yanking the Eternal Spear back to parry. But the opponent’s seemingly forceful strike was actually a feint. After the spin, the Soul-Severing Blade’s hook suddenly jerked, dragging Zhao Ziyue toward Mingji. At that moment, Mingji’s true killing move emerged—Soul Tyrant: Heaven-Earth Cleaver!

Take one down first!

But just then, a bolt of lightning as thick as a tree trunk silently struck Mingji. The attack was incredibly powerful yet perfectly controlled, not harming Zhao Ziyue at all.

Naturally, it was Gule who had made the move.

Now there was no time to strike Zhao Ziyue. Mingji snatched his crimson cape, and the thunderbolt crashed into it, instantly burning several large holes. But beneath the cape, there was nothing—Mingji’s burly figure had already rolled up several meters away, as if he’d blinked out of existence: "Hey, nice one-on—"

Swish!

Before he could finish, a blade’s gleam whizzed past.

Mingji’s reaction was lightning-fast. Even before his peripheral vision caught the blade light, he instinctively ducked, swinging the Soul-Severing Blade in a counterattack.

But the blade light was too fast. Before the Soul-Severing Blade could fully block, the light had already passed before his eyes.

A fountain of blood burst forth. The Soul-Severing Blade, along with the right hand gripping it, was severed in an instant!

Mingji grunted, clutching his right hand as he rolled on the ground. Blood gushed from his wrist, and the cut on the golden bracer and bone was unnervingly clean.

The one above—Ye Dun!

His blade technique was like the wind—not flashy, but a deadly tool for harvesting heads. It wasn’t just fast; what was truly terrifying was its ability to cut through anything.

That last strike had completely bypassed his soul defense. Not only did his protective aura fail, but even the adamantine bracer had been sliced through like tofu!

The Holy Sanctuary crew were even more shameless than he’d imagined. They’d planned to ambush him from the start. And that so-called "top guy"? Reeked worse than a sewer!

Mingji knew this wasn’t going to end well. If he was going to die, he’d take someone with him.

Jiaoxi and Maxwell silently appeared at the two cave entrances, blocking Mingji’s last escape route. Behind him, Ye Dun, Gule, and Zhao Ziyue closed in. The five formed a perfect encirclement, trapping Mingji in the middle.

"Hahaha!" Mingji actually laughed. He tore off a piece of his clothing and roughly wrapped his severed wrist, ignoring the blood soaking through. Facing death, he showed no fear: "Five top experts ganging up on one guy, and you even resorted to ambush. Really bringing honor to your Holy Sanctuary!"

"Haha, morality is for people. A blood-soaked beast like you wants to talk about rules?" Zhao Ziyue laughed. "Must be frustrating, huh? Why don’t you just die of anger and save us the trouble?"

"A shameless loser who can only bark at others’ heels," Mingji sneered at him. "No wonder you’re at the bottom!"

Zhao Ziyue's expression turned grim. "Damn it, I’m in ninth place."

"Struggling in your final moments only makes it worse," Ye Dun said calmly. "Ming Ji, give up. I’ll make it quick."

Ming Ji looked at him with disdain. "You really think that’s gonna happen?"

But Ye Dun suddenly smiled. "I’d say we’ve already won."

A sudden numbness shot through Ming Ji’s neck. His expression changed slightly as he tried to turn his neck, only to find that his entire neck and lower body had instantly become numb and stiff. He was rendered speechless.

A tiny green bug wriggled out of his neck. It was so small that it was almost invisible. If it hadn’t suddenly emitted a green light, Ming Ji might not have noticed it.

It was Maxwell, the Poison King—master of all things toxic!

"Three, two, one…" Maxwell counted down with a grin on his face.

In an instant, countless green dots emerged from Ming Ji’s collar, pouring out like a thick, green sludge.

Ming Ji’s body involuntarily fell backward. But just as he was about to hit the ground, a sharp ‘crack’ echoed from his mouth. A dark vein snaked out from the corner of his mouth, rapidly extending across his face.

"Oh no!"

Ye Dun lunged forward, his blade slicing toward Ming Ji’s neck.

Swish!

The blade hit its mark, but it barely pierced the skin.

Ming Ji’s body was undergoing a frenzied transformation. His muscles erupted, twisting and expanding uncontrollably. His body twisted and contorted, his neck swelling to two or three times its original size. Ye Dun’s unbreakable blade was lodged halfway into his neck, but it was now firmly stuck in the rapidly growing muscles. Ye Dun couldn’t pull it out!

Boom!

His gigantic hand, now swollen to twice its size, swung at Ye Dun. It wasn’t a skilled move, nor did it use soul power, but the sheer brute force alone created a terrifying gust of wind, howling as it cut through the air.

Ye Dun abandoned his blade, his figure disappearing in an instant.

"You freak, I’ll end you!" Zhao Ziyue, standing nearby, thrust his spear forward. The Eternal Spear lunged forward like a striking viper, aiming straight for the monster’s eyes.

But 'Ming Ji' didn’t defend itself. Its eyes bulged like saucers, and it let out a roar.

Roar!

The deafening roar formed a visible shockwave, directly blasting Zhao Ziyue and the Eternal Spear away.

Zhao Ziyue felt the violent impact, his insides feeling like they were being ripped apart. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he couldn’t suppress the blood that sprayed out. He was hurled backward, spinning wildly through the air before he landed on the ground, sliding over ten meters!

The other four were shocked. Zhao Ziyue had been at a disadvantage earlier but hadn’t been injured. That spear thrust had been powerful, yet it couldn’t even get close.

At this moment, Ming Ji was still rapidly transforming. Bloated tumors erupted across his body, and his severed arm regenerated, now black and resembling tree bark. His fingers twisted into claws, their sharp, gray nails dotted with green specks, looking incredibly eerie.

The transformed 'Ming Ji' was now over three meters tall, covered in irregular tumors, like bulging muscles, appearing grotesque and massive. A torrent of soul power erupted from his body, spreading in all directions. Gule’s thunder magic, which he had been gathering, was forcibly dispersed by Ming Ji’s soul power.

At the same time, the newly grown arm swung violently toward Gule.

The fierce gust of wind carried a foul stench. Gule’s expression changed urgently as he covered his nose and retreated rapidly. "Fall back, it’s poisonous!"

Jiaoxi, on the other hand, flipped her hands, and a deep blue soul power gathered between her palms. But before she could act, a soft voice called out from the air, "Get out of here, now!"

Ye Dun, dressed in gray, descended gracefully from the air. His feet lightly touched the top of 'Ming Ji's' head, immediately drawing its attention. Its palms clapped together fiercely above its head, but they only met empty air, producing a loud clap.

Crack!

A gray figure flickered before 'Mingji', once again capturing its attention. He sneered, "Over here, idiot!"

'Mingji' roared in fury, its claws flailing wildly, but Ye Dun darted around it like a butterfly weaving through flowers, his movements light and elusive.

The monster was invulnerable to weapons, clearly not an opponent to be faced head-on. Engaging it directly would be sheer stupidity.

In fact, there was no need to act at all—it was already on the brink of death. Ye Dun's eyes flashed like lightning, focusing on the green spots that had already seeped into 'Mingji's' skin.

'Mingji's' frenzied attacks were futile. In just a minute or two, its movements slowed, eventually coming to a complete halt.

It let out a roar of defiance, its bloodshot eyes locking onto Maxwell. The remnants of its sanity flickered with despair. The 'Soul Refining Demon Potion' it consumed for strength couldn't counter Maxwell's poison, which was driving it to lose its mind.

This was probably 'Mingji's' last coherent thought. In the next second, green spots covered its entire body, spreading across its head.

'Mingji' let out a furious and insane scream. It started clawing at its own flesh, the swollen tumors and muscles bursting like foam under its powerful claws, oozing green pus. Soon, its massive body disintegrated into a large, lifeless pool of green liquid.

Maxwell shot a glance at Ye Dun and the rest. Except for Zhao Ziyue's involuntary twitch, everyone else remained silent. Maxwell smirked and gestured. The green puddle coalesced into myriad points of light, carrying a Soul Token that 'flowed' toward him. "Well, I won't be modest then."

"He was your kill, after all," Ye Dun said with a faint smile.

The Soul Token didn't matter to him; it wasn't what he valued.

One of the top ten experts had finally fallen. For both sides, it wouldn't matter if all the others below them perished, but those ranked in the top fifty were essentially treasures. The top ten were in a league of their own—they represented the pinnacle of both sides' strength, future leaders who embodied not just themselves but also the immense interests and forces behind them. Each loss would inevitably create massive waves.

This was only the first. What if there were a second, or a third?

Truth be told, the Nine Gods were strong, but they were too confident. Mingji was just the first ship to capsize in the gutter, but it certainly wouldn't be the last!

Ye Dun, however, had his sights set on one thing alone: the pinnacle of the Holy Sanctuary!

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