Chapter Seventy-Nine: A Fierce Battle Among Three

Above the skies of Cloudwater City, Ye Haiyi burned his own lifespan, pushing his cultivation to the mid-Golden Core stage, and stood alone against both the Jade Flood Dragon King and Wu Ying, each formidable Golden Core cultivators in their own right.

Outside the city, Lü Mengqiu had set up four formation arrays, sealing off the eastern, western, southern, and northern city gates, trapping all cultivators and common folk inside like fish in a barrel.

Looking up, one could see the Jade Flood Dragon King and Wu Ying steadily forced back under Ye Haiyi’s ferocious assault. Ye Haiyi fought with the resolve of one prepared to die; every move was a desperate gambit, while the Jade Flood Dragon King and Wu Ying, unwilling to risk everything, inevitably fell into disadvantage.

Yet Lü Mengqiu did not intervene. His original purpose in coming was the extermination of the Ye family and the capture of Lu Suxue. Now, however, only one goal filled his heart: to seize Ye Yun.

The thought of the innate perfect soul and the boundless benefits of the Heaven and Earth Fire Seed set Lü Mengqiu’s heart ablaze with desire. He was once a mere rogue cultivator, who had survived a perilous journey into ancient ruins and returned with a jade slip inscribed with many ancient secrets.

That jade slip spoke of the innate perfect soul.

Perfect equilibrium of the three souls and seven spirits, radiant and flawless—a pinnacle of nature’s creation. Possessors of such a soul were born with powerful spirit, unmatched talent, and a cultivation speed far beyond the ordinary. Most extraordinary of all, the innate perfect soul would grow stronger as one’s cultivation advanced.

To elevate such a soul, bright as a lantern, to the highest tier that embodies the universe itself, was not a mere dream.

If another were to kill a cultivator with this soul, refining the innate perfect soul and fusing it into their own spirit, even if their own soul could not fully transform, they would still gain the terrifying potential for advancement inherent to the perfect soul.

Throughout history, it was well known: a person’s soul aptitude determined their future potential.

Those with talent bright as a lantern were mostly destined to mediocrity; even reaching Foundation Establishment was an accomplishment. Those whose talent blazed like fire were said to have a chance to reach the Nascent Soul or even the Soul Transformation stage. Star-bright talent was exceedingly rare—should fortune favor them, they might ascend to even greater heights.

As for the supreme quality that harbors the universe, it was said to offer the greatest chance of achieving immortality itself.

It was because of what he learned from that ancient jade slip that Lü Mengqiu now yearned so fiercely for Ye Yun’s soul.

As for the legendary Heaven and Earth Fire Seed, said to be born of the world’s primal energies, it was a treasure long coveted by all who sought the immortal path—not only for its power but for its unimaginable benefits in alchemy and artifact forging.

...

At this very moment, in the Rain Pavilion Courtyard of Cloudwater City, Ye Yun was locked in fierce combat with three Wu family Foundation Establishment cultivators, unleashing the Totem of Heaven and Earth combat technique to its utmost.

Despite their combined efforts, the three were unable to subdue Ye Yun. Hardening their resolve, each summoned their flying sword artifacts, sending forth a storm of sword-lights, slashing toward Ye Yun from all directions.

Clang! Clang! Clang!...

Countless sword-lights rained down on Ye Yun, but all were blocked by his Scarlet Flame shield, unable to harm him. Forming a hand seal, Ye Yun conjured three fireballs, each hurtling toward a flying sword.

“Not good!”

The three Wu family cultivators paled, fearing for their precious swords, and hastily maneuvered to evade, no longer daring to press the attack.

Seeing this, Ye Yun sneered inwardly. These three, though strong, were timid in battle—giving him the chance to seek an opening for victory.

“Dragon Totem!”

With a thought, Ye Yun’s form erupted with scarlet flames, his aura surging to its peak as he transformed into a crimson dragon, fierce and terrifying, claws slashing and tail sweeping. Before the Wu family trio could react, they were all struck and sent flying, their faces flushed with shock.

This blow succeeded thanks to his Infinite Divine Eyes, which had just glimpsed a flaw in their defense.

Having cultivated the Demonflame Scripture of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, Ye Yun, though only at mid-Foundation Establishment, could fight above his level. But his opponents numbered three, each stronger than he—one even at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

By strength alone, he was no match for them. But with the unpredictable power of the Infinite Divine Eyes, all things became possible.

In his years of cultivation, though still young, Ye Yun had survived countless life-and-death struggles, and his sense for timing was razor-sharp. Seizing the initiative, he struck out with his palm—a move deceptively simple, yet domineering and grandiose. Scarlet flame energy surged like a boundless sea, pouring toward the trio.

“Pfft!” “Pfft!”...

Two of the Wu family Foundation Establishment cultivators were struck as if by a thunderbolt, sent flying, their robes turned to ash and their organs shattered—dead before they hit the ground.

The last, an elder at the peak of Foundation Establishment, his eyes bloodshot, gathered all his energy, and with a furious cry, split his flying sword into two, then four. “How dare you kill Wu family cultivators! You little wretch, I’ll see you dead without a corpse!”

“What a joke! The Wu family has invaded Cloudwater City—am I to just wait for death? I’ve killed more than just two or three of your people already...”

Ye Yun sneered, spreading his arms wide, his body like a Scarlet Flame Roc, talons reaching straight for the Wu family elder’s skull.

Boom!

Claws and sword-light collided, unleashing a blast of energy that swept out like a raging storm, filling the air with dust and debris.

Ye Yun’s cultivation was lacking; he could maintain his totemic form only for an instant before reverting to his true body. His hands were now dripping with blood—the price of clashing head-on with the sword-light.

This elder’s flying sword was no ordinary artifact, and its power was extraordinary.

“Damn brat!” the elder cursed, his heart twisting at the sight of two new scorched claw marks on his sword, burned there by Ye Yun’s scarlet flames.

Ye Yun frowned. He was, after all, only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, his energy reserves far less than his opponent’s. At this moment, his dantian was nearly depleted. If the battle dragged on and his energy ran out, he would become a tiger with its claws and fangs removed.

With this in mind, Ye Yun made another move, pouncing like a blood-red wolf at the Wu family elder, deliberately showing signs of exhaustion to lure his foe into carelessness.

“You’re dead, boy!”

The Wu family elder’s eyes gleamed with malice. The repeated damage to his sword had enraged him. Seeing Ye Yun falter, he wasted no time, forming a seal and sending his sword hurtling forward.

But at the very instant the sword drew near, Ye Yun shifted once more, becoming a Scarlet Flame Phoenix soaring overhead. In a flash he was above the elder, and his razor-sharp beak—his two fingers, empowered by the totem and inner flame—pierced straight through the elder’s skull.

“Old wretch, you’re the one who dies!”

Ye Yun’s cold laughter rang out, chilling the elder’s heart. With a single thrust, Ye Yun’s fingers, as sharp as swords, ran through the elder’s toughest bone.

In the same moment, Ye Yun reverted to his own form and kicked the Wu family elder’s corpse aside, sending it sprawling lifeless to the ground.

Having watched Ye Yun cut down the three vicious Wu family cultivators with such clean efficiency, Ye Zili and his wife, standing in the hall’s doorway, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Scarlet flames rose from Ye Yun’s bloodied fingers, burning away all traces of blood in an instant. He then looked toward a pile of rubble, where Ye Peng, whom he’d injured earlier, now pushed aside the stones and staggered to his feet, his face deathly pale.

When he saw the three Wu family cultivators he had summoned lying cold and dead, Ye Peng’s heart clenched in despair, and his face became ashen.

(Here’s some good news: Supreme True Demon will continue to be free and not be put on sale in April~)