Chapter 103: Returning to One’s True Self

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Corpse fiends at the Foundation Establishment stage had awakened a rudimentary intelligence. Although their minds were still primitive, their bloodthirsty savagery and fearlessness in the face of death made them truly terrifying, especially when their numbers grew.

With the Everlasting Divine Eyes open, all things in the world were rendered crystal clear before Ye Yun’s gaze. His pupils contracted slightly as he noticed that in Guo Shui’s hand was a spirit herb glowing with a silvery-gray luster.

At that moment, Guo Shui’s face was pale, her delicate body trembling. Guo Wei and Guo Qing stood to her left and right, shielding her behind them.

“Mysterious Yin Grass!”

Having once studied the basics of alchemy under Ye Min, Ye Yun instantly recognized the herb Guo Shui held.

Mysterious Yin Grass, among first-grade herbs, was a mid-tier spirit herb. Like Fire Dragon Grass, it was one of the principal ingredients for refining Dao Mysterious Pills.

This single stalk of Mysterious Yin Grass was enough to drive countless Foundation Establishment masters to madness, its value no less than five thousand lower-grade spirit stones.

At this moment, Ye Yun also understood why Guo Qing and the others had ambushed him.

Mysterious Yin Grass grew in places of sinister yin energy, and this Mountain of Corpse Fiends was precisely such a place. It seemed likely the three of them had discovered the Mysterious Yin Grass but couldn’t overcome the horde of corpse fiends. Thus, they had wounded him to draw the fiends’ attention, sneaking into the valley under cover to steal the herb.

But what Guo Qing and the others had not anticipated was that within this valley lay more than thirty black-haired corpse fiends, each boasting late-stage Foundation Establishment strength, trapping them utterly with no escape.

“They brought this upon themselves,” Ye Yun sneered. Not only had their scheme failed, now even their lives would be forfeit here.

Of the three, Guo Qing was the strongest. He controlled a mid-grade flying sword that sent out waves of blazing sword-light. Clearly, Guo Qing knew well that only fire arts had any restraining effect on corpse fiends.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!...”

Several black-haired corpse fiends lunged forward, only to be sent flying by his attacks. This alone showed Guo Qing’s strength was extraordinary. He was, after all, at the peak of Foundation Establishment, his cultivation deeper than most at his level. Perhaps he truly could carve a path out from this horde.

However, with Ye Yun present, how could he possibly let them escape alive?

“Dragon Binding Art!”

Forming a hand seal, Ye Yun gathered Scarlet Flame True Qi between his palms. A fire dragon, almost tangible, roared as it surged forth, leaping over the heads of the fiends toward Guo Qing and his companions.

“It’s the Fire Dragon Art! A Golden Core cultivator has come to save us!” Guo Wei suddenly shouted, his face alight with excitement.

Ye Yun’s Scarlet Flame True Qi, forged from the most powerful and purest yang energy of heaven and earth, rolled forward in dragon form. The black-haired corpse fiends all growled low, their blood-red eyes filled with dread.

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Yet in the next instant, the expressions on Guo Qing and his companions’ faces froze. The surging fire dragon abruptly split into three, transforming into chains of flame that wrapped toward the trio.

“Hum!”

All three hastily summoned their flying swords and treasures. Guo Shui raised an azure treasure cauldron, which radiated dazzling light to shield them.

“Hiss hiss hiss…”

The scarlet flame dragon and the azure light shield collided, their respective powers clashing and dissolving one another.

“A mid-grade defensive treasure?”

Ye Yun’s gaze fixed on the cauldron hovering above Guo Shui’s head. With a flicker, he darted nimbly over the heads of the corpse fiends, leaping toward their position.

“It’s you?” The three were momentarily stunned at the sight of Ye Yun.

“You actually survived the corpse fiend horde?” Guo Qing’s pupils contracted, his face growing grave.

Even he, if caught in the midst of those fiends, would likely perish once his true qi was exhausted. For Ye Yun to emerge alive made him wary.

“Why aren’t the corpse fiends attacking him?” Guo Wei and Guo Shui cried out in alarm, watching as Ye Yun moved among the fiends without drawing their notice.

“He must know some secret art for concealing his yang and vital energy. The corpse fiends sense no trace of living aura from him, so of course they ignore him,” Guo Qing intoned solemnly.

Ye Yun remained silent. With a wave of his hand, three mid-grade flying swords soared into the air, forming a Minor Three Talents Sword Formation. Countless flame sword-qi slashed and cut, and in moments, the cauldron’s azure shield had grown visibly dim.

“This is all a misunderstanding, Brother Ye!” Guo Qing’s expression shifted.

“A misunderstanding? After I smash your turtle shells, I’ll say the same: it was just a misunderstanding,” Ye Yun sneered, unleashing the sword formation’s assault with greater ferocity.

“Ye Yun, think carefully—We are disciples of the Guo clan! If you harm us, my father will never let you go!” The threat of death drained all color from Guo Shui’s face as she glared at Ye Yun.

“What does your father have to do with me?” Ye Yun chuckled. “You’re about to die, and you still dare threaten me?”

“Boom!...”

As they spoke, the azure shield was shattered by the sword formation. In a blink, Ye Yun appeared directly before the trio.

“Pfft!”

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A flash of sword light shot from Ye Yun’s fingertips. Guo Wei screamed in agony as his left shoulder was pierced clean through, blood gushing out in a ghastly stream.

Without giving Guo Shui or Guo Qing time to react, Ye Yun reached out, seized Guo Wei, and threw him directly into the nearby horde of corpse fiends.

“Ah! Ah!...”

A series of blood-curdling shrieks filled the air, sending chills down Guo Qing and Guo Shui’s spines. Drawn by the scent of blood, the fiends swarmed over Guo Wei, engulfing and tearing him to shreds in an instant.

The scene of the fiends feasting was too horrific and bloody for words. Especially for Guo Shui, as a woman, her face turned waxen as she bent over, retching uncontrollably.

“How ruthless!” Guo Qing stared at Ye Yun, wary, his mid-grade flying sword hovering above his head, humming with sword cries.

“I’m only returning to you what you gave me. Weren’t you the ones who ambushed and wounded me to draw the fiends away, just so you could steal the Mysterious Yin Grass?” Ye Yun looked at Guo Qing and Guo Shui with a half-smile. “And now you call me ruthless? The thickness of your skin truly astounds me.”

As he spoke, Ye Yun advanced step by step.

“What are you doing? Guo Shui’s father is a great figure in the Guo clan, a Golden Core master! You’d best consider the consequences!” Guo Qing’s whole body tensed, feeling the immense pressure radiating from Ye Yun.

“There’s no one else in the Mountain of Corpse Fiends. If I kill you, who would ever know? Besides, even if I spared you, would you not seek revenge? Guo Wei is dead; you two may as well join him.”

Without further hesitation, Ye Yun struck ruthlessly.

“Kill him!” Guo Qing roared, pouring all his power into his flying sword, prepared to fight Ye Yun to the death.

“Clang!”

The golden treasure bell materialized, rendering Guo Qing’s sword attacks useless. Ye Yun flicked his fingers, sending several sword lights piercing Guo Qing and Guo Shui, riddling them with bloody holes. He then snatched their storage treasures, and in a flash, was gone from the valley.

Deprived of their swords, treasures, and the many valuables stored within, Guo Qing and Guo Shui stood no chance. In an instant, the corpse fiends swarmed and devoured them, following Guo Wei into oblivion.

Ye Yun gazed at the blood-soaked, savage scene without the slightest ripple in his heart. He had dealt with Guo Qing and his companions as they had dealt with him. On the path of cultivation and seeking the Dao, blood and corpses could never be avoided.