Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 87: Chapter 87 Fierce Battle

Ye Qingchen’s brow furrowed as a sudden palpitation seized him.

”What’s wrong, Junior Brother Qingchen?” Wang Qiang asked, puzzled.

”There’s something strange about this place. We shouldn’t stay here long!” Ye Qingchen said, faintly sensing that the unnerving aura was growing stronger by the moment.

”Alright. We’ll divide these Spirit Stones and then get out. Hong Yan, what do you think?” Wang Qiang said solemnly.

”No problem!” Hong Yan agreed, though she was still perplexed.

Low-grade Spirit Stones were extremely scarce cultivation resources. In the Qingyun Sect, exchanging for a single one would cost a staggering one hundred thousand sect points—an exorbitant price. Moreover, only True Disciples were qualified to make such an exchange. These were treasures far beyond the reach of people like them in the sect.

The three of them struggled to contain their excitement. With a wave of his hand, Ye Qingchen collected thirty Spirit Stones into his Storage Ring. Seeing this, Hong Yan also took thirty, and Wang Qiang, without another word, took all the remaining thirty-six.

Wang Qiang then rose, bowed deeply to the two corpses, and dug a grave to bury them. ”Rest in peace, Seniors.”

After finishing, Wang Qiang turned and said, ”Let’s go!”

As Ye Qingchen prepared to leave, he turned back to glance at the White Jade Stone Bed.

This White Jade Stone Bed is a real treasure. Cultivating on it would definitely increase my cultivation speed tremendously!

At this thought, Ye Qingchen waved his hand, storing the White Jade Stone Bed in his Storage Ring. Only then did the three of them head for the Stone Gate.

「Outside the entrance of the Stone Gate.」

”How’s your recovery?” Zhuo Bufan asked.

Hong Ye, Chen Hui, and Liu Wenzhuang ended their meditation one after another. ”Thanks to your second-grade Spirit Pill, Senior Brother,” they said gratefully, ”we wouldn’t have recovered so quickly otherwise!”

With the aid of the Spirit Pill, the three had successfully expelled the toxins from their bodies, and their strength was fully restored. Although Zhuo Bufan had been reluctant to part with the pill, it would be worth it if they could help him seize the treasures within the relic.

”They’re coming out!” Liu Wenzhuang exclaimed joyfully when he saw the Stone Gate open.

Zhuo Bufan had already made his plan: he would first strike and kill the weakest one, Ye Qingchen. Then, his group of four could take on the remaining two, Wang Qiang and Hong Yan, picking them off one by one.

His eyes turned icy. ”Prepare to die!” he said coldly to Ye Qingchen.

Zhuo Bufan drew his sword and, with the speed of a startled rabbit, lunged toward him. At this moment, Ye Qingchen was still only a peak Ninth-Layer Martial Artist. He was completely unable to withstand an attack from Zhuo Bufan, a second-layer martial master.

CLANG!

A long blade glowing with red light blocked Zhuo Bufan’s sword. ”Zhuo Bufan, your opponent is me!”

As his voice fell, Wang Qiang exerted his full strength, forcing Zhuo Bufan back with a single slash.

”A Spiritual Artifact!” Zhuo Bufan was stunned by the weapon’s power, and his eyes immediately turned greedy. That Spirit Blade in Wang Qiang’s hand must have been obtained from the relic! If I kill him, it’s mine!

Zhuo Bufan commanded, ”Surround them! I’ll take Wang Qiang. Hong Ye, you handle the woman. Chen Hui, Liu Wenzhuang, the outer sect disciple is for the two of you!”

”Yes!”

”Alright!” the others responded.

”Charge!”

With that command, Zhuo Bufan raised his sword and charged at Wang Qiang. The two were soon locked in combat.

Hong Yan struck first, whipping out her long whip and lashing it toward Hong Ye.

Meanwhile, Chen Hui and Liu Wenzhuang pounced on Ye Qingchen together.

Seeing this, Ye Qingchen felt a sense of dread. Liu Wenzhuang was no match for him, but Chen Hui was a first-layer martial master. With the two of them teaming up, he was in grave danger.

Staring at the enemy before him, Liu Wenzhuang’s eyes turned bloodshot. He wished he could flay Ye Qingchen alive on the spot.

Ye Qingchen dared not be careless. Activating his Dual Pupil Martial Soul, he sent three willow branches shooting up from the ground to strike at the approaching Chen Hui and Liu Wenzhuang. The willow branches moved with snake-like agility, climbing up and entangling their legs.

”Petty tricks!” Chen Hui barked, unleashing his Martial Soul Force and shattering the branches instantly. Liu Wenzhuang also tried to break free, only to find that the more he struggled, the tighter the willow branches coiled.

Chen Hui closed in on Ye Qingchen, gathering Spiritual Power in his palm before delivering a strike.

With his Dual Pupil Martial Soul active, the motion of Chen Hui’s palm seemed to slow down, and the distribution of power within it became clearly visible to him. Ye Qingchen dodged backward and countered with a palm strike of his own, aimed at the weakest point.

BOOM!

Even so, it was more than a peak Ninth-Layer Martial Artist like Ye Qingchen could withstand. The blow sent him staggering backward.

”Hmph! Let’s see you block this next one!” Chen Hui snorted coldly and launched another lightning-fast palm strike. He was absolutely confident that this blow could smash Ye Qingchen’s head to pieces.

”Be careful!” Hong Yan cried out in concern, her whip lashing out in an attempt to save Ye Qingchen.

”Heh, you can barely protect yourself. You think you have time to worry about him?” Hong Ye sneered, seizing the opportunity to kick Hong Yan in the abdomen. Hong Yan, who had held the upper hand, was instantly at a disadvantage. She could only struggle to fend off Hong Ye’s follow-up attacks.

The aura emanating from Chen Hui’s palm strike was far more powerful than the last—its might was unparalleled.

Ye Qingchen watched Chen Hui approach, his mind racing. He pushed his Dual Pupil Martial Soul to its absolute limit.

I’ve got it!

Ye Qingchen quickly made his decision and moved to meet the palm strike at its weakest point.

”Heh, you fool!” Seeing Ye Qingchen advance rather than retreat to meet the attack head-on, Chen Hui scoffed. Since you don’t want me to smash your skull, I’ll happily pierce your heart instead!

BANG!

A loud noise erupted as the armor on Ye Qingchen’s chest materialized. Emitting a pale green light, it astonishingly neutralized seventy percent of the strike’s power.

Even so, the remaining force was too much for Ye Qingchen to handle. He was knocked backward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

”What? A Spiritual Artifact!” Chen Hui exclaimed in shock. His strike had been at full power; it should have gone straight through Ye Qingchen.

This Spirit-level Armor has amazing defensive power! Chen Hui’s eyes burned with greed. Observing more closely, he noticed that Ye Qingchen was also wearing a Storage Ring. This kid must have found a lot of treasure in the relic! If I kill him, it’ll all be mine!

At this thought, a ferocious glint appeared in Chen Hui’s eyes. Spiritual Power surged wildly in his palm as he rushed at Ye Qingchen again.

At the same time, the willow branches binding Liu Wenzhuang began to loosen, and soon he broke free.

Ye Qingchen made a split-second decision. If I can just get into the fog, the poison gas will interfere with him. It won’t be so easy for Chen Hui to kill me then.

”Stop him!” Chen Hui barked, dashing toward Ye Qingchen, who was already running for the fog. At the same moment, Liu Wenzhuang moved to block Ye Qingchen’s path.

”Ye Qingchen, die!” Liu Wenzhuang roared, his eyes bulging with fury as he threw a punch.

”Hmph! A defeated foe,” Ye Qingchen said coldly, executing the Picking Leaf Hand.

Not this move again! Liu Wenzhuang’s pupils constricted. A surge of intense fear gripped him. His older brother, Liu Wenqiang, had died by this very technique.

”You can’t escape, Ye Qingchen!” Chen Hui shouted, sending a palm strike hurtling toward Ye Qingchen’s back.

CRUNCH!

Ye Qingchen’s hand landed heavily on Liu Wenzhuang’s chest, the impact shattering his heart instantly.

BOOM!

Simultaneously, Chen Hui’s strike smashed into Ye Qingchen’s back.

PFFT!

Ye Qingchen spat out a mouthful of blood and, enduring the immense pain, plunged headfirst into the fog.