Sky-Slaying Nine Forms

Thirty li was no distance at all.

To Bai Ye, it took no more than a blink to cross.

His figure swept over the forest, crossed a stream, and soon found the valley Lin Yan had mentioned.

The valley entrance was narrow, flanked by steep cliff walls.

The cliffs were covered in dark green vines, dotted with tiny purple flowers that gave off a faint, delicate fragrance.

Bai Ye restrained his aura and slipped quietly into the valley.

After entering the valley, the terrain gradually opened up. The spiritual energy in the air had clearly grown denser—at least twice as concentrated as outside!

Faintly, he could also smell a strange, sweet fragrance permeating the air.

Bai Ye ventured deeper and soon arrived at the center of the valley!

At a glance, he saw a small tree standing quietly in the valley's center, about five feet tall!

Its trunk was pale yellow, its surface wrapped in a faint spiritual glow. Its leaves were emerald green like jade, with golden patterns flowing between their veins!

The branches were laden with yellow fruits. Each was about the size of a fist and glimmered with a warm, lustrous sheen, radiating pure Spiritual Soul Power!

It was the Yellow Springs Spirit Fruit Tree!

Beneath the tree sat a middle-aged man with slightly graying hair and beard, cross-legged.

He wore the black Daoist robes of the Black Mountain Sect. His eyes were tightly shut, and dense spiritual energy swirled around him as he held a Yellow Springs Spirit Fruit in his hand and slowly refined it.

The Spiritual Soul Power within the fruit flowed into his body through his fingertips. A trace of intoxication appeared on his face, clearly showing that he was immersed in the ecstasy of his cultivation rising.

He was none other than Zhou Gan, the Black Mountain Sect's Profound Comprehension elder who had attacked Bai Ye in Sword Intent Valley not long ago!

The instant Bai Ye stepped into the center of the valley, Zhou Gan opened his eyes.

His gaze was cold as a blade. As his Spiritual Sense locked onto Bai Ye, it carried undisguised killing intent.

Yet he did not rise at once. Instead, the Profound Comprehension Second Layer Spiritual Energy around him suddenly erupted!

In an instant.

A vast pressure swept outward!

The vines in the valley were pressed flat against the ground, and even the stream stopped flowing!

Zhou Gan barked coldly, "Where did this stray dog come from? How dare you trespass on my territory? Scram!"

Bai Ye looked at Zhou Gan, his gaze suddenly turning icy. "So it's you, old dog. What a narrow road for enemies."

At those words, Zhou Gan's brows furrowed. He studied Bai Ye carefully, then recognized him.

A cruel smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "So it's you, you wretched beast! I let you escape last time, and now you actually came knocking on my door. You're courting death!"

Before his voice had even faded, Zhou Gan suddenly thrust out his right hand and struck down at Bai Ye from a distance!

The spiritual energy in the air furiously converged, instantly condensing into a black palm print more than ten feet across!

Faint black mist swirled around the palm print, carrying an aura that could corrode everything as it pressed down over Bai Ye's head!

It was his signature Martial Skill, the earth-grade mid-tier Corrupting Divine Palm!

But Bai Ye was faster!

"Sky-Slaying Nine Forms, First Form—Severing Wind!"

Bai Ye shouted under his breath. His right hand gripped the Purple Firmament Sword behind him and yanked it free!

Buzz—!

The instant the sword left its sheath, a dazzling Golden Sword Light erupted!

The Sword Light was like a bolt of golden lightning, carrying the might to rend heaven and earth as it slashed straight toward the black palm print!

Wherever the Sword Light passed, the air was torn open into a fine Spatial Rift, and even the light itself twisted!

"This is... the power of heaven and earth?!"

Zhou Gan's pupils contracted violently. The smile on his face instantly stiffened, replaced by deep shock. "You... you've already broken through to the Profound Comprehension Realm?!"

He could never have believed that Bai Ye, who had still been in the Primordial Core Realm just a few hours ago, had now stepped into the Profound Comprehension Realm!

That speed of breakthrough had completely overturned his understanding!

The moment the Golden Sword Light collided with the black palm print, the palm print melted away like snow meeting fire!

The Sword Light's momentum did not diminish in the slightest. It continued straight toward Zhou Gan!

Zhou Gan was horrified. He felt a chill of death envelop his entire body!

He could clearly sense that the might of this Sword Light far exceeded what he could withstand!

"Damn it!"

Zhou Gan let out a hoarse roar and suddenly pulled a white jade pendant from his robes.

The jade pendant was carved with intricate runes. It was the seventh-grade protective artifact he relied on to save his life—the "Black Mountain Jade Talisman"!

He crushed the jade pendant with all his strength!

Boom—!

The jade pendant transformed into a sky full of white light, which condensed in midair into a dark-blue enormous cauldron with three legs and two handles!

The enormous cauldron stood more than ten feet tall. Ancient Runes were engraved across its surface, faint azure light swirling between them as it radiated an aura as heavy as a mountain!

Clang!

The Golden Sword Light struck the enormous cauldron, unleashing a deafening boom!

The enormous cauldron shook violently. Dense cracks surfaced across its body, yet it ultimately blocked the strike!

"A seventh-grade artifact?" Bai Ye sneered. "This old dog has quite a bit of wealth."

Before Zhou Gan could catch his breath, Bai Ye swung his sword again!

"Sky-Slaying Nine Forms, Second Form—Severing Waves!"

Two Golden Sword Lights erupted simultaneously, like two enormous golden waves carrying the might to destroy heaven and earth as they slashed toward the enormous cauldron once more!

Crack—!

The cracks on the enormous cauldron spread in an instant. Then it shattered with a thunderous crash, transforming into a sky full of specks of light that scattered through the air!

"Impossible!" Zhou Gan was torn between terror and despair, his face filled with hopelessness. "This is a seventh-grade protective spiritual jade! How could you possibly shatter it?!"

He no longer dared to linger. He turned and ran!

He pushed his Spiritual Energy to its limit, his body transforming into a black afterimage as he raced toward the valley entrance!

"Do you think you can escape?"

Bai Ye's gaze was cold. He instantly activated Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping beneath his feet, his figure becoming a streak of golden light that caught up with Zhou Gan in the blink of an eye!

"Sky-Slaying Nine Forms—Sky Slaying!"

The Golden Sword Light erupted once more. This time, it was even more dazzling and more majestic than before!

The Sword Light swept across Zhou Gan's neck, drawing a line of blood.

The next instant.

Zhou Gan's body froze where it stood. His head slowly fell and rolled across the ground.

His eyes were wide open, clearly showing that he had died with unfulfilled grievances!