The battlefield situation changed abruptly.
Mister Plainclothes actually abandoned Old Wu and turned to attack Ye Kang, who had been watching from the sidelines.
The Ninth Princess and Old Wu were both taken aback.
"Not good! Get back!"
The Ninth Princess hurriedly warned him, but it was already too late.
After activating his Evil Cultivation twice at the cost of his lifespan, Mister Plainclothes was now no weaker than Old Wu. His speed was even faster than lightning. In the blink of an eye, he sent several white lotus petals shooting toward Ye Kang.
Danger—extreme danger!
Ye Kang had never felt such terrifying killing intent. He immediately unleashed Hundred Flowers Sword Finger to intercept the petals, but Mister Plainclothes's attacks came one after another, endless as the tide.
Fortunately, Old Wu wasn't just lying on the ground watching.
She swiftly got to her feet and summoned Purple Lotus once more, delivering a heavy blow to Mister Plainclothes. Surging True Qi quickly pressed him down.
But it only held him back for a moment. Mister Plainclothes paid no heed to the attack at his back. Relying on the White Lotus's heaven-defying defense, he forcibly weathered the assault and charged at Ye Kang again.
"You're willing to risk your life just to kill me? You really think highly of me!"
Ye Kang reacted just as quickly. He immediately swung his golden saber and met the attack head-on.
The tremendous force sent him flying. His tiger's mouth throbbed, his blood and qi churned in his chest, and every bone in his body trembled.
Though there was only a one-rank difference between them, his opponent's Evil Cultivation was truly bizarre. With its added power, Ye Kang couldn't fight back at all.
Mister Plainclothes, meanwhile, looked astonished.
"What kind of martial art are you practicing?"
He stared at the White Lotus of True Qi around him. The petal that had just clashed with Ye Kang's saber had actually been eaten away by a golden light.
It was something he had never heard of, something that completely surpassed his imagination.
"Impossible! The Supreme Yin-Yang Chaotic White Lotus Skill was personally passed down by the Sect Leader. It's an unparalleled supreme technique that crushes everything! How could your True Qi corrode it?"
As if he'd been provoked, he roared in agitation. Then his killing moves emerged, and a storm of frenzied attacks descended from all sides.
Though Ye Kang didn't know what had him so worked up, he reacted at once.
Could his Imperial Heaven-Reaching Skill actually counter this Evil Cultivation?
Old Wu was still attacking Mister Plainclothes from behind. She, too, fell into thought, a strange look surfacing on her face before disappearing in an instant.
She didn't forget to shout a warning. "Use your True Qi to strike his White Lotus!"
As if he needed her to remind him, Ye Kang immediately activated the Imperial Heaven-Reaching Skill with all his might. Countless streams of Imperial True Qi surged into the sky, forming a golden phantom that struck toward Mister Plainclothes with a palm.
Because of the disparity in strength, Mister Plainclothes easily blocked the blow. But the golden phantom didn't disperse. Instead, it clung to him like a maggot burrowing into bone and pounced at once, completely engulfing the White Lotus.
Ye Kang then accelerated the circulation of his True Qi, draining it all in one go and forcing it into the attack.
Mister Plainclothes had long since lost his composure. Only venomous hatred remained on his face.
This brat absolutely could not be allowed to live!
He raised his hand again, only to discover that his control over the White Lotus had been stripped away. No matter how he circulated his technique, the White Lotus True Qi didn't respond. That infuriating golden light had completely severed his connection to it.
At that moment, Old Wu's attack followed on its heels, striking the stunned Mister Plainclothes with a palm.
With a spine-chilling crack, the bones of Mister Plainclothes's back shattered under her blow. His face rapidly aged, and his life force visibly ebbed away.
With the White Lotus True Qi gone, the backlash from using Evil Cultivation twice immediately took hold.
Seeing his chance, Ye Kang rushed forward and thrust with his saber. Mister Plainclothes's body happened to crash onto its tip, which pierced straight through him. A bright-red heart hung on the blade, then withered into a lump of desiccated rot.
[Ding] [Defeated a fake Innate Third Rank expert. Reward: 3,000 Comprehension]
The System Sound rang out. Ye Kang finally let out a breath and collapsed limply.
He had drained all his True Qi at once and was completely spent.
Fortunately, he'd managed to claim the kill at the last moment. All that Comprehension hadn't gone to waste.
Though he didn't know why the White Lotus Evil Cultivation was countered by the Imperial Heaven-Reaching Skill, that martial art had saved his life.
The strength of a Third-Rank Innate expert truly couldn't be compared to that of a Second-Rank one.
Just then, General Sikong, covered in blood from head to toe, landed beside him and scooped him up. He burst into laughter.
"Thanks to this brother, the Rebel Faction has been completely wiped out. A great victory!"
Old Wu and the Ninth Princess smiled as well. At last, half a year of planning hadn't gone to ruin.
The next day.
The battlefield had been cleaned up, and Ye Kang had returned to the Grand Tutor's Mansion with the Ninth Princess.
After a night of rest, his True Qi had filled back up.
With the Secret Medicine the Princess had given him, his injuries had also mostly healed. Only then did Ye Kang begin sorting through what he'd gained from the battle.
He hadn't obtained any martial arts, but he'd made a fortune in Comprehension.
He had over thirteen thousand Comprehension in total. He was only seven thousand short of bringing Hundred Flowers Sword Finger to Great Perfection.
His only regret was not obtaining Mister Plainclothes's martial art. That White Lotus Evil Cultivation was bizarre, but its power was truly astonishing. Learning it would certainly have been worth the effort.
Thinking back to yesterday's battle, Ye Kang's outlook had changed quite a bit.
There was always someone beyond the next mountain, a sky beyond the sky. In the martial world, there was no strongest, only someone stronger. His own strength was still too weak; he would have to keep working hard.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by Lin Hanzhi's voice.
"Senior Ye, the Ninth Princess requests your presence."
"Coming."
Ye Kang put on his black robe and went out.
Lin Hanzhi had changed into a pale-yellow dress. White cloth was still wrapped around her hand, and the traces of yesterday's desperate defense of the city could still be faintly seen.
At the sight of Ye Kang's face, Lin Hanzhi's heart skipped a beat. A hint of admiration had already entered her eyes.
Yesterday, that lone figure defending an entire city had been so striking that it was hard for a young woman not to be moved.
Of course, she only lost herself for a moment before saying, "Senior, Jin Baobei from the God of Wealth Inn asked me to tell you that you can go to her again if you need anything."
Ye Kang nodded.
"Thanks. Let's go see the Princess."
Speaking of Jin Baobei, after bringing her into Mengzhou City, he seemed not to have visited her at all. He'd let that woman earn a thousand taels for nothing. What a terrible loss.
Ye Kang soon arrived at the Princess's room.
The Imperial Guards outside saw him and respectfully clasped their hands.
It was respect for his strength.
Ye Kang nodded and pushed the door open.
The Ninth Princess, Old Wu, General Sikong, and Lin Baichuan were all inside.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Ninth Princess. I am Ye Kang of the Imperial City Department, here by the command of Consort Jing to protect Your Highness."
Ye Kang clasped his hands without fawning or arrogance and gave his name.
Only then did Lin Baichuan rise to his feet, visibly excited. "Lord Ye is truly a hero of our time! On behalf of the people of Mengzhou City, I thank you for defending the city!"
Lin Baichuan and Lin Hanzhi clasped their hands together, then bowed deeply. It was their most heartfelt expression of gratitude.
Ye Kang didn't refuse. He only smiled and said, "No need for thanks. It was just something I happened to do."
"Well said, 'just something you happened to do.' Lord Ye, please accept a bow from Jinxi as well."
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