Escaping the Sea of Misery (Thanks to Ren Dao Da Huo for the Alliance Leader reward)

Lu Ye did not know how high Zhou Cheng's cultivation was, but it was certainly far stronger than his own.

Even injured, Zhou Cheng was not someone a One-Orifice Cultivator like him could handle casually. Killing intent needed the proper means to support it before it could be realized, and Sharpness was Lu Ye's means!

When he had nothing better to do before, he had tested it. The Sharpness Spiritual Pattern could not only be applied to his own palm, but also to weapons—and with even greater effect.

The flash of light that bloomed in that instant left Zhou Cheng dazed. He had no idea when Lu Ye had become a cultivator!

The two swords collided. With a crisp crack, Zhou Cheng discovered in shock that his longsword had been cut cleanly in two.

This frightened him badly. Having one's weapon break first in the middle of a fight was undoubtedly a tremendous blow.

While Zhou Cheng was still reeling in shock, Lu Ye's second sword had already arrived.

After severing Zhou Cheng's Sword, he immediately raised his own blade and chopped toward Zhou Cheng's neck.

He knew no swordsmanship and had mastered no profound techniques. All he could use was the simplest hack and slash.

Zhou Cheng's soul nearly fled his body. They were far too close now; it was already too late to retreat. He could only pour all his remaining Spiritual Power into protecting himself. By rights, given his cultivation, it should have been enough to block the attack of a One-Orifice Cultivator like Lu Ye. Even if the other party had a weapon, he should not have been able to break through his Spiritual Energy defense.

Yet when the longsword fell, Zhou Cheng's protective Spiritual Energy failed to have its intended effect. The sword first tore through that layer of defense, then slashed directly into Zhou Cheng's neck.

The sound of a sharp weapon entering flesh rang out. Lu Ye felt several drops of warm blood splash across his face.

"Bastard!" Zhou Cheng flew into a rage. He had let his guard down for a moment and been wounded so badly by a mine slave like Lu Ye. Raising a hand, he struck a palm toward Lu Ye.

But Lu Ye had already let go of the longsword and run deeper into the Mine Tunnel without looking back.

The sound of Zhou Cheng pursuing him came from behind, and Lu Ye ran even faster.

Gradually, he realized that the sounds behind him had vanished. Only then did he stop.

After waiting a while longer, he turned and went back. Halfway there, he saw Zhou Cheng lying face-down on the ground. Unsure whether the man was truly dead, he picked up several stones from the side and hurled them at him. Zhou Cheng did not react in the slightest.

Summoning his courage, Lu Ye approached him. Looking down, he saw a great pool of blood beneath Zhou Cheng, staining the ground red. The longsword was still lodged in his neck, and he had long since ceased breathing.

Lu Ye's second strike had not taken Zhou Cheng's life directly, but it had severed more than half his neck. With such a grave injury, how could Zhou Cheng possibly survive?

A life-and-death battle had ended with Lu Ye's victory! He let out a long breath, feeling the dangers and evils of this world more keenly than ever.

He stepped forward and grabbed the sword hilt. Just as he was about to pull the sword free, he caught something unusual from the corner of his eye. Looking up, his entire body turned cold.

For at some unknown moment, another person had appeared before him, and Lu Ye had not noticed a thing.

The gap between their cultivations was enormous! For some reason, this thought arose in Lu Ye's heart. If this person wanted to kill him, it would probably take no more than a flick of a finger. Even with Sharpness enhancing him, it would make no difference.

Gritting his teeth, he suppressed the panic in his heart, yanked out the sword, and held it before himself in a defensive stance. His body trembled faintly from tension.

Sensing his hostility, the newcomer could not help laughing. "I noticed fluctuations of Spiritual Power over here and came to investigate. There's no need to be nervous."

As he spoke, he walked forward step by step. Stopping beside Zhou Cheng, he lowered his head for a glance and nodded slightly. "A remnant of Evil Moon Valley." Then he looked up at Lu Ye. "Which sect's disciple are you?"

They were less than ten feet apart, and Lu Ye could now see the newcomer clearly. He was a hale, ruddy-faced elderly man of imposing stature. His voice was somewhat low and hoarse, yet he possessed an indescribable warmth.

Putting the old man's question together with everything else, Lu Ye immediately came to a guess. "Mystic Heaven Sect!"

"Mystic Heaven Sect?" The old man looked somewhat surprised. "The Mystic Heaven Sect that was wiped out a year ago?"

"Yes!" Lu Ye gave an affirmative answer.

The old man could not help looking him over from head to toe. "Then that means you're a mine slave who was captured and brought here?"

"Mm." Lu Ye nodded.

The old man was instantly astonished. A mine slave had actually killed a cultivator of Evil Moon Valley. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, no one would have dared believe such a thing.

"What cultivation do you have?" the old man asked again.

"I've opened one orifice," Lu Ye replied. Realizing what the old man meant, he took the initiative to explain, "He was injured. I ambushed him."

The old man looked at him with a smile. "You've got some nerve."

"Sir, are you from the Vast Sky Alliance?" Though Lu Ye had his suspicions, he still needed to confirm something like this.

The old man stroked his beard. "Indeed. This old man is from the Vast Sky Alliance."

Lu Ye was overjoyed. It seemed Steward Yang's earlier worries had been correct—the Vast Sky Alliance had attacked, and Evil Moon Valley could not defend this mine vein at all. The fact that this old man had already fought his way into the mine vein proved it.

By now, the Vast Sky Alliance was probably calling the shots over the mine vein.

As for whether the old man might be deceiving him, there was simply no need. The difference in their strength was far too great. If the man truly meant him harm, he could kill him with a single palm strike.

"Please, sir, save me from this sea of misery!" Lu Ye hurriedly pleaded.

He wanted to leave this Mine Tunnel, but he did not know whether he might encounter more danger along the way. Having finally met such a powerful senior, he naturally had to hurry and cling to his thigh, hanging on securely like an accessory.

The old man nodded. "Then follow me. This old man was about to leave as well."

"Many thanks, sir!" Lu Ye said with immense gratitude.

After speaking, the old man led the way. Lu Ye did not immediately follow, however. Instead, he crouched down and began searching Zhou Cheng's body.

Before long, he found a Storage Bag.

It seemed that every cultivator basically had a Storage Bag. It did not appear to be anything especially valuable.

Lu Ye was delighted and jogged after the old man.

The old man glanced sideways at him, smiled, and held out a hand. "Hand it over!"

Lu Ye instantly felt as sick as if he had swallowed a fly. But considering his current circumstances, he obediently offered up the Storage Bag.

The old man took it and brushed a hand over its opening. A flash of light passed by.

Just as Lu Ye was grumbling inwardly, the old man tossed the Storage Bag back to him. "This bottle of Dragon Tiger Pills, this old man will gladly accept. They're a powerful tonic, and you brat can't handle them. Consider it your filial offering to an elder!"

Holding the returned Storage Bag in both hands, Lu Ye finally understood that the man had not wanted to steal his spoils. He had known Lu Ye's cultivation was too weak to open the Storage Bag's restriction lock, and had casually helped him out.

This old man was a decent fellow!

With that thought in his heart, Lu Ye thanked him aloud. "Thank you."

He was delighted again...

When I woke up, there was another Alliance Leader. Thanks to Ren Dao Da Huo for the reward! We're temporarily ranked fifth on the new book list. Brothers, you really are amazing—let's keep charging forward! Please continue supporting the book in every way.

Also, regarding updates: during the new book period, updates can't be too fast because I need to maintain the rankings, which have word-count requirements. For now, there will be at least three updates a day, with one extra chapter for each Alliance Leader. This chapter counts as an extra update. I also still owe Chi Chi and Hu Die, the two Alliance Leaders, one chapter each, which I will gradually make up later.