Surrounded by Killers

"Finally came out, did you?"

The black-robed young man smiled wickedly toward the Free and Easy Gate. With a light tap of his right index finger against the ground, he rose into the air.

Immediately afterward, a streak of black light flew from his waist, and a Black Disc appeared beneath his feet.

The disc was jet-black all over and the size of a millstone. There was no telling what material it was made from.

Once the black-robed young man's feet landed on the disc, it shot toward the Free and Easy Gate like an arrow.

Judging by its speed, it could not match a flying sword, but it was considerably faster than a cultivator using the Wind Riding Technique.

As the black-robed young man flew off, more than a dozen dark figures around the hillside immediately followed close behind.

They were nowhere near as fast as he was, but they could pinpoint his exact location.

Meanwhile, Ye Fei had no idea that he had already become prey in someone else's eyes.

An hour later, he encountered his first Demon Beast, an Azurewave Kun Wolf.

Facing the Azurewave Kun Wolf, Ye Fei did not use the Nine Leaning Luo Swords. Instead, he fought it with the Heaven-Piercing Tyrant Slash he had bought for one Spirit Stone.

Despite its imposing name, the Heaven-Piercing Tyrant Slash was not particularly powerful. In return, it consumed little true qi.

The Azurewave Kun Wolf excelled in speed, and its hide was not as tough as an Earth-Splitting Beast's. Ye Fei's magic-artifact longsword could easily pierce it.

Thus, he was in no hurry.

He deliberately fought the Azurewave Kun Wolf for an entire incense stick's worth of time.

Only then did he raise his sword and bring it down, severing its head.

Ye Fei had done this to hone himself through battle.

He had just put away the Azurewave Kun Wolf when a dark figure flew toward him through the distant sky.

It was a lean-faced young man dressed in black robes, standing on an unfamiliar Black Disc.

The instant Ye Fei saw the young man, his pupils involuntarily contracted, and someone came to mind.

"You're Ye Fei?"

While Ye Fei's thoughts raced, the black-robed young man landed a hundred feet in front of him and asked in a deeply contemptuous tone.

"Who are you?"

Ye Fei raised an eyebrow and asked in return.

"You know Liu Yishan, don't you?"

"He was my brother, my elder brother born of the same mother, and my only family in this world."

"I'm his younger brother, Liu Yihong. I've come today to avenge him."

"I know you weren't the one who killed my brother. You don't have that kind of ability."

"But his death definitely had something to do with you."

"If you know what's good for you, tell me who the killer is, and I'll leave your corpse intact. Otherwise, I'll annihilate your body and soul, denying you rebirth for all eternity."

Ye Fei had asked only one question, yet the gray-robed young man launched into a long tirade as though possessed.

As he spoke, he glared at Ye Fei with hatred, as if he wanted to devour him alive and strip off his skin right then and there.

"Lunatic."

At the sight of him, the corner of Ye Fei's mouth twitched.

"I suggest you tell me."

Liu Yihong's voice was icy, and he made no attempt to conceal the murderous intent in his eyes.

"I don't even know who the killer is. What do you expect me to say?"

"If you're bent on condemning someone, you'll never lack an excuse. If you want a fight, then fight. Why waste so much breath?"

Ye Fei extended his right hand and summoned his magic-artifact longsword.

Although Ye Fei knew Liu Yihong's cultivation was higher than his, judging by his aura, the gap was no more than two minor stages.

With a gap like that, even if he could not win, he would still have a chance to escape.

Thus, he felt no fear.

"Good! Very good! Since you want a fight, I'll oblige!"

Liu Yihong snorted coldly and extended his right hand. A small black flag appeared in it.

The black flag resembled Liu Yishan's banner somewhat, but the difference in their auras was far from slight.

Even so, Ye Fei did not dare underestimate it.

Unlike Ye Fei, Liu Yihong had no reservations.

He flicked his right hand, and the black flag gave a soft snap.

"Ghost Mist, go!"

Then, as Liu Yihong murmured, wisps of black smoke actually drifted out of the flag.

The smoke seemed to have eyes. The moment it appeared, it curled toward Ye Fei.

Though the black mist looked light and airy, it moved swiftly and poured out without end, forming a long dragon of black mist in the space of a breath.

Soon, it was less than twenty feet from Ye Fei.

Ye Fei did not dare let his guard down. He thrust his longsword forward again and again.

Streams of fierce Sword Qi shot toward the wisps of black mist like waves.

"Transform!"

Seeing Ye Fei's incoming Sword Qi, Liu Yihong shouted and repeatedly waved the black flag.

With each wave, more than a dozen evil ghosts wielding battle-axes flew out of the flag in succession.

As soon as they emerged, they plunged into the long dragon of black mist.

The moment their bodies entered the mist, they teleported to its leading edge, swinging their battle-axes at the incoming Sword Qi.

Though the evil ghosts were small, their battle-axes packed considerable power. They hacked down every stream of Sword Qi Ye Fei had unleashed.

"Interesting."

Ye Fei's gaze sharpened. He used the Mistlike Step and reached the belly of the black mist dragon in an instant.

"Disperse!"

Ye Fei unleashed Golden Rainbow Piercing the Sun, the first move of the Nine Leaning Luo Swords, intending to scatter the black mist.

"Merge!"

Liu Yihong remained unhurried at the sight of Ye Fei's strike. As he uttered the command, he flicked his wrist, and the long dragon of black mist instantly contracted toward its belly.

Before Ye Fei's longsword could descend, it transformed into a massive black saber.

"Cleave!"

The moment the massive saber formed, Liu Yihong flicked the small flag again.

The saber took the initiative, surging up to meet the descending longsword.

Clang!

Amid the ringing clash of metal, Ye Fei flew backward like a kite with its string snapped and slammed heavily into the ground.

So powerful!

Ye Fei's heart jolted, and he struggled to his feet.

The web of his hand had split, blood faintly seeping out. His right arm trembled uncontrollably, and he could barely hold on to his longsword.

"Well?"

"Ready to talk now?"

Seeing Ye Fei's condition, Liu Yihong curled one corner of his mouth into a sinister smile.

"Again!"

Ye Fei clenched his teeth and charged forward with his sword, saying no more.

"Golden Goose Across the Sky!"

When he was still fifty feet from Liu Yihong, Ye Fei unhesitatingly unleashed the second move of the Nine Leaning Luo Swords.

As he slashed, a golden ripple of Sword Qi flew from the tip of his sword and swept forward, aimed straight at Liu Yihong.

"Hmph. You overestimate yourself."

Liu Yihong snorted coldly and flicked the black flag. The massive saber, which had yet to dissipate, abruptly rose to meet the ripple of Sword Qi in midair.

Boom!

In an instant, saber and sword collided, unleashing a deafening explosion.

At the same time, Ye Fei was sent flying backward again. He slammed heavily into the ground and spat out two mouthfuls of blood.

Across from him, Liu Yihong was hardly better off. A plume of white smoke rose from the black flag in his hand, and it began to burn.

A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. He swayed twice, nearly falling to the ground.

Clearly, his magic treasure had been damaged, and he had suffered considerable backlash.

"To think a mere fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator like you could wield the strength of the seventh level. I really did underestimate you."

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Liu Yihong gave a savage smile and swept his gaze around the surroundings.

Then he waved his right hand and shouted, "Surround him!"

As his words fell, more than a dozen dark figures darted in from all sides and surrounded Ye Fei.

When did so many people get here?

With so many people appearing at once, Ye Fei's heart tightened. He struggled to his feet, his expression grim.

"Ready to talk now?"

Liu Yihong narrowed his eyes and asked again.

"All right, I'll talk."

Seeing the crowd surrounding him, Ye Fei's eyes shifted. He hastily tossed down his longsword, willingly giving up his resistance.