Chapter 1097: Walking into the Trap
After leaving the Soul Sect, Yun Che headed straight west. To return to Heiya City, he had to cross the Black Soul Mountain Range. Although a large number of Soul Sect disciples were now lying in ambush throughout the Black Soul Mountain Range, with his Moon-Breaking Shadow Flick technique, as long as he exercised a bit of caution, he was confident he could completely ignore them.
After all, compared to such a negligible risk, going around the Black Soul Mountain Range was simply impractical.
He guessed that these Soul Sect disciples, forced to obey orders and wait here for a rabbit to appear, probably didn't really believe they would actually catch one.
Entering the Black Soul Mountain Range region, Yun Che swept his spiritual sense and indeed detected the presence of numerous Soul Sect disciples and defensive profound formations. He sneered disdainfully, moving forward swiftly, silent and formless, bypassing a large number of disciples and formations, and soon found himself deep within the Black Soul Mountains.
At night, the Black Soul Mountain Range was extremely foggy, greatly hindering both vision and perception. Thus, the night-time Black Soul Mountains were several times safer for Yun Che than the daytime. The entire process held no danger whatsoever.
But just then, not far ahead of him, a profound light suddenly shot up into the sky, appearing especially dazzling against the night.
That was... some profound formation being triggered! No! Who would be breaking into a place like this at this hour? Could it be a profound beast?
Without a doubt, amidst the layered ambushes, a formation being suddenly triggered was akin to poking a hornet's nest. The Soul Sect disciples lying in wait nearby were all jolted into high alert, shouts erupting everywhere as they surged toward the location. But from the direction of the glowing formation, instead of the roar of a profound beast, a young girl's shriek rang out.
"Huh? Ah!! Who... are you people? Are you all bad guys? Wahhh... So scary!"
Yun Che's face stiffened instantly at this voice, his eyes widening.
This... voice...
Could... it be...
Little Jasmine!?!
Yun Che's brow furrowed. He slowly climbed a tall tree nearby and looked into the distance.
Within the flickering profound formation, a delicate and petite figure was firmly trapped. She wore a rainbow-colored dress, her milky-white face was so perfect it was breathtaking, and her eyes, even in the darkness of night, shimmered with a star-like radiance.
It was Little Jasmine!
Trapped within the formation and surrounded layers deep by a sudden crowd of people, she seemed very frightened. She curled up her body, her excessively beautiful starry eyes timidly sizing up the people around her.
How could she be here!?
And at a time like this, to touch off the Soul Sect's formation!
Seeing this little girl, the Soul Sect disciples also exchanged bewildered glances.
"Why is it a little girl?"
"Her profound strength is only at the King Xuan realm... No! How did she get here? Someone must have brought her."
"Tch... This little girl's looks... Tch... The Young Master would definitely like her. Oh no, no. Should we capture her first and hand her over to the Sect Master, or?"
Listening to what they were saying, Little Jasmine became even more frightened and, panicking, blurted out: "You... you can't bully me... and you definitely can't take me! I-I-I'm telling you, my brother-in-law is Ling Yun, the most famous person in the entire Heiya Realm right now! If you dare bully me, my brother-in-law... he will never let you off!"
"~!@#$%^&*..." Yun Che nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood on the spot.
Without a doubt, the name "Ling Yun" that suddenly popped out of Little Jasmine's mouth had once again thoroughly poked a hornet's nest. The Soul Sect disciples, who had been looking at her with various expressions, all stiffened, and their faces instantly changed.
"Ling Yun... She said Ling Yun!"
"Seize her! Seize her immediately!" a leader shouted hoarsely.
Watching all this unfold, Yun Che's face twitched constantly. He had no time to wonder why this little girl was here or how she had gotten here. One thing was absolutely certain: if she fell into the hands of the Soul Sect, her fate would be miserable—especially after she had been so unlucky as to shout out his name.
But this place was full of elite Soul Sect disciples lying in ambush, along with powerful vice-hall masters and hall masters he absolutely could not contend with. If he showed himself to rescue her, it would be like walking right into a trap.
"..." Yun Che took a deep, silent breath. No, he absolutely could not get involved with her. He had no relation to her, and he had already saved her twice. Last time, she had nearly gotten him killed, and he had been so furious he had cursed her out.
If he saved her again this time, it would be an utter act of suicidal stupidity, masochism, and sheer brainlessness.
Decision made, Yun Che looked away.
With the order given, the closest Soul Sect disciples quickly surged forward. Seeing the ferocious crowd charging at her, the helpless girl let out a terrified scream: "Wahhh—Help!!"
As the girl's scream rang out, a crimson flame shadow suddenly exploded in midair without warning, like a falling meteor from the sky, carrying a terrifying wave of air that instantly swelled and crashed down.
Boom!!
Flame light burst, sword aura roared, and hundreds of Soul Sect disciples nearby were instantly plunged into an abyss of death, their bodies shattered amidst the most terrified screams. The formation trapping the girl was also shattered in an instant. The flame shadow grabbed Little Jasmine and shot into the sky like a storm, darting away.
The girl's scream stretched on and on, turning into a joyful cry when she saw the person beside her: "Wow! Brother-in-law!"
"Shut up!!" Yun Che roared at full speed, grinding his teeth.
Damn it... Why is it that every time I run into this little girl, it's like being possessed! I can't seem to control my hands no matter what!
Shit!!
The sudden change threw the Soul Sect members into chaos.
"Who goes there!?"
"Ling Yun! It must be Ling Yun!"
"It's Ling Yun!"
"Ling Yun has appeared! Surround and kill him immediately!"
"Quickly contact the Sect Master and the Grand Hall Master!"
Having thought their wait would yield nothing, they had actually caught the rabbit. The Soul Sect disciples, who had been silent for half the night, all erupted. The disciples of the Soul Sect's sixty-four halls, either startled by the commotion or alerted via sound transmission, surged like a turbulent tide from all directions toward Yun Che.
Locked down by countless auras, and with even more auras rapidly approaching from every direction—including more than a dozen that alone could completely crush him—
"As expected, the Sect Master was wise, guessing you would come here!"
"Ling Yun, where do you think you can run this time?"
"The Sect Master's order: no need to capture him alive this time. Kill on sight!"
Little Jasmine huddled tightly in the crook of Yun Che's arm, frightened. "Brother-in-law, why are there so many bad people here..."
"Don't speak!" Yun Che roared. Surrounded by the Soul Sect, his exposure meant a slim chance of survival—and that was without having to divide his attention and strength to protect a little girl!
"Brother-in-law, why do you always appear whenever I'm in danger? Have you been secretly following and protecting me all along?"
"If you say another word... I'll throw you down!" he snapped.
"Last time, brother-in-law also said he wouldn't care about me anymore, hehe. I don't believe it."
"!~@#$%^&*..." (This little girl is even laughing out loud!)
"Ling Yun, die!"
Under the night sky shrouded in darkness and gray mist, countless black figures shot into the air, like an endless net sealing off Yun Che and Little Jasmine, rapidly closing in.
Flames burned in Yun Che's pupils. With his right hand alone, he grabbed the Heaven-Defying Sword, the blade igniting. Without even looking, he swung the sword down.
This strike was full force.
Against a greater number of enemies, the extreme power of a heavy sword was best displayed.
Boom!!
The heavens shook. Amidst continuous roars and screams, all Soul Sect disciples within several miles of Yun Che were sent flying, crashing down like dumplings thrown into a pot, some severely injured, others dead on the spot. Yun Che pulled his sword forward, his feet stepping on the Phantom Lightning Extreme. Even carrying Little Jasmine, his figure remained as swift as flowing light, plunging like a sharp blade into the surging crowd of Soul Sect disciples. The Heaven-Defying Sword swept horizontally with the roar of a descending hurricane.
Boom!!!!
Another deafening explosion. A vast wave of destructive power, carrying scorching flames, burst across the sky, painting the night a deep red. Amidst the red light, flesh flew, blood sprayed, and corpses littered the ground.
With just two sword strikes, all the Soul Sect disciples were terrified to the point of their livers and gallbladders splitting. Their forward momentum all halted, their scalps tingled, and their hearts trembled violently. They simply couldn't believe their eyes.
Everyone in the Soul Sect knew the name Ling Yun, but their impression of him was only of someone with extremely strong concealment abilities, who only dared to strike from the shadows and never showed himself.
They never dreamed that the Ling Yun who now stood before them would be so terrifying!
Heavily surrounded, suppressed by countless auras, and facing the most elite disciples of the Soul Sect, yet he had left a field of corpses and blood with just two strikes!
Yun Che's profound energy surged wildly. He maintained his maximum speed, leaving the enemies behind him far in the dust. He knew that if he slowed down even a little and was completely encircled from all sides, he would surely die.
His Heaven-Defying Sword swept wide and struck hard, slaughtering layer after layer of the Soul Sect disciples who charged at him. These disciples were at least at the Divine Origin Realm, with many at the Divine Soul Realm. But before Yun Che, whose profound strength was only at the early stage of the Divine Soul Realm, they couldn't even withstand the residual waves of his attacks, which left them dead or injured.
In an instant, the Black Soul Mountains trembled, hurricanes howled, sword auras roared, and blood, broken limbs, and shattered bones flew through the air.
This unforeseen turn of events left the Soul Sect disciples utterly shocked and horrified. But Yun Che kept his teeth clenched tightly. Wielding the sword with one hand drastically reduced his power and greatly increased his energy consumption. However, it was still enough for dealing with ordinary Soul Sect disciples.
But only ordinary disciples.
If a Divine Tribulation Realm powerhouse arrived, suppressed him slightly, and then the Soul Sect disciples completely surrounded him, the consequences would be unthinkable.
He had to think of something immediately, or tonight would be the end of him!
Bursting out by force was a fool's dream. The only viable method was to cut off everyone's aura lock-on and use the cover of night and thick fog to hide.
Damn it! This little girl had to be called Little Jasmine!
Bang bang bang bang bang...
Several dozen black lightning bolts pierced through the storm of sword auras, striking Yun Che directly in the back. The sound was as dull as hitting a steel plate. Yun Che staggered slightly, his upper garment shattered, but his exposed skin only had a few shallow marks, not even a drop of blood. The Soul Sect disciples who had successfully landed their attacks, before they could show any joy, were shocked to the point that their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
After acquiring the Buddhist Heart Divine Meridian, Yun Che's profound energy circulation speed was extremely fast, and his ability to wield the Heaven-Defying Sword was naturally far superior to before. But now, wielding the sword with one hand, his openings were far greater than before. Although these Soul Sect disciples couldn't get close, their profound energy and lightning profound power continuously pierced through like a rainstorm. While they could not inflict severe injuries, in an instant, his entire body was covered in bloody wounds.