# Chapter 971: Ruthlessness
"What person!"
Di Kui quickly retreated several steps, looking up toward the source of the voice. After all, what they were doing was something shameful, and they absolutely did not wish to be seen by outsiders. And this voice was right beside his ear, yet he had not sensed anyone approaching at all—naturally, he became alert.
Yun Che, clad in a simple white training robe, descended slowly from the air and landed beside Feng Mo.
Many of the newly admitted disciples of the Cold Snow Hall had seen Yun Che, but after that, Yun Che had holed up in the training room of the Ice Phoenix Thirty-Six Palaces for three months without taking a single step outside. Thus, aside from those who had been in the Cold Snow Main Hall that day, no one up or down in the Ice Phoenix God Sect had ever seen Yun Che.
To Di Kui, this was a completely unfamiliar face, and the aura of the Sovereign Xuan Realm on him instantly turned all of Di Kui's vigilance into disdain: "So it's someone looking for death..."
His voice suddenly stopped, because he saw the Ice Phoenix Inscribed Jade on Yun Che's shoulder—the symbol of an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple's identity. He was momentarily stunned, then cried out in disbelief: "You… you're Yun Che!!"
To become an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple with cultivation at the Sovereign Xuan Realm—throughout the entire Ice Phoenix God Sect, there was only Yun Che, who had made a great name for himself three months ago, and no one else.
"Yun Che… senior brother…" Looking at Yun Che who had landed at his side, Feng Mo's lips trembled. This man who had never yielded even under cruel bullying was now misting up. In this divine realm, where the survival rules were even more brutal than the lower realms, he had never expected that Yun Che, who had already entered the Ice Phoenix Palace, would actually come because of his plea for help via sound transmission.
"Yun Che? That name sounds quite familiar." Liu Hang from behind squinted his eyes.
"Senior Brother Liu, he's that Yun Che who seriously injured the main hall master's nephew three months ago!" Di Kui quickly said.
"Hmph, no need for you to remind me." Liu Hang stepped forward, walking toward the suddenly descending Yun Che, a smile on his face: "So this is the renowned Senior Brother Yun Che. Senior Brother Yun Che made a brilliant showing three months ago, consecutively defeating two Divine Way cultivators with power that had not yet entered the Divine Way, and was exceptionally accepted as an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple—truly admirable and enviable. To think I would have the fortune to see you in person today—what a great blessing indeed."
Di Kui was full of caution. Although Yun Che's cultivation was only at the Sovereign Xuan Realm, he was after all an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple, personally accepted by Mu Bingyun without examination. As a Cold Snow Hall disciple, one always felt a sense of inferiority before Ice Phoenix Palace disciples.
Liu Hang was also polite, addressing Yun Che respectfully as "senior brother." But while there was respect in his demeanor, there was absolutely no fear... and deep in his eyes, there was clearly a hint of contempt.
Yun Che crouched down, examined Feng Mo's injuries, then raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Liu Hang and Di Kui. He asked in a flat tone: "You two beat him?"
"That's right." Liu Hang nodded with a smile.
"Reason."
"Teaching a junior brother who doesn't understand the rules is a senior brother's proper duty. What does Senior Brother Yun Che think?" Liu Hang was still smiling.
"They… they wanted to snatch my Snow Silk, cough… cough…" Feng Mo shouted with a trembling voice. But as soon as the words left his mouth, his expression changed, and he said frantically: "Senior Brother Yun Che… you coming here… I, Feng Mo, am already… immensely grateful… but these two… are very strong… even stronger than Ji Hanfeng, both at Divine Origin Realm Level 7… especially that Liu Hang, one of his cousins is called Mu Yizhou, the chief disciple of the Ice Phoenix First Palace… we simply… simply can't afford to offend them… you should go quickly. This is the Cold Snow Hall, they wouldn't dare… do anything too severe to me…"
Feng Mo had sent a sound transmission to Yun Che for help, hoping to rely on Yun Che's identity as an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple to scare off Liu Hang and Di Kui, but…
The chief disciple of the Ice Phoenix First Palace… If he had known earlier that Liu Hang's cousin had such a fearsome identity, he would never have sent a sound transmission to Yun Che for help.
"Alright, focus on condensing your energy and don't speak." Yun Che's brows twitched. He placed his palm on Feng Mo's back and rapidly gathered the world's spiritual energy, channeling it into Feng Mo's body.
It was as if a cool, gentle stream was slowly flowing through his entire body, instantly reducing the pain and clearing his mind. Feng Mo's face showed astonishment—he could hardly believe the sensation coming from his body and mind.
Hearing Feng Mo call out the great name "Mu Yizhou" to Yun Che, Liu Hang's lips curled, and his demeanor became even more arrogant. With Mu Yizhou as his immense backing, he had no fear of most Ice Phoenix Palace disciples, let alone Yun Che—someone from the lower realms who had entered the Ice Phoenix Palace only because of his extraordinary talent, with cultivation so low it didn't even qualify as the bottom.
"You wanted to snatch the Snow Silk from him?" Having stabilized Feng Mo's injuries, Yun Che removed his hand from him, stood up slowly, and looked at them expressionlessly.
"Hehehe," Liu Hang laughed rather provocatively. Feng Mo had already voluntarily brought up the name "Mu Yizhou," saving him the effort of more words: "If it is so, what do you plan to do? Could it be that Senior Brother Yun Che intends to make things difficult for us over such a worthless piece of trash?"
"Very simple," Yun Che's calm pupils surged with dangerous cold light: "Hand over all the Snow Silk you have on you, then break your own left arms, and then you can get lost!"
At these words, Liu Hang's expression stiffened sharply. Di Kui's face also changed drastically. Even Feng Mo, who was about to urge Yun Che to leave again, was completely frozen, hardly believing his own ears.
"Heh, heh heh... hahahaha!" Liu Hang laughed loudly: "Senior Brother Yun Che really is an amusing person. First meeting, and already telling such a big joke."
Di Kui's gaze also turned somewhat sinister, sneering without a word... Yun Che's words had better be a joke. Otherwise, they would be a ridiculous joke.
"It's also fine if you want me to do it myself. But in that case, it won't just be one arm that gets broken." Yun Che also sneered.
"Yun Che!" Liu Hang's expression darkened, and his tone instantly turned cold: "I called you 'senior brother' just now to give you face. Don't be so shameless! Do you really think that just because you've become an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple, you can act arrogant in front of us? Hah! In our Cold Snow Hall, there are many people that even you Ice Phoenix Palace disciples can't afford to offend... let alone a base-born peasant from the lower realms! Your cultivation level is an even bigger joke within the Ice Phoenix Palace!"
"I heard that after offending the main hall master that day, you hid in the Ice Phoenix Palace for three months without daring to come out, and now you come before us to throw your weight around," Di Kui sneered. "If it were other Cold Snow Hall disciples, you might actually intimidate them. Unfortunately, you've picked the wrong targets. I'm not a waste like Ji Hanfeng, and Senior Brother Liu Hang is someone you couldn't afford to offend even in ten lifetimes! If you scram right now, Senior Brother Liu and I might let you off like a fart. Otherwise... this is our Cold Snow Hall's territory, and the consequences will be very ugly. By then, you'll not only be a joke in the Ice Phoenix Palace but also in the Cold Snow Hall."
Yun Che said nothing more. He extended his arm, and the Heaven-Defying Sword appeared in his hand. He walked slowly, deliberately, straight toward Di Kui and Liu Hang.
"Senior Brother Yun Che!" Feng Mo quickly reached out, trying to stop Yun Che.
The Heaven-Defying Sword emerged. A pressure far beyond what Liu Hang and Di Kui had expected, like a mountain collapsing, descended upon them, making their bodies shudder. Seeing that Yun Che was truly preparing to attack, Liu Hang's eyes turned completely dark: "Yun Che, you asked for this!"
"Di Kui, break one of his hands!"
Yun Che was, after all, an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple, personally accepted by Mu Bingyun. Although Liu Hang was unafraid and even somewhat contemptuous of Yun Che, he dared not go too hard on him.
"Heh, the thought of breaking an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple's hand—it feels great just thinking about it!" Di Kui let out a sinister laugh. With Liu Hang backing him, he had no need for any restraint. But he hadn't forgotten that Yun Che had crippled Ji Hanfeng, and he wasn't much stronger than Ji Hanfeng, so he didn't underestimate his opponent. He directly summoned his weapon, his feet shifting, and a cold shadow thrust straight at Yun Che: "Kneel down!"
"Senior Brother Yun Che, be careful!" Feng Mo screamed in alarm. Initially, he had really only hoped to rely on Yun Che's identity as an Ice Phoenix Palace disciple to scare the two away. He never expected things to turn out like this... He hadn't anticipated Liu Hang having such a great backing, and even less that Yun Che would actively strike at the two.
Although Yun Che had defeated Ji Hanfeng that day, he had also been completely drained. Di Kui's cultivation was as high as Divine Origin Realm Level 7, and he never believed Yun Che could be his match. But when the Heaven-Defying Sword approached, the indescribably terrifying sword might turned the viciousness on his face into shock, then into full-blown terror. He subconsciously tried to evade, but it was already too late.
Boom!!!
With a thunderous noise, snow flew everywhere. Di Kui's long sword shattered into five pieces. Di Kui, who had been letting out arrogant shouts just a moment before, flew sideways like a kite with a broken string, spewing a long trail of blood in the air.
This scene, which he would never have dreamed of, turned Liu Hang's face deathly pale. Even Yun Che was slightly stunned. Di Kui and Liu Hang were both at Divine Origin Realm Level 7, their strength surpassing Ji Hanfeng's. So although Yun Che was confident he wouldn't lose to them, he hadn't been careless and had directly brought out the Heaven-Defying Sword... yet Di Kui had been routed in a single strike under his sword.
Three months ago, in his Purgatory state, he couldn't defeat Ji Hanfeng at Divine Origin Realm Level 6. He had to forcibly open the Heaven-Blasting Art to severely injure him, and he himself was completely exhausted.
Now, in his Purgatory state, he had actually sent Di Kui, at Divine Origin Realm Level 7, flying with a single sword strike!
In just three short months, the Jade Falling Ice Soul Pill and extreme training had caused his strength to undergo earth-shattering changes, no longer comparable to three months ago!
After a moment of surprise, Yun Che's gaze instantly locked onto Liu Hang, who was scared out of his wits. The Heaven-Defying Sword, spanning thirty zhang of distance, swept horizontally in a single slash.
The deathly aura, terrifying to the extreme, abruptly approached. Liu Hang's pupils dilated. He shouted and gathered all his profound energy to protect himself. But under the sword's might, his defensive profound energy lasted only half a breath before shattering like fragile thin ice. He was struck as if by a mountain, letting out a miserable cry as he flew back, spattering blood, and tumbled down beside Di Kui.
Severely wounded in a single sword strike as well.
The snow stirred up by the Heaven-Defying Sword filled the air, lingering long. Behind him, Feng Mo's mouth gaped wide, but not a single sound could come out. His eyes were wide as saucers. It was as if he had suddenly turned into an ice sculpture, completely frozen there, unable to believe the scene before his eyes.
Back then, in the Cold Snow Main Hall, Ji Hanfeng at Divine Origin Realm Level 6 had put up a tough fight against him. Now, a Divine Origin Realm Level 7 expert was so pitifully fragile before him.
In between was only three short months—a period so brief it was virtually negligible in Divine Way cultivation.
Yun Che put away the Heaven-Defying Sword and walked forward unhurriedly until he stood before Liu Hang.
Although it was only a strike from a distance, it made Liu Hang feel as if all his internal organs had shifted out of place. His bloodflow and profound energy were in such chaos they seemed about to burst through his body. Looking at Yun Che before him, his face could no longer sustain its previous arrogance; instead, it was filled with shock and fear: "You… you…"
Yun Che extended his hand toward him: "Now, hand over all the Snow Silk on you. Hear me clearly—all of it. Don't waste my time, or it won't just be your hands that get broken—your feet too."
Liu Hang clenched his teeth: "You wouldn't dare!! Yun Che, my cousin is Mu Yizhou, the chief disciple of the Cold Snow First Hall, a peerless genius at Divine Soul Realm Level 10! He could crush you like an ant with no difference. If you dare to—"
Bam!!
"WUAAAAAAAA—"
Yun Che's foot came down. Amid Liu Hang's miserable screams like a wailing evil ghost, his right foot was stomped and broken.
"Liu Hang, it seems I need to remind you of something." Yun Che bent down and said slowly: "That guy named Li Mingcheng should still be lying half-dead somewhere right now, probably never to recover in this lifetime. I heard his aunt is your Cold Snow Hall's main hall master—that's far bigger than whatever cousin you have. But unfortunately, the person who crippled Li Mingcheng is standing right in front of you, not a single hair missing."
"So, do you think I would dare?" Yun Che narrowed his eyes, and in the slits was the most terrifying cold light Liu Hang had ever seen in his life.
(This chapter ends)