With that spell cast, Ye Qin controlled another demonic phantom, simultaneously speeding backward, positioning themselves tens of feet on either side of Yan Wei, moving rapidly as they searched for an opening to attack.

Yan Wei halted in place, hands bulging with throbbing blue veins, casually manipulating over a dozen massive fireballs. He reveled in the searing heat emanating from the flames surrounding him. He glanced at the two 'Ye Qins' and let out a contemptuous scoff—utter disdain.

He had every right to be disdainful.

The Fire Separation Grand Technique was a top-tier mastery among the Green Pill Sect's top ten arts, perfectly suited for cultivators with a fire element root. It could drastically boost one's cultivation, strength, and spell control in a short time. As a pure single fire-root cultivator, this grand technique nearly doubled Yan Wei’s power.

Although Ye Qin's Demonic Phantom Grand Technique also originated from the ancient Liao family, it ultimately only conjured an illusory double using illusionary magic. It possessed no offensive capability, nor had it granted Ye Qin any increase in personal strength.

“A mere minor illusionary art! How can it compare to my Fire Separation Grand Technique!”

As Yan Wei spoke, his divine sense swept across the two 'Ye Qins,' attempting to discern which was the real Ye Qin and which was the phantom. But he soon discovered that the two 'Ye Qins' were indistinguishable—identical in cultivation, aura, controlled magical artifacts, and even the faint, cold smile playing on their lips was exactly the same.

“What kind of illusionary art is this?”

Only then did Yan Wei show a flicker of surprise, knitting his brows as he muttered under his breath. He maintained his fiery shield, yet it could only defend against an assault from one direction.

No matter which Ye Qin he defended against, he would leave his back exposed to the other. If he blocked the real Ye Qin, all would be well; but if he engaged a fake while the true Ye Qin launched a sneak attack from behind, the consequences would be unimaginable. The very existence of this demonic phantom severely compromised Yan Wei's judgment.

A sense of agitation rose within Yan Wei. The dozen or so massive fireballs he controlled simultaneously hurtled towards both Ye Qins. As long as he scored a hit, the phantom would surely shatter, while the real body would have to block the fireballs, thus revealing his true identity.

Ye Qin was also inwardly startled. These massive fireballs each carried the destructive power of a mid-tier spell, yet Yan Wei conjured them so effortlessly, managing over a dozen simultaneously. If struck, he would not survive.

However, Ye Qin never intended to intercept the fireballs. He piloted the demonic phantom in a swift retreat, dodging the massive fireballs. While the fireballs possessed considerable power among spells of their tier, their flight speed was not exceptional. Catching Ye Qin and his phantom was not easy. Had Yan Wei been a wind-element cultivator, he could have shattered the phantom with Wind Blades almost effortlessly, securing a complete victory. Fortunately, Yan Wei possessed a fire element root.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The dozen fireballs missed both Ye Qin and his phantom, instead striking the ground, blasting out craters several feet deep. The pits glowed with molten red slag from the intense heat, sending plumes of thick, black smoke billowing upwards.

Yan Wei paid no mind to the numerous misses, unleashing the massive fireballs continuously and frantically. Aided by the Fire Separation Grand Technique, casting these large fireballs was even easier than casting ordinary small fireballs. He only needed one shot to connect with Ye Qin.

Huangfu Bing'er watched the battle from the periphery, though she had no intention of remaining a passive observer. Her sixteen Ice Soul Swords were already unleashed, forming a giant semi-arc that encircled the battlefield, ready to strike at any moment. She was waiting for the opportune moment.

Yet, neither Ye Qin nor Yan Wei on the field paid this much attention to her. Or perhaps, they both knew Huangfu Bing'er might intervene but remained unconcerned.

The two "Ye Qins" accelerated, revolving around Yan Wei until he could no longer generate enough fireballs in time.

Yan Wei grew somewhat annoyed.

If the Fire Separation Grand Technique couldn't deal with Ye Qin, must he resort to his ultimate magical artifact?

“If fireballs can’t hit you, then let me show you my Yan Wei’s Nascent Soul artifact—the Blazing Scarlet Ying Sword! Die!”

He opened his mouth, and a scarlet streak of sword light flared from small to large, soaring into the sky with menacing momentum, striking one of the "Ye Qins." The speed of a Nascent Soul artifact far surpassed that of fireballs; dodging it was exceedingly difficult.

As expected, the Ye Qin did not evade. The Blazing Scarlet Ying Sword pierced directly through it, as if passing through air. It did not vanish but grew significantly dimmer—clearly a fake.

Yan Wei felt a surge of shock and panic. The sensation of a full-power strike missing its mark was enough to enrage him to the point of spitting blood. He clearly realized he had made a critical error, wasting a potentially fatal blow on an illusion. This mistake would cost him dearly. He could distinctly feel the other Ye Qin coldly fixing its gaze on his back, preparing to unleash the most ferocious, thunderous strike.

“Senior Sister Bing, quickly lend me a hand! Block him!”

Yan Wei simultaneously manipulated his fire shield to ward off the chill creeping up from behind while desperately maneuvering the Blazing Scarlet Ying Sword to counterattack, all while fearfully calling out to Huangfu Bing'er for aid.

But his plea for help received no response.

Yan Wei couldn't help but glance toward Huangfu Bing'er.

He saw that Huangfu Bing'er had already released her sixteen Ice Soul Swords, encircling the battlefield. These flying swords radiated astonishing cold energy, clearly poised for a full-force strike. But for some unknown reason, she remained stationary, her strange gaze fixed on him, still waiting for something.

Yan Wei was instantly bewildered, unable to grasp Huangfu Bing'er's intent. He was at the absolute precipice of danger; why hadn't she acted? They were fellow disciples of the Green Pill Sect—could it be that Huangfu Bing'er intended to stand by and watch him die?

He didn't have time to understand her delay.

Dong! A deep bell toll resonated.

Yan Wei’s expression turned ashen—it was over! A continuous Soul-Stirring Soundwave manifested behind him. The instant it made contact, Yan Wei fell into a dizzy stupor, completely robbed of any ability to evade. Despite his Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation, the duration of the dizziness was extremely brief, yet utterly fatal.

Huangfu Bing'er finally moved.

With a flick of her delicate hand, the sixteen Ice Soul Flying Swords simultaneously struck Yan Wei from all directions. A vast expanse of glittering, cold light descended. Puchi! Puchi! Puchi! Yan Wei’s Flame Armor and Fire Shield offered no resistance. In an instant, sixteen Ice Soul Sword holes pierced through Yan Wei’s body.

Yan Wei stared at his broken body in disbelief, even more shocked as he looked toward Huangfu Bing'er. His physical body was completely ruined. He couldn't fathom why his death didn't come from the black-robed cultivator but instead from Huangfu Bing'er, a core disciple of the Green Pill Sect, without any warning.

It must be said, Yan Wei was simply unlucky.

Years ago, in the third layer of the underground caves in the Myriad Withered Ridge, Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er relied on the synergy between the Soul-Stirring Bell and the Ice Soul Swords. Using the stun from the bronze bell combined with the slicing power of the Ice Soul Swords, they had slain countless powerful demonic beasts. This combination attack sequence was practiced to perfection.

Even with Yan Wei's prodigious talent, he could not withstand the calculated maneuvers of Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er. The moment he was encircled by them, his fate was sealed; he only realized this with startling clarity as he faced death.

A shrill, piercing scream echoed. A golden, brilliant Nascent Soul burst desperately from the top of Yan Wei's head, trying to escape, to flee back to the Yan family where he could eventually plot his revenge.

Ye Qin’s gaze turned cold. He opened his mouth, and the purple, shimmering Southern Bright Separating Fire Sword flew out. A swarm of flaming fire crows enveloped Yan Wei's physical body. In a flash, Yan Wei’s flesh and spirit were reduced to ash together.

The uncontrolled Blazing Scarlet Ying Sword and Yan Wei's other magical artifacts clattered onto the ground.

Ye Qin made a hand seal and retrieved the storage bag that had fallen from Yan Wei’s waist.

“Bing'er, Yan Wei is dead. Does this have any repercussions for you?” Ye Qin asked Huangfu Bing'er calmly. He felt a slight sense of pity regarding Yan Wei's demise. The Green Pill Sect had lost a genius cultivator with an exceptionally high spiritual root, a cultivator with high hopes of reaching the Golden Core stage.

However, in the cultivation world, possessing a superior spiritual root never guaranteed a long life. Many sects’ Golden Core cultivators had only average or slightly above-average spiritual roots.

Huangfu Bing'er retracted her Ice Soul Swords at this moment, her kind eyes fixed on Ye Qin.

The Ye Qin before her was not the one from six years ago. His Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer cultivation, his Nascent Soul artifact, and his strange spells all indicated an astonishingly rapid growth in strength, making her feel somewhat curious and estranged.

After a moment, she shook her head and smiled faintly. “No matter. Should the Yan family learn that Junior Brother Wei perished here, they will only become enemies with the Lu family. This might affect the Seven Sect Alliance, but it won't implicate me. However, family cultivators usually prioritize family interests; the death of one or two disciples won't significantly alter the big picture. By the way, weren't you training in the Northern Qi Kingdom?... How did you end up at Lu Family Fort?” [Hand-typed by netizen UQianglang]

“This is a long story. I am here to handle a very important matter. It concerns a breakthrough…” Ye Qin smiled.

He only managed to utter one sentence before his expression abruptly changed. He looked towards Lu Family Fort with horror. While they were speaking, a small patch of intensely dazzling blue mist suddenly appeared on the horizon, hundreds of miles away. An immensely powerful divine sense and oppressive pressure swept violently towards Lu Family Fort. Wherever that irresistible pressure passed, almost no one dared to move.

“The Lu Family Ancestor has returned!”

“Not good!”

At Lu Family Fort, countless exclamations and cries erupted. While the Lu family cultivators were certainly galvanized and redoubled their attacks, the six or seven cultivators from the Chaotic Land paled in terror, completely losing the will to fight, desiring only to flee for their lives.

“Ah!”

“Waaah!”

Miao Hai, who was engaged in fierce combat with the Lu family cultivators, was struck by a beam of light, bursting out with a scream. Nearby, another cultivator from the Chaotic Land, Chu Hui, hadn't even reacted before the beam swept past him, tearing him into a cloud of blood mist.

One by one, in the blink of an eye, the cultivators from the Chaotic Land still resisting near Lu Family Fort were dead—three in total.

Ye Qin dared not hesitate or pause any longer.

He shot downwards, plunging towards the Bian River below.

When he was escaping earlier, he had been heading along the course of the Bian River. If Yan Wei hadn't held him up, he would have long since used the Cloud Concealment Veil to flee much farther away. Now that the Ancestor had returned, he dared not escape by flying in the sky. He could only submerge into the riverbed, using the swift, turbulent river to mask his tracks.

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