With the Purple Cloud Divine Art perfected, Ye Wen’s vital energy surged ceaselessly, his inherent strength amplified beyond measure. With a single leap, he burst forth from the Cold Spring, rocketing straight toward the cavern ceiling.

Fortunately, though Ye Wen's vital energy was now immense, the Purple Cloud Divine Art inherently emphasized control. In the blink of an eye, Ye Wen grasped how to utilize his newfound strength. While he couldn't manipulate it with the effortless ease of before, he was no longer completely outside of control, as he had been moments earlier.

As soon as he emerged from the Cold Spring, Ye Wen cast a quick glance and saw the Crimson Sun Divine Lord locked in a fierce struggle with the giant serpent. It was impossible to tell how many palm strikes the serpent had endured from the Divine Lord; patches of its body were charred black, and its colossal tail was entirely blackened. The Divine Lord currently held the massive serpent’s head in both hands, relentlessly pouring fire essence into it, seemingly intending to burn the great snake's skull to ash and thus end its life.

Yet, the Crimson Sun Divine Lord was also in a sorry state. The magnificent, expensive long robe he had worn—which had remained pristine even during his engagement with Ye Wen—now bore numerous holes and tears, transforming the fine garment into a beggar’s tattered rags.

But Pei Gonglie paid this no mind. He had wrestled with this giant serpent for nearly half a day, and the sun was now sinking toward the horizon. Having finally secured the serpent, all he needed to do was channel his full power to incinerate its brains, and he would finally achieve his desire.

Who could have imagined that at this critical juncture, a splash of water sounded beside him, and a figure vaulted out of the pool. Pei Gonglie didn't even have time to properly glimpse who this sudden arrival was; he merely intensified his technique, determined to finish off the giant serpent in his grasp first.

Ye Wen observed the flickering crimson light emanating from Pei Gonglie’s body, noticing all his fire essence concentrated in his hands. Knowing the man was at the peak of battle, unable to spare the focus to guard against him, Ye Wen activated Cloud-Treading Steps. In mid-air, his figure executed a bizarre twist, charging directly at Pei Gonglie.

His movement was swift and urgent, yet his palm strike was delivered silently. Had Pei Gonglie not turned to look, he would never have known Ye Wen had struck until the impact.

Since mastering the Purple Cloud Divine Art, Ye Wen's body and face showed no strange discoloration, only an ethereal purple mist swirling around him, lending him an otherworldly grace. Striking down from the air, his palm blow resembled an immortal descending on a cloud. An ordinary person witnessing it would likely drop to their knees in immediate supplication.

Pei Gonglie was at a crucial point in his cultivation, watching the serpent nearly succumb to his power, when this unexpected complication arose—another person suddenly appeared. He turned his head just in time to see Ye Wen’s palm strike closing in from behind him. Startled, he hastily parried with a palm strike of his own to meet Ye Wen’s blow head-on. He did manage to recognize the intruder as Ye Wen, the very person he had thrown into the Cold Spring just moments before. Thus, he only offered a casual block, never releasing his grip on the serpent’s head. More than eight-tenths of his internal power was still focused on the serpent; less than two-tenths remained to parry Ye Wen’s attack.

In this exchange, Pei Gonglie suffered a substantial loss. As the two palms collided with a deafening bang, Ye Wen’s Purple Cloud vital energy directly shattered Pei Gonglie’s Crimson Sun fire essence, scattering it into disarray. The surging fire essence Pei Gonglie believed sufficient to fend off Ye Wen’s single strike was routed instantly upon contact.

Worse still, Ye Wen's Purple Cloud vital energy seemed inexhaustible, flooding into Pei Gonglie’s body wave after wave. In an instant, it breached his defenses, scattering the Crimson Sun fire essence within him and disrupting even the power he was using against the serpent.

Now unable to hold the serpent’s head, Pei Gonglie staggered back seven or eight paces before regaining his footing. The vital energy surging inside him violently mingled with the invading Purple Cloud energy, leaving him internally injured from a single palm strike.

“You… you actually broke through the Heavenly Gate at the moment of life and death…”

In a flash, Pei Gonglie understood that Ye Wen had encountered a marvelous fortune. Instead of freezing to death in the Cold Spring, he had instead cleared his Ren and Du meridians, causing his power to surge exponentially, enabling him to severely injure Pei Gonglie with a single blow.

Given Pei Gonglie’s own power, Ye Wen’s sudden spike shouldn't have rendered him so weak, but Ye Wen’s attack had landed precisely when he was preoccupied with the giant serpent. Though aware of the strike, it was utterly unexpected. Furthermore, upon recognizing Ye Wen, a degree of contempt crept in—after all, just half a day prior, this youth had been beaten half to death by a single palm from him and promptly tossed into the Cold Spring.

How could he have known that in just half a day, Ye Wen had transformed? Though Ye Wen’s power lacked the refinement of his own, it was now comparable, far from the vast gulf that separated them half a day ago. Moreover, Pei Gonglie had already fought the giant serpent for over half a day, exhausting a significant portion of his profound strength, leaving his energy levels far less vigorous than before.

Fatigue, distraction, and underestimation, coupled with a successful surprise attack from Ye Wen—if he couldn't severely injure Pei Gonglie now, Ye Wen might as well jump back into the Cold Spring and kill himself.

Having landed his blow, Ye Wen wasted no words. Ignoring whatever Pei Gonglie was muttering, he channeled all his energy into his next offensive immediately after recovering his breath slightly.

He knew Pei Gonglie’s vital energy was in chaos and he was at his weakest. Wasting time exchanging pleasantries would play right into Pei Gonglie’s hands. Their conflict was now a battle to the death; giving the opponent a chance to recover was out of the question. The only sensible action was to seize the moment and end him.

Ye Wen’s Purple Cloud Divine Art was perfected, and his Cloud-Treading Steps had elevated to an entirely new level. His forward leap suggested an attack on Pei Gonglie’s left flank, but mid-air, he twisted again, changing direction entirely. His left hand shot out with a soft, yielding palm aimed at the side abdomen, while his right hand used a hand-knife technique, executing a move from the Five Tigers Severing Gate Style toward the side of the neck.

Delivering two moves simultaneously—one high, one low, one left, one right—he enveloped Pei Gonglie’s front entirely, intending to finish him in a single exchange.

Pei Gonglie was greatly alarmed and inwardly cursed, "This brat is too cunning..." He struggled to mobilize his fire essence, using one hand to block the soft palm striking his abdomen and the other to meet the hand-knife with the Crimson Sun Blazing Fire Palm. However, because Ye Wen’s Purple Cloud energy still ravaged his system, he had to reserve a large portion of his fire essence for defense, lest the uncontrolled Purple Cloud energy overwhelm him before Ye Wen could act.

Due to the obstructed flow of energy and his inability to fully mobilize his reserves, Pei Gonglie’s countering strikes and reaction speed were inevitably slower. By the time he committed to his response, Ye Wen had already shifted. The hand executing the hand-knife suddenly spun, evading Pei Gonglie’s block, and drove straight into the opening.

Pei Gonglie could feel that with a slight rotation of Ye Wen’s wrist, the energy in his hand grew not only more solidified but also far more potent and much faster.

This sudden change caught Pei Gonglie utterly off guard. Already reacting in haste, he hadn't anticipated Ye Wen changing his move. In the end, he could only watch helplessly as Ye Wen’s fingers split into two points, growing larger and larger in his vision…

“Aaaahhh!!”

A piercing scream ripped through the air. Even the giant serpent, lying motionless on the ground, seemed to twitch, startled by the sound of utter agony. Ye Wen, standing closest, felt his eardrums ache and rapidly retreated, fearing that Pei Gonglie, despite his grave injury, might summon a final burst of strength for a mutual destruction.

Ye Wen's fear was warranted. After his fingers gouged out the Crimson Sun Divine Lord's eyes, Pei Gonglie erupted as if maddened, unleashing all his remaining strength. He even ignored the corrosive Purple Cloud energy within him, whipping both palms in a frenzy—up, down, left, right, circling—a barrage of strikes. If Ye Wen hadn't been quick-witted, he would have been instantly caught in Pei Gonglie’s insane assault.

The stone chamber suddenly took on a strange atmosphere. Pei Gonglie kept driving his Crimson Sun fire essence with ceaseless palm strikes, not daring to pause for fear that a moment of stillness would expose an opening for Ye Wen to kill him.

Ye Wen, however, stood calmly to the side, maintaining a safe distance from the Crimson Sun Divine Lord, watching him quietly. He neither spoke nor moved, simply standing there, at most occasionally keeping a wary eye on the half-dead giant serpent, lest the beast suddenly rise and attack.

Pei Gonglie knew Ye Wen’s plan well: the brat intended to let him exhaust himself to death. But at this point, he had no other choice; he could only continue until his strength failed, which would also be the moment of his demise.

This sudden storm of frenzied offense could not last long. Maintaining such an output of internal energy was unsustainable, even for a master who had opened the Ren and Du meridians. This flurry of strikes from Pei Gonglie required nearly ten-tenths of his power in every blow; he feared that any slight reduction would reveal a flaw to the cunning Ye Wen, leading to his immediate death without even reaching exhaustion.

In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Pei Gonglie, beleaguered by internal and external assault, could no longer sustain the pace. His strikes gradually slowed, and an unnatural flush appeared on his face—a clear sign of dwindling vitality, the brief, final flare before death.

Convinced that death was certain, Pei Gonglie ceased his useless efforts, gradually stopping his movements. He stood rooted to the spot, no longer capable of attacking. He truly had nothing left; even if he willed it, he could not strike. His meridians had been utterly wrecked by Ye Wen’s Purple Cloud energy during that intense period. His lifelong accumulation of Crimson Sun fire essence began to rebel, surging chaotically. Though outwardly unmarked, his insides were a ruin; only a descending immortal could possibly save him now.

“To think I, Pei Gonglie, have roamed the martial world for over a decade, engaging in hundreds of battles of various scales, only to meet my end here in this remote place. More unbelievable is being defeated by such a treacherous move from you, you mere thief…”

“Are you unconvinced…” Ye Wen sensed that Pei Gonglie was certainly doomed and no longer minded exchanging a few words with the Crimson Sun Divine Lord. However, his posture remained ready, wary that Pei Gonglie might still try a trick.

“Unconvinced…” Pei Gonglie laughed loudly. “The victor takes the spoils! Since I, Pei Gonglie, have fallen to this state today, then I have lost. What is there to be convinced or unconvinced about? Even if I am unconvinced, can I live?”

Ye Wen did not reply, merely thinking to himself, This Pei Gonglie is quite a character, at least he accepts defeat when it comes. Loss is loss, no need for pointless drama… He slowly shuffled forward, preparing to end the man’s life. The shock delivered by this Crimson Sun Divine Lord was too great. If he hadn't pierced the Heavenly Gate between life and death, drastically increasing his power, and successfully executed a surprise attack, the Shu Mountain Sect would have been wiped from the martial world today. He could not feel at ease unless he personally killed this man.

Pei Gonglie seemed not to notice Ye Wen’s approach, continuing his monologue. “You need not worry too much. Even if this Divine Lord managed to escape today, I fear I could not evade the pursuit of that old fool Ling Xuzi. That old man is renowned as the foremost master of lightness skill in the world; once he sets his sights on someone, none can escape…”

“Ling Xuzi…” Ye Wen inwardly felt a flicker of surprise but kept silent, waiting for the Crimson Sun Divine Lord to elaborate. The man seemed resigned to his fate and wished to speak more before death.

“I don’t know what connection that young lad I struck down earlier had with that old man, but since he knew the old man’s palm techniques, he must be a disciple or perhaps a nephew or some junior relative. I originally intended to capture that beast and refine him into my Crimson Sun Divine Fire Skill, and then I wouldn't fear the old man. But now…” Pei Gonglie let out a wry chuckle, his smile filled with bitterness, as if there were truly no hope left.

Hearing this, Ye Wen finally understood. So, the Crimson Sun Divine Lord wanted to kill Xu Xian because he feared the junior brother might be connected to this Ling Xuzi, worried that if Xu Xian were released, he would bring back the super-expert to cause trouble. If that were the case, then Xu Xian must have been taught by that blasted Ling Xuzi—who turned out to be such a powerful figure. However, no one now knew that the old man had died on Mount Shu.

Pei Gonglie spoke at length without receiving a response, appearing quite dejected. “This Divine Lord is already dying. Can’t you say a word?”

By now, Ye Wen had slowly closed the distance, channeling his full ten-tenths of Purple Cloud vital energy into his palm. His right palm, wreathed in purple mist, flickered in and out of view within the cloud-like aura, already less than a finger's width from the back of Pei Gonglie’s head. Thanks to the subtlety of the soft palm technique, Pei Gonglie was utterly oblivious.

Only then did Ye Wen finally speak, “I cannot rest easy unless you die, so allow me to send you on your way!”

Pei Gonglie only realized the voice was right beside him when he heard it. His face drastically changed, and a sudden flush of crimson spread across his hands—Pei Gonglie had become utterly desperate, gathering the last vestiges of his fire essence and channeling all his remaining strength in a final attempt at mutual destruction.

But he hadn't expected Ye Wen to approach him silently. He didn't even have time to react. As soon as he mobilized his fire essence, Ye Wen’s fully charged palm struck the back of his head. With a crisp smack, a fountain of bloody flesh—red and pink—erupted from Pei Gonglie’s deep, hollow eye sockets, spraying across the ground. He was utterly dead.

Ye Wen had seen the abnormality in Pei Gonglie’s hands just before death and breathed a silent sigh of relief. This damned Crimson Sun Divine Lord was indeed malicious, planning a mutual destruction!

It was a blessing that he had been cautious and struck first. Otherwise, if the Crimson Sun Divine Lord realized Ye Wen wasn't falling for his gambit, a final struggle would have been inevitable. Although Ye Wen was confident the blinded Pei Gonglie couldn't harm him, it would have meant further trouble, which was best avoided by this sure method.

Having eliminated the strongest foe he had encountered since his transmigration, Ye Wen couldn't afford to rejoice. He slowly walked toward the giant serpent. The massive creature lay sprawled on the ground, its gigantic head unable to lift, though its eyes still rolled wildly, its tongue occasionally flicking out—a stark contrast to its prior ferocious appearance.

Ye Wen looked down and murmured, “You beast, I was still wondering how to kill you! Today, thanks to that accursed Divine Lord, I’ve stumbled upon an easy way out! Truly, Heaven wills your demise!”

With that, he delivered a palm strike directly to the serpent's head. The serpent’s body writhed momentarily, and soon after, it too fell silent.

Having finished everything, Ye Wen finally allowed himself to take a deep breath and release the tension in his nerves. But then he remembered Xu Xian, who had been blasted out of the cave by Pei Gonglie’s palm strike—he didn't know if his fellow disciple was dead or alive—and he rushed out of the cave without delay.

The moment he emerged, Ye Wen saw Ning Ruxue standing not far from the entrance, holding her longsword, her face streaked with tears, staring anxiously toward him. However, her posture suggested she wasn't ready for a fight; it looked as if she were prepared to slit her own throat at any moment.

“Junior Sister, what are you doing?”

Ye Wen was thoroughly startled by Ning Ruxue’s stance and shouted a warning, afraid that a slight tremor of her hand would send a wisp of her spirit drifting away forever.

At the same time, Ning Ruxue saw someone emerge. Recognizing Ye Wen, she immediately tossed her sword aside and lunged into his arms.

Ye Wen was enveloped by a rush of fragrance, followed by the warmth of a soft embrace. Alas, the girl in his arms was sobbing uncontrollably. Ye Wen could only soothe her gently.

“Junior Sister, don't worry, Senior Brother is fine! Don't cry, don't cry!” After being comforted for a long while, Ning Ruxue gradually quieted her weeping.

Once the crying subsided, Ye Wen quickly asked, “Where is Xu Xian?” Ning Ruxue’s eyes reddened again, and she pointed into the distance. “Junior Brother Xu has stopped breathing…”

It turned out that after Ye Wen had written the character ‘Escape’ on Ning Ruxue’s hand, she had not obeyed. Watching Ye Wen and Pei Gonglie move away, she hardened her heart and made a swift decision. Gripping her sword, she chased after them. However, by the time she arrived, she was a few steps too late. She saw Xu Xian floating listlessly in the pool. She rushed over and pulled him onto the bank, only to find he had already died.

Unable to check on Ye Wen’s situation, knowing her Senior Brother and Pei Gonglie must be inside the cave, but lacking the martial arts to withstand the icy cold—her internal energy not being pure Yang energy—Ning Ruxue couldn't even approach the entrance. She could only wait by the side, weeping, until someone emerged to reveal the outcome. She had resolved that if Pei Gonglie walked out, she would immediately take her own life to join her Senior Brother in the afterlife, thus honoring their bond as martial siblings.

This explained the scene Ye Wen witnessed upon exiting. Hearing that Xu Xian was dead, Ye Wen was instantly shocked. He rushed to where Xu Xian lay stiffly by the pool edge to investigate.

Upon touching him, Ye Wen realized Xu Xian’s condition was profoundly strange.

…………”……

PS: For the chapter title of the last chapter, I originally wanted to use "Respawn on the Spot, Coming Up…"