"Clang..." The long sword of Xuanyuan Jing clashed heavily with Ye Jingyu's Tianzun Saber, unleashing a tremendously powerful ripple of energy outward. Ye Jingyu's body was directly repelled, while the ripple surging toward Xuanyuan Jing passed straight through his form and slammed into the rapidly approaching Bing Ming...

"Transference?" Bing Ming cried out loud. His forward thrust instantly reversed into a rapid retreat, his iron sword flickering wildly, spitting out waves of sword energy to counter the massive influx of power.

He had never anticipated that Xuanyuan Jing would use his own body as a conduit to directly transmit that tyrannical energy. This was an extremely perilous maneuver; if handled improperly, the energy seeping into his body would completely destroy his vitality.

Yet, Bing Ming had managed the transfer perfectly. Just what level had his cultivation truly reached?

A massive crater was blasted into the ground, while Xuanyuan Jue still stood firm, untouched, not even the hem of his robe ruffled. In contrast, Ye Jingyu looked battered, though fortunately, his physical body was far sturdier than ordinary men, sparing him injury.

However, Ye Jingyu’s body had momentarily lost its equilibrium. Xuanyuan Jing seized this opportunity, his figure shooting forward, his long sword pointed directly ahead!

It was a feather-light touch, like a dragonfly skimming water—so gentle, so ethereal. But directly before Ye Jingyu, a powerful wave of sword energy suddenly materialized, blasting toward his form.

Ye Jingyu’s body was already off-balance; facing such a swift strike, he had no means to effectively parry. At this moment of life or death, he instantly activated the Tyrant Battle Glyph.

Immediately, a golden ripple formed before him, violently charging toward the incoming sword wave—the peak clash between the power of Thought and the essence of the Sword.

"Crack-crack-crack-crack!" Sounds constantly echoed through the void. The golden battle glyph exploded completely, but the sword wave also dissipated entirely, unable to inflict even the slightest harm upon Ye Jingyu.

"Bing Ming, retreat..." Having blocked Xuanyuan Jing's 'Sword Snow' strike, Ye Jingyu knew that even if he and Bing Ming unleashed their full power, they couldn't slay this man quickly. Moreover, those other presences were closing in; if they didn't leave now, it would be too late.

Hearing Ye Jingyu’s command, Bing Ming did not hesitate. With a surge of inner True Essence, his body shot toward the west. As for Ye Jingyu, he raised his hand and flung a massive seal forth, smashing it directly at Xuanyuan Jing.

This time, however, he hadn't unleashed the full might of the Heaven-Shaking Seal, but powered by his current Soul Force, the seal still carried formidable power. In mere moments, it hung above Xuanyuan Jing’s head, spanning several zhang.

Xuanyuan Jing, who was about to press his attack, was forced to meet the Heaven-Shaking Seal with his sword.

The dazzling sword gleam fiercely pierced the Heaven-Shaking Seal, causing the gleam to shatter, though the seal itself was hurled aside. Ye Jingyu gestured with one hand, stepped forward, and in the next instant, was already a thousand meters away...

Xuanyuan Jing had not expected them to abruptly flee after such an intense battle, and their departure speed was astonishing.

However, his objective in coming here was Ye Jingyu. Even knowing this was clearly a tactic of luring the tiger from the mountain, he still gave chase.

Gongsun Xiangyi—who was she? She was irrelevant to him. His mission was to defeat Ye Jingyu, or at the very least, draw out the murderer of his ninth brother.

His True Essence circulated at full speed, his steps weaving a mysterious pattern on the ground. With every stride, he covered hundreds of meters, matching the pace of Ye Jingyu and Bing Ming almost exactly.

At this juncture, Xu, leading several Sacred Beasts from the Gongsun family, arrived. Looking in the direction Ye Jingyu and Bing Ming had fled, his brow furrowed deeply.

Their young mistress seemed absent? What in the world was happening?

Could this be a diversionary ploy? Xu pondered, but seeing His Highness Xuanyuan Jing pursuing them alone, he dared not dwell on possibilities. If anything happened to Xuanyuan Jing, they would have a terrible accounting to give to Xuanyuan Xiao Zhan.

His form flickered, and he lunged toward Ye Jingyu’s trajectory, the seven afterimages following closely behind...

"Bing Ming, how can that fellow be so fast?" Initially, to attract attention and signal that he was protecting Gongsun Xiangyi, Ye Jingyu had not traveled at maximum speed. But now, exerting his full strength, he still couldn't shake off Xuanyuan Jing’s pursuit, prompting him to ask.

"That is the Xuanyuan family's 'One Step Shakes Heaven'—the supreme tracking art. Even 'Soul Chasing and Spirit Snatching' might not surpass this set of techniques!" Bing Ming's voice echoed from the void.

"Very well, the Tiangang Mountain Range is just ahead. We split up. Once we shake him off, we meet at Yunjing!" Ye Jingyu felt little surprise; the Xuanyuan family was the largest and strongest in the Nine Provinces, so it was entirely plausible their tracking method was superior to Soul Chasing and Spirit Snatching.

"But..." Bing Ming's words carried a trace of worry.

"Relax. Although Young Master hasn't reached the Martial Saint realm, he has achieved the Soul Immortal realm. While he might not kill Xuanyuan Jing, Xuanyuan Jing certainly cannot kill me!" Ye Jingyu interrupted, moving his feet and instantly covering several thousand meters more...

Bing Ming hesitated no longer, turning and speeding toward the southwest.

Xuanyuan Jing pursued them to this point. He glanced at the direction Bing Ming had gone, then continued chasing Ye Jingyu. Ye Jingyu was his target; as long as he remained, everything else was insignificant.

Xu, followed by the seven Sacred Beasts, also caught up. When he saw Ye Jingyu and Bing Ming dividing their paths, hesitation flashed across Xu's face.

According to Gongsun Sheng’s orders, they were to capture the entire group of Ye Jingyu. However, these Sacred Beasts, though possessing awakened spirits, were not cunning; they could execute simple commands like slaughtering, but chasing one person was easy ground for them to be outmaneuvered, and eventually killed off one by one.

He could only keep them close. He looked at the direction Bing Ming had taken, then toward where Ye Jingyu and Xuanyuan Jing vanished. Xu gritted his teeth and, leading the seven Sacred Beasts, bolted in the direction Ye Jingyu fled. No matter what, Xuanyuan Jing’s safety was paramount. Who knew if Ye Jingyu had set an ambush ahead? Xu clearly remembered the terrifying arrow from that night.

To this day, he still hadn't located that Sacred Archer. If this person lay in ambush ahead, no one could guarantee His Highness Jing’s safety...