“You jest, Brother Ye. Even at your peak, you were no match for me, let alone now after a fierce battle. In that case, why should I even bother making a move?” A figure cloaked in white emerged from the jungle—it was Xuan Yuanjing.

“Xuan Yuanjing, you dishonor the 'Jing' in your name with such shamelessness! You’re clearly afraid of losing to me, yet you conjure up such bombastic excuses. I am truly impressed, Brother Ye said with a mocking bow.

“Heh heh…” Xuan Yuanjing simply chuckled, offering no further explanation.

“Very well, since you are so certain you can defeat me, how about we make a wager?” Seeing that Xuan Yuanjing remained unmoved, Ye Jingyu spoke up again.

He understood that in the current situation, victory was out of the question; even escape would be difficult. His only recourse was to exploit Xuan Yuanjing’s arrogance and force a fair contest. The true question now was whether Xuan Yuanjing was, deep down, a man of honor.

“Oh? Brother Ye has the leisure for a wager at a time like this? Pray tell, what exactly do you propose we bet on?” Xuan Yuanjing, convinced of his superiority, was reluctant to engage physically.

Having sparred with Ye Jingyu earlier, he knew Ye Jingyu’s martial cultivation was stuck at the peak of the Grandmaster realm. His only edge lay in soul power, but Ye Jingyu had already expended a significant amount of it when unleashing the Heaven-Shaking Seal to kill the Sky Eagle. To duel him now would be an undeserved victory.

Ultimately, it stemmed from his sense of status; he looked down on Ye Jingyu, even if the latter was the apprentice of Dugu Ba Chen…

Meanwhile, standing to the side, Xu’s expression shifted slightly when Ye Jingyu proposed a wager. He distinctly remembered Ye Jingyu making a similar bet with Gongsun Sheng back then…

Thinking of this, Xu’s gaze swept the surroundings, but he found no other auras besides Ye Jingyu’s? His brow furrowed tightly. Where were that monster and the Taotie? They had vanished without a trace? And what about that Saint Archer? Why hadn't they shown up at all? And where was Gongsun Xiangyi?

Suddenly, a realization struck Xu, causing his face to pale. He understood they had all fallen for this man’s tactic of luring the tiger away from the mountain. It was highly probable that Gongsun Xiangyi had already slipped out of Medicine City through other means…

Though aware of the ruse, as long as Ye Jingyu remained, none of the other losses mattered. If they could capture him alive, or kill him, all other setbacks would be rendered insignificant.

With this thought cemented, Xu felt even more strongly that Ye Jingyu could not be allowed to leave alive…

“Your Highness, why waste words on this rogue? He is the mastermind behind Blood Prince’s death. Killing him is the priority…” Fearing Ye Jingyu might propose some outlandish bet, Xu interjected directly.

Xuan Yuanjing, who had been hesitating, frowned slightly upon hearing this, a flicker of sorrow crossing his eyes…

As the son of Xuan Yuan Xiao Zhan, the bonds of brotherhood between him and his siblings, from the eldest to the youngest Ninth Brother, were profoundly deep, devoid of the scheming infighting typical of other great clans. It was because of this unity that each of them had achieved such profound levels of mastery.

Recalling the tragic demise of Xuan Yuan Xue, the indignation and grief swelling in Xuan Yuanjing’s heart intensified…

Status, confidence, arrogance—none of it mattered now. The paramount goal was to avenge his Ninth Brother…

“I will not wager with you, but I will personally end your life!” A chilling voice issued from Xuan Yuanjing’s lips as he took a deliberate step forward…

A frigid killing intent radiated outward, firmly locking onto Ye Jingyu, and a silver-white longsword materialized in his palm…

“None of you are to interfere. I will kill him myself. Your only task is to ensure he does not escape!” Xuan Yuanjing stated calmly, slowly drawing the magnificent sword…

“This blade is named Falling Leaf Overthrows the City (Luo Ye Qing Cheng). It was wielded by my ancestor long ago, and today, I shall use it to test your Heavenly Sovereign Blade, Brother Ye!” Xuan Yuanjing looked at Ye Jingyu, speaking softly, yet holding the Falling Leaf Overthrows the City sword level with one hand, its tip pointed directly at Ye Jingyu.

“Falling Leaf Overthrows the City? Heh heh. Didn’t Xuan Yuan Jue slay his own Empress, Qing Cheng, in his pursuit of the Way of the Sword? He must have used this very blade, mustn’t he? Falling Leaf Overthrows the City—truly, a beauty overthrown!” A mocking smile touched the corner of Ye Jingyu’s lips.

He knew that Xuan Yuanjing’s ancestor was indeed Xuan Yuan Jue…

In Ye Jingyu’s view, although a sword was made for killing, one killed to protect what must be protected. If a man could even kill the one he loved most, what use was unparalleled martial prowess or supreme swordsmanship? Xuan Yuan Jue was truly merciless and resolved!

“Brother Ye, there is no need to use this to provoke me. Those of my ancestor’s generation were all exceptionally brilliant talents. Did your master, Dugu Ba Chen, not also abandon the one he loved in pursuit of the Way of the Saber?” Xuan Yuanjing said evenly, though the murderous intent in his eyes grew ever sharper…

“Uh…” Ye Jingyu had intended to retort sharply, but upon recalling the old woman he encountered on the boat, the words died in his throat. What if she truly was his master’s beloved?

Alas, what was the point? Did reaching the pinnacle of the martial path truly demand severing all worldly attachments? What meaning was left in such a life?

Sighing inwardly once more, he tightened his grip on the Heavenly Sovereign Blade. He became strong to protect those he cherished. In Yun Jing, thousands of miles away, the one he loved most awaited him. He could not die here; absolutely not.

Glancing at the seven figures surrounding him, and then at Xuan Yuanjing before him, Ye Jingyu understood that besides fighting to the death and waiting for Liang Xiaoke’s arrival, he had no other path left…

“Brother Ye, draw your blade. Let me see what level you have attained with your Startling Thunder Blade Art!” Seeing Ye Jingyu fall silent, Xuan Yuanjing spoke coldly.

Ye Jingyu spoke no more. His right hand gripped the blade tightly as his internal True Essence power began to surge toward his right hand. The entire blade hummed resonantly. In a flash, his silhouette vanished from its position and reappeared directly before Xuan Yuanjing. The Heavenly Sovereign Blade in his hand dissolved into an afterimage, slashing fiercely towards Xuan Yuanjing.

It was the Unrivaled Blade Shattering the Void (Jue Dao Po Kong)…

Xuan Yuanjing’s expression remained unchanged, and his body didn’t even move. Merely the Falling Leaf Overthrows the City sword in his hand shifted its posture, appearing in empty space directly before the Heavenly Sovereign Blade…

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