With a deafening boom, Ying Kongshi slammed into the ground, utterly obliterating countless flowers and plants beneath him, finally spitting up a massive gout of blood before his body convulsed violently... As for Ye Jingyu, his vision blurred entirely, and he promptly fainted, his injuries proving no less severe than Ying Kongshi's... That last move, the Youming Kuangxiao (Phantom Roar), hadn't just shattered Ying Kongshi; it had simultaneously wrecked his own internal organs.

Given his current condition, he shouldn't have been able to employ combat techniques utilizing Bayuan Power so heavily, yet now, suffering such grievous harm, he had forced the power through. It was nothing short of miraculous that he wasn't simply killed instantly... Meanwhile, Ying Kongshi's sternum was crushed, his left heart pierced clean through, sapphire-blue blood pooling on the earth.

His eyes were filled with sheer disbelief. How could Ye Jingyu, whose cultivation was clearly beneath his own, possibly have defeated him? Yet, what weighed on him more heavily was the profound frustration—the regret that he had only unlocked the first seal.

Had he broken all his seals, even if Ye Jingyu were ten times stronger than he was now, he wouldn't stand a chance against him! It was all due to his own carelessness! Filled with indignation, Ying Kongshi struggled to his feet, clutching the wound on his chest.

He chanted an incantation, and instantly, a swirling blue vortex materialized before him. Without sparing Ye Jingyu another glance, he stepped into the vortex. Heavily wounded and knowing that breaking his seal must have alerted formidable figures, he stood no chance against them in his current state; immediate retreat was paramount...

Thus, the disgruntled Ying Kongshi departed in his gloom, while our pitiful little Ye Jingyu lay still on the ground, soundly asleep, unaware that nearby, a massive, vividly patterned python was slowly slithering toward him... At that very moment, a figure materialized before Ye Jingyu. It was as if a colossal blade had appeared from thin air.

The venomous snake, sensing an immense, approaching threat, jerked violently and tried to flee instantly, but several streaks of Dao Qi shot out from the void, tearing it instantly into dust... Dugu Ba Chen paid no mind to the sixth-level feral beast that was on the verge of transforming into a Flood Dragon. He merely stood beside Ye Jingyu, gazing at the unconscious youth and surveying the surroundings, an expression of utter astonishment spreading across his face.

At their echelon of power, they could naturally deduce what had transpired from the residual signs. They had rushed over immediately upon detecting the presence of what they assumed was a Demon General-level entity, only to find his own disciple there, seemingly having repelled the alleged Demon General... This was impossible!

Scanning with his divine sense, Ye Jingyu was merely a Grandmaster. While his own essence reached the seventh level, even a seventh-level being shouldn't be able to vanquish a Demon General who had partially broken his seal... It would require at least the realm of a Martial God or higher!

Dugu Ba Chen was deeply perplexed, yet beneath the confusion bloomed a sliver of joy. Regardless of the means, his disciple defeating a partially unsealed Demon General was undeniably a good omen. It suggested they would hold an absolute advantage in the Soul Combat Grand Battle a year from now...

Without delving into why Ye Jingyu was in this specific location, he extended a single finger, launching a beam of ethereal light that sank directly into Ye Jingyu’s forehead... Ye Jingyu, who had been deep in unconsciousness, snapped awake. The moment his eyes opened, he saw a gaunt figure standing before him, staring intently...

The man’s face was ashen, utterly devoid of expression, looking for all the world like a dried corpse. Ye Jingyu, still groggy, wondered if he had arrived in the Underworld... "Heavens, I am so handsome and dashing.

Even if I end up in the Underworld, they should send a beautiful ghost maiden to greet me, not such an ugly man?" a muffled moan escaped Ye Jingyu’s lips... "You insolent brat, you dare call me ugly? Are you truly looking for a tour of the Underworld?" Dugu Ba Chen immediately erupted in a torrent of curses...

Not recognizing me is one thing, but calling me ugly? What is that supposed to mean? "Huh?

Why does that voice sound so familiar?" Ye Jingyu, still mired in confusion, took another careful look at Dugu Ba Chen, and suddenly leaped up as if his tail had been trodden upon... "Ah, Master! Why are you here, old man?

Have you finally reached the end of your natural life? Have you died on me?" "Bah! You wretched whelp!

Even if you died, I wouldn't be done for! Look around you—is this the Underworld?" Dugu Ba Chen was so infuriated by Ye Jingyu’s words that his mustache bristled and his eyes bulged. How could this fellow never know how to speak properly?

What did he mean, 'end of natural life'? At his level of cultivation, wishing for death would be difficult... "Hmm?" Ye Jingyu glanced around and realized he was still in the exact spot where he had collapsed.

He understood then that he had indeed survived. Could his final strike have actually killed that fiend? Was he truly that powerful?

To have slain an existence surpassing a first-tier Martial God? "Ouch, it hurts so much..." Just as Ye Jingyu was about to gloat, he was struck by a sudden, agonizing wave of pain. His right arm was reduced to nothing but bare, white bone, and even that bone was fractured.

Moreover, his internal Bayuan Power was completely exhausted, leaving him utterly spent. If not for a sliver of mysterious power Dugu Ba Chen had infused into him, he wouldn't even be able to stand... "Heh, I thought you were truly that resilient, not letting out a sound despite such terrible injuries.

By the way, what are you doing here? This is the Blue Dream Marsh, you know!" Dugu Ba Chen didn't inquire about how Ye Jingyu repelled a Demon General; instead, he focused on why he was there. After all, entities like Demon Generals were not common knowledge.

Despite Ye Jingyu’s current strength, Dugu Ba Chen preferred he not know too much before the Soul Combat Grand Battle... "Ah, Master, you must help me..." Mentioning this, Ye Jingyu finally recalled the purpose of his perilous journey. He immediately launched into a frantic explanation about searching for the Tianpian Fruit...

Upon hearing that Ye Jingyu had come specifically to find the Tianpian Fruit to save the person he cherished, a wave of melancholy washed over Dugu Ba Chen's eyes, as if recalling moments from his own past... "My entire life, I, Dugu Ba Chen, pursued the Martial Path, yet I neglected what was most important in the past. Jing'er, cherish it deeply.

That Tianpian Fruit is my responsibility!" After an indeterminate pause, Dugu Ba Chen sighed heavily...