Not only did Ye Jingyu charge straight down, but Ni Bo also charged straight down. For ordinary exotic beasts, flames might be their natural enemy, but Ni Bo was second only to the Fire Qilin, and any kind of flame was simply the greatest tonic for him...

The man and the beast plunged directly into the massive flames. Ye Jingyu snatched up Chi Yixiu, who was covered in wounds from the power of the cannon fire. Fortunately, his physical body had reached Level Six, and his defense was even stronger than Ye Jingyu's, which is why he wasn't utterly pulverized by the shells...

Even so, his entire body was riddled with injuries, and fragments of the cannon shells were deeply embedded in his flesh, the surface completely scorched by the intense heat. If Ye Jingyu had been even a step slower, Chi Yixiu might have met the King of Hell directly—that is, assuming the King of Hell even existed in this world...

Placing one hand on Chi Yixiu’s chest [Note: Assuming ing refers to chest/vital area based on context], the Primordial Force within him surged in, protecting Chi Yixiu’s heart meridian. He grabbed Chi Yixiu and rushed out of the sea of fire, intending to send him back to the palace for emergency treatment, but a figure blocked his path...

The newcomer was clad in a white brocade robe, his long, black hair tied back behind his head. He was handsome and held a longsword emitting a faint, blood-red glow. Who else could it be but Xiao Geng?

“Get lost…” Seeing this fellow daring to obstruct his path while he was desperately trying to save Chi Yixiu, the word simply burst from Ye Jingyu’s mouth...

“Hmph, Ye Jingyu, you defeated me last time. Today I have achieved the position of Martial Saint. I will make you realize that I am the strongest man in the Nanyun Empire!” In response to Ye Jingyu’s curses, Xiao Geng coldly snorted...

“I have no interest in dueling you right now. Get lost!” Although he had protected Chi Yixiu’s heart meridian, the beast was at the epicenter of the explosion, suffering injuries beyond the ordinary; immediate treatment was essential. He simply had no mind for a duel with Xiao Geng...

“Let me tell you a secret: I poisoned Luo Ling’er!” Hearing Ye Jingyu insult him again, Xiao Geng didn't react with much anger, instead wearing a sarcastic smile...

“What…” Upon hearing this news, Ye Jingyu’s eyes widened in fury, as if flames were about to erupt from them. The one who poisoned Luo Ling’er was actually Xiao Geng?

He had suspected many people—the princesses in the palace, the imperial concubines, and several princes—but he had never considered Xiao Geng. It wasn’t because Xiao Geng deeply loved Luo Ling’er, but because he had always viewed Xiao Geng as an annoying person, yes, but fundamentally upright and honorable. Even after aligning with the Crown Prince, he acted openly and justly. How could he resort to poisoning? And poisoning the woman he once deeply loved at that?

Could this be the so-called, 'the depth of love determines the intensity of hate'?

Intense killing intent erupted from within his body. His usually dark eyes were now blood-red, and the Primordial Force within him circulated frantically...

“Whoosh…” Ni Bo’s body flashed to Ye Jingyu’s side. Ye Jingyu said nothing, instead very carefully placing Chi Yixiu onto Ni Bo’s back...

Ni Bo glanced at Ye Jingyu, as if instructing him to be careful, then transformed into an afterimage and bolted toward the Imperial Palace. Even on the battlefield, no one could halt his pace...

Watching Ni Bo disappear into the distance, and then glancing at Nangong Shang and the others standing atop the palace walls, Ye Jingyu knew that Zhuge Yi Shi must have arranged everything. As long as Chi Yixiu returned to the palace, he would surely receive treatment...

Turning his gaze back to Xiao Geng, the muscles in his face twitched violently. Suppressing the intense killing intent, he spat out a few cold words: “Why…”

“Why? You ask me why? Hahahaha… You stole the woman who belonged to me, you stole all the glory that should have been mine. And now you ask me why? Hahahaha… You are truly ridiculous, utterly laughable…” Hearing Ye Jingyu’s question, Xiao Geng burst into loud laughter...

“I stole your woman? I stole your glory? Xiao Geng, I can’t believe I once considered you my greatest lifelong rival, only to find you are such an ignorant fool. Ling’er never liked you; she always saw you as a brother. As for your glory, what honor have you truly lost?” Ye Jingyu sneered...

“Hahahaha… Brother? A joke! I have been devoted to her since childhood. If it weren’t for your appearance, we would have been together long ago. But it doesn’t matter now. If I cannot have something, no one else shall have it! Ye Jingyu, her poison cannot be cured; she is doomed. If you truly love her, then join her in hell!” Xiao Geng laughed maniacally, his eyes beginning to glow with an eerie blue, and a powerful aura emanated from his body...

“Rest assured, Ling’er will not die, nor will I. The one who deserves death is you. But before I kill you, I will show you what it means to wish for death over life…” Seeing the Martial Saint strength Xiao Geng displayed, Ye Jingyu still wore a mocking smile. Even Ghost-Sees-Sorrow, a Martial Saint, was no match for him; why should a newly ascended Martial Saint be any different?

“Wish for death over life? Hahahaha, Ye Jingyu, I will let you taste the might of a Martial Saint!” Xiao Geng roared, raising the longsword in his hand and lunging directly at Ye Jingyu...

The strength Ye Jingyu displayed was only that of a Grandmaster Peak. Those who had seen him fight—Ghost-Sees-Sorrow, Xuanyuan Xiaozhan, Luo Xiaofeng, and the others—would certainly not reveal Ye Jingyu’s true power to Xiao Geng.

The only person from the Crown Prince’s faction who might have known Ye Jingyu’s true strength, Hai Langbing, had fled early that day and missed the strike where Ye Jingyu annihilated Xuanyuan Xiaozhan. Therefore, to this day, whether it was Xiao Geng, the Crown Prince, or even Qin Yunxiao, they all believed Ye Jingyu was merely a Grandmaster at the pinnacle realm...

At most, they believed he was a Grandmaster with slightly superior physical strength. But how could even the strongest Grandmaster compete against a Martial Saint, even if he managed to charge into the sea of fire?

Using a Martial Saint to slay a peak Grandmaster was a simple, effortless task...

When Xiao Geng moved, even Qin Yunxiao, standing among the assembled armies, believed Ye Jingyu was certainly doomed. After all, among his capable helpers, Liang Xiaoke was sealed, and Bing Ming had not fully recovered from his injuries; neither could save him...

In an instant, everyone saw the longsword in Xiao Geng’s hand shoot out streaks of dazzling crimson sword light, transforming into a blade projection that stretched over ten zhang long, hacking down fiercely...