Every weapon, every magical artifact, possesses a unique aura; especially potent artifacts radiate overwhelming power. Take Ye Jingyu’s Heavenly Venerable Saber, for instance—the thunderous energy it emitted left everyone feeling haunted. Yet, this ancient bell of his emitted absolutely no discernible energy fluctuations whatsoever?

No matter how they looked at it, it was just a battered, ordinary bell. How could it so easily shatter Yingkong Wu's Void Flame Spear, a weapon he had spent a century forging as his life-bound armament?

While the onlookers were merely shocked, Yingkong Wu, who was at the epicenter, was seized by terror. As that cyan ancient bell pulverized his Void Flame Spear, he felt an unimaginable force erupt from within it. It was power on an entirely different plane. Even though that surge was minuscule, that tiny fraction was enough to completely annihilate him.

Without daring to deliberate further, he channeled all the magic in his body to his feet, retreating at full speed. Against such power, he couldn't even conjure a thought of resistance…

His reaction was swift, but the cyan ancient bell had already struck his Void Flame Spear. A force not of this world flooded into his body while obliterating the spear. His arms exploded instantly, followed immediately by the shattering of both shoulders. Streams of blue blood sprayed out continuously, and he let loose a near-desperate shriek…

“Shi, go quickly… run…” he managed to say, ignoring his grievous wounds, fleeing at top speed…

Everything happened too fast. By the time Yingkong Wu’s warning reached him, Yingkong Shi saw that his elder brother’s arms were gone, and he was sprinting forward like his life depended on it…

However, there was an unspoken understanding between the brothers. Realizing his elder brother faced mortal danger, Yingkong Shi didn't waste a second questioning the situation. He spun around, intending to grab Luo Ling’er and flee with her, but a streak of purple blade light had already sliced toward them…

“Don’t worry about her, escape!” Yingkong Wu’s voice roared again. Yingkong Shi looked back just in time to see Ye Jingyu, still holding the cyan ancient bell, slam it viciously into his elder brother’s lower abdomen. Instantly, Yingkong Wu’s entire midsection disintegrated. The Demon Clan’s formidable physique shattered beneath that cyan bell as easily as glass…

Feeling the desperate cry of his brother, Yingkong Shi hesitated no longer. He flicked his long spear, tearing open a void, and stepped directly through it, ignoring the blade slashes from Luo Ling’er and Hei Ming Shixuan…

His brother, who had reached the Sixth Grade Demon Lord realm, couldn't withstand a single strike from that cyan bell. What about him? He might be smashed into dust just by brushing against it. What in the world was this thing?

Yingkong Shi’s only thought was to relay this news to his clan immediately. In the blink of an eye, his figure and his aura vanished completely from the scene…

But Yingkong Wu wasn't so fortunate. His body split in two, rendering him incapable of flight. Ye Jingyu showed no intention of showing mercy. The cyan ancient bell descended directly, crashing heavily onto his skull. A faint cyan light flickered, and his head burst open like pulp, eventually being completely engulfed by the cyan light along with the rest of his body…

In the aftermath, only a pool of blue blood remained on the ground…

Ye Jingyu glanced at the cyan ancient bell in his hand, then at the pulverized remains of Yingkong Wu, and finally at the vanished figure of Yingkong Shi. He sighed softly, murmuring, “Alas, my own strength is still too meager. Besides using you to smash people, I can't seem to exploit your other profound uses. When will I ever be able to unleash your full power?”

He spoke casually, yet this simple statement struck Hei Ming Yingjie and the others, who were already frozen in shock, like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky…

"Too meager"? Only good for smashing people? Was he smashing common folk? That was a Sixth Grade Demon Lord! A Sixth Grade Demon Lord capable of wiping out all of them combined, and he’s casually pulverized into powder, leaving no trace, yet you claim you aren't utilizing its other depths? Just how terrifying would it be if you could?

Hei Ming Yingjie, Leiyalon, Charles, and the accompanying demons stared fixedly at the cyan ancient bell in Ye Jingyu’s hand. Within their gazes was sheer terror, but layered over that fear was a growing thread of avarice. If they could possess such an item, wouldn't their own strength leap forward dramatically?

No, this thing absolutely could not remain in the hands of this human. They had to find every means possible to seize it…

Charles and Leiyalon simultaneously conceived this thought, yet they knew that relying on just the two of them, attempting to snatch such an item was pure fantasy. The sensible course was to report this to their elders as soon as possible.

A flicker of thought crossed Hei Ming Yingjie’s face, but she understood that if the Hei Ming family decided to kill for treasure, Hei Ming Shixuan would undoubtedly be the first to object. That girl, for some unknown reason, was obsessively devoted to this fellow. Since outright theft was impossible, perhaps recruitment was the answer? His strength was at least Fifth Grade Demon Lord level, and with such a supreme treasure, he would be a formidable asset.

Only Hei Ming Shixuan’s eyes held no trace of calculation; she was simply overjoyed, as if the stronger Ye Jingyu became, the happier she felt…

Ye Jingyu paid no mind to the shifting expressions around him. He returned the cyan ancient bell to his Sea of Consciousness and approached Luo Ling’er, smiling as he nodded to Hei Ming Shixuan, “Thank you so much, little Shixuan!”

Although he had a moment to save Luo Ling’er earlier, doing so would have allowed Yingkong Wu to escape…

“Heehee, I promised Big Brother I wouldn't let anyone hurt Sister Ling’er, and I meant it!” Hei Ming Shixuan replied cheerfully, like a child seeking approval from a parent after achieving excellent grades.

“Haha, Shixuan is the best girl. Come give Brother a…” Seeing Shixuan’s innocent expression, Ye Jingyu felt a wave of warmth. Several years had passed, but her nature remained unchanged…

“Mwah…” Shixuan stood on her tiptoes and planted a firm kiss right on Ye Jingyu’s cheek…

Ye Jingyu returned the gesture with a peck on her cheek, then gently took Luo Ling’er from her hands, preparing to rouse her, only to hear Hei Ming Yingjie’s voice cut in…

“You killed Yingkong Wu and took the sacrifice they needed. Aren't you worried the Ying Family will send masters after you?”

(It’s hot today, so hot! Uploaded at 0:06)