Thunderous roars echoed through the air!
The entire underground tunnel collapsed, and the building crumbled, causing the earth to tremble violently, the sound of destruction relentless.
Amidst this chaos, the panicked cries of the Bai Li clan's members filled the air; some of the clan's higher-ups were buried alive due to Ye Tian's assault.
In an instant, the Bai Li Manor was shrouded in an atmosphere of sorrow and indignation.
Ye Tian stood aloof in the void, coldly observing the scene before him, devoid of any sympathy. To show mercy to one's enemies is to be cruel to oneself.
"Who on earth are you?" Bai Li Hao Tian seethed with rage. Even in his fury, he realized that Ye Tian was no longer Yi Xue Han; only a madman would resort to such drastic measures.
Boom!
Ye Tian remained silent, striking with his blade. A brilliant arc of light illuminated the sky, and a formidable intent enveloped the space, binding Bai Li Hao Tian in its grasp.
"Impressive blade intent, but alas, your cultivation is far too weak!"
"Very well, I shall subdue you first. For the harm you have inflicted upon the Bai Li clan, I will ensure you suffer a thousand deaths to quell my resentment!"
Bai Li Hao Tian bellowed, shattering the binding force and soaring upwards, unleashing a torrent of power that engulfed the heavens.
Ye Tian's expression turned grave; this opponent was a peerless master at the seventh level of Martial Sovereign, far superior to the newly ascended Yi Xue Han and Yan Hao.
Indeed, Bai Li Hao Tian was formidable; as his small world manifested, boundless power erupted, pressing down upon Ye Tian with immense pressure.
Boom!
Golden light erupted as Ye Tian dared not conceal his strength, revealing his perfected second layer of the Nine Revolutions Battle Body, transforming him into a radiant figure of gold, a surge of potent energy rising from within.
Ye Tian gripped his mysterious iron blade tightly and struck with force, the dazzling blade light infused with overwhelming intent, dimming the sky and shaking the very fabric of space.
"The second layer of the Nine Revolutions Battle Body!" Bai Li Hao Tian narrowed his eyes, fury igniting within him, for Ye Tian's mastery of this technique was derived from his own Wan Poison Pool.
Moreover, Ye Tian had led them in circles, compelling them to respectfully address him as "Young Master."
At this thought, Bai Li Hao Tian felt as if a volcano had erupted within him, an uncontainable rage consuming him, flames of fury igniting in his eyes.
"Ah... boy, no matter who you are, I will make you wish for life but find no solace, and wish for death but find no escape!" Bai Li Hao Tian roared skyward, his boiling true essence radiating from his being as if set ablaze.
Ye Tian gazed intently at Bai Li Hao Tian, a serious expression etched upon his face, tightly gripping his mysterious iron blade—his sole means of countering Bai Li Hao Tian.
"What is happening?"
"Why is the Manor Master fighting the Young Master?"
…
At this moment, the panicked members of the Bai Li Manor had fled, gazing in astonishment at the two figures locked in combat high above.
They were bewildered; how could the Young Master, once treated as an esteemed guest by the Manor Master, suddenly turn against him?
"Silence! He is no Young Master; he is an imposter, a deceiver!" A thunderous voice cut through the confusion, Bai Li Chang Feng's face darkened, his eyes blazing with fury.
He was consumed with rage, first losing the chance to be blessed by the Wan Poison Pool and now discovering that this individual was a mere fraud—this drove him to the brink of madness.
Several high-ranking members of the Bai Li clan shared his fury, but beneath their anger lay a thread of concern.
With the Wan Poison Pool destroyed and their plans thwarted, and with Yan Hao dead, they feared the wrath of the headquarters of the Wan Poison Sect if their betrayal was discovered.
Their only hope rested on Bai Li Hao Tian subduing Ye Tian, at least granting them a chance to explain themselves to the sect's headquarters.
Sadly, they soon realized this hope was fading; although Ye Tian lacked Bai Li Hao Tian's cultivation, the mysterious iron blade he wielded was an extraordinary weapon, its unparalleled sharpness instilling fear in Bai Li Hao Tian.
Despite Bai Li Hao Tian's formidable strength, Ye Tian shattered his attacks with a single strike, while Bai Li Hao Tian's counterblows were effortlessly blocked by Ye Tian's Nine Revolutions Battle Body.
With the perfected second layer of the Nine Revolutions Battle Body, Ye Tian's defensive capabilities were astonishing; had his cultivation not been so vastly inferior to Bai Li Hao Tian's, he would have been confident in resisting without the mysterious iron blade.
"Ah... you have not disappointed me. Once I elevate my cultivation to the Martial Sovereign realm, my physical prowess alone will allow me to dominate this level," Ye Tian proclaimed with a triumphant roar, exhilaration radiating from him. Even the mysterious iron blade seemed to resonate with his excitement, bursting forth in a brilliant display of light.
For the first time, Ye Tian fought with such vigor, unleashing his blade intent fully, revealing his true power, and wielding the mysterious iron blade—this was the pinnacle of his combat prowess.
"Die!"
Bai Li Hao Tian shouted, feeling immense pressure as he struggled to subdue Ye Tian, unable to gain the upper hand.
His anxiety manifested in his attacks, which, despite their initial strength, began to falter midway, allowing Ye Tian to effortlessly defend against them.
In contrast, Ye Tian grew increasingly emboldened, his power swelling with each exchange, his full force unleashed, though he initially struggled to adapt. However, as he continued to battle Bai Li Hao Tian, he began to master his current strength.
In this stark contrast, it became evident to all that Ye Tian was gaining the upper hand.
"This is bad; the Manor Master is growing impatient after failing to subdue him," one high-ranking member of the Bai Li clan remarked, concern etched on his face.
"This boy's cultivation may be lacking, but the blade he wields is a powerful spiritual weapon..." Other high-ranking members of the Bai Li clan wore grim expressions, yet their eyes gleamed with avarice at the sight of the mysterious iron blade in Ye Tian's grasp.
"He's merely relying on the might of that weapon!" Bai Li Chang Feng seethed with jealousy; although Ye Tian's cultivation was inferior to his own, he had grasped a portion of blade intent and cultivated the Nine Revolutions Battle Body to its second layer—a talent that left him far behind.
Boom!
At that moment, the tide of battle shifted dramatically, causing the onlooking Bai Li clan members below to pale in shock.
In the sky, the flustered Bai Li Hao Tian finally revealed a flaw, which Ye Tian, ever prepared, seized upon in an instant, delivering a decisive strike.
This blow pierced through Bai Li Hao Tian's defenses, striking directly at his body.
"Impossible—"
Bai Li Hao Tian's pupils constricted, disbelief washing over him as he beheld the blade light striking him, the unparalleled sharpness and terrifying killing intent surging into his body, wreaking havoc on his meridians and dantian.
"Poof!"
Bai Li Hao Tian was grievously injured, his complexion paling as he coughed up blood, sent tumbling to the ground with a violent crash.
"Manor Master!"
"Father!"
A chorus of anguished cries erupted from below as Bai Li Chang Feng rushed forward, leading the other members of the Bai Li clan into the fray, ascending to confront Ye Tian.
"Protect the Manor Master!"
"Everyone, attack together! Kill this brat!"
The members of the Bai Li clan were driven into a frenzy, charging toward Ye Tian in a desperate bid to defend their fallen leader, the entire manor steeped in a melancholic atmosphere.
Though they knew they were no match for Ye Tian, what choice did they have?
Flee?
Even if they managed to escape, without their clan's support, survival outside would be grim, and they would likely face retribution from the Wan Poison Sect.
Thus, they fought with all their might, rushing toward Ye Tian, while only a few remained to protect Bai Li Hao Tian.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Ye Tian disdainfully regarded the Bai Li clan's members, akin to moths drawn to a flame. With a casual sweep of his blade, dozens of heads flew into the air, their bodies reduced to mere fragments.
In an instant, flesh and blood scattered, as if a rain of crimson fell from the sky.
"Kill!"
"I shall fight you to the death!"
Several high-ranking members of the Bai Li clan, their eyes ablaze with fury and faces etched with grief, roared as they charged toward Ye Tian.
These were formidable warriors at the Martial Sovereign level; while Ye Tian would not fear a single one, the sheer number of them approaching caused a flicker of concern to cross his face.
"Burial of Heaven, First Form!"
Ye Tian slowly swung his blade, as if time itself were reversing. A colossal Taiji diagram manifested before him, blocking the onslaught of the charging Bai Li clan members.
The Taiji diagram shimmered with a hazy glow, yet exuded an ineffable profundity, spinning rapidly to dissipate their attacks.
Ye Tian then stepped forward, his eyes radiating brilliance, and struck fiercely at one of the Bai Li clan's leaders. The man's pupils constricted in terror, and in a moment of desperation, he could only raise his sword to defend.
Crack!
Yet, the sword shattered, and the man fell, blood spraying into the air, his dismembered limbs cascading to the ground.
With a single blade, Ye Tian repelled all who charged at him, while the Bai Li clan's members either lay grievously injured or lifeless, the scene overwhelmingly one-sided.
"Run!"
At that moment, Bai Li Hao Tian soared into the sky, shouting to the surrounding Bai Li clan members, "Flee this place at once! Everyone, escape!"
He then charged toward Ye Tian, his body radiating a blinding light, akin to a sun, a vast and terrifying wave of energy erupting from him.
"He's self-destructing his small world!" Ye Tian was immediately taken aback, his expression grave as he swung his blade, summoning the Taiji diagram to shield him.
"Father!"
"Patriarch!"
The members of the Bai Li clan, witnessing Bai Li Hao Tian's self-detonation, realized he intended to hold Ye Tian at bay with his life, and their hearts filled with despair.
"I refuse to flee... Father, I want to fight alongside you!" Bai Li Chang Feng ascended into the air, shouting defiantly.
However, Bai Li Hao Tian swiftly kicked him down, his authoritative gaze coldly piercing, "From this day forth, you are the patriarch of the Bai Li clan. Remember, your life is no longer your own; it belongs to the entire clan. Take our people and leave the Great Yan Kingdom, never to return, and do not seek out the Hundred Poisons Sect."
Having spoken, Bai Li Hao Tian unleashed his most powerful strike, crashing it against Ye Tian's Taiji diagram.
"Father—" Bai Li Chang Feng knelt on the ground, voicing his grief with a thunderous roar, tears streaming from his fierce eyes.