Chapter 52: Thunder and Ripples
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“Boom—boom—!”
The loud noise of the complete collapse of the inheritance cave came from deep underground like a muffled thunder. Even those who had rushed out of the passage could feel the violent shaking of the ground under their feet, rubble falling, and smoke and dust filling the air.
Ye Li endured the churning blood and the stabbing pain in her meridians, unleashing her "Universe Traceless Step" to its fullest potential. Her figure flashed through the narrow and complex passageway, quickly moving away from the center of the collapse. Her face was as pale as paper, and blood still lingered at the corners of her mouth. The excessive depletion of spiritual energy and the internal injuries sustained from Gao Sheng's blow had left her in a state of despair.
But she didn't dare pause. Goldman's venomous gaze, along with the undisguised greed in the other survivors, was like a leech, telling her the crisis was far from over. Possessing a treasure was a crime, and the legacy of the Xuanhuan Reverend was enough to drive anyone mad.
Sure enough, just as she turned a corner and tried to find a secluded place to rest for a while, she heard the sound of rapid wind breaking and a murderous shout from behind her.
"Ye Li! Where are you running to? Leave your legacy behind!"
"Don't let her get away!"
Three figures stalked her like maggots. They were none other than the two mid-stage Condensation Vein cultivators who had fought so hard against her earlier, along with a sinister-looking disciple from the small demonic sect, the Black Evil Valley. They were clearly unwilling to return empty-handed, believing that the severely injured Ye Li was at the end of her rope, making this the perfect opportunity to kill her and seize the treasure.
Ye Li's eyes turned cold, and murderous intent rose in her heart. These hyena-like guys are really haunting!
She turned abruptly, choosing not to flee. In such a complex situation, leaving her back to the enemy would be foolish. Since there was no escape, the only option was to fight her way out!
"Since you are looking for death, I will grant your wish!" Ye Li's voice was cold. Although his breath was weak, the arrogance and murderous aura belonging to Li Zun suddenly burst out, which made the casual cultivator who was rushing in the front feel a chill in his heart, and his movements couldn't help but slow down for a half second.
It’s this moment of hesitation!
Ye Li moved! She didn't use the energy-consuming "Universe Traceless Step" and "Ice Soul Sealing Heaven Finger", but relied on pure Shadow Step and the combat instincts accumulated in previous lives. She swooped down like a ghost, her hand already equipped with a spare fine steel dagger.
“Swish!”
The sword flashed like lightning, piercing the throat of the casual cultivator! Simple, direct, yet swift beyond imagination!
The wandering cultivator was horrified and hurriedly raised his sword to block. However, Ye Li's sword move was a feint. With a flick of his wrist, the short sword drew a strange arc, avoiding the block and slashing accurately at his wrist!
“Puff!”
Blood spurted out! The cultivator screamed in agony. A gash deep enough to see the bone had been opened on his wrist, and the long sword slipped out of his hand again. Ye Li, taking advantage of the situation, thrust sideways and delivered a sharp elbow strike, slamming it hard into his chest!
"Crack!" A clear bone-breaking sound rang out. The cultivator gushed out blood foam from his mouth, his eyes filled with disbelief and terror. He flew backwards and crashed into the stone wall, his life or death unknown.
One encounter and one person is disabled!
The other Black Demon Valley disciple and another wandering cultivator were both shocked and furious, but the arrow was already on the string and had to be released. The Black Demon Valley disciple pressed his hands together, and a foul-smelling black energy transformed into a ghostly claw, grabbing at Ye Li's face. The other wandering cultivator swung his mace, smashing it hard and powerfully into Ye Li's waist and abdomen.
Ye Li took a deep breath, suppressed his injuries, and his body moved as erratic as willow catkins, narrowly avoiding the ghost claws. At the same time, his dagger pointed at the weak point on the side of the mace, trying to break the force with cleverness.
"clang!"
Sparks flew! A tremendous force erupted, cracking Ye Li's jaws and nearly dropping her dagger. She stumbled back, her internal injuries flaring. Another mouthful of blood surged up her throat, which she forced down. After all, she'd consumed so much spiritual energy and sustained so much damage, so a head-on confrontation would be extremely disadvantageous.
"She's in trouble! Capture her quickly!" The disciples of the Black Evil Valley were overjoyed upon seeing this, and urged their ghost claws to chase after her relentlessly.
Another casual cultivator grinned and swung his stick again.
Seeing Ye Li about to fall into despair, a fierce look flashed in her eyes. The talisman she had been holding in her left palm was instantly activated—not the powerful but time-consuming "Xuan Yin Sha Lei Fu," but a second-grade, mid-grade "Earth Thorn Fu"!
“Puff, puff, puff!”
Without warning, several sharp stone spikes suddenly emerged from under the feet of the casual cultivator! The casual cultivator was completely focused on Ye Li and had no idea of the changes under his feet. Instantly, the stone spikes pierced his feet and calves. He screamed miserably and fell to the ground.
The pressure is reduced by half!
Ye Li seized the opportunity, facing the incoming ghost claws without dodging or avoiding them, instead charging headfirst! At the moment the claws were about to reach her, she twisted her body at an incredible angle, practically brushing past them. At the same time, she channeled the dagger with the remaining spiritual energy within her. With a simple and brutal thrust, she pierced through the black energy and struck the Black Evil Valley disciple straight in the heart!
The disciple did not expect Ye Li to be so fearless, nor did he expect her body movements to be so strange. In a hurry, he only had time to slightly turn sideways.
“Swish!”
Although the dagger missed his heart, it pierced his left shoulder blade, and the sword energy, mixed with a chill, penetrated his body. The Black Evil Valley disciple groaned, and his ghost claw technique instantly collapsed. A look of horror crossed his face, and he retreated repeatedly, clutching his wound, not daring to move forward.
Ye Li stood with her sword in hand, blood dripping from the tip. Her chest heaved violently, her breathing rapid. After the repeated fierce battles, her spiritual power was nearly exhausted, and her injuries were even more severe. But her eyes remained cold and sharp, sweeping over the retreating Black Evil Valley disciple as if she were looking at a dead person.
The disciple felt a chill in his heart at the look, and he didn't have the courage to fight anymore. He gritted his teeth and said, "You are so cruel!" Then he turned around and fled in embarrassment.
Silence returned to the passage for a moment, leaving only the groans of the two seriously injured and Ye Li's heavy breathing. Not daring to delay, she quickly searched the bodies of the two incapacitated cultivators, finding two bottles of ordinary healing pills and dozens of low-grade spirit stones. Without even examining them, she swallowed the pills, grasped the spirit stones, and continued to retreat deeper into the passage, absorbing the meager spiritual energy.
She knew a bigger crisis was yet to come. Goldman Sachs would never give up.
…
Meanwhile, in another exit, Gao Sheng, his face livid, hurried along with Shi Feng (whose wound had been briefly treated, but whose right arm remained paralyzed) and two other Zhan Kuangfeng disciples. When the cave collapsed, they had chosen a different exit than Ye Li.
"Senior Brother Gao, are you just going to let that bitch go?" Shi Feng's face was filled with resentment. The hatred of having his arm broken made him hate Ye Li to the core.
"Let her go?" Gao Sheng sneered, murderous intent flashing in his eyes. "How is that possible! She's seriously injured and her spiritual energy is depleted. She can't get far! The passages in this secret realm are intricate, but they all lead to several fixed exit areas. We just need to rush to the nearest exit and wait for her, or send out a signal for the other brothers to be on the lookout and intercept her. She won't be able to escape even if she has wings!"
He took out a specially crafted jade communication talisman and injected a divine thought into it: "Attention all Xuanyun Sect disciples: Ye Li, a disciple of Yundan Peak, is suspected of having obtained the core inheritance of the secret realm. However, he has practiced demonic arts and murdered his fellow disciples (Shi Feng). He has now defected! Anyone who encounters him should work together to capture him, regardless of life or death! Report his whereabouts and there will be a generous reward!"
This news was quickly transmitted through the jade talisman to all Xuanyun Sect disciples in the secret realm who possessed the same jade talisman. For a time, many Xuanyun Sect disciples who were exploring other parts of the secret realm received this inciting and tempting message.
"Core inheritance?"
"Killing fellow disciples? Defection?"
"Don't worry about life or death, there will be a huge reward!"
All sorts of thoughts welled up in the minds of the disciples who received the message. The disciples of Zhan Kuang Peak were naturally eager to join the fight, and it was inevitable that some disciples from other peaks were also tempted. Ye Li's name instantly became a moving treasure trove and a symbol of merit within the secret realm.
…
Ye Li struggled through the maze-like passages. The spiritual energy provided by the elixirs and spirit stones was minimal, barely enough to suppress her injuries. She had to find a safe place to heal as soon as possible, otherwise she might collapse from her injuries without Gao Sheng's help.
However, misfortunes never come singly. Just as she passed a fork in the road, four figures suddenly appeared, blocking her path. Judging by their attire, they were two Xuanyun Sect disciples from Zhan Kuangfeng's clan, along with two members of a small clan affiliated with Zhan Kuangfeng. They had apparently received a message from Gao Sheng and were setting up an ambush!
"Ye Li! It's you!" The leading disciple from Zhan Kuangfeng grinned, "Senior Brother Gao has ordered that you surrender and your body will be spared!"
Ye Li's heart sank. With enemies blocking their way in front and potential pursuers behind, and her own condition extremely poor, this was a near-impossible dead end!
She gripped the dagger tightly, her eyes determined. Even if she died, she would take a few people with her!
At this critical moment, a cold voice suddenly came from a hole on the side:
"Heh, Zhan Kuangfeng is so arrogant. In this secret realm, can he decide the life and death of his fellow disciples at will?"
Everyone was startled and looked up to see Qin Yixuan appear there out of nowhere. She was dressed in white, as white as snow, and was incredibly beautiful. She was looking down calmly. She was accompanied by two female disciples from the Bishui Pavilion.
"Qin Yixuan!" Zhan Kuangfeng's disciple's expression changed. "This is an internal matter of my Xuanyun Sect and has nothing to do with your Bishui Pavilion! Please don't meddle in other people's business!"
Qin Yixuan landed lightly, standing between Ye Li and the four disciples. Her tone was calm but carried an unquestionable tone: "If it were somewhere else, I wouldn't bother to intervene. But the passage here is narrow, and you're fighting and blocking my way. Either get out of the way, or... I'll help you clear the way."
Her words were devoid of anger, but the powerful aura of a true disciple, coupled with the reputation of the Bishui Pavilion, put immense pressure on the four disciples. They looked at each other, not daring to act rashly.
Qin Yixuan's appearance was not to save Ye Li, at least on the surface, it was because she was "blocking the road". But this well-timed "blocking the road" undoubtedly gave Ye Li a precious breathing space.
Ye Li gave Qin Yixuan a deep look, but didn't offer any words of thanks. She understood that Qin Yixuan's actions were more out of a strong person's "protection" of an interesting opponent, or perhaps, more like a disdain for the actions of Gao Sheng and his ilk who bullied the weak, rather than pure kindness. She remembered this favor.
Taking advantage of the moment when the four disciples were shocked by Qin Yixuan, Ye Li did not hesitate, and summoned up his last bit of strength. His figure flashed, and he swiftly passed through the gap beside Qin Yixuan and rushed towards the passage ahead.
"You!" Zhan Kuangfeng's disciple was furious and wanted to stop him.
Qin Yixuan slightly turned sideways, and a soft yet tough water curtain quietly appeared, blocking them.
"I said, whoever stands in the way, clear."
Due to this delay, Ye Li's figure disappeared around the corner of the passage.
"Qin Yixuan! How dare you protect a traitor to our sect!" Zhan Kuangfeng's disciple's face turned ashen with anger.
Qin Yixuan glanced at them calmly. "Traitor? Just based on Gao Sheng's one-sided statement? What's the evidence? Moreover, even if she is a traitor, it should be decided by your sect's Law Enforcement Hall, not by you setting up a private punishment hall here. If you don't get out of the way, don't blame me, Bishui Pavilion, for being rude."
The four disciples dared not speak out, and finally could only grit their teeth and make way. Qin Yixuan then led his fellow disciples and walked forward slowly, but their direction was slightly different from Ye Li's, clearly not tracking him.
…
Ye Li ran with all her might, and after who knows how long, she finally found a hidden crevice deep in a remote, stalactite-covered underground cavern. She carefully crawled in, and after confirming she was temporarily safe, her tense nerves relaxed slightly, only to be suddenly overcome by a strong feeling of weakness and dizziness.
She leaned her back against the cold stone wall, gasping for breath, and immediately took out all the healing pills, swallowing them all in one gulp regardless of their quality. At the same time, she held a spirit stone in each hand and practiced the "Youhuan Emperor Sutra" with all her strength, guiding the medicinal power and spiritual energy to repair the damaged meridians and internal organs.
The fragments of the Samsara Mirror also emitted a gentle and clear light, nourishing her almost dried-up sea of consciousness and exhausted soul.
Time ticked by. The occasional sounds of distant monks passing by or the roars of demonic beasts from outside the cave made Ye Li's heart tremble with fear. She was now vulnerable; a cultivator at the Condensing Veins Realm or a second-level demonic beast could be her death.
After an unknown amount of time, the elixir finally took effect, and her spiritual power recovered by 10% to 20%, temporarily suppressing her injuries. She slowly opened her eyes, still tired, but at least she had regained some mobility.
We must leave the secret realm as soon as possible! Goldman Sachs must have laid a tight net at the exit.
She checked her supplies: the dagger was broken, the talismans were depleted, and the medicinal pills were almost gone. Only the three drops of precious Star Origin Fluid, the Xuanhuan Token, the Void Divine Crystal, and other core treasures remained. These were her trump cards and could not be used lightly.
"Looks like that's the only way..." A flicker of pain flashed through Ye Li's eyes, but more of a determination. She pulled out a seemingly ancient, obscure talisman—the Disguise Talisman. This was one of her most prized life-saving talismans, capable of altering one's appearance and concealing one's aura for two hours. Unless one's cultivation was at least one major realm higher than hers and carefully examined it, it would be difficult to detect.
This was the last resort she prepared for herself.
Without hesitation, she immediately activated the Disguise Talisman. A faint light flashed, and her appearance became ordinary, her figure slightly bloated, and her aura subsided to that of a third or fourth level Spiritual Awakening. She looked like an ordinary cultivator who had survived a mysterious secret realm with little success.
She changed her bloodstained clothes and removed all traces that might reveal her identity before carefully walking out of her hiding place.
She became even more cautious on the rest of the journey, choosing routes with less traveled paths and complex terrain. As expected, she sensed several groups of Xuanyun Sect disciples searching everywhere, and even spotted Gao Sheng and others guarding a major exit.
But she relied on disguise and caution to avoid all searches, and finally quietly left the Cloud Secret Realm from a more remote exit that required passing through a dangerous poisonous swamp.
When the warm sunlight fell on her again and she breathed the fresh air outside the secret realm, Ye Li finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, she knew that the crisis had not been resolved, but had simply moved from the secret realm to the wider sect and spiritual world.
Goldman Sachs' false accusations, the covetousness caused by the leak of inheritance, the possible infighting within the sect...all of these will bring about a bigger storm after she returns to Xuanyun Sect.
She looked back at the gradually closing entrance to the secret realm, her eyes cold and determined.
"Gao Sheng, Zhan Kuangfeng... and those enemies hiding in the shadows... I, Ye Li, will remember this!"
With a flash of her figure, she blended into the forest and rushed towards the direction of Xuanyun Sect. The road ahead was destined to be full of thorns, but she was not afraid.
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