Chapter 1053: Killing Fu Rong
Ye Mo gave Wen Caiyi a level gaze. Regardless of her intentions, he refused to cooperate. He couldn't afford a conflict; any altercation with Wen Caiyi would inevitably involve Yuan Guannan, exposing Ye Mo's hidden strength. Defeating Yuan Guannan, the Infinity Sect's top genius, would instantly attract unwanted attention across the entire South Peace State, leading to immediate scrutiny. His origins in Pei Hai City, coupled with Tian Aofeng's death in the Heartless Sea, created an easily drawn connection.
Therefore, despite his disdain, Ye Mo maintained a calm demeanor. "Martial Sister Wen, perhaps you should proceed. I'm rather timid and uncertain about entering such a dangerous place. I'd prefer not to risk my life so readily, but I'm grateful for your consideration." He offered a strained smile and a fist salute.
Ling Xiaoshuang watched, puzzled. She expected Ye Mo to eagerly accept Wen Caiyi's offer, given her beauty. His refusal surprised her. Was he genuinely afraid of death?
Wen Caiyi, equally surprised by the rejection, felt a sting to her pride. Hadn't Ling Xiaoshuang described him as lecherous? Despite her own ulterior motives in inviting Ye Mo, the rejection was unsettling. She expected him to jump at the chance.
She regarded Ye Mo with disdain. "Martial Brother Yuan, let's go."
Yuan Guannan fixed Ye Mo with a cold stare, as if he were already dead. He doubted a genius like himself would perish within, intending to claim Ye Mo's life upon his return regardless.
More nascent soul cultivators entered.
Ling Xiaoshuang and her martial sister approached Ye Mo. "Given your abilities, why engage in such frivolous behavior? Plenty of women would appreciate you." Despite Ye Mo's rescue, she remained skeptical, believing his actions were calculated. Yet, he had undeniably aided Qinghan and the others.
Ye Mo feared Ling Xiaoshuang most. He dreaded a confrontation that would reveal his identity as the cultivator who had fled the trial. He feigned elation, gazing intently at Ling Xiaoshuang. "Actually, my affections for others were pretense… When I first saw you, I…"
"Shameless!" Ling Xiaoshuang, unable to contain her anger, rebuked him before heading inside. Her martial sisters followed, their disappointment palpable.
Wen Caiyi's absence was fortunate; witnessing Ye Mo's rejection of her followed by interest in Ling Xiaoshuang would have undoubtedly enraged her.
Only Ye Mo and Fu Rong remained. Fu Rong, consumed by anxiety, cared little for the forbidden grounds; he coveted the bitter bamboo, much like Ye Mo. He questioned why "Ning Xiaoma" (Ye Mo) hadn't entered.
As he approached Ye Mo, Ye Mo turned, smiling calmly. "Brother Fu, long time no see. How have you been?"
Ye Mo, now a nascent soul state level three cultivator, was prepared for any small transmission rune Fu Rong might possess, doubting he had a second one.
Fu Rong trembled, his expression a mixture of shock and uncertainty. Ye Mo removed Stealth Sand. "Brother Fu, your memory is quite poor. Forgotten me already? Last time, you vowed not to let me go. I'm disappointed."
"You're Ye Mo?" Fu Rong broke into a sweat. He feared Ye Mo above all others – a cunning cultivator far stronger than himself. As Ye Mo suspected, he only possessed one small transmission rune.
"Brother Ye! There was a misunderstanding last time. I apologize." Fu Rong desperately sought an escape.
Ye Mo sneered. "Apologies are unnecessary. However, I need to know your father's name."
Fu Rong's shock deepened. The question implied Ye Mo knew of his schemes.
"Why did everyone else enter but you? How did you discover Yu Baisheng qian bei's stealth formation?"
Fu Rong's heart sank. Ye Mo's knowledge of the bitter bamboo, and likely his encounter with Yu Niangyan, was evident. Fu Rong wondered, 'Why didn't she die? Why did Ye Mo see her?'
"Why would you let me go?" Fu Rong asked.
"Let you go?" Ye Mo smiled. "I never intended to. I've promised several people your death. I, too, desire it. However, answer my questions, and I might grant you some leniency. Otherwise, your nascent soul goes to Li Qianping."
"That bitch!" Fu Rong realized the truth.
He and his father had schemed tirelessly for the bitter bamboo. Now, with its loss, his despair deepened under Ye Mo's threat. Yet, he wouldn't divulge the bamboo's secrets.
Fu Rong drew his long black sword, Grey Sparrow, a low-grade cultivation artifact from Yu Baisheng's storage ring, emitting a shrill cry.
Ye Mo understood its name. Its shriek could disrupt a cultivator's essence. However, Ye Mo's essence far surpassed Fu Rong's. The instant Fu Rong unsheathed Grey Sparrow, Zi Xu unleashed three purple sword rays.
Fu Rong's cunning was no match for Ye Mo's decisiveness. With the Illusion Cloud essence binding strike, Ye Mo denied him any chance of escape.
Fu Rong spat blood, his blood escape attempt thwarted before its completion. Fear of Ye Mo, fresh from their last encounter, had paralyzed his strategy.
He felt his cultivation essence trapped, unable to escape. He realized his mistake – a hasty retreat instead of utilizing Grey Sparrow to fight, even if futile, might have offered a chance. Now, 90% of his essence was spent on escape, rendering Grey Sparrow useless.
Ye Mo's second strike, a torrent of purple sword rays, arrived. Fu Rong realized Ye Mo's power surpassed even nascent soul state level three.
His pleas for mercy were cut short by Ye Mo's whirlpool strike, shattering his body. His fleeing nascent soul was swiftly obliterated by Ye Mo's sword rays.
Ye Mo, despite considering giving the nascent soul to Li Qianping, reconsidered due to the bitter bamboo, ultimately retaining only the head.