Chapter 1133: Sword Valley Disaster
Gan Liang’s magic artifact was a flying sword, but to Ye Mo, it resembled a longsword. Its release unleashed waves of sword mist, transforming Gan Liang himself into a blur of steel. An Infinity Sect cultivator, already missing an arm courtesy of Ye Mo, was caught in the ensuing attack before he could even begin reattachment. Ye Mo remained still, observing as Gan Liang’s sword waves crashed against the cultivator. While onlookers saw only clashing white light, Ye Mo perceived the intricacies of Gan Liang's technique—a single strike that blossomed into a cascading series of attacks, each wave more potent than the last.
Ye Mo nodded; Sword Valley lived up to its name. Gan Liang’s skill was extraordinary. However, with such fierce intent, the nascent soul state level five cultivator suffered a fresh wound from the third wave. Attempting a desperate escape, he was met with a sudden explosion of sword energy. Blood sprayed as Gan Liang’s attack found its mark, ending the cultivator’s attempt at flight. Had the cultivator not prioritized escape, he might have survived, leaving Gan Liang heavily wounded.
After dispatching the cultivator, Gan Liang approached Ye Mo and bowed. “Thank you for your help, senior.” Respect shone in his eyes.
Ye Mo waved a hand. “How are Luo Fei and Yun Ziyi?”
Gan Liang’s face fell. “The Infinity Sect’s truth realisation state cultivator killed all our body condensation state elders before retreating. But that was only the start. Dozens more Infinity Sect cultivators descended upon us, and our blood flowed like rivers. Martial sisters Luo Fei and Yun Ziyi… they’re likely… gone.”
He paused, then asked, “Senior knows martial sisters Luo Fei and Yun Ziyi?”
Ye Mo nodded. “Yes. I am Ye Mo, the winner of the Pill City pill king tournament.”
“Pill King Ye?” Gan Liang murmured, dazed. “So that’s it.”
“You know?” Ye Mo pressed.
Gan Liang nodded. “Yes, Senior Ye Mo. Seven months ago, news of your victory reached us. Martial sisters Luo Fei and Yun Ziyi informed the sect leader of their acquaintance with you. He was delighted and planned to have them visit you. Then, He Ling, a truth realisation state cultivator from the Infinity Sect, demanded their surrender. Our sect leader refused.”
“He Ling’s rage resulted in the sect leader’s grievous injury. The elders fought valiantly, but against a truth realisation state cultivator, they stood no chance.”
Ye Mo clenched his fists. The Infinity Sect’s arrogance was appalling; their power allowed them to act with impunity. He hadn't realized he'd been in the Zhou River Swamp for over seven months.
“Our sect leader suspected the Infinity Sect targeted the martial sisters because of you, senior. Hearing you killed Yuan Guannan… it all makes sense now. The Infinity Sect is utterly shameless!” Gan Liang’s fists bled.
“I’m sorry,” Ye Mo said, dejected. The destruction of Sword Valley clearly stemmed from him, yet the reason remained elusive. Even if the Infinity Sect sought to harm him, their actions toward Luo Fei and Yun Ziyi, along with the annihilation of Sword Valley, suggested a deeper motive. He had to investigate.
Tears welled in Gan Liang’s eyes. “Our sect leader and the people of Sword Valley will always possess the spirit of the sword. Even if this began because of you, senior, the Infinity Sect would have destroyed us for any slight. Our survival hinges on our becoming stronger.”
Ye Mo said gravely, “Excellent, Brother Gan Liang. With that spirit, you will one day become the strongest swordsman.”
He then asked, “Is your sect leader still alive?”
Gan Liang shook his head. “I don’t know. When he was critically wounded, he ordered us to flee in different directions. As long as one of us lives, we seek vengeance. He escaped with two hollow spirit state martial uncles; I don't know his fate.”
“Let’s go to Sword Valley now.” Ye Mo summoned Zi Xu and flew towards the valley, Gan Liang beside him.
Sword Valley, once a prominent sect in the South Peace State, had held a top-two position among nine-star sects. Five thousand years ago, an internal conflict fractured the sect, leading to devastating internecine warfare and a significant loss of power. One faction vanished, the other weakened, leaving Sword Valley diminished. Despite its seven-star ranking, this was merely a vestige of its former glory. Its strongest cultivator was at the peak body condensation state, vulnerable to even a disaster transformation state cultivator.
Sword Valley was now eerily silent, a scene of carnage: blood, corpses, and charred remains.
Even Ye Mo felt a surge of fury. Sword lights flickered as a figure stumbled, collapsing.
“Martial Uncle Wang…” Gan Liang rushed to his side. The figure spat blood, gasping, “Tail Cliff…” before expiring.
A swift, deadly attack aimed at Gan Liang was intercepted by a purple ray. The attacker, a hollow spirit state level four cultivator of the Infinity Sect, found his attack foiled. A clash echoed as Ye Mo's strike sent the cultivator reeling. Shock painted the attacker's face; Ye Mo was merely a hollow spirit state level one cultivator.
The Infinity Sect cultivator sought to exploit any remaining resources but instead stumbled upon a wounded hollow spirit state cultivator, whom he had just slain, before encountering Ye Mo and Gan Liang.
Ye Mo set down the corpse and drew his longsword. “No need to attack; I can easily deal with such trash.”
He wasn't boasting. A single exchange had revealed his superior cultivation essence and spirit sense.
Gan Liang nodded; he lacked the skills to intervene in a hollow spirit state battle.
The Infinity Sect cultivator’s rage ignited at Ye Mo’s insult. He produced an eight trigram mirror, an ancient artifact comparable to a low-grade cultivation artifact. Before he could activate it, Ye Mo unleashed multiple purple sword rays from Zi Xu, employing the Illusion Cloud essence binding strike. He sought to gauge the duration of his binding power.