Chapter 1147: Dominating Strike

In the Black Ice Peak Hall, everyone awaited the first challenger. Ye Mo unexpectedly stepped forward, taking his place in the center. His intentions were unclear.

“Friends, sect leaders,” he announced. “As you all know, Susu is my wife. I stand here today to declare: anyone who dares to challenge me for Susu, come forth. Don’t blame me for any lack of courtesy. This is Goddess Wen’s auspicious day; I’m here to celebrate, not to fight. The friend who wins Goddess Wen’s favor may challenge anyone—except me.”

His tone hardened. “Anyone who dares to challenge me for Susu should challenge only me. I will bear it all.”

Ye Mo’s gaze swept coldly over Yang Feicheng and Wang Chuanhe before fixing on Fan Lianzhu. He stated, word for word, “No matter who you are, if you dare challenge me for Susu, come at me!”

Wen Caiyi’s face turned green; Ye Mo had again ignored her. A brief silence fell over the hall. His words were utterly domineering.

“City Lord Ye is truly domineering,” a blue-robed cultivator from the Infinity Sect declared, stepping forward. “Nan Jinsheng wishes to see if your power matches your words.”

A mere Hollow Spirit State level two cultivator daring to challenge him—Ye Mo sneered. Nan Jinsheng approached, saluting the Infinity Sect and Black Ice Sect leaders. “Injuries are unavoidable in combat. If I inadvertently injure or kill City Lord Ye, what then?”

Wang Chuanhe of the Lightning Cloud Sect sneered. “If you lack the strength, death is your due. Otherwise, leave and spare us the embarrassment.”

Nan Jinsheng smiled and bowed. “Thank you for the advice, Sect Leader Wang. I understand.”

A hexagonal bell hovered above Nan Jinsheng’s head as he produced a low-grade golden dragon sword. He calmly regarded Ye Mo. “I am interested in Luo Susu. What will you do? A Hollow Spirit State level one dares to be so arrogant? I’ve had enough of your posturing.”

“As you wish,” Ye Mo replied.

An icy chill radiated from his body; his killing intent, sparked by Nan Jinsheng’s claim on Luo Susu, was palpable. Even the other cultivators felt the chilling aura; some trembled involuntarily.

“Such potent killing intent!” several sect leaders exclaimed, stunned. This display proved Ye Mo’s prowess extended beyond pill concoction.

Nan Jinsheng hadn’t considered Ye Mo a threat, but the intensity of Ye Mo’s killing intent caused him to shiver involuntarily.

Before he could react, a purple ray surged forth, the overwhelming killing intent intensifying.

“Hua… Mountain… Strike…”

For those who dared covet Susu, there would be only endless killing intent. He unleashed his full-powered Illusion Cloud Hua Mountain Strike without reservation—a strike devoid of defense, pure, unrestrained aggression. All his fury fueled this attack.

Nan Jinsheng saw his opponent wield a longsword—more like a kitchen knife, yet, the weapon emanated such terrifying killing intent and purple rays, inducing fear. He instinctively reached for his golden dragon sword, only to find his cultivation essence slowing.

What sword technique was this? Nan Jinsheng was shocked.

The strike was too fast, too powerful. It seemed that if this attack failed to kill, Ye Mo would pursue him to the ends of the earth.

“No…” Nan Jinsheng screamed in despair as the purple ray sliced down from his brow, followed by a clang as his protective bell shattered. Ye Mo had cleaved through his defenses, killing him instantly.

Blood mist erupted; Nan Jinsheng was dead before he could even deploy his magic artifact. The hall fell silent.

Ye Mo, a Hollow Spirit State level one cultivator, had slain a Hollow Spirit State level two cultivator with a single strike—a core disciple of the Infinity Sect, no less. The residual sword energy had even bisected his body.

The sect leaders gasped. When had they ever witnessed such power from a Hollow Spirit State level one? To kill a Hollow Spirit State level two with one strike, shattering the defense bell and then cleaving him in half from the forehead down… Domineering! Unparalleled!

The silence stretched before Yan Guan dryly declared, “The first battle. City Lord Ye wins.”

Yang Feicheng’s face paled. He glared at Ye Mo, utterly shocked by his strength. This man must be eliminated; if he matured, the Infinity Sect would cease to exist.

Fan Lianzhu trembled, her regret deepening. Ye Mo's power at Hollow Spirit State level one was terrifying; who could contend with him once he reached his full potential? He was another Chu Jiuyu.

“He ambushed him!” an elder roared.

Ye Mo, clutching Zi Xu, ignored him, lost in the afterglow of his strike, a revelation dawning upon him.

Heaven Demon Sect’s Le Yao laughed. “Elder, your eyesight is exceptional! We didn’t see City Lord Ye ambush him, but you did? I saw Nan Jinsheng initiate the challenge and deploy his magic artifact. Perhaps I’m blind.”

“Shut up!” Yang Feicheng bellowed, the elder silencing with a crimson face. He was a mere Cauldron Filling State level one; Le Yao was Cauldron Filling State tertiary stage.

Yang Feicheng instructed another elder, “Send a messenger flying sword to Ming Wujian and Tie Baifei. Summon them here.”

The elder promptly dispatched the message. Ming Wujian and Tie Baifei were the Infinity Sect’s most outstanding Hollow Spirit State cultivators—not the strongest, but certainly the youngest, Tie Baifei at Hollow Spirit State level six, and Ming Wujian, a Hollow Spirit State level seven, even listed on the Hollow Spirit State trial tablets.

Simultaneously, the Lightning Cloud Sect and other sects sent their own flying sword messengers, clearly seeking their best disciples.

Unperturbed, Ye Mo fully absorbed the experience of his attack before scanning the hall, declaring coldly, “Whoever dares challenge me for Susu, come forth. I will bear it all.”

At that moment, two women desperately flew towards the hall entrance on flying swords. They had heard Ye Mo’s words and charged in without hesitation. A disciple attempted to stop them, but another cultivator intervened. “Wait, they are Luo Susu and Tang Beiwei. The sect leader requested their presence.”

Ye Mo fell silent, gazing at the hall entrance with surprise and joy.

“Brother…”

“Husband…”

Luo Ying, who usually preferred “martial brother,” expressed her inexpressible joy. Her heart felt ready to burst.

“Beiwei, Susu,” Ye Mo whispered, relief washing over him. As long as they were safe, everything else was inconsequential. He could take them away, anywhere. The fear of never seeing them again had been unbearable. His anger towards Fan Lianzhu softened slightly; if her master truly targeted Susu, she wouldn’t have been able to see him.

Luo Ying rushed into Ye Mo’s arms, Tang Beiwei joining the embrace, clinging to his arm.

Nothing could compare to the joy of this reunion. Their feelings were beyond expression.

Ye Mo had known Susu was at Black Ice Sect, but he’d been unable to retrieve her. The feeling of helplessness and oppression was indescribable. He'd cultivated relentlessly, risking his life, yet still felt so distant from those ancient beings. Before the Pill King Tournament, he’d been nothing more than an insect.

With the woman of his life in his arms, Ye Mo’s mood settled. Returning to Pill City with her—what greater happiness could there be?