Chapter 297: Hunt

Translator: Tim Editor: Fish Creek

Ye Mo was unaware of the ancient martial arts cultivators rapidly approaching. He knew the blood coral's discovery would cause a frenzy among hidden sects, but not to this extent. Almost all who learned of it swarmed here without hesitation.

A treasure granting ascension to the Great Heaven state was a fortune. The Great Heaven state meant increased lifespan. Without it, even at the peak of the Earth level, lifespan wouldn't increase. Furthermore, the Great Heaven state not only granted extra life but also commanded the respect of all hidden sects.

It's said that inner hidden sects had many Great Heaven state masters, but this was legendary. No one had seen them. Perhaps those who wanted to show off couldn't reach the Great Heaven state, or those who reached it had no time to show off, pursuing a higher state instead.

At this moment, Ye Mo was tens of meters underground in the Cha family's backyard. Being only at stage 3 chi gathering, he couldn't fully control earth maneuver, usable only in the tertiary stages. However, he had a way to save time: a deep well in the backyard. He entered and began digging.

The Cha family's backyard was already bleak; the well's bottom was even colder, filled with yin chi. Ordinary people wouldn't dare approach. Even Ye Mo, a cultivator, found it frightening.

The well was very deep, almost 40 to 50 meters, with little water. Ye Mo stopped at the water's surface, only 5-6 meters deep. His spirit sense revealed multiple bones—all female. Considering Cha Rulong's words, Ye Mo felt sorry for these women, whose sole purpose in the Cha family was reproduction. Once they raised children, their function was over.

One could imagine they either jumped or were forced down. This was an unimaginable family.

Ye Mo chose a spot on the well wall and began digging, soon covering the bones with earth.

Though unable to fully use earth maneuver, he could partially utilize it while digging. After an hour, he was 100 meters deep.

After 100 meters, the yin chi intensified, indicating proximity to the yin fiend bead. He dug faster.

Another hour later, Ye Mo found a space resembling an underground room. He rejoiced; this was where the yin fiend bead was. Its growth pushed away surrounding earth, forming a space. The larger the space, the higher the quality of the bead. This space, a few cubic meters, meant an extremely high-quality bead.

Just as Ye Mo was about to enter, the yin fiend bead sensed him and tried to flee. Knowing its properties, Ye Mo wouldn't let it escape.

He quickly enveloped it with spirit chi. A ping-pong ball-sized black bead landed in his hands.

Intense yin fiend chi emitted. Ye Mo marveled; this was the first time he held one.

He'd gained immensely. Having wasted a few hours, he needed to leave quickly.

He placed it in a jade box, inscribed seals, and put it in his ring. The intense yin fiend chi dissipated.

Ye Mo used wind control to quickly ascend the well and leave.

More than ten figures had landed outside the Cha family's houses, establishing a perimeter.

Upon emerging, Ye Mo cursed, noticing the situation. He hadn't wasted time; only two hours passed, yet they were already here, incredibly fast, even involving the government.

"Hmm, such intense yin fiend energy. A yin fiend place means a yin fiend bead. This trip was worthwhile," an old man in his sixties said joyfully and surprised.

Ye Mo was shocked. These were martial artists. How did they know about the yin fiend bead? Masters were present. He didn't dare scan the old man with his spirit sense; his power was the strongest Ye Mo had seen, even stronger than Zhang Zhihui. Though not Great Heaven state, he was close.

If stopped, he'd be in danger. Ye Mo concluded that leaving immediately was crucial; this was only the first group.

Without hesitation, Ye Mo used invisibility to climb out of the well, carefully controlling his chi waves.

However, he underestimated an Earth level peak stage master. A few meters away, the old man noticed something and frowned, raising his sword.

"It must be him. Catch him! He has an invisibility artifact…" The others noticed Ye Mo. A man with black level power stabbed at him.

Ye Mo no longer held back, drawing his flying sword. Two swift slashes, without letting it fly, the first cut the man's long sword in half; the second pierced his throat.

Mercy was impossible. If stopped, no one would show mercy. Killing now increased his escape chances.

Though a short moment, Ye Mo was stopped. Seeing the kill, the old man grunted, "Kill him! He's chosen the demonic path; kill immediately!"

He thrust his long sword, a sword ray an inch long emanating from the tip.

"Sword ray…Gong martial uncle can use sword ray! Amazing…" People gasped.

Ye Mo sneered. While knowing sword ray cultivation was difficult for martial arts cultivators, it was nothing to him.

Ye Mo threw his flying sword; a purple ray sliced toward the old man's long sword. The long sword was knocked back; the sword ray disappeared, and half an inch of the tip was sliced off.

"It broke my Falling Rainbow Sword? Excellent sword…" The old man was in disbelief, but not angry, instead joyful and fervent. A magical sword capable of breaking the Falling Rainbow Sword; even Fish Intestine Sword and Ganjiang MoXie were comparable.

He must obtain this sword. He didn't hide his desire. He thought Ye Mo threw it, not controlling it.

The old man dropped his sword, attempting to catch Ye Mo's flying sword.

"You're asking to die," Ye Mo sneered. This old fool wanted his sword, using his hands. A hillbilly; he probably didn't understand spirit control. Ye Mo controlled the flying sword. Unless the old man's spirit sense was far superior, he couldn't control it.

Slash. Ye Mo's sword sliced the old man's hand off like tofu, piercing his chest.

Ye Mo breathed easier. His easy victory stemmed from the old man's unfamiliarity with a flying sword. With others witnessing this, killing them wouldn't be so easy.

"Gong martial uncle…" The others realized something was wrong. Their martial uncle Gong was fatally wounded.

"His sword is strange. It attacks independently. Don't worry about him. Attack him!" The old man used his remaining hand and all his chi to control Ye Mo's flying sword.

Everyone noticed Ye Mo's sword's peculiarity and attacked without hesitation.

Ye Mo's flying sword, meant to attack others after killing the old man, was grabbed, delaying it seconds. This was enough time for others to attack.

Ye Mo's heart sank. He used his spirit sense. The flying sword, comet-like, passed through the old man's chest, spun, and attacked the incoming swords.