Chapter 321: Who Is the Insect

Translator: Tim Editor: Fish Creek

Just as Zhang Jue and Han Zaixin hurried from the Ye family mansion, they saw Ye Mo waiting at the door.

“Ye Mo, you didn’t leave? Are you coming with us?” Zhang Jue asked curiously. He secretly hoped Ye Mo wouldn’t fight Tan Jiao, a Great Heaven master—a legendary realm. No matter how strong Ye Mo was, he couldn’t have reached that level at his age.

But he couldn’t say that. A martial artist who shies away from a challenge finds it hard to progress. Besides, he knew Ye Mo’s character.

Ye Mo smiled. “Zhang Jue, I need to tend to your wounds. I was too focused on killing that old man.”

Ye Mo then grasped Zhang Jue’s wrist. Within minutes, his chi healed all of Zhang Jue’s injuries.

“Inner qi healing? Ye Mo, what level are you?” Zhang Jue asked, astonished. Han Zaixin, equally bewildered, overheard. They knew Great Heaven masters could heal with their qi. Was Ye Mo a Great Heaven master?

“I don’t know my current level, but we can discuss that after I kill that old fart, Tan Jiao. Elder Han and Zhang Jue, thank you both.” Ye Mo was grateful for their help. Though Zhang Jue’s power was low and his contribution minimal, his support meant a lot.

Zhang Jue smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t do much. Elder Tan is too strong. Sigh…” He thought of his decades of cultivation, a mere trifle compared to Tan Jiao’s. He felt deeply disappointed.

Ye Mo smiled calmly. “His power isn’t so great. Believe in yourself; you’ll surpass him soon. Wait for me. I’m going.”

…

Ye Mo left Zhang Jue and Han Zaixin, instantly mounting his flying sword. Minutes later, he stood atop Tuo Mountain.

More than ten minutes later, Tan Jiao appeared. He looked around, seeing nothing. He sneered, “I slowed down, but there’s no sign of him. I overestimated him…”

Before he finished, his voice died in his throat. Ye Mo stood on Tuo Mountain, staring coldly. He had been there a while.

“You…” Tan Jiao was stunned. His confidence wavered; a chill ran down his spine. Reaching Great Heaven had filled him with confidence, a feeling of standing atop the world. He couldn’t accept being challenged by a “xiao bei.” He’d been furious at Ye Mo.

But now, he didn’t know when Ye Mo arrived. He’d taken the shortest route and hadn’t seen Ye Mo pass. Even by car, the speed would be the same, and a car wouldn’t easily ascend the mountain.

“When did you get here?” Tan Jiao asked weakly, his voice dry. He wondered if he’d made a mistake.

Ye Mo sneered. “Enough talk. Let’s fight.”

Tan Jiao dismissed the question, drawing his whip. “Even if you’re faster, so what? Today, I’ll show you a true martial artist.”

Tan Jiao’s whip, swirling like waves, sliced through the air towards Ye Mo.

Ye Mo applauded. Despite being his enemy, the old man’s whip technique was superb. Before Tan Jiao, the strongest whip master Ye Mo had seen was Xian Daoist, but that was child’s play compared to this.

Tan Jiao’s whip became ethereal, almost silent, yet the killing intent rolled like a wave.

Ye Mo sighed. At his previous peak Stage 3, he would have fled. The difference between Great Heaven and Earth level was vast, even greater than that between Earth and Black levels.

If his Stage 4 wasn't significantly stronger than his previous one, he wouldn't stand a chance against Tan Jiao, even with his flying sword.

But now, Tan Jiao was merely a minor inconvenience.

A purple light flashed; Ye Mo’s flying sword blocked Tan Jiao’s whip. A screeching sound echoed as the whip solidified.

The sword deflected the whip, sending Tan Jiao reeling. He was shocked. People could only dodge his shadowless whip; no one knew its trajectory. But Ye Mo not only knew but deflected it. The shock even jarred his hand.

Tan Jiao stared at his whip, then found something even more unbelievable—it was chipped.

His whip, made from a rare ore of unknown origin and a deep-sea dragon snake tendon (legendary to eventually become a dragon), was damaged. He cherished it like his life, but now it was scarred. Though superficial, it pained him deeply.

A terrifying realization struck him. Ye Mo hadn’t seemed to hold his sword. Could he control it telepathically? That was legendary. Could Ye Mo do it?

But his rage at his damaged whip overwhelmed his thoughts. He glared at Ye Mo. How dare he damage his whip!

Ye Mo looked impassively at Tan Jiao, focusing on his whip. He knew it was made of the finest materials. He used his chi essence and flying sword, yet he only made shallow marks.

Ye Mo sneered, sending his flying sword again. Its speed was more than double its Stage 3 speed.

Tan Jiao saw a purple streak flash towards his throat—the flying sword. It truly was a flying sword! Ye Mo could control it telepathically to kill. He was at that level.

Ye Mo didn’t even dare to contemplate further. His whip lashed out, clashing with the sword. He was forced back repeatedly by the sword's force.

Ye Mo’s sword, as if alive, sliced toward Tan Jiao’s neck at an impossible angle. He aimed for Tan Jiao’s head.

Terrified, Tan Jiao jumped, ignoring the sword, and lashed down on Ye Mo’s head in a kamikaze attack.

Ye Mo sneered, and with a blur of motion, flew tens of meters away. His sword, trailing bloody mist, spun and reappeared above his head.

With a thunderous crash, Tan Jiao’s whip smashed into the ground where Ye Mo had stood, creating a massive ravine. But Tan Jiao’s stomach bore a deep gash from Ye Mo’s sword. He had only just escaped death.

“You like acting tough, huh?” Ye Mo sneered, his flying sword seemingly growing larger, tearing through the air, breaking the sound barrier, and smashing towards Tan Jiao.

Tan Jiao’s heart sank. He realized Ye Mo hadn’t used his full power. This Ye Mo was terrifying. He wasn't just unmatched; he was vastly superior.

No matter his thoughts, Ye Mo’s sword descended like a huge door. Tan Jiao gathered his qi and smashed his whip at the purple mass.

Bang!

Rumble!

Tan Jiao’s whip was sliced apart, his body flung over forty meters by the explosion and flying debris. Where he stood was a thirteen-meter-deep ravine.

Tan Jiao fell, crashing onto rubble, spitting blood. If his whip hadn't blocked the sword, he would be dead.

Ye Mo retrieved his sword, and looked coldly at Tan Jiao as he approached. He knew that even Great Heaven masters weren’t invincible, but this Tan Jiao was probably a relatively weak one, perhaps just recently reaching that level.

Seeing Ye Mo approach, Tan Jiao felt his heart turn to ash. His Great Heaven power was no match for Ye Mo. Though his realm wasn't fully solidified, he’d been confident. He considered others insects, but now he knew who the true insect was.