Chapter 502: A Centimeter Faster Than You

Translator: Tim Editor: GlobeGlotter

As Ren Pingchuan watched Ye Mo jump from the cave, anger flared. He hadn't expected Ye Mo to ignore him and attack.

“You don’t want to reach Great Heaven?” Ren Pingchuan tried to suppress his fury, but his rage was evident.

Ye Mo flicked his flying sword and said coldly, “Great Heaven? I’ve seen it before; nothing special. There’s a Great Heaven cultivator in Beijing, so I can always ask him. Why stay in this disgusting place?”

Ren Pingchuan frowned. “Impossible. The world’s essence chi is too low outside. Reaching a high stage in inner qi cultivation is impossible there. How could there be a Great Heaven cultivator? Unless he has Water Wolves, but only snow mountain water keeps them alive.”

Ren Pingchuan omitted that even with Water Wolves, understanding Great Heaven’s laws is essential. He’d spent eighteen years in solitary cultivation, failing to reach Great Heaven, only achieving enlightenment upon witnessing Ye Mo’s flying sword. He wouldn’t tell Ye Mo that.

“There’s someone named Tan Jiao who reached Great Heaven. He’s not as strong as you, but he’s a master,” Ye Mo said, omitting his fight with Tan Jiao. He wanted to know why the difference was so vast.

Ren Pingchuan sneered. “Insolence! That’s called Great Heaven? Tan Jiao is, at most, like Xiang Mingwang after reaching ‘Great Heaven.’ He probably didn’t even increase his lifespan. Reaching Great Heaven extends life by sixty years. If I hadn’t been injured by that bomb, I’d look much younger.”

Before Ye Mo could ask, Ren Pingchuan continued, “There are many ways to reach Great Heaven: one is to cultivate until you open the Ren and Du meridians. I tried that for eighteen years, aided by Water Wolves, and failed. The second is, when your chi peaks, to find an opportunity for sudden enlightenment—”

Realizing he was revealing secrets, Ren Pingchuan stopped, saying instead, “Without Water Wolves, reaching your chi’s peak is impossible. Tan Jiao likely used an incomplete method, achieving a kind of fake Great Heaven, pseudo Great Heaven. Pseudo Great Heaven is still a type of Great Heaven and, once stabilized, is far stronger than peak earth level.”

Seeing Ye Mo still listening, Ren Pingchuan slowly reached into his robe. Ye Mo seemed unconcerned, so he continued, “The main mark of Great Heaven isn’t opening the Ren and Du meridians, but forming a sea of qi. Pseudo Great Heaven cultivators can’t form a sea of qi; they only store it in the Ren and Du meridians. Thus, fake Great Heaven martial artists aren’t much different from earth level ones—”

Suddenly, Ren Pingchuan activated a device, causing the ground beneath Ye Mo to collapse. Simultaneously, Ren Pingchuan launched himself from his chair, palming towards Ye Mo’s head. Powerful qi struck above Ye Mo’s head; a metallic clang—a cage closing—followed.

Ren Pingchuan was sure Ye Mo couldn’t escape. As long as he kept Ye Mo caged, escape would be impossible. He was certain Ye Mo would reveal everything under torture.

Ren Pingchuan sensed something amiss, but before he could react, fierce killing intent pierced his ribs.

Ren Pingchuan cursed. He had no time to consider Ye Mo’s escape and ambush. He flipped in the air, attempting to dodge.

But Ye Mo wouldn’t let him. This was his only chance. Ren Pingchuan, heavily injured and lacking momentum in the air, would be at a disadvantage upon landing.

Rumble—even in the air, Ren Pingchuan’s fist force shattered Ye Mo’s sword chi, only lightly slashing his ribs.

This was Ye Mo’s plan; he’d used only 80% of his chi in the previous strikes for this final attack. He hadn’t expected to kill Ren Pingchuan in mid-air initially.

Ye Mo focused 100% of his chi this time, unleashing a searing-white swordlight, imbued with infinite killing intent, at Ren Pingchuan.

Ye Mo knew this was a do-or-die moment. If Ren Pingchuan had any backup, he would die. He was betting Ren Pingchuan had nothing left.

Ren Pingchuan was furious. He knew Ye Mo aimed to kill him before he landed, but Ye Mo underestimated him! He was still a Great Heaven master. Even lacking momentum and heavily injured, he wasn’t someone an average martial artist like Ye Mo could face.

Ren Pingchuan punched as hard as he could at the swordlight, reserving power for a counterattack upon landing, to deliver the killing blow.

He believed Ye Mo’s two attacks had exhausted his power.

But the sword clashed with Ren Pingchuan’s fist, slicing off his arm and inflicting a 5 cm deep gash in his waist.

‘Not good!’ Ren Pingchuan’s face changed. As he landed, he punched again. Ye Mo was sent flying, but Ren Pingchuan was forced to the ground, pale-faced.

Ye Mo’s dantian churned, and he spat blood, but felt relief. Though injured, his plan had succeeded perfectly.

“Sneaky brat, you conserved strength! Last time, you almost died, yet didn’t use 100% of your power—was it all for today?” Ren Pingchuan didn’t bother stemming the bleeding. He knew he’d lost completely. He hadn’t expected Ye Mo to be so scheming.

Ye Mo sneered, not mentioning his increased strength. He stared coldly at Ren Pingchuan, flying sword at the ready.

Considering Ren Pingchuan’s power, Ye Mo was still shocked. Had Ren Pingchuan not initiated an aerial attack, he might not have won. Furthermore, without his recent power increase, he would have lost.

Ren Pingchuan was unsatisfied. He’d only reached Great Heaven for a few days, yet he was losing his legs and his life to this young man.

Had he known Ye Mo was hiding his power, even injured, he wouldn’t have lost his arm and suffered such wounds.

Ren Pingchuan spat blood, staring at Ye Mo. “How did you know I’d ambush you? If you don’t tell me, I won’t die peacefully.”

Ye Mo distanced himself. Though not heavily injured, a final attack from Ren Pingchuan could harm him. He only needed to stall and occasionally throw fireballs or wind blades.

Ye Mo smiled. “You know I have spirit sensing, yet you were careless. I wondered about the grey button on your chair. Oh, and I have a small magic art, ‘wind control.’ Precisely when your hand was 1 cm from that button, I used it.”

Seeing Ren Pingchuan’s face worsen, Ye Mo grew happy. He wiped the blood from his mouth, smiling. “I was 1 cm faster than you during your ambush. I waited for you to press that button. Good thing you pressed it, ambushing my afterimage.”

Ren Pingchuan spat more blood.

Ye Mo smiled brighter. “Sect Leader Ren, die peacefully. I’ll ensure the Gourd Cave ceases to exist among the hidden sects. Don’t worry about that. By the way, have a fireball!”

Then, Ren Pingchuan saw a fireball charging towards him. He was shocked. Such an art existed? His eyes were full of disbelief as the fireball pierced his chest.