Chapter 929: Already a Public Enemy

Ye Mo knew the Burst Yin Bead’s power and was surprised Ji Zhiyuan possessed one. While it wouldn't instantly break his formation, his formation wouldn't last more than three seconds. He wouldn't have time to teleport away.

Had Ji Zhiyuan used the Burst Yin Bead immediately, Ye Mo wouldn't have collected the herbs. But Ji Zhiyuan's greed, his desire to have Ye Mo collect the spirit herbs for him, delayed his attack.

However, Ye Mo wasn't afraid. He wouldn't simply watch his formation be destroyed. He deployed his formation flags, sneering, "Had you used your Burst Yin Bead at the outset, I would have had no choice but to flee. But now, you've earned my two words."

The flags, deployed in an orderly fashion, swiftly surrounded the Burst Yin Bead.

A tremendous explosion rocked the chamber!

The hastily constructed defensive formation was pulverized instantly by the Burst Yin Bead's power. Yet Ye Mo, preventing the blast from reaching his inner defenses, deployed more formation flags. This continued, as if Ye Mo possessed an endless supply.

Ultimately, the Burst Yin Bead's power was gradually neutralized by the sheer number of formation flags. The small wooden room's defensive formation suffered only minor damage, quickly repaired by a few more flags.

Ji Zhiyuan watched, dumbfounded. His Burst Yin Bead's power had been so easily, so shamelessly, eroded. He was speechless. He had boasted of breaking Ye Mo's formation in a second, yet over half a minute had passed, and the formation remained intact.

Ji Zhiyuan hadn't anticipated this level one Golden Core cultivator's cunning. The impromptu mid-air formation demonstrated meticulous prior preparation. He considered himself calculating, but this man surpassed him.

Meanwhile, Ye Mo was sweating profusely. His caution had proven justified. Recalling the earlier red lightning, he’d anticipated a single-use magical artifact, preemptively creating additional aerial formation bases, activated by formation flags. This foresight saved his life.

Pan Yi and Qiu Xuanyu watched the confrontation silently. Pan Yi's face fell; he knew his fate wouldn't be pleasant. A level one Golden Core cultivator toyed with a peak Golden Core cultivator; he was insignificant.

Ye Mo produced more formation flags, asking, "Ji, you have another Burst Yin Bead, right? Why not use it?"

If not for unfinished business, Ye Mo would have left long ago. He didn't care about their fates. However, the unusually dense spirit chi, even after the restrictions were broken, intrigued him. He intended to thoroughly search the area after everyone departed.

He didn't know others had noticed this as well, but even if they remained, they'd gain nothing.

Ji Zhiyuan looked at Ye Mo bitterly, "Daoist Ye, my apologies. I'll give you more spirit herbs. Please let me go; we are both Northern cultivators."

Ye Mo replied, "I'm reasonable and generous. Give me half your herbs, plus one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones. And, for the fright, leave your remaining Burst Yin Bead as compensation."

Ji Zhiyuan's heart ached. He gained nothing, losing one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones and a Burst Yin Bead. Remaining trapped for decades was a grim prospect. He found Ye Mo surprisingly amenable; one hundred thousand spirit stones weren't significant. The Burst Yin Bead was his only true loss.

Ye Mo considered seizing Ji Zhiyuan's storage ring, but that would create mortal enemies. He doubted he could subdue Ji Zhiyuan and left that option open.

Moreover, Ji Zhiyuan belonged to the Ghost Immortal Sect. Killing him would bring retaliation. Those within the hidden space were all elite members of their respective sects. Robbing spirit herbs was one thing; killing them was entirely different.

Ji Zhiyuan re-entered the small wooden house, offering a bag containing one hundred thousand spirit stones. Ye Mo tossed it back, coldly demanding, "Where's the other half of the spirit herbs?"

Ji Zhiyuan was stunned. Ye Mo wanted half of his remaining herbs, not the herbs already given, totaling seventy-five percent of his harvest.

Ji Zhiyuan no longer found Ye Mo reasonable. He had no leverage. He silently produced the remaining herbs. After leaving, he vowed revenge.

Qiu Xuanyu, without protest, relinquished half his herbs and departed, swearing to face Nascent Soul masters before facing Ye Mo again.

Only Pan Yi remained. Ye Mo felt no concern. He might not defeat Pan Yi, but his formations negated that threat.

Pan Yi inquired, "How many herbs do you want?"

He knew Ye Mo would demand more and prepared to give everything. He would seek revenge later.

"Eighty percent, and that spirit crystal. Then leave," Ye Mo stated coldly.

Pan Yi was surprised; he hadn't expected such leniency.

Ye Mo had a reason. Taking all of Pan Yi's herbs would break his spirit; killing him would be simpler. A hopeless man becomes desperate. But Ye Mo wasn't ready to kill him yet.

Pan Yi complied, readily giving what was demanded.

Watching Pan Yi teleport away, Ye Mo breathed a sigh of relief. He was now a public enemy. People likely awaited him outside, but Ye Mo wasn't leaving anytime soon.