Chapter 967: This Cultivator is Too Scary
Ye Mo surmised that even Big Sister Lian had only noticed Ming Yujiang and Sun Houchang, overlooking a third party. Had she seen him, she would have likely departed immediately. With only the two, Ye Mo could handle the situation himself.
The third individual was Jin Shi, a peak Golden Core cultivator who had dared to confront Jia Renjiu.
Before Big Sister Lian could speak, Ye Mo offered a fist salute. "Thank you for your assistance, Big Sister Lian. Mo Ying is deeply grateful."
She regarded him with astonishment. "You knew Ming and Sun were following you?"
Big Sister Lian's question was rhetorical. Without awaiting a response, she glanced a few hundred meters away. "Come out," she declared. "I despise stealth. Two mere Golden Core level seven and eight cultivators daring to rob others? Your luck has run out."
Ming Yujiang and Sun Houchang's expressions soured. They hadn't anticipated her intervention; with her present, defeat was certain. Li Jingwen felt acutely guilty; both Ye Mo and Big Sister Lian were aware of the pursuit, but he was not.
As the two were about to leave, a voice cut through the air: "What if you include me?"
All eyes, except Ye Mo's, turned towards the speaker.
"Jin Shi," Big Sister Lian exclaimed, a sense of foreboding washing over her. She felt manipulated by this Golden Core level two cultivator. While she could simply leave, her prominent status in Shuo Gan City made a hasty retreat too embarrassing.
Jin Shi remained unfazed. "I was interested in this young brother's Crisp Green Vine, but he ignored me. This is unacceptable. An apology and access to his storage ring, and I depart immediately."
Big Sister Lian looked at Ye Mo with concern. This was tantamount to public humiliation and even a peak Golden Core cultivator wouldn't demand such a thing from a Golden Core level two cultivator.
Ye Mo sneered, feigning ignorance of Jin Shi's words. Li Jingwen, recognizing the inevitability of battle, produced his magic artifact, aligning himself with Ye Mo.
Big Sister Lian's expression was troubled. While willing to help, she couldn't defeat Jin Shi. A renowned solitary cultivator known for his ferocity, even Jia Jiuren avoided him. He cultivated a Gold element technique and wielded a top-grade spirit artifact spear forged from eighteen different metals.
Jin Shi addressed Ming Yujiang and Sun Houchang. "Assist me, and you receive thirty percent of the boy's storage ring."
"Brother Jin," Sun Houchang readily agreed, "I have a grievance with this punk. It's my duty to help!" Even fifteen percent of Ye Mo's wealth was significant, as he sensed the young cultivator's substantial assets.
Ye Mo turned to Big Sister Lian. "If you can hold off this Jin scum for eight minutes, I'll be eternally grateful. No further involvement is necessary."
Big Sister Lian readily accepted. "Agreed. I can stall him for that long. While I'm no match, I can buy you time."
Jin Shi, enraged by being called "scum," mirrored Sun Houchang's earlier fury. A crimson spirit artifact spear materialized in his hand as he lunged at Ye Mo with murderous intent.
Big Sister Lian intercepted the spear with a spirit artifact shield. Jin Shi attacked without hesitation.
Ye Mo instructed Li Jingwen, "Brother Li, restrain Ming Yujiang. I'll eliminate Sun Houchang first—that scum." He harbored particular animosity towards Sun Houchang for derailing his negotiation with Ming Yujiang for the Du Lan Chun Xiao.
"Brother Mo, you're only a Golden Core level two!" Li Jingwen voiced his concern about Ye Mo's ability to handle Sun Houchang.
Sun Houchang and Ming Yujiang simultaneously charged, fueled by rage.
Li Jingwen, unable to delay, engaged the slightly stronger Ming Yujiang, leaving Sun Houchang to attack Ye Mo. Sun Houchang was a typical Golden Core level seven cultivator.
Ye Mo summoned Zi Xu and unleashed an Illusion Cloud Essence Binding Strike.
Sun Houchang, witnessing Ye Mo wield a kitchen knife spirit artifact, was stunned. He couldn't comprehend how someone so wealthy would use such an inferior artifact.
Before he could process this, his cultivation essence was bound. He immediately understood the gravity of the situation—this wasn't a Golden Core level two cultivator; he was far stronger!
Sun Houchang, desperate, burned his essence blood to break free. But Ye Mo instantly followed with an Illusion Cloud Division Strike, a deluge of purple sword rays. Despair consumed Sun Houchang; he had never encountered such terrifying swordsmanship and raw cultivation essence.
He regretted his actions, wishing he had groveled to Ye Mo instead. He barely managed to raise a shield before the purple sword rays obliterated him.
Ye Mo sneered; he had overestimated Sun Houchang. Two moves had ended the fight. He didn't hesitate, wielding Zi Xu again to unleash the Illusion Cloud Division Strike upon Ming Yujiang.
Ming Yujiang, only slightly stronger than Li Jingwen, was already engaged. He'd expected Sun Houchang's assistance, but instead, he faced endless purple sword rays. The truth dawned on him—this was no ordinary Golden Core level two cultivator.
Regret washed over him as he realized the folly of threatening Ye Mo. He should have been wary of the intense killing intent. Before he could fully lament his mistake, his head was severed.
In less than a minute, Ye Mo had dispatched both Sun Houchang and Ming Yujiang.
Jin Shi and Big Sister Lian ceased fighting, both staring at Ye Mo in shock. Even they couldn't achieve such a feat against two Golden Core level seven cultivators. This Golden Core level two cultivator was terrifyingly powerful.