The Strongest Dandy in the City-Chapter 1271 - 1264: Earthy and Unsophisticated Enough

Ye Chenfeng’s grey longsword, gripped tightly in his right hand, trembled slightly. A thin layer of frost completely enveloped the blade. Fortunately, this grey longsword was a high-grade magic artifact; had it been an ordinary steel sword, it would have long shattered under the pressure of Ye Chenfeng’s Frosty Sword Intent.

However, Zhu Mingqian had the strength of the Ocean Gathering Realm Second Heavenly Layer Initial Stage, while Ye Chenfeng was merely at the Spirit Communication Realm Fourth Heavenly Layer Peak. Although a genius who comprehended Sword Intent was nearly invincible at the same rank and could even challenge higher levels, the advantage only allowed one to skip one or two minor levels at most.

As for why Zhu Mingqian lost an arm to Ye Chenfeng in a single strike: first, Zhu Mingqian had just been scared senseless by Little Bai and forgot to protect himself with spiritual energy; second, Zhu Mingqian underestimated Ye Chenfeng due to his low rank, believing him to be no threat, thus allowing himself to be careless; and third, Ye Chenfeng’s grey longsword was a high-grade magic artifact, which empowered the attack significantly.

Taking these three factors into account, Ye Chenfeng relied on his Frosty Sword Intent to sever Zhu Mingqian’s arm. Truthfully, given Ye Chenfeng’s current strength, he was still unable to directly contend with an expert of the Ocean Gathering Realm. At most, even with the Frosty Sword Intent, Ye Chenfeng could only manage a narrow escape.

Zhu Mingqian’s anguished cries echoed in the forest. The old man Yang Qingshan, who had been frozen in ice, stared at Ye Chenfeng with eyes as wide as lanterns, his throat dry and parched. He knew that even among top-tier sects, geniuses who had comprehended Sword Intent were few and far between. Yet this Ye Chenfeng from the Lower Plane had grasped Sword Intent? To Zhu Mingqian, it felt like a surreal dream.

Meanwhile, Hua Zhao, upon witnessing Zhu Mingqian lose an arm to Ye Chenfeng’s Sword Intent, had panic flashing in his eyes. As he scrambled to devise a plan, the Nine Nether Ice Lion, Little Bai, sprang into action. Without hesitation, it opened its maw wide, releasing a torrent of razor-sharp ice spikes.

Seeing this, Hua Zhao hurriedly enveloped himself in protective spiritual energy. Yet, despite his attempt, the Nine Nether Ice Lion’s superior strength made short work of Hua Zhao’s defenses. The countless ice spikes pierced through Hua Zhao’s protective barrier and riddled his body with holes, puncturing every inch of his skin.

Hua Zhao, a Creation Realm First Heavenly Layer Initial Stage cultivator, collapsed to the ground like a heap of mutilated flesh. Little Bai, who had just been grazed by Hua Zhao’s Flowing Light Sword, showed no mercy. It stomped on Hua Zhao, reducing him to a mess of bloody pulp.

Holding the grey longsword, Ye Chenfeng gazed at Zhu Mingqian, who was still frenziedly screaming. With a decisive wave of his right hand, "Swish!"—another blast of Sword Qi severed Zhu Mingqian’s remaining arm. The crazed Zhu Mingqian was now completely defenseless.

Without any hesitation, Ye Chenfeng swung his sword twice more, cleaving off Zhu Mingqian’s legs. Reduced to a limbless stump, Zhu Mingqian writhed and rolled frantically across the ground.

Zhu Mingqian had lost all his limbs, and Hua Zhao had been crushed into pulp by Little Bai. It was safe to say today’s battle had concluded. Little Bai transformed back into its kitten-sized form, its eyes adorably pleading as it nestled into Ye Chenfeng’s arms. Ye Chenfeng smiled and gently petted Little Bai’s head.

"Boss, you’re amazing! These idiots dared to scheme against you—they truly have no idea what’s good for them!" Huang Chongyi laughed and approached with carefree delight.

He Ping and Xiang Xiaoyi gazed at Ye Chenfeng with expressions filled with awe and respect.

Recovering from her initial shock, Shui Ziyan walked over to the ice-encased Yang Qingshan and attempted to break through the ice layer. However, despite her efforts, she found it utterly impossible, given that the ice had been formed by a Creation Realm First Heavenly Layer expert.

Ye Chenfeng did not immediately pay attention to Zhu Mingqian, Wu Changnan, and the others on the ground. Instead, he walked over to Shui Ziyan with a meaningful expression and said, "Miss Shui, I had told you to leave quickly earlier. Otherwise, this old man wouldn’t have ended up like this."

Earlier, Yang Qingshan had spoken disrespectfully towards Ye Chenfeng, so Ye Chenfeng had no reason to extend any courtesy in his words.

Yang Qingshan’s complexion turned ashen, but upon seeing the Nine Nether Ice Lion in Ye Chenfeng’s arms, his will to protest evaporated entirely. If he were to provoke Ye Chenfeng further, he feared that neither he nor Shui Ziyan would make it out alive.

Yang Qingshan took a deep breath and said, "Young brother, I was in the wrong earlier. I sincerely apologize. I never imagined that you had tamed a Nine Nether Ice Lion. There’s one in the Ice Holy Land of the Hanbing Sect, but even the Sect Master has never subdued it."

Hearing this, the expressions of Ye Chenfeng, Huang Chongyi, and the others turned peculiar. If Yang Qingshan knew that the Nine Nether Ice Lion in Ye Chenfeng’s arms was the very same one from the Ice Holy Land, his reaction would undoubtedly be unimaginable.

Shui Ziyan stared at Ye Chenfeng and asked, "Are you truly from the Ancient Martial World?"

Ye Chenfeng casually shrugged and replied, "Miss Shui, where else do you think I’m from?"

After confirming Ye Chenfeng’s origin, Shui Ziyan continued, "Brother Ye, do you have any way to break the ice around Elder Yang?"

Shui Ziyan and Yang Qingshan bore no malice towards Ye Chenfeng; instead, they had gone as far as lowering their status to appease him. Therefore, Ye Chenfeng held no resentment towards them. He glanced at the frozen Yang Qingshan and suddenly thought of the Earth Flame Crystal in his storage ring. The Earth Flame Crystal was of the Fire Attribute; previously, Ye Chenfeng could barely use the pale red lower-grade ones. Now, with his greatly improved strength, he should have no issues wielding a middle-grade red Earth Flame Crystal.

Ye Chenfeng estimated internally that a single middle-grade Earth Flame Crystal could break through the ice, and perhaps it might even burn off Yang Qingshan’s clothes entirely. This thought brought a mischievous grin to Ye Chenfeng’s lips. After all, Yang Qingshan had earlier tried to contradict him—today the old man was in for some bad luck!

The storage ring on Ye Chenfeng’s finger emitted a flash of light, and a red middle-grade Earth Flame Crystal appeared in his hand.

Seeing the Earth Flame Crystal in Ye Chenfeng’s hand, Shui Ziyan’s beautiful eyes sparkled with shock as she exclaimed, "Earth Flame Crystal? And it’s a middle-grade Earth Flame Crystal?"

The frozen Yang Qingshan and others, including Huang Chongyi, were stunned on the spot upon seeing the Earth Flame Crystal.

Noticing their reactions, Ye Chenfeng realized that the Earth Flame Crystal must be highly significant. However, he still asked casually, "Miss Shui, what’s going on with all of you?"

Shui Ziyan calmed her emotions and explained, "Earth Flame Crystals have been extinct in the Earth Profound Realm for over a hundred years. Their value is tremendous. Even a middle-grade Earth Flame Crystal can fetch an unbelievably high price, especially for cultivators practicing Fire Attribute techniques—it’s regarded as a supreme treasure."

After hearing Shui Ziyan’s explanation, Ye Chenfeng couldn’t help but curse inwardly. Previously, when setting up a formation, the White Shadow Person and Black Shadow Person had made him expend a full thousand lower-grade Earth Flame Crystals. Ye Chenfeng now suspected that even the lower-grade ones must have considerable value, leaving him feeling like his heart was bleeding.

"Little one, we had no idea Earth Flame Crystals would become so precious in this era. Back in our time, they were valuable but nowhere near so rare," came Wu Fengxian’s voice in Ye Chenfeng’s mind.

At this point, Ye Chenfeng could only accept reality. After all, the use of that thousand Earth Flame Crystals had been to send word to his family in the Secular World.

"Brother Ye, your collection of treasures is quite impressive! Do you happen to have any high-grade Earth Flame Crystals? They’d be worth an astronomical price!" Shui Ziyan remarked with a smile.

Ye Chenfeng’s storage ring didn’t just contain high-grade Earth Flame Crystals—it even held supreme-grade ones. But he felt no obligation to explain this to Shui Ziyan and responded, "Miss Shui, where would I find any high-grade Earth Flame Crystals?"

Though his gaze briefly flickered, this subtle movement did not escape Shui Ziyan’s observant eyes. She surmised that Ye Chenfeng likely had an abundance of Earth Flame Crystals—perhaps even high-grade ones—which left her feeling somewhat bitter. Could Ye Chenfeng truly be from the Lower Plane?

How was it that Ye Chenfeng not only subdued the Nine Nether Ice Lion and comprehended Sword Intent but also possessed Earth Flame Crystals that had vanished for over a century? Compared to Ye Chenfeng, Shui Ziyan—a high-ranking lady from a Fourth-Rank sect in the Earth Profound Realm—felt oddly outclassed, as though she were the true bumpkin from the Lower Plane.

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit qidian.com to vote with recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)