Chapter 102: Chapter 103: You’re Right, Just Me

"Someone’s found the Demon Beast!"

"Just as I thought! It’s been hiding in Wild Pigeon Mountain all along!"

...

While Chen Che was still in shock, the others in the ruined temple saw the Signal Arrow rising into the sky.

After a moment of stunned silence, a sudden uproar erupted.

"Let’s go! Don’t let someone else get there first...!"

Hu Yao roared, already the first to dash toward Wild Pigeon Mountain.

The others followed close behind.

WHOOSH~

In the blink of an eye, the ruined temple was deserted.

’The Little Chick is hiding in the Cave Mansion and hasn’t shown its face. So... what exactly did they find?’

Watching the group rush toward Wild Pigeon Mountain, Chen Che slowed his pace. He had just contacted the Little Chick and confirmed it was still hiding in the Cave Mansion, having never gone out.

"So, the target is me!"

He glanced around. The area outside the ruined temple was deathly quiet, as if only the rustling of leaves remained. Even the birds and insects had fallen silent. The distant commotion seemed to recede further and further away, completely cut off from this moment.

But under his Divine Sense, he detected several figures lying in ambush. Just as he was about to step out of the temple, Chen Che chuckled softly.

"Stop skulking in the shadows. Since you’re here, you might as well show yourselves!"

"Haha, as expected of a Steward from Jinyun Valley! To think you actually discovered us!"

A loud laugh rang out as a man with triangular eyes and a wide-bladed saber on his back strode out from the woods. His laughter was tinged with surprise; he clearly hadn’t expected to be found out.

At the same time, three more men emerged from the left, right, and rear.

The moment they appeared, they had the dilapidated little temple completely surrounded.

"That Signal Arrow just now, that was your doing, wasn’t it? Were you planning to catch me off guard and strike on my way to Wild Pigeon Mountain?"

The scheme wasn’t brilliant, but it was effective.

Everyone was rushing straight for the Demon Beast, so no one would be on guard against their fellow Loose Cultivators. If he had truly been part of the hunt, he would have inevitably fallen into the trap.

Unfortunately for them...

Chen Che’s eyes narrowed. His Divine Sense swept over them, and their cultivation levels were all laid bare in his mind.

There was no sign of Li Hong.

"Four Seventh Layer Tribulation Cultivators. Li Hong really spared no expense this time. I’m just curious why he didn’t come himself. Is he afraid of Jinyun Valley holding him accountable after the fact?"

"Li Hong? Li Hei? I don’t know them. My brothers and I are just looking to make some money, and you just happened to be alone."

The triangular-eyed man waved a hand and sneered.

"Not talking, are you?"

Meeting their gazes, which looked at him like a lamb to the slaughter, the corners of Chen Che’s mouth lifted.

"No matter. After I kill you, I’ll find him myself!"

...

"Where’s Brother Chen?"

In the mountain forest, Hu Yao, after running for a while, suddenly stopped. He glanced back a few times but saw no sign of Chen Che.

The others also came to a screeching halt and looked back.

Behind them, the dense forest was quiet, deep, and empty.

"Maybe Tributor Chen was delayed by something!"

Chu Gong clutched his Jade Flute and guessed, his gaze repeatedly sweeping toward Wild Pigeon Mountain.

"Yeah!"

"Maybe he’s on his way now!"

"Let’s head to Wild Pigeon Mountain first, so no one beats us to it! The main objective is what’s important. I’m sure Tributor Chen won’t blame us."

Everyone’s eyes burned with eagerness, their sense of urgency growing.

They could only see the numerous dark figures in the woods—all cultivators rushing toward Wild Pigeon Mountain, each with a fanatical look, unwilling to be left behind.

"You guys go on ahead. I’ll go back for Brother Chen. We can meet up at Wild Pigeon Mountain later!"

After a moment’s hesitation, Hu Yao turned and ran back toward the ruined temple.

The mountains were teeming with Demon Beasts.

Traveling alone, one could easily be ambushed.

...

"No matter. After I kill you, I’ll find him myself!"

As soon as Chen Che said this, the expressions of the men darkened.

"On your own?"

The triangular-eyed man couldn’t help but sneer. Even in a one-on-one fight, he could easily crush his opponent.

Let alone with the four of them together. And yet, in this unwinnable situation, the kid still dared to run his mouth?

"Why are we wasting words with him? Kill him and be done with it. We’re too close to Jinyun Valley; any delay could breed trouble."

To the right, a Tribulation Cultivator with a sword on his back stared coldly at Chen Che.

With a shout, the True Essence around him surged. He gripped his longsword in a reverse hold and pointed it forward through the air.

Amidst the hum of the sword, a translucent, jade-like cyan flower appeared. Each of its petals was about three feet long, and in a flash, all one hundred and eight petals bloomed.

With another point of his finger, the one hundred and eight petals seemed to come alive, detaching from the flower’s center and transforming into a sky full of Flying Swords!

In an instant, they swirled madly toward Chen Che, who stood at their center.

For a moment, it was as if a volley of arrows from strong bows and powerful crossbows had been loosed, the sound of them tearing through the air incessant.

"Wu Hui is still as hot-tempered as ever. But he’s cultivated his ’Cyan Lotus Sword Technique’ to Perfection."

One of the Tribulation Cultivators chuckled.

This was a Tier One Middle Grade Sword Technique. Cultivated to Perfection, it allowed for Sword Control through the air.

The triangular-eyed man also smiled contemptuously. At this point, even if Chen Che had the heavens backing him, he wouldn’t be able to block this attack.

The other two men also wore mocking expressions.

WHOOSH~

Just then, a figure suddenly shot out from the dense woods behind them—it was Hu Yao.

Seeing the sky full of Flying Swords, he cried out in shock:

"Brother Chen...!"

"What? There’s another one?"

The triangular-eyed man’s expression changed. He clearly hadn’t expected Hu Yao to turn back.

However, before they could react, the situation changed abruptly.

"Cyan Lotus Sword Technique?"

Facing the overwhelming Sword Momentum, Chen Che showed no signs of panic. Instead, he chuckled. He suddenly raised his right arm, gripped the longsword on his back, and then violently slashed out!

"ZING!"

The strike seemed deceptively casual.

But as it fell, a wave of Sword Qi swept through the air, cutting across a space several dozen feet wide and leaving a gash in the ground. The sword mark was an inch wide and several fingers deep, stretching from Chen Che’s feet all the way to Wu Hui!

Wherever the Sword Qi passed, the sky full of cyan lotuses melted away like spring snow under a scorching sun, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

"Is this for real?"

Wu Hui cried out in alarm, his face contorting. With a flick of his blade, a flash of lightning seemed to illuminate the air as he swung to meet the oncoming Sword Qi.

"CLANG!"

A deafening crash.

As expected of a Qi Refining Seventh Layer Cultivator, Wu Hui actually managed to block the might of Chen Che’s strike with that one blow.

However, the force of the impact sent him stumbling back several steps before he could steady himself. His sword hummed, the web of his hand split open, and blood flowed freely. He could barely keep his grip on the hilt.

’He’s only at the Sixth Layer! How can he have such immense True Essence!’

Wu Hui was horrified.

His opponent hadn’t used any particular technique; he had shattered the Cyan Lotus Sword Technique purely with the raw power of his True Essence.

But before he could even process what had happened, a figure shot toward him, wreathed in Sword Aura.

It was Chen Che!

’Retreat!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Wu Hui pushed his True Essence to its absolute limit, tapped his toes to the ground, and shot backward in a hasty retreat.

But.

No matter how fast he retreated, he couldn’t outpace the Sword Aura.

"PFFT!"

Before the astonished eyes of the onlookers, the two figures crossed paths in an instant.

Wu Hui, who had been retreating, shuddered and came to a sudden stop. Then, a line of blood appeared on his throat. As blood gushed forth, his knees hit the ground with a THUD, and he collapsed.

"...Be careful!"

Hu Yao stared, dumbfounded. His warning was barely an audible whisper.

The three remaining Tribulation Cultivators were utterly stunned.

As they watched in disbelief, Chen Che turned around, sword in hand, his gaze chilling.

"You said it. Just me!"

As the words fell, he took a step forward.