Chitie Mountain!
A mountain range in the northwest that was not particularly large! Yet it was indeed a contested territory for all parties, because the abundant red iron produced there could be forged into various superior weapons, holding extraordinary value. Gaining control and mining it could accumulate immense wealth.
This was also the core industry of the Sanyuan Sect! The Qingmi Mountain branch had coveted this mountain from the Sanyuan Sect for a long time. However, the strongest disciples of the Sanyuan Sect were stationed here, making it incredibly difficult to conquer.
Yet at this moment, Ye Chu was leading the group straight here. Did he really have that much confidence against the top disciples of the Sanyuan Sect? Zhu Fengcheng wanted to speak, but remembering the slap from a disciple earlier, he ultimately dared not open his mouth.
“Go! Smash that mountain gate!” Ye Chu walked to the foot of Chitie Mountain, pointed at the gate used for transporting red iron in and out, and said calmly.
“Senior brother! Is this not a bit too arrogant?” Zhu Fengcheng reminded cautiously. If they really did this, it would create a mortal feud. The other side would definitely surround and attack them at all costs. The elite disciples of the opposing side were stationed here. Even though they had brought many people, it was not certain they could withstand it.
“You only need to do as I say! If you speak another word, I will not mind throwing you into this mountain gate.” Ye Chu glanced at Zhu Fengcheng, then said to them, “Either all of you get lost, or go smash the gate. I do not want to say it twice!”
Scolded by Ye Chu, Zhu Fengcheng’s face turned alternately pale and red, but he ultimately gritted his teeth and shouted to the disciples, “Smash it!”
At his command, although the many disciples had reservations in their hearts, they still struck out, fiercely smashing down upon the gate of Chitie Mountain.
“Boom…”
Accompanied by a loud crash, the Chitie Mountain gate collapsed instantly. Dust billowed into the air, the shockwave startling countless people. Disciples of the Sanyuan Sect shot out from within, staring at the collapsed gate in utter astonishment. Yet seeing the aggressive group of disciples standing before them, they seemed unable to react, staring blankly at the scene.
“Zhu Fengcheng! Did you swallow a leopard’s gall?” A disciple walked out from the mine rooms in the mountain. He looked at the familiar Zhu Fengcheng, his expression extremely cold and gloomy. Just a few days ago, they had demanded that Zhu Fengcheng hand over half their resources. They never expected him to attack at their doorstep now, boldly smashing their mountain gate. Who gave him such audacity? Had he forgotten the lesson the lord taught him?
Since it was already done, Zhu Fengcheng straightened his chest, stopped hesitating, and glared fiercely at the other side as he shouted, “Our Qingshan Sect is not something you can bully at will. If you dare threaten us to hand over resources, we dare to seize your Chitie Mountain.”
The Qingshan Sect was the public name used by this branch of the Qingmi Mountain territory, which was easy to understand. Just like the Sanyuan Sect, there were forces backing it, though it was unknown which force that was.
Stunned by Zhu Fengcheng’s retort, the disciple was speechless for a long while. He stared wide-eyed at Zhu Fengcheng, unable to comprehend where this fellow got his courage from. Or perhaps he was preparing for a desperate final stand.
“Good! Good! Our Sanyuan Sect will see what you are capable of!” The disciple flew into a rage. A group of disciples charged out, pouncing towards Ye Chu and his crowd. “Kill them! Leave no one alive!”
Zhu Fengcheng gritted his teeth, waved his arm, and prepared to order his disciples to charge forward and fight to the death. Zhu Fengcheng shot out first, taking the lead to engage the enemy in a life-and-death battle.
Yet before he could clash with the enemy, Ye Chu reached out and stopped him.
Zhu Fengcheng was puzzled. He only saw Ye Chu walking with a lazy gait, step by step, towards the pouncing Sanyuan Sect disciples. Ye Chu did not dodge or weave. His movements were as light and casual as a stroll.
Seeing this scene, Zhu Fengcheng and the others, despite knowing Ye Chu’s formidable strength, could not help but draw cold breaths. Many disciples were approaching with weapons drawn. If you do not defend or strike back, and just walk forward like that, even with a strong physical body, you cannot withstand more than a few hits.
Zhu Fengcheng increasingly felt Ye Chu was unreliable. How effective could it be to walk into the fray and kill enemies like that? It would be far better to cooperate with everyone and multiply their power.
“Ah…”
Ye Chu naturally walked through them as if taking a stroll. It was a laziness that left Zhu Fengcheng helpless, an act that made the Sanyuan Sect disciples sneer. Yet all their feelings vanished in an instant.
Screams echoed in the air. Wherever Ye Chu passed, the disciples attacking him inevitably cried out in agony and fell. As he walked, he left a trail of corpses. His steps were so slow, his expression so natural, and his hands made not a single movement. Yet any disciple who approached him collapsed on the ground, lifeless.
This scene horrified everyone. Scalps tingled, and waves of cold dread ran through their bodies.
“Sor… sorcery…”
They all turned terrified. This was too horrifying. They clearly did not see Ye Chu strike, nor did he emit even a trace of aura. Yet why did so many disciples meet such untimely deaths?
Zhu Fengcheng stood frozen, watching Ye Chu walk through them as if entering an unoccupied realm. His mind had gone completely blank.
Ye Chu continued forward step by step. Disciples fell to the ground one after another. There was absolutely no abnormal sign. They simply screamed and collapsed suddenly, truly like sorcery.
The unknown always terrifies people. Originally, many disciples retreated frantically. Hundreds and thousands of disciples watched Ye Chu in terror. For every step Ye Chu took forward, they took a step back.
This was a bewildering scene, a picture they had never imagined.
Ye Chu’s posture was calm. A gentle breeze lightly lifted the hem of his clothes. He was naturally serene, utterly untainted, and profoundly transcendent. Just standing there quietly, he exuded an infinite aura of might, inspiring both reverence and terror.
With the strength of one man, he held back thousands of disciples. Despite emitting not a single wisp of aura, he felt profoundly awe-inspiring, like a king.
“The Qingshan Sect accepts this place. Furthermore, hand over half of the Sanyuan Sect’s assets, and you may leave. Otherwise, all of you will stay here.” Ye Chu’s figure was not large, yet like a life-demanding demon, he made many cultivators retreat violently several more steps.
Yet even so, one cultivator could not hold out. He collapsed softly to the ground, his face pale with horror, and used his last shred of strength to whisper in terror, “Spirit-Killing Art…”
With those words, everyone suddenly understood. Although they still regarded Ye Chu with caution, the terror lessened somewhat.
That is human nature. When unknown, it feels terrifying. But once you truly understand what is happening, it is not so frightening anymore.
“A Spirit Killer?” Zhu Fengcheng was also astonished. He never expected Ye Chu to have such an identity. When they clashed before, Ye Chu had clearly used normal cultivator techniques.
Ye Chu did not mind that they had seen through it. He was using the Breathless Sword obtained from the Ice Emperor’s vault. The Breathless Sword was completely silent. These disciples all died under its attacks. This was the eerie and terrifying nature of the Spirit-Killing Art.
The Breathless Sword was indeed extraordinary. Against those below the third layer of the Xuanming Realm, if Ye Chu struck, it would be very difficult for them to defend. Of course, if the opponents had defensive measures prepared and understood the technique, that was another matter. Now that they knew Ye Chu used the Spirit-Killing Art, it would be difficult for him to instantly kill even those who had just reached the Xuanming Realm.