The group paid no attention to the artifacts or treasures anymore. Each of them flashed their figures and rushed frantically towards the outside.
The tomb was shaking. Ye Chu and the others felt it sinking downward. Everyone knew that if they did not escape quickly, they would likely be buried inside.
Their speed was astonishing as they shot outward. Without the coloured-pattern killing spider, the killing aura could no longer gather. Under the violent shaking of the tomb, it scattered completely. With no killing aura obstructing them and with their memories of the way in, everyone’s speed was several times faster than when they entered. One after another, they strode out swiftly.
Entering had been difficult, but leaving was easy. It did not take long for Ye Chu and the others to reach the outside. Shortly after they emerged, the once awe-inspiring tomb suddenly collapsed. The entire ground sank downward and vanished into the depths of the earth.
Watching the general’s tomb disappear before their eyes, leaving only a massive crater behind, everyone could not help sighing. Back then, this tomb had blocked countless people. Now it had finally been breached.
No one had seen the great general’s remains. Ruoshui, supporting her weakened body, could not help sighing softly. “Perhaps only now can he truly rest in peace.”
Ye Chu looked thoughtful as he gazed at the huge pit before him. He wondered if the great general had intended to leave the supreme items for the world. Otherwise, why would such things have been placed in the jade coffin?
Recalling how the jade coffin had sunk into the ground just before the tomb collapsed, Ye Chu could not help wondering whether it had descended to conceal the great general’s true remains.
No one knew what changes occurred beneath the earth. Yet every single person paid their respects to this peerless powerhouse with solemn gazes. Some even knelt and kowtowed, mourning his unparalleled bearing.
Ye Chu, Ruoshui, and the others also held deep admiration for the great general. They bowed in salute towards the general’s tomb.
Just as Ye Chu took a deep breath and prepared to support Ruoshui to leave, Ye Yuande’s voice rang out, carrying a smile. “Ye Chu, did you think hiding inside would let you escape? In the end, you still had to come out!”
Ye Yuande led a group of people and surrounded Ye Chu, Qing Wenting, and the others. Their momentum was aggressive.
Pang Shao had been waiting outside the entire time. Seeing Ruoshui and Qing Wenting both pale and looking unwell, he had no idea what had happened inside. He stepped forward quickly. “Ye Yuande, do not go too far!”
Ye Yuande did not even glance at Pang Shao. His eyes remained fixed on Ye Chu. In his mind, there was only one thought: cripple Ye Chu to avenge the humiliation he and Ye Yuanwu had suffered.
Qing Wenting saw Ye Yuande’s attitude. Her expression turned icy cold. “Ye Yuande, this young lady has no intention of dealing with you. You had best leave right now.”
Being scolded by Qing Wenting made Ye Yuande feel some fear. But seeing Ye Chu, he forced himself to muster some courage. “Saintess, you personally heard it back then. Ye Chu challenged us to a duel at the general’s tomb. This was Ye Chu’s own challenge. If the saintess insists on protecting him, it will not reflect well on either your reputation or his.”
“You…” Qing Wenting was so furious that her injuries flared up. Pain twisted her face. She had no strength left to continue speaking.
Seeing Qing Wenting unable to stop him, Ye Yuande turned his gaze to Ye Chu. “Are you going to play the coward again?”
Ye Chu looked at Ye Yuande. He had no favourable impression of either of the brothers. Hearing their cold mockery, Ye Chu snorted. “Are you going first, or is it your big brother Ye Yuanwang?”
Pang Shao saw that Ye Chu truly intended to fight them. His heart jolted. He grabbed Ye Chu and whispered urgently, “Do not stick your neck out. Endure this insult. Being looked down on by him is nothing. Are we afraid of being scorned?”
Pang Shao naturally did not want to watch Ye Chu fight Ye Yuande and his brother. Ye Chu was no match for either of them.
Smiling at Pang Shao, Ye Chu stepped forward and looked at Ye Yuande. “So you came first?”
As a seventh-level Innate Realm cultivator, Ye Yuande naturally did not fear Ye Chu. Hearing Ye Chu’s provocation, he shouted, “What is wrong with me fighting you?”
These words made the few who had emerged from the deepest parts look at Ye Yuande strangely. They had witnessed Ye Chu’s breakthrough inside. They knew exactly how strong Ye Chu had become. Perhaps Ye Chu was still nothing in their eyes, but dealing with Ye Yuande was well within his capabilities.
Among those who had reached the deepest part of the general’s tomb, not many had survived. Aside from Ye Chu and his group, fewer than ten made it out. Every one who survived was no weakling. Among them was the old man Ye Jingyun had brought along. He had fortunately seized a sun-and-moon-grade artifact.
Hearing Ye Yuande’s arrogant words now, he felt the urge to warn him. But thinking of the discord between Ye Jingyun’s branch and the second young master of the Ye family, he ultimately held back.
“Then make your move!” Ye Chu looked at Ye Yuande and smiled.
Seeing Ye Chu still able to smile, the disdain in Ye Yuande’s eyes grew thicker. He sneered. “I hope you can still smile so brightly later.”
With that, Ye Yuande struck fiercely towards Ye Chu with one hand. His attack was domineering and terrifying. The full strength of the seventh level of the Innate Realm was laid bare. The force carried howling winds that drew many sideways glances.
Ye Yuande’s strike arrived at Ye Chu’s chest in the blink of an eye, swift as lightning. Seeing his fist about to smash into Ye Chu’s chest, Ye Yuande sneered inwardly. He thought there was no need for his big brother to act. He could settle this with one move himself.
Just as Ye Yuande felt he could finally wash away his humiliation, Ye Chu suddenly struck back. His movement was lightning-fast. A simple, unadorned punch landed directly on Ye Yuande’s hand.
“Ah…”
Without any suspense, Ye Yuande screamed and flew backwards. His entire arm swelled red and inflamed in an instant. He staggered back, blood surging from his mouth.
“You are no good. One move is enough to deal with you,” Ye Chu said, looking at Ye Yuande. “You had better call your big brother. I am waiting for him.”
Ye Jingyun and Pang Shao were already dumbfounded. They stared at Ye Chu, who had heavily injured Ye Yuande with a single strike. It felt utterly unbelievable. But soon they thought of one possibility.
“Ye Chu stayed inside the general’s tomb for so long. Did he obtain some supreme treasure that caused his strength to surge like this?”
“Ah… ah…”
Before the crowd’s shock could settle, they witnessed a scene that made their scalps tingle. Ye Yuande, who had been struck by Ye Chu’s single blow, actually tore at his own swollen arm. Flesh and blood tore apart in a gruesome mess.
“Killing aura!” Some cultivators recognised it. They stared blankly at Ye Chu, their eyes fixed on his arm as though trying to discern something.
A great cultivator from the Ye family saw Ye Jingyun looking at him with questioning eyes. Only then did he explain the reason.
Ye Chu had refined killing aura into himself. Although the refined killing aura was no longer as terrifying as before, it still carried some of its attributes. Judging from the power Ye Chu had just erupted with, those killing aura attributes were far from weak.
The killing aura of the coloured-pattern killing spider had been exceptionally pure. Having transformed into power and merged into Ye Chu’s body, Ye Chu’s strength had already far surpassed that of an ordinary fifth-level Innate Realm cultivator. That alone was impressive enough. More importantly, he now possessed part of the killing aura’s attributes. This made his offensive power surge even further.
Ye Yuande might have been decent, but in Ye Chu’s hands, what was he? At this moment, Ye Chu could already be considered a killing aura practitioner. And which killing aura practitioner was not capable of fighting above their level? Their unique power attributes destined them to stand apart from others.
Yet Ye Yuande had still thought Ye Chu was easy to bully and jumped forward to show off. It would have been strange if he had not been taught a lesson.