Translator: CinderTL
The petite figure belonged to a girl around sixteen or seventeen years old.
She wasn't conventionally beautiful, but her gentle features and soft eyes gave her a quiet, refined charm. She exuded an aura of someone who would silently take note of everything you said and diligently carry out your instructions.
She glanced at Jiang Ye and asked curiously, "Do you know me?"
"Young mistress," an elderly man in black bowed forward from behind her, as if to offer a reminder.
"It's fine," the girl waved her hand with a faint smile. "I remember now."
"You're my classmate, right?" she said, looking at Jiang Ye with a smile. "I haven't been back to school in over half a year. I almost forgot."
Jiang Ye remained expressionless, saying nothing.
The petite girl before him was none other than Xia Qing, his former classmate from Class Nine, who had been missing for over half a year.
She was the girl who used to bring him water. Jiang Ye remembered her vividly.
Yet now, upon her reappearance, she had almost failed to recognize him.
Core members of the Hidden God Organization undergo a bizarre ritual to transform their physical bodies, granting them certain abilities of the Shadow Clan.
One theory suggests that after a successful transformation, the body remains the same, but the consciousness within is no longer the original.
Jiang Ye recalled what Chen Zilu had once told him: "In the Eastern Ten Provinces, this ritual is called 'shell-seizing.'"
In simpler terms, it was body possession.
Of course, the reality was far more complex and sinister, beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
Was the Xia Qing standing before him still the same Xia Qing he knew?
Jiang Ye couldn't be sure, but he no longer considered her a classmate.
"Jiang Ye," Xia Qing said, smiling faintly. "I remember half a year ago, you were still far from your first breakthrough. To achieve it so quickly, you must have had quite the opportunity?"
"Why not join us?"
"Become one of us, and you'll gain power far beyond what you possess now."
She coaxed him, "We both have Primitive innate talent. We should know how low our potential is."
"Look at me. I used to be just an average student in the middle of the class, and now I've already achieved my first breakthrough."
"And before long, I'll reach my second breakthrough."
"Those Martial Dao Prodigies will all be crushed beneath my feet." Xia Qing clasped her hands behind her back, a formidable qi prowess erupting from her body.
Boom!
A tangible Martial Dao Aura surged forth like a tidal wave.
Yet this Martial Dao Aura was unlike the fierce and domineering auras of other martial artists.
On the contrary, it carried a sinister and eerie quality, plunging those who felt it into an icy abyss.
Jiang Ye's expression remained calm as he asked, "How do I join you?"
"It's simple," Xia Qing replied with a faint smile, spreading her arms wide. "Share my bed, and you'll know what to do."
"Share your bed?" Jiang Ye tilted his head. "Is it what I think it is?"
"Exactly what you think it is," Xia Qing said, her face lighting up with a radiant smile.
"Young mistress," the black-robed elder beside her whispered, "this boy never intended to join us. He's secretly channeling stellar energy."
"No need to remind me," Xia Qing scoffed. "I'll show him the gulf between our current strengths."
With those words, her aura erupted like a storm.
In an instant, the entire underground space seemed to freeze over, becoming unbearably cold.
Whoosh!
The next moment, Xia Qing vanished from her spot.
A pristine white fist shot straight toward Jiang Ye.
"Kill!"
Jiang Ye erupted into action as well, pale silver starlight shimmering around his arms as he raised them in defense.
Boom! Boom!
The two clashed like war machines, their battle erupting in thunderous roars.
Jiang Ye didn't attack, focusing solely on defense, making it seem as though he was being completely suppressed.
"See that, Jiang Ye?" Xia Qing said coldly. "This is the current me. The more you cultivate on your own, the wider the gap between us will grow."
Even now, she still harbored the intention of recruiting Jiang Ye.
What Xia Qing didn't realize was that Jiang Ye hadn't yet unleashed his full power.
The exit is blocked. There's no choice but to fight! Jiang Ye thought, his mind utterly calm. Xia Qing is manageable, but those black-robed figures...
As he fought, he glanced at the dozen or so black-robed figures.
During his brief exchange with Xia Qing earlier, he had roughly assessed their strength.
Almost all of them were experts at the first breakthrough stage!
The elderly black-robed man beside Xia Qing radiated a qi prowess far surpassing the others.
Though not yet at the second breakthrough stage, he was undoubtedly far stronger than an ordinary first breakthrough expert.
If I can take down their strongest member first, the rest should be easier to handle, Jiang Ye's thoughts raced like lightning.
But with his current strength, how could he possibly defeat that black-robed elder?
Jiang Ye could think of only one way.
Boom! Bang!
Bang! Jiang Ye and Xia Qing continued their relentless battle, retreating step by step as if completely overwhelmed.
"Join us, or die here," Xia Qing said coldly, her attacks growing increasingly ferocious, showing no intention of prolonging the fight.
She clearly understood that their prolonged presence might attract unwanted attention, making it unwise to linger. If Jiang Ye refused to cooperate, she would have no choice but to eliminate him.
Clang! After a particularly violent clash, Jiang Ye staggered backward, seemingly unable to withstand the overwhelming force. He retreated until he was near the black-robed elder.
Suddenly, Jiang Ye whirled around and launched a surprise attack on the elder.
"Overestimating yourself!" the elder sneered, a flicker of disdain flashing in his eyes. A mere youth, completely outmatched by the young master, dared to attempt a sneak attack on him?
"Young master, this fool refuses to see reason. I'll cripple him!" the elder declared. "If you wish, you can simply knock him unconscious and take him back!" With that, he struck out with a palm strike aimed at Jiang Ye.
But Jiang Ye erupted with sudden power, his speed instantly doubling, catching everyone off guard.
Swiftwind Step!
Whoosh! Like a phantom, he materialized before the elder in an instant.
With a sudden high kick, his leg swept out in a horizontal arc.
Starlight flashed!
Swiftwind Step, Beauty's Inquiry, Playing the Fool to Catch the Tiger, Tilting at Windmills, and Foot Dao is Also Dao erupted simultaneously!
[Playing the Fool to Catch the Tiger: When underestimated by an opponent, instantly increases critical strike damage by 150%.]
[Tilting at Windmills: When facing an opponent with a higher cultivation realm, there is a chance to increase damage by 100% and inflict a continuous bleeding effect.]
[Foot Dao is Also Dao: Active effect. Increases damage from foot techniques by 50% for 60 seconds. Cooldown: 10 minutes.]
"Die!"
The strike descended like a collapsing mountain, carving a dazzling silver arc through the air.
With a terrifying roar, it slashed viciously at the black-robed elder.
Whoosh!
Over a thousand strands of compressed stellar energy, channeled through the Cosmic Secret Art and amplified by multiple buffs, erupted from the tip of Jiang Ye's foot.
Damage increased by 50%.
Damage increased by 150%.
Damage increased by 100%.
Damage increased by 50%.
Nine Luminaries Star-Treading!
The black-robed elder's expression twisted in shock. As the strongest expert present, his reaction speed was unparalleled.
Yet Jiang Ye's speed was simply too great. This sudden burst of power caught even him completely off guard!
Before he could even raise his hand to defend, he felt a torrent of scalding blood erupt.
Buzz! A cruciform starlight flashed.
Boom—!!!
The blinding starlight, like a miniature galaxy, carried damage amplified to its absolute limit, piercing through the black-robed elder like a cannonball.
Splat!
Blackish-red blood gushed forth.
Jiang Ye's kick had shattered the elder's waist, splitting his entire body in two on the spot!
(End of the Chapter)
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