Chapter 103: At the Cost of Blood

Is Su Ye really going to lose?

This was only the second move, and Su Ye had already unleashed his strongest ultimate technique, yet it had been shattered in an instant by Ye Lingyun.

This gap in strength was simply too obvious.

All the spectators watched in shock. They had expected the formidable power of Ye Lingyun, but they never imagined that even with his cultivation suppressed to the first layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, he remained so overwhelmingly strong.

It seemed Su Ye truly was going to lose. Losing to Ye Lingyun was no disgrace at all. Jiang Ziyang sighed inwardly. If Su Ye had begun cultivating from childhood as well, there might still have been a chance for a real fight.

Yet Su Ye had only recovered his cultivation in just four or five months. Being able to face Ye Lingyun at all was already something to be proud of.

Haha, it seems some people really are overestimating themselves! Surrender obediently!

Ouyang Licheng saw Su Ye's losing stance and let out a wild shout of joy.

Indeed, it was the way of the Yangtze River where the waves push the waves ahead.

Ouyang Yi's expression was rather gloomy, especially after hearing the words "Ye King." With Ye Lingyun's strength, he would no doubt dominate the world in the future. Even this small Yang City would not be able to contain him.

Jiang Liuying waved her fair pink fists and cried out, "Still eight moves! Hold on for me! Don't fall! Fight on!"

The warriors from both sides whispered among themselves, speculating how many moves Su Ye could endure.

Eight moves... should be enough!

Su Ye gritted his teeth and shouted lowly, once more stabilizing his body. This time he channeled nearly all the power within him, causing qi waves to surge around him while streaks of thunderfire formed in their wake.

"Is this your great opportunity in Danju?" Ye Lingyun gazed at the flames on Su Ye's body and could not suppress a surge of jealousy.

In his view, he alone could comprehend the voices of heaven, earth, ghosts, and gods, discern the words of all spirits, and thus stood the greatest chance of obtaining the opportunity. Yet the two most powerful treasures in Danju—one the pill fire formed over thousands of years, the other the Thunder Attraction Pearl—had both ended up in Su Ye's hands.

"I heard that pill fire can incinerate all pill forms. Today I shall break this rumor!"

Whoosh—

Ye Lingyun's body sank, rolling purple qi mist erupting into a fierce beast's furious roar. The swirling purple mist then condensed into a ferocious giant python.

Roar!

In an instant Ye Lingyun's overwhelming force seemed about to shatter the realm of imprisonment. He flashed forward with terrifying speed and slammed his palm toward Su Ye, striking in seven directions at once.

Boom—

Su Ye had extended his hand to block, but his reaction was too slow. His body flew backward with a heavy thud, a mouthful of blood surging straight into his throat.

Dizziness overwhelmed him, and his blood turned frantic, solidifying as if ice shards pierced his veins. The seven spots struck by the palm were utterly charred, leaving him numb.

Su Ye's heart sank. It appeared Ye Lingyun meant to kill him.

But the most bitter and infuriating part was that not long ago he had absorbed the cursed black blood vein from Jiang Ziyang's body into his own. He had needed to expend over half his true qi just to suppress it.

Unexpectedly, now that half his true qi was gone, he had no strength left to fight back. If he did not suppress these curse veins, in the same first layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, whom would he fear?

"Su Ye—" Jiang Ziyang cried out, stepping forward only to be blocked by Ouyang Yi.

"Master Jiang, if you go up now it would mean Su Ye has lost!" Ouyang Yi smiled, as though issuing a warning.

Jiang Ziyang had not expected Su Ye to suffer such severe wounds. Was it worth it for this pearl? He gritted his teeth. "If you want surrender, then surrender! Su Ye isn't even eighteen yet. It's just a temporary loss. Who hasn't lost before?"

Ouyang Licheng and Qiu Xuanyuan exchanged smug smiles. They had known this outcome all along.

Qiu Xuanyuan stood arrogantly, her voice dripping with disdain. "If you're surrendering, do it quickly! The pearl is ours in the end. From now on, stop mentioning the title of top genius in front of Lingyun. It's laughable."

"Quickly, bring over the Thunder Attraction Pearl! Facing Lingyun is simply courting death! You've grown arrogant after winning a few lucky matches. Now you realize what a true genius is?"

Ouyang Licheng smiled smugly as well.

Jiang Liuying's voice trembled with both anger and heartache. "Su Ye, enough! Come back quickly! We don't want that broken pearl anymore! We surrender!"

"No—"

Yet Su Ye slowly stabilized himself, shaking his head with effort. Blood stained his white teeth as he spoke in a deep voice, "Believe me, I can win! Still seven moves—come on!"

"Youngster—this is what you brought upon yourself! I'll let you experience my true power!"

Ye Lingyun suddenly loosened the seals on his hands. Acupoints across his body made dull "dong dong" sounds, as if war drums echoed within.

Su Ye realized something was terribly wrong. He forced every ounce of strength into circulating the ancient Yanhuang technique. In his sea of consciousness, the eight ancient characters "Yanhuang Mios, Xuanpin Zhi Men!" reappeared and hovered.

These majestic characters radiated solemn authority, using ancient mysterious power to expel the cursed black blood vein from his body.

It seemed these eight characters could not tolerate blood veins that did not belong to his own body!

Boom!!

Su Ye's chest erupted with a heavy force. His feet followed in pain, and figures before him blurred as he was kicked soaring into the air. Blood burst from his body.

Puff—

A mouthful of black blood sprayed from his mouth, dyeing the sky crimson.

The onlookers were stunned. The battlefield sky had become a faint layer of blood mist. All of it had been forcibly beaten out of Su Ye.

"Ah..." Jiang Liuying's pupils shrank. She clutched her heart and wailed, her face deathly pale. "Don't fight, Su Ye! Don't fight! You'll be beaten to death!"

"Still six moves—"

Su Ye braced himself on the ground. The black blood flowing from his mouth traced a straight line. His eyes were already unfocused.

He forced himself upright again. He knew the cursed blood in his body had been driven out substantially. He must not stop now. Once more he glared provocatively at Ye Lingyun.

Ye Lingyun still wore an arrogant expression, coldly watching Su Ye. "Overreaching yourself!"

Bang bang bang!

Su Ye's head rang with a deafening buzz. He could not even tell where Ye Lingyun was striking from. His body was hurled into the air by relentless, frenzied attacks.

Blood mist exploded around him again, leaving him little more than a broken figure.

All he could hear were the shouts of Jiang family members and the maids' cries.

Su Ye crawled up once more, a cracking pain stabbing through his chest. He touched the spot and felt a jolt—his ribs had shattered. Streams of blood leaked from the sunken cavity.

"You all, don't come up! I can still win—this attack won't kill me! Still five moves!"

Before he finished, Ye Lingyun's cold, furious voice rang out.

"Senluo Ice Thorn—"

Crack!

Su Ye's limbs instantly turned bone-chillingly cold. He discovered that the four major acupoints on his limbs had been pierced by ice thorns, driving him backward.

It was as if his limbs were about to be shattered and destroyed.

But when Su Ye fell, he realized his limbs were encased in thick ice frost. One heavy kick would turn them into brittle ice sculptures.

Jiang Liuying wept like a heartbroken woman, struggling free while crying, "Su Ye, surrender—we surrender! Don't fight! I want you to live, understand? I won't allow anything to happen to you! Don't fight—Ye Lingyun, stop! You're the strongest. Take the pearl, take everything. Don't fight anymore!"

Ye Lingyun took two heavy breaths, then adjusted his sleeve. Clearly, this was the outcome he desired. "Su Ye—I told you long ago you are not my match! Today I will give Jiang Liuying face. As long as you lower your head and admit defeat, I will spare your life!"

Su Ye lay in a pool of blood. His once handsome face dripped with crimson. He slowly looked up at the sky, then suddenly smiled, his voice growing increasingly powerful and resonant.

"I also said I could win you! Thank you for driving out all the curse blood I no longer need!"

"Putting on a show, you..."

Ye Lingyun took a step forward, intending to crush Su Ye's arm, but suddenly seemed to realize something. He looked up at the sky.

Then Ye Lingyun's face changed drastically.

High above, a massive swirling mass of dark-red black blood had appeared. It possessed endless magical power, twisting and rolling without end...