Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 252: Chapter 252 Li Qingfeng, The Protective Parent

Tian Jice’s gaze fell upon Ye Qingchen. ”Did you do all this?” he asked coldly.

Faced with Tian Jice’s formidable strength and aura, Ye Qingchen showed no panic. Instead, he spoke with righteous fervor, ”The blood staining their hands is immeasurable. Killing them like this was letting them off easy!”

”Good. Very good! You’ve got some nerve, boy!” Tian Jice was so enraged he laughed. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this furious. Here in the Xuan Ore Cave, nearly all the disciples of the Heavenly Profound Sect had been slaughtered, and the murderer stood before him, claiming they all deserved to die?

Ye Qingchen wasn’t entirely without support. Although he didn’t know the full extent of Tian Jice’s power, the mysterious woman had already acted. He figured dealing with this new opponent wouldn’t be a problem.

But just as Ye Qingchen was about to call on the mysterious woman to act, her voice echoed in his mind.

”Kid, this guy is at the Eighth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm. In my prime, he’d be nothing more than a slightly larger ant. But my strength hasn’t recovered, and I’m no match for him. You’re on your own. Good luck!”

Ye Qingchen stood there, speechless. It took him a moment for the reality to dawn on him: she wasn’t going to help. Panic seized him as he called out to her in his mind.

”Sister, don’t do this! We’re facing a powerful enemy, and you’re just going to abandon me? At the very least, with your strength, even if we can’t beat him, we can still run, right?”

However, no matter how desperately Ye Qingchen called, the mysterious woman did not respond.

This woman... When she sees someone weaker, she jumps in to show off. How heroic she was, killing a man with a single step just moments ago! But the moment someone stronger appears, she just hides away and leaves this whole mess to me. I’m facing an Eighth-Layer Martial Spirit Realm expert! How am I supposed to defeat the Sect Master of the Heavenly Profound Sect? Is she toying with me?!

But things had already come to this. Ye Qingchen understood it was better to rely on himself than on others. Even knowing he was no match for Tian Jice, he would not simply wait to be killed!

His face a mask of fury, Tian Jice advanced on Ye Qingchen one step at a time.

Faced with the boy who had slaughtered nearly everyone in the Xuan Ore Cave, Tian Jice had no intention of granting him an easy death. He would break him, forcing him to despair step-by-step in a haze of constant fear until he finally died!

Ye Qingchen repeatedly brandished his Qingfeng Sword, using his remaining Spiritual Power to execute Sword Dusting the Wind. He attempted to slow Tian Jice’s advance while retreating, desperately using his Dual Pupil Martial Soul to search for a weakness.

But no matter what Martial Technique Ye Qingchen used, Tian Jice shattered it with a casual wave. The Sect Master’s pace neither slowed nor quickened.

He just kept pressing forward, one step at a time, drawing ever closer!

This was because Tian Jice was already plotting how he would torture Ye Qingchen to finally sate the hatred gnawing at his heart.

Ten meters!

Nine meters!

...

Four meters!

Three meters!

As Tian Jice drew ever closer, Ye Qingchen’s heart pounded with desperation, but he was powerless. He had tried every trick he could think of, but in the face of such absolute strength, none of his methods were of any use.

”Boy, I’ll start by crippling your Dantian. Then, I’ll soak you in Spiritual Medicine and subject you to the death of a thousand cuts, day after day!” Tian Jice said through gritted teeth, now less than two meters away.

With that, Tian Jice slowly raised his palm, aiming for Ye Qingchen’s Dantian.

The palm strike wasn’t fast, but Tian Jice’s overwhelming aura pressed down on Ye Qingchen, making his movements sluggish. He wanted to dodge, but his body wouldn’t obey. He could only watch helplessly as the palm closed in.

Ye Qingchen glared at Tian Jice. Even knowing he was doomed, his eyes showed no fear, only a profound hatred for the man before him.

I can’t die yet. I haven’t rescued my father. That’s my greatest regret. And Xiao Xiao... I might never see her again. And then there’s Qin Yue...

Just as Tian Jice’s palm was about to strike home, a formidable Sword Qi slashed toward him.

Tian Jice could feel it clearly—if that Sword Qi hit him, he would be gravely injured, if not killed. He had no choice but to use a movement technique to dodge.

After all, in Tian Jice’s eyes, Ye Qingchen was just an ant. He certainly wouldn’t trade his life for an ant’s.

As Tian Jice dodged, a figure appeared in front of Ye Qingchen. ”Qingchen, are you all right?” the newcomer asked with concern.

Only then did Ye Qingchen get a clear look at him. It was his master, Li Qingfeng, the Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect!

Ye Qingchen shook his head. He had already resolved himself to die, so this sudden rescue brought him little joy.

Now that Li Qingfeng had arrived to confront Tian Jice, it could spark a war between the Qingyun Sect and the Heavenly Profound Sect. Ye Qingchen felt a pang of guilt, knowing this was all his fault.

Li Qingfeng seemed to understand what Ye Qingchen was thinking and said with a smile, ”Qingchen, don’t overthink it. A teacher for one day is a father for life! Whatever happens, your master will protect you!”

Li Qingfeng patted Ye Qingchen’s shoulder, relieved to see he was unharmed. He then turned to face Tian Jice.

”Tian Jice, for someone of your age, you’re a real disgrace! The mighty Sect Master of the Heavenly Profound Sect, attacking a junior? Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?”

Tian Jice looked at Li Qingfeng coldly. ”Li Qingfeng, this is a matter for my Heavenly Profound Sect. I advise you to mind your own business!”

Li Qingfeng let out a hearty laugh. ”Tian Jice, Ye Qingchen is my Direct Disciple. How is this not my business? You’d better give me a good reason for bullying my student, or this isn’t over between us!”

Tian Jice sneered. ”Your disciple trespassed into my Sect and stole our secrets! Look around you. This Xuan Ore Cave has been massacred by your precious student. Doesn’t he deserve to die? Li Qingfeng, are you really willing to spark a war where both our sects suffer grievous losses, all for a mere brat?”

Only then did Li Qingfeng notice the pools of blood everywhere. He knew Tian Jice wasn’t lying, but so what? That was still no excuse to lay a hand on his disciple.

Li Qingfeng also drew his sword and faced Tian Jice. ”I know my own disciple’s character better than anyone. He is not one to kill the innocent! If he took action, it means every single person here deserved it!

”Besides, he’s my goddamn disciple, and I’ll protect him! What kind of shitty master would I be otherwise? Don’t try to threaten me with a war between our Sects, Tian Jice. If the Qingyun Sect fought the Heavenly Profound Sect, we would utterly crush you. A mutually destructive war? You think far too highly of your Heavenly Profound Sect, don’t you?”

Hearing Li Qingfeng’s words, Tian Jice’s face turned livid with rage.

But a warmth spread through Ye Qingchen’s heart, especially after hearing Li Qingfeng’s declaration: ”Besides, he’s my goddamn disciple, and I’ll protect him! What kind of shitty master would I be otherwise?” For the first time, those words made Ye Qingchen feel a true sense of belonging to Li Qingfeng and the Qingyun Sect.