Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 259: Chapter 259: Up Dragon Tiger Mountain

Ye Qingchen and Qin Yue stepped out of the carriage, surprised to encounter bandits within Dragon Tiger Mountain’s territory. However, these bandits were unlike any they had encountered before. They were all dressed in black with their faces covered, as if afraid of being recognized. The royal guards also sensed that this group of bandits was different and quickly gathered around Cai Yunji’s carriage to ensure her safety.

The leader of the men in black saw this and couldn’t help but sneer, ”Hand over your money, and I’ll spare your lives. If you resist, you’ll end up losing both your lives and your possessions!”

Cai Yunji responded from within her carriage, ”This is the territory of Dragon Tiger Mountain. You have some nerve, daring to commit robbery here!”

Dragon Tiger Mountain was a Two-Star Sect with considerable strength, which was why Cai Yunji invoked its name, hoping to intimidate the bandits into retreating. What Cai Yunji didn’t know was that this group of robbers was led by Ba Hu, a trusted subordinate of Fei Hu, the third-in-command of Dragon Tiger Mountain.

When Cai Yunji mentioned Dragon Tiger Mountain, Ba Hu burst out laughing and said, ”You dare threaten me? Lads, attack! Kill all the men and leave these two women for us brothers to enjoy!”

After Ba Hu spoke, the dozen or so men behind him charged at the convoy with loud laughter. Although these men were strong, the royal guards were also rigorously trained, and for the moment, neither side could gain the upper hand.

Ba Hu frowned, his gaze landing on Ye Qingchen and Qin Yue. At just one glance, Ba Hu was captivated by Qin Yue’s beauty.

Compared to Qin Yue, all the women he had dallied with in the past were no better than trash. To spend a night with such a beauty would be one of the greatest fortunes of his life.

Moreover, Ba Hu could see that Qin Yue was only a mid-level Great Martial Master, while Ye Qingchen was merely an Eighth-Layer Great Martial Master. Such strength is child’s play for me to handle.

Therefore, Ba Hu didn’t join the assault on Cai Yunji’s carriage. Instead, he pounced directly toward Qin Yue, shouting, ”Little beauty, tonight you’re mine!”

Sensing Ba Hu’s powerful aura, Qin Yue grew worried.

Ye Qingchen didn’t hesitate. Seeing Ba Hu pounce, he immediately flashed in front of Qin Yue and countered with a palm strike. When their palms clashed, Ye Qingchen only took a single step back, while Ba Hu was forced to retreat three steps.

Looking at the steadfast figure standing before her, Qin Yue felt an unusual sense of security. Even though Ye Qingchen was only an Eighth-Layer Great Martial Master, she believed this opponent, a Second-Layer Martial Spirit Realm practitioner, was no match for him.

Ba Hu was also shocked. He hadn’t used his full strength, but being forced back by a mere Eighth-Layer Great Martial Master was still unbelievable.

Since Ye Qingchen had made his move, he didn’t dawdle. He drew his Qingfeng Sword and unleashed Sword Dusting the Wind straight at Ba Hu.

Ba Hu hurried to defend himself but was astonished to discover that even using all his might, he couldn’t counter the sword strike. A Martial Spirit Realm expert like him was being completely suppressed by someone in the Great Martial Master Realm!

Without giving Ba Hu time to be surprised, Ye Qingchen struck out again, unleashing another Sword Dusting the Wind and pressing his attack. Having barely withstood the first Sword Dusting the Wind, Ba Hu already felt overwhelmed. Before he could even recover, he saw Ye Qingchen delivering the same move again, leaving him no choice but to hastily draw his weapon and defend.

While in the Xuan Ore Cave, Ye Qingchen had observed Li Qingfeng using Sword Dusting the Wind. As a result, his understanding of this high-grade, Xuan-tier Martial Technique had improved significantly. Now that his strength had advanced to the Eighth Layer of the Great Martial Master Realm, he decided to use Ba Hu for practice.

Ye Qingchen repeatedly used Sword Dusting the Wind, each strike fiercer than the last. He battered Ba Hu so relentlessly that the man was powerless to retaliate and could only retreat continuously.

Ba Hu was indescribably bitter and aggrieved. His cultivation Realm was clearly much higher than Ye Qingchen’s, yet he was being completely dominated. How could anyone bear this!

After more than a dozen moves, Ba Hu could no longer hold on and was wounded by Ye Qingchen’s sword. Realizing he was no match for Ye Qingchen, he could only flee in a panic. Seeing their leader run away, the bandits attacking Cai Yunji’s carriage lost their will to fight and began to escape frantically.

Fearing a potential ambush, Cai Yunji ordered the guards not to pursue.

Cai Yunji then stepped out of her carriage, approached Ye Qingchen and Qin Yue, and asked, ”Were you two alright?”

Although Cai Yunji hadn’t left the carriage, she knew the bandit leader had targeted Qin Yue and Ye Qingchen, but she didn’t know what had happened afterward.

Qin Yue shook her head. ”We’re fine. Luckily, Ye Qingchen acted quickly and defeated that Second-Layer Martial Spirit Realm bastard.”

Cai Yunji looked at Ye Qingchen in surprise. She never expected him to be able to defeat a Martial Spirit Realm practitioner with the strength of a Great Martial Master! Moreover, from the bandits’ appearance to the end of the battle, only a few short minutes had passed. In other words, Ye Qingchen had defeated a Second-Layer Martial Spirit Realm expert in just a few minutes!

However, Cai Yunji was merely surprised and said nothing. She nodded at Ye Qingchen and returned to her carriage.

The convoy continued on its way, and by evening, they had finally arrived at the foot of Dragon Tiger Mountain. Here, a small town catered specifically to merchants visiting Dragon Tiger Mountain. Cai Yunji booked an entire inn for the group to stay in, deciding to head up Dragon Tiger Mountain the next day.

Afterward, Cai Yunji discussed the plan with Ye Qingchen and Qin Yue. She and Ye Qingchen would go to Dragon Tiger Mountain first to gather information, while Qin Yue would remain at the inn and wait for news. If they managed to see Ye Qingchen’s father, Qin Yue would then go to Dragon Tiger Mountain alone to negotiate the ransom. After all, Cai Yunji’s primary purpose on this trip was to purchase Spirit Stones. If the people of Dragon Tiger Mountain discovered her group was with people from Rising Sun Pavilion, it might cause unnecessary complications.

Ye Qingchen and Qin Yue had no objections to the arrangement and returned to their respective rooms to rest.

The next morning, Ye Qingchen and Cai Yunji set off for Dragon Tiger Mountain. They were accompanied by a number of alchemists and a few guards, while everyone else remained at the inn.

As the group arrived at the foot of Dragon Tiger Mountain, they saw it was shrouded in Spiritual Energy, resembling an Immortal Realm. Ye Qingchen couldn’t help but exclaim, ”Dragon Tiger Mountain truly deserves its reputation as a Two-Star Sect. The Spiritual Energy is so dense even at the foot of the mountain. No wonder it can nurture so many experts.”

Cai Yunji smiled. ”No need to be envious. As long as your Qingyun Sect distinguishes itself in the upcoming Sect promotion tournament, you can also become a Two-Star Sect.”

”You’re right. I’ll work hard to earn my place and contribute to Qingyun Sect’s efforts in the tournament!”

Ye Qingchen nodded, his heart filled with a mix of apprehension and anticipation. He then continued up Dragon Tiger Mountain with Cai Yunji.