Chapter 1232: Playing with Military Tactics

Boom! Bang!

Shi Xue Xian Shan was in chaos, with rumbling sounds shaking the heavens and earth. The experts of Shi Xue Zong charged forward relentlessly, but for every group that lunged, another was beaten back.

That fellow Ye Chen was overwhelmingly powerful. The entire Shi Xue Zong couldn't find anyone capable of withstanding even a single move from him. With no saint in charge, Shi Xue Zong was left in utter disarray, and several mountain peaks were toppled.

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Outside Shi Xue Xian Shan, Shi Xue Lao Mo remained hidden in the void space, his old eyes gleaming with a cold light. However, he did not make a move. It wasn't out of fear of Ye Chen; rather, he was waiting for Shi Xue Sheng Zhu and the others to ransom back Shi Xue Shen Zi. Once Shi Xue Shen Zi was safe, he would have no reservations and would unleash a thunderous strike without hesitation.

Hold him back!

In Shi Xue Xian Shan, the experts of Shi Xue Dian roared in anger, with thousands upon thousands of Huang Jing experts joining forces to activate a deadly formation array. They revived the array's divine power, unleashing a magnificent immortal beam.

Suo Di Cheng Cun!

Ye Chen, at the peak of his abilities, vanished in an instant, dodging the beam. Although he evaded it, the beam did not stop. It pierced straight through the void sky, collapsing a mountain peak on the spot. Along the way, many others were caught in the aftershocks and instantly reduced to ashes.

Damn it!

The Shi Xue Zong experts flew into a rage, gripping their formation arrays as they charged forward.

Get lost!

Ye Chen remained as fierce as ever, swinging his thousand-zhang Lang Ya Bang and instantly clearing the void sky.

After repelling another wave, Ye Chen darted into a mountain peak like a flash of smoke. Everywhere he passed, not even a single spirit herb or spirit fruit tree was left behind. He swept them away like a beast, leaving everything completely barren.

Meanwhile, Shi Xue Sheng Zhu and the other experts had already arrived at that desolate star.

From afar, they spotted Ye Chen's avatar cloaked in black robes, with Shi Xue Shen Zi sealed beside him.

It's indeed an avatar!

Shi Xue Sheng Zhu saw through it at a glance that this was not the true body, finally confirming that this was no simple kidnapping.

Release him!

Shi Xue Sheng Zhu stepped forward, and before Ye Chen's avatar could even speak, tossed over a storage bag. Inside, nine million Yuan Shi were neatly piled like mountains, without a moment's hesitation.

Ye Chen's avatar was taken aback, unused to such straightforwardness.

Well, alright then!

Ye Chen's avatar's mouth curved into a smile, but he subtly scanned the surrounding crowd. Not seeing any sign of Shi Xue Lao Mo, his eyes instantly grew deeper.

Seeing this, Ye Chen's avatar quickly sent a message to the true body: "Boss, Shi Xue Lao Mo isn't here."

"Not there?" Ye Chen, still in the midst of looting, raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure he's not in the area?"

"My vision is linked to your Xian Lun eyes, so I can spot a saint at a glance. Shi Xue Lao Mo really isn't here."

"How interesting." Ye Chen let out a cold laugh, dodging the Shi Xue Zong's formation array while subtly scanning the surrounding heavens. Finally, near Shi Xue Xian Shan, he caught a faint trace. His Xian Lun eyes faintly activated, as if piercing through the void space to see the hidden Shi Xue Lao Mo.

"The brains in Shi Xue Zong are sharper than those in Ming Wang Zong." Ye Chen's mocking voice echoed in his avatar's mind. "This is their plan to turn the tables on me with a counterattack!"

"Boss, what do we do? Hand him over or not?"

"Don't hand him over—just stall for time." Ye Chen chuckled immediately. "If you release him there, Shi Xue Lao Mo will strike here on the spot. The only thing he's holding back for is Shi Xue Shen Zi's safety. He's got his strategy, but I've got my own countermeasures. If he wants to play military tactics, I'll outplay him."

"Got it!" Ye Chen's avatar grinned.

Release him now!

Shi Xue Sheng Zhu thundered in anger, his killing intent surging instantly.

What's the rush?

Ye Chen's avatar casually opened the storage bag tossed by Shi Xue Sheng Zhu. "Let me count the Yuan Shi first. And don't even think about attacking me—your Shen Zi is linked to my life force. If I'm destroyed, he won't survive either."

"You..." Shi Xue Sheng Zhu choked on his words, nearly spitting blood. He wanted to strike right then but held back, sensing the mysterious death link between Ye Chen's avatar and Shi Xue Shen Zi—a common technique used in kidnappings.

Have you not ransomed him back yet?

Shi Xue Lao Mo's voice transmitted over, icy cold.

Almost.

Shi Xue Sheng Zhu replied into the void transmission stone.

Hurry up.

Understood.

Shi Xue Sheng Zhu responded, then fixed a cold stare on Ye Chen's avatar. "How much longer do you need to count?"

Look at you, getting impatient.

Ye Chen's avatar was completely at ease, pulling out the Yuan Shi one by one from the storage bag and putting them into another, truly counting them piece by piece.

You bastard.

The Shi Xue Zong Grand Elder exploded in fury, his roar like thunder. Nine million Yuan Shi, counted one by one—who knew how long that would take? By the time it was done, the opportunity would be long gone.

Don't rush; I'm a man of my word in business.

Ye Chen's avatar said nonchalantly. "After all, this is a big deal. I have to finish counting, right? What if you slipped in some fakes? Kidnapping isn't easy—I can't afford to get cheated."

"I..." Ye Chen's avatar's words left the hot-tempered Shi Xue Zong elders fuming, nearly charging forward.

Since we're just waiting around, how about I tell you a story?

Ye Chen's avatar continued fiddling with the Yuan Shi in the storage bag and cleared his throat, his expression turning meaningful. "It was a stormy night, and there was this old man—yeah, a real sleazy type. He carried a dingy black club and went from house to house, smashing widows' doors."

Enough!

Shi Xue Sheng Zhu erupted in anger, his face twisting ferociously, as if realizing Ye Chen's avatar was just buying time. "If you keep this nonsense up, we'll all go down together."

"My Shi Xue Zong can raise one Shen Zi, and we can raise another."

Release him!

"Don't try to scare me.

Ye Chen's avatar shrugged. "I'm just a mere avatar—if I die, so be it. But your Shen Zi is a different story. Let me tell you, he's not exactly upright. On my way here, he's the one who's done the most misdeeds—raiding homes, looting, burning, killing, you name it. Taking him down with me is just me doing justice for heaven."

"You... puff." Shi Xue Sheng Zhu finally couldn't hold back and spat out blood, his insides churning from the rage.

Have you not ransomed him back yet?

Shi Xue Lao Mo's voice came again, filled with fury. He was watching Ye Chen wreak havoc in Shi Xue Xian Shan but didn't dare act, afraid of a mutual destruction that would drag Shi Xue Shen Zi into the underworld with him.

Old Ancestor, he's stalling for time.

Damn it!

Well done.

Compared to them, Ye Chen was smirking. Even his avatar had inherited his style perfectly, talking circles around them.

With that, Ye Chen streaked into the depths of Shi Xue Xian Shan and swiftly stored an entire immortal pool into his Hun Dun Ding, letting Hao Tian Shi Yue absorb it—this was prime material for replenishing origins.

Hao Tian Shi Yue smiled and didn't hold back, activating her cultivation technique to devour the radiant immortal pool.

Hao Tian Shi Yue had watched Ye Chen's rampage the whole way. Wherever he went, nothing was left behind, not even a hair.

Naturally, from the start, Ye Chen had held the absolute initiative.

Whether Shi Xue Lao Mo went to ransom Shi Xue Shen Zi or not made no difference. If he went, Ye Chen would raid Shi Xue Zong. If he stayed to guard it, Ye Chen would go after Shi Xue Sheng Zhu and the others. Because of Shi Xue Shen Zi, he and his avatar could act without shame, using this shameless tactic.

The more Hao Tian Shi Yue thought about it, the more satisfying it became. Ye Chen's actions were also a way to honor that old woman's spirit in the heavens.