He infused the power of his divine soul frantically into the flying sword formed like the condensation of moonlight in his sea of consciousness.
Coincidentally, while the Emotion Crossing Sect emphasizes the seven emotions and six desires, the Heart Slaughter Sword Technique is diametrically opposed, making them natural enemies.
"Eradicate the seven emotions, annihilate the six desires!"
The silver gleam on Chen Ye’s brow reached its pinnacle as a transparent moon-white sword light ignored space and slashed towards the heavily injured and staggering Mei Suxin!
Mei Suxin’s pupils shrank to a needle’s point.
She felt it—a true deathly aura capable of completely eradicating her divine soul!
A hundred times more terrifying than the assassination by the Profound Scale Guard!
Desperately, she burned her vital blood and performed the Feathering Technique.
The Feathering Technique is the first escape method of Yan and Qi, once allowing Yuan Haoxuan to flee from Bai Susu’s grasp.
However,
This sword intent is formless and intangible, not cutting the physical body but rather the divine soul!
"Argh—!"
Her blood and flesh, attempting to flee, abruptly halted in mid-air, then transformed into a rain of blood and flesh falling down.
Her beautiful head rolled to the ground, those soul-stirring eyes lost all brilliance.
Almost simultaneously,
Hee Qi, who was fiercely battling the Xu Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivator, also stiffened as a strand of sword qi from the Heart Slaughter Sword prematurely severed the divine soul controlled by the Emotion Crossing Seed he had planted.
Fortunately, Chen Ye had previously informed them, so the Xu Family cultivator did not seize the opportunity to attack but rather watched on with vigilance.
"It’s done..."
Chen Ye groaned softly, his complexion pale like gold paper, thin strands of blood seeping from his seven orifices, and his brow cracked, staining blood all over his face.
It wasn’t until the Heart Slaughter Sword returned to his brow that the crack gradually closed, leaving a faint blood trace.
His vision blurred, his body swayed, nearly falling down.
The backlash from wielding the Heart Slaughter Sword far surpassed his expectations!
"Master!"
Zhiwei and Qing Jun exclaimed simultaneously, disregarding Mei Suxin’s corpse and hurriedly supporting the teetering Chen Ye.
"Friend Mei?!"
Skin Strip Elder saw Mei Suxin’s demise, frightened out of his wits.
Xu Changhe seized the flaw in his shocked spirit, releasing an overwhelming gold light of the Heaven Drum Seal, like an immortal striking a drum, slamming down with mighty heavenly thunder!
"No—!"
Skin Strip Elder, not Xu Changhe’s match, only managed a cry of despair before his protective spiritual light was crushed by the True Seal, leaving his entire being blasted into a mist of blood!
With the backbone of support falling one after another, the remaining demon cultivators were utterly dismayed.
The two Profound Scale Guards, having their hands freed, quickly took action.
In just a moment, one of the demon cultivators was caught by the Xu Family cultivators, and his head was severed with a sword!
The last demon cultivator, seeing the situation was lost, lost all will to fight, and spewed a mouthful of vital blood, transforming into a stream of blood light and attempting to escape!
"Trying to leave?!"
Xu Changhe, who had been observing the battlefield, coldly snorted. Despite being greatly depleted, he wouldn’t let them escape?
He formed his fingers into a sword, releasing a condensed golden sword qi that pierced through the stream of blood light!
The blood light scattered, and the demon cultivator’s body fell from mid-air.
Excluding Hee Qi, a total of four Foundation Establishment demon cultivators perished here.
The manor was in a state of ruin, with a lingering stench of blood.
The Xu Family’s two Foundation Establishment cultivators swiftly checked the battlefield, preventing any surprises.
The Profound Scale Guards then re-entered Qing Jun’s shadow, planning to protect him from the shadows until the battle concluded.
Xu Changhe quickly moved to Chen Ye’s side, seeing him with blood seeping from his seven orifices, appearing exhausted and lifeless, he was shocked: "What forbidden technique is this?!"
He hadn’t seen that terrifying moon-white sword light, for when the Heart Slaughter Sword is unleashed, only the one being struck can catch a glimpse.
"No... it’s nothing... I won’t die."
Chen Ye, enduring, pulled out a pill that nourished the divine soul and stuffed it into his mouth, sitting cross-legged to adjust his breathing.
The pain and tearing sensation in his brow and divine soul were still intense, yet fortunately, with Mei Suxin dead and the demonic technique dissipated, the Heart Slaughter Sword had fallen silent.
"Alas, strong is strong, but each usage demands at least months of arduous cultivation and numerous pills for recovery."
Chen Ye sighed inwardly.
Heavenly Dao depletes the surplus and supplements the lacking.
Precisely because of the Heart Slaughter Sword’s might, its cost is considerable.
Xu Changhe, gazing at the corpses of Mei Suxin and Skin Strip Elder, especially Mei Suxin’s vacant and bewildered face, felt a lingering fear and said solemnly:
"We are greatly indebted to Taoist Friend Chen for turning the tide and executing this villain! Mei Suxin held a significant status in the Emotion Crossing Sect; her defeat will surely dampen the demon cultivators’ arrogance!"
He turned to Hee Qi lying on the ground, "Who is this person? Just now... he seemed to be under the control of the Emotion Crossing Seed."
Chen Ye suppressed the surging qi and blood, sighing, "He is an old friend of mine, named Hee Qi. Unfortunately, he was captured by Mei Suxin and forced to work for the Demon Cultivators."
One matter was settled.
The cold wind swept over the ruins of the Baiyang Villa.
Chen Ye sat cross-legged in meditation, while two Xu Family cultivators, under the instructions of Xu Changfeng, searched the Baiyang Villa for survivors.
Though the Skinning Elder claimed to have turned everyone into blood food, Steward Sun’s life token was still intact, suggesting it might just be words to shake people’s morale before the battle.
"Taoist Friend Chen, killing the Demon Cultivators is a great joy. But the aftermath still requires serious discussion."
Xu Changhe leaned against a broken wall and said solemnly,
"This time, the four Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators were slain by my brothers and me. Their relics are our spoils of war. As for Mei Suxin, we leave it to Taoist Friend Chen to allocate."
Chen Ye was greatly surprised as he looked at that small bell.
The body of the bell was carved from some unknown white bone, with a dim fire flickering inside. Occasionally, a breeze would blow through, causing the bell to emit a light sound that slightly stirred the Divine Soul.
It caused the Heart Slaughter Sword to become restless, making blood ooze from Chen Ye’s forehead.
Zhiwei quickly stepped forward and hurriedly fixed the bell, allowing Chen Ye to feel much better.
He pondered inwardly:
The four Demon Cultivators were slain by Xu Family members, so their Magical Treasures naturally belong to them.
However, Mei Suxin’s death also involved the Xu Family members.
Besides,
everyone could see that currently, the most valuable thing in Baiyang Villa was the Hidden Nether Aperture.
Don’t be fooled by Zhiwei having three Gourd Swords. In reality, a Second Tier Top Grade Magical Treasure could already be the treasure of a middle-tier Cultivation Clan, or even a small sect like the Hundred Herbs Valley!
The Lingyin Sect had a considerable number of Second Tier Upper Grade Magical Treasures, but Second Tier Top Grade ones were scarce.
Besides this, the mystical properties of the Hidden Nether Aperture were numerous.
It could launch attacks on the Divine Soul, swallow others’ Magical Treasures, and seemingly possessed a concealing effect?
"Thank you, Brother Xu."
Chen Ye did not refuse. Mei Suxin’s death was primarily due to him.
He was just surprised that Xu Changhe resisted his own greed and did not compete with him for it.
Xu Changhe turned to look at Hee Qi and asked, "This Taoist Friend Hee..."
Chen Ye struggled to stand up, with Zhiwei and Qing Jun quickly supporting him.
He walked over to Hee Qi and checked his condition, confirming that the Emotion Crossing Seed had been removed, but his Divine Soul was severely damaged, and having been manipulated by Demon Cultivators to the point of exhaustion, he remained unconscious.
"Brother Xu, please arrange for someone to take him back to the Herb Pavilion. We’ll make further decisions once he regains consciousness." Chen Ye said earnestly.
"Don’t worry, leave it to me."
Xu Changhe agreed, immediately summoning the Xu Family cultivators to come over and assigned them to take care of Hee Qi.
Meanwhile.
The two Foundation Establishment cultivators successfully found the missing Steward Sun and others in the Baiyang Villa.
Mei Suxin and her group, fearing unexpected incidents, didn’t bother to take their lives in order to lure Chen Ye to seek them out.
However, they were more or less tortured by the Demon Cultivators.
Three of them had already been mortally wounded and died.
"Alas... it’s still not perfect."
Chen Ye sighed. These people had good relationships with Qing Jun and Zhiwei and took good care of the two little girls.
Therefore, he naturally held a good impression of these disciples of the Herb Pavilion.
"Master, how are you?" Qing Jun looked up with her little face, her eyes reddened with tension.
It was rare to see the usually mischievous Qing Jun in such a nervous state...
Chen Ye said sadly, "Without my disciple’s hug, I’m afraid the master won’t last long!"
"Boo hoo hoo! Master, you’re not allowed to get into trouble!"
Qing Jun pouted, nearly bursting into tears.
She quickly and cautiously hugged her master, resting his head on her chest, and while stroking his head, sobbed, "Now that disciple’s hugged you, Master should be alright..."
"Silly girl..." Chen Ye was both crying and laughing, did the girl really believe it?
The little girl whispered, "As long as Master is happy, Qing Jun is willing to do anything."
These words froze the smile on Chen Ye’s face.
Truly, as the master’s heart, to the disciple’s mind!
Zhiwei bit her silver teeth silently, coldly watching Mei Suxin’s corpse.
"Ultimately, I am too weak. I couldn’t kill Mei Suxin with my own hands, and let Master be so seriously injured..."
In that instant,
the familiar feeling of powerlessness gripped her heart once more.