Volume Two – The Map of the Nine Provinces Revealed, Entering the Spirit Ruins Chapter 143: Escaping Death's Grasp

It was then that Chen Yu realized the Dao-Bone Yin Essence had suddenly emitted a beam of dark light upon sensing the presence of the five fierce ghosts, instantly binding them. A powerful pulling force dragged the five blood-red ghosts toward the Dao-Bone Yin Essence. Though the ghosts struggled to escape, they could not break free from the dark light's restraint and could only wail in terror.

Ultimately, the five blood-red ghosts failed to hold on. Their physical forms completely disintegrated under the dark light of the Dao-Bone Yin Essence, and their intense resentments were entirely absorbed by it.

Yet the Dao-Bone Yin Essence did not stop there; it continued to frantically absorb the pool of Yin-sha malevolent energy.

"Is that... the Dao-Bone Yin Essence? How could someone at the One-Yuan Realm possess such a treasure?" Master Xuyang muttered, his voice filled with excitement, envy, and greed...

This outcome truly filled Chen Yu with pleasant surprise. He quickly summoned his magical longsword, leapt into the air, and, casting a cold gaze at Master Xuyang, said, "It is time we settled our score."

"With just you? Don't think that dealing with a few Yin spirits means you have already won," Master Xuyang sneered disdainfully.

"Ever since we entered this place, you, Master Xuyang, have remained completely still. If I guessed correctly, you must have been heavily injured beforehand and have been healing here all this time," Chen Yu said, narrowing his eyes and speaking in a cold voice. "Were you injured by a backlash while attempting a breakthrough?"

Master Xuyang maintained a calm expression, showing little panic as he retorted, "Do you really think that means you can escape from me?"

"Escape..." Chen Yu laughed scornfully. "Rest assured, I will kill you first before leaving."

"Kill me?" Master Xuyang was momentarily stunned before bursting into a loud laugh. "Ha, ha... With just you? A mere cultivator at the One-Yuan Realm, and you dare to boast so shamelessly."

"If you were at the height of your power, I would indeed stand no chance. But things are different now," Chen Yu said calmly. "Your body cannot even withstand the medicinal potency of the Half-Moon Purple Lotus, which shows just how grave your condition is."

Master Xuyang's gaze hardened as he said in a deep voice, "Then feel free to try!"

"Heh... You can rest assured, I won't let you off easily," Chen Yu sneered. "However, before that, let me cut off your retreat."

Master Xuyang's pupils constricted, and he naturally understood what Chen Yu was implying. His expression instantly turned gloomy. Unable to help himself, he let out an angry roar, "You're courting death!"

With a wave of Master Xuyang's hand, three flying swords rapidly slashed toward Chen Yu. Daring not to be careless, Chen Yu raised his sword to parry. Moving with lightning speed and executing ever-changing sword forms, he actually managed to block Master Xuyang's offensive single-handedly. True to his speculation, Master Xuyang's strength was now less than ten percent of what it used to be.

The only thing Chen Yu worried about now was that Master Xuyang, driven to desperation, would swallow the Half-Moon Purple Lotus, leaving him with nothing at all.

Chen Yu's heart sank, and his grip on the longsword tightened. Suddenly, he slashed toward the three flying swords. "Grand Clumsy Sword Art: Subduing Dragon and Tiger!"

A powerful force knocked the three swords away. Chen Yu instantly transformed into a golden streak of light, piercing through the blockade of Master Xuyang's three swords and charging straight at him.

"Courting death!" Master Xuyang could no longer maintain his composure, and in a flurry of anxiety, he threw a palm strike at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu did not retreat either, meeting the attack with his sword. "Five Elements Blazing Fire Sword: Shaking Mountains and Earth!"

Channeling the power of the Fire Element, his scorching sword qi sliced through Master Xuyang's palm wind and continued toward him. Terrified, Master Xuyang, who was sitting cross-legged, instantly leaned backward to narrowly dodge the blow.

Pressing his advantage step by step, Chen Yu leaped forward and slashed at Master Xuyang again.

"You... are courting death!" Master Xuyang was truly frightened. Chen Yu's suicidal fighting style caught him quite off guard. He immediately manipulated the three swords to stab at Chen Yu.

With a dark expression, Chen Yu vaulted into the air to evade them while simultaneously sending a beam of sword qi slicing through the space toward Master Xuyang. If Master Xuyang did not dodge, he would undoubtedly be wounded by the sword qi.

Cursing inwardly, Master Xuyang finally forced himself airborne and, with a few awkward rolls, barely managed to evade it. At last, he understood Chen Yu's true intention: he was entirely focused on the Half-Moon Purple Lotus.

Filled with vexation, Master Xuyang realized that had he known this would happen, he should have forcibly swallowed the Half-Moon Purple Lotus despite his severe injuries.

"Get away from the Half-Moon Purple Lotus!" Master Xuyang shouted resentfully. As soon as the words left his mouth, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, Chen Yu grew even more confident. "Ha, ha... It seems your injuries are far from simple. There is even death aura manifesting inside your body. Tsk, tsk... Does this mean you were relying on this Yin-sha energy to transform your physical body into a ghostly form? What a pity that your injuries are too severe; despite having so much Yin-sha energy, you didn't dare to be so radical."

"Brat, you know too much," Master Xuyang snorted coldly, dragging his battered body forward to attack Chen Yu.

"You are at the end of your rope; how can you still fight me?" Chen Yu sneered. "The malevolent energy in the Yin pool is already gone. If I take the Half-Moon Purple Lotus as well, how much longer do you think you have to live?"

"What on earth do you want?" Master Xuyang demanded in a deep voice, though his attacks on Chen Yu never slackened.

"What do I want?" Chen Yu sneered. "You were the one determined to put me to death. Did you really think I would let you go?"

"With just you?" Furious, Master Xuyang was willing to risk his severely wounded body to cut Chen Yu down on the spot.

Chen Yu shared the exact same thought; he could not afford to leave such a hazardous threat alive.

Though their battle appeared fierce, Master Xuyang was indeed at his limit. Even through sheer attrition, Chen Yu could wear him down to death.

Master Xuyang knew this logic well, but he had no other options left. His agitation and impatience ultimately gave Chen Yu the opening he waited for.

With a fierce slash, Chen Yu brought the power of the Fire Element crashing down from the air. Not only did it shatter Master Xuyang's three precious swords, but it also landed a devastating blow squarely on Master Xuyang's body.

*Puff...* Fresh blood sprayed across the air as Master Xuyang's vital aura rapidly faded. His lifeless eyes were filled with lingering resentment. He never imagined that after scheming for so long and staining his hands with blood, he would still meet such an end.

Gazing at the lifeless body of Master Xuyang, Chen Yu let out a long breath, his own body suddenly turning weak. Sustaining two bursts of Fire Element power remained his absolute limit, but in the end, he had succeeded.

Daring not to tarry, he quickly cleaned up the scene and destroyed the corpse.

Because the Half-Moon Purple Lotus served as the anchor point of the Mysterious Yin Inversion Array, the moment Chen Yu removed it, the array naturally collapsed.

Knowing that Liu Yue'er was still inside the array, Chen Yu fled without hesitation the moment the formation broke. By the time Liu Yue'er noticed, the place was already completely deserted.