Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 572: Slaughter Order

Ye Qingchen’s formidable combat power obliterated all of Li Kai’s previous disdain for him. At this moment, he didn’t even have the courage to face Ye Qingchen alone. After some deliberation, Li Kai waved to his teammates. The nine disciples from Flat Sky Academy moved to surround Ye Qingchen.

Ye Qingchen remained placid, his gaze cold as he watched Li Kai and his group. Yet, the calmer Ye Qingchen appeared, the more panicked Li Kai felt.

"Everyone, be careful. This guy is tricky," Li Kai instructed. "Let’s start by draining the nature’s spiritual energy around him. Without control over it, a Martial King is no match for a Martial Emperor, no matter how powerful he is." They were, after all, talented disciples from the four major academies. While many Martial Artists in the Martial King Realm could control nature’s spiritual energy, Li Kai refused to believe Ye Qingchen’s proficiency could compare to theirs as true Martial Emperors. He gave the order just to be safe.

Ye Qingchen felt the nature’s spiritual energy around him shift, becoming less attuned to him. He frowned slightly before releasing his own Soul Power.

Once Ye Qingchen unleashed his Soul Power, Li Kai and the others were shocked to find that the nature’s spiritual energy they had painstakingly gathered suddenly grew restless and escaped their control.

"How is this possible? I can’t feel the nature’s spiritual energy anymore!" a disciple from Flat Sky Academy exclaimed in surprise. He had just broken through to the second layer of the Martial Emperor Realm; this shouldn’t be happening.

Following his outburst, the others were also stunned to discover the surrounding nature’s spiritual energy was returning to its normal state, no longer subject to their will.

Li Kai’s brow furrowed tightly. He said to the group, "This kid must have some treasure that’s blocking our control over nature’s spiritual energy. Don’t panic. We’re Martial Emperors. Even without using spiritual energy, he’s no match for us."

The others nodded, recovering from their initial alarm. What they didn’t know was that Ye Qingchen wasn’t using a treasure at all. He was controlling the surrounding spiritual energy with his own formidable Soul Power and his unparalleled affinity for it.

Back when he was cultivating with Qin Chuan, Ye Qingchen was only at the fourth layer of the Martial King Realm, yet even then, his control over nature’s spiritual energy could rival that of a low-level Martial Emperor. Now, not only had Ye Qingchen mastered a higher level of Attribute Energy, but he had also advanced to the seventh layer of the Martial King Realm. His Soul Power had been greatly enhanced, and his mastery over nature’s spiritual energy was now on par with that of a mid-level Martial Emperor.

Ye Qingchen knew his opponents were all at least at the second layer of the Martial Emperor Realm. Ordinarily, a Martial Artist at the peak of the Martial King Realm who could kill a second-layer Martial Emperor would be considered a peerless genius. Yet now, Ye Qingchen was facing nine of them alone, some of whom were even at the third layer of the Martial Emperor Realm. He remained fearless and took the initiative to attack.

While Li Kai was still talking to the other disciples, Ye Qingchen had already achieved perfect harmony with the surrounding spiritual energy. Using it for concealment, he instantly executed Fire Spirit Charm Shadow, flashing behind a second-layer Martial Emperor. With a swift fall of his blade, he dispatched another Flat Sky Academy disciple. This happened at the exact moment Li Kai finished telling everyone not to be afraid.

After felling the disciple, Ye Qingchen used Fire Spirit Charm Shadow again to return to his original spot. If not for the white light that had teleported the defeated disciple away, Li Kai’s group would not have even realized Ye Qingchen had moved. It was only when the white light flared that they all looked at Ye Qingchen in astonishment. When they confirmed he hadn’t moved from his spot, an eerie chill washed over them.

What kind of monster is this?! Not only can he kill a Martial Emperor in an instant, but he’s also completely elusive! How are we supposed to fight if we can’t even see his shadow?

Even Li Kai couldn’t help but shudder. As expected, someone the Saint Heir is determined to kill is anything but simple!

Taking advantage of their shock, Ye Qingchen repeated the feat, killing another second-layer Martial Emperor.

Ye Qingchen himself couldn’t help but marvel. The combat techniques Second Senior Brother taught me are on a completely different level from these people. It’s an absolute curbstomp! I wonder what these techniques look like when Second Senior Brother uses them. How divinely unpredictable would that be?

At this moment, the Saint Heir watching from among the Ten Great Ancient Clans could no longer maintain his calm expression. Ye Qingchen’s method of attack was far too familiar to him. The Saint Heir had requested more than once that Elder Yang teach him this very technique, but he had always been refused. To his astonishment, Elder Yang had passed it on to Ye Qingchen. While blaming Elder Yang, a deep animosity toward Ye Qingchen began to fester within him.

Why? Why?! Why does every good thing happen to this guy? Qin Yue is utterly devoted to him, and Elder Yang taught him everything... What right does this kid have?

For the first time, the lofty Saint Heir felt a pang of jealousy toward Ye Qingchen. The Saint Heir screamed inwardly. The man who was typically so refined and elegant was now determined to see Ye Qingchen dead.

"Li Rui!" the Saint Heir said softly.

Although the Saint Heir’s voice was quiet, Li Rui grew intensely nervous. In all his years of service, the Saint Heir only ever called his name so gravely when he was utterly enraged. Hearing his name spoken directly was more than enough to convey the Saint Heir’s current mood.

Li Rui scrambled to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground.

"Inform everyone in the Secret Realm to converge on Ye Qingchen’s location immediately. Any disciple from Central Celestial Academy they encounter is to be killed on sight!" the Saint Heir enunciated each word, his rage clearly reaching its peak.

"Despicable!" Qin Yue’s voice was sharp with anxiety. "You promised to provide a venue for the four academies, but now you’re mobilizing everyone against Qingchen alone! You have the gall to call yourself a Saint Heir of the Ten Great Ancient Clans?"

Although the rules for the first phase stated that the defeated would be teleported out, Qin Yue, who was an expert in Formations, understood that teleportation was entirely at the Saint Heir’s discretion. If the Saint Heir wanted Ye Qingchen dead, the rule about teleporting upon defeat would simply be ignored. Afterward, no one would dare to hold the Saint Heir of the Ten Great Ancient Clans accountable for the life or death of a single disciple.

Unable to maintain his composure any longer, the Saint Heir said coldly, "Despicable? So what? This is the privilege of my status!"

In no time, every disciple in the Secret Realm—aside from those of Central Celestial Academy—received Li Rui’s telepathic message. Ye Qingchen’s location was now being updated in their minds in real-time. The order to kill any student from Central Celestial Academy on sight was also made known to all.

Thus, a slaughter of Central Celestial Academy disciples swiftly began throughout the Secret Realm. Even teams from different academies who were in the middle of fighting each other would instantly join forces if they spotted anyone from Central Celestial Academy.