Chapter 25

**Peng——**

The fierce claws, like those of an eagle, lunged towards Ye Zhong's throat. However, just as they were about to reach his throat, Ye Zhong's green steel longsword trembled slightly in his hand, not stabbing out but merely lying flat in front of him. At this moment, the thin man's expression suddenly changed. His originally charging figure abruptly halted, his feet stomping the ground as he quickly retreated several steps. Then, a look of wariness appeared in his gaze as he stared at Ye Zhong.

In that instant, he had a strange feeling that if he continued to attack recklessly, he might very well have his heart pierced by the tip of the green steel longsword at the same time his claw reached Ye Zhong's throat. This feeling made the thin man instantly change his move. Now, as he looked at Ye Zhong, his eyes were filled with caution and seriousness. Before the confrontation, Ye Zhong had seemed like nothing more than a waste to him, not worth any attention. But after less than one move, he realized that this guy was not easy to deal with.

"What's going on!?"

"That guy should have the strength of the fourth level of Body Tempering, how could he be scared off?"

"But that kid, don't look at him being only thirteen or fourteen years old, haven't you forgotten what happened at the city gate yesterday?"

"At the time, it was said to be done by a man and a woman. Could it be these two?"

Seeing this scene, a wave of discussion arose among the crowd behind. Clearly, Ye Zhong not being defeated instantly was completely unexpected by them.

Ye Zhong gave the thin man a faint glance but then ignored him, casually flicking the green steel longsword in his hand and walking slowly towards the nearly a hundred black-robed people behind the thin man. His posture seemed to show no fear of them at all.

"These unlucky guys." Su Yu sensed the faint killing aura emanating from Ye Zhong. Even she couldn't quite understand why her adopted junior brother's killing aura was so heavy. This level of calm and decisiveness far exceeded that of his peers and was not something a common noble family could cultivate.

However, despite her thoughts, Su Yu also moved, blocking in front of the thin man with a pitiful look on her face. If this guy knew about her adopted junior brother's legend of walking a hundred steps, he probably wouldn't dare to do this even if he had ten lives.

"Kid! You're being too presumptuous!"

The black-robed people behind them exchanged glances, their expressions turning cold. Although they didn't know what had just happened, they now realized that this kid was challenging them.

*Swish——*

In the next instant, two black-robed people on either side lunged forward with a sinister smile, their knives transforming into long arcs as they swept towards Ye Zhong's vital points.

Ye Zhong remained calm, his longsword lightly flicking and casually swinging forward. The tip of the sword struck the wrist of the black-robed man on the left at an extremely strange angle. Then, he turned his body and slashed backward, causing the man on the right to scream in agony as his entire arm was severed by Ye Zhong.

With one move, he seriously injured two people, but Ye Zhong showed no emotion. He stepped forward half a step, and his longsword transformed into a streak of light, about to take the lives of the two attackers in the next instant.

"Friend, please show mercy!"

At this critical moment, a calm voice suddenly echoed from the valley. The voice was gentle but carried the authority of a superior.

Ye Zhong frowned slightly, hesitating for a moment before ultimately not delivering the killing blow. He casually flicked the blood off his longsword and then raised his head to gaze at the deep, dark valley. He had a sense that if he forced his hand, he might suffer a devastating blow. This feeling was very unsettling.

At this moment, the two injured black-robed men were already pale-faced, clutching their arms and retreating quickly. The nearly a hundred black-robed people also quickly dispersed to the sides, kneeling on the ground.

"Master! This subordinate is incompetent."

The thin man's expression also changed, and he quickly knelt on the ground, gritting his teeth and speaking.

"Ha ha, Hou Wu, stand down. This can't be blamed on you. Even if I, the young master, were to personally intervene, it might not be effective against a member of the Star Constellation Sect, let alone you?"

A faint laugh echoed, and then a figure in a purple-golden robe slowly walked out from the valley. Behind him, a graceful woman in a white dress followed, holding an umbrella to shield him from the sun.

The man was about twenty years old, with an ordinary appearance but a refined and authoritative aura that only a superior could possess. Even though he was standing there casually, it seemed as if the nearly a hundred black-robed people had automatically transformed into his subordinates.

"Body Tempering Fifth Level!"

Feeling the faint, dormant aura of a raging beast emanating from the man, Ye Zhong frowned slightly. Dealing with such a person would be very troublesome, and even at this moment, he had no certainty of victory.

"Miss Su Yu, it's been a long time."

The man slowly walked to the front of the valley, his gaze casually sweeping over Ye Zhong before settling on Su Yu. He smiled lightly and said.

"Lord Kong Xu!?"

The moment she recognized the man's appearance, Su Yu's pupils constricted. She moved quickly, blocking Ye Zhong behind her, her expression becoming extremely serious.

"Lord Kong Xu?" Hearing this, Ye Zhong frowned slightly. From Su Yu's reaction, it seemed that this guy was a big shot.

"One of the Four Young Lords of the Leitian Dynasty, Lord Kong Xu Lei Ruoxu." Su Yu's face was gloomy as she explained softly, "In short, one of the four most talented young people in the Leitian Dynasty. He once visited our Star Constellation Sect, and I had a brief encounter with him."

"One of the Four Young Lords of the Leitian Dynasty?" Hearing this, a faint shock appeared in Ye Zhong's calm eyes. The Leitian Dynasty was stronger overall than the Dazhou Dynasty, and the four strongest young people were formidable.

"Ha ha, it's been a long time, Miss Su Yu, to be recognized at first glance is a great honor for me." Lei Ruoxu in the purple robe stepped forward slowly, his gaze landing on Su Yu with a faint hint of warmth in his eyes.

"With your status in the Star Constellation Sect, you wouldn't just bring this young brother with you to the Southern Border, would you?"

Seemingly unaware of the intense gaze in Lei Ruoxu's eyes, Su Yu smiled and said, "This time, my junior brother and I are here on a sect mission. We didn't expect to encounter your subordinates blocking our way. It seems that if we don't hand over the map to the hall, Lord Kong Xu won't let us pass?"

"Ha ha ha, Miss Su Yu, with our relationship, there's no need for such formalities," Lei Ruoxu smiled gently, "If Miss Su Yu is interested, how about we cooperate this time? Whatever we find in the ruins of the Innate Holy Hall, we'll split it fifty-fifty?"

Su Yu frowned and then smiled, "There's no need for cooperation. This time, we're just here for training. I hope Lord Kong Xu, considering our past acquaintance, will let us pass."

Lei Ruoxu's eyes flickered, and he nodded, making a gesture of invitation. "Since Miss Su Yu isn't interested in cooperation at the moment, I won't force it. Please, Miss! In the Qingxuan Mountains, whenever you want to cooperate with me, I have no objections."

With Lei Ruoxu's gesture, the black-robed people who had been kneeling on the ground quickly stood up and moved to the sides, revealing the deep, dark valley.

"Thank you, Lord Kong Xu. If there's a need for cooperation, I won't hesitate to ask." Su Yu smiled and then slowly walked into the valley.

Ye Zhong frowned but followed Su Yu into the valley.

*Whoosh——*

However, just as Ye Zhong took a step forward, Lei Ruoxu suddenly flicked his finger, and a whistling sound was heard. A cold light flashed like lightning towards Ye Zhong's feet.

"Be careful!" Su Yu reacted instantly, but it was too late for her to help.

Ye Zhong's longsword swung out instantly, shattering the cold light. However, as he shattered the light, his green steel longsword trembled, and cracks spread across it.

Ye Zhong frowned for a moment, casually tossing the broken sword to the ground. He raised his head, his gaze cold as he looked at Lei Ruoxu, a serious expression flashing in his eyes. Lei Ruoxu was indeed very strong!

"Lei Ruoxu! What do you mean!?" Su Yu's eyes narrowed, her beautiful face turning cold as she glared at Lei Ruoxu.

"Ha, Miss Su Yu, considering our past acquaintance, letting you pass is no problem. If you want to bring a junior brother from your sect, I can't stop you..." Lei Ruoxu smiled, but a faint hint of amusement flashed in his eyes as he looked at Ye Zhong, "However, your junior brother was a bit too ruthless just now. He severed one of my subordinates' arms. If I don't seek some justice for my subordinate, it wouldn't be fair, would it?"

"You—!" Su Yu's eyebrows raised, about to scold him.

But at this moment, Ye Zhong stepped forward, stopping Su Yu with a wave of his hand. He stared at Lord Kong Xu and said calmly, "Then what kind of justice do you want?"

"Ha, finally stepping out from behind a woman? I thought you were going to let Miss Su Yu take the blame for you!" Lei Ruoxu smiled coldly, "How about this: if you can withstand three moves from me, today's matter will be considered settled. What do you think?"