Volume Two: Travels in the Qi Kingdom Chapter 163: Breaking the Mold

"Ye Wuji, why waste your breath with so much nonsense? If you want that demon crystal, come and take it yourself."

"Kid, since you’re asking for death, don’t blame me." Ye Wuji’s cold eyes narrowed sharply. With a subtle lift of his right hand, a surge of spiritual energy—too swift for the naked eye to catch—shot toward Zhang Heng.

A powerhouse at the Heavenly Origin realm was formidable indeed; just a casual strike carried overwhelming force. Yet, Zhang Heng showed no sign of panic.

"Everyone, enough pretending. If this continues, I might really lose my life," Zhang Heng said helplessly.

Damn, these people were addicted to acting!

At that very moment, Ling Tian, who had been writhing in agony on the ground, suddenly changed demeanor. In a flash, he appeared before Zhang Heng and lightly caught Ye Wuji’s attack with his hand. With a teasing tone, he said, "Ye Wuji, you’re really regressing. To think you’d strike a junior like this."

"What? You—" Ye Wuji was dumbfounded. How could Ling Tian break free from the demon energy’s entanglement? And judging by Zhang Heng’s words, it seemed the others had been faking it as well.

"What are you saying? Haven’t you ever seen a handsome guy before?" Ling Tian retorted outright.

At that instant, Qi Huang, the two sect leaders of the Hehuan Sect, the elder of the Hun Yuan Hall, Bai Chen, and the two Heavenly Origin Nine-Rank warriors behind him—all the Heavenly Origin realm masters—stood up simultaneously. None appeared to be tainted by the demon energy.

"This is impossible! It can’t be!" Ye Wuji shouted in panic.

Wu Fa Wutian’s complexion changed drastically. "How can this be? Why aren’t you all corrupted by the demon energy?"

"No, you were definitely invaded by it. Why are you unharmed now?" Ye Wuji yelled, confusion evident in his voice.

Just moments ago, he distinctly sensed the demon energy within these people’s bodies. Why was it suddenly gone?

"Tch, enough with the nonsense," Zhang Heng said lazily, casting them a glance before turning toward Mu Wanqing.

"Everyone, let’s get this over with," he said.

Hearing Zhang Heng’s words, the leaders of various sects, along with Bai Chen and the two warriors behind him, all advanced coldly toward Ye Wuji and Wu Fa Wutian.

"You still haven’t answered my question," Ye Wuji shouted anxiously.

Zhang Heng, who was tending to Mu Wanqing’s wounds, responded with disdain, "Why should I answer your questions? Are you missing a screw?"

Ye Wuji and Wu Fa Wutian were stunned. Wasn’t this a trap? When Qi Huang and the others asked questions earlier, he did answer.

But Zhang Heng’s point was valid—why should one answer just because they were asked?

Even Mu Wanqing covered her face and smiled lightly upon hearing Zhang Heng’s words.

Zhang Heng always kept in mind the truth that villains perish by talking too much. Perhaps Ye Wuji had wasted precious time with his incessant chatter, allowing Ling Tian and the others to recover.

Therefore, if possible, avoid idle talk.

"Do you really think you’ve won?" At that moment, Ye Wuji shouted loudly, producing a pill and swallowing it without hesitation.

"Stop him, Senior Bai Chen!" Zhang Heng yelled. The pill was imbued with a potent concentration of demon energy.

The two elders behind Bai Chen immediately sensed something. Gathering their spiritual energy, they flashed forward and struck Ye Wuji with simultaneous lethal moves. Naturally, Ye Wuji could not withstand the combined attacks of these two Heavenly Origin Nine-Rank warriors and was sent flying, coughing up blood midair.

Struggling to rise from the ground, Ye Wuji looked pitiful, blood covering his face, yet he smiled with a sinister gleam.

"Ha ha ha, too late."

Suddenly, a tremendous force erupted within his body. Black demon energy surged forth, filling the entire space that had previously been filled with spiritual energy.

Ye Wuji’s aura skyrocketed, reaching the Divine Transformation realm. With a shocking presence, he swept his cold gaze over the battlefield.

"You could have lived, but you insisted on courting death. So be it—I’ll grant you your wish."

Ling Tian, Bai Chen, Qi Huang, and the other sect masters were all significant figures, naturally not intimidated by him. Each radiated a staggering aura. Though individually weaker than Ye Wuji, there were more than a dozen Heavenly Origin realm experts present.

Ten against two—didn’t that offer some chance of victory?

Zhang Heng paid no mind to them and turned to Mu Wanqing, gently slicing his finger.

"Miss Mu, don’t move. I’ll help remove the demon energy from your body."

Mu Wanqing, puzzled, turned her head away.

"My blood is an antidote to that demon energy," Zhang Heng explained.

Hearing this, Mu Wanqing hesitated, then reluctantly kissed his finger, allowing his blood to enter her body. Sure enough, it suppressed the demon energy, and she controlled her spiritual energy to guide Zhang Heng’s blood in restraining it.

Zhang Heng then glanced at Qi Xuan, seated nearby.

Qi Xuan chuckled, "Brother Zhang, how about some for me too?"

Zhang Heng’s skin prickled. He retrieved a cup from his spatial ring, dripped some blood into it, and tossed it over to Qi Xuan.

"Drink it yourself," Zhang Heng said with a wan smile.

The other geniuses watched as Zhang Heng saved Qi Xuan and Mu Wanqing. They wanted to say something but had no friendship with him. Some even bore grudges, and their pride as geniuses left them speechless.

Zhang Heng glanced at them indifferently and turned his head back toward the battlefield.

After all, demon energy within the body posed little harm if not activated.

Let these geniuses suffer a little.

Meanwhile, the top fighters were engaged in fierce combat.

Ye Wuji had elevated his spiritual energy to the Divine Transformation realm using demon energy, making him the strongest present.

Yet, facing nine opponents alone, he struggled. Among the nine, two were Heavenly Origin Nine-Rank masters, just one step below Divine Transformation.

At first, he barely held on, but demon energy was an external force, depleting with use. Gradually, Ye Wuji began to falter.

Elsewhere, Ling Tian was battling Wu Fa Wutian. Though Wu Fa Wutian was powerful, he was only a Heavenly Origin Five-Rank. As the Grand Elder of Lingyu Palace, Ling Tian held the upper hand, pressing Wu Fa Wutian relentlessly.

Suddenly, one of the Heavenly Origin Nine-Rank warriors seized an opportunity, striking Ye Wuji’s chest with a blow that unleashed a sweeping spiritual energy.

Ye Wuji was sent flying once more.

The others seized the moment to close in, raining punches and kicks upon him.

Ye Wuji grimaced inwardly. These people weren’t following the usual script. Normally, after hitting him, they’d stand back and let him recover.

Thinking further might get him killed.

Summoning the last of his demon energy, Ye Wuji exerted all his strength, unleashing a massive shockwave that sent his assailants flying.

Staring down at his countless wounds, fury ignited within him. His cold eyes swept over everyone as he smiled darkly.

"You think you’ve won? You think these are all my tricks? How naive."

The others, seeing his posturing again, gathered their spiritual energy and advanced once more.

Ye Wuji, now desperate and utterly drained, ceased his theatrics. His hands moved rapidly, silently chanting incantations. Then, turning to Qi Huang, he commanded in a firm voice, "Qi Huaimin, kill them all."