Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 613: Not Optimistic

Zhang Guangling quietly tugged on Wang Ziping’s sleeve and whispered, "Young Master Wang, do I really have to make a move later?"

Wang Ziping glanced at him and said, "You must. You will be responsible for holding off that girl while I kill Ye Qingchen."

A troubled look crossed Zhang Guangling’s face. Wang Ziping pressed on, "Since you have pledged loyalty to the Saint Heir, you must treat his commands as your highest code of conduct. I know what you’re worried about, but think about it. The Saint Heir has personally ordered Ye Qingchen’s death, which shows how seriously he takes this matter. As long as we complete this mission, we will surely have the chance to follow the Saint Heir in the future. Will you still care how the Wuji Immortal Palace sees you then?"

Zhang Guangling remained silent, clearly still undecided.

Wang Ziping continued, "All you need to do is hold her off. Leave the rest to me. I will explain everything to the Saint Heir."

Zhang Guangling gritted his teeth and finally nodded in agreement.

In truth, Zhang Guangling understood that if he hesitated any longer and Wang Ziping reported it to the Saint Heir, his impression in the Saint Heir’s eyes would plummet. His wish to follow him would be completely shattered. Even though the main credit for killing Ye Qingchen would go to Wang Ziping, and the Saint Heir might not let him join his retinue, at least there was still some hope. After weighing his options, he could only agree.

Wang Ziping turned his gaze to Ye Qingchen and said coldly, "You’re not going to stand behind a woman forever, are you?"

Although Ye Qingchen knew of Wang Ziping’s formidable strength, he still stepped forward. "You’re right," he said. "I don’t have a habit of standing behind women."

After speaking, Ye Qingchen took the initiative and launched an attack at Wang Ziping.

Seeing Ye Qingchen make a move, Xiao Xiao summoned her Vermilion Bird Holy Soul, wanting to lend him a hand.

Zhang Guangling flashed in front of her. "Junior Sister Xiao Xiao, you’d best not get involved in their affairs. Please don’t make things difficult for me."

Xiao Xiao snorted coldly, her voice dripping with contempt. "A despicable traitor who betrays his own sect and ancestors, and you dare speak to me about difficulty? If you repent right now, I might not report what happened here to the sect. But if you dare to stop me, I will make you regret it!"

The flames around her body surged once more as she finished speaking. She tried to fly toward Ye Qingchen, but Zhang Guangling blocked her again.

Zhang Guangling sighed. "Junior Sister Xiao Xiao, since you insist, don’t blame me for being discourteous."

With that, the Martial Soul behind him materialized, and he engaged Xiao Xiao in battle.

Although Zhang Guangling was at the Martial Emperor Realm Sixth Layer and Xiao Xiao was only at the Third Layer, she was evenly matched with him for the time being thanks to her ten-star Vermilion Bird Holy Soul.

Zhang Guangling was surprised by Xiao Xiao’s combat strength, but his only goal was to stop her from helping Ye Qingchen, so he was in no hurry.

Xiao Xiao, however, was frantic with worry. She feared Ye Qingchen was no match for Wang Ziping, and she couldn’t break free from Zhang Guangling’s entanglement.

「」

Meanwhile, although Ye Qingchen was the first to strike, he did not recklessly engage in close combat with Wang Ziping. Instead, he chose to test his strength with the Wind Blade Sword Technique.

To his surprise, his usually invincible Wind Blade Sword Technique was easily neutralized by Wang Ziping with a single hand.

Wang Ziping spoke indifferently, "Ye Qingchen, I know you’ve mastered Wood Attribute Energy. But to attack me without even using your Attribute Energy... you must be underestimating me."

Ye Qingchen didn’t respond. The Double Pupil Sword in his hand instantly turned emerald green. He continuously used Fire Spirit Charm Shadow to change his position, unleashing a strike from the Shadow-extinction Sword Technique every time he stopped. His constant movement left several afterimages surrounding Wang Ziping.

However, Wang Ziping just stood there quietly, unmoved no matter how elaborate Ye Qingchen’s maneuvers were.

After unleashing four consecutive strikes with the Shadow-extinction Sword Technique, Ye Qingchen stopped in front of Wang Ziping. The Admiring Willow Protection had already manifested around him. Even with his rapid energy recovery, this series of attacks left him somewhat breathless.

But Ye Qingchen did not rush to trigger the concealed Sword Qi of the Shadow-extinction Sword Technique. Instead, he attacked again, endlessly swinging the Double Pupil Sword and unleashing the Wind Blade Sword Technique against Wang Ziping.

Because Ye Qingchen was now using Attribute Energy, Wang Ziping could no longer deflect the attacks so casually. However, the Wind Blade Sword Technique still failed to injure him.

Ye Qingchen’s brow furrowed tightly. The strength Wang Ziping displayed was far beyond his imagination.

Could this be the gap between a high-level and a low-level Martial Emperor?

Gritting his teeth, Ye Qingchen continued his assault with the Wind Blade Sword Technique while starting to gradually detonate the latent Sword Qi from his earlier Shadow-extinction Sword Technique.

He had originally thought that with the stealth of the Shadow-extinction Sword Technique, his control over nature’s spiritual energy, and his continuous harassment with the Wind Blade Sword Technique, he would surely catch Wang Ziping off guard.

To his astonishment, Wang Ziping seemed to have been prepared all along. The moment the Sword Qi of the Shadow-extinction Sword Technique appeared, he instantly reacted.

Instantly, a sky-blue water membrane materialized around him, blocking the sneak attack.

Even as Ye Qingchen’s attacks continued to pound against the water membrane and the Sword Qi of the Shadow-extinction Sword Technique gradually exploded, they could not penetrate it.

This was the first time Wang Ziping had used his own Attribute Energy, yet it left Ye Qingchen with a sense of utter powerlessness.

Ye Qingchen stopped his assault, detonating all the remaining Sword Qi from the Shadow-extinction Sword Technique as he stared intently at Wang Ziping.

Wang Ziping had effortlessly blocked all of his attacks without ever retaliating. Seeing Ye Qingchen stop, he smiled faintly and said, "Why did you stop? Are you waiting for this?"

After speaking, he lightly flicked his left hand, and a faint green energy was discharged from his body.

This time, Ye Qingchen was completely shocked. That faint green energy was the very Wood Attribute Energy he had struggled so hard to infuse into Wang Ziping’s body with his numerous attacks.

Yet Wang Ziping had neutralized it so easily!

The outlook for this battle is grim.