Chapter 49: Big Brother, Please Don’t Hit Me

Within the screen of light, a fierce battle was on the verge of erupting.

"That man is a sword cultivator, Jian Ming!"

"His opponent is... Lin Yibai!"

"There have always been rumors of discord between the two. Seeing them today, it seems the tales are true—they've already come to blows. I wonder who will prove superior."

Everyone wore expressions of anticipation; even Jian Yunzi appeared slightly expectant. After all, both were renowned figures. There were several others with even greater reputations, but they had yet to appear within the light screen. Clearly, some places could not be displayed at this moment.

"Lin Yibai, are you truly willing to turn against me over a woman? Can’t you see through her malicious intentions? Does our brotherhood of more than ten years mean nothing to you?"

Jian Ming looked into Lin Yibai’s eyes, sadness flickering in his own. Yet Lin Yibai stood motionless, anger blazing within his gaze.

"If not for you, she would still be alive!"

Lin Yibai roared, his folding fan hurtling out like thunder, its booming echo resonating.

Jian Ming narrowed his eyes, sorrowful at how a woman had destroyed the bond between brothers, but the sword in his hand rang out sharply, like thunder splitting the sky.

"Yibai, you awoke to pursue the Great Dao, not to be entangled in sentiment!" Jian Ming’s heart remained unwilling, but as sword and fan collided, a mighty force exploded, thundering through the air.

Sword energy roared around Jian Ming, as if to cleave all beneath the heavens, yet within it lay the pulse of life. With a single slash, he brought forth a world-shaking force.

"Wind and Rain Descend!"

Suddenly, a tempest broke loose. Thunder crashed, the heavens darkened with clouds, and bolts of lightning thick as arms struck down. Lin Yibai’s vital energy surged forth, conjuring wind and rain from the sky.

"Surging Wave Form!"

Jian Ming’s expression grew solemn. In an instant, his sword gathered power, its intent forming a grand array. In the void, his long sword hung silent and still.

"Yibai, seeing you lost in confusion, I will not hold this against you. Withdraw your technique—we’re still brothers!"

Jian Ming’s words carried reluctance, but Lin Yibai’s technique was already unleashed. As thunder roared and wind howled, every drop of rain became as cold as ice, enveloping Jian Ming in an instant.

"Cut!"

Jian Ming’s name was well-deserved. His sword seemed to carry the power to destroy all life, yet within its devastation was an unending vitality. With a single stroke, all fell silent—yet all things lived anew.

Clearly, Jian Ming did not truly wish to fight Lin Yibai.

Outside, those watching beheld the terrifying power the two unleashed. Though they could not feel it firsthand, the vision of those earth-shaking phenomena within the screen was enough to stir a sense of awe and understanding in their hearts.

"Boom!!"

The two raging forces collided in the mountain forest. Many nearby looked on with curiosity, but none dared approach—one’s life was more precious.

Lin Yibai’s expression sharpened as he became a gust of wind, abandoning his folding fan to fight at close quarters. Jian Ming, however, would never do the same. To a sword cultivator, the sword is everything—heart within sword, sword within heart—how could one ever abandon it?

"Go!"

Seeing Lin Yibai’s reckless attacks, Jian Ming knew that if he didn’t bring him to his knees today, the conflict would not end. He no longer held back; each strike of his sword shook the heavens, yet was measured—wounding Lin Yibai’s body, but sparing his vital organs.

Those outside, witnessing Lin Yibai’s perilous situation, grew tense. Some women even began cursing Jian Ming.

Only Jian Yunzi, seeing the truth of the battle, showed fondness and delight in his expression, clearly very satisfied with Jian Ming.

Meanwhile, Ye Jiuyao was nearing the Golden-Silver Mist Flower. Just as he reached out to pluck it, several voices thundered at once.

"Stop!"

But Ye Jiuyao did not hesitate; instead, his hand moved faster, and in a flash, he had plucked the Golden-Silver Mist Flower and stowed it in his universe ring with a thought.

"Thief, how dare you?!"

The newcomers shouted in unison, but Ye Jiuyao remained unfazed. Now that the flower was in his possession, why should he return it? Though he disliked trouble, if trouble found him, he would never submit.

Putting on a pitiful face, Ye Jiuyao wailed, "Brothers, please don’t kill me. I have elderly to care for and young children to feed—my ninety-year-old mother, my three-year-old nursing child, my whole family depends on me. Brothers, please spare me..."

"........."

The four newcomers looked at Ye Jiuyao with utter disdain. How could a cultivator have so little backbone? Yet their desire for the Golden-Silver Mist Flower remained undiminished.

"Enough nonsense. Hand over the Golden-Silver Mist Flower, and we’ll let you go!"

"That’s right, give it up!"

"Hurry!"

"Or we’ll kill you!"

The four chimed in, making Ye Jiuyao even more miserable. He had hoped to leave cheerfully, but human greed would not allow it.

"You’re really going to rob me? Even at the risk of your lives? How will you split it afterwards? There are four of you, after all."

Ye Jiuyao, ever kind-hearted and seeking harmony, tried to sow discord among them, hoping to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

"This..." The four exchanged uneasy glances. Seeing this, a glint of cunning flashed in Ye Jiuyao’s eyes—his attempt to divide them was working.

"Well... take your time discussing it. I’ll just be on my way..." he said softly, turning to leave. Instantly, four powerful auras locked onto him.

"We’ll find a way to divide it. Just hand over the Golden-Silver Mist Flower!"

The four suddenly united, pushing forth a spokesman to shout at Ye Jiuyao, leaving him feeling awkward.

"You really want me to hand it over? I can’t keep it for myself?"

They stared at him as if he were an idiot.

"Are you handing it over or not?!"

The spokesman roared again, irritation plain on his face—Ye Jiuyao’s repeated evasions had worn their patience thin.

"Ai, youth is ever impatient..."

But at that moment, vital energy burst forth. One among the four struck without warning, launching a deadly, ruthless attack.

"You should heed your elders!"

Ye Jiuyao’s gaze turned cold and sharp, a storm swirling within. In a flash, he unleashed a terrifying power, striking with his palm.

In an instant, heaven and earth dimmed.

"Ninth Nether Wild Heaven Palm!"

Ye Jiuyao shouted, his vital energy surging like tidal waves, stunning fear onto the faces of the four.

"A mere seventh-level Awakening cultivator—how can you hope to stop us?!" someone roared.

All four unleashed their own techniques at once, aiming straight for the Ninth Nether Wild Heaven Palm. The void trembled violently.

Ye Jiuyao sneered, pushing his giant palm forward, his voice icy cold: "A mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

Their powers crashed together. Thunder exploded in the heavens, and the void resounded with the sound of shattering.