Chapter 141: The Tides Are Turning

Bang, bang, bang!

Across the entire arena, Yun Can's figure was almost invisible. Meanwhile, Ye Zihan furrowed his brows, wearing a grave expression as he continuously fended off Yun Can's onslaught. Although he had attached great importance to Yun Can's speed from the very beginning, when Yun Can truly unleashed his speed to the absolute limit, Ye Zihan had to admit that he simply could not keep up.

Cultivating all five elemental paths had both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was naturally that one's comprehensive strength was far superior to those of the same realm; yet the disadvantage was equally obvious—in any single aspect, Ye Zihan could not compare with specialized single-element cultivators who possessed formidable innate talents.

Take Yun Can for instance. While he was undoubtedly arrogant, brutal, and vicious in his methods—making him deeply unlikable to many—one thing had to be conceded: Yun Can indeed possessed the capital to be arrogant. His speed had reached the pinnacle of what the Core Formation realm could possibly achieve; even an ordinary early-stage Seven-Star realm expert would be eclipsed by Yun Can's velocity.

Yun Can's fists and palms were harder than the hardest stone. Under his full-force defense, Ye Zihan began to feel a sense of powerlessness, barely managing to block Yun Can's attacks, lacking even the time to form hand seals and summon demonic beasts such as the Fiery Flame Bird.

"Hehehe! Kid, starting to feel fear, are you? I have even slain early-stage Seven-Star realm experts. With just the likes of you, you are still far from being my match!"

Amidst countless afterimages, Yun Can's vicious and arrogant voice rang out, sounding like a soul-reaping specter that made everyone who heard it feel a chill run through their entire bodies.

"What? This Yun Can has actually killed an early-stage Seven-Star realm expert?"

Yun Can's voice was heard clearly by almost everyone present, sending shocks through the hearts of the crowd. Cross-realm challenges were not unheard of, but those mostly occurred in the earlier, weaker stages where possessing a powerful martial skill or a formidable weapon could allow one to triumph over the strong despite being weak.

However, the further one progressed, the greater the difficulty of challenging a higher realm. This was because the gap between realms widened continuously, making it hard for mere martial skills and weapons to bridge the distance. After all, how could an expert capable of reaching the Seven-Star realm possibly lack powerful weapons or formidable martial skills?

"It looks like Ye Zihan is in danger. Yun Can has been attacking for so long, and Ye Zihan is reduced to purely defending, without even the capacity to counterattack."

Those who admired Ye Zihan watched the arena with worried expressions, while the three most concerned individuals—Yan Chen and his companions—had immensely tense faces.

"That Yun Can is actually so formidable that he can even kill a Seven-Star realm expert. If push comes to shove, we'll charge in. Even if it means risking punishment, we must save Zihan," Yan Chen said through clenched teeth.

"That's right, the four of us brothers share one heart; we cannot let the boss bear the risk alone." Chen Yiyan gripped his axe tightly, ready to charge in at any moment.

"You don't need to panic; Big Brother is fine for now," Mo You said as he fluttered his wings, flying back and forth. Despite his confident words, his behavior clearly showed that he was extremely nervous as well.

"My mind is linked with Big Brother's. If anything were wrong, I would certainly know. Big Brother is merely waiting quietly for an opening in Yun Can's defense to deliver a fatal blow!"

Hearing Mo You's words, Yan Chen and Chen Yiyan instantly relaxed somewhat. They still had great faith in Ye Zihan; since Ye Zihan could still keep his composure, there was naturally no mortal danger yet.

"Even if there were danger, that fellow Mo Wuhuan would definitely save Big Brother. His strength is far greater than ours, and besides, if anything happens to Big Brother, Mo Wuhuan is finished as well. So he's definitely even more anxious than us," Mo You continued.

Chen Yiyan and Yan Chen looked toward the stage, and sure enough, Mo Wuhuan's face was so taut it seemed water could be wrung from it. He frowned deeply, staring fixedly at Ye Zihan and Yun Can, ready to charge forward at the slightest sign of trouble to execute Yun Can and rescue Ye Zihan.

With his peak Eight-Trigonal realm cultivation, he did not believe anyone would dare oppose him. Furthermore, this was the territory of Nameless City; even if the other ten City Lords wanted to stop him, they would have to consult Ji Qianjun and Xuan Wuji. With Nameless City's main forces fully mobilized, those City Lords would have to weigh their own strength carefully.

"Young Mistress, it seems Ye Zihan's situation is not very promising. He might stumble this time," Su Wu and Su Die said, their previous hostility replaced by deep concern.

"Why are you worrying so much about him? With his abilities, how could he be defeated so easily?" Su Zi said on the surface, though she still harbored internal worries that she found inconvenient to display. Remembering how Ye Zihan had shattered her Water World in his capacity as an Earth Seal Master, her anxiety subsided slightly, leading her to believe he still had many tricks up his sleeve that he had yet to deploy.

And what about Ye Zihan? At this moment, he was completely enveloped by Yun Can's voice, with countless afterimages flashing ceaselessly around him. Blow after blow slammed into his body; no sooner had he blocked one strike than another arrived, catching him off guard. Fortunately, his newly elevated soul realm allowed him to perceive Yun Can's movements in advance, anticipating the trajectory of the attacks and preparing accordingly. Otherwise, his body would have long since been pierced by multiple bloody holes.

Even so, under the frantic barrage of Yun Can's speed, which surpassed the Core Formation realm, over a dozen wounds had quietly appeared on Ye Zihan's body, making him look extremely battered.

"Oh? Right in front!" Ye Zihan's previously stationary body suddenly flashed, and a dagger thrust fiercely forward.

Swoosh!

Having waited this long and finally seizing the opportunity to strike Yun Can, even though it merely slashed open the skin on his arm and back, it filled Ye Zihan with boundless confidence.

"It really works!"

Earlier, Ye Zihan had concentrated every ounce of his focus on Yun Can, but with his naked eyes alone, he simply could not catch Yun Can's figure. In the nick of time, a thought flashed through Ye Zihan's mind; he remembered how experts in the Core Formation realm comprehended the surrounding space and nature, prompting him to close his eyes and stop looking at Yun Can.

Yet, after closing his eyes, his mastery over the surrounding movements became even more acute, and the soul power characteristic of his five-element cultivation immediately displayed its might.

Yun Can's previously erratic and unfathomable figure instantly slowed down under the perception of Ye Zihan's soul power. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Zihan launched an attack against Yun Can.

Although his speed still could not keep up with Yun Can, managing to stab a dagger into his back was enough to instill him with tremendous confidence.

Consequently, Ye Zihan poured all his energy into soul perception. Though he still could not smoothly execute a counterattack against Yun Can, he was now able to effortlessly parry Yun Can's assaults, turning his situation around drastically.

"Good kid, you certainly have some tricks up your sleeve." Yun Can, who had been attacking incessantly, sensed the change the moment Ye Zihan injured him. Seeing that Ye Zihan could now easily receive his attacks, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and a deep greed welled up within him for Ye Zihan's dagger.

As a speed-type Shadow Martial Cultivator, speed was his pride, yet he had never possessed a weapon that truly suited him. While the silk fist gloves on his hands lacked nothing in defense and offense, their lethality was still significantly inferior to Ye Zihan's Crimson Lotus Dagger.

Therefore, upon witnessing the Crimson Lotus Dagger, he developed a desire to claim it for himself. He was no fool; although the Crimson Lotus Dagger appeared dull and lackluster on the surface, he could clearly sense its extraordinary nature.