Chapter Forty-One: The Fierce Battle Erupts

Elder Seven was a mid-level hunter of the Seven Stars, specializing in the metal element. His cultivation was exceptionally high. When he shouted, the narrow alley trembled, echoing his words again and again. Ye Zihan and the black-clad youth instantly covered their ears, unable to bear the sound.

“You?” Hong Yan sneered coldly. Though now only a soul, her strength had diminished considerably, she still possessed early Eight Trigrams cultivation. Elder Seven was merely late-stage Seven Stars—how could he speak with such arrogance? Did he have some hidden trump card?

“Me!” Elder Seven roared, his arm making a sweeping gesture. Suddenly, a long blade appeared in his hand, its pitch-black body gleaming with a chilling, intimidating light.

He summoned his famed weapon, “Sky-Tearer,” and wasted no time. In the blink of an eye, he lunged at Hong Yan and Lan Yu—both in soul form—slashing fiercely.

Though Elder Seven was a Seven Stars powerhouse, his cultivation alone was inferior to Hong Yan and Lan Yu. Yet, deprived of their physical bodies, the two had lost much of their strength.

At this moment, neither dared to underestimate their opponent. Elder Seven, in particular, unleashed his killing move right from the start, bellowing, “A Thousand Blades Descend!”

Above the dead-end alley, countless blades materialized, blotting out the sky and sun, falling like an avalanche, threatening to crush everything beneath!

Hong Yan instantly pulled Ye Zihan behind her, shouting, “Fire-Singing Halberd, appear!”

Lan Yu, not to be outdone, parted her crimson lips. Her voice was as clear and melodious as mountain streams, “Water-Chanting Sword, appear!”

As their divine weapons manifested, corresponding elemental surges arose. Pillars of fire and water swept forth, clashing against the descending blades, holding them at bay.

“Let’s see how you can contend with me in your soul state!” Elder Seven revealed a ferocious grin. Three hundred years ago, he had been forced to bow to them—now was the moment to overturn that order. If he could eradicate these two, the stubborn Zi Dian would eventually fall to the elders as well!

“Elder Seven, do you intend to defy your superiors?” Hong Yan’s voice was stern and imposing, her hands forming seals, ceaselessly channeling her source energy. The vast sea of flames surged upward, growing ever hotter.

Lan Yu remained silent, but her actions were relentless. Her source energy burst forth, an endless ocean rising to engulf the mountain of blades, seeking to seal it completely within the waters.

“Defying superiors? Honored successors, you were the ones who attacked me first. I am merely defending myself!” Elder Seven laughed coldly. At this moment, his strength surpassed theirs by a whole stage, and with a physical body to rely upon, victory over two souls was only a matter of time.

“Three hundred years ago, you should have died!” Elder Seven pressed harder, the mountain of blades crashing down. The alley’s dilapidated walls began to crack, spiderweb fissures spreading rapidly.

A thunderous rumble erupted as the adjacent alleys shattered completely. Bricks tumbled to the ground, raising clouds of dust. Fortunately, nobody lived in this alley, or casualties would have been inevitable.

The overwhelming battle aura drew the attention of many experts. Members of the Five Families and Four Sects hurried toward the commotion.

The Five Elements Gathering, held every fifty years, was a grand event drawing countless talents. Friction between factions was common during the gathering, and clashes often broke out, but this battle was exceptionally fierce, its aura alarming those who approached. Shocked, they dropped everything and rushed over, eager to see which masters were locked in deadly combat.

---

“Lan Yu, if we continue like this, even if we defeat Elder Seven, we’ll attract powerful enemies from all sides. We must find a way,” Hong Yan said anxiously. The disturbance was so great that the leaders of the Nine Major Forces surely sensed it.

Lan Yu nodded. “We must end this quickly. Not a single harm must come to Han’er, and we cannot let news of his cultivation of the Illusion God Art leak. Otherwise, the elders of the Illusion God Palace will turn against him.”

“In that case, we must eliminate this old man and the boy!” Hong Yan gritted her teeth, decision made. She exchanged a glance with Lan Yu, reading the same fearless resolve in her eyes.

They nodded to each other, pulled Ye Zihan behind them, and spoke in unison: “Your teachers cannot stay by your side forever. We hope that someday you will fulfill our expectations and reach the pinnacle of cultivation!”

With that, they ignored Ye Zihan’s reaction and lunged at Elder Seven, their aura blazing. Source energy poured forth, rising like mist.

“I told you, with your current strength, you cannot defeat me. Prepare to die!” Elder Seven, unaware of their intent, charged forward with arrogant confidence. He unleashed a lunar-tier technique; the mountain of blades forged from swords poured down like a deluge, shattering space as it fell.

“Han’er, remember—do not let us down!” Hong Yan surged forward, her body ablaze, the flames tinged with crimson.

Lan Yu turned to admonish, “After this, your teachers will not be at your side. Never act rashly—always act with caution!”

Ye Zihan trembled, eyes wide. In an instant, he understood why his teachers spoke such words—their actions matched the legendary secret technique meant to perish together with the enemy.

Elder Seven, held fast, realized it too. His black blade slashed desperately, the mountain of blades continued to fall, stabbing at Lan Yu and Hong Yan, but they refused to release him.

The red and blue glows on their bodies intensified, about to explode. The black-clad youth was caught as well, seized by Lan Yu.

“No!!” Ye Zihan cried in agony, blood gushing from his throat onto the ground. His heart felt as if torn by blades, and he nearly fainted.

Scenes of his teachers’ careful guidance flashed before him—the breaking of seals, the initiation into cultivation, the generous teaching of advanced techniques. Warm memories and heartfelt exchanges flooded his mind, merging with the present, leaving him utterly heartbroken.

He tried to call out to his teachers, but his throat was blocked, stuck, and he could not speak.

To watch his loved ones die before him, powerless to help—what greater torment? Ye Zihan would rather fall from a cliff than witness this moment.

“Te...teacher...” he screamed, but his voice was drowned by two deafening explosions. Hong Yan and Lan Yu smiled at him in their final moment, unconcerned by their impending death.

A thunderous blast and a resounding boom—red and blue light surged skyward, blinding all who witnessed it. Ye Zihan’s heart was shaken, his vision went dark, and he fainted in grief and rage. At that instant, a black light shot into the ‘Red Lotus’ dagger he held.

He did not know how much time had passed; it felt like decades, yet only a moment. “Teacher Hong Yan? Teacher Lan Yu?”

He called out in his heart, but no sound escaped him. Slowly, he opened his eyes and saw a head floating before him.

---

“Ye Zihan, you’re awake?” Yan Chen’s delighted voice rang out, his youthful face blooming like sunlight after rain. “You finally woke up—you had me worried all night!”

“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you scared witless? What happened in the dead-end alley in the west last evening? Two explosions echoed, the whole street was leveled, and many were blown to bits. You survived—luck must be on your side.”

“Dead-end alley? Two explosions? People blown to bits?” Ye Zihan muttered, suddenly recalling everything before he fainted. “Teacher—what about Hong Yan and Lan Yu?”

“What Hong Yan and Lan Yu? Did the blast scramble your brains? Don’t scare me,” Yan Chen asked worriedly.

“Dead...they’re truly dead...to protect me, they sacrificed themselves...”

“What did you say? Speak up, I can’t hear you.”

Ye Zihan’s spirit was shattered. Unable to protect those closest to him, what was the point of living? His heart grew numb, uninterested in anything.

“Ye Zihan, what’s wrong with you?” Yan Chen’s voice was full of concern. He frowned, anxious and at a loss.

Ye Zihan’s mind buzzed, oblivious to Yan Chen’s concern. He wore a vacant expression. In the past, even when mocked as a useless failure, he scoffed and never gave up. Now, with his teachers gone—who treated him as their own—he was overwhelmed with grief, unsure what to live for. His resolve collapsed, crumbling to pieces.

Yan Chen, helpless, turned and left, leaving Ye Zihan alone in the silent room to face the pain of separation.

Time flowed like water, slipping away unnoticed. Three days passed. The Five Elements Gathering had entered a feverish phase; the top ten contenders fought fiercely. The ten platforms of heroes contended with each other, the battles intense.

This year’s Five Elements Gathering saw an unprecedented outpouring of talented young experts. The ten contenders for the top ranks ranged from mid-level Four Symbols to late-stage Three Talents, geniuses everywhere.

Ye Zihan had not eaten for three days. Yan Chen stayed with him day and night, even forfeiting his own matches and missing the top ten contests outside.

“Ye Zihan, this isn’t like you at all. Where has your confidence gone?” Yan Chen shouted at the vacant-eyed youth, but seeing no response, sighed deeply and left.

The room fell silent again, broken only by slow, labored breathing.

“Master.” Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in Ye Zihan’s mind.

Hearing the voice, Ye Zihan grasped at hope like a drowning man snatching a lifeline. He spoke in his heart, “Is it you, Teacher Hong Yan? You’re alive, right? I knew you wouldn’t abandon me. Didn’t you say you wanted to watch me grow, to see me reach the peak that even you never attained?”

The voice fell silent, then spoke again, “Alas... Master, I am not your Teacher Hong Yan. I am the Spirit of the Weapon.”