For cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, lacking the defensive ability of the protective spiritual light that comes with Foundation Establishment, even those with higher cultivation levels would be vulnerable in close combat if they didn't have a protective magical artifact like body armor.
Head-on, Li Ye would have been no match for that middle-aged cultivator in terms of either magical tools or cultivation unless he used his Sunfire Fireball Talismans.
However, with his level two Elephant Armor Force body cultivation, once they were close enough, the strength and speed Li Ye could unleash in an instant were more than enough to kill in a single blow!
He cast a Cleanse spell to wipe the blood from his hands.
Li Ye then rummaged through the middle-aged cultivator's belongings and pulled out his storage pouch. With a quick look inside, he found a disciple's token from the Flying Feather Sect.
He let out a cold chuckle.
"To think the enemy managed to infiltrate our ranks, and even knew the exact route we'd take to reinforce our fellow disciples… There must be more than one traitor. But the question is are they from within our sect, or from some other family power with access to this information?"
The battle was still raging all around, but it was becoming increasingly obvious that the Purple Profound Sect disciples were at a disadvantage.
If things turned completely against them, Li Ye knew he wouldn't be able to escape alone.
Wasting no time, he walked a few steps back to where he had fallen earlier and retrieved the orb slightly larger than a fist from the crater.
"Didn't expect my first high-grade offensive magical artifact to come to me like this…"
Li Ye couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
He'd experienced it firsthand during the fight. The orb was powerful in both offense and defense a high-quality, high-grade artifact.
If he hadn't already reached the White Armor stage in his body refinement and hadn't had the high-grade Red Scale Armor on him for defense, just those two earlier hits might have seriously injured him!
But now… he'd only paid the price of a few minor wounds to take down a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator worth it!
Still, there wasn't time to refine the orb and make it his just yet. Li Ye stored it away, took a moment to assess the battlefield, then stepped onto his flying boat and rejoined the fight.
…
Why is he taking so long…?
Still unable to take down the late-stage Purple Profound Sect cultivator, the grim-faced old man kept glancing toward the forest where Li Ye and the middle-aged cultivator had vanished.
He hadn't even considered the possibility that the middle-aged man could be defeated by Li Ye given the clear difference in cultivation and the magical artifact in his possession.
But the junior in front of him turned out to be quite skilled in magical combat. With no backup from his companions, the old man was finding it increasingly difficult to win the fight.
Just then
A streak of black light shot out from the forest, perfectly timed, piercing through the back of a Flying Feather Sect disciple mid-fight and killing him instantly.
His opponent froze in shock, just in time to see Li Ye fly out of the trees, the blackwood sword returning to his hand.
"Junior Di Fan, thank you for your help, Senior Brother!"
The disciple bowed in gratitude, delighted.
Li Ye casually accepted the loot and waved his hand. "No need for thanks focus on helping the others!"
With that, he channeled his spiritual power. The blackwood sword flew out again, and he threw out several talismans toward another skirmish, catching the enemy off guard.
Once again, the tide of battle shifted in their favor.
Di Fan didn't hesitate either. After catching his breath, he picked a new target and charged back into the fray.
"How is this possible?!"
The grim old man let out a shocked cry upon seeing Li Ye appear.
No matter how he looked at it, he had never imagined that a fellow late-stage cultivator equipped with a high-grade magical artifact could be defeated so silently by someone like Li Ye.
Even more terrifying was the realization that if Li Ye really did possess hidden power strong enough to kill the middle-aged man, and then joined forces with the disciple currently fighting him
He'd be the one who ends up dead!
The senior Purple Profound disciple was also momentarily stunned by Li Ye's sudden return, his face full of disbelief.
But he didn't waste the opportunity.
"Hahaha! Looks like it's your turn to die, scum! Hand over your life!"
He burst into laughter and immediately pulled out an Ice Spike Talisman.
With a sharp sound, the chilling spear of ice shot forth at lightning speed, catching the old man off guard. Even though he tried to dodge, the spike grazed him freezing nearly half his body on contact.
He was quickly forced into retreat!
Meanwhile, with Li Ye stepping into the fray, several other battle zones were flipped in a matter of moments turning defeat into victory. More and more Purple Profound Sect disciples were freed up and able to support their fellow sect members.
Senior Brother Fei, who had previously gone on and on about how they were both spirit farmer disciples and how Li Ye should "look after him," now turned out to be one of the most relaxed fighters on the field.
When Li Ye finally had the time to glance his way, the man had somehow drifted farther and farther from the battlefield with the enemy he was "fighting" to the point he was barely visible in the distance!
Li Ye couldn't help but wonder: if he hadn't stepped in to reverse the tide when he did, would this guy have just kept slowly drifting away… and eventually used the chance to flee the battle altogether?
Coward! Utter coward!
"No!"
With that final cry, the old man was struck down by a sword slash, and just like that, all enemies on the battlefield had been eliminated none escaped.
However, once the Purple Profound Sect disciples regrouped and sorted through the spoils of war, they realized with heavy hearts that only about half their original number remained.
"I am Qu Zijian. The only reason we were able to win this battle," said the senior disciple solemnly, turning to Li Ye, "was thanks to Junior Brother Li taking the initiative and slaying one of the late-stage enemies, allowing us to reinforce the others in time."
The other disciples quickly echoed the sentiment, their expressions sincere and tinged with respect.
Quite a few of them suddenly recalled past rumors.
Especially after Cai Shiwei's shocking attempt to assassinate the sect's Grand Elder many close to him, like Li Zongyin and others, had all ended up imprisoned and in disgrace.
At the time, people had wondered what happened to Li Ye, but since he'd always kept a low profile, they'd assumed he had also been thrown into the Law Enforcement Hall's dungeons.
And yet here he was now, not only unharmed but standing before them more powerful than ever strong enough to slay a late-stage cultivator while still at the mid-stage himself.
In their eyes, Li Ye now carried a hint of mystery and awe.
Seeing the looks they gave him, Li Ye remained unfazed and simply said,
"He underestimated me that's all. I was just lucky enough to land a killing blow. Hardly worth such praise from everyone."
If anyone else had said that, they might've believed it.
But coming from Li Ye, none of the disciples bought it for a second. Still, they all nodded along politely, chiming in:
"That's just because Senior Brother Li is blessed and fated for great things. We're all impressed!"
Alright, alright... everyone's getting good at playing the social game now.
Li Ye turned to Qu Zijian and asked directly,
"Senior Brother Qu, given the current situation, what should we do next?"
Everyone else immediately turned to look at him as well.
After all, Qu Zijian had the highest cultivation among them naturally, decisions (and blame) would fall on him.
Qu Zijian's mouth twitched slightly, and after a brief pause for thought, he said,
"The fact that the enemy was able to infiltrate so deeply into our territory and track our movements so precisely… suggests there may still be traitors lurking among us. If we return to the sect now, we might only expose ourselves again…"
"So I say why not go all in? Since we've just wiped them out, there's a temporary gap in their surveillance. Let's press on toward Zimo Forest!"
"As long as we make it to the market city, with its defensive formations and Foundation Establishment elders, we'll be much safer!"
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