Chapter 1668: Caught in the Crossfire

"Bai Qing, before we left, the master repeatedly instructed us to keep a low profile! Tongtian Mountain is full of geniuses, and many are stronger than us. Don't be arrogant and complacent. Have you forgotten all that?"

Leng Qiuling frowned slightly, clearly displeased with Bai Qing.

Seeing Leng Qiuling angry, Bai Qing said respectfully, "I know I was wrong! But every time I come to Tongtian Mountain, there are always some clueless bumpkins who really annoy me. I try to explain the stakes, but they don't appreciate it. They're just asking for death."

Leng Qiuling said, "Everyone has a heart for the Dao. Others' lives are their own. If they're unwilling, let them be. There's no need to force it. We and they are not from the same world to begin with."

Bai Qing chuckled, "Heh, Senior Sister, that makes sense. That guy just now couldn't break through to the Divine Lord realm in three hundred years. His potential is probably exhausted. He'll never amount to anything. Yet he refuses to give up and comes to Tongtian Mountain to die."

Leng Qiuling said nothing, clearly agreeing with Bai Qing's words.

"Alright, let's not delay. We need to reach the South Foothill Town before dark," Leng Qiuling said.

...

At dusk, Ye Yuan and Ning Tianping entered the South Foothill Town.

South Foothill Town lay at the foot of Tongtian Mountain.

Tongtian Mountain was immeasurably tall, stretching for tens of thousands of li in every direction.

Tongtian Mountain could not be climbed at any time. Once a year, pathways would form on the mountain, leading straight to the summit.

Martial artists had to use these pathways to ascend Tongtian Mountain.

Attempting to go up from anywhere else would result in immediate annihilation by the Heavenly Dao, no matter how strong one's cultivation.

Thus, at the foot of Tongtian Mountain, many small towns had formed. They served as resting places for martial artists and also helped manage them, preventing chaos.

This was the place closest to heaven. Large-scale conflict would anger the Heavenly Dao, bringing down divine punishment that would leave no one alive.

Legend had it that martial artists once fought fiercely over the right to ascend the heavenly ladder.

In the end, divine punishment descended, wiping out that entire group of martial artists.

At the mountain's base, there were many such small towns, but each major realm had its own separate town, because the pathways into Tongtian Mountain differed.

This South Foothill Town was only for Divine Lord realm experts.

"Haha, Junior Sister Leng, we really are kindred spirits, meeting here like this."

"Zhuo Han, who's kindred spirits with you? Stay away from me!"

"Junior Sister Leng, don't push me away like that! Don't be like this. This is South Foothill Town; we can't fight here!"

"Get lost!"

...

As soon as he entered, Ye Yuan heard a man and a woman arguing.

One of them was Leng Qiuling.

The other, a man named Zhuo Han, was about the same strength as Leng Qiuling and clung to her like a piece of sticky candy.

Ye Yuan glanced at them but didn't intend to get involved. He headed straight for a large hall in the center of the town.

Leng Qiuling, already irritated, suddenly spotted Ye Yuan. She quickly walked over and blocked his path, saying coldly, "So you did come after all!"

Ye Yuan looked at her and nodded with a smile, "I told you, I have reasons I can't avoid."

Leng Qiuling sighed, "You're not familiar with this place, are you? Come, I'll take you to get a token!"

Ye Yuan was about to refuse when he saw Leng Qiuling's pleading eyes.

He understood immediately: she wanted to use him as a shield.

He hadn't expected this icy beauty to stoop to asking for his help.

Since a beauty was asking, Ye Yuan couldn't very well refuse.

Besides, on the road earlier, he had sensed goodwill from this icy beauty.

So he changed his mind and said with a smile, "Then I'll trouble you, Fairy."

At that moment, Zhuo Han approached, glaring at Ye Yuan with murderous intent. "Another Return to Void realm fool coming to die! Junior Sister Leng, are you deliberately finding trash like this to spite me? It won't work!"

Though he said it wouldn't work, Zhuo Han had already marked Ye Yuan for death.

Leng Qiuling was about to speak, but Ye Yuan cut in, "If you like Fairy Leng, don't use such persistent tactics. All you'll do is make her dislike you more!"

Zhuo Han's gaze turned icy. "How I act is none of your business, you Return to Void trash!"

Ye Yuan shook his head with a laugh and said to Leng Qiuling, "Fairy Leng, you'd better stay away from this arrogant fool, lest he dirty your eyes."

With that, Ye Yuan led Leng Qiuling away.

Zhuo Han's eyes turned cold, and he blocked their path. "Say that again if you dare!"

The powerful pressure of a Divine Lord Ninth Layer instantly bore down on Ye Yuan.

With a full realm difference, the pressure of a Divine Lord Ninth Layer should have been enough to make Ye Yuan vomit blood from severe injuries.

Leng Qiuling was caught off guard, not expecting Zhuo Han to act so rashly.

But when she turned to look, she saw Ye Yuan completely unfazed. He said calmly, "Don't make a fool of yourself. Do you really dare to fight here? Don't think being a Divine Lord Ninth Layer is so impressive. I find that calling you a fool is an overstatement. Get lost!"

Suddenly, two armored figures appeared from nowhere, their auras terrifying.

One of them said coldly, "Troublemakers will be killed without mercy!"

Their faces were completely hidden within their armor, but their deep, piercing gazes made Zhuo Han feel like he had fallen into an ice cellar, his clothes instantly soaked with sweat.

The terrifying aura emanating from the two made even Leng Qiuling's face turn slightly pale.

Zhuo Han forced a smile, "I... I was just trying to scare him. I didn't... didn't mean to actually fight."

The armored figure said coldly, "First warning. If it happens again, death without mercy!"

With that, the armored figures paused for a moment on Ye Yuan before turning and leaving.

Leng Qiuling looked at Ye Yuan in surprise. She hadn't expected him to remain completely unaffected by the pressure of a Divine Lord Ninth Layer.

More importantly, even under the powerful auras of those two armored figures, Ye Yuan remained perfectly calm.

Those two armored figures were at least at the Heavenly God realm, yet Ye Yuan acted as if nothing was wrong.

Ye Yuan glanced at Zhuo Han and said disdainfully, "Fool! Fairy Leng, let's go."

Leng Qiuling nodded and followed Ye Yuan away.

Watching their retreating figures, Zhuo Han said coldly, "Kid, once you leave South Foothill Town, I'll make sure you die a miserable death!"

...

"Thank you for earlier," Leng Qiuling's thanks sounded somewhat cold.

Ye Yuan smiled, "You're welcome, Fairy Leng."

Leng Qiuling said, "It seems I've dragged you into this. With Zhuo Han's vengeful nature, he won't let you off easily."

Ye Yuan said calmly, "Since I agreed to help you, I'm naturally not afraid of him."

Such words from a Return to Void realm cultivator sounded somewhat ridiculous.

But for some reason, Leng Qiuling felt that Ye Yuan exuded an air of confidence.