Chapter 2597: Kill to Establish Authority!

"Wang Tie, we in Ningsi City discovered this patch of White Pine Yin first, and you dare to snatch it?"

"Liang Wen, have you lost your damn mind? In this place of exile, who cares who discovered it first? Whoever grabs it, owns it!"

"Son of a bitch! I'll cut you down!"

"Think I'm scared? Brothers, kill them!"

…

Deep in the dense forest, two groups came to blows over a disagreement.

Though both sides were at the Lesser Extreme Heaven rank, their combat prowess was extremely fierce.

For a time, the battle was evenly matched and hard to resolve.

Especially Wang Tie and Liang Wen; in a flash, they exchanged dozens of moves, with no one able to get close.

"Damn it, if we in Ningsi City can't have it, you in Huayang City won't get it either! Zhang Yang, go destroy the White Pine Yin for me, leave none!"

Liang Wen was gradually losing steam, and in a fit of rage, he decided to destroy the patch of White Pine Yin.

White Pine Yin was a very rare first-grade heavenly herb, and with dozens of plants appearing here at once, both sides were naturally covetous.

Zhang Yang received the order, forced back his opponent with a single slash, and darted toward the White Pine Yin like lightning.

His movement was extremely fast, and his opponent couldn't catch up.

Just as he reached the White Pine Yin, Zhang Yang raised his blade and struck!

But at that moment, something unexpected happened.

Zhang Yang only saw a blur before his eyes, and a figure had already blocked his path.

Bang!

Before he could even see his opponent clearly, his body was sent flying.

"I didn't expect to encounter so much White Pine Yin as soon as I arrived in the place of exile. What good luck!"

A young man in white was toying with a White Pine Yin in his hand, looking quite pleased.

This young man in white was naturally Ye Yuan, who had just entered the place of exile not long ago.

Just as he was feeling lost, he heard intense fighting nearby and followed the sound.

Unexpectedly, he came upon such a large patch of White Pine Yin.

This White Pine Yin was a main ingredient for the imperial-grade heavenly pill, Yuqi Dichen Heavenly Emperor Pill.

Ye Yuan's sudden arrival brought the fierce battle to an abrupt halt.

Ye Yuan unhurriedly collected the White Pine Yin and said calmly, "You all continue, don't mind me. I'll leave once I've gathered the White Pine Yin."

Both sides stopped fighting and quietly surrounded Ye Yuan, blocking all his escape routes.

"Heh heh, another clueless brat!" Wang Tie said with a mocking smile.

"Judging by his attire, he's probably from Wuding Heavenly Sect? Looks like the one who came in this time is an idiot!" Liang Wen sneered.

"Kid, hand over your storage bracelet, kneel and kowtow three times, and Brother Tie will spare your life and let you follow me from now on," Wang Tie said with a grin.

Wang Tie and Liang Wen were not angry; on the contrary, they seemed quite pleased.

Disciples from various sects who came to train in the place of exile usually carried all sorts of treasures, far more valuable than White Pine Yin.

Those who came to train were always cautious and treading on thin ice.

But this guy just waltzed right in and acted cocky in front of two major forces—how laughable!

Since that was the case, they naturally wouldn't be polite; they'd gladly take Ye Yuan's treasures.

Ye Yuan was unperturbed by the encirclement.

After finishing collecting the White Pine Yin, he pointed at Wang Tie and said, "You, tell me about the distribution of forces on the first level of this place of exile, then kneel and kowtow three times, and get lost!"

Wang Tie was taken aback—this training disciple seemed a bit different!

Hmm...

Seems like a real idiot!

"Haha, kid, do you even know your own name? Do you think you deserve to make Brother Tie kneel to you?" Wang Tie laughed loudly.

"Listen up, our Brother Tie is the twenty-ninth-ranked big shot in Huayang City!"

"If you don't know what being twenty-ninth means, let me tell you: his strength is unmatched among the Lesser Extreme Heaven rank in your sect!"

"Kid, kneel and apologize now!"

…

The underlings immediately touted Wang Tie's status, trying to intimidate Ye Yuan.

But Ye Yuan remained unmoved and said calmly, "Just kneel; I can handle it."

Wang Tie's eyes turned cold. "You're asking for it! Since you're looking for death, Brother Tie will send you off! Attack!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

At Wang Tie's command, over a dozen figures charged at Ye Yuan.

Afraid that Wang Tie would snatch the good stuff, Liang Wen also led his men in a rush.

More than twenty upper-level and perfected Lesser Extreme Heaven cultivators swarmed in, a rather formidable sight.

None of these people were pushovers.

Those who survived in the place of exile were battle-hardened veterans, stained with the blood of countless foes.

Their combat ability far exceeded what their cultivation levels suggested.

Even a mere underling among them could fight above their rank outside.

The pressure of over twenty people ganging up on one was unimaginable.

Yet Ye Yuan dodged and weaved through the crowd as if strolling in a park.

Occasionally, with a flick of his finger, swords and blades flew out of their owners' hands.

In a flash, Liang Wen swung his blade in a strike.

Ye Yuan sidestepped slightly, guiding with his fingertip, causing Liang Wen to stumble and fail to retract his blade in time.

Pfft!

That strike happened to pierce Wang Tie clean through!

Wang Tie, even in death, couldn't believe what had just happened.

How could a trainee be so strong?

So he was the real fool!

Wang Tie's gaze gradually grew vacant as he lost consciousness completely.

"Th-this... how could this happen?"

"S-so strong! He didn't even make a move, and Wang Tie died?"

"This trainee is different from the others!"

…

Liang Wen was equally incredulous; he couldn't fathom how his blade had so easily killed Wang Tie.

That strike just now felt like he was possessed; he thrust it out involuntarily.

The timing was perfect!

It was as if Wang Tie had grown tired of living and deliberately ran into his blade.

After all, he and Wang Tie were evenly matched.

Even if he wanted to kill his opponent, it would take at least several hundred moves!

"If he won't talk, why don't you tell me instead?" Ye Yuan said calmly.

"Y-yes! Sp-spare me, sir!" Liang Wen released his blade and knelt directly before Ye Yuan.

The others knelt as well.

In the place of exile, there were no rules; whoever had the stronger fist was the boss!

These people all deserved death, and Ye Yuan felt no qualms about killing them.

Ye Yuan said flatly, "I don't like killing, but I'm not afraid of it either. It all depends on how you behave."

Liang Wen immediately kowtowed repeatedly. "Sir, feel free to ask; I'll tell you everything I know!"

Soon, Liang Wen outlined the distribution of forces on the first level of the place of exile.

In the place of exile, each major cultivation realm lived on a separate level.

The first level was where those at the Lesser Extreme Heaven rank resided.

Once one reached the Greater Extreme Heaven rank, they would ascend to the next level.

The first level had ten major forces, each gathered in one of ten cities.

The ten cities were each ruled by a supreme powerhouse.

Conflicts often broke out between them.