Chapter 2440: Chapter 2440
Only then did Sharman realize just how formidable Ye Liuyun’s soul power truly was.
The moment Ye Liuyun unleashed his soul attack, even the faintest ripple of its oppressive force sent a shiver down Sharman’s spine.
"Damn, you’ve been holding out on me!" Sharman exclaimed, admiration flashing in his eyes.
By then, Ye Liuyun’s soul had already returned to his body. With a casual shrug, he grinned. "Nothing special. Let’s get back to our meal. Let’s see how they plan to make us pay."
The martial artist who had been spouting bold threats earlier now cowered, the first to surrender.
Truth be told, Ye Liuyun had no real interest in fighting them. After branding all six of the stronger opponents with slave seals, he stowed them away in his spatial world. Their storage rings, of course, were thoroughly looted.
Turning to the remaining six martial artists, he ordered, "Stand guard around us. Make sure no one disturbs our meal."
"Yes, sir!"
Bound by the slave seals, they dared not disobey. In unison, they scattered to form a perimeter around Ye Liuyun and Sharman, keeping watch.
Sharman burst into laughter. "Hahaha! This is the life! Sticking with you is gonna make things a whole lot easier!"
Ye Liuyun shook his head. "They’re just here to fetch us resources—nothing more. Don’t get too comfortable. We still need to push ourselves, or our progress will slow down."
"Yeah, you’re right," Sharman sighed. "I’ve heard some guys have been wandering around for years without finding the exit. Probably because they weren’t strong enough."
"How long does it usually take to train here before getting a shot at leaving?" Ye Liuyun asked.
"I heard from the veterans in our army that getting out of this place would take at least three to five years. Think about it—advancing from the second level of Heavenly Human to the third isn’t exactly a walk in the park!"
Sharman was merely repeating hearsay, having never actually met anyone who had made it out. Those who did manage to leave were usually reassigned elsewhere, never returning to their old units as mere squad leaders or ordinary soldiers.
As Ye Liuyun and Sharman chatted, they pieced together whatever information they had, searching for possible exits. Truth be told, Ye Liuyun wasn’t particularly worried. If push came to shove, he could always teleport out using the Black Tower and return later.
But with the war just breaking out outside, there wasn’t much he could do to help. The Sacred Dynasty was holding its own against the alien forces for now. He figured it was better to stay and focus on improving his strength.
In the battles that followed, Ye Liuyun didn’t bother hiding his companions from Sharman. Whenever there was an opportunity, he’d let them out to gain experience. Gradually, Sharman began to grasp just how formidable Ye Liuyun’s forces truly were.
After the initial thirty members of the Vanguard Unit adapted, Ye Liuyun brought out another thirty. Together, they formed a small but effective legion, capable of holding their own against ordinary attacks with well-coordinated formations.
When faced with swarming enemies, Ye Liuyun would unleash his elite fighters and metal puppets to shield the group.
Meanwhile, Ye Liuyun and Sharman engaged in a friendly competition over crystal collection. Once Ye Liuyun finished honing his blade intent, he shifted his focus back to refining his advance energy and the power of Heaven and Earth. As a result, their kill counts remained neck and neck, fueling their rivalry.
The two of them talked about everything under the sun, their conversations flowing effortlessly. It kept the journey from feeling too monotonous.
After adjusting for a while, Ye Liuyun and Sharman started taking greater risks, relying solely on their own strength to fend off attacks. This, of course, came with its share of danger.
The six ordinary martial artists who had tagged along eventually fell one by one in battle. Ye Liuyun didn’t bother replacing them, choosing instead to continue training alongside Sharman.
Both of them were rapidly growing in strength, and through their life-and-death battles together, they had forged an unbreakable bond.
Yet, Ye Liuyun, with his formidable physical prowess, often deployed his elite martial guards to protect Sharman at critical moments.
After some time, Sharman took the initiative to propose parting ways.
"Sticking with you is sapping my fighting spirit," Sharman admitted. "You’re too strong, surrounded by too many protectors. When things get dire, I end up relying on your warriors instead of pushing my own limits."
"You’re not wrong," Ye Liuyun conceded. "But this place is deadly. One misstep, and you’re done for."
Deep down, he understood Sharman’s perspective.
"So what?" Sharman countered. "Isn’t that why we’re here—to risk it all? Without pushing ourselves to the brink, how can we grow stronger? Too much safety just makes us complacent. We’ll never unlock our true potential that way."
"Fair enough," Ye Liuyun relented. "Just be careful out there on your own."
Before they parted, he handed Sharman a communication talisman and ten drops of Life Spring Water.
"Life Spring Water?" Sharman’s eyes widened in recognition. "Is this what you used to save me last time?"
"Exactly," Ye Liuyun confirmed. "As long as there’s still a breath left in someone, this can bring them back from death’s door."
"You sure you have enough for yourself?" Sharman hesitated, worried Ye Liuyun had given him everything.
Truthfully, Ye Liuyun didn’t want him becoming overly reliant on the miraculous water, which was why he hadn’t offered more.
"Plenty to spare," Ye Liuyun chuckled. "Take it. If you run out, just ask."
"Then I won’t hold back!" Sharman grinned, finally pocketing the precious gift.
The two then went their separate ways, agreeing to notify each other through a message if either made it out first.
After parting ways with Shaerman, Ye Liuyun embarked on his own perilous journey, facing hardships head-on and resolving them on his own whenever possible. Sometimes, he would even choose to flee rather than summon his powerful allies to fight for him.
This approach accelerated his growth. The quality of his Xuan Yuan energy underwent a transformation, becoming more refined, while his control over the forces of heaven and earth grew noticeably stronger. Against ordinary second-level Heavenly Realm martial artists, he had no fear whatsoever.
But the longer he survived in this deadly trial, the stronger his opponents became. The weaker ones had already been weeded out.
Many martial artists played it safe, sticking to familiar territories and avoiding unnecessary risks. As a result, their progress was slow—some had been here for years without significant improvement. These were the first to be eliminated.
Inspired by Shaerman, however, Ye Liuyun constantly ventured into uncharted regions, seeking out ever more formidable foes. He honed the assassin’s arts—stealthy movement and lethal precision—to perfection. Armed with his Frostlight Dagger, his ambushes often ended in a single, fatal strike.
Once, using the Xenocide Veil technique, he patiently stalked a seven-man squad for days before eliminating them one by one. Each of them was a second-level Heavenly Realm expert.
After scouting their route with his divine sense, he would lie in wait, strike suddenly to kill one, then vanish instantly using spatial power. If they pursued, he’d maintain distance, picking them off individually. If they didn’t, he’d simply wait and strike again.
By the time only one remained, the man was utterly broken. He screamed his surrender into the empty air, begging Ye Liuyun to spare his life.
