C14 A Difficult Opponent

"Damn it, since that old bastard Void Returning has played his hand, I've got no choice but to go all out."

Without hesitation, Ye Chen hurled one Golden Fire Talisman after another, quickly setting the entire back mountain forest ablaze. The flames spread like a vast ocean, with waves merging into a continuous expanse, leaving the Void Returning Taoist utterly astounded.

"How many Talismans did that old guy give Ye Chen? When will it ever end?" Faced with such extravagant tactics, even a Foundation Establishment expert could do nothing but frantically dodge.

"Curse it, if I hadn't just slain that vile creature, what harm could your paltry Talismans do to me!"

Reflecting on his centuries of life, the Void Returning Taoist had never felt as humiliated as he did today. Just a few days prior, he had been embroiled in a fierce battle when a demon unexpectedly emerged from the wasteland, charging straight for the Void Returning Sect. As the Sect Master, he couldn't just watch from the sidelines.

It took considerable effort to defeat the creature. Besides the injuries he sustained, he had depleted less than forty percent of his Yuan Qi and hadn't yet returned to his peak condition. His initial plan to subdue Ye Chen and the others was thwarted when he encountered this formidable opponent.

In the past, while the Golden Fire Talisman was a challenge, it didn't render him as helpless as he was now, with no choice but to evade and no strength left to counter.

The conflict at the back mountain had, of course, alarmed all the disciples of the Void Returning Sect. Witnessing the disaster unfold, they were clueless about the situation. The Great Elder and Second Elder exchanged glances, uncertainty in their eyes.

The original plan was to be crafting the Qi Shou Pill at this time, but why had such an intense fight broken out? Moreover, judging by the Spiritual Force fluctuations, it was pushing beyond what the two elders could withstand.

"The two of you take care of the disciples for now. I'm heading to the back mountain to check out the situation."

At this pivotal moment, a streak of golden light zipped by, and the Third Elder sped off toward the back mountain with his Profound Sword Formation, much to everyone's relief.

Finally, the chain of explosions triggered by the Golden Fire Talisman ceased, and the white smoke that had ensnared the Spiritual Force gradually faded away. The clone of the Void Returning Taoist rejoined with his original form, barely maintaining its integrity after the blasts.

"Hahaha, I refuse to believe you have any more Talismans left. We cultivators cannot constantly depend on these worthless scraps of paper," the Void Returning Taoist sneered, as he launched his Cloud Chasing Sword.

Puff!

The sword, being his Life Magic Treasure, made the Void Returning Taoist confident that he had pierced Ye Chen's chest. He laughed triumphantly and advanced with large strides, already devising cruel methods to torment this wretched boy, not wanting to grant him a swift death.

However, as the last of the white smoke cleared, he was met with a shock—his Cloud Chasing Sword was embedded in a tree, and there was no sign of Ye Chen at the blade's tip, just another Talisman!

"Damn it!"

He exclaimed in surprise, instinctively withdrawing his sword to retreat, but then several massive pythons dropped from the tree. With his armor nearly gone, the Void Returning Taoist couldn't quickly extricate himself from the Golden Wyrm Sword. Ye Chen leaped down from the tree, aiming another stab at the old thief's forehead.

"Get lost!"

The Void Returning Taoist, overcome with shock and rage, had no choice but to hastily summon a vast amount of life force energy. Alongside the combustion of his blood, he managed to erect a light barrier just above his skin, narrowly deflecting the Golden Wyrm Sword's descent.

Ye Chen retreated into the dense foliage as the pythons, conjured from the runes, vanished. The Void Returning Taoist's spiritual sense swept the area, only to discover over a dozen identical figures, their numbers growing with each leap Ye Chen took.

"Curse it, so many decoy runes. What on earth is that old fool up to?"

Despite his fury, the Void Returning Taoist couldn't help but chuckle upon seeing Ye Chen's persistent movement.

"Young man, your haste betrays you. Had you cultivated for another couple of years, you might have posed a real threat to me."

"But now, especially here in the forbidden area of the back mountain, you think you can take me on? You're still too green."

Whoosh!

The Void Returning Taoist thrust the Cloud Chasing Sword deep into the earth, and the atmosphere immediately yanked Ye Chen back to a time years before, engulfed once again by that all-too-familiar dark aura. In the shadowy recesses of the dense forest, an untold number of bizarre creatures lurked, twitching with eagerness to unleash a fierce attack on Ye Chen at any moment.

Cries of anguish filled the air around him, as if heralding the imminent arrival of hell itself. Countless apparitions emerged from the woods, each a restless spirit of varying form—some appeared as young adults, while others seemed no older than seven or eight, their wails steeped in deep sorrow.

Their icy touch reached out, and Ye Chen felt as though he had plunged into an icehouse. But the ordeal was far from over. As Ye Chen desperately channeled his mana to fend off their assault, he caught sight of that familiar figure.

As expected, his former little brother had been transformed into a Pill by the Void Returning Taoist.

"Old villain, die!"

Ye Chen lost all control, popping Pills into his mouth as if they were nothing. His peak Qi Refining strength erupted, his hands shaking, completely overtaken by rage and vengeance.

Yet, his strength was insufficient. Over a dozen Cloud Chasing Swords had shattered all of Ye Chen's protective shields, leaving only a single layer of his Heart Protection Mirror intact. The vengeful spirits swarmed him once more, their countless dark hands writhing relentlessly.

"Kid, I must say, I admire your bravery. Show me what else you've got! Hahaha!"

The Void Returning Taoist, wielding the Cloud Chasing Sword, tilted Ye Chen's chin upward, his smile ghastly and chilling.

"Old fool, you've been outplayed."

Ye Chen, who had seemed on the brink of collapse, suddenly surged with a will to fight, reaching behind to pull something from his pocket.

"Damn it, does he really have another ace up his sleeve?"

The Void Returning Taoist was at a loss for words. Ye Chen's presence now felt more terrifying than even those old monsters in the early stages of the Foundation Period, his reserves seemingly endless, one move after another like a bottomless pit.

Four beams of golden light descended from the sky, cleaving through the ghosts surrounding Ye Chen. Simultaneously, they created a distinctive aura shield that enveloped him for protection. The Third Elder's figure also emerged.

"Void Returning leader, you..."

The Third Elder had intended to speak, but upon seeing the Void Returning Taoist's blackened face, he was taken aback.

"What have you done to him to leave him in such a state?"

"Zhou, do you take me for a fool? If you want to confront me, just be upfront about it. Why the pretense?"

It was evident that the Void Returning Taoist had misinterpreted the Third Elder's intentions. However, it made sense; under normal circumstances, Ye Chen wouldn't possess the power to battle him to such an extent. It was clear that the Third Elder had been backing him.