Volume Two, Chapter Sixty-Six: The Plot to Defeat Ye Yun

As the two of them searched the dense forest, they did manage to find some magical artifacts. However, none were ideal. Most were either too ancient and damaged, or simply low-grade items. After searching for a long time, they still couldn’t find anything superior to the disc Meng Fang had already obtained.

They were both quite disappointed, but upon reflection, they came to terms with it. How could any true masters have passed through here? Naturally, there wouldn’t be any high-quality artifacts left behind. That disc was likely dropped here after its owner was attacked in the sky.

The two pressed on, reaching the forest’s edge without any further trouble. Ahead lay the entrance to the third level. They paused, intending to discuss whether or not they should proceed. The dangers they had faced on the second level were already frequent and nearly fatal—what awaited in the third was anyone’s guess.

Especially this dense forest—without a series of fortunate coincidences, even ten more lives wouldn’t have been enough for them to escape alive.

As they debated, a sudden cry sounded from above. Yu Mu looked up, his eyes glinting coldly with murderous intent.

He dragged Meng Fang under the shade of a tree and whispered, “Brother, I have a plan. We might be able to get rid of Ye Yun.”

Meng Fang was startled, glancing around. “Ye Yun? Where is he?”

Yu Mu pointed upward. Meng Fang followed his gesture and saw a dark shadow circling overhead—it was the same hawk they had encountered upon entering.

“He’s still following Ye Yun?”

Yu Mu nodded. “I’m sure of it. This creature holds a grudge—you forget Ye Yun once slashed it.”

Meng Fang’s eyes lit up. “So, how can we get rid of him?”

“If we want to eliminate him, we’ll have to endure some hardship ourselves.”

Meng Fang slapped his thigh. “As long as it gets the job done, I don’t care how much I suffer. Just tell me what to do.”

A cruel smile appeared on Yu Mu’s face. “Good! Here’s what we’ll do...”

Ye Yun had been hounded endlessly by the hawk, but at least its presence in the sky kept other dangers at bay. Aside from being tormented by the persistent bird, he made his way safely to the entrance of the third level.

“At last, I can shake off this feathered pest,” Ye Yun sighed in relief, preparing to descend towards the entrance. Suddenly, he noticed two figures lying at the edge of the forest near the entrance.

Ye Yun immediately became alert, slowing his descent. Hovering in midair, he took a closer look—and was utterly shocked. The sight below was almost beyond belief.

The two bodies lying in pools of blood were none other than his mortal enemies, Yu Mu and Meng Fang, whom he had longed to grind into dust.

How could the two of them have perished here?

Ye Yun dared not let his guard down. He carefully examined the scene. Both men were sprawled in blood. Meng Fang’s chest had a gaping hole, through which a dark brown orb was visible.

Ye Yun recognized this orb at once—it was Meng Fang’s inner core. Such a unique core was likely without equal in the world. Yet this one was already damaged, its energy spent—a dead core, through and through.

Yu Mu was in an even more tragic state, his body cleaved in half at the waist, beyond saving.

Ye Yun rubbed his eyes, hardly able to believe what he was seeing.

Heaven and earth! Was it that angelic lady who had avenged me?

The two still clutched their weapons. Greed flickered in Ye Yun’s eyes at the sight of their spiritual artifacts, and he couldn’t help but throw back his head in triumphant laughter. “Ha ha ha! Heaven has eyes! Oppose me and justice prevails. Do you see this? The bitter part is that you cannot witness your own downfall. Oh, how I hated you!”

After venting his bitterness, Ye Yun finally descended. Still cautious, he approached them slowly, muttering through clenched teeth, “Don’t think death will spare you from my wrath. I swore I’d cut you to pieces, and I’ll see it done.”

As he spoke, he raised his long blade.

At that moment, Yu Mu’s eyes suddenly snapped open. He spat a cloud of powder directly into Ye Yun’s face. Ye Yun’s reactions were lightning fast—he leapt into the air the moment the powder struck him.

But Yu Mu’s plan was far from simple. As Yu Mu attacked, Meng Fang also sprang into action. In a flash of light, a stone sphere struck Ye Yun squarely on the back of the head.

His vision blocked by the powder, Ye Yun didn’t see the strike coming. The stone hit him hard, and darkness swallowed his senses as he fell from the sky. Fate seemed set against him—the sphere’s fifty-percent stun effect triggered at just the right moment.

With only half his body remaining, Yu Mu lunged forward, clutching Ye Yun’s leg. At the same time, Meng Fang’s great axe swung down with a sickening thud, cleaving Ye Yun cleanly in two.

Their surprise assault was perfectly coordinated—every move executed with seamless precision, giving Ye Yun no time to react. In the blink of an eye, he was slain beneath the axe.

With a soft thud, Ye Yun’s golden core rolled free from his body. The core had been shattered by the force of the axe, leaving Ye Yun beyond hope of survival.

Blood spurted from the mouths of both Meng Fang and Yu Mu. Though their plan had succeeded, they had paid a heavy price—their wounds were real, save for the single fake core.

Yu Mu’s true form was that of a tree. Though he had inflicted severe injury on himself, it was his roots that were damaged, and he could still hold on for a while.

Meng Fang, however, had wounded his actual body, especially the wound on his chest—which he had inflicted with his own axe. He had lost a great deal of blood and his condition was dire.

Yu Mu’s ruthless stratagem had cost them dearly.

But there was no alternative—his simple mind could only conceive such blunt methods.

Yu Mu hastily helped Meng Fang steady himself, pressing a hand to the wound on Meng Fang’s chest, transforming his hand into leaves and branches to knit the injury closed.

He dragged over his own severed body, just about to reconnect it, when the sound of a blade whistling through the air caught his ear. He looked up in alarm to see Ye Yun, who should have been dead, propping himself up with half a body, raising his blade toward Meng Fang.

Yu Mu had no time to intervene. At the very instant the blade was about to strike, his hand twitched, sending a wave of light over Meng Fang. In a flash, Meng Fang vanished.

“A teleportation talisman? Well done! Then you can stay here and die!” Yu Mu spat.

With Meng Fang safe, Yu Mu hurled himself at Ye Yun. “How are you still alive?”

Ye Yun burst into manic laughter. “Ha ha ha! All thanks to your Rebirth Pill. But you’re doomed now. Ha ha ha...”

With a wild laugh, Ye Yun grabbed his own mangled body, a shimmer of light surrounding him, and vanished without a trace.

“No!” Yu Mu roared at the heavens, his heart wracked with bitterness. After all his planning and ruthless effort, his victory had slipped away at the last moment.

He never imagined that the most precious thing he would obtain from this tomb exploration would be the Rebirth Pill, now stolen by Ye Yun. A treasure that could restore the dead to life—a supreme elixir at the very least. Fate had decreed Ye Yun would not perish here!