CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: JOIN THE GLORIOUS EVOLUTION

Li Yanxin’s eyes were fierce, and she seemed to still hold a grudge over her previous defeat. She looked at Ye Qingzhou with a sinister expression: "Don’t think that just because you won once, you’re that formidable. At that time, we hadn’t shown our real strength."

At the same time, Gao Yun and Li Hanpeng also appeared from two other directions. The three of them each occupied advantageous positions, forming a triple-envelopment situation around Ye Qingzhou.

Gao Yun’s posture was light and graceful as he balanced on a twig as thin as a pencil, his body swaying up and down: "Teacher Yuan, should we go after that girl?"

He clearly intended to capture Xu Yuebing, then force Ye Qingzhou to submit.

Yuan Hao smiled faintly and shook his head: "No need."

His gaze then returned to Ye Qingzhou: "If it were an ordinary person, they would think you’re trying to keep your companion from getting caught up in this turmoil by sending her away. But I understand people like you— even if she were to die in front of you, you probably wouldn’t bat an eye, right?"

"You guess?"

Ye Qingzhou neither confirmed nor denied.

Yuan Hao’s gaze was deep: "I think we’re the same kind of person. We don’t care about mundane views, and we won’t let emotions cloud our reason. Ye Qingzhou, you hope to use Xu Yuebing to disperse our forces and take us down one by one. A smart tactic, but unfortunately, I won’t fall for it."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

Ye Qingzhou adjusted his stance, choosing the most advantageous spot, already prepared to fight.

Meanwhile, Li Yanxin, Gao Yun, and Li Hanpeng were brimming with killing intent, eager to avenge their disgrace.

At this moment, the aura emanating from the three of them was entirely different from that during the exchange match, filled with malicious, bloodthirsty intent more akin to three wild beasts unleashing their primal savagery.

However, Yuan Hao didn’t seem in a hurry to act, and instead invited Ye Qingzhou: "Come, join the glorious evolution. You must crave power too, right? I can grant you unimaginable strength."

Ye Qingzhou’s fingers brushed the hilt of the Suspended Cutting Sword: "Then, what is the cost?"

"It’s simple: I just need your cooperation in my research."

Yuan Hao pushed the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose — a habit of his, done unconsciously when lying or deceiving.

His words were enticing, even filled with a scientific spirit, as if he were genuinely exploring the path of human evolution.

Unfortunately, Ye Qingzhou had long surpassed the age where he blindly believed what others told him, so he rejected without hesitation: "I’ve known since I was a child that gifts from others can be taken back at any time. So, I learned to take for myself."

Clang~

The wind was silent, the Qi like still water.

The light was shadowless; the Swift Sword was traceless.

The Suspended Cutting Sword unsheathed with a clear ring!

Its silver-white blade vibrated in the mountain wind, directing straight towards Yuan Hao.

The combined techniques of Wind and Thunder — Mid-Tier Martial Technique, Wind Chasing Lightning!

As the sword light moved instantly, with the swiftness of wind and the ferocity of thunder, merging into one. Ye Qingzhou’s form was as agile as a dragon, fierce as a raging tiger.

Facing this fearsome sword strike, Yuan Hao displayed a regretful expression: "It seems we cannot resolve this peacefully. Very well, let me show you what true power is."

Roar~

A furious roar erupted, and behind Yuan Hao, a golden dragon-shaped Qi surged, tearing his shirt into countless shreds.

Clang~

Yuan Hao punched the Suspended Cutting Sword, and Ye Qingzhou felt an immense force rushing along the sword towards his hand.

In mid-air, Ye Qingzhou executed Soaring Step, treading upon the Clear Wind to change his trajectory. Simultaneously, he twisted his wrist to deflect Yuan Hao’s fierce Fist Force aside.

Forest Technique, High-Tier Martial Technique, Substituting One Thing for Another!

Boom~

The deflected Fist Force, like a heavy cannon, blasted a funnel-shaped crater nearly two meters in diameter on the ground.

Seeing Ye Qingzhou wasn’t incapacitated by his punch, Yuan Hao was somewhat surprised, then grew more appreciative of Ye Qingzhou: "I didn’t expect that you also managed to learn the Substituting One Thing for Another from ’Cloud Hand Six Techniques.’ You truly are a talent worthy of my attention."

Ye Qingzhou shook his slightly numb wrist and twirled the Suspended Cutting Sword into a sword flower, responding leisurely: "Hey, in the world of martial artists, it’s not stealing; it’s borrowing. I and Yuh Shouping exchanged and learned from each other in private; it’s quite reasonable."

"Hehe, then what did he gain from it?"

"My friendship."

Ye Qingzhou spoke flippantly while his sword swept horizontally towards the flying kick from Gao Yun.

The Sword Qi clashed fiercely with Gao Yun’s leg, stirring up a violent gust and a flurry of sand and stones, obscuring the view of Li Yanxin and Li Hanpeng.

The encirclement collapsed instantly!

From the moment Ye Qingzhou lunged the first sword at Yuan Hao, he employed the strategy of surrounding one point to save another, forcing the trio to change positions to avoid being cornered himself.

Opportunity!

Amidst the swirling dust, Ye Qingzhou closed his eyes, relying on the power of Cicada Awakening to sense the enemies’ positions.

His mind spun rapidly, contemplating strategy.

’Li Yanxin is the weakest but closest to Yuan Hao — might be a trap.’

’Gao Yun’s Qinggong is top-notch, reacts swiftly, not easy to kill.’

’Only Li Hanpeng is the biggest flaw among the four.’

At the moment he reached this assessment, Ye Qingzhou acted instantly.

Overlapping Waves, triple assault!

Dragon-Shaped Sword Qi Slash, Six Forms Unification!

Sword Light Division, three Dragon-Shaped Sword Qi surged out, striking at Yuan Hao, Li Yanxin, and Gao Yun.

Then Ye Qingzhou collected his sword and gathered his strength, shifting his Inner Breath, transforming the Primordial Qi in his Dantian into Fire and Thunder Techniques.

Combination of Fire and Thunder, Fiery Thunder Burning Sky!

Ye Qingzhou, wielding fierce flames like thunderous judgment, suddenly appeared before Li Hanpeng.

Die!

A single sword beheaded Li Hanpeng, his head dropping to the ground.

The intense flames burned the flesh on Li Hanpeng’s neck, scorched and charred, filling the air with the aroma of roasted meat.

"Hmm!?"

Yuan Hao blocked the incoming sword Qi, surprised that Ye Qingzhou chose Li Hanpeng as the breakthrough point.

He quickly leapt forward, charging towards Ye Qingzhou, delivering another punch.

Again, it was a punch devoid of technical beauty, like a beast recklessly unleashing its wild strength.

Ye Qingzhou grounded his feet, Inner Breath outflowing, converting Fire and Thunder Techniques into Mountain Technique, unmoving as a mountain, adopting the Pan Guard stance.

Clang~

Sword Guard, Ye Qingzhou received, deflected, and countered, leveraging the force to redirect it, his Famous Sword Xuanjian turning towards Yuan Hao’s neck artery.

Followed by a change in technique, combining Wind and Forest Techniques, Overlapping Waves!

Triple force burst forth, interweaving, Sword Qi howling with killing intent overflowing.

However, Yuan Hao reacted swiftly, using a swing punch, his arm as a shield, harder than Sharp Gold, blocking Ye Qingzhou’s sword slash head-on.

Meanwhile, he uttered surprising words: "Li Yanxin, go retrieve Li Hanpeng’s head."