These outsiders turned out to be Ye Tian.
The lost Buddha Bead Relics were nowhere to be found, and the Black-armored Master naturally blamed it on Monk Kurong. After all, although the others were strong, none had more right than Kurong, the authentic Buddhist practitioner with unmatched cultivation. Thus, he traced his way here, biding his time to steal the Buddha Beads. He never expected Ye Tian to emerge midway.
A flicker of flame, a shadow swept across the wall, charging directly at him.
The green bird on his shoulder startled into flight. At the same time, Ye Tian’s body swayed out, his steps cracking the ground into two basin-sized pits due to the immense recoil.
Ye Tian was truly serious this time, holding nothing back to probe his opponent, exerting his full strength in attack. He did not believe the opponent had come from afar just to tease a little green bird.
This was Ye Tian’s first engagement with this foe. To be honest, although the Great Zen Master had made this black armor sound terrifying, Ye Tian, extremely self-centered, initially doubted anything on his wrist could have such a significant impact. He always fought his battles with his fists, relying solely on his strength. Without having tried something personally, he remained somewhat unconvinced in his heart.
As Ye Tian rapidly retreated, he struck out with a palm. The Master who had just appeared before Ye Tian felt a surge of Gang Qi hitting him. The Master wasn’t rushed, a cold smile hanging on his lips. He controlled the entire cave and had laid a dark prohibition array using his own blood as the Array Eye. No one but him could discern the objects shrouded in the darkness.
Retreating, Ye Tian could only depend on sensing the energy around him, realizing the palm he struck out seemingly vanished into thin air. Perhaps it was absorbed by that layer of black armor.
Feeling resistance behind him, he knew there was a rock wall; he could retreat no further. He executed a Thousand Jin Fall, but instead of stopping squarely, he shifted sideways. This maneuver dodged some of the directly incoming Gang Qi—perfect evasion wasn’t possible, but it did spare him a head-on collision.
As expected, right after he shifted, a blast of Gang Wind blew past. Leaning against the rock wall, Ye Tian felt fortunate to have dodged the danger, only to discover an ancient armored arm extending directly from the rock wall behind him, tightly clenching his neck.
Suddenly, he remembered Zhang Liang’s words—this hilltop might have been an ancient battlefield; otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many soldiers dressed in ancient attire. This arm, sheathed in ancient armor, must be a corpse utilized by the Black-armored Master.
Between thoughts, Ye Tian produced an inch of Clear Wind Gang Qi, slicing directly on the arm, severing it. It fell to the ground, while the other half remained stuck in the rock.
Dodging the rock wall, Ye Tian moved to a relatively open area, not daring to ease the release of his Qi Flow; otherwise, he would effectively be blind. The Master was extremely patient; he had sensed him before, but in a quick turn, the Master had vanished without a trace.
Ye Tian could not afford carelessness, cautiously backing away while keeping vigilant of his surroundings. If this were a fair fight, Ye Tian might be able to stand against him, but under these circumstances, he was unsure. Depending on luck would likely be the end of him.
Retreating while fighting was Ye Tian’s strategy, but then he noticed the little green bird was missing. Another hitch at this critical moment.
Ye Tian was certain nothing had flown out of the cave entrance, for he stood near it. While he couldn’t guarantee the situation afar, he was confident about his immediate surroundings. Unless it was someone like Bodhi who could profoundly conceal their presence, it was an exaggeration, but even a fly couldn’t escape.
The little green bird definitely hadn’t flown out.
There was only one possibility left—it had flown back in.
Ye Tian didn’t ponder any longer; it was a critical moment. He could either leave or go back together; it was one or the other.
Damn bird, I must have owed you in my past life!
Ye Tian turned back, plunging into the pitch-black cave, disregarding any danger. The inch of Gang Qi between his fingers turned into Three Feet Golden Light, aiming to quickly rescue the little green bird, regardless of the consequences. If necessary, he’d fight to the death here.
I don’t believe Zhang Liang hasn’t stationed people nearby; I can only gamble on this.
He gambled on Zhang Liang having deployed forces like the Twelve Earthly Branches on this mountain, perhaps even more lower-tier forces;
He gambled on his importance to Group Six reaching a strategic level, meaning they would struggle without him—they had to show true commitment;
He gambled on winning this bet.
If he lost, so be it; he wouldn’t let this adversary have the last laugh.
A sense of desperate resolve rose within, emboldening the normally fearful Ye Tian to charge ahead with newfound momentum. Guided by released Qi, he dodged protruding rock walls, continuing until he reached an area illuminated by a campfire. There, he saw the small green bird perched atop a prominent rock. Its tiny silhouette flickered uneasily along the rock wall, stirred by the dancing flames.
Ye Tian remained silent, sidling up against the stone wall, gingerly edging toward the little green bird perched on the rock.
The little fellow turned its head, spotting Ye Tian approaching. With a flap of wings, it flew over, landing on his shoulder. Ye Tian turned and glared fiercely at it. Unlike other times when the bird would retort, it now just stared intently back at the rock it had just left.
"Crack!" Suddenly, the ground split open, and an ancient corpse emerged. The intense scent of earth engulfed it; its face indiscernible, only a metallic, conical helmet visible on its decomposing head, the few remaining pieces of rusted iron armor barely clinging on, as if a mere breath could blow them away.