Chapter 116: A Step Too Late

Yao Ye reverted to his bestial form and charged toward the front of the pack. As the village came into view, engulfed in towering, sky-high flames, his anxiety deepened.

"Master, we have a problem! A massive horde of demonic beasts is charging toward us!"

"Hmph, daring to disturb my pleasure at a time like this? You are courting death!"

The young leader stood up and struck Xiao Lian in the chest with his palm. Clutching the secret manual tightly, Xiao Lian closed her eyes as if finding release, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Yao Ye arrived just then, his eyes turning a murderous crimson as he gazed upon the villagers lying in pools of blood.

"What kind of mutated beast is this?"

The attendants muttered among themselves while cautiously bracing for an attack. Yao Ye let out a furious roar, inciting the demonic beasts behind him into a frenzy as they descended upon the men. The young nobleman sneered at the sight.

"Hmph, you beasts might as well serve as my steeds!"

Yao Ye shifted back into his human form and pulled out his blade, Heaven’s Scar, stroking it gently. "Old friend, it seems we must fight side by side once again today."

The sword shimmered with a flowing light as if answering his call. Yao Ye gripped the massive blade and brought it down upon the head of the nearest man. Seeing the giant sword descending, the others circled behind him and struck his back. Ignoring the pain, Yao Ye cleaved his opponent in two, though the blow to his own back sent him stumbling.

Although his cultivation had been severely diminished, his physical foundation remained, and relying on his resilient beast-body, he endured the assault. Blood dripped steadily from his back onto the ground. He touched his wound lightly, a vicious glint sharpening in his eyes.

As more demonic beasts joined the fray, the young nobleman and his men were forced into a desperate retreat. Seeing Yao Ye charging toward him again with his massive sword raised, the nobleman shrieked, "Young hero, spare me! I am Zhu Ziming, the eldest son of the Zhu family. If you let me go, I will reward you handsomely!"

Yao Ye remained unmoved, slicing through a guard. The man collapsed instantly. Zhu Ziming, though the most powerful among them, was merely at the Carefree Realm, and he had already been terrified out of his wits.

Under Yao Ye’s command, all the guards except for Zhu Ziming were torn apart and consumed by the beasts. Having lived a life of luxury, Zhu Ziming had never witnessed such carnage; he knelt on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. Yao Ye stepped forward and crushed Zhu Ziming’s internal organs with a single blow. The man vomited blood and collapsed, his face as pale as parchment, his body curling into a ball.

Yao Ye rushed to lift the fallen Elder Zang from the pool of blood, desperately channeling his vital energy into the old man’s body in a futile attempt to save him.

"Yao Ye, they are all gone. We were too late. But that little girl still has a breath of life left—go check on her!"

Hearing Elder Ding’s words, Yao Ye sprinted into the house. Finding Xiao Lian’s body exposed, he covered her with a blanket and hurriedly began channeling his energy into her.

Xiao Lian coughed weakly and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Yao Ye before her, she managed a faint smile. "Big Brother... is it you?"

Yao Ye fought back his tears, nodding repeatedly. Xiao Lian reached out to stroke his cheek gently. "Big Brother, Xiao Lian is useless... I couldn't help you."

With a trembling hand, she held out the secret manual she had been clutching so tightly, pressed it into Yao Ye’s palm, offered one last weak smile, and breathed her last.

"No! Xiao Lian, don't sleep! Big Brother will save you!"

Elder Ding manifested his spirit form, sighing softly as he watched Yao Ye. Yao Ye turned to him, his eyes filled with desperate hope. "Elder Ding, you must have a way, right? Please, I beg you, save Xiao Lian."

"Yao Ye, listen to me. Her life has already slipped away; even I am powerless to reverse it. However, I can preserve her soul. Perhaps, one day, there will be a way."

Elder Ding gathered Xiao Lian’s dissipating soul, casting a look of pity at Yao Ye. With a dark, thunderous expression, Yao Ye drew his blade, Weeping Blood, and walked out the door.

He approached the horde of beasts, found the convulsing Zhu Ziming, and with one swift stroke, severed the man’s arm.

"Tell me—the purpose of your mission and the extent of your family's power!"

Clutching his mangled shoulder, Zhu Ziming writhed on the ground, shrieking in agony.

"If you don't speak, the next blade will take your leg."

Crushed by Yao Ye’s cold-blooded resolve, Zhu Ziming confessed everything. Yao Ye let out a heaven-shaking roar and swept his right hand through the air. Zhu Ziming’s remaining hand clutched at his throat; his eyes widened in terror before he slumped over, dead.