Chapter 130: A Pyrrhic Victory

Watching Yao Ye lying on the ground, the Black Dragon closed his eyes. Fang Li, who had been standing there with the vacant stare of a puppet, blinked several times, then approached Yao Ye, wreathed in a shroud of dark spiritual energy.

Looking down at the dying Yao Ye, Fang Li shook his head and sneered. "Did you think that killing a piece of trash would be enough to contend with me? It is too late for you to beg to be my disciple now, but I still intend to claim you. Be a good boy and serve me as my battle slave!"

Yao Ye stared at Fang Li with unconcealed resentment, watching helplessly as Fang Li extended a hand, pitch-black like ink, toward his forehead.

"Do not resist, Yao Ye. Leave this to me; there may yet be a chance to turn the tables."

Hearing the voice of Elder Ding, Yao Ye ceased his struggle, watching as Fang Li’s spiritual energy poured into his sea of consciousness. Within Yao Ye's mind, Fang Li’s energy slowly coalesced, forming a seal that floated above the sea of consciousness. Satisfied, Fang Li nodded and began to withdraw his spiritual energy. In his haste to invade, he had failed to examine Yao Ye closely; otherwise, he would surely have discovered the existence of the Creation Cauldron.

Elder Ding secretly coated Fang Li’s retreating spiritual energy with a thin layer of dark energy. This energy followed Fang Li’s consciousness back into his own body.

Fang Li withdrew his hand and glared coldly at Yao Ye. Yao Ye scrambled to his feet, only to be forced back down by an irresistible pressure. As Fang Li threw his head back and laughed, Elder Ding’s voice rang out.

"Now, Yao Ye! Strike him! I will help you contain this seal!"

"Huh?" Fang Li’s gaze suddenly went dull. At the same moment, Yao Ye felt his body lighten as the crushing pressure vanished. Clenching his fists, he channeled every ounce of his remaining strength into a blow to Fang Li’s chest.

Fang Li felt his own sea of consciousness under attack. A massive, volatile energy was ravaging his spiritual essence, and as he saw Yao Ye’s fists flying toward him, he was unable to mount a defense.

"Argh!" Fang Li let out a piercing shriek as he was sent flying. He collapsed on the ground, writhing in agony. Yao Ye’s attack had thrown Fang Li’s internal spirit into chaos, and without his own focus to restrain it, the dark energy Elder Ding had planted began to tear his spiritual essence apart with unrestrained ferocity. Fang Li clutched his head, rolling uncontrollably, his chest caved in from the impact.

*Hum...*

A sound only Fang Li could hear resonated within his skull. He lay still on the ground, blood streaming from his seven orifices—a gruesome sight. Yao Ye rushed forward and rained blows upon Fang Li’s head, crushing his skull until it flattened under the assault.

"Enough, Yao Ye. Stop, he is already dead!"

Hearing Elder Ding’s voice, Yao Ye snapped out of his trance. He looked at the corpse, slumped onto the ground, and broke into a cold sweat.

"Yao Ye, you were too reckless. How could you possibly hope to deal with an enemy like Fang Li at your current level?"

Yao Ye steadied his breathing and replied slowly, "It was not a matter of wanting to provoke him; I had no choice but to face him."

"You could have promised him whatever he wanted and waited for a chance to escape. You must remember the mission you carry; you cannot afford to take such risks."

Yao Ye turned to look at Peng Yu, who was sitting on the ground healing his wounds, and offered a faint, weary smile. His voice was low and resonant. "A man must know what he will do and what he will not. I would not stand by and watch my brother die before my eyes. Even if it were Shi Shang himself standing here instead of Fang Li, he would have to step over my corpse to reach him."

Elder Ding nodded in silence. Seeing that Yao Ye had slain Fang Li, the surrounding crowd erupted into cheers. Yao Ye walked over to the pale-faced Peng Yu and smiled.

"Big Brother, did we win?" Peng Yu asked.

"Yes, we won. Come, let me take you to recover."

"Wait, Brother, give me a moment." Peng Yu turned to Peng Feng. "Uncle, our home is destroyed. I leave the aftermath to you; I am going out with my brother."

"Go, Yu'er. You have nothing to worry about here; I will handle everything," Peng Feng said, patting him reassuringly.

Yao Ye helped Peng Yu up, and the two made their way toward Peng Li’s courtyard. Hearing the knocking, Peng Li rushed to the door. Seeing the pair covered in blood and leaning on each other, he quickly ushered them inside.

"What happened to you both? Why are you in such a sorry state?"

Peng Yu waved a hand. "Father, it was pure luck that we survived today. We will discuss it later; for now, please let us heal in peace."

"Uncle, I have some matters that cannot be disturbed. Could you arrange a secret chamber for me?" Yao Ye asked.

Peng Li nodded. "Very well. There is a basement here; I will take you to it."

Yao Ye stood up with effort and followed Peng Li toward the entrance. Peng Yu called out, "Brother, call on us if you need anything."

Yao Ye waved a hand without looking back.

*To have made such a brother in this lifetime, I would die without regrets,* Peng Yu whispered to himself before closing his eyes to focus on his healing.

Once inside the basement, Yao Ye sat cross-legged and asked, "Elder Ding, you mentioned a stroke of fortune earlier. What did you mean?"

Elder Ding materialized and smiled. "Haha, Yao Ye, you truly are a lucky star. Do you remember that seal?"

Yao Ye nodded, looking puzzled. "Does this fortune have something to do with the seal?"

"Precisely! That seal was etched with Fang Li's spiritual energy. You must know that the Demon Race cultivates spiritual energy; their power is defined by the strength of their consciousness! Fang Li was a Demon General—someone you should not have been able to defeat. How powerful do you think the spiritual seal he left behind is?"

"But that doesn't make sense. Shouldn't his spiritual energy have dissipated upon his death?" Yao Ye asked.

Elder Ding nodded with satisfaction. "Excellent, Yao Ye. You have a clear mind and were not blinded by surface appearances. For others, that would be true, but you are different."

"You mean because of the Creation Cauldron?"

Elder Ding nodded approvingly. "Enough talk. I will slowly unlock the seal, and you must absorb it with all your might. How much you gain will depend on your own destiny!"

Yao Ye nodded and closed his eyes to concentrate. After about half a day, he opened them, his eyes bright and refreshed.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, I am ready."

Yao Ye closed his eyes again, his hands forming a seal, and as the spiritual energy began to surge, his hand gestures shifted in a rapid, rhythmic dance.