Chapter 1501: Determining the Winner

"Will Luo Tianming miss those Martial Cultivators? If we get there before them and eliminate all those Martial Cultivators, then Luo Tianming won't discover our secret, right?" Aya asked.

She was still worried in her heart about endangering the curse tribe.

"Hope, right? That's the best outcome!" Ye Liuyun also hoped Aya was right.

But he thought there was no airtight wall. If the Empire sent people to investigate, they'd definitely find them.

Unless everyone who had seen them were wiped out!

"Stop thinking about it, focus on finding resources. Your wild speculation now is useless!" Meng Zhangxing urged Aya.

Along the way, everyone kept getting annoyed by Aya's questions; after walking a distance, Aya would start making random guesses.

Ye Liuyun also advised Aya: "We understand your feelings. No one wants to endanger family or clan. But it's already like this, your blind guesses are useless. Focus on the danger! We've already entered deep into the Sunset Mountains and must stay fully alert!"

"Hmm!" Aya replied, and had to stop guessing about Luo Tianming.

"Boom—" A distant True Essence rumble suddenly sounded.

Ye Liuyun and the others immediately surrounded it.

They were not far from the Martial Cultivators ahead. If a fight broke out, it would most likely be caused by those Martial Cultivators.

Sure enough, they saw several Martial Cultivators besieging a Black Python; behind the python was a barren fruit tree bearing a single fruit the size of a human head.

It was pink, looking like a large peach.

That Black Python was at the Tianzun Fifth Layer. The Martial Cultivators needed to give it their all, but their victory was only a matter of time.

To prevent those Martial Cultivators from taking the fruit early, Ye Liuyun led the group and charged straight forward.

Those Martial Cultivators, upon seeing someone arrive, tried to withdraw from the battle, but the Black Python would not relent; forced, they could only keep fighting, unable to break free from the python for a while.

The Black Python, seeing more Human Martial Cultivators approach, wanted to eliminate those people in advance, so it attacked even more fiercely.

Ye Liuyun and the others, seeing them fighting enthusiastically, did not intervene, merely watching the spectacle.

"What fruit is that?" Ye Liuyun asked Luo Yun.

"That's a withered wood fruit; its energy is abundant. Once it ripens, it will absorb the energy of the tree and surrounding soil," Luo Yun explained to Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun looked at the surrounding soil and indeed it was like sand, devoid of any nutrients.

While they chatted idly, a Martial Cultivator who saw Ye Liuyun and the others shouted, "Those are them, kill Lao Lu!"

However, as he was distracted, the Black Python seized the chance and flattened his tail into a meat patty.

They had already been fighting hard, and this made them even less advantageous.

A Martial Cultivator instantly used Transmission Voice to guide the Black Python toward Ye Liuyun's direction, hoping the python would attack them so they could seize the opportunity.

Ye Liuyun, however, directly used his Golden Pupil to release a Soul pressure, forcing the Black Python to stay away and instead target the isolated Martial Cultivators.

"Damn it, that beast didn't fall for it!" the Martial Cultivator cursed inwardly.

The Black Python, having witnessed Ye Liuyun's powerful Soul, originally wanted to flee.

But seeing Ye Liuyun's group encircling the Martial Cultivators without trying to snatch the fruit it guarded, it thought they weren't after its treasure, so it resumed focusing on attacking those Martial Cultivators.

The Black Python grew more ferocious, while the Martial Cultivators, having to guard against Ye Liuyun, fought with diminishing vigor.

"Hear my command, prepare to withdraw together, let them deal with the Black Python!" the Martial Cultivator reminded his companions, preparing to retreat.

Seeing them prepare to withdraw, Ye Liuyun warned everyone to get ready while releasing duplicates, each firing an arrow at two Martial Cultivators.

Meng Zhangxing and Guo Da also released ferocious beasts to block the Martial Cultivators' retreat.

When the Tianzun Eighth Layer's ferocious beast appeared, even the python was too scared to attack. Together with the Martial Cultivators, they were all stunned on the spot.

"What exactly do you want?" the leading Martial Cultivator asked Ye Liuyun.

"Aya, can your curse technique handle that leading Martial Cultivator?" Ye Liuyun wondered if Aya's curse technique could deal with a Tianzun Fourth Layer Martial Cultivator.

"No problem!" Aya said, and began chanting a curse at that Martial Cultivator.

Her voice was soft, and behind the mask, so the Martial Cultivator didn't notice at first.

Ye Liuyun casually chatted, "I don't want anything either. I'm just watching you fight lively, wanting to see who can win."

"We don't need that withered wood fruit; we can give it to you, okay?" the Martial Cultivator said directly.

"No! I said I want to see you determine a winner!" Ye Liuyun laughed.

"You..." The opposing Martial Cultivator was so angry at Ye Liuyun he could spit blood. They had barely been able to defeat the Black Python, but now three of them were dead, losing the advantage.

If they were forced to risk everything against Ye Liuyun's group, they'd be even more outmatched.

"We'll give you all our Storage Rings; spare our lives, how about it?"

The Martial Cultivator decisively removed his Storage Ring and tossed it to Ye Liuyun, urging the others to do the same.

However, he suddenly felt dizzy and completely weak.

Then, he realized he had no strength to even stand, collapsed onto the ground, and soon fell lifeless, breathing ceased.

This scene made the Black Python shrink its neck.

At this point, the remaining five or six Martial Cultivators finally noticed Aya performing a curse.

"That curse tribe woman!" someone shouted.

Immediately, they tossed all their Storage Rings to Ye Liuyun, kneeling and begging for mercy.

Ye Liuyun examined their realms; the remaining few were at the Earth Sovereign level, and each possessed a treasure, so he let Meng Zhangxing and the others spar.

"Your curse technique is truly impressive, it doesn't even depend on cultivation level!" Ye Liuyun praised Aya.

Actually, he also wanted to see just how far Aya's curse technique could handle Martial Cultivators.

"The higher one's realm, the stronger the life force, the slower the curse technique takes effect. If the opponent discovers it early, they might protect their life force with True Essence, and then I can't do anything!" Aya explained.

"So, when using this curse technique against stronger foes, the best method is a long‑range ambush, not getting too close? Otherwise they'd strike before it activates!" Ye Liuyun confirmed with Aya.

"Yes! But the higher the realm, the more potent the curse technique becomes, making it act faster!" Aya told Ye Liuyun.