Chapter 1618: Reluctant Acceptance

The woman leading the group now also sensed something was off. The yin souls attacking her were utterly fearless of death. This is not something Ye Liuyun could command merely with a single artifact.

Moreover, the Asura's Underworld God sword actually threatened her. She also sensed the great power of that artifact in the clone's Hunting Demon Bow.

Yet the clone clad in Hunting Demon Armor, after Qing Feng struck it with a palm, remained completely unscathed.

As for her female disciple, the situation was even worse.

She had already wielded an umbrella‑shaped artifact to block the assorted attacks of the ferocious beasts.

Ye Liuyun's ferocious beasts each wielded artifacts, and their attacks were far from weak. Even the lower‑realm Long Nv's trident and Lei Ming's lightning were considerable threats to her.

She hadn't anticipated that a Mortal Realm Martial Cultivator could drive her two Divine Realm disciples to rely on treasure defenses, yet still have no chance of winning.

Especially Ye Liuyun, whose battle power was now fully unleashed; he deployed three Guardian God Seals and, together with his clone, surrounded Qing Feng in a wild onslaught, each strike a life‑or‑death duel with Qing Feng.

That desperate vigor actually made Qing Feng unwilling to strike back.

With Ye Liuyun's impetus, the Monster Beasts' ferocity was also unleashed, their electric assaults battering the female disciple's protective umbrella; each fought as if with their lives at stake, frightening the disciple into not daring to act.

"Stop!"

The leading woman let out a fierce shout and simultaneously drew a Divine Rank longsword.

Ye Liuyun sensed that the sword's power was no less than his Hunting Demon Bow.

Under her divine aura's intimidation, the Asura also waved a hand to halt its attack, awaiting Ye Liuyun's command.

Clearly, if this woman went berserk, her tens‑of‑thousands‑strong yin‑soul army would be wiped out by her, doing nothing to reverse the battle; Ye Liuyun and his allies would ultimately not escape destruction.

"Hold for a moment!" Ye Liuyun ordered everyone to pause their attacks, watching what the woman would say. Yet he did not loosen the encirclement around her two disciples.

The woman clearly did not intend to fight Ye Liuyun desperately.

"I don't want to kill you all and then have her resent us later!" the woman said, pointing at Liang Xue.

"I don't know whether I wasn't clear enough or you misunderstood? We want to take her because she carries the Spirit Clan's bloodline. Returning to the Spirit Clan would let her progress faster. Staying here would only delay her."

As she spoke, the woman waved her hand, and the spiritual energy surrounding Liang Xue became visible to everyone with the naked eye.

Everyone saw that as Liang Xue breathed, her body naturally absorbed the spiritual energy.

At that moment Ye Liuyun realized that Liang Xue's affinity for spiritual energy was tied to her bloodline.

"The spiritual energy here is far insufficient for her rapid advancement, and there is no suitable method for her. I understand your feelings, but have you considered that you're delaying her, not helping her," the woman said sincerely to Ye Liuyun.

"If Xue'er is willing to go on her own, I wouldn't block her. But you all came and seized her, which inevitably makes me doubt your motives," Ye Liuyun replied.

"I can sign a Divine Soul Contract with you, guaranteeing I won't force her to do anything. I am the Spirit Clan's Elder Lingxi, and will take Liang Xue as a disciple, personally teach her, and provide her with resources!" the woman continued.

Liang Xue looked at Ye Liuyun and asked the woman, "Elder Lingxi, may I wait until I reach the Divine Realm, and after entering the Divine Realm, then go to the Spirit Clan to cultivate?"

Elder Lingxi sighed at the words, "It will take at least several years for you to cultivate to the Divine Realm. But if you come with me, two years will let you breakthrough to the Divine Realm.

Moreover, you know that entering the Divine Realm requires a key. Can you guarantee that, with your good fortune, you'll definitely find a key? If you follow me, you won't need a key, and I can help you adapt to the Divine Realm's gravity."

"But I still don't want to leave him now!" Liang Xue said, looking at Ye Liuyun with reluctance.

Ye Liuyun could risk his life for her, and she would not abandon Ye Liuyun.

Elder Lingxi sighed, "Bringing you back to the Spirit Clan is a decision unanimously made by all Spirit Clan elders. The entire clan awaits your return. You don't realize how important you are to the Spirit Clan. Moreover, the passage we used to come here was forged by the combined efforts of the clan's strongest members. You think a single trip to the Mortal Realm is that easy.

No matter what, I'm merely here to execute orders; today I must take you away. If you insist on staying, I will have to use force! Perhaps those two will die, but you cannot stop me!

And even if you block me, even stronger people will come next time to take her away!

Ye Liuyun lifted his sword‑shaped eyebrows and said directly to Liang Xue, "Don't fear her threat; even if everyone falls today, I will not let them take you away!"

Ye Liuyun has already begun communicating with the Asura, releasing all the yin souls from the furnace to fight desperately alongside Elder Lingxi!

The Asura actually also felt uneasy. Ye Liuyun had just taken over the Nether Realm, and their influence was still unstable. The Nether Realm was not solely dominated by the Underworld God; many other watchful forces lingered.

Deploying all their strength here at this moment would leave them precariously vulnerable thereafter.

Yet while Ye Liuyun and the Asura were scheming, Liang Xue spoke up directly.

"I'll go with you!" Liang Xue said to Elder Lingxi.

If Ye Liuyun were to forcefully clash with Elder Lingxi, even a marginal win would be a pyrrhic victory.

And once Ye Liuyun has exhausted all his strength, perhaps the Emperor Xia dynasty or other forces will seize the chance to stab him in the back.

Moreover, the Spirit Clan will send people again next time. Perhaps the next arrivals won't be so easy to converse with.

"Xue'er..." Ye Liuyun knew Liang Xue was thinking of him.

In fact, he had no certainty of victory. The opponent was too powerful, the battle erupted too suddenly, and he had no time to prepare or arrange.

Now it seems that even if he commits all the yin souls, all the Demonic God Sect disciples and soldiers, he may still not be able to stop Elder Lingxi.

In truth, deep down he also hoped Xue'er would go, as it was a rare opportunity for Liang Xue.

It's just that the other's method was hard for him to accept. Moreover, Liang Xue didn't want to leave him, so he was prepared to give his all to resist Elder Lingxi.

Elder Lingxi also nodded, being very pleased with Liang Xue's clear reasoning.

"I can see that your bond runs deep, and you both think of each other. I will give you one day to say goodbye; after a day, I will come to fetch you!"

As Elder Lingxi spoke, she prepared to take the two disciples away.

But she discovered that all the yin souls, ferocious beasts, and combatants were all looking at Ye Liuyun.