Chapter 2977: with translation of chapter title

Hu Fei also took out a mountain‑splitting blade, slung it on his shoulder, looking absent‑minded.

But Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil had already seen that his True Essence inside was surging, ready to strike.

Hu Fei brandished the blade, circling Peng Lei, but Peng Lei remained wary, giving Hu Fei no chance for a sneak attack; finally he stopped waiting and had to act.

Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil fixed on them, noticing that the two went all‑out as soon as they moved, mobilizing all their True Essence to defeat the opponent quickly.

Meanwhile, his clone used the Red Eye on the Soul to silently cast an illusion on their underlings.

Peng Lei and Hu Fei were evenly matched, their blows ringing out, both fighting desperately; in a short while their True Essence was nearly exhausted, and they began close‑quarters combat.

Hu Fei was first nicked by Peng Lei's sword, crying out "Ah!" as if startled; just as Peng Lei was about to strike again, Hu Fei's loud shout halted his motion, and Hu Fei cleaved his shoulder with a blade, nearly splitting it.

Peng Lei, in desperation, casually slashed his long sword, splitting Hu Fei's abdomen.

This time Hu Fei clutched his belly in silence and hastily retreated, his mountain‑splitting blade almost pulling Peng Lei over.

Afterwards each leaned on his weapon—one on the blade, the other on the sword—staring at each other. Now they wanted to tend their wounds, but their remaining True Essence was insufficient; they had only the strength to gasp.

At that moment, a Martial Cultivator rushed out from behind Hu Fei's formation and swung a blade at Peng Lei.

Hu Fei's heart jolted; he wanted to shout at that Martial Cultivator, but his injuries were too severe to utter a sound for a moment. He could only watch helplessly as the Martial Cultivator cleaved Peng Lei with a blade.

"Now I'm in trouble! That idiot!" Hu Fei cursed inwardly, then immediately took out a Transmission Talisman to send a Transmission Voice to his leader.

And just as that Martial Cultivator rushed out, a Martial Cultivator behind Peng Lei shouted, "Save the boss!" and immediately drew his sword and charged forward. The other Martial Cultivators stared, then likewise rushed after him.

The Martial Cultivators behind Hu Fei saw the enemy charging and immediately drew their weapons to meet them; instantly a melee broke out. Ye Liuyun and his group stood aside, gleefully watching the spectacle. Meanwhile, Peng Lei's subordinates first went to hack at Hu Fei.

Hu Fei was lucky—he fell flat and rolled, taking a blade blow on his back; though he didn't die, he was left half‑dead, unable to move on the ground, and even flung away his Transmission Talisman.

"These bandits are really fierce!"

The bandits' ferocity in combat made even the Monster Beasts can't help but praise them.

Combatants from both sides fell one after another in quick succession; within a quarter hour only a handful remained. Yet nobody withdrew, and in the end Hu Fei's side had a slight edge, with five still able to stand.

The bandits ended up mutually wounded, while Ye Liuyun and company happily reaped the benefits.

The remaining bandits were ruthless too, dealing a finishing blow to every wounded foe and wiping them out. Only then did they think of rescuing Hu Fei and his companions; upon looking up, they discovered they had been surrounded by Ye Liuyun's people.

Those few immediately changed expression, realizing they were about to be counter‑killed by Ye Liuyun's group. Without a word, they raised their blades and charged at Ye Liuyun's party.

"Not bad, courage commendable!"

Ye Liuyun praised that, then he and his clone each drew a blade, each cutting down one opponent and additionally devouring their Soul.

The remaining three were all hit by the Monster Beasts' Spiritual Soul Attack, their Souls devoured.

Then the wounded but not yet dead on the ground—including Hu Fei—had their Souls devoured by them, and their Storage Rings were promptly taken.

Ye Liuyun and his clone then imitated the bandits, giving a finishing blow to those who had devoured Souls. Afterward they collected only five corpses and led the group away.

The Monster Beasts didn't ask either, but Tang Xinyao was very curious and directly asked Ye Liuyun, "Why didn't you take them all?"

"If anyone asks later, just say they fought among themselves, that Hu Fei's side had five Martial Cultivators left, who gave a finishing blow to everyone still alive before leaving, and that this has nothing to do with us!"

Ye Liuyun smiled and instructed everyone.

Upon hearing this, everyone understood he was trying to shift blame, and they all smiled knowingly.

As they walked, Ye Liuyun also educated the group, urging them to have this ferocious fighting spirit in battle, otherwise they would suffer when facing these bandits.

Tang Xinyao was still relieved, thinking she had truly encountered a bandit brawl, but Ye Liuyun told her he had used an illusion to control the first person who rushed out from each side.

"So it was your design?" Tang Xinyao asked in surprise.

"Otherwise? Do you think those bandits' experience alone could produce such a foolish act?" Ye Liuyun replied with a laugh.

"Impressive! Sowing discord, borrowing a knife to kill, framing others—while acting silently and seizing the perfect moment!"

After Tang Xinyao thought over the whole incident, she couldn't help but praise it endlessly.

She used to often set traps for people, but now she realized her little cleverness was useless when faced with serious matters.

"All right, don't mention it anymore, lest anyone overhear." Ye Liuyun cautioned them.

"But what if they come looking for us again?" Tang Xinyao asked again.

Ye Liuyun laughed and retorted, "Then just sell it to them. Otherwise, could you beat them?"

Tang Xinyao didn't quite believe it. He felt that given Ye Liuyun's personality, he didn't seem like someone who would easily yield.

"Really sell it to them? We don't even know the true value of that thing!"

Ye Liuyun merely told her, "If we don't sell it, we'll definitely be stuck here. Although selling it will also bring trouble, at least it won't be too serious!"

He didn't tell anyone his true intention, worried they'd perform poorly and give themselves away.

Although Tang Xinyao also had some doubts, she still felt that perhaps Ye Liuyun, unfamiliar with the situation here, was preparing a temporary compromise and would later think of a way to take it back, reading the novel.

Some Monster Beasts also doubted this wasn't Ye Liuyun's style, but they didn't think much of it, figuring Ye Liuyun would handle the arrangements.

But they also understood that Ye Liuyun's warning about trouble if they sold it meant that having acquired so much Primordial Power would surely attract attention.

By then they'd have another fight to look forward to, so each felt rather excited.

At this moment, Tong Xin also found suitable materials and began to imitate that triangular metal; it will be finished soon.

Ye Liuyun also led the group to speed up, rushing toward the planet ahead.

Having used that tactic once, it wouldn't work again, and he didn't want to be caught in the middle between the two sides later.

He had already learned through Soul Search that the Dragon Head bandits' sphere of influence was larger than that of the First Star bandits, covering more planets, and together their numbers could exceed twenty thousand.