The cultivation method for the Fourth Layer of the Nine Revolutions Asura Art appeared clearly on Blood Peak.
Lin Ye had originally thought it would take at least a month before it surfaced.
He never expected it to appear so soon.
His cultivation had already stepped into the Third Layer of the Moon Wheel Realm.
But because Lin Ye had directly refined a star, the depth of his mystic energy and the foundation of his qi sea far surpassed ordinary Moon Wheel cultivators.
That was why the Fourth Layer method had been unlocked.
It meant only one thing—
His strength had reached the threshold to keep advancing.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Ye began circulating the Fourth Layer method.
The circulation speed was more than ten times faster than before.
"Even if my previous life were still at the Moon Wheel Realm, I wouldn't be a match for my current self."
Lin Ye could only use himself as the benchmark.
"But it's still nowhere near enough."
"The Heavenly Bestowed Imperial Clan… their foundation is terrifying. Who knows how many Return-to-Abyss Realm experts they've hidden?"
"Only by stepping into the Saint Realm can I fight them head-on."
His gaze hardened.
Beside the method on Blood Peak, a longsword radiating eerie, demonic malice was embedded in the ground.
"What exactly is your origin?"
For someone to nurture it with a formation, and for it to survive ten thousand years without losing its power—
Even now, it could still stir the Nine Nether Blood Sea into violent surges.
"No matter what you are… you're mine now."
Lin Ye grabbed the hilt and drew the sword with a sharp shing.
At the end of the blade, strange patterns formed two complex characters.
Simplified—
Calamity Ghost.
"Calamity Ghost Sword…"
Just speaking its name sent a chill crawling up the spine.
The blade was pitch-black.
Yet under certain angles of light, it reflected a cold, corpse-like glow.
The moment Lin Ye held it, the Calamity Ghost Sword trembled—subtle, yet intense.
It was… excited.
"Interesting."
This was clearly a bloodthirsty weapon.
Perfectly aligned with the Nine Revolutions Asura Art.
If someone cultivated an ordinary method, they would never be able to control such a blade.
Lin Ye infused a thread of mystic energy.
A wailing shriek burst from the sword—like ghosts howling in agony.
The sound alone carried mental intimidation.
A lethal weapon… even before it struck.
"Time's about right. It's been two days."
Lin Ye calculated silently. He had no idea how Luo Gui was doing.
He sprang upward, shooting toward the top of Thousand Luo Gorge.
Boom!
On the cliff above, Luo Gui was still hiding beneath a pile of shattered rocks.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
Six Moon Wheel Realm experts arrived in a flash.
One of them carried a terrifying aura—at least Moon Wheel Fifth Layer, if not higher.
The moment that man landed, his gaze locked onto Luo Gui's hiding spot.
Luo Gui knew it was over.
His stealth was decent, but this time the concealment had been rushed. He had no time to prepare.
What was meant to be a temporary hideout turned into three full days.
"A friend who arrived early… why hide your face?"
A white-robed elder from the Plum Blossom Sword Sect smiled faintly, but his eyes sparkled like lightning.
Boom!
The rocks in front of Luo Gui exploded.
Luo Gui immediately leapt out.
The others surged forward, surrounding him while scanning the area for potential ambush.
"Heh… old bones, old bones."
"I was just taking a nap. Wake up and suddenly it's this lively."
Luo Gui hunched slightly, letting out a cold, rasping laugh.
Instead of waiting for Lin Ye, he had waited for the sect's top killers.
A single realm difference could crush a man—let alone several.
His eyes flickered, searching for a path to escape.
"Don't bother looking," the white-robed elder said calmly. "With your strength, your chance to escape is two in ten."
"Your chance of dying by my hand is nine in ten."
The elder stepped forward.
"Tell me. Why did the gorge below suddenly change?"
His pressure crashed down like a mountain, making Luo Gui feel as though he carried a thousand weights.
Damn it. Just his aura alone can suppress me. His actual strength must be even worse than I estimated…
But Luo Gui still smiled.
"You're too kind, Elder."
"I'm a nobody. I found a place to sleep. Woke up and saw seniors everywhere—how would I dare move?"
"I believe you."
The elder nodded seriously.
The surrounding experts all wore strange expressions, as if they already knew what would happen next.
"If there's nothing else," Luo Gui said lightly, "I won't disturb you all from treasure-hunting."
No one moved.
They were waiting for the elder's order.
The elder smiled.
"I have a soul-search technique. It's fast. It doesn't hurt."
"Let me use it, and I'll let you go."
"Our Plum Blossom Sword Sect won't bully the weak or abuse power."
His tone was gentle.
But the chill in his smile was bone-deep.
Soul-search?!
Luo Gui's expression changed instantly.
He knew how vicious that technique was. Once used, a person's mind would be crippled—often permanently.
It was like stripping away half of one's consciousness.
If done poorly, the victim would die during the process.
"We met by chance. Must we go this far?" Luo Gui said coldly.
His hand slid from his sleeve, revealing a red pill.
A pill that could boost cultivation instantly—
At an enormous cost.
He didn't want to use it unless absolutely necessary.
But the situation left him no choice.
The other five experts released their auras at once, crushing down on him.
Just as Luo Gui was about to swallow the pill and carve a bloody path—
A figure shot up from the gorge below.
A young man in dark robes.
Elegant, swift.
In just a few flashes, he landed on the cliff.
Even the white-robed elder turned to look.
"Lin Ye! You finally came back!"
Luo Gui's heart surged with joy—then his face changed.
He roared, "Lin Ye, run! They have a Moon Wheel Fifth Layer expert!"
"You won't be running."
The white-robed elder's eyes narrowed.
Now he was certain—Lin Ye had gone down to seize the treasure, and Luo Gui had been guarding above.
He never intended to let either of them live.
With that thought, he rushed Lin Ye and struck with a palm.
A vast wave of mystic energy surged like an ocean, swallowing Lin Ye whole.
Boom!
Though the Plum Blossom Sword Sect specialized in sword arts, their palm techniques were equally terrifying.
"Flying Blossom Shattered Jade Palm!"
The mystic energy transformed into countless petal-like fragments.
Each "petal" carried crushing palm force.
Get hit once, and you'd be drowned by a storm of follow-up blows.
Lin Ye heard Luo Gui's warning.
He saw the strike coming.
Amid the falling "blossoms," a pitch-black longsword appeared in his hand.
The moment the blade surfaced—
The white-robed elder's heart trembled.
Lin Ye swung once.
A ghostly shriek exploded from the sword.
Hiss—!
The blossom palm force was shredded instantly.
A dark-red blood-asura sword qi slashed straight at the elder.
"Armor of Mystic Energy!"
The elder's instincts screamed danger. He raised his defense without hesitation.
A heavy, solidified armor formed before him—almost like real plate.
Bang!
The moment the sword qi struck, the elder realized something was wrong.
Crack!
The armor split apart.
Lin Ye hadn't used any fancy technique—
Just a simple, ordinary slash.
He only wanted to test the Calamity Ghost Sword's sharpness.
And one casual strike had already cleaved the elder's armor.
"So sharp…"
The elder's scalp went numb.
He immediately drew his own blade.
"Heaven-Fold Sword!"
He slashed at Lin Ye, choosing offense.
Clang!
The two swords collided.
A crisp, horrifying sound rang out—
Snap.
The Heaven-Fold Sword broke in half.
"What… my Heaven-Fold Sword?!"
Shock flooded the elder's eyes.
Lin Ye's second slash followed—diagonal and ruthless.
Shhk!
The elder's body split into two, torn apart like it had been raked by a demon's claws.
A Moon Wheel Fifth Layer powerhouse—
Dead in three strikes.
The remaining five experts—and even Luo Gui—gasped, pupils shrinking.
Luo Gui finally realized something:
The one who should've run…
Was the elder.
"Signal!""Form up! Kill him!""Plum Blossom Falling Anvil Formation!"
Five figures charged Lin Ye at once, sword qi surging.
Their positions formed a plum blossom pattern.
"A sword formation?"
Lin Ye laughed—mocking and cold.