Chapter 587: Surprisingly Still Alive

Shui Changkun was clearly not going to pass up this opportunity to show off. Since the Saint Heir had entrusted him with killing Ye Qingchen, he was determined to handle the matter cleanly and leave a good impression.

Therefore, even though Ye Qingchen was only at the Eighth Layer of the Martial King Realm, Shui Changkun didn’t hold back, directly using the Water Attribute Energy he had just comprehended.

Three columns of pure Water Attribute Energy appeared before Shui Changkun. Each was about half a meter high and seemed extremely gentle. However, when Shui Changkun pointed his finger at them, the columns began to surge violently. Countless streams of nature’s spiritual energy started to gather, and in the blink of an eye, the three water columns had grown to over five meters tall.

"Go!"

The three columns, swirling with an abundance of nature’s spiritual energy, surged toward Ye Qingchen at great speed. The water columns moved unbelievably fast, splitting into three separate attacks to encircle him.

Unable to withstand the power of the water columns, the ground began to fracture, forming deep trenches as the surrounding earth trembled continuously.

Ye Qingchen furrowed his brow. He wanted to use the Fire Spirit Charm Shadow to dodge, but the violent shaking of the ground greatly slowed his speed, making escape impossible. Left with no other choice, Ye Qingchen drew his Double Pupil Sword. Wood Attribute Energy surged forth as he unleashed the Wind Blade Sword Technique, slashing toward the water columns.

"It’s useless. How could ordinary spiritual energy cut through Water Attribute Energy? You’re just wasting your own spiritual energy," Shui Changkun scoffed, watching Ye Qingchen’s incessant strikes fail to leave a single mark on his three water columns.

The disciples from the other three academies who had yet to act all laughed heartily. Though some admired Ye Qingchen’s courage for drawing his sword against an opponent at the fifth layer of the Martial Emperor Realm, they all knew that no matter how hard he tried, the disparity in their realms and energy was simply insurmountable.

Ye Qingchen did not falter in the face of their mockery. Instead, a cold smile played on his lips. He had just unleashed ten slashes of the Wind Blade Sword Technique. They seemed to have no effect on the three water columns, but in reality, they had all skillfully bypassed them.

As Shui Changkun finished speaking, the ten Wind Blades suddenly reconverged in front of him, carrying an even more terrifying amount of nature’s spiritual energy as they sliced toward him.

Shui Changkun hadn’t expected Ye Qingchen to be able to harness more of nature’s spiritual energy than he could, nor that he possessed such a formidable offensive technique. The shock on his face was plain to see.

However, Shui Changkun was only surprised by Ye Qingchen’s manipulation of nature’s spiritual energy. No matter how unexpected the move was, ordinary spiritual energy could never penetrate his Attribute Energy. A mist of water instantly formed before Shui Changkun, intending to block Ye Qingchen’s attack.

Shui Changkun was confident that Ye Qingchen’s attack could not penetrate the mist. Meanwhile, his own three water columns were already about to strike Ye Qingchen. With his meager strength, how could Ye Qingchen possibly defend against an attack imbued with Water Attribute Energy? In Shui Changkun’s eyes, Ye Qingchen was already a dead man.

Shui Changkun also felt fortunate that Ye Qingchen had unleashed such a powerful attack right before his death. After all, the more outstanding Ye Qingchen’s performance, the deeper the impression Shui Changkun would leave on the Saint Heir after easily slaying him.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. The watching crowd only saw Shui Changkun’s three water columns attacking Ye Qingchen while Ye Qingchen swung his sword to no effect. The next moment, however, as the water columns closed in on Ye Qingchen, ten beams of peerless Sword Qi suddenly appeared before Shui Changkun.

Although they had no idea how Ye Qingchen had managed it, they all shared Shui Changkun’s thought: Ye Qingchen was undoubtedly doomed.

But to everyone’s surprise, the three water columns suddenly began to explode. Just over a meter in front of Ye Qingchen, they erupted, creating three mushroom clouds each a hundred meters tall.

Ye Qingchen’s ten beams of Sword Qi instantly pierced through Shui Changkun’s water mist, continuing their relentless advance toward him.

Though taken aback, Shui Changkun hastily gathered energy to defend against the Sword Qi. But because he was too rushed, the ten beams blasted him back more than ten meters. He barely managed to steady himself, and the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth was proof he had sustained a serious injury from the blow.

The crowd paid little attention to Shui Changkun’s condition. Instead, they fixed their gazes eagerly on Ye Qingchen’s position.

The sudden explosion of the three water columns had instantly blasted a giant crater, over ten meters deep and spanning a radius of more than ten meters, with Ye Qingchen at its center. Flying sand and stones obstructed their vision, and the violent Spiritual Energy in the area blocked their Divine Sense.

Everyone assumed that anyone at the epicenter of such a violent explosion would have been reduced to dust. Still, they all watched with anticipation, wanting to confirm the final outcome.

What they couldn’t understand was why Shui Changkun didn’t just have the three water columns hit Ye Qingchen directly. Why make them explode beside him?

Is he trying to spare his life so he can torture him slowly?

Witnessing this, Li Rui snorted coldly. Believing Shui Changkun had deliberately held back, he growled, "What an idiot! He should be fighting for a quick and decisive victory, but he’s still holding back!"

The Saint Heir’s expression was grave. After hearing Li Rui’s words, he said coldly, "Heh. Your saying that proves your intelligence isn’t much higher than his. That kid Ye Qingchen shattered those three water columns himself!"

"How is that possible?" Li Rui said, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. "Even if he could react in time, how could he possibly shatter Water Attribute Energy?"

"Nothing is impossible," the Saint Heir scoffed. "Don’t you remember? Ye Qingchen was the one who destroyed the water mist in front of Shui Changkun just now."

Although Li Rui found it hard to believe, the Saint Heir’s words were irrefutable. Li Rui could only swallow hard, trying to calm the shock in his heart.

A moment later, the flying sand and stones finally settled, and the rampant energy subsided. All eyes were intently fixed on the spot, everyone wanting to verify the final result.

But to everyone’s utter shock, once the dust settled, Ye Qingchen was still standing there. He was completely unscathed and hadn’t moved an inch, let alone suffered any injuries.

At that moment, expressions of disbelief appeared on every face.

Ye Qingchen was still alive