An ordinary move effortlessly killed Hua Wushuang.

Everyone's faces showed astonishment.

After all, Hua Wushuang was akin to one of the five protectors and was considered a foremost figure in Sakura Falling, second only to the four great elders.

Killing someone from Sakura Falling in public.

Putting aside whom Hua Wushuang was fighting for, this was no longer just a matter of face—it was a blatant provocation against Sakura Falling.

"You, you actually killed someone!"

An Shengtian couldn't believe Hua Wushuang's sneak attack had failed. He pointed at Ye Guichen and shouted, "This is Sakura Falling, not a place where you can run wild as you please!"

Ye Guichen smiled faintly and glanced at An Shengtian, "Run wild? Haha, An Shengtian, you're mistaken. I just don't want to be too conspicuous. If I were, there wouldn't be anything here left for you."

Seemingly disinterested in An Shengtian, Ye Guichen directly commanded, "Suilao, go and carry Ma Xiaoling over here."

Suilao responded and turned towards the wooden villa.

An Shengtian originally thought Suilao was here because of Yuan Shao. Yet now, with just a word from Ye Guichen, Suilao obeyed. This made An Shengtian feel even more perplexed.

Still, An Shengtian had no idea who exactly Ye Guichen was.

Soon, Suilao returned with the poisoned Ma Xiaoling on his back.

Ye Guichen had Suilao lay Ma Xiaoling on the ground and checked her condition. He found that she was poisoned with a deadly toxin; although she wouldn't die immediately, she would likely lose consciousness in a few hours.

Grasping Ma Xiaoling's hand, Ye Guichen gently circulated his mystical energy, expelling the toxin from her body.

Since entering the Innate Realm and forming mystical energy, Ye Guichen discovered many things had become much more convenient.

In the past, to detoxify someone, he would have needed to prepare antidotes. Now, practically nothing couldn't be solved with a wisp of mystical energy.

Seeing Ma Xiaoling slowly regain consciousness, An Shengtian grew even more anxious and shouted towards the Great Elder, "Great Elder, did you see that? Are you just going to let this kid rampage here, killing your Sakura Falling people without consequence?"

It was clear An Shengtian wanted to form a unified front.

The Great Elder also found this odd.

The poison in Ma Xiaoling, despite not being extremely potent, wasn't something easily neutralized.

Yet Ye Guichen only took her wrist for a few seconds, and the poison was neutralized, with the red blotches on her face rapidly fading. This unsettled him.

However, the Great Elder wasn't easily swayed by An Shengtian and instead looked towards Shang Hongye, "Holy Daughter, what do you mean by this?"

Ye Guichen stood in front of Shang Hongye, seemingly protecting her.

Shang Hongye had also noticed Ye Guichen's extraordinary abilities. Now, seeing the others with hostile intentions, and with only the Second Elder by her side, she realized she could only place her last hope on Ye Guichen.

"This Mr. Ye is here to help me," Shang Hongye said in a tone devoid of emotion, "Great Elder, Third Elder, Fourth Elder, Young Master An, I know you all covet the leader's position of Sakura Falling. But as long as I, Shang Hongye, am here, I won't let you succeed!"

With the facade torn, Shang Hongye saw no need to feign friendliness.

The Great Elder laughed heartily upon hearing her, "Holy Daughter, since you've spoken so plainly, as the Great Elder, I also have something to say."

The Great Elder surveyed the surroundings, "Previously, you deceived everyone, claiming you had mastered the Wuyin Array. You spoke grandly about it being for the sake of Sakura Falling. But isn't it true that you just didn't want to relinquish the leader's position? Haha, if that's the case, then the position should naturally go to the capable. Now that everything is out in the open, let's compete. The winner will lead Sakura Falling! How about it?"

"I agree!"

"The Great Elder is right! We have no objections!"

"Yes, the leader should be the capable one. Only then can they lead Sakura Falling to glory!"

Almost everyone was eager for the competition.

Including An Shengtian, whose lips curved into a smile.

Originally, his plan had been exposed, leaving no retreat. But now, he saw a possible chance.

"So, Holy Daughter, do you dare?" The Great Elder, seeing his incitement succeed, taunted Shang Hongye.

Shang Hongye bit her lip and looked pleadingly at the Second Elder.

The Second Elder's face also turned grim.

Despite his loyalty to Shang Hongye, both in terms of poison use and prowess, he was no match for the Great Elder.

Though Shang Hongye was the Holy Daughter, she was still too young and likely no match for the Great Elder and the other elders.

If they really competed, they would surely lose.

"Fine, let's get on with it then!" To everyone's surprise, Ye Guichen suddenly spoke up, "Having hit it off with your Holy Daughter at first sight, I'll take her place."

Smiling as he scanned the surroundings, Ye Guichen pointed at the Great Elder, the Second Elder, the Third Elder, and then at An Shengtian, "Each of you counts as one. You can all come at me together! I'm in a hurry! Of course..."

Ye Guichen then looked at An Shengtian, "Young Master An, if you lose, you'll likely have no way out but death!"

"Arrogant!"

"Who do you think you are! How dare you speak such arrogance!"

"Great Elder, this kid is too presumptuous!"

Ye Guichen's words amounted to blatant provocation.

Shang Hongye and the Second Elder both turned pale.

The Fourth Elder, however, wore a sullen expression and suddenly took out a bell-like object from his embrace, "Such audacity! Though you killed Hua Wushuang just now, that was merely a trick! Hmph, our Sakura Falling's matters don't need an outsider's comment. If you seek death, I will oblige you today!"

With that, the Fourth Elder shook the bell, and a black mist poured out, directly surging towards Ye Guichen.

"Black Blood Poison Fog?"

Seeing the Fourth Elder's move, everyone was frightened and hurriedly retreated.

The elders of Sakura Falling were all poison experts, and each one's poison was unique.

The Black Blood Poison Fog was the Fourth Elder's signature skill.

Anyone hit by it would succumb within three seconds, with no time for treatment.

As the black mist surged, Ye Guichen grabbed the staff from Shang Hongye, "I'll borrow your staff!"

As he spoke, without waiting for Shang Hongye to react, Ye Guichen tossed the staff into the air.

The staff spun rapidly as if controlled by an invisible hand, wrapping the black mist into a coil.

"Contain!"

With most of the poison fog now coiled, Ye Guichen grasped the staff's handle and uttered a single word, containing the poison fog.

"Such a minor trick, and you think you can kill me?" Ye Guichen wore a look of disdain, "With you, you're still lacking! Poison? Haha, elders, if you're not convinced, feel free to come at me together. Today, I'll play with you all!"

His demeanor was outrageously arrogant!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.