Chapter 303: Very Naive and Innocent?

"I'll hold them off. Yuntian, take them and go!" Mei Zhen drew his sword and said without looking back.

Clearly, he had already resolved to die, covering the others' retreat.

In Mei Zhen's heart, these disciples were the future of the sect, and any one of them was more important than himself.

He was just an elder with little room for improvement, while these disciples would one day shake the Southern Domain.

Ye Yuan was somewhat moved by this scene. Though the Nethercloud Sect was not strong, its cohesion was formidable.

With people like Luo Qingfeng, Xiao Jian, and Mei Zhen, how could the Nethercloud Sect fail to fight back to the Northern Domain in the future?

It didn't matter that the sect had declined; as long as their hearts were united, there would be a day of glory again.

"The Clearwind Sect is just a rabble. Why fight with a death wish?" Ye Yuan smiled calmly and waved his hand to summon the Canghua Sword.

As soon as Wang Fan saw the Canghua Sword, the greed in his eyes could no longer be concealed: "A thirty-two-seal spirit weapon!"

"Heh, Senior Hillyard has good eyesight," Ye Yuan mocked.

"Haha, a blessing in disguise! Losing a Wulan Ganoderma but gaining a thirty-two-seal spirit weapon—heaven has not been unkind to me!" Wang Fan laughed loudly.

Ye Yuan sneered, "Don't break your old teeth!"

"Hmph! Sharp-tongued brat, today I'll tear you apart!" Wang Fan snorted.

Seeing that Ye Yuan wasn't leaving, Mei Zhen grew anxious: "Ye Yuan, go quickly! They have two Sea Transformation experts; staying is suicide!"

"Go? Do you think you can?"

Wang Fan gave him no chance; with a wave of his hand, the disciples surrounded the Nethercloud Sect members.

Mei Zhen, seeing this, looked frustrated and sighed, "You all! Sigh!"

Ye Yuan, however, seemed unconcerned and transmitted his voice: "Elder Mei, calm down and just watch."

"Sigh! Ye Yuan, I know you're relying on the fact that no one above Crystal Formation can be here, but even a peak Crystal Formation expert is beyond you!" Mei Zhen sighed deeply.

Ye Yuan smiled, "Not necessarily."

Ye Yuan stepped forward and said to Wang Fan, "Senior Hillyard, aren't you just looking for trouble with me? How about this: we fight one-on-one. If you win, this sword is yours, and I'll submit to your will. If you lose, let us leave."

Wang Fan was taken aback. A Spirit Liquid cultivator challenging a Sea Transformation cultivator?

He had thought this kid was somewhat strange, but now it seemed he was simply brain-dead!

Before Wang Fan could speak, Mei Zhen grew frantic: "How can this be! Wang Fan, I'll fight you one-on-one!"

But Wang Fan ignored Mei Zhen and laughed heartily, "Kid, have you lost your mind from fear? One-on-one with me? Don't tell me you think wielding a thirty-two-seal spirit weapon makes you invincible?"

At this, the Clearwind Sect members burst into laughter.

"Haha, how ridiculous! In all my years, this is the first time I've heard of a Spirit Liquid cultivator challenging a Sea Transformation cultivator!"

"Have the higher-ups of the Nethercloud Sect lost their minds? Entrusting a thirty-two-seal spirit weapon to such a fool!"

"Heh, they have spirit weapons to burn, sending one to Elder Wang. Are you going to stop him?"

They all chimed in, followed by another round of laughter.

Ye Yuan did not laugh. With a firm gaze, he said to Mei Zhen, "Elder Mei, leave this to me. Take the senior brothers and step aside."

Seeing Ye Yuan's commanding look, Mei Zhen somehow swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

"Then... be careful!" Mei Zhen agreed as if possessed.

Along the way, Ye Yuan had unknowingly replaced Mei Zhen as the backbone of the Nethercloud Sect's expedition.

Even Mei Zhen was subtly influenced.

Having convinced Mei Zhen, Ye Yuan turned to Wang Fan and said, "So? Do you dare?"

Wang Fan sneered, "Don't look at me like that; it actually scares me a little! But... since you're so sincere, wouldn't it be unkind of me to refuse?"

Ye Yuan smiled, "Senior Hillyard remains true to form, as thick-skinned as ever!"

Wang Fan was used to Ye Yuan's tone and knew he couldn't out-argue him, so he simply stopped trying.

He stared at the Canghua Sword in Ye Yuan's hand, his eyes burning.

"Don't say I'm bullying you! I'll only use ten percent of my strength against you. If you can beat me, you win!" Wang Fan sneered.

This wasn't Wang Fan boasting. He was at Sea Transformation tier three, and even ten percent of his strength was stronger than an average Crystal Formation tier nine.

Such strength was more than enough to deal with a Spirit Liquid tier seven brat!

If he were facing Mei Zhen, he would have to be fully alert.

But against Ye Yuan, Wang Fan simply couldn't take him seriously.

Even though he knew Ye Yuan must have some extraordinary qualities, the vast gap in cultivation was insurmountable.

Even if he suppressed his strength to Crystal Formation tier nine, his intent and battle experience were still at Sea Transformation tier three.

Even against another Crystal Formation tier nine, he would win without a doubt.

As for dealing with a Spirit Liquid tier seven... there was no suspense, right?

At this point, Wang Fan felt like a cat toying with a mouse.

Ye Yuan's eyes lit up, and he said happily, "You said it! Don't go back on your word later! You said you'd only use ten percent of your strength!"

Seeing Ye Yuan's reaction, Wang Fan grew even more playful, deliberately putting on an air of a master: "I, an elder of the Clearwind Sect, would never break my word to a mere Spirit Liquid cultivator. Rest assured, ten percent it is!"

The Clearwind Sect members whispered among themselves, full of pity for Ye Yuan.

"This fool doesn't actually think that with Elder Wang using only ten percent of his strength, he can win, does he?"

"Look at how happy he is; he must think so! When he sees Elder Wang's ten percent strength, he'll probably wish he were dead!"

"Heh, this should be good! I can't figure out why the Nethercloud Sect would send such a fool to the secret realm."

Having agreed, both sides stepped back to give Ye Yuan and Wang Fan space to fight.

Once they were in position, Ye Yuan suddenly smiled and said, "Senior Hillyard, why not go all the way? How about letting me have one move first?"

Wang Fan squinted, looking at Ye Yuan disdainfully, and said flatly, "One move? I'll let you have ten moves, what of it?"

Ye Yuan beamed, "No need, no need, not that many. One move is enough!"

Ye Yuan's antics drew another round of ridicule. Even Yan'er, hiding in the shadows, began to doubt his intelligence.

"Miss, I always thought Young Master Ye was a wise man, but now he seems rather naive and innocent? The opponent is a Sea Transformation tier three expert. Even if he lets him have one move, or even stands still, can Young Master Ye's attack penetrate his protective Yuan force?" Yan'er said.

Li'er was equally puzzled, but since Ye Yuan was not in danger, she let him play along: "Let's watch a bit more. I don't think Young Master Ye is that shallow or pretentious."