346 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama

Chapter 346: Battle Upon Meeting "Yan Ke, can't you smell the scent on yourself?" Ye Linglong said, covering her nose with a look of disgust. Yan Ke paused for a moment, instinctively sniffing at her sleeves. But she quickly realized the implication. With a sharp tone, she retorted, "What do you mean, Ye Linglong! Are you saying I smell bad?!" Ye Linglong replied coolly, "I only said your scent is unpleasant, not that you stink. That's your interpretation." "Yan Xiu, I command you to kill her!" Yan Ke's fury had reached its peak. Her only thought was to eliminate the woman before her. She believed once Ye Linglong was dead, her luck would return. Ye Linglong had similar thoughts. Yan Ke was like a perpetual thorn, a threat waiting to reemerge. Even though Yan Ke's protagonist aura had weakened, it was an unpredictable factor that could still pose future threats. Only her death would bring peace to Ye Linglong. Boom! An explosive blast resonated as Ye Linglong squared off against Yan Xiu. Trading blows rapidly in mid-air, Ye Linglong, empowered by her formidable flames, swiftly gained the upper hand. After all, she had survived against tribulation-level opponents during her nascent soul stage. Yan Xiu, beaten back and falling beside Yan Ke, exhibited a pitiful appearance. Half of his body was encased in ice, while the other half seemed seared, emitting a burnt aroma. "Useless! Hei Tai, get over here and help!" Yan Ke screamed furiously, seeing Yan Xiu in such a sorry state. Xiao Huang, transformed into a small phoenix, flitted around them. Ye Linglong, exuding confidence in her abilities, quipped, "What? Can't win one-on-one, so you're resorting to ganging up? Bring it on, then." "Hei Tai! Stop standing there, get over here and kill her!" Yan Ke's furious cries echoed across the sky. Hei Tai recalled his past grievances with Ye Linglong, and fueled by both old and new hatred, he charged forward wielding his spiked club. Ye Linglong, never considering this brute a real threat, evaded effortlessly, leaping into the air to deliver a sword strike. A frigid sword aura wrapped in ice and snow surged toward Hei Tai. Fearing the might of the attack, Hei Tai shouted, channeling dark energy as he swung his club to deflect the assault. During this momentary distraction, Ye Linglong's figure blinked out of sight. In an instant, she appeared behind Yan Ke, showing no trace of movement, as if she had materialized out of thin air. Yu Wen He was taken aback, as was Yan Ke, who hadn’t even had the chance to react. In the next moment, Ye Linglong's sword was already sweeping toward Yan Ke's neck. "Spare her!" a panicked voice shouted. A golden spear intercepted, deflecting Ye Linglong's sword away from Yan Ke. The blade passed Yan Ke's cheek, leaving a shallow cut from which blood trickled. All of this happened in a blink, less than a second. Stunned, Yan Ke stood there, eyes wide, her heart hammering in her chest. For a moment, she truly thought she would die. Had it not been for the timely intervention of the spear, she would have been slain by Ye Linglong's sword. Although this wasn’t her real body, meaning death here wouldn't matter greatly, it would return her soul to the eternal dungeon of her captivity. With her attack thwarted, Ye Linglong withdrew her weapon with mild regret. She had been so close to ending Yan Ke. "Ye Linglong, did you truly intend to kill her?" Shen Hansong's voice rang with anger, a first for Ye Linglong to witness. Ye Linglong responded calmly, "Those who strike first are at fault. Besides, she's still alive, isn't she? Was the rush necessary? When I was attacked earlier, none of you seemed worried." Her tone was laced with mockery. Momentarily, no one could respond, their faces tinged with embarrassment. Feng Mian chuckled, "The girl has a point. If you're inept and provoke others, dying is your own fault. And if she dies, it just means she wasn't the one destined to change things." His last remark was directed at Yan Ke, whose expression darkened even more. Feeling regretful, she wished she hadn't joined these people. After Ye Linglong's triumphant tribulation recently, her fame spanned all three continents. Yan Ke had initially aligned with the demon sect at the secret realm, yet inexplicably chose to join Shen Hansong's group to confront Ye Linglong. Her intention was to dampen Ye Linglong’s spirits. Despite Ye Linglong’s tribulation, Yan Ke considered herself her equal. This unexpected outcome rattled her strategy. "Enough arguing. We must proceed toward the secret realm. This concerns the very survival of our world; no internecine conflict is permissible until we find the celestial path," Shen Hansong interjected sternly, glancing between Ye Linglong and Yan Ke. Ye Linglong chuckled, "I never initiated the provocation." Shen Hansong's gaze shifted toward Yan Ke. Yan Ke remained silent, but Yan Xiu spoke, "As long as she doesn't attack, we won't either." Whether Shen Hansong believed this was irrelevant; he needed this stance at present. Yan Ke's survival was crucial until they found the celestial path. ... A tentative peace settled, with both sides plotting the other's demise but managing to keep appearances civil. Soon, the group set out toward the entrance of the secret realm. After a day and night's journey, they finally neared the entrance, and Ye Linglong felt the potent presence of many tribulation-level beings ahead.