Invincible Soul Emperor-Chapter 371: Breakthrough to the Eighth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm

However, to the disappointment of Liang Xiong and Xiao Ruoli, almost everyone who had entered the Chaotic Labyrinth had come out, but there was still no sign of Ye Qingchen or Liang Fei.

Lin Lanxin had also been searching for her son, Huan Xinghe, but to her dismay, not only had she not seen him emerge, but not a single disciple from the Huanyue Sect who had gone in with him had come out either.

"Husband, why hasn't Xing He come out yet?" Lin Lanxin asked Huan Yuehua, her voice laced with worry.

Huan Yuehua sighed deeply, knowing this matter could no longer be concealed. At the same time, he was also scanning the crowd for any sign of Ye Qingchen.

As the stream of people being teleported out trickled to a stop, Huan Yuehua concluded that Chen Qingye must have perished inside the Chaotic Labyrinth. Since his enemy was dead, he had no choice but to tell Lin Lanxin the truth.

Lin Lanxin's beautiful eyes widened in shock. Her body trembled with rage as she burst out, "What did you say? That bastard Chen Qingye killed our precious son? Hmph! It's a pity he already died in the Chaotic Labyrinth. Otherwise, I would have flayed him alive to avenge our dear Xing He!"

On the other side, an equally concerned Xiao Ruoli asked Liang Xiong, "Husband, could Fei and our benefactor have met with some misfortune inside?"

Liang Xiong shook his head and, clasping Xiao Ruoli's hand tightly, comforted her. "Don't worry. Although the Chaotic Labyrinth is dangerous, with Mr. Ye's strength and alertness, he will surely turn peril into safety. The fact that he hasn't been teleported out yet might just mean he's discovered some incredible inheritance and has been delayed."

Liang Xiong's words soothed Xiao Ruoli slightly, but she didn't know that his own heart was heavy with worry.

The Chaotic Labyrinth had been opened many times before. When it closed, everyone inside was typically teleported out within a quarter of an hour of each other. Yet now, a full hour had passed since the first person had appeared. By all accounts, every surviving Martial Artist should have already been transported out.

But Liang Fei's Life Jade Slip was still intact, indicating that he was still alive. Such a situation had never been seen before. How could Liang Xiong not be worried?

"Ridiculous! Stumbled upon some opportunity? Liang Xiong, your son conspired with Chen Qingye to murder my Xing He! Dying in the Chaotic Labyrinth is simply the divine retribution they deserve!" Lin Lanxin spat venomously as she strode toward them.

Huan Yuehua followed closely behind, afraid that Lin Lanxin's provocations might enrage Liang Xiong enough to strike her.

"Impossible! My son's Life Jade Slip is still intact. How could he possibly have died in the Chaotic Labyrinth?" Xiao Ruoli retorted hysterically, repeatedly checking Liang Fei's Life Jade Slip. Seeing it whole and undamaged brought her a small measure of peace.

Huan Yuehua approached them, a sneer playing on his lips. "A Life Jade Slip? Liang Xiong, you and I have both been inside the Chaotic Labyrinth. You should know how formidable the formations are. It wouldn't be impossible for them to block a Life Jade Slip's detection."

Huan Yuehua's words rendered Liang Xiong silent. He was right. The great formations within the labyrinth were powerful enough to defy the natural order; blocking a Life Jade Slip would be child's play for them.

Huan Yuehua continued to sneer, "That Chen Qingye got off too easy. Daring to kill my son! Not being able to slay that man with my own hands and cut him into a thousand pieces to avenge my Xing He… it's far too merciful a fate!"

"But don't you worry! In three months, on the stage of life and death, I'll send you to reunite with your son! Liang Xiong, will you dare to face me then?"

Just as Huan Yuehua's challenge rang out, a figure descended from the sky. With three more flashes of white light, Ye Qingchen, Qin Yue, and Liang Fei appeared before the crowd.

Seeing Liang Fei unharmed, Xiao Ruoli burst into tears of joy and pulled him into a tight embrace. The display made Liang Fei, who was unaware of what had transpired, blush slightly. But seeing his mother crying, he gently wiped away her tears and began to comfort her.

With a cold laugh, Ye Qingchen walked toward Huan Yuehua and said, "I killed your son, yes, but only because he ambushed me first. His death was a result of my counterattack, which only proves his skills were lacking!"

Huan Yuehua was stunned that Chen Qingye was still alive. But after the shock passed, his heart filled with rage. As the saying goes, when enemies meet, their eyes burn with hatred. Seeing Chen Qingye not only alive but also flaunting his survival filled Huan Yuehua with an uncontrollable fury.

At the sight of Chen Qingye, Lin Lanxin began to wail beside her husband, begging him to kill their son's murderer and claim vengeance.

His wife's incessant clamoring, coupled with his own thirst for revenge, made Huan Yuehua snap. Unable to hold back any longer, he lashed out with a palm strike toward Ye Qingchen. This blow, powered by the terrifying strength of a Fifth-Layer Martial King Realm expert and fueled by his boiling rage, was the strongest attack he could muster.

The distance between them was short, and it was too late to dodge. Besides, Ye Qingchen had no intention of evading. He had made great gains in the Chaotic Labyrinth. Now was the perfect time to test his current combat power.

In an instant, Ye Qingchen drew his Qingfeng Sword and met Huan Yuehua's attack head-on with the Wind Blade Sword Technique.

BOOM!

Ye Qingchen's Sword Intent clashed with Huan Yuehua's palm attack. Their powerful Spiritual Power exploded outward, sending Ye Qingchen staggering back. The massive shockwave rocked the area, and several weaker Martial Spirit Realm cultivators nearby were struck, vomiting blood from the impact. It was a testament to the attack's terrifying power.

Ye Qingchen retreated more than a dozen steps before steadying himself. His expression remained calm, indicating that although he had been at a disadvantage, he was uninjured.

"You've reached the Eighth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm?" Huan Yuehua exclaimed in shock. In just two short months, Ye Qingchen had leaped two layers, from the Sixth to the Eighth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm. Moreover, his current combat power clearly far surpassed that of an ordinary Martial Spirit Realm cultivator. Even a typical Fourth-Layer Martial King Realm practitioner would have been seriously injured by that last strike, yet Ye Qingchen was unharmed, merely pushed back.

There are still three months until the life-and-death duel. If I let his growth continue unchecked, it's hard to say who will be left standing. At this moment, Huan Yuehua felt a pang of insecurity. If I do not eliminate Chen Qingye here today, I might be the one who ends up dead.

With this thought, Huan Yuehua seized the opening as Ye Qingchen was recovering his balance and struck again. This time, he used a Spiritual Artifact, intent on killing Ye Qingchen in a single blow.

The first attack had been so sudden that Liang Xiong hadn't expected Huan Yuehua to so brazenly cast aside his status, leaving him unprepared. But seeing Huan Yuehua launch another assault, Liang Xiong reacted. He flashed in front of Ye Qingchen, and his Spiritual Axe whistled through the air, intercepting Huan Yuehua's Spiritual Artifact and nullifying the attack.

"Huan Yuehua, launching a sneak attack on a junior? Have you no shame?" Liang Xiong taunted in a cold voice.