Chapter 5: Jinxed Mouth

The scene outside the ruined temple made Ke Li Nü suck in a breath of cold air.

The originally flat mountain path had cracked open into a large pit, with rubble and mud splattered everywhere.

Ban Wan’er knelt half-crouched at the edge of the pit, using her sword to prop herself up, her left arm hanging limply.

And two zhang ahead of her, a man hovered in midair.

His face was feminine and delicate, with narrow, elongated eyes tinged with a hint of Evil Qi. He wore a dark red brocade robe, with a golden lotus embroidered on his chest.

Ke Li Nü’s palms began to sweat.

The system panel popped up:

[Target: Yin Wu Ban]

[Cultivation: Late Foundation Building Stage]

[Spirit Root: High-grade Gold Spirit Root]

[Overall Threat Level: Fatal]

Why is it Late Foundation Building again? What a jinx.

Ke Li Nü took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He walked out from the ruined temple door, unhurriedly, his steps steady and composed.

Yin Wu Ban had sensed his presence long ago but hadn’t made a move.

Now, seeing Ke Li Nü come out, those narrow eyes narrowed slightly, sizing up the young man in gray robes.

Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

Yin Wu Ban’s brow furrowed slightly.

A cultivator at Early Foundation Establishment, upon sensing the Spiritual Pressure of a Late Foundation Establishment cultivator, should have fled—yet instead, he walked out openly.

This composure was either the mark of a fool or someone with a hidden trump card.

Yin Wu Ban’s gaze swept over Ke Li Nü again, trying to discern his bottom card.

But he found nothing.

No artifact fluctuations, no Protective Spiritual Light, not even a trace of leaking Spiritual Energy.

This young man standing there was like an ordinary stone, yet he gave off an inexplicable sense of pressure.

Yin Wu Ban was wary internally, but his face betrayed nothing.

He cupped his hands:

“Fellow Daoist, I mean you no harm. But this woman and I have some grievances—this is a private matter. I hope Fellow Daoist will grant me the convenience and not interfere.”

Ke Li Nü did not speak.

His mind was racing.

In truth, he didn’t want to get involved at all.

But if Ban Wan’er died, his cultivation would vanish.

However, he couldn’t win.

So what now?

Ke Li Nü’s gaze fell on Ban Wan’er.

She knelt half-crouched on the ground, and when she saw Ke Li Nü come out, a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes, then dimmed again.

“Senior…”

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but was stopped by a look from Ke Li Nü.

Ke Li Nü turned back to Yin Wu Ban, was silent for a moment, then finally spoke:

“This woman has a connection with me.”

Yin Wu Ban’s brow furrowed even tighter.

“What does Fellow Daoist mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said.”

Ke Li Nü’s tone remained flat.

“You want to kill her. Venerable Self does not permit it.”

A hint of anger flashed in Yin Wu Ban’s eyes.

He stood there quietly, carefully examining Ke Li Nü.

Early Foundation Establishment, Spiritual Energy fluctuations so faint they were barely perceptible.

No artifact, no shield, just standing there bare-handed.

A mere Early Foundation Establishment cultivator, daring to be so arrogant!

“In other words,” Yin Wu Ban’s voice turned cold, “Fellow Daoist is determined to interfere?”

Ke Li Nü did not answer, standing motionless.

Yin Wu Ban’s hand lightly grasped the artifact at his waist, Spiritual Energy beginning to circulate within him, ready to strike at any moment.

But he didn’t attack immediately.

He couldn’t see through this person.

That feeling made him very uncomfortable.

An Early Foundation Establishment cultivator, facing the Killing Intent of a Late Foundation Establishment cultivator, would either be terrified or fight back—how could he be so calm?

As if Yin Wu Ban’s Killing Intent was nothing more than a gentle breeze against his face.

A thought suddenly flashed through Yin Wu Ban’s mind.

Could he be concealing his cultivation?

No.

He had carefully sensed it—the other party was clearly at Early Foundation Establishment.

“He’s underestimating me too much!”

Yin Wu Ban sneered, deciding to strike first, leaving no chance for a reaction.

Spiritual Energy erupted.

A pitch-black short blade appeared in his hand, thrusting straight at Ke Li Nü’s throat.

This strike was as fast as lightning.

Just as the blade tip was about to touch Ke Li Nü, he suddenly heard a light laugh.

It was Ban Wan’er.

Yin Wu Ban’s movement paused slightly.

He instinctively felt something was wrong.

That woman, on the verge of death, why was she laughing at a time like this?

The next instant, he suddenly retreated several steps.

Yin Wu Ban looked at Ke Li Nü with suspicion and uncertainty.

That person hadn’t even blinked.

He had forcibly pulled back seventy percent of his strength, the blade tip stopping two inches before Ke Li Nü’s throat, unable to advance any further.

Ban Wan’er had blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, but the light in her eyes was astonishingly bright.

She looked at Yin Wu Ban as if she were looking at a dead man.

“You think Senior is at Foundation Establishment?”

“You think Senior is at Foundation Establishment?”

“I say you have eyes but cannot see!”

Yin Wu Ban’s expression changed.

His gaze snapped back to Ke Li Nü, re-evaluating him.

Not Foundation Establishment?

Impossible.

His perception couldn’t be wrong.

The Spiritual Energy fluctuations on the other party were clearly Early Foundation Establishment.

But…

Ban Wan’er’s tone was so certain, her mockery so confident.

She didn’t seem to be lying.

And just now, when he was about to land a hit, the other party hadn’t even tried to dodge.

That person just stood there, no defense, full of openings.

No.

The only explanation was that the other party didn’t bother to defend.

Because in his eyes, a Late Foundation Establishment attack was nothing but a child’s play.

Could it be…

Yin Wu Ban’s pupils constricted slightly.

Could the other party be a Golden Core cultivator, using some kind of Aura Concealment Art that he couldn’t see through?

He re-sensed Ke Li Nü’s aura inch by inch.

Still nothing.

But the more there was nothing, the more uneasy he became.

A true master, returning to simplicity and truth, with aura concealed inwardly—wasn’t that exactly this?

Thinking of this, Yin Wu Ban’s gaze flickered, and he suddenly unleashed all of his Late Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure, crushing toward Ke Li Nü like a mountain.

Ban Wan’er, beside him, was pressed so hard her face turned pale, fine beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead.

Ke Li Nü stood in place, not moving.

There was no expression on his face, but inside, a storm was raging.

Holy crap!

What the hell just happened?

I almost got sliced just now!

The moment the blade tip approached, Ke Li Nü’s pupils instinctively contracted, but he forcefully suppressed the urge to retreat, not even blinking.

Ban Wan’er, do you seriously think I’m a Golden Core?

But the system only gave me Early Foundation Establishment cultivation!

Yin Wu Ban’s gloomy face was already full of doubt, his Killing Intent fading.

Ke Li Nü keenly noticed this.

He’s afraid.

He doesn’t know what my trump card is.

Ke Li Nü took a deep breath.

Since Ban Wan’er had already put him on the pedestal of a “Golden Core,” he had no choice but to go along with it.

Act like a Golden Core, huh?

Fine.

He had spent twenty years playing the role of a “Great Master” in the eyes of mortals.

Now, he finally had a chance to play a “Great Master” in the eyes of true cultivators.