50: Chapter 50: A Battle from Afar

Yang Yuan slid down from the roof, but that sense of oppression remained.

He had the feeling of being watched—as if a pair of eyes were locked firmly onto him from across several mountains.

He knelt on one knee on the roof tiles, took a deep breath, and suppressed the surging Qi within his body.

The Internal Energy that had pressed in from the northwest just now was extremely powerful, so strong that he had been forced to mobilize his Nine Yang Inner Energy to withstand it head-on.

He had held his ground, but his chest still felt tight and congested.

He stood up on the roof and looked up at the northwestern skyline.

The night was deep, and he could see nothing, yet he could feel it—someone in that direction was watching him.

That aura had not dissipated. It was like an invisible palm pressing down on his head, neither far nor near, just hanging there.

Yang Yuan raised his right hand and settled into a horse stance. His Nine Yang Inner Energy surged frantically through his Meridians, flowing down his arm into his palm—a pale golden light ignited in his palm.

He did not strike out. He simply held this palm strike, letting the golden light in his palm grow brighter and more concentrated.

He was telling that person: "I can withstand it."

They stood in a standoff for a few breaths.

The aura hanging over his head slowly retracted—like a hand withdrawing back into a sleeve.

Yang Yuan did not relax. He stared to the northwest, stood for a few more breaths, and only after confirming that the aura had truly receded did he withdraw his palm energy.

The golden light on his palm slowly dimmed.

His knees buckled slightly, but he braced himself against the wall and steadied himself.

A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth—he wiped it away with his sleeve.

Cheng Ying walked out of the room holding Yang Po and, seeing Yang Yuan standing in the courtyard, her face paled slightly: "Are you injured?"

"It's nothing," Yang Yuan said. "We didn't actually trade blows. I just withstood his aura, and there was a bit of backlash."

Cheng Ying did not speak. She walked up to him, stared into his eyes for a few seconds, and, confirming he wasn't lying, turned and went back into the house with the child.

After a while, Lu Wushuang walked out from the west wing.

Her arm was still wrapped in bandages, but her complexion was better than it had been a few days ago.

She walked to Yang Yuan's side and glanced at the smear of blood he hadn't wiped clean from the corner of his mouth.

"That Sikong Xuan?"

"Mm."

"Did he attack?"

"No," Yang Yuan said. "He pressed over with his aura. It was like he was telling me—he knows where I am."

Lu Wushuang was silent for a few seconds: "Then what do you plan to do?"

Yang Yuan sat on the stone stool under the locust tree: "Within a month, I will Cultivate the sixth layer to Perfection. Then—I'll go to Zhongnan Mountain."

Lu Wushuang opened her mouth, wanting to say he was crazy. But after thinking about it, it seemed there was no better way.

She said nothing more and sat down beside him.

When Guo Jing vaulted over the wall and entered, he saw Yang Yuan sitting under the tree and immediately asked: "Did you feel it?"

"I felt it," Yang Yuan said. "It pressed over from the direction of Zhongnan Mountain."

Guo Jing stopped in the courtyard and looked down at the blue bricks. There was a thin layer of dust on the ground, which had been shaken into an irregular circle, as if something had pressed down from mid-air and pushed the dust away.

He squatted down, wiped the ground with his hand, and stood up: "His name is Sikong Xuan. A Senior of the Ancient Tomb Sect. He Cultivated the inverted Nine Yin Manual, suffered Qi Deviation, was expelled from the sect, and has been living in seclusion on Zhongnan Mountain ever since."

"Why is he targeting me?"

"Not sure," Guo Jing said. "Tomorrow, I'll have someone send over a few books. Take a look through them; perhaps you can find some clues."

After saying this, he turned and left.

At nightfall, Yang Yuan sat on the bed in a cross-legged position to meditate.

A line of large golden characters popped into his mind—[New Main Quest Triggered: Investigate the background of "Sikong Xuan".] [Reward: Nine Yin Manual General Outline + All Companions' Combat Power + 50%.] [Deadline: 30 days.]

After reading it, he closed the prompt and shut his eyes.

He opened his eyes, stood up, and walked to the window.

In the northwestern sky, a faint purple light could be vaguely seen.

Sikong Xuan was watching him.

Both of them silently thought to themselves— "See you at Zhongnan Mountain."

(End of Chapter 50)