Threads of Affection, Secretly Sown

Unless he's instantly killed, or the Horse Talisman is taken from him, Tuoba Yan cannot be killed.

Over and over, he wracked his brain, expending energy to gravely wound Tuoba Yan, only to watch him repeatedly repair his body to a perfect state.

The masked man's mentality crumbled as he fought.

The masked man's gaze locked onto Tuoba Yan.

If a gaze could kill, Tuoba Yan would have been cut to pieces by the masked man a thousand times over.

The masked man kicked the ground, attempting to leap onto a tree trunk and escape.

But the moment his feet left the ground, golden chains woven through space ensnared his ankles.

"Kid, are you ever going to let this go?" the masked man warned.

Tuoba Yan's expression was serious. "Tell me who's pulling your strings, and I'll spare your life. If you don't, I'll make you wish you were dead. You've seen my abilities can…"

His words trailed off as the masked man suddenly raised his hand, bringing his own battle knife down towards his own throat.

"Ugh!"

Tuoba Yan froze.

Snapping back to his senses, he activated the Horse Talisman, a white light enveloping the masked man.

The masked man's injuries rapidly began to heal.

Revived, the masked man's face contorted with a ferocious expression. "You want to force me? Don't even think about it. Hahahaha!"

Laughter echoed as the battle knife flew through the air.

For the last time, the masked man unleashed his final attack, channeling what little Soul Power he had left, a rotating Han Bing Zhan Dao radiating intense cold, not to attack Tuoba Yan, but to precisely sever his own throat in mid-air.

His head fell to the ground, blood gushing out.

The injuries and coldness extinguished the masked man's life.

Tuoba Yan activated the Horse Talisman again. A light of life enveloped the masked man. The head and body were reconnected, but no sign of life returned to the corpse.

The Horse Talisman only had healing effects, restoring objects to a perfect state. Achieving immortality was the ability of a different talisman.

If one were to describe the Horse Talisman's ability, it was more like granting someone a similar ability to the Unbreakable Golden Body.

With the Horse Talisman, even if one were chopped into mincemeat, their body could be restored to a complete state. However, it could not bring someone back from the dead.

Tuoba Yan looked down at the corpse on the ground.

There were only two reasons why the masked man refused to reveal his master's identity, even in the face of death.

One: the masked man was loyal to his master to the point of sacrificing his life.

Two: the masked man deeply feared his master.

Tuoba Yan's fingers brushed against the corpse, then he stored it within a Storage Soul Guide Device.

Next, he turned to look at Zhang Ping behind him.

He walked to Zhang Ping's side, using a dagger to cut the ropes binding her hands and feet, then activated his First Soul Skill, a white light enveloping Zhang Ping.

Zhang Ping's injuries healed rapidly, and her entire spirit seemed refreshed.

"Alright, I'm leaving."

"You're leaving already?"

"Is there something else?"

Tuoba Yan winked at Zhang Ping.

Zhang Ping wanted to team up with Tuoba Yan, but considering his strength just now, the words caught in her throat. "Then, good luck!"

"Thank you."

Tuoba Yan glanced at the unconscious Xie Yue and Hu Li Na.

His Dantian still held a considerable amount of Soul Power.

Xie Yue and Hu Li Na had been attacked by the masked man because of Tuoba Yan and sustained some injuries.

"Forget it. After today, we'll have no more dealings with each other!"

With that thought in mind, white light enveloped Xie Yue and Hu Li Na.

"Zhang Ping, don't tell them I was here."

With those words, Tuoba Yan leaped onto the tree trunk and left the area.

Shortly after, Xie Yue and Hu Li Na awoke from their unconsciousness.

Hu Li Na looked around, asking, "Where's the masked man… did you drive him off?"

Only Zhang Ping was present in the area.

Hu Li Na instinctively assumed that Zhang Ping had taken down the masked man?

However, Zhang Ping only had the realm of a three-ring Soul Elder, she wouldn't be a match for the masked man.

Zhang Ping's eyes flickered as she explained, "I certainly don't have that kind of power. Guardian Knights arrived here after you two were unconscious. They scared the masked man away!"

"Is that so?"

"Mm-hmm."

Faced with Zhang Ping's lie, Hu Li Na chose to believe it.

Aside from this lie, it seemed there was no other explanation for why the masked figure had suddenly left.

With the crisis averted, Hu Li Na felt within herself, exclaiming, "My Soul Power has increased by a level!"

Xie Yue also said, "I've also increased by a small level. Now my Soul Power has reached forty-two!"

Hu Li Na continued to marvel, "Not only that, but I feel a strange sense of comfort on my body. It's as if I've just recovered from a serious illness, or as if I've been reborn!"

Xie Yue rested his chin on his hand, analyzing thoughtfully, "I feel it too. It's strange, why did my Soul Power level suddenly increase by a small level? After being severely injured by the masked figure, why don't I feel any pain, but instead feel even more comfortable?"

Such an oddity was unheard of.

Xie Yue and Hu Li Na's gazes focused on Zhang Ping.

Zhang Ping was taken aback, her back to them, her eyes continuing to flicker as she said, "I forgot to tell you, after the Guardian Knights arrived here, they saw you were injured and gave you some pills. Perhaps the pills are having an effect!"

Zhang Ping was also healed by Tuoba Yan, but her Soul Power level didn't increase. Like Xie Yue, she also felt that her body was becoming more suitable for cultivation.

Xie Yue smiled, saying, "Sister, this time, we two have benefited from misfortune."

"Mm-hmm, a blessing in disguise."

Hu Li Na's mind involuntarily conjured up Tuoba Yan, blurting out, "Tuoba Yan is such a coward. Brother, don't ever save him again. He's not worth it!"

Xie Yue nodded, "Sister is right. This is a lesson, and we must learn from it. I thought the people of the Tuoba Clan were all brave, but Tuoba Yan is a scaredy-cat. Seeing danger, he runs away. It proves that he's not worth associating with!"

Hu Li Na clenched her hands slightly, thinking of Tuoba Yan and feeling annoyed, "Not just not worth associating with, I wouldn't even talk to him. Seeing him just offends my eyes!"

"Huh?"

Zhang Ping was startled, surprised by Hu Li Na's words.

It was just a minor matter, yet Hu Li Na's prejudice against Tuoba Yan had risen to the point of not even wanting to speak to him.

Hu Li Na noticed Zhang Ping and advised, "Zhang Ping, I can feel that you like Tuoba Yan, right?"

Zhang Ping's face flushed, and her eyelids lowered.

Previously, she had seen Tuoba Yan's handsome looks and thought children should listen to adults.

Now, Tuoba Yan had left and returned, and he wasn't a cowardly person.

It's worth mentioning that, judging by the tone of Hu Li Na and Tuoba Yan, Zhang Ping felt that there seemed to be some minor grievances between the two of them.

But when they encountered the masked figure, Xie Yue and Hu Li Na stepped forward, ultimately losing and falling unconscious. Tuoba Yan also used a healing Soul Skill to heal them, restoring their bodies to a perfect state.

Zhang Ping felt that Tuoba Yan was honorable and righteous, a man she could rely on for life. She liked Tuoba Yan even more.

Hu Li Na, specializing in charm, was more mature than most girls, and she saw that Zhang Ping had feelings for Tuoba Yan, advising, "Tuoba Yan is a rogue and a coward. Zhang Ping, you really should open your eyes and see his true nature."

Zhang Ping immediately retorted, "Hu Li Na, thank you for the reminder. However, I believe that everyone's taste is different, and the people they like are also different. Alright, let's not continue this conversation, we should get moving!"

Zhang Ping, a Third-Ring Soul Elder, was qualified to team up with Hu Li Na and Xie Yue.

Immediately, the three continued to journey together through the canyon.

Zhang Ping walked at the rear, her gaze fixed on Hu Li Na's back, thinking to herself, "Hu Li Na, don't blame me. Tuoba Yan instructed me not to let you know that he saved you. And you're too alluring, it's hard for men not to be attracted to you. With one less you, I'll have one less competitor!"