Escape

Close combat!

Only by fighting at close quarters, maximizing the advantages of his technique, could he have any chance of winning!

With only a single strand of Vajra Primordial Qi, defense alone was already his limit—he had to end this quickly!

A flash of resolve flickered in Yun Long's eyes.

Switching to Great Arhat Fist!

He abandoned some of his defense, channeling more Vajra Primordial Qi into his fists, making his strikes even more ferocious and unmatched!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Each punch heavier than the last!

He didn't hesitate to take damage himself, trading injury for injury, staking his life against his opponent's!

The more Elder Mu fought, the more alarmed he became!

This kid was simply a madman!

Though his Calm Lake Rain Walking Qi held the advantage in quantity, it was barely holding up against the overbearing quality of Vajra Primordial Qi!

Every exchange of fists sent his blood surging and his organs shifting out of place!

"Pfft!"

Elder Mu spat a mouthful of blood, his body staggering.

Seizing the opportunity, Yun Long pressed forward, his golden fist seals raining down like a storm!

"No—!"

Elder Mu let out a shrill, unwilling roar.

He never imagined he would fall at the hands of a junior who had just entered the Qi Refining Stage!

He still had so many techniques left unused!

His future should have been far brighter!

Crack!

Yun Long's fist slammed heavily into Elder Mu's chest, the sound of shattering bones unmistakable.

Elder Mu's eyes bulged wide, the light of life within them rapidly dimming. With endless regret and resentment, he collapsed to the ground.

Dead.

Yun Long's chest rose and fell slightly. Several wounds from Elder Mu's desperate final counterattack stung fiercely on his body.

But the Vajra Primordial Qi within him circulated on its own, the pain in his wounds rapidly fading, showcasing its powerful recovery ability.

At this moment, he dared not let his guard down even a little.

Killing Elder Mu would surely alert the Ninth Prince's faction!

Looting the corpse?

That would be a death sentence!

He didn't spare Elder Mu's body a single glance. Making a decisive choice, he said in a low voice, "Let's go!"

Before the words had even faded, he had already grabbed Yun Ji, signaled Li Pinghu and Shi Tie, picked a direction, and vanished into the dense forest with the three of them in tow, fleeing at top speed.

The danger was far from over!

In the southwest of the Jingyang Mountain Range, near Nanshan Town, Yun Ji knew every inch of this land like the back of his hand.

He chose a hidden valley, where he, Li Pinghu, and Shi Tie took cover.

Yun Long, having received a more complete inheritance, had mastered some minor techniques for concealing aura.

He masked the auras of his three elders to prevent detection by any Qi Refining Stage cultivators who might come hunting.

Under the worried gazes of the three, Yun Long left the valley alone and set out on the road to Nanshan Town.

He had to hurry. Yun Hu, Yun He, Li Lingyue, and Shi Tie's family were all in imminent danger. A moment's delay could land them in the clutches of the Ninth Prince, Fang Yuanhua.

Outside Nanshan Town, the Ninth Prince's men had set up an inescapable net, checking everyone thoroughly. Every major road, every mountain path, was lined with informants, lurking like coiled vipers, watching with predatory intent.

To sneak into the town under these circumstances was like pulling a tooth from a tiger's mouth—nearly impossible!

Hearing this, a confident smile curled at the corner of Yun Long's mouth, and he let out a light laugh.

If he were still a Xiantian realm martial artist, such tight defenses might have given him trouble.

But times had changed. He had been reborn, no longer a Mortal Stage martial artist at anyone's mercy, but a cultivator who had stepped into the Qi Refining Stage!

A sharp glint flashed in Yun Long's eyes. The Vajra Primordial Qi within him surged like a rushing river. He formed hand seals and cast a minor concealment spell.

Instantly, his figure became elusive, like a ghost, blending into his surroundings.

His steps were light, his form flickering like a specter gliding through the night. In just a few breaths, he deftly evaded every pair of eyes and slipped into Nanshan Town with ease.

Fortunately, the Ninth Prince and his men didn't seem to have realized the gravity of the situation yet. There were no Qi Refining Stage cultivators stationed inside Nanshan Town.

Otherwise, Yun Long would have had a much harder time sneaking in so effortlessly.

As soon as Yun Long stepped into the Yun Clan courtyard, a familiar voice rang out with surprise and excitement: "Big brother!"

Yun He's face instantly lit up with a brilliant smile when she saw Yun Long, her voice trembling slightly.

Li Lingyue had been waiting anxiously, and the moment she caught sight of Yun Long, all her worry and unease dissolved into tears of joy.

She could no longer contain the surge of emotion within her; like a fledgling returning to the nest, she threw herself into Yun Long's arms, holding him tightly as if she wanted to merge him into her very bones.

Feeling Li Lingyue's soft body and warm embrace, Yun Long's heart filled with tenderness.

He gently patted her back and soothed her in a soft voice: "It's alright, it's all over. I'm back."

But when Li Lingyue didn't see Yun Ji and the others, her joy was instantly replaced by concern, and she asked urgently: "Long Ge, where's my father? How are they?"

Li Lingyue let go of Yun Long and grabbed his arm anxiously, her eyes full of worry and hope.

Yun Long looked at her anxious face and said gently: "They're fine. They're waiting for us outside, safe and sound. Go pack the essentials quickly—we're leaving Nanshan Town immediately."

Without a moment's delay after speaking, Yun Long headed straight for Shi Tie's house.

Yun Ji, Li Pinghu, and Shi Tie were as close as brothers, not just because they were all well-known widowers in town, but because of the brotherhood that had only deepened through the storms they had weathered together.

Shi Tie had two sons. His eldest, in a reckless attempt to break through to the Xiantian realm, had shattered his own meridians and, in despair, taken his own life—a wound that would never heal in Shi Tie's heart.

His youngest son, Shi Chen, was only seven years old—innocent, lively, and full of joy. He was Shi Tie's only emotional anchor, the sole reason he kept living.

As dusk fell, the last rays of the setting sun spilled over Nanshan Town, adding a touch of warmth to the small settlement.

Shi Chen sat alone in the yard, reading a tattered old book with great interest by the dim light, hoping his father, who had gone into the mountains, would return safely.

"Big Dragon Ge!"

Shi Chen's sharp eyes spotted Yun Long standing at the gate. A delighted smile broke out on his childish face as he dropped the book and ran toward Yun Long with open arms.

Yun Long looked at Shi Chen's innocent, joyful face, his heart full of affection.

He lightly tapped the back of Shi Chen's neck, and the little boy fell into a deep sleep.

Time was pressing—he couldn't afford any delays, nor did he have the chance to explain things to the child.

Yun Long picked up Shi Chen, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He sensed that this little one actually possessed a Spiritual Root!

But with the situation so urgent, he had no time to examine it further. He would look into it later if the opportunity arose.

This kid had always been clamoring to become an immortal. Who would have thought he actually had the potential? Perhaps one day, he could be guided onto the path of cultivation.

When Yun Long returned home with Shi Chen, Yun Hu and the other two had already packed their things.

To make their escape easier, they had only brought three small bundles and three longswords.

"Brother, take this."

Yun He pulled out a cloth-wrapped, long, narrow item from her bosom and handed it solemnly to Yun Long. Then she patted his muscles, clearly delighted.

All three siblings had fused with Character Inheritance Cards, and from the change in Yun Long's aura, they already knew his current strength.

Yun Long took the bundle and opened it. Inside was the Yun Clan genealogy.

He accepted it with reverence, carefully tucking it against his chest. Feeling the weight of the clan record, a deep sense of responsibility filled his heart.

Leaving Nanshan Town was even more troublesome than entering it. Yun Long once again used an illusion technique and carefully led Yun Hu and the other two out of the town.