Escape

Close in!

Only by engaging in close combat and bringing the advantages of his cultivation technique to the fullest could he stand a chance of winning!

With only a single strand of Vajra Primordial Qi, his defense had already reached its limit. He had to end this quickly!

A trace of determination flashed through Yun Long's eyes!

Switch to Great Arhat Fist!

He abandoned part of his defense and poured more Vajra Primordial Qi into his fists. His punches became increasingly fierce and unmatched!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each punch was heavier than the last!

He disregarded his own injuries, trading wound for wound, life for life!

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

This brat was simply a madman!

Though his Calm Lake Rain Walking Qi held the advantage in quantity, before the tyrannical quality of Vajra Primordial Qi, it was actually becoming difficult to sustain!

Every clash of fists sent his blood and qi churning, as though his five viscera had shifted from their places!

"Pfft!"

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

Yun Long seized the chance and closed in. Golden fist imprints rained down like a violent storm!

"No—!"

Elder Mu let out a shrill, unwilling howl.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that he would fall at the hands of a junior who had only just entered the Qi Refining Stage!

He still had countless methods he had yet to use!

His future should have been far brighter!

Crack!

Yun Long's fist slammed heavily into Elder Mu's chest. The sound of shattering bones was clearly audible.

Elder Mu's eyes flew wide open. The life in them rapidly dimmed, and with endless regret and unwillingness, he collapsed to the ground.

His breath ceased, and he died.

Yun Long's chest rose and fell slightly. Several wounds left by Elder Mu's final desperate counterattack had been added to his body, burning with pain.

Yet the Vajra Primordial Qi within him circulated on its own, and the stabbing pain around his wounds rapidly weakened, displaying its powerful restorative ability.

At this moment, he did not dare relax in the slightest.

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

Searching the corpse for spoils?

That would be courting death!

Without even sparing Elder Mu's corpse a glance, he made a prompt decision and said in a low voice, "Move!"

Before his words had even faded, he had grabbed Yun Ji, called to Li Pinghu and Shi Tie, picked a direction, and fled with the three of them like the wind. In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the depths of the forest.

The crisis 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 lines on his palm.

He chose a concealed mountain valley and hid there with Li Pinghu and Shi Tie.

Yun Long had received a more complete inheritance and mastered several small methods for concealing one's aura.

He concealed the auras of the three elders to prevent the Qi Refining Stage cultivators pursuing them from detecting them.

Under the worried gazes of the three men, Yun Long left the valley alone and set out for Nanshan Town.

He had to hurry. Yun Hu, Yun He, Li Lingyue, and Shi Tie's family were all in mortal danger. The slightest hesitation could see them fall into the clutches of Ninth Prince Fang Yuanhua.

Outside Nanshan Town, the Ninth Prince's forces had laid down a net stretching across heaven and earth. Their inspections were so tight that not even water could pass through. Every major road, checkpoint, and mountain path was filled with watchful eyes, like venomous snakes lying in wait as they eyed their prey.

Trying to sneak into the town under such circumstances was no different from pulling a tooth from a tiger's mouth—harder than ascending to heaven!

Hearing this, Yun Long's lips curved into a confident smile, and he gave a soft chuckle.

If he were still a Xiantian realm martial artist, he might indeed have found such tight defenses troublesome.

But times had changed. He had shed his mortal body and exchanged his bones. He was no longer a Mortal Stage martial artist at the mercy of others, 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, and he formed hand seals to cast a minor spell that concealed his form.

At once, his figure became indistinct and elusive. Like a ghost, he blended into his surroundings.

His steps were light and his form flickered like a phantom moving through the night. Within a few breaths, he skillfully avoided every set of eyes and ears and easily slipped into Nanshan Town.

Fortunately, the Ninth Prince and his people did not seem to have realized the gravity of the situation yet. No Qi Refining Stage cultivator was stationed within Nanshan Town.

Otherwise, Yun Long would likely have had to go through some trouble to infiltrate it so easily.

The moment Yun Long stepped into the Yun Clan's small courtyard, a familiar voice rang out with surprise and excitement. "Big Brother!"

The instant Yun He saw Yun Long, a brilliant smile bloomed across her face, and even her voice trembled slightly.

Li Lingyue had been waiting anxiously. When she saw Yun Long, all her worry and unease turned into tears of joy.

She could no longer suppress the excitement in her heart. Like a fledgling swallow returning to its nest, she threw herself into Yun Long's arms and hugged him tightly, as though she wanted to meld him into her very flesh and blood.

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

He gently patted Li Lingyue's back and comforted her softly. "It's all right. It's over now. I'm back."

However, when Li Lingyue did not see Yun Ji and the others, her joy was instantly replaced by worry. She asked anxiously, "Brother Long, where is my father? How are they?"

Li Lingyue released Yun Long and anxiously grabbed his arm, her eyes full of worry and anticipation.

Looking at Li Lingyue's lovely face filled with concern, Yun Long said gently, "They're fine. They're waiting for us outside, somewhere safe. Hurry and pack the necessities. We're leaving Nanshan Town immediately."

After saying this, Yun Long did not pause for even a moment and immediately headed for Shi Tie's home.

Yun Ji, Li Pinghu, and Shi Tie were as close as brothers. It was not merely because they were all well-known widowers in town, but because the brotherhood between them had grown ever deeper after weathering countless storms together.

Shi Tie had two sons. When his eldest had attempted to break through to the Xiantian realm, his impatience for quick success had caused his meridians to shatter. In the end, unwilling to accept it, he chose suicide. It became an eternal pain in Shi Tie's heart.

His younger son, Shi Chen, was only seven this year. Innocent, lively, and adorable, he was Shi Tie's only emotional support and his hope for living on.

At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun fell over Nanshan Town, adding a hint of warmth to the little town.

Shi Chen sat alone in the courtyard, engrossed in a tattered old book beneath the dim light, hoping that his father, who had entered the mountains and not returned, would come home safely.

"Brother Long!"

Sharp-eyed Shi Chen spotted Yun Long standing at the courtyard gate at once. A delighted smile immediately blossomed across his childish face. He threw away the book in his hands and raced toward Yun Long.

Seeing Shi Chen's innocent, childlike smile, Yun Long's heart filled with affection.

With a light tap to Shi Chen's neck, the little fellow fell asleep.

Time was pressing, leaving him no room for delay. He had no time to explain too much to the child.

Yun Long picked up Shi Chen, and a strange look flashed through his eyes. He discovered that this little fellow actually possessed a Spiritual Root!

But the situation was urgent, and he had no time to investigate carefully. He would make plans when there was a chance in the future.

This child shouted every day that he wanted to become an immortal. Who would have thought he truly had such a fortunate opportunity? Perhaps Yun Long could lead him onto the path of cultivation someday.

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

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

"Brother. Keep this safe."

Yun He took a long object wrapped in cloth from her robes and solemnly handed it to Yun Long. Then she touched Yun Long's muscles, looking extremely happy.

The three siblings had all fused with Character Inheritance Cards. From the changes in Yun Long's aura, they had long known how powerful he had become.

Yun Long accepted the bundle and opened it, only to discover that it contained the Yun Clan genealogy.

He solemnly put away the genealogy and carefully placed it against his chest. Feeling the weight of it, his heart filled with a sense of responsibility.

Leaving Nanshan Town was even more troublesome than entering it. Yun Long cast his illusion spell again and cautiously led Yun Hu and the other two out of Nanshan Town.