A Blow to the Back of the Head

The slanting sun sank in the west, and the sky gradually darkened.

The bustle of the Ancient City slowly faded. The streets were brightly lit as travelers entered taverns in twos and threes, clinking cups amid laughter and cheerful chatter.

On the third floor of Tianxiang Tower, Shen Yun and his companion sat by the window, leisurely eating dinner.

The hall was antique and elegant, with landscape paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls, while the beams and pillars were carved with cloud patterns and Auspicious Beasts.

At the very center stood a spacious stage, where several lovely young women played zithers and sang operas, their lingering melodies winding around the rafters.

Shen Wude held a massive pig trotter, gnawing on it as he grumbled, "That kid sure knows how to enjoy himself. He even picked an Elegant Room for dinner."

Shen Yun spun his teacup between his fingers and looked toward Shangguan Mo, who was drinking and listening to music across the hall. Unhurriedly, he said, "He should be keeping watch on Shangguan Nian."

After following him for an entire afternoon, they had seen Shangguan Mo trailing far behind Shangguan Nian the whole time. It was not hard to guess his purpose.

Shen Wude said with amusement, "I never thought the Shangguan Family would have internal strife. Their ways really are disgusting."

Once he got started, he began speaking freely.

"The Shangguan Family will stop at nothing for profit. They believe in that whole self-sacrifice nonsense, but they really do have some skills. Shangguan Xuan broke through to the Golden Core Realm in three jiazi, and now an even more formidable Shangguan Dongjun has appeared..."

Shen Yun listened quietly before asking, "Do you know about the Lone Swan Sword Sect's entrance examination?"

Upon hearing the question, Shen Wude answered without hesitation, "As Tianlan Prefecture's strongest overlord, the Lone Swan Sword Sect holds an entrance examination every three years to replenish its ranks with fresh blood. The next one should be at the beginning of next year."

At that, he smacked his lips. "I heard Shangguan Dongjun is already an Inner Disciple. He counts as somebody within the Sword Sect. Looks like the Shangguan Family plans to invest even more in him and support his rise to become a True Disciple."

What was a True Disciple? Only those who received the sect's inheritance and were regarded as successors could be called True Disciples.

If Shangguan Dongjun became a True Disciple, the Shangguan Family would be like a tiger with wings. Dominating Canglang Mountain would no longer be mere talk on paper.

Shangguan Mo drank and listened to the music, appearing perfectly at ease, but inwardly he remained alert.

Once we leave the family, we are nothing but rootless duckweed. Since you refuse to understand, I can only resort to extraordinary measures.

Shangguan Mo secretly resolved that the moment Shangguan Nian left the city, he would make his move. He would take her back to the family first and deal with the rest afterward.

He had complete faith in the Patriarch. So long as Shangguan Nian was brought back, there was no fear that she would refuse to submit.

Canglang Mountain will sooner or later belong to the Shangguan Family. No one can stop it.

Shangguan Mo was brimming with self-satisfaction as he turned his gaze outside. Before long, his target appeared.

He abruptly stood up, casually tossed down three Medium-grade Spirit Stones, and quickly headed downstairs.

Seeing this, Shen Yun and Shen Wude also slowly rose and followed behind him without a sound.

The moon had set, crows cried out, and the night was dark and windy.

Shangguan Nian's thoughts were complicated. Refusing Granny Aramaki's order today was no different from defying the family's authority.

"I should leave early and meet up with Senior Brother in Great Zhou."

Shangguan Nian suppressed the irritation in her heart and headed for the relay station outside Tianwei Mountain, where the Shen Family's teleportation platform was located.

Moonlight spilled over the pebble road, while the trees lining the path swayed gently. Shangguan Nian used the Light Body Technique, moving swiftly without losing her graceful poise.

She had already traveled far from the Market. There was no longer a single pedestrian on the road, and the silent forest seemed especially eerie.

Suddenly, Shangguan Nian stopped and looked back. Solemnly, she said, "You've followed me all the way. Come out."

Thud, thud!

Clear footsteps rang out as Shangguan Mo strolled over from the horizon, his manner wild and arrogant.

Shangguan Nian was slightly startled when she saw him. "Why are you following me so late at night?"

Shangguan Mo calmly clapped his hands and smiled teasingly. "No one can defy the family's will. Sister Nian knows that, doesn't she?"

Shangguan Nian did not respond. The cool breeze stirred the black hair before her forehead, revealing a tranquil and delicate face. Her eyes, like autumn waters, were filled with determination.

Shangguan Mo extended his palm, then suddenly clenched it into a fist. "Since you insist on remaining stubborn, don't blame me for disregarding the bond between sister and brother."

He shook both fists, and a massive black boulder flew from his body. It swelled in the wind, instantly turning into a small mountain two zhang tall as it came crashing down on Shangguan Nian's head.

A shrill tearing sound exploded through the night sky. Shangguan Nian swiftly retreated, chanting an incantation as four spirit talismans at her fingertips lit up at once.

"Wood Vine Talisman!"

Dragon-like wooden vines shot into the sky, turning into pillars that supported the sky as they desperately held back the descending mountain.

"Useless. Earth Spirit Peak, suppress her!"

Shangguan Mo clapped his hands together, and earth spiritual power surged up like ribbons, winding around the mountain.

Crack!

The mountain's downward force suddenly intensified, crushing the wooden vines until they snapped section by section.

Taking advantage of the opening, Shangguan Nian widened the distance between them. Her slender body wheeled through the air like a nimble swallow, four green spirit talismans pinched between her fingertips.

"Wood Prison Talisman."

With a sharp cry from Shangguan Nian, dozens of giant trees descended from the sky and locked Earth Spirit Peak within them. Wood Spiritual Power shone with green radiance, fixing the enormous mountain in place.

"Wood restrains earth. Not a bad idea, but your realm is still too low. How could a few little trees withstand a mountain that supports the sky?"

Shangguan Mo violently stomped his right foot, erupting with an aura far fiercer than before.

Earth Spirit Peak began spinning at high speed like a massive top, smashing the towering trees into fragments. Great clouds of wood chips sprayed in every direction.

The mountain rolled onward, crushing the ground into an uneven mess. Wherever it passed, not a blade of grass remained.

Shangguan Nian could only struggle to cope. The spirit talismans in her hands were rapidly depleted, and she found it difficult to achieve anything.

"Is this your limit? What a waste of the fine talent of a Dual Spirit Root."

Shangguan Mo eyed her like a hawk and a wolf, relentlessly pressing his attack and holding every advantage. "If you can return from your lost path and serve Elder Brother Dongjun with me, you may yet have hopes of reaching the Golden Core Realm. How could that useless talisman path compare?"

Shangguan Nian remained silent, bitterly holding on beneath the storm-like assault.

Deep within the forest, Shen Wude looked displeased. "That kid is really putting on a show. Still, he does have some skills. Seventh Layer of Qi Refining cultivation combined with a second-rank Magic Tool—he won't be easy to handle."

Leaning against a large tree, Shen Yun said leisurely, "Didn't you just break through? He's just right for you to deal with."

Shen Wude's expression stiffened, and he said awkwardly, "You must be joking, Brother. With you here, how could it possibly be my turn to add legs to a snake?"

He glanced at Shen Yun and grumbled inwardly, No wonder he saw through my disguise. Such a powerful Qi Concealment Technique... could it be the legendary Perfect Realm?

Shen Yun ignored his flattery and looked toward the scene. By now, Shangguan Nian was running out of strength. Her defeat was only a matter of time.

Shangguan Mo was in high spirits and showed not the slightest mercy. His earth-element techniques had reached the point of consummate mastery.

"Submit without resistance. Struggling is meaningless."

Shangguan Mo's gaze was fiercely aggressive. He used the Quicksand Technique to restrict her movements while Earth Spirit Peak launched attack after attack—broad, forceful, and overwhelmingly domineering.

Shangguan Nian bit down on her red lips. Her spirit talismans had all been used up, and she could only stubbornly resist from her corner.

"Is it really wrong to pursue what I like?"

Though covered in wounds, her gaze remained steadfast as she searched for an opportunity to break through the encirclement.

"Still stubborn? Then don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Shangguan Mo's face turned cold. Earth Spirit Peak expanded several more times, its demonic might soaring to the heavens as it struck Shangguan Nian and sent her blood spraying through the air.

Her slender figure fell helplessly to the ground like a drifting fallen leaf.

Shangguan Mo gave a cold smile, and a great hand of spiritual energy reached toward Shangguan Nian to seize her.

The next moment, a figure too fast for the naked eye to catch silently appeared.

Shangguan Mo's vicious grin was still on his face. Before he could react in the slightest, a thick wooden club smashed into the back of his head.

It sounded like a wooden mallet striking a bell. Stars burst before Shangguan Mo's eyes, and the impact surged through him like lightning, making his entire body shudder.

"Who... is it?"

His eyes rolled back. In his haze, he saw two figures holding wooden clubs before losing consciousness.