Slaying

"Heh, didn't expect this, did you? This Jade Pendant of mine has five abilities. I was holding back, just waiting for you to walk right into my trap."

Zhang Chen wiped the sweat from his brow and got up from the corner. His legs, however, still felt a bit wobbly as he walked.

The moment the Jade Pendant's barrier shattered, the genuine sense of mortal danger he felt still lingered.

Even though Yang Linghu was now heavily injured and on the ground, he didn't dare get too close, stopping himself three zhang away.

Fearing any further complications, Zhang Chen circulated his sorcery, conjuring flames, intending to finish Yang Linghu off then and there.

"Wait!"

Yang Linghu suddenly spoke, "I'll copy a cultivation technique from my family for you. Can you spare my life?"

The Yang Family's cultivation technique!

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen's mind immediately raced, and he stopped his actions.

"The Yang Family's cultivation technique is a treasure even Zhang Tianqi praised highly."

He kept a wary eye on Yang Linghu, guarding against any sudden moves, while calculating in his mind.

Taking back the mines had certainly restored his family's honor, but compared to the value of the Yang Family's cultivation technique, it was nothing.

If he could bring the Yang Family's cultivation technique back, it would be a great achievement!

"Hmph, by then, it will be clear who is superior between me and Zhang Yao!"

With this thought, he retracted his sorcery.

"Alright, if you can hand over the cultivation technique, sparing your life isn't impossible."

Zhang Chen figured Yang Linghu couldn't escape anyway, so he took out the writing materials he carried and tossed them to him.

As for reinforcements, heh. The distance from here to the Yang Family was such that even a Qi Gathering Mid-stage cultivator would need four shichen to travel.

For his small Yang Family, which had only been established for two or three years, what secret treasures could they possibly have to know what was happening a thousand li away?

Watching Yang Linghu struggle to crawl forward, pick up the paper and brush, and begin writing, a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

"Do you really think this young master is that easily fooled? Who knows if what you're writing is real or fake. Once you're done, I'll knock you out and take you back to be imprisoned. If it's fake then, I'll interrogate and deal with you slowly!"

Under Zhang Chen's gaze, Yang Linghu slowly wrote down the contents of the cultivation technique.

Of course, this was a modified version he had created himself, not the true Nether Spirit Path Seeking Scripture.

He had already sent a clan soldier back home with a letter earlier. Lingqing would surely make arrangements upon receiving it.

For now, the goal was to stall for as much time as possible. He was also prepared to fight to the death. If rescue didn't come in the end, he would use his last breath to try and take Zhang Chen down with him!

Time trickled by. After fifteen minutes, Yang Linghu finished writing the first half of the cultivation technique and tossed it to Zhang Chen.

"This is the first half. You can take a look first to see if there are any issues."

Zhang Chen took it and began to read. After flipping through a few pages, his eyes lit up with fervor. He could tell that the cultivation technique was indeed of high quality.

"I didn't expect the Yang Family to actually have something good. It might even be of Essence Condensation quality!"

Thinking this, he impatiently urged him on, conjuring two balls of flame and threatening, "If you want to live, write faster! This young master's patience is limited!"

Yang Linghu, fearing he would anger Zhang Chen and knowing he couldn't stall any longer, nodded in agreement and sped up his writing.

Another fifteen minutes passed, and he finished writing the second half.

Zhang Chen was already impatient. Before Yang Linghu could even toss it over, he stepped forward and snatched it away.

"Good, good, good! Truly a good cultivation technique!"

Zhang Chen was overjoyed. The thought of the astonished looks on everyone's faces when he returned home filled him with smug satisfaction.

Seizing this opportunity, Yang Linghu quietly shuffled forward a few inches, bringing the opponent within his attack range.

"Mm, you've done very well. This young master keeps his word. I'll let you go."

He said this, but in the very next instant, Zhang Chen, without any warning, struck Yang Linghu's nape with a palm.

Yang Linghu, who had been prepared, flipped up and dodged the palm strike, simultaneously unleashing his most powerful punch.

Thump!

A muffled sound. Yang Linghu cursed inwardly, "This damn turtle shell." Immediately after, he was kicked flying by Zhang Chen.

"Hmph! I knew you wouldn't be so honest, boy, and would try to scheme against this young master."

Zhang Chen sneered, "Didn't expect my Jade Pendant's protection to have recovered, did you? Let me tell you, I can still use it twice more. How about it, despairing? Hahahaha—"

Yang Linghu sat up, leaning against a stone pillar. He was now completely spent, barely able to move a finger.

"You ungrateful wretch, die!"

Watching the raging flames engulf him, Yang Linghu let out a sigh in his heart.

He harbored no resentment, only felt a sense of pity and regret.

Whoosh—

Just then, Yang Linghu suddenly felt a coolness by his ear, the sound of wind rushing past.

His taut nerves completely relaxed at this moment, for he knew he wouldn't die today.

The gale wind howled past, extinguishing the raging flames in front of Yang Linghu.

"What!?"

Zhang Chen's face immediately turned ashen with shock. He hastily erected the protective barrier from the Jade Pendant.

However, in the next instant, he saw the blade of wind, formed from the fierce gale, tear through the barrier as easily as ripping through paper.

Splat!

"Ah!! My arm!!!"

His left arm was severed by the gale. Zhang Chen let out a pained howl.

To be able to break through the barrier so easily, he must be a Qi Gathering Mid-stage cultivator without a doubt. Thinking this, he became even more terrified and scrambled to turn and flee.

Unfortunately, the other party had no intention of leaving him alive. A chill rose on his back, and Zhang Chen felt his vision spin before going black. The last thing he saw was a familiar figure descending before his life extinguished.

After beheading Zhang Chen, Yang Lingrui hurried to Yang Linghu's side, dripping the newly produced spirit liquid from the Four-leaf Spirit-Nesting Grass into his mouth. He then took out a healing pill and had him swallow it.

"Brother Hu, don't speak yet. Quickly refine the spirit liquid and the medicinal power!"

As he spoke, he channeled his own spiritual power to Yang Linghu.

A moment later, Yang Linghu recovered somewhat and was able to stand up.

"You were quick to act. I wanted to leave him alive," Yang Linghu said, looking at the deceased Zhang Chen.

Yang Lingrui glanced at the corpse and said with a cold face, "Brother Hu, he injured you like this. Letting him live another breath would have been my mercy."

"Hahaha, cough cough..."

"Slow down, Brother Hu."

With Yang Lingrui's support, Yang Linghu said, "You arrived just in time. If you had been a moment slower, my family might have needed to prepare an extra coffin."

"I was able to make it in time, all thanks to Immortal Venerable Spirit Stone's reminder."

Yang Lingrui said, "As soon as I broke out of seclusion, I received a telepathic message from the Immortal Venerable saying you were in danger, so I rushed over immediately."

"My letter of credence didn't reach you?"

"The clan soldiers and laborers were attacked by bandits on their way back. Many died, and only a small portion returned in the end."

Yang Linghu shook his head helplessly upon hearing this. He had wanted to give those people a way out, but unexpectedly, disaster still struck.

"Thank you again to the Immortal Venerable for the rescue this time."

Yang Linghu felt a surge of emotion. If Chen Yang hadn't sent a telepathic message to Yang Lingrui, he wouldn't have received any help today and would have died on the spot.

"Brother Hu, how are things at the mine? Are there any pursuers?"

"There are no pursuers, but there are still people who need to be dealt with."

After disposing of Zhang Chen's body and letting Yang Linghu meditate for half an hour to digest the spirit liquid, his spiritual power recovered by a small portion. The two then headed together to the place where they had initially fought Liao Feng and Zhang Chen.

It was already dawn, and the bloodstains on the ground were very obvious. Liao Feng's corpse, as expected, had been taken away.

Following the residual aura and traces on the ground, the two arrived at a mountain cave.