15: Chapter 15 Breaking Through the Desperate Situation

Four Shentong Realms; Liu Wuchang was at the Early Stage, while the other three Elders consisted of two Middle Stages and one Late Stage. The four fanned out, surrounding Chen Yuanji and Elder Xuan in the center, their Yuan Power fluctuations weighing down like four great mountains. The trees on both sides of the official road trembled under this pressure, leaves falling like rain. Fine cracks appeared on the ground, spreading outward with the four as the center. The Yuan Power in the air became violent and chaotic, making it difficult for ordinary Martial Artists to even breathe in such an environment.

The Wuzhui Horse beneath Chen Yuanji neighed uneasily, its hooves pawing the ground, wanting to flee. He gently patted the horse's neck, transmitting Hidden Jin through his palm into its body to soothe its emotions. The Wuzhui Horse gradually calmed down, but it still stared warily at the black-clothed men around them.

Elder Xuan's expression was grim. In his prime, he was at the Peak of the Shentong Realm and wouldn't have spared a glance for these four. However, the great war three hundred years ago had left him severely injured and his cultivation had dropped; now, he could barely maintain a Middle Stage level. One-on-one, he could win. One-on-two, he could barely manage. One-on-four, defeat was certain.

"Elder Xuan, can we fight?" Chen Yuanji asked in a low voice.

"We can't win," Elder Xuan said truthfully. "But we can still run. Kid, I'll hold them back in a moment; you ride the Wuzhui Horse and run east. Don't look back, don't stop, and run all the way to the Eastern Desolate Region."

Chen Yuanji frowned. "Then what about you?"

"I've lived for over three hundred years; I won't die that easily." Elder Xuan grinned. "These few little brats can't keep me here."

Liu Wuchang looked at the two coldly, seemingly seeing through their plan. "Chen Yuanji, I advise you not to make a useless struggle," he said slowly. "No one the Tiandao Sect wants has ever escaped. Follow us back obediently, and perhaps you can keep your life. If you resist stubbornly, today will be the day you die."

Chen Yuanji looked at him and suddenly smiled. "Elder Liu, do you know why I've been able to live until now?"

Liu Wuchang raised an eyebrow. "I'm all ears."

"Because I never listen to my enemies." Before his voice had even faded, Chen Yuanji slammed his heels into the horse's flanks, and the Wuzhui Horse shot forward like an arrow from a bow, charging east!

"You're looking for death!" Liu Wuchang was furious. With a wave of his right hand, a blade of light condensed from Yuan Power whistled out, heading straight for the center of Chen Yuanji's back. Elder Xuan snorted coldly and raised a hand in a palm strike; a gray palm force arrived first, shattering the blade of light.

"Your opponent is me." Elder Xuan stepped into the Void Realm, his figure appearing before the four Shentong Realm experts like a ghost. Striking with both palms, gray palm force overwhelmed the four like a blanket covering the sky.

"Attack together!" Liu Wuchang shouted. The four struck simultaneously, four Shentong Realm-level attacks blasting toward Elder Xuan. "Boom—" A thunderous roar shook the sky, and a crater dozens of yards wide was blasted into the official road, with mud and rubble flying hundreds of feet into the air. Trees within a radius of several miles were uprooted by the airwaves, and the ground looked as if it had been plowed, covered in scars.

Chen Yuanji didn't look back. He lay flat on the horse's back as the Wuzhui Horse's hooves flew, galloping along the rugged mountain road. The mount, at the level of a Second-rank Yao Beast, was extremely fast, leaving the battlefield behind in the blink of an eye. However, the Yuan Power fluctuations coming from behind grew increasingly intense; every collision felt like an earthquake, the ground trembling and the air roaring.

"Elder Xuan..." Chen Yuanji gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white. He knew Elder Xuan was risking his life to buy him time. Against four Shentong Realms, Elder Xuan facing them alone was fraught with danger. But he couldn't look back; looking back meant certain death, which would waste Elder Xuan's painstaking efforts.

"Go!" he growled, urging the Wuzhui Horse to speed up. Behind him, at the battlefield, Elder Xuan was already at a disadvantage fighting one against four. His robes were torn, blood hung from the corner of his mouth, and there was a deep wound on his left arm that reached the bone, with blood dripping down. Yet, he still stood before the four like an insurmountable mountain.

"Senior, why bother?" Liu Wuchang said coldly. "That kid is neither kin nor friend to you; is he worth risking your life to protect?"

"I feel like it," Elder Xuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled. "You people from the Tiandao Sect will never understand. There are some things in this world more important than life."

"Stubborn and foolish." Liu Wuchang shook his head. "Since Senior insists on seeking death, don't blame this Junior for being impolite."

The four attacked again, and this time, they no longer held back. Liu Wuchang formed hand Seals, and a golden pillar of light shot from his palm, piercing the clouds. The pillar of light exploded high in the sky, turning into countless golden raindrops that showered down over the entire area. The other three also unleashed their Divine Abilities—one summoned a fire giant dozens of feet tall, one condensed dozens of ice spikes, and one turned into a black shadow, merging into the darkness. Four Divine Abilities blasted toward Elder Xuan simultaneously.

Elder Xuan took a deep breath and drew a circle with both hands in front of him. A gray light shield emerged around his body. The shield was covered in dense cracks and looked like it could shatter at any moment, but this seemingly fragile shield stubbornly blocked the bombardment of the four Divine Abilities.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" Four consecutive loud bangs rang out. The light shield trembled violently, and more cracks appeared, yet it still didn't break.

Liu Wuchang's expression changed slightly. "What Cultivation Technique is this?"

Elder Xuan didn't answer. His face was deathly pale, and blood seeped from his seven orifices; he was clearly reaching his limit. This gray light shield was a defensive Divine Ability he had obtained three hundred years ago from the ruins of the Martial Dao Divine Court, called the "Unbreakable Barrier." With his current cultivation, he could only hold it for ten breaths at most.

But ten breaths were enough. Elder Xuan suddenly surged his remaining internal Yuan Power, and the gray light shield abruptly expanded, knocking the four back several steps. Simultaneously, his figure turned into a gray stream of light, flying toward the east.

"Chase him!" Liu Wuchang shouted, and the four pursued relentlessly. But Elder Xuan's speed was extremely fast, and he vanished into the vast sea of trees in an instant.

Half an hour later. Chen Yuanji rode the Wuzhui Horse, galloping along a small mountain path. There were no longer any Yuan Power fluctuations behind him, but he didn't dare stop. The Tiandao Sect's pursuers could catch up at any time; he had to leave the borders of Great Yan as soon as possible.

"Kid, stop." A weak voice came from above.

Chen Yuanji reined in the horse and looked up. Elder Xuan descended from the sky, landing on the ground and staggering a few steps, nearly falling. "Elder Xuan!" Chen Yuanji dismounted and supported Elder Xuan. Elder Xuan's face was as white as paper, his robes were in tatters, and his body was covered in wounds. The most serious was on his chest, where there was a fist-sized indentation; it was unknown how many ribs were broken.

"I won't die." Elder Xuan waved his hand and managed a smile. "I've lost those little brats, but with the Tiandao Sect's tracking methods, they'll catch up soon. Kid, I can't accompany you anymore."

Chen Yuanji's heart sank. "Elder Xuan, you..."

"My injuries are too severe; I need to find a place for secluded meditation to heal." Elder Xuan pulled a Jade Slip from his robe and pressed it into Chen Yuanji's hand. "This is the address of an old friend of mine in the Eastern Desolate Region. Take this Jade Slip to find him and say I sent you; he will take you in."

Chen Yuanji held the Jade Slip and looked at Elder Xuan's aged face, a complex surge of emotion rising in his heart. In his past life, he was a Guoshu Grandmaster, lonely all his life with no family or friends. Having been in this world for less than a month, Elder Xuan was the first person to treat him well. He taught him the common knowledge of this different world, helped him hide his identity, and now risked his life to help him break through.

"Elder Xuan, take care." Chen Yuanji bowed deeply.

"Alright, enough with the sentimentality." Elder Xuan patted his shoulder. "Kid, remember my words—in this world, strength is everything. Without strength, you are nothing. With strength, you can protect those you want to protect." He paused and said meaningfully, "Don't be in a hurry to unseal the Jiang Clan Bloodline in your body. That Seal is both a shackle and a protection. Wait until you are strong enough before you face it."

"I'll remember."

"Then go." Elder Xuan turned around. "I'll rest here for a bit and cover your rear."

Chen Yuanji mounted the horse and took one last look at Elder Xuan. Elder Xuan's back was to him, his gray hair fluttering in the wind, his figure appearing lonely and aged. "Heh!" The Wuzhui Horse neighed and galloped away. Chen Yuanji didn't look back, but his fists were clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms. Tiandao Sect—he remembered those three words. One day, he would make the Tiandao Sect pay the price.

Three days later. Chen Yuanji had already left the borders of Great Yan and entered the outskirts of the Eastern Desolate Region. The landscape here was completely different from Great Yan—there were no neat farmlands or bustling towns, only continuous mountain ranges and primeval forests. The Yuan Power in the sky was denser but also more violent; ordinary people simply couldn't survive here. The Wuzhui Horse was panting heavily; three days and nights of continuous running had left it nearly exhausted. Chen Yuanji found a hidden valley to let the horse rest, while he sat cross-legged on a large rock, taking out a martial dao source stone to Cultivate. The energy within the martial dao source stone slowly seeped into his body, tempering his muscles, bones, and membranes. For three days, he had maintained high-intensity cultivation; his use of Hidden Jin was becoming more and more proficient, with faint signs of breaking through to the second stage, "Vibrate."

"At this rate, in another half a month, I should be able to master the second stage of Hidden Jin." Chen Yuanji calculated. Hidden Jin has three stages—Penetrate, Vibrate, and Coil. Each stage is a qualitative leap. Penetrate is about piercing the skin to damage the internal organs. Vibrate is about the force acting like waves, progressing layer by layer to cause cumulative damage. Coil is about the force being like threads or strands, entwining within the opponent's body to cause continuous destruction. Once the three stages reach Major Achievement, the Hidden Jin is considered to have reached Perfection. At that time, he could strike for Transforming Jin.

While he was cultivating, a scream suddenly came from afar. Chen Yuanji opened his eyes and looked toward the sound. Outside the valley, a figure came running stumbling toward him, pursued by three giant gray wolves. First-rank Yao Beasts, Iron-backed Wolves. They were the same kind he had killed before in the Monster Beast Mountain Range. As the figure ran closer, Chen Yuanji could see clearly—it was a young girl. She looked fourteen or fifteen years old, petite, wearing a light blue dress stained with blood and mud. There was a bloodstain on her face and her hair was messy, but one could still see she had a good foundation, with features as beautiful as a painting and skin like creamy jade. Most striking were her ears—not human ears, but furry fox ears with a pale golden luster.

Yao Race! Chen Yuanji's heart stirred. The girl saw Chen Yuanji, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes, and she ran toward him desperately. "Help!" Her voice was crisp, carrying a sob. The three Iron-backed Wolves drew closer; the nearest one had already lunged to within three feet behind her. Chen Yuanji stood up and drew a short blade from his waist. He didn't move, just silently watched the three Iron-backed Wolves. The Iron-backed Wolves seemed to sense something and stopped abruptly, staring warily at Chen Yuanji. A beast's instinct told them this human was dangerous.

The girl ran behind Chen Yuanji, trembling. "Save me..." She pulled at the corner of Chen Yuanji's clothes, her voice shaking.

Chen Yuanji didn't look back, only saying indifferently, "Stand back."

The girl hurriedly retreated to the side. The three Iron-backed Wolves growled, slowly closing in. Although they felt this human was dangerous, hunger overcame their fear. "Awoo—" The lead Iron-backed Wolf lunged first. Chen Yuanji stepped forward with his right foot and crouched slightly; at the moment the Iron-backed Wolf lunged before him, his left fingers hooked like claws and landed on the wolf's head. Hidden Jin: Eagle Catch. The moment his fingers touched the wolf's head, the Hidden Jin exploded. A vibrating force passed through the skull, directly shattering the Iron-backed Wolf's brain. The Iron-backed Wolf's body stiffened in mid-air and then fell to the ground like a dead dog, motionless. The remaining two Iron-backed Wolves were stunned. Chen Yuanji didn't give them a chance to escape. He moved his feet, appearing beside the second Iron-backed Wolf like a ghost, his short blade piercing its throat as the Hidden Jin erupted. The third Iron-backed Wolf turned to run, but he caught up and struck its back with a punch, shattering its spine. Three Iron-backed Wolves, three breaths, all dead.

The girl's eyes widened, her mouth forming an 'O' shape. "You... you're so amazing," she stammered.

Chen Yuanji sheathed his blade and turned to look at her. The girl's fox ears twitched, seemingly expressing some emotion. Her eyes were amber, clear and bright, currently filled with curiosity and admiration.

"What's your name?" Chen Yuanji asked.

"My name is... Su Xiaohu." The girl hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I'm from the Qingqiu Tribe in the Eastern Desolate Region. Our tribe was attacked by bad people, everyone died, and only I escaped." By the end, her eyes were red, and tears welled up.

Chen Yuanji looked at her and was silent for a moment. "Do you know someone named...?" He took out the Jade Slip Elder Xuan had given him, which had a name carved on it.

Su Xiaohu took a look, and her eyes suddenly lit up. "Elder Shen? You know Elder Shen?"

"Introduced by a friend." Chen Yuanji felt relieved. "Do you know where he is?"

"I do!" Su Xiaohu nodded vigorously. "Elder Shen is a Guest Elder of the Qingqiu Tribe and lives near our tribe. But... but our tribe was attacked, I don't know if Elder Shen is still there..." Her voice lowered again.

Chen Yuanji put away the Jade Slip. "Take me to see."

"But... those bad people might still be there." Su Xiaohu was a little afraid.

"I'm here," Chen Yuanji said flatly.

Su Xiaohu looked into his eyes, and for some reason, she suddenly wasn't so afraid anymore. She nodded hard. "Okay, I'll take you."

Chen Yuanji blew a whistle, and the Wuzhui Horse ran out from the valley. He mounted the horse and reached out his hand to Su Xiaohu. "Come up." Su Xiaohu's face turned slightly red as she took his hand and was pulled onto the horse's back, sitting behind him.

"Hold on tight."

Su Xiaohu hesitated for a moment, then reached out both hands to gently wrap them around Chen Yuanji's waist.

"Heh!"

The Wuzhui Horse neighed and galloped east. Behind them, the corpses of the three Iron-backed Wolves lay in a pool of blood, attracting several vultures circling in the sky. In the distance, a few wolf howls faintly echoed in the valley.