Chapter 120: Eternity in an Instant

Tuoba Mu glared, his hands forming seals. The radiance of the formation suddenly contracted, transforming into a fierce beam of light aimed directly at Eleven.

"Not good!" Yun Tian realized that Li Yunji could never withstand this strike.

He quickly formed a hand seal, and a Bagua formation instantly spread out from beneath his feet. The hexagram plate spun rapidly with Yun Tian at its center, positioning Tuoba Mu in the east.

"Zhen Hexagram! Thunderous Might!"

As his voice fell, five bolts of heavenly lightning rumbled down, striking straight at Tuoba Mu!

Just as it seemed they would succeed, a purple light flared. Several boulders materialized out of thin air within the formation, blocking the lightning.

"Your opponent is me!" Murong Lanyue sneered, and streams of black flames erupted from the formation before her.

Yun Tian quickly spun the hexagram plate. "Kan Hexagram! Water Dragon Break!"

Three water dragons intertwined, colliding head-on with the black flames. As the two energies clashed, a thick fog instantly filled the air. Trapped in Murong Lanyue’s assault and unable to protect himself, Yun Tian could only watch Li Yunji anxiously.

Li Yunji knew full well that Tuoba Mu’s attack was no trivial matter, yet he stood straight before Eleven, not moving an inch.

"Young Master, move!" Eleven shouted.

But Li Yunji remained as immovable as a mountain, holding his Qingyuan Sword horizontally before his chest, struggling to withstand the beam!

Su Qingmeng dashed to Li Yunji’s side to assist, but was thrown back several meters by the sudden burst of Li Yunji’s internal energy.

"Don't worry! I’m tough!" Li Yunji gritted his teeth. The beam struck his blade, causing his body to shudder violently as blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. His clothes were shredded instantly, and lacerations appeared on his wheat-colored skin.

Su Qingmeng’s brows furrowed, and she tried to step forward again, but Li Yunji was suddenly swallowed by the light.

"Li Yunji, you damn fool!" Su Qingmeng cried out in agony. "Why are you acting so tough at a time like this?!"

The group watched the blinding white space in anxiety, hearing only the sound of flesh being torn and Li Yunji’s hysterical roars.

"Young Master!" Chuyi struggled to step forward but was held back by Yun Tian.

"Do you want to throw your life away?!" Yun Tian snapped coldly, his youthful voice carrying an irresistible authority.

Hidden behind the ancient, thousand-year-old tree in the Prince’s Mansion, Su Yiyan watched as Li Yunji was consumed by the light. Her eyes turned red, and her lips trembled. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

Just then, a sound of air being torn apart reached their ears!

Looking toward the sound, they saw a Green Dragon Crescent Blade!

The massive blade was as fast as lightning, appearing above the Prince’s Mansion in the blink of an eye. After precisely shattering Tuoba Mu’s light formation, it slammed into the ground, creating a five-meter-deep crater!

Li Yunji finally broke free, falling to one knee and gasping for air.

"What kind of bastard dares to run wild in my Beiling City?!"

Li Yi’s thunderous voice echoed over the mansion, brimming with kingly authority. As the words finished, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade pulled itself from the ground and whistled away toward the east of the city.

This domineering aura forced Tuoba Mu to take notice. He paused, bowed in the direction of the General’s Mansion, and said in a deep voice, "So it is the Lord of Beiling, General Li. My actions today were for the sake of the greater good. I hope the General will forgive me!"

Silence hung over the General’s Mansion for a long time before Li Yi’s voice returned. "Since you are working with me, you must follow my rules. Running wild in my city means you do not hold me in any regard!"

The voice cut through the sky with unquestionable authority. Murong Lanyue looked displeased and was about to speak, but Tuoba Mu stopped her with a look.

"Second Uncle!" Li Yunji suddenly spoke, his voice weary. "They are using you. These scumbags’ goal is to break the seal on Mu Nanqing!"

As he spoke, Tuoba Mu, who had been right in front of them, suddenly vanished! Meanwhile, there was no further response from the General’s Mansion.

"What is happening?" Su Qingmeng scanned her surroundings. "Did they run?"

The group looked at each other, confused. Li Yunji wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up with difficulty. He looked at the sky; though he felt no wind, the clouds were churning rapidly. The sun seemed to be moving faster than usual.

Yun Tian noticed the anomaly, his brow furrowing as he said solemnly, "This is the work of a second-tier mystic!"

Everyone turned their eyes to him. Yun Tian took a deep breath.

"Eternity in an Instant."

...

General’s Mansion, Main Hall.

Tuoba Mu looked much older than before. "General Li, rest assured, I will not take the young master's life," Tuoba Mu said, his face pale as he clutched his chest. "But if the young master continues his investigation, it will disrupt our plans."

"A young master with no power or influence—what kind of storm could he stir up under my nose?" Li Yi looked at him coldly with a sneer.

"You, on the other hand, seem very nervous!" Li Yi’s voice was laced with biting cold, his eyes full of suspicion. "Willing to burn your own lifespan to force a momentary breakthrough just to cast 'Eternity in an Instant.' Does Li Yunji pose such a great threat to you?"

Tuoba Mu averted his eyes, steadying his mind. "This is also the will of His Highness the Crown Prince. The Heshan Poetry Gathering is near. General, one must be cautious."

With the Crown Prince mentioned, Li Yi could not say more. He narrowed his eyes and surveyed the two, then said with a mocking smile, "Indeed. Someone, prepare guest rooms for these two. Treat these honorable guests well!"

With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

...

Beiling Prince’s Mansion, Study.

Everyone sat in their own corners, lost in thought.

"When exactly did that old geezer cast his spell?" Li Yunji broke the silence. "I don't even know if my Second Uncle heard what I said."

Yun Tian turned to look at him, his eyes brightening. He was more curious about Li Yunji’s recovery than his muttering. It had only been an hour, and he had already regained his color. Being injured by a third-tier expert, he should not have healed so quickly.

Eleven noticed Yun Tian’s curiosity and leaned in, boasting, "Impressive, right?"

Yun Tian nodded blankly.

"You get used to it," Eleven grinned.

"What secret does his body hold?" Yun Tian pressed.

Eleven shrugged, indicating he didn't know. Yun Tian sighed to himself.

"Kid," Li Yunji suddenly shifted his gaze to Yun Tian. "Aren't you a mystic too? You should know how to break this, right?"

Yun Tian frowned and spoke slowly, "And what if I do? You couldn't break it anyway..."