Chapter Fifty-Seven: On a Knife's Edge!

If Yang Yan's previous performance had shocked Xu Hongfei, then the current Yang Yan was enough to terrify him. A cultivator at the second layer of the Sense Spirit Realm had actually succeeded in awakening and freely wielding his origin spiritual power—a phenomenon that utterly exceeded Xu Hongfei's understanding. Even though he himself had reached the peak of the fifth layer of the Sense Spirit Realm, he had yet to activate the origin spiritual power within his body.

What astonished him even more was that this youth’s origin spiritual power manifested as a strange black hue, outside the attributes of the five elements.

Xu Hongfei possessed a fourth-grade innate golden body, a talent considered outstanding even among the prodigies of Azure Profound Sect. Yet, despite his fierce and domineering gold spiritual power, he could not gain the upper hand against Yang Yan's pale blue spiritual power, only managing a slight advantage thanks to his superior cultivation. But when Yang Yan unleashed that bizarre black spiritual power, Xu Hongfei found himself utterly powerless.

This meant that Yang Yan’s innate spiritual body was at least of fifth grade, perhaps higher.

Innate spiritual bodies above fifth grade—Xu Hongfei knew well what that implied: Yang Yan possessed the potential to someday ascend to the Spirit Sea Realm, or even the Return Origin Realm. If Yang Yan truly rose to such heights, obliterating the Xu family would be easier than squashing an ant.

A shiver ran down Xu Hongfei’s spine at this thought, cold sweat prickling over his skin. In that instant, a chilling resolve crystallized in his heart.

“No matter what, I cannot let this boy leave here alive!”

A cold murderous intent surged within him, suppressing the fear that had flickered in his heart from Yang Yan’s earlier assault. Calming himself, Xu Hongfei noticed an oddity in Yang Yan.

“He looks dazed, as if he hasn’t fully mastered the use of ‘origin spiritual power.’ And though origin spiritual power is formidable, it has one fatal flaw—the quantity is too limited!”

Sweeping his gaze, Xu Hongfei saw that the black glow on Yang Yan’s palm had dimmed considerably, with no replenishment from his core spiritual power.

“A mindless killing machine, nothing more. Let’s see how I toy with you!”

Xu Hongfei sneered, golden spiritual power gathering instantly at the fingers of his left hand. He jabbed through the air toward Yang Yan.

A thunderous boom echoed through the forest as the golden pillar of light narrowly missed Yang Yan, smashing into the tree trunk behind him and sending wood chips flying.

“Damn it, I’m not used to using my left hand!”

His right palm’s meridians had been injured by Yang Yan’s strange black spiritual power, blocking the flow of his energy, so he switched to his left hand. Yet, not being his dominant hand, his aim faltered in the heat of battle.

Cursing inwardly, Xu Hongfei adjusted his position relative to Yang Yan and jabbed out once more.

A golden beam shot forth like an arrow, aiming straight for Yang Yan’s head!

With a muffled explosion, Yang Yan suddenly thrust his right palm forward, colliding forcefully with the golden beam. The gold spiritual power shattered into countless sparkling fragments, dissipating slowly, while the black glow on Yang Yan’s palm weakened further.

“Quick reflexes, I’ll admit—too bad your wits aren’t as sharp!”

Mocking, Xu Hongfei flicked out two more fingers in rapid succession. After two dull thuds, the black glow on Yang Yan’s palm was finally depleted, barely visible.

“Now, die!”

Xu Hongfei roared, his face contorted with ferocity. The thought of killing a prodigy who might one day reach the Spirit Sea or even Return Origin Realm sent a thrill of excitement surging through him.

“This is where it ends!”

A dense golden light suddenly erupted from Xu Hongfei’s fingertip, shooting forth like the light of death, speeding straight toward Yang Yan.

“Wretch, how dare you!”

At that moment, a thunderous shout resounded through the forest, like a bolt striking beside the ear. A pillar of emerald spiritual power shot from the direction of the voice, slicing through the air at a speed many times faster than Xu Hongfei’s golden attack.

With a deafening crash, just as the golden beam was about to strike Yang Yan, the green light arrived first, intercepting it. The two collided midair, unleashing a tremendous blast and a spiritual power storm that sent dead branches whirling and dust billowing.

“Zhang Tai! Damn it!”

Xu Hongfei’s heart was gripped by terror. The might of that verdant wood spiritual power was far beyond what a Sense Spirit cultivator could produce, making the newcomer’s identity obvious.

Zhang Tai was here—meaning that any hope of killing Yang Yan today was lost.

Though unwilling, Xu Hongfei knew if he didn’t flee now, he’d be the one to die, not Yang Yan.

Without hesitation, Xu Hongfei pushed off the ground and fled swiftly into the dense woods.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

A furious shout rang out, and a gaunt middle-aged man appeared, face twisted with rage, wielding a pale-blue long sword wreathed in emerald light, flecked with fresh blood.

He was none other than Zhang Tai, patriarch of the Zhang family.

Seeing the black-clad figure attempt to murder Yang Yan, Zhang Tai’s fury boiled over, and he was about to pursue and tear him to pieces.

But just as he moved, a low, muffled sound came from behind. He turned hastily, only to see Yang Yan collapsed on the ground, his fate uncertain.

“Yan’er!”

...

“Am I...dead...?”

In a haze, Yang Yan felt a delicate, gentle hand, wrapped in a warm towel, repeatedly brushing his cheeks and forehead. Occasionally, cool tears mingled with the warmth, creating an indescribable prickling comfort. He heard hurried, disordered footsteps, mingled with the sighs of a middle-aged man and the soft sobs of a young girl.

“Hiss...”

Suddenly, searing pain radiated through his body, making him gasp involuntarily.

“I can still feel pain. I...am alive...”

Joy surged in his heart, and Yang Yan struggled to lift his eyelids. The light was blinding, everything around him blurred and indistinct. He tried to raise a hand to shield his eyes, but could summon no strength.

“Ah...Brother Yang Yan, you’re finally awake!”

A familiar girl’s voice sounded by his ear. Yang Yan squinted, slowly adjusting to the dazzling sunlight.

The first thing he saw was a familiar yet slightly unfamiliar exquisite face. The girl’s cheeks were stained with tears, like rain on pear blossoms. Her large, watery eyes were swollen like peaches, and a faint palm print still marked her left cheek, stirring a cold fury in Yang Yan’s heart.

“Xu Shaoguang, Xu Hongfei, the Xu family! I, Yang Yan, swear—one day, I will make you bitterly regret everything you did today!”