Chapter 51: The Curtain Rises

On a rugged mountaintop seven kilometers away from Zhoukou, amidst the steep and precipitous terrain of the Hengduan Mountains, [Tianchong] Li Jingxian wore a helpless expression, as if he were perpetually destined to fight multiple opponents at once.

Standing opposite him at this moment were [Jingpo] Shen Xi and [Lipo] Tu Bao. Both were formidable figures fiercely loyal to Dong Yunpo.

Shen Xi was a woman possessing extraordinary manipulation and self-control abilities, while Tu Bao was the natural nemesis of Tianchong, immune to the majority of Tianchong’s techniques.

However, the moment for a desperate struggle had finally arrived!

True to his nature of striking first, Tianchong suddenly stomped the ground, driving the kinetic thrust deep into the earth before letting it erupt beneath their feet. Shrapnel and shattered stones flew in all directions; yet, Shen Xi stepped back just in time to evade it, while Tu Bao stood completely motionless in his tracks, the shockwave proving almost entirely ineffective against him.

Following this probing attack, Tianchong’s expression darkened. This pairing was utterly disadvantageous to him.

If so, he would have no choice but to unleash the Dao Artifact [Pine-Breaking Fang] right from the start!

Clenching his fists, bone-white protrusions surfaced across the knuckles of Tianchong’s hands, bound firmly to his palms by a chain of dark stone. This was the signature weapon of [Tianchong] Li Jingxian. Ordinarily, he rarely resorted to it, as relying on external force went against his principles.

Yet now, the situation demanded it.

Take one of them down first!

Such was Tianchong’s resolve. Stomping the ground once more, a ring of kinetic force dispersed. Accelerating, stomping, releasing kinetic force; accelerating again, stomping, releasing kinetic force—with an overwhelming and periodic burst of momentum, he charged straight toward [Lipo] Tu Bao.

Tu Bao was fully prepared. Stepping forward, the rocky ground ahead of him violently shattered, instantly disrupting Tianchong’s advance.

Even so, Tianchong charged right through!

Raising his left fist, the bone fangs radiating a potent aura, Tianchong arrived directly in front of the burly Tu Bao, who extended his palms, fully prepared to receive the blow.

Yet, an unexpected twist occurred: Tianchong’s left fist was merely a feint. Brushing past Tu Bao’s flank, his fist morphed into a claw, gripping Tu Bao’s left shoulder while his feet unleashed another burst of kinetic force.

Using Tu Bao’s left shoulder as a pivot, he swung in an arc across the ground, leveraging the momentum to hurl himself abruptly to the side—straight toward [Jingpo] Shen Xi, who had yet to react fully!

This completely caught Shen Xi off guard!

Simultaneously, Tianchong raised his right fist and unleashed a fierce blow directly at Shen Xi.

Control? Manipulation?

If you are given no time whatsoever to react, what can you possibly do?!

Panic flashed in Tu Bao’s eyes. Shen Xi managed to dissipate only forty percent of the blow’s power; her body was nonetheless blasted off the ground.

The strike hit her shoulder, shattering her left arm entirely.

Chunks of rock pulverized into dust across the mountain ridge. Shen Xi nearly tumbled down the precipice, but she managed to catch a ledge with her remaining strength and vault back up, though her left arm was now completely beyond her control.

Even so, Tianchong paused for a fraction of a second.

Regaining his footing, Lipo struck at Tianchong’s back. This punch contained restrained, concentrated power—a remarkably lethal attack that landed squarely on Tianchong’s spine.

There was no sound of snapping tendons and fractured bones, no sonic boom, no loud impact. The damage Tianchong sustained from this punch was entirely internal!

This was precisely what made Lipo terrifying.

"Worth it!"

Tianchong gritted his teeth, whirled around, and charged at Lipo once more. This time, Lipo braced himself to intercept Tianchong's onslaught. However, Tianchong sprinted past Lipo's range entirely, flashing by his flank and racing toward Zhoukou at full speed.

Left standing in place, [Jingpo] Shen Xi and [Lipo] Tu Bao could only heave sighs. "It's always like this. We fall for it every time. It's so frustrating!"

As dusk began to fall, Tu Bao and Shen Xi had no choice but to head toward Zhoukou as well. They had ultimately disappointed [Linghui].

However, Shen Xi was heavily injured and required immediate attention. Their schedule would inevitably be delayed.

Tianchong pressed forward unflinchingly toward Zhoukou once more. Amidst the towering peaks, he gnashed his teeth in fury. "Dong Yunpo, you damn well wait for me!"

His roar startled the birds in the surrounding forests, sending them scattering desperately into the sky.

Three kilometers away from Zhoukou, night had just descended. The conversation between Dong Yunpo and Li Ziye had only just concluded when an exhausted Tianchong arrived at the valley entrance, only to find the place unexpectedly quiet.

Consequently, Tianchong retreated into a distant grove to rest.

The nocturnal starry sky was so serene, helping to pacify his anxious mind. Observing the dark hut from the concealment of the woods, Tianchong knew he had to find a way to transmit the intelligence to [Earth] and [Man]. Yet, breaking through this barrier entirely on his own was unrealistic, further heightening Li Jingxian’s agitation.

Li Fengyin felt a vague sense of unease. Dong Yunpo had refused to clarify anything. Although he knew it was for his own good, Li Fengyin remained unsatisfied. Pacing back and forth within the forest, his quiet stroll eventually brought him face-to-face with the hidden observer.

"!"

Both parties discovered each other simultaneously, a jolt of alarm shooting through their hearts.

Li Fengyin drew his black blade, Moyè, with a sharp metallic clanging sound. Tianchong, still drained of his stamina, hastily donned his Pine-Breaking Fang. Yet, the two remained deadlocked, neither rushing to initiate an attack. Even Amy assumed a combat stance.

Neither advancing nor retreating, frozen in a standstill, a bizarre scene unfolded: both simultaneously swallowed hard.

Still, Tianchong made the first move. He slammed his foot into the earth, transmitting a wave of kinetic force. Having never witnessed this technique before, Li Fengyin immediately resorted to the Mirrorless Void Art.

As the first black mirror materialized before him to block the incoming force, Tianchong’s expression turned grim.

When the ground exploded upward from the kinetic shock, obstructing Li Ziye’s vision, Tianchong evaded the Mirrorless Void Art at close range, stomped the ground once more, and lashed out with a punch targeted squarely at Li Fengyin’s shoulder.

Detecting the trajectory, Li Fengyin whipped around and slashed his sword!

The black blade Moyè swept through an arc, aiming directly at Tianchong’s blind spot. Such a razor-sharp edge broke [Tianchong] out in a cold sweat.

Yet, he managed to dodge it. A flicker of vigilance—and lingering anger—surfaced in Li Jingxian’s eyes!

Facing Tianchong, Li Fengyin maintained a purely defensive stance without launching counterattacks. In his view, there was no reason to subject someone to a mortal blow over the conflict here, an attitude that deeply irritated Tianchong.

Nevertheless, failing to probe Li Ziye’s true capability would ultimately become the root of [Tianchong]’s bitter regret.

Inside the dark hut, Dong Yunpo flicked his fingertips lightly. A soul-spirit, invisible to ordinary mortals, landed upon his finger. A brief, hurried wave of sound vanished in an instant, causing Dong Yunpo’s expression to grow solemn.

"In other words," Dong Yunpo murmured to himself, "Tianchong should have already arrived here by now."

Upon receiving the soul-spirit’s report regarding Tianchong’s location, Dong Yunpo, in his capacity as [Linghui], immediately rushed to where Li Fengyin was. Sensing impending danger, Tianchong withdrew, retreating into the forest just before Dong Yunpo arrived.

Shortly thereafter, Li Fengyin and Amy rendezvoused with Dong Yunpo along the way. Dong Yunpo withheld further details, merely advising Li Fengyin: even if you harbor no intention of killing your opponent, they will attack with the express purpose of taking your life. Therefore, do not hold back; in battle, hesitation invariably leads to one's own demise.

The battle of the Soul-Suppressing Palace had officially raised its grand curtain~~~~