Volume One: The Turmoil of Yan and Yun Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Great Recluse, Hidden Among the World (Part Two)

Upon hearing these words, the gazes of the three people in the arena grew much deeper.

“You wretch, how dare you speak so arrogantly?”

“The Floating Dust Pearl has reappeared in the world... Could it be that the master is truly not dead?”

“Are you the one who pretended to be Master Yang and contacted me?”

Three questions, three attitudes.

Ke Chenyi’s anger was more shock than rage. Qi Luozhu’s inquiry carried a hint of respect beneath its surface. The Shadow Guard’s question was most directly tied to the scheme in Yanbei—whether it was the work of Feng Yue or Yang Wanli mattered greatly to him.

“First of all, I am not boasting. As you can see, even with Qi Luozhu taking action himself, I am still standing here, talking with you.”

“Secondly, the master is wise beyond measure, spanning past and present. Of course he is not dead; otherwise, how could I have had the chance to become his disciple?”

“Lastly, I did not impersonate my senior brother to contact you. This scheme in Yanbei was orchestrated by him; I merely came to check on its progress.”

As he said this, he looked at Qi Luozhu and Ke Chenyi, his gaze tinged with pity. “The two pillars of Jiangnan, the peak of the empire’s alchemy and forging, will likely perish here tonight.”

Qi Luozhu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Ke Chenyi’s brows knitted tightly.

The Shadow Guard descended lightly, standing beside Feng Yue. He gently placed Yun Wanyan on the ground, then watched the sky warily.

A peal of thunder crashed.

Qi Luozhu struck again, but this time, he wielded a forged iron hammer. Though the hammer appeared simple, much like those used by blacksmiths in roadside shops, it was in fact the only Pure Primordial Treasure in Jiangnan.

Billows: Wrathful Waves.

At the same time, a hazy Twin-Life Flower slowly floated up beside Ke Chenyi. Though its grade was only Heavenly, upper tier—not quite matching Qi Luozhu’s Billows: Wrathful Waves in offensive power—its fame surpassed even that.

For it was the life-bound treasure of the Sage of Medicine.

Twin-Life: Yin-Yang Butterfly.

Qi Luozhu stepped forward; though he walked upon nothingness, the sound of his footsteps was firm, faintly overpowering the thunder. Step by step, with each stride, his shoulders sank by a few millimeters.

As his shoulders descended, the iron hammer in his hand began to look less ordinary. In the darkness, it shone with a bright, flickering light that gradually danced, bearing a resemblance to thunder itself!

The thunder was still present, but now it emanated not from the heavens, but from this seemingly ordinary iron hammer.

The Sage of Medicine remained motionless, the Twin-Life Flower fluttering ceaselessly around him.

In the barren wasteland, a streak of green suddenly appeared.

The green merged instantly, forming a lawn, then an expanse of wilderness.

Feng Yue had yet to move.

Shadow Guard frowned, his shoulders tensing slightly.

A sword light flashed, whistling toward Qi Luozhu.

Qi Luozhu caught it and tossed it into the thunder encircling his hammer, then continued his silent advance.

The Shadow Guard’s expression darkened further.

Feng Yue smiled lightly. “Why panic?”

Shadow Guard said, “I don’t know what you’re relying on, but if you don’t reveal your trump card soon, we’ll all die in vain.”

Feng Yue replied, “Years ago, the senior brother taught you the sword, but it seems he neglected to teach you how to use your mind.”

Shadow Guard was taken aback, then erupted in anger.

Feng Yue said, “With a sword, one has a weapon.”

Shadow Guard paused again, finally believing that this young man before him might actually have a connection to Yang Wanli.

His demeanor suddenly calmed, matching his voice.

“The wielder makes the weapon.”

As they conversed, Qi Luozhu finally finished gathering his strength.

The lightning on Billows: Wrathful Waves had lost its wildness, becoming continuous and unending, like the vast ocean.

Qi Luozhu had transformed thunder into a sea of lightning!

“Billows: Wrathful Waves is formidable. Setting aside the two swords of Snowcloud Sect and Wuyang City, it’s rare to find a weapon in the empire with greater offensive power,” Feng Yue said with a light smile.

“This is the foundation of Qi Luozhu’s reputation as the Divine Craftsman, naturally not to be underestimated,” Shadow Guard replied.

“But what use is it? Qi Luozhu entered the Dao through fire, yet his life-bound treasure is the Thunder Hammer, and his methods are like gentle streams—don’t you find it ironic?” Feng Yue’s smile remained.

Shadow Guard offered no reply.

For the hammer had already descended, carrying the entire sky of lightning, its sheer force suffocating the Shadow Guard into silence.

His face went pale, his body trembling involuntarily, yet his gaze remained resolute.

Yes, since it was Yang Wanli’s scheme, whoever was sent to carry it out would be flawless.

He glanced at Feng Yue.

Feng Yue’s faint smile did not fade.

Suddenly, wild grass on the wasteland surged up, entangling Feng Yue and the Shadow Guard firmly in place.

The gentle white light enveloping Feng Yue vanished, and the Floating Dust Pearl slowly fell to the earth.

Qi Luozhu frowned, finding it all too simple.

So simple, he suspected a trap.

As he pondered this, the Floating Dust Pearl finally touched the ground without making a sound.

For the thunder was deafening.

For the grass was thick as a carpet.

Thus, the pearl’s landing drew no one’s attention.

And in that instant, Feng Yue and the Shadow Guard vanished.

Ke Chenyi, bound amidst the wild grass, gazed in astonishment at the lightning overhead. With a single thought, the wild grass released him.

But he could not leave.

Yun Wanyan still lay not far away.

He roared, pouring all his strength into erecting several yuan-qi shields. The Twin-Life Flower ravenously absorbed the world’s energy like a whale.

Lightning crashed onto the energy shields.

They were instantly obliterated.

Lightning struck the Twin-Life Flower.

It lasted only a short time before wilting.

Ke Chenyi closed his eyes in despair.

Suddenly, a figure appeared amid the lightning.

Qi Luozhu stood before Ke Chenyi, extending his right hand. Flames erupted, instantly transforming the surrounding miles into a sea of fire.

The fire and the thunder clashed, neither yielding.

For a full quarter of an hour, the sea of lightning finally dissipated.

Only a few flickering flames remained.

Ke Chenyi had borne the full force of the lightning sea, gravely wounded and unconscious, blood staining his white robe.

Qi Luozhu fared little better: his entire body was charred black, his defensive spiritual treasures shattered, exposing torn and mangled flesh.

Feng Yue hovered in midair, watching the scene with keen interest.

“The Divine Craftsman is indeed formidable. Even the Floating Dust Pearl, renowned for defense, could not withstand such an attack,” he sighed. “A Pure Primordial Treasure devoted to defense, no less.”

Qi Luozhu glared at him, forcing out words, “The River and Mountain Chess?”

Feng Yue shrugged. “I told you, I am Yang Wanli’s junior brother. Master naturally left me some good things.”

Qi Luozhu coughed twice, each cough flecked with blood.

“Stop pretending. We all know what kind of man Li Jinxing is. He would never hand over the River and Mountain Chess to you.”

Feng Yue paused, touching his nose. “Perhaps because I am his last disciple?”

Qi Luozhu looked at Feng Yue with a complicated expression, then slowly closed his eyes, fainting away.

Feng Yue grinned, then said, “Well, the Divine Craftsman and the Sage of Medicine have both fallen into our hands. Senior brother’s plan has been accomplished in full.”

He paused, then added, “But it seems taking them away will be no easy task.”

He looked up toward a certain direction, sighed, and said, “Here already? The Snowcloud Sword of Law.”

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