Chapter 121: Behind the Scenes

The "Heaven-Turning Seal" just now not only repelled the black-clad figure but also tore away the mask covering his face.

Beneath the mask lay an aged visage, distinguished by a large black mole above his right eyebrow. This man was none other than Yuan Feizhang, the former deacon of Woniu Ridge. Although Yang Xing had never met him in person, he recognized him instantly, as the sect maintained portraits of all its deacons and disciples.

"Since you’ve seen it, I cannot let you live." Yuan Feizhang roared, unleashing the Green Dragon Scripture. Having opened two of the twelve main meridians, his internal energy was neither exceptionally powerful nor weak for an expert at the Dan-Jin level.

His hands descended like two iron whips; a single strike would be enough to shatter one's internal organs and break their bones. Knowing his own internal energy was slightly inferior, Yang Xing activated his Iron Cloth Shirt, causing his blood to surge and a golden shimmer to ripple across his skin.

"Basalt Seal! Earth-Quaking Seal!"

Yang Xing stomped his foot, causing the ground to erupt with a thunderous crack, as if the earth itself had sunk. He unleashed the seal, his energy rolling forward like a tidal wave. Yuan Feizhang felt the explosive force, his eardrums aching and his vision blurring.

"Well struck!"

As a Dan-Jin expert, he relied on more than just his eyes; his ears were equally keen. As the thunderous energy surged toward him, Yuan Feizhang shook his arms and met the terrifying seal head-on.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

As they clashed, energy flared, and gravel scattered in every direction. Even with the Iron Cloth Shirt, Yang Xing’s body swayed.

*Thud!*

A gleam of light flashed in Yuan Feizhang’s eyes. He twisted his body, lifting his elbow to strike at Yang Xing’s ribs. The move was precise—the elbow never strayed from the ribs, and the hand never strayed from the heart; it rose like a steel file and fell like a detached hook. Had this blow landed, even Yang Xing, with his Vajra Body, would have been severely wounded.

Yang Xing twisted his wrist, catching the elbow before spinning his body to disperse the momentum entirely.

*Boom!*

Yuan Feizhang clearly had a follow-up. His fingers clamped shut, the air itself seeming to pop, and he drove a punch directly toward Yang Xing’s face. The force of the fist whistled, looming larger in Yang Xing’s vision until it seemed to blot out everything, feeling as if a small mountain were crashing down upon him.

"Green Dragon Seal! Suppress the Eight Directions!"

This was the supreme technique of the Green Dragon Scripture. Yang Xing roared, gathering all his remaining energy into his arm and pushing his Iron Cloth Shirt to its limit before lashing out with a kick. The whip-kick swept forward, carrying with it a gale of energy as fierce as a storm.

*Thud!*

Yang Xing felt an inexplicable force strike his right leg, sending his body drifting backward.

"Good lad!"

Yuan Feizhang shook his arms, his expression shifting uncertainly. Yang Xing’s strength had far exceeded his expectations. He channeled his energy and kicked the ground.

*Thud!*

A boulder weighing hundreds of pounds was kicked toward Yang Xing as if it were a ball. It tore through the air, whistling loudly. Facing the incoming rock, Yang Xing did not dodge, instead meeting it with another "Heaven-Turning Seal."

*Boom!*

The boulder was caught between the two clashing forces and shattered into a rain of debris.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Just as Yuan Feizhang prepared to launch another attack, several black shadows shot forth from the shattered rock.

"Damn it!" Yuan Feizhang cursed, scrambling to dodge.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

Steel beads struck the ground, cracking the earth and kicking up a cloud of dust. In the next instant, Yang Xing was already before him, lashing out with a Wind-Startling Kick. Yuan Feizhang hurriedly raised his arms to block.

*Thud!*

Yuan Feizhang took the hit, his internal energy trembling, and he stumbled backward. Seizing the advantage, Yang Xing did not let the opportunity slip. He extended his fingers, holding several steel beads between them.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The beads flew like lightning, reaching Yuan Feizhang in an instant before bursting. From within them, trails of toxic smoke began to drift.

"Cunning brat!" Yuan Feizhang was both shocked and enraged. He held his breath and concentrated, using his internal energy to suppress the poison.

Yang Xing kept his distance, continuously firing steel beads at him. Having mastered his Iron Lotus technique to perfection, his strikes were not only fast and steady, but the modifications to the beads made them impossible to guard against.

After dozens of seconds, Yuan Feizhang’s energy erupted. He extended his hands like a crane, stomped his foot, and lunged at Yang Xing. His hands formed fists, striking toward Yang Xing’s temples. The temple was the most vulnerable part of the human body; a single hit meant certain death.

But this was not Yuan Feizhang’s only killing blow. His feet lashed out repeatedly, each strike fiercer than the last. This was the "Seven Probes of the Green Dragon," a lethal technique from the Green Dragon Seal.

Facing this, Yang Xing did not dare to be careless. His hands shifted rapidly as he executed the "Boundless Seal" from the Basalt Seal, blocking three of Yuan Feizhang’s kicks. At the same time, Yang Xing tucked his head—a move from the "Alligator Form" known as the Turtle Listening to Thunder—cleverly evading the strike to his temple.

"You...!" Yuan Feizhang faltered, stunned by Yang Xing’s rich combat experience and his ability to evade such a signature move.

Cold light flickered in Yang Xing’s eyes. He coiled his body and rammed forward with his back. This was a variation of the Basalt Seal: "Baxia Carrying the Stele." He gathered all his energy into one point, striking with the force of the mythical Baxia carrying a stone monument on its back.

*Thud!*

Caught off guard, Yuan Feizhang was struck by the force of the impact and sent flying.

*Blech!*

As he tried to climb to his feet, a metallic taste filled his mouth, and he coughed up a spray of blood.

One hit. A single blow was all it took for Yuan Feizhang to be mortally wounded. Yang Xing’s "Baxia Carrying the Stele" had been ruthless, crashing into his chest and abdomen and shattering his internal organs.

Yuan Feizhang stumbled, trying to walk down the mountain, but suddenly coughed up more blood. With a heavy thud, he collapsed to the ground, his life force fading away.

Yang Xing gasped for air, cold sweat drenching his forehead; his internal energy was almost entirely depleted. He looked toward Wu Dali in the distance. Wu Dali was also on the verge of death, his breathing shallow.

Yang Xing looked at him calmly. "You shouldn't have chosen this path."

People are born with clear eyes and honest hearts, but once their eyes turn red with greed, their hearts turn black.

Wu Dali gurgled blood in his throat, speaking weakly: "I... I didn't want to, but unlike Junior Brother Zou or Senior Sister Fan, I had no family fortune to support me. I had to rely on my own hands... After entering the Four Absolute Sect, I thought of nothing but climbing higher. I wanted to succeed too badly, I wanted to change my fate too badly..."

Yang Xing remained silent.

"What a pity, I failed anyway." Wu Dali gave a bitter smile. "Junior Brother, I have betrayed your trust... There is a massive hole in the account books. Because you have no roots or background, you were handpicked to be the scapegoat..."

His voice cut off abruptly, filled with the longing for life and the resentment of death.