"Such panic... It seems something serious has indeed happened. Has there been trouble with the acting leader?" The elderly man spoke slowly, watching the frantic expression of Yu Huadu, the Thousand-Faced Man.
"Just as Master Xia predicted, the acting leader was on the verge of success. But then that old fool Zhang Zhiwei suddenly appeared and—" Yu Huadu paused, but his unfinished words were enough to paint the rest of the picture.
To attempt harm against Zhang Zhiwei's younger brother right under his nose was sheer madness. The Old Heavenly Master was certainly not a man to take such affronts lightly.
"It seems the plan has failed. We should retreat," the old man, Xia Liuqing, said after a brief moment of contemplation.
"Understood," Yu Huadu responded. His form shimmered and shifted once again, turning into a Longhu Mountain Daoist as the three prepared to leave. However, just as they were about to move, the air around them began to distort, like shattered glass twisting and swirling. Before they could retreat, the flickering light enveloped them entirely, pulling them into a strange alternate dimension—the Mirror Dimension.
Moments after the three were swallowed by the Mirror Dimension, a golden light streaked through the forest, radiating powerful qi as it surged toward their position—it was none other than the Old Heavenly Master, Zhang Zhiwei.
Daniel had activated the Mirror Dimension precisely because his Kenbunshoku Haki had detected the Old Heavenly Master's approach. After realizing that Quanxing dared to target Tian Jinzhong, Zhang Zhiwei was ready to unleash his full wrath. While Yu Huadu might have attempted to hide, there was no way he could escape the Old Heavenly Master's fury. Zhang Zhiwei had been following him all along, waiting for the right moment to strike.
When the Old Heavenly Master sensed the disturbance, he arrived swiftly, but he was too late—Yu Huadu and his companions had already been sucked into the Mirror Dimension, leaving no trace.
"What's happening?" Yu Huadu stumbled back in terror, nearly collapsing to the ground as he gazed at the Old Heavenly Master, who was now directly in front of them.
The Thousand-Faced Man, always a coward when his life was at risk, was visibly trembling. The sight of Zhang Zhiwei bearing down on him filled him with paralyzing fear.
However, in contrast to Yu Huadu's panic, the elderly Xia Liuqing remained composed, taking in the peculiar surroundings with a calm expression. "This is a strange ability... it feels like we're in another space entirely. Even someone as powerful as the Old Heavenly Master couldn't sense this. Who are you? What do you want?" Xia Liuqing asked, his voice carrying a tinge of curiosity.
Meanwhile, outside the Mirror Dimension, Zhang Zhiwei, having found no sign of the three, quickly departed to continue his search elsewhere.
"What do I want?" Daniel's voice echoed as he materialized within the Mirror Dimension, appearing right beside the foreigner, Balen. The man tried to retreat, but with the vast difference in strength, he had no chance. In a flash, Daniel subdued him, leaving Balen stunned and immobilized.
"So, you're after the Six Vaulted Immortals," Xia Liuqing remarked calmly, showing no surprise. After all, he and Balen had been working together for quite some time, and he was well aware of the unique technique Balen practiced. Whether Xia Liuqing himself had coveted the Six Vaulted Immortals remained unknown, though it was hard to imagine he hadn't been tempted by the allure of such a powerful skill.
The Six Vaulted Immortals, one of the Eight Forbidden Techniques, was coveted for its ability to greatly extend one's lifespan. Balen, despite his youthful appearance, was actually only a few years younger than Xia Liuqing. The stark contrast between Xia Liuqing's aged appearance and Balen's youthfulness was enough to stir envy in anyone. Only a saint would remain indifferent.
Xia Liuqing's failure to obtain the Six Vaulted Immortals could be attributed to Balen's equal strength. With the Six Vaulted Immortals, Balen's qi reservoir was comparable to Shen Chong's, or perhaps even greater. However, these were merely Daniel's speculations.
"Six Vaulted Immortals... So it's one of the Eight Forbidden Techniques!" Yu Huadu exclaimed, but his outburst was cut short when he felt a sharp pain and promptly lost consciousness.
"Xia Liuqing of Quanxing, the oldest of its members. Do you want to live?" Daniel asked after storing the unconscious Balen and Yu Huadu in his Devouring Pouch.
Though the yi ren in Yi Ren Zhi Xia (Under One Person) were not the most powerful in the grand scheme of things—this world being akin to a martial arts setting except for the Old Heavenly Master—there were still plenty of intriguing techniques. For instance, Xiao Xiao's Hum Ha Er Qi could eject a person's soul from their body, a feat even the Yinyang Family in Qin Shi Mingyue barely grasped.
Even Tu Junfang's Three Corpse method was another unique technique, though unrelated to the Three Corpses concept in Daoist legends.
Tangmen's Dan Shi (Pill Poison) and the Zhuge Clan's Samadhi True Fire were also notable examples. Xia Liuqing, however, possessed an extraordinary skill of his own—the Deity Mask technique. This allowed him to harness faith-based power to assume the form of mythological figures like Nezha or Sun Wukong during battle.
Wang Zhenqiu, one of the Company's temporary workers, had once learned the Deity Mask technique from Xia Liuqing. In the Yi Ren Zhi Xia world, Wang Zhenqiu had dabbled in various disciplines, mastering a little of everything, and his talents made him formidable even with limited expertise.
If mastered to its full potential, Xia Liuqing's Deity Mask technique could rival the Eight Forbidden Techniques. Many skills in this world had similar potential but lacked the refinement that set the Eight Forbidden Techniques apart, which started at the pinnacle of their power. Old Heavenly Master's Jinguang Zhou (Golden Light Spell) was a prime example of a non-Forbidden Technique rivaling them in strength.
"What do you want?" Xia Liuqing asked, his voice even, accepting that he might not have much time left. He wasn't particularly afraid of death, but if he could avoid it, he certainly would.
"Your technique. Hand it over, and I'll spare you."
"Deal." Xia Liuqing didn't hesitate. Survival was always his priority.
"Take a rest now," Daniel said, knocking Xia Liuqing unconscious and storing him in the Devouring Pouch before drawing a secret portal and stepping out of the Mirror Dimension.
"Half of my goal is complete. Now it's time to ask the Old Heavenly Master for the Golden Light Spell," Daniel thought to himself. His Kenbunshoku Haki revealed that the battles on Longhu Mountain had concluded. Most of Quanxing's members had been captured or killed, while Company workers and the Daoists from Longhu Mountain were busy putting out fires.
"I see... Lu Liang didn't die. Probably because of his family," Daniel mused, noticing Lu Liang among the captured. He had initially expected Zhang Zhiwei to kill Lu Liang, but it seemed Lu's family connections had spared him.
"Still, Lu Liang's fate won't be great even if he survives. He'll likely face punishment from his family. Ironically, he might end up benefiting from this ordeal, transforming into a handsome man later—perhaps due to modifications by the Double Whole Hand technique," Daniel chuckled inwardly, dismissing Lu Liang as inconsequential.
"Senior brother, please don't be angry with Huan Jin. He didn't mean for this to happen," Zhao Huanjin, kneeling in front of Zhang Zhiwei, was sobbing, pleading for mercy.
Seated nearby were the Old Heavenly Master and Tian Jinzhong. Zhang Zhiwei's expression remained stern—he had come dangerously close to losing his younger brother due to Zhao Huanjin's lapse in judgment. The Old Heavenly Master had arrived in time, but the threat still weighed heavily on his mind.
"Let him kneel. I gave clear instructions, yet he fell for such a simple diversion. If I hadn't shown up, you know what would have happened to your Uncle Tian Jinzhong," Zhang Zhiwei said, his tone severe.
"I made a mistake. I'll stay kneeling until I've earned forgiveness," Zhao Huanjin responded, his remorse evident.
"Junior brother, let it go. The danger has passed, and I'm safe. There are more pressing matters to attend to," Tian Jinzhong said gently, trying to ease the tension.
"Others are handling things now," Zhang Zhiwei replied before his expression suddenly shifted, rising from his seat and moving to shield Tian Jinzhong. Kneeling nearby, Zhao Huanjin immediately sprang to his feet, standing protectively in front of his uncle, determined not to fail again.
"It's you," Zhang Zhiwei said as his eyes locked onto the newcomer. The man standing at the door was none other than Daniel, the same mysterious figure Zhang Zhiwei had encountered during their earlier battle. He was also the one who had warned him about protecting Tian Jinzhong.
"What do you want this time?" Zhang Zhiwei asked, his expression hardening.
"I came to make a trade
," Daniel replied calmly, glancing at Tian Jinzhong. Seeing him in good condition, Daniel nodded to himself. Tian Jinzhong, despite his physical disabilities, was undoubtedly one of the most formidable figures in the yi ren world. What impressed Daniel even more was Tian Jinzhong's unwavering determination—he had not slept for decades, dedicating himself to refining his spiritual energy.
This incredible discipline had earned Daniel's respect. Even with his current power, Daniel doubted he could endure such extreme hardship for so many years. Tian Jinzhong's efforts were further proof of the yi ren world's unique techniques. Without them, Tian Jinzhong would have perished long ago from such grueling self-denial.
"Trade?" Zhang Zhiwei asked, confusion flickering across his face.
"Yes. I can fully restore his body," Daniel said, gesturing toward Tian Jinzhong.
"What do you want in return?" Zhang Zhiwei's question came swiftly, his voice tinged with rare excitement. For years, Zhang Zhiwei had searched for a way to heal his junior brother's injuries, but even with his unparalleled mastery of qi, Tian Jinzhong's condition had remained beyond his reach.
The Double Whole Hand technique could have healed Tian Jinzhong, but it had surfaced too late—by then, Tian Jinzhong's body had been too damaged for any conventional remedy.
"Senior brother, don't fall for his tricks!" Tian Jinzhong called out urgently.
"Rest assured, I'm not interested in the secrets of Longhu Mountain," Daniel replied. Though the prospect of obtaining the Tianshi Incantation intrigued him, he knew that if he demanded such a thing, Tian Jinzhong would never agree. He had no interest in making enemies with Longhu Mountain.
"I want a few of Longhu Mountain's techniques—Jinguang Zhou (Golden Light Spell), Yang Wulei (Five Yang Thunders), and Yin Wulei (Five Yin Thunders)," Daniel stated clearly.
"Is that all?" Zhang Zhiwei asked, his brows furrowing.
"That's all."
"Senior brother, it's not worth it!" Tian Jinzhong protested.
"Is it not? What's a few techniques compared to your recovery?" Zhang Zhiwei countered, motioning for Tian Jinzhong to stop. Then, turning to Zhao Huanjin, he ordered, "Huanjin, go to the library and fetch all the manuals."
"Understood!" Zhao Huanjin replied, swiftly exiting the room.
"Let's begin," Daniel said, not waiting for the manuals to arrive. He had no doubts about Zhang Zhiwei's integrity, and more importantly, he had no reason to fear betrayal. Daniel reached into his pocket and withdrew the card containing Archangel's Breath.
As the healing ability activated, a radiant, golden angel appeared, hovering in the air. Its soft exhale filled the room with divine light, and Tian Jinzhong's damaged body began to heal. His missing limbs slowly regenerated, and his shattered internal meridians started to knit themselves back together.
Witnessing such a miraculous scene, Tian Jinzhong was overwhelmed. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined this day would come after all these years of pain and struggle.
Zhang Zhiwei was equally astonished, his heart swelling with joy. After decades of tireless searching and endless hope, his deepest wish had finally been granted.
A few moments later, the angel disappeared, and Tian Jinzhong stood up from his chair, looking at his fully restored limbs in disbelief. Overcome with emotion, he began walking around the room, testing his new body.
"Uncle!" Zhao Huanjin's voice rang out from the doorway as he burst into the room. Seeing Tian Jinzhong fully healed, he abandoned the stack of manuals in his arms and rushed forward to embrace his uncle.
As Zhao Huanjin celebrated with his master and uncle, Daniel casually waved his hand, causing the manuals to fly into his grasp—fourteen in total.
"Deal's done. Farewell." Daniel spoke with finality, vanishing from the room in an instant, leaving no trace behind.
"Wait!" Zhang Zhiwei called out, but it was too late. Daniel had already disappeared without a sound.
"Covering tracks perfectly… This man, Ge Nie—there's no trace of him in the Company's records. He's strong enough to kill all four members of the Four Madmen, and perhaps even Tu Junfang, the Corpse Demon, fell by his hand. Someone with such power couldn't possibly be unknown… It's far too strange," Zhang Zhiwei murmured, his thoughts clouded with suspicion.
Back in Longhu Mountain's rear square, numerous injured lay on the ground—members of Quanxing, Company workers, and Daoists from Longhu Mountain. Despite the end of the battle, the Company had sent medics to treat even the captured members of Quanxing, extending professional courtesy to all involved.
Near the edge of the square, Lu Jin, Xu San, and Xu Si huddled together, discussing what they had just learned about Daniel, or Ge Nie.
"Based on the similarities between the injuries on the Four Madmen's bodies, it seems likely that the Corpse Demon, Tu Junfang, was also killed by this Ge Nie," Lu Jin said, his expression grim.
"Could he be someone from outside the country?" Xu Si speculated, voicing his thoughts aloud.
Xu Si's theory held merit. After all, it was unlikely that a powerful yi ren could emerge from nowhere. China had many strong yi ren operating abroad, particularly in more lawless regions. In these places, the Company's reach was limited, allowing yi ren to grow unchecked. If someone like Zhao Guizhen had left China to practice his Seven Evils Body, no one would have interfered.
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