Chapter 6

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Chapter 6: The Xuanming Scroll

After the enigmatic figure vanished into the night, Fengyun Wuji felt the pressing need to vacate the warm embrace of the firelight. This world was rife with perils capable of snuffing out his existence in an instant. Swiftly, he doused the flames and, with a forceful hand, chiseled a cavern into the mountain’s midsection. Within this new sanctuary, he subdued his life force, becoming as still and lifeless as a stone statue, seated in silent repose.

Indeed, without the formidable presence of the stranger to keep the lurking dangers at bay, the tantalizing aroma of blood and flesh from the beast carcass beside the fire’s remnants didn’t go unnoticed for long. It wasn’t long before a colossal beast was drawn to the scene. Under the luminous gaze of the full moon and the gentle caress of the starlight, a colossal shadow stretched from the mountain’s peak, casting a vast, dark pall over the land.

A chilling aura, as piercing as icy needles, assailed Fengyun Wuji in his mountain hideaway. The sounds of rending flesh and the beast’s savage feasting echoed down from the summit, interspersed with its bone-chilling roars. Time seemed to blur into an indeterminate expanse, but whether it was the overpowering scent of the beast’s blood that masked his own or some other fortuitous happenstance, the creature never detected his presence.

Once sated, the beast on the peak let out a resounding howl directed at the moon. Then, with a shower of dislodged stones, it leaped from its perch, soaring past Fengyun Wuji’s hiding spot not far away. He glimpsed the creature’s ridge-like form and the expansive, membranous wings that extended from its sides. In the dead of night, the cries of hidden beasts rose and fell like a haunting chorus. Staring into the abyss of darkness below, dotted with flickering points of light from unknown fires, and listening to the mournful wail of the wind as it raced across the sky, Fengyun Wuji was suddenly overwhelmed by a profound sense of solitude and desolation, as if he were the last soul remaining in this vast expanse. A shiver of cold traversed his being, and he instinctively trembled, only to then recall that he was beyond the reach of such mundane discomforts.

The clouds in the heavens showed no sign of parting, and the arrival of dawn was heralded by nothing more than a faint blush on the eastern horizon. A sudden, furious bellow shattered the stillness: “Zhao Wuji, yield the upper scroll of the Xuanming Scroll, and I shall spare your life; defy me, and you shall face my merciless wrath.”

A young voice, brimming with anger and consternation, retorted, “You Wuxie, you fiend, even in death, I shall not surrender the Xuanming Scroll to you.” Intrigued, Fengyun Wuji cast his gaze skyward to witness two streaks of light darting through the heavens, one in hot pursuit of the other. The pursuer, adorned in an expansive purple robe and bearing an eagle-like silhouette, was in relentless pursuit of a dashing young man clutching a gleaming longsword. As they streaked across the sky, their forms were a testament to the urgency of their flight.

“You Wuxie, my master regarded you as a confidant, bestowing upon you the Xuanming Jue he fortuitously acquired, yet you betrayed his trust with a treacherous strike, stealing the lower scroll and foully assaulting my master. Now, you chase me relentlessly for the upper scroll, your avarice knows no bounds. For such a heinous act, I, Zhao Wuji, swear an oath of vengeance,” the young man’s declaration was not merely for You Wuxie’s ears but seemed intended for Fengyun Wuji as well. In this desolate expanse, a kindred spirit would inevitably sense the presence of another, and these two had long since perceived the presence of Fengyun Wuji, concealed within the mountain’s belly.

Indeed, as Zhao Wuji wheeled towards Fengyun Wuji’s direction, he called out with urgency, “Brother ahead, I implore you, lend me your strength in this dire hour.”

“Stay out of this, young whelp. Zhao Wuji’s fate is sealed by my hand, Han Chi Tian Mo,” the pursuer warned, subtly revealing his moniker, an attempt to dissuade any intervention.

Fengyun Wuji, witnessing their approach, was filled with trepidation. He was well aware of his own limitations. Even with his modest mastery of the Nine Turns of Life and Death Profound Skill and the Sword of Thought, he was no match for any warrior in this ancient realm. He could not fathom why they sought his aid, unaware that in this ancient world, adepts often concealed their true prowess. For eons, no ascension had occurred among the human race, and thus, any visible warrior would not be as seemingly feeble as Fengyun Wuji. Consequently, they surmised he was a master in disguise, deliberately masking his formidable abilities.

Observing their pursuit, it was evident that a scroll of Xuanming was the cause of their conflict. With countless martial arts within the temple, the nature of this Xuanming Scroll that incited such a fierce dispute was a mystery.

Zhao Wuji, noticing Fengyun Wuji’s continued repose within the mountain, grew anxious. “If you can rescue me from this peril, I promise generous recompense,” he declared, alighting upon a protruding branch extending from the mountainside, his visage haggard, his stance unsteady, a clear indication of his waning energy.

You Wuxie, ever the cautious one, was wary of this sudden martial artist in the wilds. He was a man of calculated risks, never acting without first assessing the situation thoroughly. But the apparent weakness of the individual before him cast doubt upon his usual caution, leaving him indecisive, and thus he halted at a distance of thirty zhang.

“Brother, should you assist me in capturing this fellow, I, You Wuxie, am willing to share with you the pinnacle of martial arts, the Xuanming Jue,” You Wuxie proposed, already plotting in his mind. Once the upper scroll of Xuanming was in his possession, he would strike without warning. If his opponent was formidable, he would eliminate them to silence them; if not, he would flee without delay. In terms of agility, You Wuxie was confident in his abilities.

Fengyun Wuji remained impassive, his face an unchanging mask, devoid of any telltale emotion. The other’s martial prowess far surpassed his own; the slightest misstep could invite a relentless barrage of attacks. Even if he chose not to intervene, he might still be silenced to protect the other’s secrets. When You Wuxie spoke, Fengyun Wuji distinctly saw the cold glint in his eyes, and he instantly understood his intentions.

A sudden thought struck him.

With a swift motion, he gestured as if holding an invisible sword. In the next moment, a crisp ringing sound echoed, followed by a flash of cold light that sliced through the air—a three-foot-long blade, not an ordinary knife but a treasure, exuding a faint chill and reflecting the world like a mirror. Fengyun Wuji, with the intent to control the blade, deftly manipulated it through the air, performing an aerial dance before sheathing it back into You Wuxie’s scabbard. Then, without a word, he stared at You Wuxie with piercing eyes.

You Wuxie’s face turned ashen. “I had no idea a master from the Blade Domain was honing their skills here. I’ve intruded upon your seclusion. Please forgive my rudeness, and I shall come to offer my apologies in person another day,” he declared, before swiftly departing.

“So, you are a member of the Blade Domain. Thank you for your assistance,” Zhao Wuji expressed with a respectful bow.

“There’s no need for thanks. We must leave this place immediately, the sooner the better. Once You Wuxie comes to his senses, I fear we may not be able to protect ourselves,” Fengyun Wuji advised, leaping from the mountain and darting towards another peak.

“What?!” Zhao Wuji was bewildered. Clearly, You Wuxie had fled in fear; why then did this man suggest he would return?

Although puzzled, Zhao Wuji followed suit. Soon, he noticed that the other’s method of traversing the air was not as swift as he would expect from a master.

“Senior, please excuse my confusion. If we are in such haste, why do you proceed so leisurely? Are you toying with me?” There was a hint of discontent in his voice.

Fengyun Wuji gave a wry smile. “The art I practice is among the most extraordinary sword techniques in the world. In terms of speed, it’s second to none. However, even the finest techniques require a foundation of internal strength. If you think I don’t wish to move quickly , you’re mistaken. Since you’re so adept at lightness techniques, take me with you.”

“Ah!!…”

“You still haven’t realized, have you? I caught him off guard by using the sword intent to manipulate the knife. He assumed, based on his preconceptions, that my martial arts were profound, and that’s why he fled. When he recovers and reflects on it, he’ll remember that I cast a sword seal just now. He’ll understand that we’re not as formidable as he initially thought. If we don’t leave now, once he figures it out, we may not escape with our lives,” Fengyun Wuji explained in detail.

Zhao Wuji’s expression shifted through a range of emotions: surprise, relief, and then urgency. He grasped Fengyun Wuji’s arm and propelled them forward. They found a nearby peak and excavated a hollow within it, concealed by the overhanging trees, invisible from the outside. Hidden within, they restrained their energy, motionless, and watched their surroundings intently.

Sure enough, shortly after, You Wuxie returned, his angry shouting echoing through the skies as he searched the area swiftly but fruitlessly. In his frustration, while hovering in mid-air, he launched a sphere of light from his purple sleeve, which detonated like thunder on the mountain where Fengyun Wuji had been hiding. With a deafening boom, the entire mountain erupted into a cloud of dust and debris, shortening the towering peak by dozens of meters once the dust settled.

After a long while of patrolling the area, You Wuxie had no choice but to depart, his resentment lingering in the air.

“Zhao Wuji, and that brat, if I ever cross paths with you again, I will tear you limb from limb. Make sure you survive. Hmph!” The valley still resounded with You Wuxie’s vengeful parting words.

……