Chapter 152

Chapter 152: The Sword Light That Cuts Through the Sky

Han Rui had never encountered such a situation before. For a moment, he was utterly flustered and had no idea what to do. Only after the Elder’s roar did he snap back to reality. He hastily formed hand seals once more to retract the Six Layers of Book Mountain!

The process of withdrawing a weapon technique, however, was identical to activating it, merely reversed in sequence. Similarly, it had to be retrieved layer by layer.

As Han Rui formed his seals, one layer of the book mountain surged upwards, followed swiftly by another.

Despite Han Rui moving at his fastest speed, by the time he had retracted the third layer, everyone suddenly saw the remaining three layers still covering Lou Yun begin to tremble with an earthshaking intensity, accompanied by a deep, thunderous rumbling sound.

Han Rui’s face was now as pale as a sheet of paper, stark white from terror. His hands trembled violently from extreme tension, and the speed of his hand seals naturally slowed down due to the tremors shaking the book mountain.

Finally, with a colossal BOOM, the remaining three layers of the book mountain exploded violently, disintegrating into chaotic streams of spiritual energy that scattered wildly in all directions!

Simultaneously, the intensely focused Han Rui, who was desperately trying to retract his own deployed technique at that crucial moment, let out a shrill, piercing shriek. A torrent of blood spurted from his mouth, his face etched with deep unwillingness and frustration. His entire body began to crumple slowly backward!

Where the three layers of the book mountain had stood, now revealed was a colossal Golden Cauldron standing over ten meters tall!

The Cauldron radiated a brilliant golden light as it rotated slowly, emanating an antique and ancient air, solemn and imposing. Everyone stared dumbfounded at this suddenly appearing Golden Cauldron, experiencing a primitive, deep-seated urge to kneel and pay homage.

This was the Chaos Golden Cauldron. Lou Yun had controlled it, making it continuously expand until it finally shattered the confinement of the Six Layers of Book Mountain and broke free. Since the first layer of the Six Layers was formed from Han Rui’s own main magical weapon, the explosion of the three layers obliterated Han Rui’s main magical weapon into fragments. Naturally, he instantly lost his life!

The Han Family paid no further heed to Han Rui’s death. At that moment, everyone’s attention was fixed solely on this massive Golden Cauldron that filled them with profound awe, including the Elder. All eyes were glued to the Golden Cauldron, unwilling to look away!

Had Lou Yun known what was happening outside, he could have remained safely inside the Golden Cauldron until his spiritual energy had fully recovered before emerging.

He wasn’t aware, however. Sensing only that the expansion of the Chaos Golden Cauldron had freed him from the Six Layers of Book Mountain, and that he had absorbed some spiritual energy to briefly replenish his strength, he then stored the four-grade spiritual crystal back into his ring. Taking a deep breath, he immediately exited the Chaos Golden Cauldron.

The moment Lou Yun exited, the Chaos Golden Cauldron shrank rapidly following his will and merged back into his body.

With the Chaos Golden Cauldron’s disappearance, all the surrounding members of the Han family snapped back to awareness as if awakening from a deep dream. Only then did they notice Han Rui’s lifeless body.

“Han Rui!”

Several people who had relatively good relations with Han Rui cried out in unison, rushing towards his corpse, eager to see if there was any chance of reviving him. However, Lou Yun had completely shattered Han Rui’s magical weapon. Not even a celestial deity could save him now.

Gathering Han Rui’s body, their faces etched with grief and fury, they looked towards the Elder. “Elder, Han Rui is dead!”

The Elder’s face was as dark as water that could drip at any moment. His sinister eyes locked fiercely onto Lou Yun, who had just reappeared, a murderous glare as if he wished to swallow him whole.

This time, to deal with the Lou family, the Han family had invested enormous effort and strategic planning. Their net had been cast early and wide, all with the aim of eliminating the entire Lou family in one fell swoop.

After successfully luring Lou Yun into the palace, the Han family had begun to close the net, deploying around twenty people, led by the Elder, to deal with this single target. To anyone, it seemed an extreme overreaction, yet it was believed to be guaranteed success.

The outcome, however, exceeded all expectations of the Han family. Lou Yun remained standing before them, seemingly unharmed!

First, he had completely shattered Han Tie Feng’s right hand in a direct clash of power, even though he temporarily lost his own right hand in the process. Far worse, he had now killed Han Rui, who had used what was considered a highly advanced Kun-level weapon technique even within the Han family!

Psychologically, all the Han family members present felt varying degrees of fear towards Lou Yun. To them, this man was too mysterious, too terrifying. Though the Han family lived reclusively, they were not entirely isolated from the world (like Han Tianxiao, who taught at the Ancient Weapon Academy), and they considered themselves rather powerful and self-confident. Yet, Lou Yun’s emergence had utterly shattered that conviction.

Indeed, there is always someone stronger beyond. The heavens hold greater heavens!

Although the Elder had little fondness for Han Rui, he was still a member of the Han family. The Elder deeply regretted not personally intervening earlier, swiftly and cleanly capturing Lou Yun. Instead, he had allowed his clansmen to volunteer and challenge Lou Yun, resulting in this grievous cost of one death and one severe injury!

The Elder’s original intention was to broaden the clan members’ horizons and hone their combat skills through challenging Lou Yun. He acknowledged some risk, yet felt confident his presence as overseer would prevent major disaster.

Now, reality proved him utterly wrong. Neither Han Tie Feng’s power clash with Lou Yun, Han Rui’s Six Layers of Book Mountain, nor Lou Yun’s escape via the mysterious golden cauldron were events he could control. Resolving to correct his error immediately and avert greater tragedy, the Elder prepared to act.

In a movement too swift to perceive, the Elder appeared barely a meter away from Lou Yun. Lou Yun instantly felt an enormous pressure envelop him, pinning him down and leaving him barely able to move. So strong! Lou Yun thought to himself inwardly.

He rarely encountered someone whose sheer presence could exert such pressure. Anyone capable of this was undoubtedly a supreme powerhouse, far beyond his ability to contend with.

After binding Lou Yun momentarily with his formidable aura, the Elder did not attack immediately but fixed a cold stare on him. “My initial intention was to capture you severely wounded and take you back,” he stated coldly. “Now I realize that idea was a mistake. Allowing you to live poses a risk of bringing us unnecessary trouble. Therefore, I have decided to kill you here and now. However, before I do, I have one question for you!”

Previously, when Han Tie Feng and then Han Rui were to challenge Lou Yun, the Elder had explicitly instructed them to leave Lou Yun clinging to life. Lou Yun had speculated about the reason then; now it was clear. The Elder wanted to extract something from him!

Though suffocated by the shadow of death, Lou Yun betrayed no panic, remaining composed and steady. He smiled faintly. “What do you wish to know?”

“I’ve already asked this question of the clan head of the Lou Family and several of its elders,” the Elder replied icily. “They all claimed ignorance. Originally, I believed them. However, after learning of you, my judgment changed. You radiate an overwhelming aura of impossibility, of miracle. Perhaps you truly are a once-in-a-century, or even a once-in-a-millennium prodigy. But you alone couldn’t have progressed so swiftly!”

Lou Yun disliked the Elder’s rambling, but since it involved his kin, he resisted interrupting. Only after the Elder finished did he respond lightly, “Alright, Elder. You simply wish to know the reason for my rapid growth. I can tell you. But first, you must answer a question of mine!”

Anyone else daring to make demands under such circumstances besides Lou Yun was unthinkable. The Elder studied him for a long moment, then surprisingly nodded. “Fine. I’ll grant you this chance. Ask.”

“Specifically, how are my loved ones now?” Lou Yun finally voiced his deepest, most urgent concern.

“They are alive.”

Those simple four words eased the tension gripping Lou Yun’s heart somewhat, yet they simultaneously ignited a fierce desire to escape. He represented the sole hope for every member of the Lou family. If he perished here today, that hope would die with him, and the rest of his family would soon follow. He absolutely could not die here!

With this resolve, Lou Yun shifted his focus, scanning for an escape route. Using his peripheral vision and his exceptional innate senses, he meticulously surveyed the surroundings.

"Lou Yun, I’ve answered your question," the Elder declared. "It’s time for you to answer mine. Do not think of deceiving me. I know how to discern truth from lies!"

Lou Yun subtly completed his scan. He identified a potential gap near the group grieving over Han Rui’s body. A well-timed strike to incapacitate those individuals might offer him a narrow escape route. Whether it would ultimately succeed was another matter, but he had to try.

Making up his mind, Lou Yun gathered the spiritual energy he had absorbed inside the Chaos Golden Cauldron and channeled it entirely into his legs. He then spoke lightly, “I’ll tell you. There truly is an extraordinary master behind me, aiding me. And this master… I believe you might recognize his name.”

The Elder’s attention was instantly captivated, failing to notice Lou Yun’s intent to flee. Curiosity flickered in his eyes as he pressed, “Who?”

Lou Yun enunciated each syllable clearly: “Mr… Commoner!”

Reasoning that the Elder knew considerable detail about the Nine Clans and the Lou family, he must surely know a little about matters from that other realm. Thus, Lou Yun deliberately twisted the truth. Instead of Chang Xiang, he used the name of his own master, Mr. Commoner, to deceive him. The goal was to shock the Elder, causing a brief disruption in the pressure of his formidable aura, creating a slight opening for Lou Yun to exploit.

Indeed! Upon hearing “Mr. Commoner,” an expression of utter disbelief and profound shock washed over the Elder’s face. Lou Yun’s prediction proved completely accurate. The intimidating aura exuding from the elder noticeably weakened.

Now’s the chance! Lou Yun thought, a flash of gold light gleaming in his eyes.

He pushed off with his feet. Like a pouncing leopard, all the power stored in his legs erupted instantly. The "Wind Play Decision" was pushed to its absolute limit. Once again, Lou Yun separated from the physical surface, suspended in the air as his body became a blur of speed. He shot like lightning towards the group mourning over Han Rui’s corpse.

The Elder detected Lou Yun’s movement immediately. The shock on his face vanished, instantly replaced by violent fury. “Think you can escape? DREAM ON! First Layer: Book Prison!” he roared.

Suddenly, two magical weapon books materialized in the Elder’s hands. He hurled them at the fleeing Lou Yun. As they shot through the air, the books began multiplying unnaturally – two became four, four became eight. The multiplying volumes strung themselves end-to-end like a chain, weaving through the air directly above Lou Yun.

Lou Yun didn’t know what “Book Prison” entailed, but he understood it must relate to the earlier Six Layers of Book Mountain technique. Given the Elder himself now wielded it, complacency was impossible. As he felt the linked chains of books locking onto his presence above, the Xiang Tian Sword appeared instantly in his grip!

SCHWING!

A blade of sword light suddenly tore through the air!

Only, this light didn’t come from the Xiang Tian Sword itself. It appeared like divine thunder plummeting straight from the heavens above!