C6 Attack!

Three carriages departed from Yuan Village at a leisurely pace.

As dusk approached, less than a third of the journey remained. On any other day, they would have covered half the distance by now.

Yuan Ling sat in the carriage, deeply engrossed in his cultivation.

He was currently working on loosening the meridian of his first Acupoint.

The results were promising, and he felt fully confident that he would break through the first Acupoint within three days.

At last, the snow ceased.

The Village Chief sent word that they would spend the night in the forest ahead.

Thankfully, preparations had been made in advance, sparing the children from having to sleep exposed to the elements.

The carriages made their way into the woods, and after the Village Chief selected a suitable spot, he gestured his thanks.

The village guards sprang into action.

The children pitched in, sweeping snow and building fires, but the forest was blanketed in deep snow, making the task challenging.

After a short time, the prowess of several warriors caught everyone's attention.

A young warrior let out a cry, and a burst of red light shone from his palm.

With a single strike, he left a palm print one to two meters wide in the thick snow, which began to melt swiftly.

From a distance, a wave of heat washed over the onlookers, leaving them in awe of the devastating potential of such a palm technique on a human body.

Earth Martial!

Yuan Ling's exceptional vision allowed him to discern the young warrior's level instantly.

A warrior who reached the Earth Martial state could project their Genuine Qi outward.

Based on the Genuine Qi demonstrated, these warriors were at least at Earth Martial Level Three.

The young warrior, likely in his twenties, had been undergoing training since he was ten. His rate of advancement was deemed average.

While Yuan Ling could dismiss such displays, the children were captivated. It quickly became the subject of fervent discussion among them.

"Brother Essence Flame's skills are increasingly profound. At only twenty, he's advancing into the mid-stage of Earth Martial. I, Yuan Mu, can only wonder when I'll achieve that level."

"Opening at least ten meridians is incredibly challenging."

"I know, right? I've only managed to open one meridian so far, and I have no idea when I'll be able to open the second one."

"What's that compared to what's ahead? Once we undergo the baptism, we'll quickly catch up with the rest."

A group of children huddled together, brimming with hope for what was to come.

Yuan Ling seemed out of place among the children. He sat by the campfire, engaging in conversation with Yuan Sang.

Yuan Sang had the closest bond with Yuan Ling in Yuan Village, and they were both nearly ten years old.

Yuan Sang was incredibly introverted, seldom speaking even to his best friend, Yuan Ling, which left Yuan Ling feeling somewhat bored.

The fervor of the children wasn't everlasting.

Exhausted from a day's travel, they all turned in early, eager for the next day's journey.

Their resting place for the night was, of course, inside the carriages. The children huddled together in three carriages.

Apart from Yuan Sang, there was also the plump Yuan Mu and Yuan Ling.

Interestingly, when the carriages were assigned, Yuan Mu opted to stay with Yuan Ling, which was somewhat surprising.

But since he was quite large, there was no room for more, so it was just the three of them in one carriage section.

True to form, Yuan Sang climbed into his carriage and promptly fell asleep.

Yuan Mu, on the other hand, seemed off, having lost his usual energy, his face drawn long.

He let out a heavy sigh, then turned to Yuan Ling.

"Yuan Ling, you know, I have great expectations for your baptism this time."

Yuan Ling looked at the hefty boy, puzzled.

"Great expectations for me? Why?"

A faint smile appeared on Yuan Mu's face: "Just a hunch. I have a feeling the baptism will work wonders for you."

Yuan Ling gave Yuan Mu a penetrating look, sensing that there was more behind his words than mere flattery.

But Yuan Mu was never one to keep things to himself for long; he'd spill the beans soon enough, even without being prompted.

As expected, noticing Yuan Ling's skepticism, Yuan Mu couldn't help but speak up.

"Yuan Ling, are you aware of how the Yuan family members undergo their cleansing?"

"Not really. Why, do you know something about it?"

Yuan Ling couldn't help but smile.

"Of course, I've already inquired about it."

A look of pride spread across Yuan Mu's face.

"Really? Do tell."

Curiosity instantly painted Yuan Ling's features.

Suddenly, Yuan Mu's face twisted into a grimace, his expression turning exceedingly grim.

"During the baptism, I heard they put you in a cauldron and boil the water. It has to bubble and boil before it's done. I can't imagine how anyone endures it."

"Boil?"

Yuan Ling chuckled.

"Who told you that?"

"Who else but my father, Yuan Sang? If they actually intend to boil someone in a cauldron, I—I'd turn tail and run this instant. It's terrifying. What if you get cooked without realizing it?"

Yuan Mu sighed heavily, his round face clouded with concern.

Yuan Ling offered a reassuring smile.

Though he suspected the fatty's words were not entirely reliable, he knew the man wasn't lying.

Being placed in the cauldron wasn't for boiling, but for bone refinement and marrow cleansing. Yuan Ling recalled that the Sword Sect used such a method to temper their new disciples.

That enigmatic memory had matured Yuan Ling significantly, creating a sort of generational divide between him and the fatty. After a brief chat, the bored fatty drifted off to sleep.

Yuan Ling shook his head silently, settled into a cross-legged position, and began to work on the first Acupoint.

The night deepened, the cold biting.

The forest lay in silence.

Abruptly, Yuan Ling, deep in his cultivation, snapped his eyes open.

The carriage was dark, the only sounds those of the fatty's slumber.

For some reason, Yuan Ling's heart was filled with disquiet, as if something was about to unfold.

He took a deep breath in the darkness and cautiously drew back the curtain to peer outside.

The bonfire still flickered, the night eerily still.

Yuan Ling saw no sign of the night watch. It seemed everyone was in a deep sleep.

After a long vigil, Yuan Ling found nothing amiss, yet his sense of unease grew stronger.

Yuan Ling tried to rouse the sleeping heavyset man to no avail; no matter how much he called or pushed, the man wouldn't wake. He then nudged Yuan Mu, who was lying beside him, but he too showed no response.

Suddenly, Yuan Ling sensed a strange power in the air. It seemed capable of rendering a person drowsy and unconscious, yet, inexplicably, it had no effect on him.

Before long, Yuan Ling's heart began to race. A force seemed to be at work in his bloodstream, a peculiar energy penetrating his skin from the air and radiating towards his abdomen. Intense heat engulfed him, making him unbearably uncomfortable, but it also signaled to him that the enemy was near.

Out of nowhere, several shadowy figures glided across the snow-covered ground, their presence eerily out of place in the tranquil forest.

Celestial Martial!

Yuan Ling's eyes narrowed in recognition; these were all Celestial Martial practitioners! In Yuan Village, only the village chief held the rank of Celestial Martial, with the strongest of the others merely at the peak of Earth Martial.

Yuan Ling quickly drew the curtains and concealed himself. Shortly after, a series of muffled groans reached his ears—someone had been ambushed!

"What should we do?" Yuan Ling's expression grew grim.

The village chief was the only one in Yuan Village capable of confronting these assailants in black. And if even the village chief couldn't hold them off, Yuan Ling knew he stood no chance of escape.

"Who's there?"

The village chief's voice shattered the stillness, followed by a resounding crash. Someone was engaging the village chief in combat, and suddenly, the forest seemed to be suffused with a dreadful presence.

Yuan Ling, hidden in the carriage, went deathly pale. The air turned thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe, almost as if the shadow of death was creeping closer.

"I never imagined the Yuan family would be so formidable, with hidden dragons and crouching tigers among them. To think that a mere village chief is actually a master of the Hidden Consciousness Stage!"

Eerie laughter resonated through the woods, and inexplicably, Yuan Ling felt an intense heat rising within him. Without reason, driven by pure instinct, he peered outside the carriage.

The biting cold wind cut through the night. There, beside the bonfire, stood a woman clad in black. She was enchanting, alluring, and provocative. Yet, with her face concealed, Yuan Ling could not discern her true features.

Yuan Ling's gaze fell upon the woman, and she immediately sensed his attention, turning to look at the carriage he occupied.

Her eyes shimmered like pools of autumn water, and the moment their gazes met, Yuan Ling felt an inexplicable surge of heat within him.

He was taken aback, unable to comprehend his reaction. He was barely ten years old, his body not yet matured. Why would he react to a woman?

A flicker of surprise crossed the woman's eyes, yet she quickly dismissed it and shifted her focus to the village chief.

"There's no point in futile resistance. Surrender now and spare us both the trouble," she said.

The village chief's face was stern, his eyes scanning the group of masked figures encircling the carriage.

"Who are you, and why do you attack us?" he demanded.

"You need not ask. All you need to know is that I have no intention of harming anyone here," the woman replied, her demeanor cool and confident.

The village chief let out a derisive snort. "No one beyond the age of three would believe such words. This is the way to Yuan Town. I suggest you leave swiftly. Should you alert the Yuan family's masters, your chances of leaving here alive are slim."

The woman's laughter followed. "The village chief needn't concern himself. I've laid a powerful formation that isolates us from the outside world. Even if you were to cause an uproar, no one beyond these woods would take any notice."

The village chief's face paled as he felt the dense, strange power in the air, which even made him dizzy.

"What kind of formation is this?" he asked.

"It's the Dark Desire Realm technique of the Dark Alliance. Once ensnared, everyone succumbs to unconsciousness, trapped by their own desires, and upon awakening, all memories of the event will be erased," the woman explained, her laughter echoing through the dark forest.

"Cursed be this!" The village chief realized the gravity of the situation; any delay worked against him.

In a flash, his eyes blazed with murderous intent. His aura exploded, and he vanished from sight, only to reappear above the woman, his palm descending in a fierce attack.

"Old fool, still trying to fight back?" she taunted.

With a clash of Cold Ice and Profound Jade Palm, the woman met his attack head-on, her own palm unleashing a torrent of chilling energy.

Genuine Qi surged from the palm, appearing light and effortless, yet it shimmered like a sculpture crafted from jade, unlike any human hand.

Simultaneously, an unusual aura unfolded in an instant.

Bang!

The palms collided with a resounding impact.

Crack!

It sounded like a thick sheet of ice splitting open as the woman's palm print shattered.

At the same time, the village chief was blasted backward, his face a picture of utter disbelief.

Ksitigarbha Stage!

The village chief was taken aback.

The Heaven, Earth, and Human Hidden Stages together formed the Hidden Consciousness Stage.

He had barely entered the Human Hidden Stage, whereas his opponent had reached the Ksitigarbha Stage, signifying a vast gulf in their powers.

Defeated, the village chief stood unharmed, yet his Qi and blood roiled, and his Genuine Qi surged chaotically, rendering him speechless for a time.

Swish!

As the village chief reeled from the blow, a faint sound of slicing air echoed almost simultaneously.

He had no time to react before the attack struck him.

The next moment, his body, already airborne, was hurled dozens of meters, landing in the snow, motionless.

Silence fell upon the forest.

A figure clad in black appeared before the woman.

She was petite, her eyes glinting with a frosty gleam.

The woman's brow furrowed. "Leaving visible scars on him would compromise our plan."

The newcomer in black responded icily, "He's a master of the Hidden Consciousness Stage. A gentler strike wouldn't have subdued him, only complicating matters."

The woman frowned and gestured dismissively.

"Bring him to the carriage and tend to his wounds. Remember, I want him unscathed and oblivious to what has transpired."

The woman in black, though troubled by the request, held her tongue.

In a blink, she was at the spot where the village chief lay.