C28 Master Teng

Ye Xiao didn't linger any longer and swiftly sprinted out of the forest.

Despite not being defeated by Wang Jiang, he still wasn't a match for him.

Ye Xiao's own vitality was not much weaker, but his opponent was a Master-level practitioner, aided by a Spirit Art and protected by Spirit Qi, making it difficult for Ye Xiao to secure a victory. So instead of risking further danger, he chose to withdraw for now. Having reached the pinnacle of the Primitive stage, Ye Xiao knew that once he broke through, Wang Jiang would pose no further trouble to him.

As he reflected on the battle, Ye Xiao raced towards the city gates, only to be met with a formidable presence emanating from ahead.

The aura was so powerful it dwarfed Wang Jiang's, incomparable by any measure. Could the Wang Family really dispatch such a formidable expert just for the sake of their minor guard, Wang Hai? It seemed implausible.

But now, with Ye Xiao near Night City and the forest too far behind, there was no time to turn back. The area before the city was wide open, offering no place to hide.

He steadied himself, gripping his dark black broken sword, and adjusted his aura.

The oppressive presence closed in rapidly, nearly halting the flow of elemental energy within Ye Xiao's body.

Then, a towering figure burst forth from Night City.

Upon seeing who it was, Ye Xiao's tension eased.

It was none other than Master Teng, the Ye Family's sole King Yuan-level expert.

Hovering in the air, Master Teng's gaze swept downward until he spotted Ye Xiao and turned to approach him.

Ye Xiao was about to step forward and pay his respects when he remembered the mask on his face and held back.

"Is this young brother Yama?" Master Teng asked, standing before Ye Xiao.

With a slight bow, Ye Xiao replied, "Indeed, I am. May I know the Senior's name?" He realized quickly that Yu Dong, the shopkeeper, must have alerted the Ye Family, and Master Teng had come specifically for him. Yet, he maintained an air of ignorance.

As expected, Master Teng introduced himself, "I am Yun Hu from the Night City's Ye Family. I'm grateful to you, young brother, for your righteous intervention at the shop today!"

"Just a matter of timing, Senior—no need for formalities! If there's nothing else, I must be on my way," Ye Xiao said, eager to end the conversation with Master Teng. Lingering might risk revealing too much at an inopportune moment.

Master Teng was taken aback, not expecting such resolve from the young man before him. "You may not be aware, but the man you killed was a member of the Royal Guard. The Wang Family wields considerable power and won't let this go. I've heard that a squad of Royal Guards was sent after you, but fortunately, it seems they haven't crossed paths with you."

Unbeknownst to Master Teng, the unassuming Primer-level individual standing before him had single-handedly taken down nearly half of the Wang Family's pursuers and had even managed a narrow escape from a Yuan Master.

Ye Xiao merely pursed his lips in response, keeping his explanations to himself.

"Why not stay with the Ye Family for a few days? Your troubles have arisen because of us. Should the Wang Family come looking, we certainly won't stand idly by," Master Teng offered.

Ye Xiao quickly gestured his refusal. Returning to the Ye Family would surely blow his cover. "I appreciate the offer, Senior, but I have pressing matters to attend to. Should I find myself in dire straits, I will surely seek your aid," he replied.

Without waiting for a response, Ye Xiao bowed briefly and set off toward Night City.

Master Teng hesitated but chose not to pursue the matter. He resolved to keep a closer watch on any news regarding Yama, ready to lend support if needed. Despite the Ye Family's current vulnerability, as an Origin King Stage powerhouse, Master Teng could easily risk his life to save another.

Watching Ye Xiao's retreating figure, Master Teng felt a nagging sense of familiarity, but he quickly dismissed the thought with a self-deprecating shake of his head. The masked Yama was clearly a young man, and Master Teng, occupied with Ye Family affairs, had no reason to recognize him.

Once back in Night City, Ye Xiao made several detours to ensure he wasn't followed. Finding a secluded spot, he changed his attire and headed straight for the Ye Family home.

The Ye Family estate was as tranquil as ever. He exchanged greetings with a few of the older servants and paid his respects to his father. The sight of his father's increasingly pallid complexion filled Ye Xiao with a profound sense of urgency and a growing hunger for strength.

The time was drawing near. In about a month, the day to seek medicine at Mount Tianji would arrive. Ye Xiao was determined to secure the Yuan Dan for his father, a vow he silently made to himself.

For the following ten days, Ye Xiao refrained from venturing into the forest outside Night City, choosing instead to practice his cultivation in the quiet of his home. Given the Wang Family's recent setback, it was likely they were still on the lookout for him. With a captain of the Royal Guard already at the Elementary Yuan Master level, Ye Xiao was well aware that facing an Intermediate or Advanced Yuan Master would be a challenge far beyond his current capabilities.

Cultivation on this continent primarily involves accumulating vitality and opening as many meridians as possible to lay the groundwork for advanced training. Yet, the feat of unlocking all one hundred and eight main meridians is a rarity, achieved by one in a hundred thousand. Ye Xiao had not only achieved this with the aid of the Qian Yuan Sword, but he had also purified and opened the myriad of tiny meridians throughout his body. While this advantage might seem minor at his current level, it would become a significant boon as he progressed to higher stages of cultivation.

A Yuan Master is distinguished by the liquefaction of their internal vitality, culminating in the formation of Elemental Beads within their Dantian. Ye Xiao stood on the cusp of this transformation, his body's vitality teetering on the brink of liquefaction. With the right catalyst, he could ascend to the Yuan Master realm at any moment.

The sprawling animal fighting ring was as bustling as ever, with spectators fervently cheering on their chosen contenders and risk-takers betting fortunes. In stark contrast, the ring's upper echelon was a haven of tranquility, seemingly detached from the world below.

"Oh dear, my young lady, what has befallen you?" an elderly voice lamented with a mix of urgency and resignation. "You vanish for days, only to return in such a state, your Essence Fire severely depleted. How am I to face the Madam with this news? What could have possibly happened? There are no significant sects in the vicinity, though Tian Ji Sect's gates lie thousands of miles away. Could they be responsible for your condition? I'll demand an explanation from Tian Ji Sect this instant! If they fail to appease me, I swear I'll turn their world upside down!" Despite the formidable reputation of Tian Ji Sect as the sole Ri Level Sect in Zhongyuan State, the old man's voice betrayed not a hint of fear.

"Okay, Grandfather Tong, rest assured. With diligent cultivation, once I achieve my breakthrough, the primal fire will naturally restore itself to perfection. Moreover, it won't be a concern for the Tian Ji Sect any longer!" If Ye Xiao were here, he would undoubtedly identify the charming, bell-like voice as belonging to Xue Yaner.