Chapter Sixty-Two: Suffering a Loss

Fortunately, the young Daoist managed to reclaim the crucial sword hilt at the very last moment by expending all his spiritual power. Had the golden treasured sword been completely destroyed in Yuan Wuji’s hands, the Daoist’s life would have been all but ruined. Now, with a face full of terror, the young Daoist looked at Yuan Wuji—the life-bound magical weapon with which he had slain countless foes was ruined by Yuan Wuji’s hands.

He had no choice but to return immediately. Even if Yuan Wuji spared him—which was unlikely—the injuries caused by the shattering of his life-bound treasure needed to be healed at once. Otherwise, the consequences would be unbearable. The young Daoist was still at the peak of his life and did not want to become a cripple, wasting away his remaining years.

But would Yuan Wuji let him go? Impossible. Since Yuan Wuji arrived in this world, he had never once spared an enemy. If you do not uproot the weeds, the spring breeze will make them grow again. Yuan Wuji would never allow a moment’s negligence now to become a source of future regret.

Like a pair of sharp swords, Yuan Wuji’s palms struck toward the young Daoist, who was preparing to flee. With the speed of the Golden Light Crossing the Earth technique, the Daoist had no chance of escape.

Faced with Yuan Wuji’s furious onslaught, the young Daoist seemed to make a momentous decision, and a jade block of verdant green appeared discreetly in his hand. Crushing it without hesitation, he immediately began his escape, no longer sparing a glance for the distant elders of Mount Shu.

Though Yuan Wuji did not know what the crushed jade was, it did not diminish his desire to kill. But something unexpected happened: a mist floated out from the shattered jade, rapidly coalescing into a humanoid figure that blocked Yuan Wuji’s pursuit.

“Emperor Zhenwu?” Yuan Wuji exclaimed in shock.

The figure that formed was indeed Emperor Zhenwu. Yuan Wuji had seen portraits of Zhenwu before and sensed his aura; this humanoid apparition was identical. He had not expected the young Daoist to have such a connection, related somehow to Emperor Zhenwu.

“Young friend, since you recognize me, why not let my junior off this once?” the apparition spoke.

In truth, while the apparition blocked Yuan Wuji, the young Daoist had already vanished from sight.

“You are not here in person, are you?” Yuan Wuji speculated after a moment’s thought. Though the aura was identical to Zhenwu’s, the presence was far weaker.

“That’s right, I am merely an incarnation,” the apparition replied bluntly.

Emperor Zhenwu’s sacred ground was on Mount Wudang, and the young Daoist was an outstanding member of his lineage, which was how he had come to possess the life-saving jade.

“No, you are no longer just an incarnation.”

“Oh?” came the puzzled reply.

“You are now merely the interest on the debt your junior owes me.”

So what if you are Emperor Zhenwu? Dare to provoke me, and there will be no reconciliation. I’ll destroy your incarnation here and now as a warning.

The apparition's cultivation had reached the full mastery of the Water Path, a realm above Yuan Wuji’s, but it too would be extinguished.

The Ninefold Mysterious Arts—First Turn, Geng Metal Golden Core.

The Geng Metal Golden Core spun, releasing a torrent of metallic energy that surged around Yuan Wuji, his aura soaring.

“What? Geng Metal energy!” the apparition exclaimed in astonishment, but his hands moved without pause as waves of water-attributed power surged from his form.

This incarnation, with tenfold mastery of the Water Path, was the most formidable foe Yuan Wuji had ever faced—even Nezha, with his Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Barrier, was not as strong.

Yuan Wuji’s attack was about to land, but to his surprise, the usually unstoppable Geng Metal energy seemed to stagnate, as if an invisible force was sapping his strength. Sensing this strange resistance, he quickly switched to defense.

The apparition did not pursue, but instead looked at Yuan Wuji with a sneer.

“Hmph.”

Yuan Wuji, in retreat, pushed the First Turn of the Ninefold Mysterious Arts to its utmost, unleashing the full might of his Geng Metal Golden Core. The metallic energy wrapped around him like battle armor, and with the Golden Scale Mail augmented by the force, Yuan Wuji’s power was greater than ever before.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Yuan Wuji launched another assault, repeatedly clashing with the apparition.

Each time their bodies collided, the apparition’s form grew fainter. Under Yuan Wuji’s relentless assault, it soon became a blur.

Yuan Wuji gathered his Geng Metal energy into a massive blade and cleaved the apparition in two. The two halves dissolved into mist, fleeing in one direction at astonishing speed.

Before Yuan Wuji could react, the mist had vanished. A trace of anger showed on his face. Despite all his efforts, he had let them escape—this was the greatest setback he had suffered since his emergence into the world.

Nonetheless, he had learned something important: the young Daoist was from Mount Wudang.

Two had escaped; the rest would not.

Seeing Yuan Wuji approaching, the elders of Mount Shu immediately tried to flee, but as mere Celestial Immortals, escape was impossible.

Yuan Wuji gathered his spiritual power, and a suction force emanated from his palm, dragging the elders of Mount Shu back from dozens of yards away and slamming them heavily into the ground.

The impact left a huge crater, drawing the attention of everyone on the Huoyun Cavern battlefield. Upon seeing the elders’ wretched state, some among the human side ceased fighting and surrendered to the demon soldiers; others kept fighting, hoping to escape from Hao Mountain.

Those elders lying in the crater could only smile bitterly. They had thought the young Daoist would be enough to deal with Yuan Wuji, knowing his formidable background. But after witnessing his defeat and flight, their hopes had nearly died. The emergence of the mysterious apparition briefly rekindled their optimism, yet it too was dispersed by Yuan Wuji. Now, they themselves had become captives.

“Sire, all have been captured,” came the report.

Any humans who had tried to escape were all dragged back by Duoli.

There were few demon soldiers left in the Huoyun Cavern. Compared to the humans, their disadvantage was obvious. In a ten-on-ten fight, humans could rely on cunning or formation to easily wipe out the demon soldiers—a natural advantage that could not be matched. Yet Yuan Wuji cared little. Demon soldiers could always be replaced; they did not require the same conditions as humans, which was an advantage in itself.

“Duoli, pass down my order: butcher some of these Daoists and feed them to our men.”

Humans were recognized by the Heavenly Way as the most suitable for cultivation. For beast spirits and demons, consuming human flesh was an immense supplement.

To the demon soldiers, Yuan Wuji’s plan was a generous reward; to the captured human cultivators, it was a nightmare.

“As for those old men, don’t let anyone eat them.” Yuan Wuji gave Duoli a special instruction as he entered the Huoyun Cavern.