The two fierce beasts were both massive, each over twelve feet long, vicious and terrifying. But now their corpses lay crumpled together, blood pooling rapidly beneath them—it couldn’t have been a cleaner kill.
Yu Ci knew his own abilities well. His Earth Escape Technique was rudimentary—getting through thick rock layers was doable, but never fast. Yet when he passed through the center of the mooring array earlier, it had felt utterly smooth, like slipping through a membrane of water, offering almost no resistance. That had to be the effect of the Light Concealment Escape Technique.
There was something else that caught Yu Ci’s attention. He crouched down, probing the wound carved open by sword energy with his fingertip, stirring the flesh slightly as a thought dawned in his mind.
Now that Yu Ci had handled the beasts, a few people from inside the mountain came out to help clean up. Naturally, Zhao Xiqiao led the team. When it came to dealing with the carcasses of demonic beasts, there was likely no one at the dock more experienced. Yan Hao also followed—he needed to assess the damage to the Cliff mooring array in person.
While Zhao Xiqiao and his team got to work, Yu Ci raised his bloodstained finger and stared at it intently. He was so focused that Yan Hao noticed something odd and came over to ask.
“Nothing,” Yu Ci replied with a smile, flicking the blood from his finger. “Just heading up to keep watch.”
He leapt up, this time deliberately activating the Light Concealment Escape Technique. Though it wasn’t particularly fast, the rustling of his clothes slicing through the air grew fainter and fainter. By the time he reached the sheer cliff wall, all sound had disappeared completely, and even his silhouette blurred into the shadows.
Standing at the top of the gorge, Yu Ci exhaled slowly, the sound escaping his lips like a whistle through a narrow gap. The warm air jetted no wider than two inches but pushed out nearly thirty feet before dispersing.
The pressure wasn’t a big deal. What Yu Ci really cared about was the way this technique seemed to increase the power of his sword strikes.
He’d never been too interested in the Heavenly Escape Sect’s “strike once, flee a thousand miles” escape techniques. But if this one actually made his sword deadlier, even slightly, it deserved his full attention.
For the past two months, Yu Ci had been honing his blade, trying to make it sharper and deadlier to match his sword path. As his sword intent evolved, the killing aura intensified, and both his explosiveness and destructive power improved significantly. But he’d hit the limits of his cultivation—any further progress would be ten times harder.
Unexpectedly, while using the Light Concealment Escape Technique, each of the basic forms naturally generated this internal compression. The pressure on his organs also forced his innate Qi outward through the meridians, making his strikes sharper and more violent. It felt like each form was prepping for a final blow, enhancing the sword’s lethality by a noticeable margin.
Though it was called an "escape technique," Yu Ci felt it resembled a profound energy-gathering method. He couldn’t help but admire the Heavenly Escape Sect—for them to casually possess something so refined, no wonder they were one of the great sects. And that made him wonder—just how powerful would the higher-tier escape techniques be?
At that moment, Yu Ci couldn’t help thinking of the Mirage Jade Slip the old man had mentioned. If that thing really surpassed the Light Concealment Escape Technique tenfold… even he found it hard to stay calm.
He pushed that desire from his mind and remained standing atop the gorge.
The summit of the chasm was the highest point for miles. Looking around, mountains layered like waves, ridges stretched like green serpents, and the setting sun bled crimson across the sky. The evening glow illuminated a few scattered beasts locked in combat. Darkness was already falling across the far eastern ranges—where the sun couldn’t reach—and was swiftly expanding its territory.
Unknowingly, an entire day had passed. The area around the harbor wasn’t peaceful, but the situation was far better than expected. Many of the beasts driven into a frenzy and fleeing east hadn’t returned. There were still skirmishes among beasts nearby, but not to the intense level they'd feared.
Seeing this, Yu Ci felt a bit more at ease. He wasn’t just standing idly—he was performing the only stationary stance among the nine basic forms of the Light Concealment Escape Technique. During indoor training, he had spent most of his time on this form, but noticed nothing special. Now, with new insight, he realized even this stationary form generated internal compression, though it was far milder.
Layer upon layer of force accumulated. While it lacked the explosive punch of the earlier forms, its total power buildup was even greater. At its peak, Yu Ci vaguely sensed a corresponding outward surge of energy—but just as he was about to explore it further, an eagle’s cry sounded overhead.
The scent of blood from the dead beasts, even with quick cleanup, still lured predators. Several raptors—eagles and vultures—were circling above, attracted by the stench. But the narrow gorge terrain made it hard for them to dive in, so they hesitated.
Still, after lingering for too long, the birds grew restless. A scuffle broke out, and soon they took off in a flurry, vanishing quickly into the distance.
The noise snapped Yu Ci back to reality. He knew this wasn’t the time for training. But the strange events above still puzzled him. Just then, the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly. He had just stepped aside when Elder Zhu’s bald head poked up from the dirt. With a sudden push, the old man surfaced completely.
The old man’s Earth Escape Technique was clearly smoother than Yu Ci’s. Not counting the earlier time, Yu Ci had to admit he was left in the dust.
Yu Ci chuckled. “Elder Zhu, up for some fresh air?”
But before the words were fully out, a realization struck him. He looked up at the now quieter sky, clapped his hands, and laughed. “Ah, no wonder those birds fled so fast—you scared them off, didn’t you?”
Elder Zhu’s cultivation was formidable—already at the peak of Divine Connectivity. Compared to Yu Ci, he was stronger. He had studied the divine soul his whole life and was well-versed in methods of confusion and distraction. Catching those feathered beasts off guard was nothing for him. The man was five times Yu Ci’s age, so Yu Ci’s occasional flattery was a form of respect. But Elder Zhu ignored it and just stared at him.
“You’ve used the Light Concealment Escape Technique,” he said, “so you must know its benefits. But compared to the Mirage Jade Slip, it’s not worth mentioning…”
Apparently, the old man had caught wind of something and rushed over in a hurry—clearly still not giving up. Yu Ci had already given him reasons before, but seeing the man’s eager face now, he could only smile wryly. It seemed that after being turned down last night, the old man had gone back and reconsidered.
“I know how to keep a secret,” Elder Zhu said seriously. “I’m not trying to steal your treasure. Just lend it to me for study while you’re stationed at the harbor. I’ll let you examine the Mirage Jade Slip in exchange. We’ll trade back before you leave.”
It was a good deal. Yu Ci was genuinely tempted. But the Innate Qi of the Heavenly Dragon within was something the old man could never see, and the True Void Violet Mist Jade was a sect treasure belonging to someone else. If word got out, Murong Qingyan would surely confront him. That mysterious woman made Yu Ci uneasy, and if she demanded it, he really had no grounds to refuse.
After some thought, Yu Ci still shook his head.
Elder Zhu was visibly frustrated but noticed Yu Ci’s hesitation. He snorted and stayed right where he was, stubbornly refusing to leave.
Yu Ci smiled, ignoring him, and continued surveying the area.
The mountain dusk deepened fast.
As the sun sank below the fog line of the Sky Rift Valley, a veil of black shrouded the forest. It darkened quickly. To make things worse, a heavy blanket of clouds crept in, hiding stars and moon alike. Nightfall swept the land with astonishing speed.
Zhao Xiqiao’s team had finished cleanup. Only Yan Hao lagged behind—repairing the mooring array was intricate work and couldn’t be rushed.
Yu Ci figured it was about time to head back. With darkness came danger—howls and screeches echoed through the forest as the beast tide began its inevitable return.
Perhaps due to the gathering clouds, muffled thunder rumbled in the sky.
Spring thunder’s a little late this year, Yu Ci thought, still caught in his earlier musings. He turned. “Elder Zhu, let’s go. We’ll discuss this later.”
But the old man didn’t respond—he was staring blankly at the sky.
Yu Ci blinked, then looked up too. The thick clouds hid everything. Thunder rolled on, but no lightning followed—strangely ominous.
As the last echo faded, Yu Ci turned to say something—only to see Elder Zhu’s face drained of color, sweat beading on his bald head.
Startled, Yu Ci reached out—but another blast of thunder exploded from the clouds. It came without warning, like the sound had been slammed directly into his ears.
Elder Zhu screamed. Blood burst from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. He collapsed.
Yu Ci’s mind rang. His ears buzzed from the blast, but oddly, he felt nothing else. He had no idea what had just struck the old man down.
With his hearing dulled and danger looming, Yu Ci acted fast. He grabbed Elder Zhu and leapt backward. Below was a cliff drop of over a hundred feet. Yu Ci rebounded off the cliff wall a few times to slow their descent. But even as he fell, the cliff trembled—and a foul stench surged upward through the wind, stabbing into his nose.
Yu Ci shuddered and looked up sharply.
Atop the high cliff stood a colossal beast, towering and proud. It raised its head and let out a roar like thunder.
Beneath the dark clouds, in the growing gloom, Yu Ci could only make out its massive silhouette. But the sickly, fishy stench on the wind was painfully familiar. Like the storm clouds overhead, it gathered and pressed down on his chest.
Feet planted firmly, Yu Ci turned back—only to see several cultivators at the valley floor, including Yan Hao, sprawled unconscious. Whether they were alive or dead, he couldn’t tell.
Above, the gloom brightened—not because the clouds parted, but because the beast atop the cliff was shrouded in blazing fire-smoke.
First, tiny sparks appeared—then flames joined into a solid sheet of fire.