Chapter 17: Ancient City of the Northern Border

Outskirts of Town. Chenghuang Temple.

Under the fading light of the setting sun stood a dilapidated temple, its bricks crumbling, roof tiles broken. A withered, crooked tree leaned precariously near the entrance, disturbed only by the raucous cawing of crows gathering in its branches. The atmosphere was desolate, eerie.

Beneath the withered tree stood a man, his back to them, somehow looking familiar.

“Who exactly asked to meet me here?” Ye Tianlong called out, his voice sharp. “And what does this have to do with my sister?”

The man slowly turned around. His eyes narrowed slightly, a familiar, knowing smile spreading across his face. “We’ve met before. You haven’t forgotten me already, have you?”

Ye Tianlong froze, stunned speechless.

It was Li Ze! The Shixue Meng cultivator who had chased him before!

Ye Tianlong instantly drew his sword, pointing it straight at Li Ze! “Li Ze!” he snarled, fury rising. “What the hell are you planning?! What are your intentions?”

“Big Brother, who is this guy?” Bǎi Tōngmíng asked, confused and wary.

Li Ze casually toyed with the string of striking crimson beads  wrapped around his wrist, chuckling softly. “Heheh. My name is Li Ze. You could say I’m an… old acquaintance… of your Big Brother.”

That crimson bead bracelet… it was the symbol of the Shixue Meng Alliance Leader! Shi Qing was dead, and Li Ze wore it now…

“Acquaintance?!” Ye Tianlong spat, enraged. “You’re just the lackey sent to capture my sister and me! Why did you lure us here?! What scheme are you plotting now?”

Hearing this, Bǎi Tōngmíng immediately drew his whip, glaring hostilely at Li Ze. “You!”

Li Ze merely chuckled again, deliberately taking a few steps back, increasing the distance between them. “Gentlemen, please, control your tempers. And don’t worry so much about what I might do. I invited you here today simply to tell you both… a story.”

Ye Tianlong’s brow furrowed deeply, his gaze sharp as daggers, locked onto Li Ze.

Bǎi Tōngmíng looked utterly baffled. “A story? What the hell are you trying to pull?”

“No need to worry,” Li Ze smiled faintly. “Once the story is finished, you’ll understand everything.”

He began to speak, his voice calm and measured. “A long, long time ago, on the Qian Yuan Continent, there lived a group of people possessing a special bloodline. They were known as the Linren (灵人) – the Spirit People. Later generations also called them the Xianminzu (先民族) – the ‘Ancient People’.

“Legend says that in their youth, the Ancient People suffered from a strange cold sickness, much like a congenital Hanbing. They feared the cold intensely. But when one of the Ancient People had an attack, their body would emit an intense cold energy, sometimes so severe that frost would form on their faces, and ice would crystallize in their hair. As they experienced more of these cold attacks, their hair would gradually turn white. When their entire head of hair had turned from black to snow-white, the Ancient People would finally shed their fear of frost and cold, becoming true Spirit People.

“In the extremely frigid Northern Border, the Ancient People built a magnificent city of ice and snow – Xianmin Cheng, the Ancient People’s City. However, for reasons unknown, the Ancient People eventually vanished. All that remains in the vast Northern Border now is that frozen city, a place no one dares to venture near…”

Ye Tianlong’s heart lurched! The traits of these Ancient People… the symptoms of their ‘cold sickness’… how could they be so incredibly similar to his sister Ye Qing’s condition?!

Li Ze continued smoothly, “If that were the end of the story, it would be merely a historical curiosity. But… rumors persist. They say that within the altar of Xianmin Cheng lies an Ancient Seal, sealing away an immense Ancient Treasure. And the only way to open this seal… is with the blood of a Spirit Person. Furthermore, the Northern Border is lethally cold; only with the protection of a Spirit Person can one hope to survive its harsh environment.”

Li Ze paused, letting the implications sink in. “Which means… whoever controls a descendant of the Spirit People… controls the key to the Ancient Treasure!”

A horrifying realization dawned in Ye Tianlong’s mind.

“Big Brother…” Bǎi Tōngmíng started to speak, then trailed off, looking at Ye Tianlong with deep concern.

Ye Tianlong glared fiercely at Li Ze. “Why are you telling us all this?! What is your objective?!”

Li Ze’s expression remained unchanged, the faint smile still playing on his lips. “I don’t have an objective. I simply told you a story from long ago. As for its meaning… well, that’s entirely up to your own interpretation.”

With that cryptic remark, Li Ze turned and strode away, vanishing into the twilight shadows.

***

Back at the dilapidated wooden hut.

Bǎi Tōngmíng hesitated, clearly wanting to say something but unsure how. “Big Brother…”

Ye Tianlong made an instant decision, his voice hard as steel. “We’re going back to Kunlun! I have to see Xiao Qing! At least once!”

Bǎi Tōngmíng nodded firmly. “Okay!”

***

Deep within the forest near Kunlun Sect.

“Hey! You two! Trying to sneak into the Kunlun Sect grounds?” A hushed, unfamiliar male voice called out.

Ye Tianlong spun around. “Who’s there?”

A disciple in grey robes peeked out from behind a large tree to their right. He looked anxious, almost furtive, and waved them over.

“Come on! I can get you two inside. Through the back way,” the disciple whispered urgently.

Ye Tianlong and Bǎi Tōngmíng exchanged uncertain glances.

“What’s your purpose?” Ye Tianlong asked suspiciously.

The disciple flinched slightly, then stammered, his voice trembling a little, “I… I… I need money lately! Yeah, that’s it, I need money! I figured I could earn some quick cash by sneaking people into the Sect…”

Ye Tianlong remained highly doubtful.

“Big Brother,” Bǎi Tōngmíng murmured quietly, “we don’t have any other options right now. Let’s give it a try.” He nodded slightly at Ye Tianlong, then turned back to the disciple. “Alright. You get us inside first, then we’ll pay you.”

The disciple agreed readily. “Deal!”

The three of them began weaving through the dense forest.

Wind rustled the leaves. Suddenly, Ye Tianlong sensed several other faint auras appear nearby, hidden.

He stopped abruptly, turning to face the guide disciple, his voice ice-cold. “Who sent you? This isn’t the way to the Kunlun Sect!”

The disciple trembled violently, then let out a terrified yelp and bolted, scrambling away frantically! “Ah! It’s not my fault! They forced me!”

Bǎi Tōngmíng lashed out with his whip instinctively, but the disciple was already gone. “Him! Damn it! We were tricked!” he cursed, furious. “Next time I see that little rat, I swear I’ll beat him senseless!”

“Hahaha…” A mocking laugh echoed through the trees.

Three Kunlun Sect disciples emerged from the woods, blocking their path.

The disciple in the lead wore the cyan robes of a senior disciple and had an arrogant, challenging smirk on his face. A Green Dragon Jade Pendant hung prominently at his waist, and he carried a distinctive longsword whose blade seemed to glow with a faint mysterious yellow  light. The two disciples flanking him wore standard grey robes, wielded heavy steel sabers, and glared menacingly.

The lead cyan-robed disciple addressed Ye Tianlong with open contempt. “You’re Ye Tianlong, right? Listen up. Stay the hell away from Junior Sister Arəya! Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

Bǎi Tōngmíng frowned, confused. “Who the hell are you three? Acting all weird. And who’s Arəya? Did you tell that guy to lead us here? What do you want?”

“Insolence!” one of the grey-robed lackeys roared. “How dare you speak to Kunlun Sect’s Third Senior Brother, Xun Yu, like that!”

Junior Sister Arəya!

The name, combined with everything else, struck Ye Tianlong like a bolt of lightning! Fragments clicked into place – Arəya’s strange escort package to Kunlun, Shi Changyi’s flimsy excuses about Ye Qing’s illness, Li Ze’s carefully delivered story about the Spirit People, the “coincidental” arrival of the Kunlun Sect during the Shixue Meng attack…

He finally understood! It was all connected! It was all a setup!

The Kunlun Sect’s target, from the very beginning… was his sister, Ye Qing!

Blood rushed to Ye Tianlong’s eyes! His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white! Blinding rage surged through him!

Kunlun Sect! They dared to deceive him! They dared to target his sister!

“What’s with that look?!” the other grey-robed disciple snarled belligerently. “What are you gonna do about it?! Not happy?! You piece of trash!”

Overwhelmed by fury, Ye Tianlong drew his sword!

Seeing his cultivation level, the first grey-robed disciple scoffed loudly. “Seriously? You Body Refining punk still putting on airs? Anyone watching would think you’re actually strong! Pulling out a wooden sword? You’re gonna make me die laughing!”

He turned dismissively to Xun Yu. “Third Senior Brother, there’s no need for you to dirty your hands with this garbage. The two of us are more than enough.”

Xun Yu nodded curtly, clearly agreeing that Ye Tianlong wasn’t worthy of his attention.

Ye Tianlong’s voice was dangerously low, tight with suppressed rage. “Tongming. I’m… very angry right now. Step back. I don’t want to accidentally hurt you.”

“Big Brother…” Bǎi Tōngmíng saw the terrifying fury simmering in Ye Tianlong’s eyes and hesitated, wanting to protest.

“Okay, Big Brother!” But seeing Ye Tianlong’s resolve, he nodded grimly and retreated several paces.

The grey-robed disciple sneered, “Hoho! Look at him, acting tough! Let me send you on your…”

Before he could finish his taunt, Ye Tianlong’s sword flashed!

His speed was incredible! Just a blur passed!

The disciple’s words choked off! His head flew high into the air! Blood sprayed like a fountain!

The other grey-robed disciple roared in rage, raising his saber and charging! “DIE!”

A flash of cold light!

The steel saber flew upwards, disarmed!

Blood spurted!

The disciple screamed in agony! “AAAAH— My hand!”

Ye Tianlong’s sword swept horizontally again! The disciple’s head was separated from his body, soaring three feet high before thudding to the ground!

Ye Tianlong turned his cold, furious gaze towards the stunned Third Senior Brother. “Next.”

Xun Yu let out a cold laugh, though his eyes held a flicker of surprise. “Killing two shrimp actually made you cocky? Let me show you what real power looks like!”

He drew his own sword! True Qi erupted! Grandmaster Realm, Third Layer!

The Xuanhuang Sword  began to glow! A layer of yellowish-brown sand coalesced around the blade, radiating immense killing intent!

Seeing that sword, Bǎi Tōngmíng’s eyes widened in alarm! He yelled out a warning, “That sword in his hand! It’s the famous Xuanhuang Sword! They say it can manipulate sand and earth! Excellent for both offense and defense! Big Brother, be careful! This guy is not to be underestimated!”

Xun Yu laughed mockingly. “Oh? You recognize my blade? Well, well. But it’s too late for caution now! You’ve angered me! I’m going to kill you both!”

Ye Tianlong shook his head, his voice raw with fury. “Come fight!”

CLANG! CLANG! Swords clashed! Sparks flew!

Xun Yu slashed horizontally!

Ye Tianlong arched backward, dodging, then flicked his wooden sword upwards! Shink! The tip nicked Xun Yu’s arm, leaving a thin red line!

Xun Yu roared in anger! “Sand Go!”

A fist-sized clump of sand instantly materialized in the air! Guided by Xun Yu’s sword, it shot forward, slamming hard into Ye Tianlong’s abdomen! WHUMP!

Ye Tianlong staggered back several steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood! “Puh!”

Immediately, clump after clump of dense sand formed in the air, raining down towards Ye Tianlong like deadly meteorites!

Sand exploded everywhere!

“Big Brother!” Bǎi Tōngmíng cried out in fear!

When the dust settled slightly, Ye Tianlong was covered in bleeding cuts and abrasions!

“HRAAAGH!” Roaring defiance, Ye Tianlong ignored the pain, gripping his sword and charging relentlessly towards Xun Yu!

Xun Yu was genuinely shocked by his resilience! “Earth Shield!” he yelled hastily!

Instantly, four thick walls of solid earth erupted from the ground around Xun Yu, forming a sturdy barrier! CLANG! Ye Tianlong’s sword strike slammed into the shield, stopped cold!

Xun Yu sneered from behind his defense. “Now what can you do?! Die! Sand Go!”

A massive boulder-sized mass of sand coalesced, hurtling towards the trapped Ye Tianlong!

Xun Yu threw his head back and laughed maniacally! “Hahaha! DIE!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The sand projectiles slammed into the ground where Ye Tianlong had been standing, shaking the earth, making the trees tremble!

But… Ye Tianlong was faster! He had darted left and right, dodging the initial impacts! Then, pushing off the ground, his sword became a blur! It looked like multiple strikes layered on top of each other, but it was actually just one impossibly fast thrust aimed at the earth shield!

If one sword strike can pierce the void, it can surely pierce the earth!

One sword strike born, one sword strike extinguished. Still just the basics of Tian Wai Yi Jian, but enough!

Xun Yu scoffed dismissively. “This earth shield is incredibly thick! How could trash like you possibly break through?!”

Psh!

The words barely left his mouth when a fist-sized hole appeared cleanly through the solid earth wall!

“That’s impossible!” Xun Yu shrieked in panic, hastily raising his Xuanhuang Sword defensively!

Ye Tianlong’s cold eyes locked onto him through the hole! Sword out!

One swift flick! Xun Yu’s Xuanhuang Sword was knocked from his grasp! The tip of Ye Tianlong’s wooden sword pressed lightly against Xun Yu’s throat!

“Stop!” Xun Yu gasped, terrified but still arrogant. “Do you know who I am?! I’m the grandson of the Kunlun Sect’s Grand Elder! If you kill me, my grandfather will hunt you down and kill you!” He fumbled for the Green Dragon Jade Pendant at his waist, holding it up frantically. “This pendant proves it! How dare you touch me!”

Pshk!

Xun Yu’s head flew into the air. His eyes remained wide open, frozen in a state of utter disbelief.

Bǎi Tōngmíng rushed forward, supporting Ye Tianlong. “Big Brother! Are you okay?!”

“You were too impulsive,” a female voice suddenly rang out. “He was telling the truth. You shouldn’t have killed him!”

Arəya leaped gracefully down from a nearby tree branch, her robes fluttering, looking almost ethereal.

Bǎi Tōngmíng stared, confused. “Who are you?”

Ye Tianlong glared at her, pure fury in his eyes. “It’s you! Arəya! Why did you trick my sister and me into coming to Kunlun?!”

Arəya flinched slightly, her eyes flickering with complex emotions.

Ye Tianlong snorted coldly. “I’ve already met Li Ze! He told me about the Spirit People! You were lying from the very beginning! Damn it! And I actually trusted you, brought my sister right into this den!”

Arəya met his gaze, her voice steady now. “You already know, don’t you? The blood of the Spirit People can open the Ancient Treasure. It can bring peace to the world.”

Ye Tianlong raised the Wood Stone Sword, pointing it directly at her! “My sister is not some ‘Spirit Person’! She’s my sister! Give her back to me!”

“I’m sorry,” Arəya replied, her voice softening slightly. “This is for the greater good!” She tossed Ye Tianlong a small porcelain bottle – healing pills. “It’s already come to this. I advise you both to leave, quickly. You know too much now. Kunlun’s Elders would never have let you leave alive anyway. And now… you’ve killed the Grand Elder’s grandson. Go! Before it’s too late! The Grand Elder’s cultivation is at Martial Venerable Realm, Second Layer! He’s not an opponent you can handle!”

Ye Tianlong let out a roar of pure anguish and rage! “AAAAAH! You’ve gone too far! I’ll kill every last one of you in the Kunlun Sect!”

Bǎi Tōngmíng quickly grabbed Ye Tianlong’s arm, speaking urgently but calmly. “Arəya! Can you guarantee Ye Qing’s safety? Even if she is a descendant of the Ancient People, she knows nothing! She’s done nothing wrong! She’s just an ordinary girl with a special bloodline! Can you protect her?”

“I know she’s innocent,” Arəya nodded, her expression firming with resolve. “I will protect her.”

Her tone shifted again. “She hasn’t become a true Spirit Person yet. Until then… she is safe. I’ve told you what I can. The rest… you must decide for yourselves.”

Arəya turned and vanished back into the forest shadows.

Bǎi Tōngmíng gripped Ye Tianlong’s shoulder tightly. “Big Brother! Calm down! We can’t let hatred cloud our judgment! Little Sister Qing is safe in Kunlun for now! We need to leave! ‘As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood!’ One day, Big Brother! One day we will return and bathe Kunlun in blood! We will get Little Sister Qing back!”

Ye Tianlong let out one final, heart-wrenching roar! He swung his sword violently! Razor-sharp Sword Qi lashed out, cutting down a wide swathe of trees before him!

After venting his fury, his breathing slowly steadied. He nodded grimly at Bǎi Tōngmíng. “Tongming… thank you. I’m calm now. Let’s go! The grudge we bear today… we will repay it with interest another day! Xiao Qing… wait for me!”

The two figures turned and disappeared into the forest.

Not long after they left, a terrifying, suffocating aura descended upon the clearing.

An aged, trembling voice choked with grief and rage echoed through the trees. “WHO KILLED MY GRANDSON?! WHO?! AAAAAAH! I WILL HAVE REVENGE! BLOOD FOR BLOOD!”