C63 Two Injuries

Yu Yuan was in so much agony that he couldn't utter a word.

Threads of feminine energy wreaked havoc within his organs, flesh, and bones, causing unspeakable pain that spread throughout his body and tormented his soul as if it were being torn apart.

"Hu! Hu! Hu!"

He gasped for air, his body swaying precariously on the stone steps, teetering on the brink of plummeting into the abyss below.

Despite the considerable distance between him and the pit's bottom, a fall from this height, given his current state in the Soul Awakening Realm, would undoubtedly be fatal.

A fall would mean certain death.

Yet, even if he managed to stay perched, the wild feminine energy coursing through him would be just as lethal.

He faced two grim options: a swift death or enduring excruciating, inhuman torture until a slow demise.

Down below, Van Le's smile widened with glee.

"One, two, three, four..."

He silently counted to himself, convinced that Yu Yuan would soon opt to escape the unbearable pain by leaping into the pit for an instantaneous death.

He knew the pain Yu Yuan was experiencing would only intensify, becoming more agonizing than death itself.

Whether Yu Yuan chose to jump and die or have his flesh and organs ripped apart was of no consequence to him.

He could wash his hands of the whole affair.

"Thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two..."

Van Le's smile waned as he continued his silent tally, opening his eyes once more.

He looked up again, and there was Yu Yuan, still swaying, visibly enduring an even more horrific ordeal.

Yet Yu Yuan had not chosen the escape of death.

With remarkable and tenacious willpower, he bore the ever-increasing pain, paying the price of agony to cling to life a little longer.

"Not bad."

Van Le mused to himself, admitting he might have underestimated Yu Yuan. He considered that, given time and opportunity, Yu Yuan could potentially become a formidable adversary.

Regrettably, life is devoid of 'ifs.'

Today, Yu Yuan was fated to die.

...

"Van Le has made his move."

The old general in the forbidden area let out a soft grunt and remarked, "That rascal certainly has a trick or two. While Yu Yuan was absorbing the divine force, he slyly infused his toxic power into the spiritual energy, channeling it into Yu Yuan's body."

Lee Yuchan furrowed her brow, "Should I step in now?"

"Keep an eye out. When Yu Yuan can't hold on any longer and is about to leap down, make sure he doesn't actually hit the ground," the old general instructed, using Heart Lake to monitor every move in the area. "As long as he doesn't jump, he won't die instantly. The force Van Le infused in him isn't meant to kill him right away, but to gradually destroy his vitality and flesh."

"It's Van Le, as I suspected," Lee Yuchan remarked.

"Honestly, I have a certain admiration for that troublemaker," the old general said, squinting his eyes. "Dislike him as I might, since he's a member of the Empire and the Van family, he commands my attention. It's a clever tactic—striking in secret without leaving a trace, making it impossible for us to hold him accountable afterward."

"He's managed to eliminate those who needed to be dealt with."

"Anyone who catches Van Le's attention is truly unfortunate. Even Lee Yu and Yan Lu are no match for him when it comes to cunning and deceit. He's a prodigy. Whether on his spiritual journey, serving in the military, or leading the Van family, he's unlikely to face significant setbacks."

The old general offered a balanced assessment.

Lee Yuchan concurred with a nod, "Yes, I'm not fond of him either. But if he were my equal in realm, strength, and status, and also my adversary, I'd find him a constant concern, necessitating vigilance at all hours."

...

"Huff! Huff! Huff!"

On the stone steps, Yu Yuan, swaying unsteadily, felt fissures tearing through his flesh and organs.

The tumultuous, yin energy around his chest cavity continued its relentless assault.

Unable to resist, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"I'm going to die anyway. If I jump, it all ends immediately."

"Why keep fighting?"

"You know full well that at your current level of Soul Awakening, you can't fend off those terrifying, refined forces with your own power."

"Just jump."

Each emerging thought was swiftly snuffed out by him.

"No! I must not die! I absolutely refuse to jump and seek death!"

Amidst excruciating agony, he repeatedly quashed the persistent thought with sheer willpower.

"If my own strength isn't sufficient, I must seek the aid of others!"

It was as though a beam of light streaked through his mind. Bracing against the excruciating pain that made him wish for death, he concentrated and employed his heaven soul to detect the fine sword light within his arms.

He had already realized that the gentle power Van Le had infused into his body had completely bypassed his arms.

This gentle power, upon nearing his arms, seemed to intelligently divert and scatter elsewhere, as if instinctively avoiding something.

"I may not yet grasp the intricacies of your sword spell, but by choosing to etch yourselves into my bones, you have recognized me."

"And now, I call upon you!"

Yu Yuan cried out internally, attempting to engage with the sword light through the most potent heaven soul among heaven, earth, and man, seeking their assistance.

Suddenly, he was overcome by a powerful tremor.

Once his heaven soul had communicated with his arms, they began to shine with a resplendent brilliance!

Beneath his skin, it was as if tiny fish were swimming along his arms, converging towards his chest, organs, waist, and neck.

The sword light swarmed like a school of fierce fish.

Wherever the sword light traveled, it ruthlessly shredded and eradicated Van Le's gentle power.

A vast, ancient aura abruptly enveloped Yu Yuan.

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

Yu Yuan felt as if he could see points of light within him, twinkling like stars, purging the Yin energy.

The agony of his soul being torn and his flesh being mangled swiftly vanished.

He, who had been teetering on the edge, now stood firm once again, realizing that the Yin energy Van Le had introduced into his body stood no chance against the onslaught of the sword light.

Unaware that he, standing on the stone steps, was emanating a soft, milky-white glow, he gazed down indifferently at where Van Le was.

Van Le, still seated, had opened his eyes to reveal a somewhat pale countenance, with a hint of blood at the corner of his mouth.

Yet, he was smiling, looking up at Yu Yuan and giving a slight nod.

Yu Yuan saw this, let out a soft laugh, and nodded back.

Without further delay, he resumed his ascent.

Van Le refrained from pursuing his opponent.

His gaze, however, remained fixed on Yu Yuan.

Even after Yu Yuan had vanished from sight, Van Le continued to stare into the sky, seemingly lost in thought for an extended period.

"Van Le? Why didn't you strike him down?" a clan member whispered.

"Look after me for a moment; I need to concentrate on my cultivation," Van Le replied, sidestepping the question. He produced a fragrant pill, swallowed it, and began the process of refining it within his body.

Only he and Yu Yuan were aware that when the sword light shattered the Yin energy he had sent forth, he too had sustained injuries.

Yu Yuan was hurt, and ultimately, so was Van Le.

Both men understood each other's stance, tacitly agreeing to avoid reigniting conflict.

"Yu Family, Yu Yuan!" Van Le inwardly roared, etching the name deeply into his memory and for the first time seriously considering Lin Zhuyun's words.

Could it be that if Yu Yuan were at the same level of cultivation as himself, he wouldn't stand a chance against him?

Yu Yuan had only recently stepped into the Soul Awakening realm, and their first clash had resulted in neither gaining the upper hand, leaving both combatants wounded.

Why was there a sense of familiarity with the sudden surge of power within Yu Yuan's body?

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