Chapter Four: The Jade Pendant’s Strange Phenomenon

Su Yi had barely touched the ground, his body not yet steady, when a force like a raging wind swept toward him. He was somewhat surprised at Di Yuan’s speed of reaction. Now, it was too late to dodge; he had no choice but to take the blow head-on.

But as he felt the immense power behind it, Su Yi’s heart clenched. If he was careless and took the hit directly, he might be gravely injured on the spot. Gritting his teeth, he crossed his hands over his chest, channeling all his inner energy into his arms, hoping to absorb most of the incoming force.

Yet, the difference between him and Di Yuan was simply too great. The strength he managed to gather felt minuscule, quickly drowned out by Di Yuan’s overwhelming assault.

The moment foot and hand connected, Su Yi was struck by the force transmitted through his arms. His entire body trembled with the impact, a metallic taste rising in his throat. He staggered back a dozen steps, finally halting when he collided with a tree trunk.

The collision sent his barely stabilized energy into turmoil. “Cough…” Su Yi hacked a few times and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Di Yuan, having kicked Su Yi back, did not press the attack. He mulled over whether to teach Su Yi another lesson, but unexpectedly thought of Mei Ya. His heart stirred.

Mei Ya, for reasons unknown, still defended Su Yi at every turn. He realized he couldn’t go too far, lest she take offense. In the future, he’d best avoid getting his own hands dirty—but, hmm…

Having decided, Di Yuan let out a few cold, inward laughs, then raised his head and spoke icily to Su Yi, “Today, I’ll let you off for Miss Mei Ya’s sake. Next time, you may not be so lucky—a useless coward who hides behind a woman!”

Hearing such disdainful words, blood still trickling from his lips, Su Yi felt a surge of resentment explode within. In his prime, he’d never been treated so contemptuously—especially not by a subordinate he had once thoroughly suppressed! But his remaining reason warned him: he could not act recklessly. Blind defiance would only lead to greater humiliation.

Just then, a terrifying and overwhelming murderous intent erupted, engulfing the two of them in an instant. Before either could even react in shock or confusion, the dreadful aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving the world silent and still, as if nothing had happened—only the two men remained, startled and uncertain.

Su Yi, shaken by the aura, found his emotions calming and clearing, though a faint sense of confusion lingered within him. Compared to Su Yi’s bewilderment, Di Yuan’s feelings were more of shock than doubt—

What had just happened? That murderous intent was so intense, it nearly crushed his breath… Was it just an illusion?

But then, why was his body still cold and trembling slightly? Di Yuan wondered, glancing uncertainly and incredulously toward Su Yi. Though it lasted only a moment, the aura seemed to have emanated from Su Yi himself!

“No, impossible! How could a useless man without even battle energy release such a presence?” Di Yuan vigorously shook his head in his heart, rebuking himself.

Drawing a steady breath, Di Yuan gradually regained his composure, his expression returning to normal. He cast Su Yi a cold glance and said, “Let’s see how long you can hold out here!”

With that, Di Yuan turned and swiftly departed, not sparing Su Yi another look.

…

Watching Di Yuan’s figure recede and finally disappear, Su Yi’s forced composure collapsed. His legs, already weak and numb, trembled violently, and his body swayed before he sank to his knees with a thud.

The gap really is vast, Su Yi thought with a bitter smile. The exchange had happened in a flash, seemingly simple, but he had given his all—yet still could not withstand a single blow.

Such is the difference between cultivating inner energy and cultivating battle energy!

Only those who cultivate battle energy can truly be called practitioners. Only they can wield battle techniques and acquire the power to become strong. Before that, the strength gained from cultivating inner energy cannot compare—it’s not a difference in degree, but in essence!

When Su Yi was once a Fighter, he hadn’t fully grasped this disparity. Now, however, he keenly felt the helplessness—the gulf between levels cannot be bridged merely by desperation…

But what was that aura just now? Was it truly an illusion born of fevered blood? …No matter what, Di Yuan, I will not let this go!

Lost in these thoughts, Su Yi exhaled and slowly leaned his back against the broad tree trunk, hands clenched tightly, his gaze cold and desolate as he gradually merged into the deepening night…

He didn’t know how much time had passed when a sudden insect’s chirp broke the silence, rousing Su Yi from his haze. He looked around at the night, surprised at how late it had grown. With a self-mocking smile, he shook his head and slowly stood.

Brushing off his clothes, Su Yi narrowed his eyes, orienting himself and heading toward his small house. Due to troubles arising from an incident a year ago, he had moved to a comparatively quieter place, though it was somewhat more remote.

Standing before his door, Su Yi found his breathing a little labored. Normally, he was used to the distance and felt no discomfort.

But today, he had first been wounded by Di Yuan and spat blood, then spent time lost in thought, neglecting his injury and missing the best window for treatment. Now, after walking so far in a hurt state, even Su Yi could not help but feel exhausted.

He opened the door, entered, and went straight to the bed, collapsing onto it. As his back touched the mattress, its softness and comfort enveloped him like a dark vortex, gripping his fatigue so tightly that he had no desire to move…

Night had fully fallen.

All creation lay in silence, the cold, ethereal moonlight casting across the broad land. The moonlight shone on Su Yi’s small house, a few rays filtering through the window and brightening the otherwise pitch-dark interior.

Su Yi closed his eyes, and soon a powerful drowsiness crept over his mind, as if countless invisible hands were tugging at his eyelids and wrapping around his body. His consciousness grew hazy…

Just as his last shred of awareness was about to fade, a cold current slowly spread from his chest, like an icy spring dispelling the oppressive sleepiness in his mind. Su Yi’s spirit cleared slightly; he reached into his clothes and drew out a jade pendant.

The dark green jade glimmered faintly in the night. If one looked closely, the emerald light seemed to contain the indistinct image of a dragon, swirling and mysterious.

This jade pendant had been with Su Yi ever since he crossed into this world. He had inherited the original owner’s memories incompletely—fragmented and scarce—so he himself was unsure what the pendant meant or what his origins were.

On the vast continent of battle energy, countless factions and families spread across the land. What could this pendant represent?

Su Yi couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. What secrets could this jade hold, and what did they have to do with him? He was merely a soul inhabiting this body, essentially another person; the past should have nothing to do with him.

Lying on the soft bed, Su Yi’s face, pale in the jade’s glow, twitched slightly before settling back into calm. Yet the mysterious pendant on his chest suddenly began to emit a faint, eerie light.

The glow was subtle but uncanny, and under its flicker, a blood-red substance slowly began seeping from Su Yi’s body!