Chapter 83: I Am Very Weak Right Now
Here again? Song Yue’s expression turned cold. He was about to draw his blade and fight when, in an instant, he sensed something touch his spiritual sea. The next moment, he entered a space of profound mystery.
Time seemed utterly frozen!
He could clearly see the two people approaching him, each with one foot suspended in midair, their faces calm, no hint of killing intent emanating from their bodies. Yet they stood as if solidified in place. The others in the square were the same. The whole world had fallen into absolute silence.
Then, a vast, overwhelming presence swept over him. The scene before Song Yue changed in a blink. It was still the Scripture Hall, but now the place brimmed with vitality. Towering ancient trees appeared around the hall, their massive canopies blotting out the sky.
From within the hall, the sound of a sermon echoed. A remarkably handsome young man strode slowly out of the Scripture Hall, preaching as he walked. He spoke of the path to sanctification through the physical body!
Was this the legendary Second Lord True Monarch?
Song Yue felt the experience was strikingly similar to the time he listened to the Heavenly Lord’s teachings in the underground palace. Yet the Heavenly Lord’s sermon concerned spiritual arts, while the white-robed youth before him spoke of the laws of the flesh.
Unlike last time, Song Yue found himself alone. The white-robed youth did not look at him, but paced the hall’s threshold, reciting truths to himself. Each phrase entered Song Yue’s spiritual sea; the Taiyi Body-Refining Scripture began to operate on its own, and the runes on his organs and skin radiated infinite light.
Song Yue put everything else aside, focused his mind, and earnestly absorbed the teachings. All around him, everything remained in that miraculous stillness. If he reached out with his senses, he could “see” the previous state—the two men who’d been about to approach him still suspended in place.
In Song Yue’s spiritual sea, the spoken truths blossomed into lotus flowers, each one containing boundless mysteries. The Great Dao was subtle beyond words, wondrous and ineffable.
Song Yue became utterly immersed. In a haze, he felt as though years, even decades had passed, but at the same time, it seemed only an instant. Whether decades or a mere moment, he gained immense, unimaginable insight.
His dream had always been to become a Martial Dao Grand Saint. Now, not only had he drawn closer, he’d truly touched the veil itself.
As he continued to comprehend the truths, Song Yue suddenly felt an impulse. It was as if the countless cells in his body were restless, yearning to transform their arrangement!
He chose to heed this inner urge.
In a flash, he transformed—into a bird.
His body was bright red, feathers vivid, arms turned wings beating gently as he soared skyward. Had the Red Bird been present, it would have thought it’d met a kin.
Then Song Yue envisioned the old peony tree, and his form became that of a peony.
Each transformation lasted only a short while.
Just as he was enjoying this play, the handsome white-robed youth suddenly stopped pacing at the hall’s threshold and glanced at him. “Listen attentively.”
Song Yue: !!!
He was stunned, startled.
What was this? He could see me? Was he preaching just for me?
When he’d heard the Heavenly Lord before, it had felt vivid, but never as though an “ancient one” was watching.
The white-robed youth said no more, resumed his preaching.
Song Yue calmed his mind, quieted himself, and soon was once again immersed in the mysteries of the Dao.
He did not know how much time had passed, but when he awoke from the depths of insight, everything seemed restored to normal.
Yet he himself was changed!
His realm had not broken through to Grandmaster, but his overall strength had undergone a qualitative leap.
The two men who’d been approaching nonchalantly now continued toward him.
Song Yue looked at them coldly.
Not only did they not stop, they erupted violently, attacking him together!
Both were Martial Dao Grandmasters!
The power they unleashed was enough to terrify even cultivators of the highest order.
Boom!
Boom!
Two terrifying energies shot from their fists toward Song Yue.
An ordinary master would have been shattered by such force.
Song Yue’s expression did not change. His figure flashed, and he charged right through one of the dreadful energies, closing in on his attacker.
Star-Splitting Hand!
Under the bright sky, starlight sparkled.
Each point of starlight contained unimaginable power.
As the starlight pierced the Grandmaster’s protective aura and struck him, the Grandmaster spewed blood and was hurled backward.
He died mid-air, breathless.
The other Grandmaster’s eyes bulged in fury. He smashed a fist at Song Yue’s head.
Song Yue turned palm to fist; thunder blossomed on his knuckles as he struck head-on.
Fist to fist!
With a bang, the opponent’s hand exploded!
With another punch, Song Yue struck his face.
He always preferred to punch a cultivator in the face, but this time, a warrior got it first.
Bang!
The Grandmaster’s protective aura burst, his nose shattered, his face twisted inward.
A fraction more, and Song Yue would have blown his head apart.
But even so, the punch nearly killed him.
He fell, howling in agony.
Song Yue strode over and kicked him away.
His screams were sharp but brief, cut off instantly.
The entire Scripture Hall square fell silent.
Everyone was dumbstruck.
Those present were all warriors. When the two Grandmasters attacked, they’d thought Song Yue was finished.
What young warrior could withstand the simultaneous assault of two Grandmasters?
Yet now, what they saw felt surreal, almost impossible to believe.
This young man had killed two Grandmasters in the blink of an eye?
Song Yue stood there, calm and composed, surveying the crowd.
Wherever his gaze fell, people avoided it, lowering their eyes and bowing respectfully.
All to show they meant no harm.
But in truth… Song Yue felt utterly drained.
He had just used the body arts taught by the white-robed man at the Scripture Hall’s threshold.
He had mobilized all his potential in an instant.
Faced with two Grandmasters, under normal circumstances, his only option would have been to flee.
After learning this body art, he’d been able to kill them in a flash.
If someone launched an attack now—never mind a Grandmaster—even someone like Xiao Meng, the somewhat watered-down champion of the Martial Arts World Tournament, could easily defeat him.
But no one on the square dared to make a move against him.
Song Yue felt so weak he might faint at any moment; he knew he could not remain.
Among these people, who could say if any were from the Ou family faction?
If someone reckless enough tried to attack him, risking their life for a chance at the reward...
He looked at the crowd and said, “Anyone else want to kill me?”
Silence.
With such astonishing, earth-shattering power, who would still want to kill him?
“If not, I’ll be leaving.”
Song Yue said, heading toward the densest part of the crowd.
The group scattered in panic.
Some didn’t dare look him in the eye.
Song Yue, like a dark lord, walked slowly down a corridor cleared for him.
His figure faded toward the end of the square, disappearing from sight.
Only when he was gone did someone, still shaken, say, “Why do I feel… he seemed weak?”
“You noticed too? I felt it as well. To kill two Grandmasters instantly—if he could still act as if nothing happened, he’d be a god, not a man!”
“So why didn’t you try to test him?”
“Am I crazy? I have no grudge with him. Why would I?”
The crowd murmured, then looked at the two dead Grandmasters, sighing.
Those two weren’t even from the Ou family faction, but had been blinded by the enormous bounty.
In fact, as soon as Song Yue arrived, most present recognized him.
Perhaps only Song Yue himself didn’t realize his appearance and details had already spread throughout the underground palace.
The Ou family didn’t just want to act themselves; they wanted a “nationwide” manhunt for Song Yue.
They wanted everyone in the underground palace to target him.
To ensure he could never see daylight again.
So though the crowd only glanced at him before turning away, each person was calculating.
Weighing gain and loss.
The two Grandmasters acted too quickly, perhaps out of fear someone else would beat them to it, or thinking that Song Yue, a young master, might have protective artifacts outside, but here in this sealed palace with all arts suppressed, how formidable could he be?
Kill him, claim the reward. Perfect!
And so they died.
Soon, members of the Ou family faction arrived.
The two bodies were still there, untouched.
The Ou family group looked baffled, until they heard the story and were stunned into disbelief.
“This is absurd!” the leader of the Ou family frowned. “Just now, he escaped here in panic while we surrounded him. How could he kill two Grandmasters in an instant?”
The young Grandmaster who’d met Song Yue at the food city was equally skeptical. “If he had that ability, why did he run earlier?”
But there were dozens of witnesses. They had no connection to Song Yue, and many were close to the Ou family. Surely they wouldn’t all lie.
Someone pointed out, “Song Yue seemed to use some forbidden secret during the fight. He wasn’t injured, but when he left, he looked very weak.”
Many confirmed this.
“Yes, before he left he even asked if anyone else wanted to kill him. Honestly, I was so stunned I froze. Looking back, his words seemed a bit bluster masking weakness.”
“I was frightened too. To kill two Grandmasters in an instant… I know those two, they’d only just entered the Grandmaster realm, but still… they’re a whole level above a normal master! To be killed so easily… terrifying.”
The Ou family faction looked grim; some young masters immediately lost their nerve.
The Ou family’s bounty was tempting, and warriors could get hot-headed, but even hot-blooded fools aren’t idiots.
Everyone knows the logic of making money only if you survive.
No one knew exactly how Song Yue managed it, but surely it was his own power.
In this place where all arts are sealed, even using spiritual force to wield artifacts was impossible.
Even if the two Grandmasters were weak, no ordinary young master could defeat them.
“Are there any secret arts that can instantly unleash one’s potential and let someone briefly enter the Grandmaster realm?” a young master from the Ou faction asked.
“There are.” A Grandmaster in his late twenties replied solemnly. “Ancient texts record many such arts, but most require burning one’s own vital energy. Afterwards, the user is weak for a long time—at such times, even an ordinary warrior could defeat them.”
“Yes, I’ve read about these too, but they’re usually forbidden or secret techniques, rarely obtained.” Another young Grandmaster said, “Song Yue comes from Earth. The civilization there is low, but as the mother star, it has many secret realms and underground palaces, so digging up ancient forbidden arts isn’t surprising.”
Many in the Ou family faction relaxed, their eyes showing renewed interest—
A long period of weakness?
Some here had already said Song Yue looked weak as he left.
Does that mean… we have an opportunity?
As long as we find him!
For a moment, many were eager.
They wanted to find Song Yue while he was weak and kill him.
Then claim the Ou family’s reward and make their mark!
Weak or not, to kill a young rising star who just slew two Grandmasters—what glory!
Soon, the group scattered quickly, searching for Song Yue.
Even some from the square couldn’t resist and joined in.
The Ou family leader encouraged them loudly, “Anyone who finds Song Yue and reports to us, even if you don’t strike yourself, the Ou family will reward you!”
Half the square emptied in moments.
Even some from the Lin family faction, who’d just arrived and heard the story, slipped away.
They weren’t on good terms with Song Yue. Though employed by the Lin family, if they claimed the Ou family’s reward and left the underground palace, who could stop them?
When several Lin family scions arrived, only a few remained.
After hearing what had happened, the Lin family members realized the seriousness.
If Song Yue came to harm here, they would be blamed.
The whole family believed Lin Huan had brought Song Yue in because she liked him, so whatever happened, he must be kept safe.
The Lin family members dispersed, faces grave.
They had to find Song Yue before anyone else did, and leave immediately!
Opportunity could wait. Survival came first.
Deep down, they resented Song Yue—why come here knowing you’d draw so much hatred?
But they also felt another voice—he actually killed two Grandmasters? Incredible!
Ling Xiaohan, Qin Qi, Lei Ming, and Bai Qi strolled through the city, unhurried, eventually arriving at the square. Tong Yue and Xue Guanghui, being cultivators, hadn’t come.
Ling Xiaohan, with arched brows, phoenix eyes, slender waist and long legs, wore stylish clothes, hair in a bun, oversized sunglasses covering half her face—a trendy girl, yet radiating ethereal beauty, stunning and otherworldly.
Qin Qi wore a sapphire-blue gown and exaggerated earrings, her short hair framing a delicate, relaxed face.
They looked nothing like explorers in an underground palace—more fit for a banquet.
Lei Ming and Bai Qi were more typical, armored and exuding a rugged aura, like bodyguards beside the two women.
“What kind of underground palace is this? It’s a city! Why build the walls so high? Climbing ruins my image,” Ling Xiaohan groused.
“Is it as bad as losing fifty games in a row?” Bai Qi asked quietly.
“Are you trying to get kicked out?” Ling Xiaohan glared, “Mention that again and we’re through!”
Qin Qi and Lei Ming snickered.
The four walked toward the Scripture Hall. Unlike those fretting over opportunities, their faces were full of confidence.
Their arrival drew the attention of those left in the square.
Ling Xiaohan and the others looked unfamiliar, even Qin Qi, though local, had always been low-key.
The bun-haired girl’s beauty stunned many, who couldn’t help but glance again.
Ling Xiaohan saw the two Grandmasters’ corpses and paused.
She murmured, “Just out seeking opportunity, and someone’s dead?”
Was it a reward gone wrong? It didn’t seem so.
She blinked and approached a young warrior, her voice clear and pleasant, “Brother, what happened?”
The young warrior, sneaking glances at her, blushed and eagerly recounted the events.
“Thanks!” Ling Xiaohan said, turning away.
He watched her go, wanting to ask her for contact info, but couldn’t summon the courage. Her aura made him tongue-tied.
Ling Xiaohan, Qin Qi, Lei Ming, and Bai Qi exchanged glances—they’d heard the story too.
Song Yue? The Lin family? The Ou family? Wasn’t that the man they’d dined with just days ago?
“He’s that strong?” Ling Xiaohan muttered. “Did he use some forbidden art? Silly—why not run if he couldn’t win? Now if he’s found, he’ll be in trouble!”
Lei Ming nodded, “Must’ve used some forbidden art, burning his energy for a short-term power boost—probably cornered.”
Ling Xiaohan frowned, “What do we do? We can’t just watch him die—we did drink together.”
Qin Qi hesitated—this was a big deal. They weren’t afraid of the Ou family, but didn’t want direct conflict.
But she couldn’t say that outright.
In the battlefield, comradeship is everything.
Though not close to Song Yue, still, to ignore him would feel wrong.
Bai Qi liked Song Yue—few from Earth knew the history of the Galactic Era.
He felt Song Yue was a good fit.
He proposed, “Let’s look for him. If we find him, we help. If not, or if he’s gone before we do… then it’s his fate. Agreed?”
“No problem,” Lei Ming said.
The young warrior who’d recounted the events tried to dissuade them, “Do you know Song Yue? I advise you not to meddle. At least dozens want to kill him—you won’t make a difference.”
Ling Xiaohan raised her brows, “All the more reason not to stand by. To target a hunted innocent for profit is unjust!”
The young warrior hadn’t exaggerated, just told what he knew. That was enough.
The group quickly left the square.
He stamped his feet in regret, wishing he hadn’t been so detailed. If anything happened to the beautiful girl, it’d be a shame.
…
After leaving the Scripture Hall square, Song Yue used the last of his strength to run quickly with Shadow Stealth Steps.
He needed to find a safe place and replenish energy, so his depleted vital force could recover.
Strike while the enemy is weak.
Song Yue had learned this from childhood fights.
He understood, and so did others.
Contrary to what others guessed, Song Yue hadn’t used some forbidden art with harsh aftereffects, but the body art taught by the white-robed man!
A top-tier technique!
Song Yue was already strong enough to contend with Grandmasters. Now, he had simply forced himself to kill them in the shortest time.
He had indeed burned his energy, but his state was not so dire!
Soon, he found a secluded thatched hut in the city, entered, and found it rundown.
He quickly took out a pile of lobster claw meat from the stone stele space, not bothering to cut or season it, and devoured it.
A surge of energy spread through his body.
His vitality rapidly restored.
Just as Song Yue felt eighty percent recovered, someone found him.
Not because they had keen senses, but by searching bit by bit.
Song Yue sensed them as they approached; he could have hidden in the stone stele space and waited until it was safe.
But now his energy was nearly restored, and he wanted to see how many would try to kill him for profit.
So he stepped from the hut to face the searchers.
There were three—not from the Ou family faction!
Seeing Song Yue, their faces lit up.
He smiled, “Looking for me? I’m very weak now—one hit and I’ll fall.”
“So… who goes first?”
“If you’re slow, you won’t get the Ou family’s top reward!”
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Thanks to the beautiful Piaopiao for another silver alliance reward.
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