Chapter 20: Facing

“……” Sean fell silent once more.

Long Jing watched his father anxiously from the side. Seeing Sean remain quiet so long, he seemed to understand something; the excitement and light in his eyes gradually faded.

Ak said casually, “Like you said, we have to abandon some things eventually. Without that resolve, how can one become my kin?”

He gave Ak a meaningful glance, then turned and walked toward the Source hub.

The streets were filled with hurrying crowds.

They had received warnings to leave Wei Qing City immediately or face consequences.

Due to the earlier commotion, even those ignoring the warning took it seriously; most planned to stay a bit longer to observe.

At that moment, a man in ordinary casual clothes approached from the road’s end.

His appearance seemed to steal all light. Anyone near him found their vision gradually darkening, narrowing, until they lost consciousness and collapsed.

“Weak. Powerless.” Ak shook his head, sighing. “Hard to imagine I was once such a creature.”

Sean and Long Jing followed behind.

Sean’s expression unchanged.

Long Jing frowned deeply. Ak’s meaningless killing made him uncomfortable.

But he knew he had no say. His and his father’s lives were in Ak’s hands.

Back at the Source hub; now empty, only purest Source stored in the tower-top container. No defenses set.

“Wise choice.”

Ak’s lips curved. Sending guards would only increase casualties. The people here knew when to yield.

He flicked a finger. The top crystal sphere detached, falling into his palm.

“Original Source? No, better call you Tianhong Original Fluid.” Ak stared at the liquid, joy rising.

He flicked again. The crystal shattered. The fluid didn’t spill but formed a sphere above his palm. He examined it carefully, then took smaller portions, handing them to Sean and Long Jing.

“These… are for you.” Ak said.

“Thank you, my lord.” Sean hadn’t expected a share; his rejection of Ak lessened slightly.

He absorbed his portion entirely without glancing at Long Jing.

Long Jing kept his head low, silent.

“How does it feel?”

After Sean digested, looking younger again, Ak smiled and asked.

“Excellent. My ability strength rose about thirty percent.” Sean said excitedly.

“Not bad.” Ak nodded lightly. Sean’s utilization rate around eighty percent; within expectations. Not everyone could reach his impossible one hundred twenty like him.

“Let’s go. Once those two outside collect the experimental materials, this place has no reason to exist.” Ak said.

Sean immediately recalled the sea of fire in Tian Ying City.

Ak quickly absorbed the remaining fluid, turning to leave.

Then he noticed a figure standing at the doorway sometime.

A girl in classic black skirt, brows and eyes cold as painting, posture dignified and elegant. Every detail of her body seemed meticulously sculpted; like an ancient lady stepping from a scroll.

“Who are you?”

Ak’s eyes lit. Though he sensed no Tianhong drug in her, a primitive achieving such pleasing beauty deserved a second look.

Zhang Yujun said nothing. She glanced at the shattered crystal container on the ground, quickly understanding the situation.

“Subject Thirteen?” She said faintly.

“How do you know my identity? Related to those above?” Ak’s smile vanished; eyes turned wary and suspicious.

“I just came down from there…” Zhang Yujun stepped forward slowly.

“I see. So you’re the ‘Exalted One’ they mentioned.” Ak said affirmatively, then turned to Sean, expressionless. “You go.”

Me?

Sean’s heart sank, but he stepped forward anyway.

Freshly enhanced Dim Abyss power formed a massive domain, instantly enveloping the entire Source hub. But the small area around Zhang Yujun remained unaffected.

As expected; he hadn’t planned to win with this.

Soul Sever!

His palms wove. Massive Dim Abyss power compressed into near-invisible threads; incredible cutting and corrosive properties.

Threads dense from all directions squeezed toward Zhang Yujun. Once, this instantly killed a city lord-level source user.

Ak’s eyes brightened. Originally planning a normal lackey; didn’t expect Sean’s combat talent. Worth cultivating.

Buzz!

Zhang Yujun kept walking. Her Supreme Yin body’s protective mana completely isolated Dim Abyss influence.

Facing the threads, her eyes merely flickered.

“Interesting.” She said softly.

Next moment, massive Supreme Yin power poured out like floodgates opened, bombarding surroundings. In an instant, the Dim Abyss domain became tattered. Another instant; threads snapped like facing a torrent.

“This power… how…”

Sean paled. Facing her directly, he felt it deepest. She hadn’t defended; seemed a mere glance shattered all his attacks.

Tidal pressure assaulted. Long Jing already knelt, suffocating.

Ak fared poorly too, but Zhang Yujun’s power type felt familiar; as if seen somewhere.

“I remember. You’re from that place!” Ak resisted Supreme Yin mana erosion. Suddenly recalled; in the heavenly ring, he’d seen similar abilities.

Those people… from a place called Ask Immortal Sect.

Far above Valen Temple.

“We can cooperate.” He proposed. “Valen Temple captured your people.”

“Oh, but I’m not interested.” Zhang Yujun wasn’t surprised. Finding a sect token near the ring suggested Valen Temple secretly experimented on cultivators.

Many cultivators vanished exploring Heavenly Universe Hundred Lands.

“You seem… to have killed many here.” Zhang Yujun said faintly, voice chilling.

“Just primitives. Kill them; they’ll repopulate in time. Besides, don’t you think we strong should control their life and death?” Ak didn’t deny, stating directly.

Compared to Sean, his ideology went further.

Both placed themselves above ordinary people.

“If I agreed, you shouldn’t be standing before me now.” Zhang Yujun said faintly. In Ask Immortal Sect, such ideology would earn countless lessons in being human.

“You…”

Ak’s face froze. Watching her back, evil fire surged.

“I’ll see what gives you the right to treat me like this!”

Ak leaped. Source-enhanced body cratered the ground. Curved blade trailed green arc, reaching Zhang Yujun’s back in a blink.

“Die!”

Ak rejoiced inwardly. So close; no reaction; certain death.

But suddenly, he noticed Mo Qing, eyes closed earlier, now open, looking at him with pity.

Ak’s mind shook. He realized his true predicament. The blade fell but stopped ten centimeters from Zhang Yujun, immovable.

Massive invisible sticky substance wrapped his body, devouring inch by inch.

Her Dao Body’s protective mana; neutralized all below Foundation attacks.

Ak frozen mid-air, struggling futilely.

Zhang Yujun turned, eyes still calm. “Submit or die. One choice.”