The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Brother!" Yun Yanshuang tugged at her brother's sleeve, her tone urgent.

Beneath them, Sun Fenglin lay pinned under Blue Caire's oppressive aura, his struggle futile against her overwhelming strength. The golden corpse gu was mere inches from its target.

"I know," Yun Yantian said, his voice calm yet laced with steel.

His gaze sharpened as he watched the scene below. Despite his earlier composure, he couldn't deny that the situation had grown precarious.

Blue Caire's laughter rang out, sweet yet sinister.

"You're right to call for help," she said, her scarlet eyes gleaming with amusement as she glanced up at the ridge.

"Come on, little hiding rats. Show yourselves. Let me see what other treasures you've brought me to play with."

Her words, paired with her mocking smile, were calculated to provoke.

With a sigh, Yun Yantian stood, his movements deliberate.

"Stay here," he instructed Yun Yanshuang softly.

"Brother—!"

"Your safety is the priority," he interrupted, his tone firm.

Yun Yanshuang hesitated, her fists clenched in frustration. She understood her brother's reasoning, but it didn't quell the guilt and helplessness churning in her chest.

Yun Yantian stepped off the ridge, his figure descending with graceful precision.

In one fluid motion, he drew a sleek spiritual sword from his back, its blade humming faintly with spiritual energy.

The moment his feet touched the canyon floor, his presence exploded outward—a wave of immense spiritual power that rippled through the air, scattering dust and stone.

Blue Caire's gaze snapped toward him, her expression shifting slightly.

"Well, well. It seems the rats have fangs after all," she remarked, her tone still light but tinged with wariness.

Unlike Sun Fenglin and his brothers, Yun Yantian's aura was polished, refined—a sign of both natural talent and disciplined cultivation.

"I was wondering when you'd stop cowering in the shadows," she added with a smirk.

"I prefer to choose my battles wisely," Yun Yantian replied evenly, his sword raised.

With a flick of his wrist, Yun Yantian unleashed a wave of energy from his blade.

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The golden corpse gu veering toward Sun Fenglin was intercepted mid-flight, obliterated in a burst of light and spiritual force.

Sun Fenglin gasped, the oppressive weight on his body easing slightly as Blue Caire redirected her focus.

"Get up and help your brothers," Yun Yantian ordered without turning his head.

Sun Fenglin gritted his teeth and nodded, staggering to his feet.

"Impressive," Blue Caire admitted, her playful smile fading into something colder.

"But skill alone won't save you."

Her aura surged, a vortex of malevolent energy that darkened the canyon's atmosphere.

From her waist, another swarm of corpse gu emerged, their wings buzzing ominously as they filled the air around her.

"You'll join your friends soon enough," she hissed, her sweet voice now carrying a venomous edge.

Yun Yantian's eyes narrowed.

"Let's see if your tricks match your arrogance," he replied, his tone steady.

He surged forward, his blade meeting her summoned swarm with calculated precision. Each slash of his sword emitted waves of light, cutting through the golden gu with swift, lethal efficiency.

Blue Caire countered with sharp, fluid movements, her hands weaving spells that sent waves of dark energy crashing toward him.

The clash of their powers shook the canyon, each strike illuminating the battlefield with bursts of light and shadow.

Above, Yun Yanshuang watched anxiously, her fists clenched as she struggled to remain still.

"Be careful, brother," she murmured, her heart pounding as the battle raged below.

Meanwhile, Sun Fenglin had regrouped with his brothers, their expressions grim as they took in the scale of the fight.

"Fenglin," Sun Fengxuan said, his voice tight. "What now?"

"We wait for an opening," Sun Fenglin replied, his jaw set.

"For now, we trust Yun Yantian to hold her off."

The canyon trembled as the fight escalated, the once-deafening cries of the corpse puppets now silenced in the wake of the duel's raw power.

For the first time, Blue Caire's smirk faltered as Yun Yantian's relentless precision forced her onto the defensive.

But she wasn't done yet.

"You're good," she admitted, her voice strained.

"But let's see how you handle this!"

Her hands came together in a sharp motion, summoning a shadowy figure from the depths of the canyon—a hulking monstrosity cobbled together from countless corpses, its form radiating overwhelming malice.

Yun Yantian's grip on his sword tightened.

"Of course it wouldn't be that simple," he muttered under his breath.

The final round was about to begin.@@novelbin@@

But now, there was no room for hesitation. He had to make a move.

"Stay here, Shuang'er," Yun Yantian instructed, his voice steady but firm. "Keep an eye on the surroundings. If there are any other Gu Sect disciples lurking in the shadows, wait for the right moment to act."

"Got it, Brother Yantian. Be careful," Yun Yanshuang responded, her delicate features etched with concern.

"I will," he assured her with a faint nod before gripping his black short spear tightly. In a flash, his figure disappeared, descending into the canyon like a streak of lightning.

"Oh, there's more of you?" Lan Cai'er, who had been standing nonchalantly in the shadows, arched a brow as her crimson eyes landed on the incoming figure. "Perfect. I'll refine all of you so-called spiritual cultivators into corpse puppets to nourish my Gu worms."

She smirked, her tone dripping with mockery. But as the approaching figure came into clearer view, her expression subtly shifted. The spiritual energy emanating from Yun Yantian was far more solid and refined than that of Sun Fenglin or his brothers. Moreover, his cultivation had already reached the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breath Realm, significantly higher than she had anticipated.

What surprised her even more was his agility, his movements sharp and precise, an unmistakable sign of mastery in movement techniques.

"Break!" Yun Yantian bellowed as he activated Treading Snow Without a Trace, propelling himself with incredible speed toward Lan Cai'er. The black spear in his hand gleamed ominously, radiating spiritual energy. Silver Dragon Spear Technique, a Yellow-Grade Tier 3 skill, came roaring to life, transforming his strike into a ferocious silver dragon hurtling toward Lan Cai'er.

The sheer power of the attack forced her to abandon her hold on Sun Fengxuan and retreat swiftly. A direct hit from this strike would be catastrophic, even for her.

Boom!

The spear's force collided with the canyon wall behind her, sending tremors through the entire gorge. Massive rocks dislodged from above, crashing down like a deadly downpour.

Lan Cai'er darted between the falling boulders, her movements as fluid and elusive as a ghost. But Yun Yantian was relentless, his spear trailing her every move. His next strike shot toward her brow with unerring precision.

At the last moment, Lan Cai'er tilted her head, narrowly avoiding the lethal blow. Her eyes flickered with both alarm and intrigue.

"This man's movement technique... it's remarkably nimble. Though he's only at the fourth stage of the Embryonic Breath Realm, he's managing to keep up with me."

She darted back, creating a wide gap between them. Her mind raced as she analyzed him.

"That technique... and that spear skill. They're clearly of high grade, likely Tier 3 or above. Is he a direct descendant of one of the Three Great Clans or Seven Major Houses? Or perhaps he belongs to another influential cultivation family within Yue Nation?"

Lan Cai'er wasn't one for close combat. Her true expertise lay in controlling corpse worms and practicing corpse refinement techniques. The only reason she was holding her ground was because of her higher cultivation level. If they were on equal footing, she might have already fallen to his relentless assault.

Recognizing the disadvantage, she swiftly retreated further.

"Your movement and spear techniques are impressive," she admitted with a faint smile, her gaze fixed on Yun Yantian. "Clearly, you've studied under a high-level master. But maintaining such advanced techniques must consume a significant amount of spiritual energy. Surely, you can't keep this up for long."

Her smile deepened, an air of smugness creeping into her tone. "So no, you can't kill me. Of course, I can't kill you either. Let's just say I'm not fond of close combat."

Yun Yantian stood tall, his black spear leveled at her, his expression unwavering. "Are you done talking?"

"Not yet," she teased, her tone lilting. "I'm curious—where exactly are you from? With skills like yours, you can't be from some no-name family."

"That's none of your concern," Yun Yantian replied curtly, his voice cold as steel.

Without giving her a chance to respond, he surged forward once more, his spear slicing through the air with deadly intent.

The battle between them continued, the clash of their skills sending shockwaves through the gorge.

Meanwhile, Sun Fenglin rushed to his younger brother's side, his heart pounding as he knelt beside the pale and battered Sun Fengxuan.

"Are you all right?" he asked urgently.

"Just a scratch... nothing too serious," Sun Fengxuan rasped, his voice weak but resolute.

His gaze shifted to the duel between Yun Yantian and Lan Cai'er, his eyes reflecting both awe and despair. "The Yun clan's spiritual cultivators... they're leagues ahead of us. Brother, the gap between our families is only growing wider."

Sun Fenglin clenched his fists, frustration and helplessness warring within him. "Indeed. The difference between us has become insurmountable."