Chapter 10
“Kyaaak!”
With every swing of Tian Ailang’s hand qi, the Yin Evil Squad members dropped dead one by one.
Even a vice-leader rank member barely blocked his strikes but couldn’t last more than a few exchanges.
“Iik!”
Unable to watch any longer, Yo-hyang lunged at Tian Ailang.
She usually avoided physical attacks to preserve her skin, but she could no longer ignore her subordinates’ slaughter. Retraining new ones was a hassle, but the scolding she’d get from Lord Blood Brain for requesting reinforcements was worse. And knowing that Blood Lord Blood Demon had high hopes for this mission, she couldn’t afford any more slip-ups.
Yin Wind Claw!
“Kkiyoyot!”
With a bizarre shriek, Yo-hyang’s talon-like nails, sharp as a bird of prey’s, raked at Tian Ailang.
Klang!
Tian Ailang blocked with his hand qi. Nails clashed against blade-like palm, ringing out like striking steel on steel.
“Ngh?!”
Startled by the yin qi piercing his hand qi barrier, Tian Ailang shook his hand to dispel the invading energy.
“Kkiyot!”
Yo-hyang screeched again and attacked.
Kkaang!
Once more, the yin qi grated on his senses.
“Kkiyooot!”
Her bizarre kiai even seemed like a sound art, constantly disrupting his perceptions.
As Tian Ailang parried her assaults, he drew deeply on his inner energy without restraint. There were still Yin Evil Squad members left, and he needed to check on the Dam siblings’ condition. No dragging this out—he wanted it over fast.
Mad Explosion Orb.
He hurled an internal energy bomb into Yo-hyang’s attack path, then used shrinking earth technique to chase down the scattering squad members who eyed the Dam siblings.
Kwaaaang—!
An explosion boomed behind him, followed by Yo-hyang’s short scream. Ignoring the noise, Tian Ailang unleashed palm and kick techniques relentlessly, striking down the squad members. For those heading toward the Dam siblings, he fired finger strikes despite the heavy drain on his qi.
Yo-hyang, escaping the sudden blast, was stunned. In that split second, all her subordinates lay dead.
“Iik! I can’t take this anymore!”
Demonic qi erupted explosively from Yo-hyang’s body in a fury. The air grew thick and oppressive, the surrounding grass and trees wilting and trembling.
“Uuungh…”
Dam Soyeon, who had passed out, let out a pained groan in the stifling atmosphere.
Hearing it, Tian Ailang whipped his gaze toward her and leaped to shield her from Yo-hyang’s energy.
But something moved faster.
“White Tiger?!”
The white tiger now stood before Dam Soyeon and roared massively.
Kroooar!
Though small, its roar proved its status as Baekdu Mountain’s spirit beast and mountain lord, spiritual qi spreading outward. Yo-hyang’s demonic qi began to recede.
As the nearby demonic qi dissipated, Dam Soyeon’s complexion improved visibly.
‘They say malevolent forces can’t approach places rich in spirit beasts and spiritual qi. Looks like it’s true.’
What a useful tiger, saved by chance.
With his attention freed, Tian Ailang struck at Yo-hyang with full power.
Thunder Dragon Descent.
Kurrrung.
Like a bolt of lightning, his form vanished in an instant, reappearing in Yo-hyang’s blind spot to smash her into the ground.
Kwakak!
“Kyaaak!”
Yo-hyang’s body writhed beneath him from the devastating blow. She had no time to defend—it happened too fast.
She thrashed to escape Tian Ailang’s foot and energy pinning her, but the thunder qi paralyzed her body, making it impossible.
Tian Ailang looked down at her and the crackling electricity sparking from his body.
Among natural energies felt during cultivation, thunder qi had been the hardest. Fleeting, appearing and vanishing in moments, capturing and sensing it was tough. Even once sensed, containing and wielding it in the body was nightmarish. The savage energy had caused countless injuries.
Despite repeated failures, Heavenly Altar Lake had comforted him to take it slow. But knowing thunder qi was Cheonseok Mountain’s specialty, Tian Ailang refused to give up. Passing the fourth stage brought deeper insight, finally allowing him brief control.
His strongest attack, but short casting time and insane qi drain wrecked his body. A technique to reserve for dire need.
Grind!
Tian Ailang pressed harder with his foot on Yo-hyang.
“Kkiyaaaak!”
She screamed in agony.
“Hoo…”
He tensed to crush her outright, but his intent was thwarted.
Paak!
A sudden strike sent Tian Ailang flying ten zhang—thirty meters—tumbling across the ground.
Kudada-tang!
Springing up, Tian Ailang saw the old man from Whirlwind Blade Valley.
The elder checked Yo-hyang’s state and clicked his tongue lightly.
‘A new face from the Blood Cult?’
Tian Ailang scanned his body urgently amid the doubt. This old man felt leagues beyond any demonic cultists or Blood Cult warriors he’d faced. Like the vast natural forces encountered in fourth-stage training, his energy and details were unreadable. Not just qi depletion— he hadn’t even sensed the attack. Despite being wrapped in his most sensitive, swift thunder qi.
Tension gripped him instinctively.
The elder eyed Tian Ailang appraisingly.
“Are you connected to the Qi Clan?”
“…?!”
Tian Ailang froze in shock, speechless. The elder clicked his tongue again, speaking casually as if uninterested in fighting.
“No need for such wariness. Who’s your father?”
“…”
At Tian Ailang’s silence, the elder smiled bitterly.
“This wench still has work to do in our cult. I don’t like her much either, but no choice. And in your current state and level, you’re no match for me—so don’t even think of interfering.”
Tian Ailang’s brow furrowed.
“I’ve heard victory isn’t known until it’s tried. And that woman is pure evil. She can’t be spared.”
Squeezing his remaining qi and thunder energy, Tian Ailang flashed toward the elder like lightning.
Kwarurung—!
Closing ten zhang in a blink to strike, he reeled back from colossal impact, flung the way he came.
Paaduk!
Bones had cracked, it seemed.
“Kuhk!”
As Tian Ailang rose grimacing in pain, the elder shook his head.
“I’ve no intent to kill you. Stand down.”
Despite the low warning, Tian Ailang mustered courage.
“Hmph!”
Earth Dragon’s Repose.
He closed in swiftly and slammed the ground. His father’s signature technique, harnessing earth’s veins for explosive power.
But the elder mirrored it exactly, striking the earth.
Kwadududuk—!
The ground split, their energies surging toward each other.
Kwaduk!
The fierce clash upheaved the earth into a small mound.
“…How do you know the Qi Clan’s techniques?!”
Tian Ailang was stunned. Another martial artist might mimic Earth Dragon’s Repose, but the energy and execution felt purely Qi Clan. And as the clan’s sole surviving heir, that knowledge shocked him. The elder’s grasp even seemed deeper— in the clash, Tian Ailang suffered severe internal injury.
Hands behind his back, signaling no more attacks, the elder asked:
“What’s your name?”
“Tian Ailang…”
Forcing down his churning insides, Tian Ailang answered hoarsely. Curiosity overrode attacking—how did he know Qi Clan arts? What ties to the clan?
“Tian…”
The elder closed his eyes briefly, as if pondering.
“How old are you?”
“Around twenty…”
Tian Ailang answered readily, eager for answers. The elder’s Earth Dragon’s Repose embodied Qi Clan principles—no doubt. His mind reeled.
“Hah… Just twenty. I am Ji No, the Earth Elder. If you live, we’ll meet again someday.”
The enigmatic elder hoisted Yo-hyang over his shoulder and vanished after his piece.
Tian Ailang stood rigidly until he was gone, then collapsed to his knees.
“Urk!”
Dark red blood gushed from his mouth. He’d feigned composure before the elder, but his internals were wrecked.
He hastily assumed lotus position for qi circulation and meditation. Squeezing his remaining energy to scan around, he sensed only the Dam siblings—no other presences.
He yearned to check them, but in this state, he’d plunge into defenseless deep meditation first. No strength to secure a safe spot.
Then he felt the white tiger climb onto his crossed legs. Aiding his meditation, its spiritual qi seeped in gently, easing his internals somewhat.
Feeling his turmoil slowly settle, Tian Ailang reflected on the battle’s flaws.
For twenty years with Grandfather, no true sparring partners. Only imagined foes from his explanations for training.
Out in the world now, these fights brought real combat insights.
First, thank goodness he’d passed the fourth Qi stage. It let him maintain immovable mind against formations or illusions. Without it, even vast qi and fierce techniques wouldn’t have saved him from disaster.
Now he understood Grandfather’s worries before clearing the fourth stage.
Luck had favored him too. Without the white tiger’s tracking and spiritual qi, finding and saving the Dam siblings would’ve been impossible.
“Hoo…”
Tian Ailang ended meditation once recovered enough to move. Guts still churning, body heavy as if waterlogged with exhaustion—but he had to check the Dam siblings.
Approaching Ni Da-hyeok first, he looked wretched: eyes rolled back showing only whites, convulsing sporadically. Dam Soyeon groaned unconscious beside him.
Tian Ailang sat the urgently afflicted Ni Da-hyeok upright and placed a hand on his Baihui acupoint.
Ni Da-hyeok’s mind was tangled with Yo-hyang’s demonic qi, blocking smooth upper dantian flow.
Tian Ailang gathered natural qi at the Baihui point, resonating slowly with Ni Da-hyeok’s energy to guide the blockages.
Recalling how he’d drawn poison from the white tiger, he began the treatment deliberately.