The Yin-Yang Trap

“The great demon Winged Serpent?” Ji Ning frowned. “What happened? Our Ji Clan’s Western Prefecture has a garrison at Serpentwing Lake, and several Xiantian lifeforms are stationed there. Did that great demon break out of the lake?”

Wan Fang shook his head. “If it were just a breakout, that would be a minor matter. Unfortunately—and this is partly our own doing—the Xiantian lifeforms we stationed there kept trying to slay the great demon. Every day he lived under threat, and there were several major battles. Under that pressure… the Winged Serpent actually reached Xiantian perfection!”

“What? Xiantian perfection!” Ji Ning was shocked.

A great demon at Xiantian perfection was a true menace. In the entire Eastmarsh Swamp, there was only one old demon at that level—the Toad Elder.

“Our stationed Xiantian lifeforms could barely protect themselves with their treasures. They could only watch helplessly as the great demon Winged Serpent fled in triumph,” Wan Fang sighed. “As soon as he got the news, Master gave chase!”

“Father is hunting him?” Ji Ning nodded.

Wan Fang continued, “But the great demon Winged Serpent can fly and dive, and his speed is far greater than before. Once he hides in deep water, even a Zifu Disciple would struggle to kill him. Master understood this, so he sent me to warn you—be careful, since you killed his child.”

“Understood.” Ji Ning nodded solemnly. “I should leave the Ironstone Tribe as well. The Winged Serpent… I didn’t expect him to survive so long and still break through.”

“Old demons who have cultivated for a thousand years have deep accumulations; breaking through is not strange.” Wan Fang then said, “That is all. My mission is complete.”

Ji Ning quickly added, “Senior apprentice-brother Wan Fang, those we killed earlier were from the Blackmountain Tribe nearby. Please go and give them a proper warning.”

“Leave such trivial matters to me.” Wan Fang nodded.

That very day, Ji Ning left the Ironstone Tribe with Autumn Leaf and Mo Wu. He told no one where they were going—only that way could the Winged Serpent have more trouble finding him.

The Winged Serpent calamity lasted a little over a month before it subsided.

After breaking through to Xiantian perfection, the great demon had burst out of Serpentwing Lake, venting his fury wildly by ravaging nearby tribes and devouring countless humans. Panic spread among the tribes as he searched everywhere for Ji Ning. However, news of Ji Ning’s adventures was kept secret; few knew of it, and Ji Ning was extremely cautious, so the Winged Serpent never found him.

Half a month later, the great demon encountered Ji Yichuan. Confident after his power surge, the Winged Serpent fought him—only to be severely wounded again. But his flight speed had greatly improved, and he could flee far beyond Ji Yichuan’s reach. After that battle, the Winged Serpent refused to fight Ji Yichuan again, fleeing as soon as he saw him.

Another month later, the Poison Dove Ridge intervened.

The five prefectures of the Ji Clan negotiated with the Poison Dove Ridge, and the matter eventually ended with a sentence: ‘The great demon Winged Serpent is confined to Serpentwing Lake for a hundred years.’

Time passed, and soon it was summer.

Within the Eastmarsh Swamp.

Two figures were lurking among the water plants. One had a braided mane of half-red, half-white hair and exuded an evil aura; the other was a tall man in black.

“Are you sure about the information?” the evil one asked softly. “We’ve been waiting here for three days.”

The black-clad man nodded. “Recently, a youth has been coming to fight the Skysnake King every ten to fifteen days. The battles usually happen around this area. Rest assured, Master—when the Skysnake emerges from the water and enters the formation, it won’t be able to escape!”

“Mm.” The evil man said softly, “I’ve prepared too long for this day. I spent a huge price to obtain this Yin-Yang Dual Qi Formation. This time I will capture the Skysnake alive and make it my spirit beast!”

“Once the Skysnake enters the formation, its life or death will be entirely in your hands, Master,” the black-clad man replied.

“Hahaha…” the evil man laughed softly. “By the way, that youth who keeps fighting the Skysnake King—do you know who he is?”

“I’ve never seen him before,” the black-clad man shook his head. “I know all the talented youths of my Ironwood Clan, and he isn’t one of them. The sword technique he uses seems to be the Ji Clan’s Dripping Sutra.”

“The Ji Clan?” The evil man’s eyes flashed with killing intent. “So young and already able to fight the Skysnake King. If he grows up, he could become another Ji Yichuan… In that case, I, Tie Muzhan, will do the Ji Clan a favor and send their genius to the Yellow Springs.”

Time passed.

Half a day later, the sun was setting in the west. A figure in animal hide robes walked across the water, approaching from afar.

“Master, he’s here!” the black-clad man called out.

Tie Muzhan looked sharply. When he saw Ji Ning walking on the water as if on solid ground, his pupils contracted. “Unity of Man and Heaven!”

“He must die!” A towering killing intent surged in Tie Muzhan’s heart. A youth so young who had already reached Unity of Man and Heaven—if he grew up, he would be far more terrifying than Dripping Sword Ji Yichuan. He could even become the strongest in all five prefectures of the Ji Clan!

“Brother Huan!” Tie Muzhan ordered quickly, “Go deal with that youth. Even if you can’t kill him, keep him pinned down. Once I subdue the Skysnake King, I’ll come immediately.”

“Yes.” The black-clad man responded respectfully.

Tie Muzhan stared fixedly into the distance.

A youth reaching Unity of Man and Heaven—such monstrous talent dwarfed his own by countless times. Fortunately, he, Tie Muzhan, had cultivated for over a hundred years. Relying on his age advantage, killing this little brat would be easy.

Tie Muzhan was hiding among the water plants, having set up a concealment formation around himself. Their auras and sounds could not escape. Since the aura could not be sensed, Ji Ning naturally had no awareness of their presence.

“Little snakey,” Ji Ning called out as he stood on the water. “Come out!”

His voice rolled directly into the depths.

Boom!

A massive azure serpent burst through the surface with a splash, rapidly shrinking to about ten meters in length. Its head raised high as it watched Ji Ning from a distance, letting out a disdainful hiss. In truth, the Skysnake King had also gained insights from several deadly battles with Ji Ning. It felt it was close to entering Unity of Man and Heaven itself. Though its combat power was terrifying due to its natural gifts, its realm was still inferior to Ji Ning’s.

Life-and-death battles between evenly matched opponents, with no mercy and no holding back, were the fastest path to improvement!

“Once I reach Unity of Man and Heaven, you’re dead,” the Skysnake King thought to itself.

“Haha, come on, little snakey.” Two swords appeared in Ji Ning’s hands.

Whoosh!

The Skysnake King shot forward like a green bolt of lightning, and Ji Ning met it head-on.

From a distance, Tie Muzhan watched from the water plants, his heart pounding. “Unity of Man and Heaven swordplay! And twin swords, executed so flawlessly! He doesn’t even seem to be a Xiantian lifeform, yet he can fight a Xiantian-level divine beast… Such talent is horrifying. He must be eliminated as soon as possible!”

“Why won’t they go in?”

“Hurry up!” Tie Muzhan was anxious.

His formation had been laid in advance, but its range was limited. The spot where Ji Ning and the Skysnake King were currently fighting was still some distance from the formation.

“Hurry.”

Tie Muzhan burned with impatience but could only wait in hiding. He knew that if he revealed himself, the Skysnake King would immediately dive into the water, and all his preparations would be wasted.

The fierce battle continued in the distance.

Sometimes Ji Ning was sent flying; sometimes the Skysnake King suffered wounds. They churned the water, and Ji Ning constantly shifted his footwork—sometimes charging forward, sometimes retreating. They were on the edge of the formation, but never quite inside it. It was maddening.

Bang.

Another exchange.

“They’re in!” Tie Muzhan’s eyes turned bloodshot. In truth, Ji Ning and the Skysnake King had only barely entered the edge of the formation. But Tie Muzhan dared not wait any longer; they might slip out again.

“Activate!”

Tie Muzhan’s face twisted with ferocity.

“Hm?” Ji Ning, at the border of the formation, suddenly felt a tremor in his soul. His soul was strong enough to sense an impending crisis. A wave of invisible fear flooded his heart. He had a feeling that if he didn’t act, he might truly die.

“Retreat!” Ji Ning’s speed exploded to its maximum, and he pulled back—just in time to exit the formation’s boundary.

The moment Ji Ning retreated beyond the formation, he saw the vast water surface ahead turn into chaos. Huge streams of white and black energy, like countless dragons, coiled around that region of heaven and earth. The might of the formation made Ji Ning’s heart tremble.

This was a Xiantian lifeform at the late stage of Ki Refining, unleashing the terrifying power of a pre-set formation.

“The Skysnake King is trapped inside!” Ji Ning’s heart tightened. They had fought many times as equals, and now seeing it caught in the formation, he felt concern for it.

“Roar~~”

A black figure leaped into the air, transforming into a massive black Huan Beast over ten zhang long. Its mane stuck up like a huge fan, and its emerald-green eyes were filled with savagery as it charged straight at Ji Ning.

“A Huan Beast?” Ji Ning instantly understood who had set up the formation. “Only Tie Muzhan of the Ironwood Clan has a Xiantian-level Huan Beast as a spirit beast! A Xiantian lifeform at the late stage!”

“I must leave!”

Ji Ning knew the gap between them. Tie Muzhan was notorious for his cunning, and with his treasures, even the Skysnake King was far from his match.

Whoosh!

A black light suddenly shot toward Ji Ning.

Ji Ning deflected it with a sword clang. The black light flew back to the great Huan Beast, which roared, “Ji Clan brat, today is your death day!”

“Yaaa!”

A sharp, piercing cry of agony came from the sky-obscuring formation. Ji Ning’s heart trembled. It was the Skysnake King’s scream—never before had it made such a miserable sound during their battles. It was in true peril.

“Little azure snake, I hope you survive this.” Ji Ning could only offer a silent blessing. He did not dare hesitate; while fending off the Xiantian Huan Beast, he fled rapidly across the water.