Chương 20: Chapter 21: Slaying the Enemy with Divine Sense

Reyn was already wading through a mire of complications and had no desire to invite further trouble. Yet, just as he hesitated, a sharp ripple of spiritual energy erupted behind him, slicing through the air with lethal intent. Humph! With a cold snort, Reyn's figure blurred. He vanished from his spot just as a spiritual artifact, shaped like a wicked Wu Hook, whistled through the space he had occupied a heartbeat before. The weapon missed its mark, its cold metallic sheen shimmering as it lost momentum.

"Heh, I didn't expect a rat like you to have some skill. To think you could dodge my strike," a raspy voice sneered.

"But since you've stumbled upon my business, don't dream of leaving this place alive!" Reyn's gaze swept downward, his eyes turning into chips of ice. Below him stood a man clad in black, a prominent mole near the corner of his mouth twitching with malice. He gripped the Wu Hook, his face twisted in a murderous snarl. That opening strike had been aimed squarely at Reyn's vitals; there had been no room for mercy.

A flicker of killing intent ignited in Reyn's heart, but his brow furrowed as he sensed the presence still lurking in the shadows behind him. He allowed a trace of hesitation to cross his features.

"Hehe, it's settled then. Kid, blame your own rotten luck for wandering into this corner of the mountains!" Seeing Reyn's apparent indecision, the black-clad man felt a surge of confidence. He kicked off the ground, his spiritual artifact leading the charge as he soared into the air. Though this area was remote, it was still within the sect's boundaries. If the commotion drew attention, he would be the one facing a death sentence. Reyn's eyes flashed with a frigid light.

This man's cultivation was at least at the seventh level of Qi Condensation, and he clearly possessed refined combat techniques. If they engaged in a prolonged battle of attrition, Reyn knew he would likely be forced into a disadvantage, and that would be truly disastrous with a second stalker watching.

"I have to end this now!" Reyn's heart hardened. He surged his spiritual energy, and his Divine Sense erupted from his sea of consciousness, condensing into a jagged, invisible spike that hurtled toward the man. Soul-Piercing Awl! This was a primary Divine Sense attack recorded within the Hunyuan True Scripture. Above it lay more devastating forms: the Exterminating Spirit Spike and the Destruction Wave. It was said that the latter, when mastered to its peak, could even cripple a Soul Transformation cultivator.

At his current level, Reyn could barely manifest the Soul-Piercing Awl once. However, with the five-fold amplification provided by the Golden Seal, his Divine Sense was potent enough to severely wound even a Foundation Establishment cultivator caught off guard. He had intended to save this trump card for the person trailing him, but circumstances had forced his hand. Buzz! The Divine Sense attack was silent and invisible. The black-clad man suddenly jerked mid-air.

A faint green radiance erupted from his body, forming a protective barrier that enveloped him. Reyn felt his Divine Sense strike something soft and viscous, like hitting a wall of wet cotton, causing a brief moment of mental resistance.

"A Divine Sense attack? A Foundation Establishment senior?!" The man's face instantly drained of color, replaced by sheer terror. He began to plead desperately, "Junior was blind! I have offended a Senior! May I ask which Martial Uncle stands before me? I am a True Inheritance Disciple of Master Kui Muzi. Please, for the sake of my master, spare my life!"

In the cultivation world, one could project Divine Sense after the fifth level of Qi Condensation, but to use it as a direct weapon was a feat impossible for anyone below the Foundation Establishment realm. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Reyn's eyes remained cold. This man had to die. If he didn't display overwhelming power to intimidate the observer behind him, he would never make it out of the mountains.

"Die!" A low, muffled command echoed from beneath Reyn's black hood. The Soul-Piercing Awl hammered relentlessly against the green barrier. A series of dense, crystalline cracks spider-webbed across the light.

"No! You cannot kill me! My master will surely avenge me!" the man screamed, his voice cracking with desperation. Seeing that Reyn had no intention of stopping, his fear turned into a venomous spite.

"If you kill me today, Master Mo Wen will hunt you to the ends of the earth!" Crack! A jade pendant hanging at the man's waist shattered into dust. The green barrier dissolved instantly. The Soul-Piercing Awl tore through his mental defenses and pierced his brain. The malice in the man's eyes slowly faded into a hollow void. However, at the exact moment of his death, a streak of black light shot out from his corpse and vanished into Reyn's body. Reyn's expression darkened.

He swept his internal vision through his soul and quickly found a black rune emitting a strange, pulsing fluctuation. It was a tracking mark—a beacon that would allow this 'Mo Wen' to identify the killer. His face grew even more somber.

"Thank you... thank you, Martial Uncle, for saving my life." Lin Daimei spoke with a trembling voice, her face pale with fright. The ruthless efficiency with which this 'Senior' had dispatched the man left her heart pounding. She feared that to keep his identity a secret, he might decide to silence her as well.

"Enough. This matter no longer concerns you. Leave," Reyn said, intentionally deepening his voice to sound like a man in his thirties. He gave a dismissive wave of his hand. Lin Daimei felt a wave of relief wash over her. She bowed deeply and prepared to flee.

"Wait," Reyn called out suddenly. Lin Daimei froze, her heart leaping into her throat. She slowly turned back, looking at the 'Martial Uncle' with a pitiful, pleading gaze. Reyn hesitated. If he had the strength to spare, he wouldn't mind eliminating her to ensure total secrecy. However, the Soul-Piercing Awl had drained his Divine Sense significantly. He wasn't confident he could kill her instantly without revealing his true cultivation level, and the stalker behind him was still watching.

Ultimately, he decided to let her go.

"This spiritual artifact was the item you traded for. Take it with you." Lin Daimei blinked in surprise, her fear replaced by genuine gratitude. She bowed once more and quickly tucked the Wu Hook into her storage bag.

"Martial Uncle, please rest assured. I swear upon my Heart-Demon that I will never breathe a word of today's events to anyone." As she vanished into the distance, Reyn breathed a small sigh of relief. He had shown her mercy in hopes of buying her silence, but a Heart-Demon Oath was even better. For a cultivator, such an oath was absolute; breaking it would lead to internal collapse and death by fire. Reyn stood still for a moment.

Once he was certain Lin Daimei was far enough away, he turned toward a patch of empty ground ten meters behind him and spoke calmly.

"How much longer does Fellow Daoist intend to watch? Or must I personally invite you out?" The air rippled like a disturbed pond. Chu Dian stepped out, his face filled with awe and reverence. He bowed low, his voice humble.

"Disciple Chu Dian pays his respects to Martial Uncle." Reyn stared at Chu Dian in silence, suppressing his aura entirely. The lack of any discernible pressure only made him seem more unfathomable. Fine beads of sweat began to form on Chu Dian's forehead.

"Please do not take offense, Martial Uncle. I followed you with no ill intent. I, too, can swear a Heart-Demon Oath to never reveal what I saw today. Please, I beg for your mercy." Reyn remained expressionless, neither accepting nor rejecting the plea, his gaze fixed steadily on the younger man. Chu Dian wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice trembling.

"Martial Uncle, I only followed because I was curious about that ancient scroll. I swear it!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Reyn's voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. Chu Dian's face grew even paler. Seeing Reyn's indifference, he gritted his teeth and made a gamble.

"I... I actually recognize some of the characters on that Great Yama Palm scroll, though my knowledge is limited. Half a year ago, I stumbled upon an ancient map. I believe it leads to the hidden grotto of an ancient cultivator. I tried to enter, but I lacked the strength to reach the end. When I saw how much interest Martial Uncle took in that scroll, I followed... I wanted to confirm if you truly recognized that ancient script."