The thud of the body hitting the ground was soft.
But the footsteps of the other Xuan Tian Sect disciple stopped dead.
He peered forward, uncertain, just in time to see his fellow disciple's wide, lifeless eyes.
"Junior Brother!"
A piercing shriek cut through the silence of the scrapyard.
"What happened?"
"Where are they?"
The chaotic sound of footsteps closed in from all directions.
Now!
A cold glint flashed in Dao Yan's eyes. He pulled his siblings up and, like a wildcat, instantly darted into the shadow of another scrap pile.
"Let's go!" his voice was a low whisper, yet it carried an undeniable command.
His younger brother, Dao Ran, bit his lip hard, his small face a mixture of terror and awe. He followed without a word. His little sister, Xiao Ya, choked back her sobs.
"Over there!"
A disciple spotted their movement and blocked a narrow passage with a cruel grin.
"Little bastard, let's see where you can..."
His words were cut short.
Dao Yan had already raised his arm, the ugly mechanical crossbow aimed at him once more.
Having seen what happened before, this disciple's face changed drastically. The Yuan Qi in his body surged wildly, forming a faint green shield in front of him.
"You think a piece of mortal iron can break my protective..."
Dao Yan's gaze was as cold as ice.
Under his [Profound Analysis], the weak point in the flow of Yuan Qi on his opponent's shield was perfectly clear.
Not the chest.
The knee!
Pfft!
Another barely audible sound.
The Yuan Qi needle struck the shield's node on the disciple's knee with pinpoint accuracy.
The shield trembled violently. Though it didn't shatter, the piercing force penetrated straight through!
"AGHHH!"
The disciple let out a blood-curdling scream. A spray of blood erupted from his knee as he collapsed to the ground, howling in agony.
One shot, one man crippled!
The entire crowd gasped in shock!
What in the hell was that thing?
"Useless!"
A cold, furious shout echoed.
Li Qingxuan's figure appeared at the entrance of the scrapyard. He stared at his two fallen disciples, his face ashen, his killing intent palpable.
He was no longer treating this as a game of cat and mouse.
"You court death, whelp!"
Li Qingxuan formed a sword with his fingers and slashed through the air at Dao Yan!
There was no physical sword, no tangible object.
A blade of pure, condensed Yuan Qi materialized out of thin air, screaming as it tore through the atmosphere, aimed straight for Dao Yan and his siblings!
Fast! Too fast!
The stench of death washed over them!
Dao Yan's pupils constricted to pinpoints.
He knew his mechanical crossbow stood no chance against this attack!
In that split second, he didn't retreat. Instead, he lunged forward and kicked a nearby shelf piled high with scrap metal!
CRASH!
Countless rusted parts and broken iron plates cascaded down like a waterfall, instantly forming a barrier in the path of the energy blade.
BOOM—!
Metal and Yuan Qi collided with a deafening roar.
Countless metal fragments were pulverized, shooting out in all directions!
Using the brief moment of chaos, Dao Yan grabbed his siblings and, without looking back, plunged into the dark forest behind the scrapyard.
"Trying to run?"
Li Qingxuan's rage boiled over. He was about to give chase.
"Deacon!" a disciple hurriedly called out. "The Sect Master's orders were to prioritize the mine transfer! We cannot afford any complications!"
Li Qingxuan froze mid-stride. He glared into the pitch-black forest, his handsome face twisted with fury.
"Pass down my order! Seal every exit from this mountain range! I refuse to believe three mortals can sprout wings and fly away!"
He spat out the command, then turned and strode toward the Dao family's estate.
...
Deep in the dark forest, Dao Yan ran for several miles before he dared to stop.
He leaned against a giant tree, gasping for breath.
His sister, Xiao Ya, finally broke down, letting out a loud sob. His brother, Dao Ran, picked up a tree branch and watched their surroundings vigilantly.
Dao Yan opened his palm.
The miniature mechanical crossbow that had worked miracles now had a fine crack on its frame from the earlier impact.
It was broken.
Expressionless, Dao Yan disassembled it, turning it back into a pile of inconspicuous parts.
He needed a stronger weapon.
He needed... revenge!
In his mind, the blueprint for the [Heavenly Artifice Golem: Mark I] still shone, but it was too far out of reach.
Just then, a new, relatively simpler blueprint automatically materialized in his mind.
[Yuan Qi Collector: Simple Type]: Passively gathers ambient Yuan Qi to repair minor damage and nourish life force.
Father!
Dao Yan's head snapped up, his gaze fixed in the direction of his home.
His father's fate was still unknown!
He had to go back!
But not like this, not just to die.
He needed more "mortal iron." He needed stronger "useless trinkets"!
Dao Yan's gaze swept across the vast, primeval forest. For the first time, his eyes were free of confusion. In its place was the cold, hungry calm of a wolf.
To others, this forest was a place of danger.
To him, it was an untapped treasure trove