After the mysterious figure departed, Feng Yunwuji dared not linger near the smoldering fire. In this vast world, countless forces could easily bring about his destruction. He quickly doused the flames, then forced open a cave midway up the mountainside. Curling up within, he withdrew all his aura and breath, sitting cross-legged like a stone statue, utterly still.
As he feared, once the stranger's overwhelming presence vanished, the scent of blood and charred flesh from the enormous beast's corpse drew new horrors. Beneath the cold silver light of the full moon, a massive shadow descended from the mountaintop, casting darkness over a wide swath of land.
A chilling aura, sharp as needles, pricked at Feng Yunwuji's hidden form within the mountain rock. From above came the ghastly sounds of gnashing teeth and tearing flesh, punctuated now and then by the monstrous roars of some fearsome beast. Time seemed to stretch into an endless torment. Perhaps the thick stench of blood masked his presence, for throughout the ordeal, the creature atop the peak showed no sign of discovering him.
Eventually, after gorging itself, the beast let out a long, triumphant howl at the moon. With a thunderous leap, it tumbled down the cliffside, sending rocks and dust cascading past Feng Yunwuji's hiding spot. He caught a fleeting glimpse of its massive, ridge-like spine and the thick membrane wings stretching from its sides.
Throughout the night, the wilderness echoed with the cries of unseen beasts. Below the mountains, scattered lights flickered faintly in the endless darkness. Listening to the midnight wind howling across the desolate skies, a profound loneliness welled up within Feng Yunwuji — a bone-deep solitude, as if he were the only soul left in the world. A shiver ran through him before he remembered: he had long since transcended the weaknesses of mortal flesh.
Dark clouds smothered the sky, and dawn announced itself only with the faintest pale glow in the east. Suddenly, a furious voice split the air:
"Zhao Wuji! Surrender the first scroll of the Dark Abyss, and I'll spare your life! Refuse, and you will die without mercy!"
A younger voice, trembling with fury and desperation, shouted back:
"You demon, You Wuxie! Even if I perish, I'll never hand the Scroll of the Dark Abyss over to you!"
Startled, Feng Yunwuji opened his eyes and gazed skyward. Two streaks of dazzling light shot across the heavens, one chasing the other. The pursuer wore flowing purple robes, his figure sharp and relentless as an eagle. The fugitive, a handsome young man wielding a luminous longsword, sped desperately ahead.
"You Wuxie! My master trusted you as a brother, even showed you the Dark Abyss Scroll he had uncovered. Who could have foreseen your treachery? You stole the second scroll and struck him down in secret! For seven days and nights, you have hounded me across this wilderness. Hear me now — I, Zhao Wuji, vow never to rest until I have avenged my master!"
Though he spoke as if to his enemy, Zhao Wuji's words were clearly intended for Feng Yunwuji. In the lonely wastelands, kindred spirits could often sense one another — and both pursuer and pursued had already noticed the hidden presence in the mountainside.
Sure enough, Zhao Wuji veered toward him, calling out midair:
"Brother ahead, might I beg your aid?"
You Wuxie, not to be outdone, shouted coldly:
"Stay out of this, stranger! Zhao Wuji's life belongs to me — the Coldpool Demon Lord!"
He deliberately revealed his infamous title, hoping to intimidate any would-be meddler.
Had Feng Yunwuji known of You Wuxie's dark reputation — a notorious rogue cultivator among the Free Sects — he might have hesitated. Yet, though his own cultivation of the Ninefold Life-Death Art and Mind-Sword Body had just begun to show results, he was no match for the ancient powers of this world.
Why, then, were they seeking his help?
What Feng Yunwuji did not realize was that in this archaic world, all true masters could suppress their auras at will. It had been tens of thousands of years since any mortal ascended to immortality. Anyone still wandering the earth was no ordinary warrior. Thus, both Zhao Wuji and You Wuxie assumed he was a hidden powerhouse, masking his true strength.
Clearly, they were fighting over this mysterious Scroll of the Dark Abyss. The Holy Temple held countless martial secrets — just what made this one so precious?
Zhao Wuji, seeing Feng Yunwuji remain unmoving, grew desperate.
"Brother, should you save my life, I swear on my soul, I shall reward you handsomely!"
As he spoke, he swooped down to land lightly on a twisted branch jutting from the rock face. His face was pale, his movements unsteady — his internal energy was nearly spent.
You Wuxie hesitated thirty paces away, wary. He never made rash moves without knowing his opponent's depth. Yet Feng Yunwuji's aura was so faint that it unsettled him even more.
"You there!" You Wuxie called, his voice slick with false courtesy. "Aid me in capturing this traitor, and I shall share with you the Dark Abyss Scroll itself!"
But Feng Yunwuji, calm and silent, kept his face expressionless. He knew all too well: any hint of emotion could trigger an attack. When You Wuxie spoke, a glint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes — clear proof he planned betrayal.
A plan quickly formed in Feng Yunwuji's mind.
He raised his hand like a sword. With a flick of his mind, a clear metallic ring split the air — and a streak of cold light shot forth. It was a three-foot-long blade, emanating streams of chilling mist, its polished surface shining like a mirror. He controlled the blade purely by intent, making it spiral elegantly through the air before sheathing it smoothly back at You Wuxie's side.
Without a word, Feng Yunwuji simply stared at You Wuxie with eyes like sharp stars.
You Wuxie's expression twisted. Cupping his fists, he said, forced politeness thick in his voice:
"I did not realize a master of the Blade Domain was cultivating here. Forgive my intrusion. Someday, I shall personally offer my apologies."
With that, he turned and fled into the distance.
"Brother, I owe you my life!" Zhao Wuji said, bowing deeply. "Thank you!"
"No thanks needed," Feng Yunwuji replied sharply. "We must leave this place at once. When You Wuxie realizes the truth, he will return — and then, neither of us will leave alive."
Without waiting, Feng Yunwuji leapt from the rock face and soared toward another mountain.
"What?!" Zhao Wuji was dumbfounded. Hadn't You Wuxie already retreated in fear? Why such urgency?
Still confused, he gave chase — and quickly noticed something odd: Feng Yunwuji's flight was not fast at all, slower than any true master should be.
"Senior," Zhao Wuji said, suspicion creeping into his tone, "forgive my boldness, but... if we are in such danger, why is your speed so leisurely?"
Feng Yunwuji gave a wry smile.
"My flying sword technique is top-tier — when powered properly. Without enough inner strength, even the finest skill is useless. Do you think I wouldn't fly faster if I could? Since your lightness skill surpasses mine, you'd best carry me."
"Ah—?!"
"Don't you see? I'm newly ascended! In truth, it is you who should be called 'senior'. Just now, I caught him off-guard by channeling sword intent through a borrowed blade. He assumed I was some grandmaster and fled. But once he reconsiders — once he realizes I used sword mudras, not true blade techniques — he'll see through the ruse. If we're still here by then, we're dead men."
Zhao Wuji's face shifted through disbelief, realization, and mounting panic. Without another word, he grabbed Feng Yunwuji and carried him away at full speed.
They found shelter in the hollowed-out belly of another mountain, covered by thick vegetation. Hidden and breathless, they waited.
Sure enough, not long after, You Wuxie returned in a rage, his furious roars echoing across the sky. He searched the area wildly, but found nothing. Finally, in a fit of vengeful rage, he conjured a glowing sphere from his sleeve and hurled it at the cliff where Feng Yunwuji had first hidden.
With a thunderous explosion, the towering peak was reduced to a smoking crater — the mountain itself shorn by dozens of meters.
After searching fruitlessly a while longer, You Wuxie at last left — but not without a final, venomous threat:
"Zhao Wuji! And that little wretch! If I ever find you again, I'll tear you both to pieces! Stay alive — if you dare!"
His curses lingered long after he vanished into the night.