Martial Peak Chapter 6103, At Her Wits’ End

“How can my Brother possibly survive without his cultivation!” Yang Xu exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief, reacting to Wu Lun’s proposition rather than Yang Ji.

Wu Lun scoffed, as though he’d heard the most amusing jest. “Do you think I’m unaware of his capabilities? With that unique Phoenix Bloodline he possesses, I’d wager he could even regenerate lost limbs. Furthermore, don’t assume I’m oblivious to your and your sibling’s cultivation of Physique and various Daos in your free time, aiming to avoid over-focusing on your cultivation realm. I’m not blind, you know?”

Wu Lun continued, “Moreover, what you perceive as a favour to him is, in fact, a favour to both of you.”

A hint of doubt was evident in the twins’ eyes. Nevertheless, Wu Lun pressed on.

“Listen carefully. I’m certain you’re already aware of this, but the Daos upon which you’ve built your foundation are inherently flawed. To stand alongside the geniuses present, constructing your strength on unstable ground is impossible. Regardless, one of you must be willing to embark on this path anew. Otherwise, neither of you will be able to keep pace.”

“Indeed, we will escort you to a Sect, and yes, it will offer greater safety. But if you fail to continuously prove your mettle, do you believe your Sister will remain secure? The inhabitants there are not your kin. They aren’t even your allies. Do you truly think they won’t betray you the moment they perceive limitations in your potential? Discard such naive notions, you sheltered youths. This is no game where we can live as we please. Do you imagine I’m not facing risks by bringing you all from your world? Do you believe that ancient entity residing within you isn’t taking a gamble by manifesting now? We are all venturing into the unknown. Do not presume the three of you are exceptions. The instant your Father consented to send you away, he accepted the likelihood of never seeing you again. This is the risk you all embraced when you agreed to come here.”

“Furthermore, I shall be accompanying him. I too will not permit him to perish before my objectives are met. So, allow me to pose the question once more: are you prepared to start from zero, to recultivate from the very beginning?”

Yang Ji cast a glance at Yang Xu, then at Yang Ling. Frankly, for him, restarting from scratch held little consequence compared to the safety of these two. It had taken him less than twelve years to reach the Dao Source Realm. With the advantage of having climbed this mountain once, the second ascent would undoubtedly be swifter. Thus, even though Yang Xu hoped for his refusal, Yang Ji gave a nod.

“Certainly. I have no issue with starting over. However, I'm unsure how to transfer my cultivation to Yang Xu, as we've never attempted such a feat before.”

“Worry not. We shall assist you with that,” Wu Lun confirmed with a nod before vanishing. Yet, prior to his departure, he offered a smirk that would forever be etched in Yang Ji’s memory.

In the very next moment, Yang Ji was rendered unconscious.

As for Yang Xu and Yang Ling, they could barely react when Wu Lun materialized behind Yang Ji, striking him down with a single, swift blow. He caught him, placing him onto the gleaming golden ‘ground’, then enveloped him in his Qi, preventing him from regaining consciousness.

Considering Yang Ji’s Phoenix Bloodline, a return to wakefulness within mere minutes was to be expected from such an impact.

“He already agreed to your terms! Why did you resort to that!?” Yang Xu demanded, but Wu Lun responded with a sigh, “Would you prefer he remained conscious to fully experience the sensation of his cultivation being siphoned away?”

Yang Xu fell silent, then uttered, “If you expect my cooperation, I will not assist you.”

“Even when he himself has consented?” Wu Lun inquired, his tone hardening significantly. “In that scenario, would it be preferable for me to cripple his cultivation, forcing him to start as a debilitated cultivator? I’m certain you would exert all efforts to salvage his Qi before it dissipates entirely, not for your own sake, but at least to reclaim what you can for him.”

“You! Did you not just assert that you wouldn’t let him die!?” Yang Xu’s eyes welled up with tears at this point.

“And crippling him does not equate to his death, does it?” Wu Lun stated sharply, reminding her, “I have no desire to waste further words with you. Cease this political maneuvering; you are far too young. Either you comply with my directives, or I shall cripple him, and no one will emerge unscathed. I require him as a blank slate, just as you need his cultivation to gain entry into that Sect with distinction.”

“You!” Yang Xu moved to confront Wu Lun, but the youth merely raised a single finger and pressed downwards.

Yang Xu was instantly pinned by a pressure akin to a thousand mountains. All forward momentum ceased as she was forced to expend all her strength merely to resist being crushed. She couldn’t even lift her head, her neck struggling to support the immense weight.

Yang Ling reacted immediately, rushing toward her Sister. However, what could she possibly do to help? With a mere flick of Wu Lun’s finger, she was effortlessly pushed aside.

Then, Wu Lun’s voice reached Yang Xu’s ears alone. This was intentionally done to prevent Yang Ling from overhearing their conversation.

“The True Dao of Unity. It sounds magnificent, but is it truly unity when one person stands above the other? You two were born bound together, but is that genuinely the case? I wonder how much of it stems from his desires, and how much is what you wish for him to be?”

Wu Lun narrowed his eyes as he spoke. “Your fear isn’t that he might lose his cultivation. It’s the severance of this connection between you two that you dread. After all, this mysterious bond isn't solely built on your coincident births, but also on some unknown cultivation technique. While I don’t know the specifics, if one partner becomes stronger than the other, the balance will shatter. It will bring him far more harm than good. As he pursued various Daos, you’ve exclusively focused on this one, haven’t you? That’s why your mastery of the True Dao of Unity far surpasses his.”

“You can deceive him, even deceive yourself, but you cannot hide from me. I have been observing you both for a considerable time. While your proficiency in the Dao of Space is remarkable, your Dao of Time has lagged significantly. You’ve barely utilized it. Given your Dragon Bloodline, this should have been your primary focus for cultivation. Instead, you’ve primarily relied on your bloodline’s inherent capabilities, causing this Dao to fall behind.”

“Release him, and one day, you might stand as equals again. No. I will compel you to.” Wu Lun declared.

Yang Xu remained silent, her defiance unwavering.

“Unlike me, he has no stake in the outcome of your existence. Unburdened by morals in his pursuit of objectives, he has dedicated countless aeons to a singular, unwavering purpose. Do not delude yourself into thinking your silence will deter or persuade him,” the Heavenly Demon Queen’s voice echoed in Yang Xu’s mind.

“Shut up! Both of you! You deliberately used Yang Ling as a hostage, and now you dare lecture me!” Yang Xu inwardly rebuked the Heavenly Demon Queen.

However, the Heavenly Demon Queen remained unfazed by the outburst. As if anticipating it, she calmly continued without missing a beat. “On occasion, you’ve labeled me a parasite. Yet, one must question the distinction between us. You cling to your Brother with such desperation that his very existence is as vital to you as the air you breathe. Meanwhile, he remains entirely self-reliant, content with separation, even willing to sacrifice his cultivation for your sake.”

“I would never harm my Brother, unlike you!” Yang Xu’s thoughts screamed. “I cannot let him face such dangers alone! I must be by his side!”

“What harm have I brought upon either of you? And you speak of not harming your Brother? Your very presence has already made him a target in the Upper Realm. Moreover, your current stubbornness could lead to him being crippled.” The Heavenly Demon Queen persisted, “That man will not stop. He will utterly cripple him unless you comply.”

“And how did we end up in this predicament!? This is all your fault!” Yang Xu cried out again, continuing her desperate cries, but… what else could she do?

She had reached the end of her rope.