Martial Peak Chapter 6107, Defiance City

Yang Ji’s gaze met the man’s, his eyes alight with open defiance. Yet, with the Blood Binding Seal firmly in place, the child was rendered powerless. The man merely let out a cold scoff, “I find that defiant look in your eyes appealing. See if you can maintain it when facing death.”

The man made no further move to engage Yang Ji, electing to leave the child’s handling to Xing Ting. “Take him to the city and find a place for him to hide. With the Blood Binding Seal active, if they are tracking us via the Young Mistress’ aura, he will draw their attention, making them approach him instead. If, by some misfortune, someone within the Family has betrayed us and is pursuing us, I must remain by the Young Mistress’s side.”

“Understood. I will find a place to lie low in the city,” Xing Ting replied, but her response was swiftly cut off by the man. “No. There’s no need to scurry about like a cornered rat. We have a decoy with us, and he will serve that purpose. You will proceed as you should have for the Young Mistress. Ensure he checks into the Revitalisation Inn.”

“But Sir, our quota is limited, and the Young Mistress requires the Pool of Revitalisation. If he were to enter…” Xing Ting attempted to reason with the man, but he interjected.

“Worry not about such trivialities. I can easily procure another quota. After all, we are in the Outer Heaven, and there are numerous ways for me to acquire one.” The man stated, his fist clenching subtly, hinting at the forceful methods he would employ if necessary.

“Understood…” Though still hesitant, Xing Ting complied with the order.

“Now, take the child and get him out of here while I divert those still pursuing us.” The man declared. He then gently lifted the Young Mistress and placed her inside a box, undoubtedly to conceal her location and to shield her from the impending battle’s aftershocks.

Following this, the man uttered a few incantations, traced unseen symbols in the air, and then launched himself skyward with a roar, “COME! ALL YOU DOGS, COME AND FACE YOUR DEMISE!”

Soon after, ethereal beams of light began to coalesce in the sky around the man. They were distant enough that Yang Ji could only vaguely discern the figures within. These luminous trails clearly marked the pursuers of the man, Xing Ting, and the Young Mistress.

Yang Ji couldn't fathom why they were converging from various distant points. However, he speculated that the Spirit Ship they had been on, the one that had crash-landed, might not have been the sole target of these individuals.

While Yang Ji’s attention was fixed upwards, he remained unaware that Xing Ting had been observing him intently. The woman harbored a reluctance to care for another child besides her Young Mistress, but more than that, she sensed that this child she had taken custody of was far more than he appeared.

As if to substantiate her suspicion, what ordinary child would gaze upon a battle between formidable experts with eyes reflecting pure curiosity and bewilderment, rather than awe or inspiration? It seemed as though Yang Ji was scrutinizing them rather than merely watching.

And indeed, Yang Ji was acting precisely as her intuition suggested. He was genuinely analyzing the diverse techniques the combatants in the sky were employing. Even from a distance, despite their indistinct forms, the methods they utilized were profoundly eye-opening. He mused whether he, too, could master such abilities one day.

For instance, he wondered about the man’s creation of the Blood Binding Seal and the protective barrier encasing the box holding the Young Mistress. Yang Ji had never encountered such techniques before; they were profoundly abstruse, involving mere gestures of drawing in the air. He struggled to grasp the underlying principles of these actions or the meaning behind the symbols he witnessed being traced.

It was evident that some other fundamental Principle was at play, something absent from the 3,000 Worlds.

The aerial combat unfolding above was a spectacle of unique arts. What appeared to be Artifacts of various designs were being wielded. Techniques weren't solely reliant on conventional weapons; sound itself was a weapon, sight was a weapon, and even one's own drawn lines could be employed offensively. Fists, of course, were expected, but one expert was observed making peculiar hand gestures before delivering a punch, a move that resulted in glowing rings materializing around his wrist.

An array of techniques, utterly foreign to Yang Ji, were being displayed in the heavens. Witnessing this scene, Yang Ji found himself transfixed, unable to tear his eyes away.

However, Yang Ji wouldn't be permitted to marvel at the spectacle for much longer. As if sensing his captivation, Xing Ting finally broke the silence, “We’re moving.”

Without hesitation, she scooped Yang Ji into a princess carry, leaving the actual Young Mistress concealed within her box on the ground. With a single, powerful leap, she effortlessly ascended into the air, covering kilometers in a single bound.

Yang Ji paid no mind to the woman's actions. After all, having already been dressed as a girl, being carried in such a manner was not a significant concern. His mothers and sisters had done the same when he was younger, playfully dressing him as a princess. At this moment, his sole desire was to continue observing the ongoing battle.

He couldn't refrain from asking Wu Lun via his Divine Sense, "Will I ever be capable of that someday?"

"'That'? What exactly do you mean? You need to be more specific," Wu Lun replied.

"You know, the ability to draw something and have it hold a certain power."

"You're referring to the power of Runes? Ah, well, it's difficult to say. Some of these abilities are contingent on one's affinity with the True Dao. The True Dao of Runes is, in fact, closely linked to the True Dao of Spirit Arrays. Similar to your world, an individual must possess the necessary amplitude to comprehend such Daos," Wu Lun stated plainly. "But what makes this battle even more fascinating than the others? They are employing a wide array of Techniques, demonstrating various True Daos."

"It simply appeared to be the most difficult to master," Yang Ji confessed, admitting there was no particular reason beyond the perceived challenge it presented.

At this juncture, Wu Lun appeared lost in contemplation, but he remained silent. Likewise, Yang Ji did not press further with his questions. After all, a part of the thrill in facing a challenge lay in uncovering its mysteries independently. Consider the Dao of Space; even with the guidance of Yang Kai and occasional advice from Yang Xu, most of his own mastery over this Dao stemmed from his personal discoveries.

Thus, he continued to observe the battle intently, scrutinizing the intricate runes the man conjured to ensnare his adversaries with golden chains.

However, these chains proved insufficient to hold back the truly powerful experts. With the Artifacts at their disposal, how could they be contained by such a rudimentary Technique?

Of the eight figures surrounding the man, two had already broken free from their restraints and resumed their assault. One engaged the man directly, while the other worked to liberate their captured compatriots.

Yang Ji watched, his attention entirely captivated by the man and the precise movements of his hand, disregarding all other combatants.

Unfortunately, Xing Ting moved with remarkable swiftness. She effortlessly ascended to the floating island and gently set Yang Ji down, capturing his focus. "Follow me."

Her voice was devoid of warmth as she readjusted the cloth concealing his features, an Artifact designed to mask a person's identity. Once finished, she took his hand, pulling him towards the destination Wu Lun had intended for Yang Ji to reach...

Defiance City.

This was one of the few cities situated within the Outer Heaven, established in proximity to the Pool of Revitalization.

Among all the cities in the Outer Heaven, Defiance City was comparatively modest in size. Nevertheless, it was regarded as one of the more affluent urban centers. Indeed, it was a city that even individuals from the Inner Heaven might frequent.

However, where there is light, there is invariably shadow. Due to the prevailing discrimination against those from the Lower Realm, a stark stratification existed between the higher and lower social classes.

Upon arriving at the floating island just outside the city, the initial sight that greeted Yang Ji was not the city's opulence, but rather the desolate vestiges of what the city sought to discard. In simpler terms, dilapidated settlements lay sprawled beyond the city walls.

In response to this grim tableau, Yang Ji could only offer a slight nod.

Confronted with such a scene, Yang Ji couldn't help but falter, pausing for a moment in stunned silence. Yet, Xing Ting continued to pull him onward through the desolate area. She sternly cautioned him, "Do not speak, and do not look at any of them. The Young Mistress must never be seen associating with such individuals."