Chapter 1679: Guardian

Outside the main hall, the sky had gradually grown dim, as if foreshadowing the storm to come. Seeing Xiao Yifeng stood before the hall, his gaze sweeping the surroundings, searching for any possible threat.

Suddenly, he felt a chill strike from behind; he reacted instantly, flashing aside with a sudden movement.

"Bang!"

A dull thud sounded as a black figure swept past his side, then heavily crashing into the main hall's wall.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng turned to look and found that the black shadow was a person wearing a black cloak. A hint of confusion flashed in his eyes. "Who is this person?"

Before he could clearly see the person's face, that person suddenly launched an attack, punching a fist toward his chest.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng felt his heart nearly stop beating, shaken by a powerful gust of qi; he immediately reacted, swinging his sword to block that person's attack.

"Who are you?" he shouted.

That person said nothing, merely letting out a cold sneer before continuing the attack.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng could only continuously block that person's attacks, his shock growing deeper. This person's strength was far greater than Bei Mingyuan's, even the strongest opponent he had ever encountered.

While blocking that person's attacks, he tried to clearly see the person's face. Finally, he saw that person's face.

"It's you!" he exclaimed in surprise.

It turned out this mysterious person was the one who had previously saved Seeing Xiao Yifeng in the forest, namely the youth who claimed to be from Central State.

"I didn't expect you to still be alive," that youth said coldly. "However, you seem to have forgotten the words I once told you: do not easily make an enemy of me."

Seeing Xiao Yifeng's heart tightened; he recalled that the youth had once said their family had intricate ties with Central State. Could this youth's purpose be to protect Bei Mingyuan?

He wanted to ask that youth's purpose clearly, but by now the two had been fighting for a long time, their attacks growing increasingly fierce. Their figures crossed within the main hall, sword qi and palm winds colliding, producing a series of grating sounds.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng felt his strength fell far short of that youth's; he had to exert his full power just to block that person's attacks. The green long sword in his hand swung continuously, waves of sword qi surging from the sword tip, attacking that youth.

That youth, expressionless, raised a hand and waved; an invisible force blocked all those sword qi. Immediately after, he launched another attack, slapping a palm toward Seeing Xiao Yifeng's chest.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng immediately retreated several steps, narrowly avoiding being struck by that force. His heart grew increasingly solemn; he knew continuing like this was no solution.

At this moment, he remembered the Shadow Demon Art Bei Mingyuan had used; he knew only equally powerful force could block that youth's attacks.

He decided to take a risk; he must use the Shadow Demon Art to oppose that youth. He took a deep breath, adjusting his qi to its optimal state. Then he took from his space ring the pill Bei Mingyuan had given him—the Shadow Demon Pill.

He tightly gripped the Shadow Demon Pill, feeling the immense power it contained. He understood in his heart that this pill could grant him immense power, but also carried enormous risk.

Without hesitation, he swallowed the Shadow Demon Pill; instantly, he felt a powerful force released from the pill, surging into his body.

He closed his eyes, feeling that dark power permeate; his qi gradually grew stronger. Within his body, as if a dark torrent surged forth, constantly scouring his meridians.

After a short while, he felt his qi had surpassed his previous peak state, yet that dark power continued to surge forth endlessly.

He opened his eyes, his gaze revealing a sharp killing intent. He knew he was ready, about to engage that youth in the final decisive battle.

He tightened his grip on the green long sword and charged toward that youth. Instantly, their figures crossed, sword qi and palm winds raging forward.

Their attacks collided, producing a series of earth-shattering sounds. The entire ruin trembled, as if about to collapse.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng felt his strength had surpassed his previous limits; that dark power had granted him terrifying force. The green long sword in his hand swung continuously, waves of sword qi transforming into green dragons, roaring toward that youth.

That youth also sensed Seeing Xiao Yifeng's power exploding; he frowned, meeting Seeing Xiao Yifeng's attack with all his might.

Their figures moved swiftly within the main hall, sword qi and palm winds filling the air, as if about to tear the entire ruin apart.

Suddenly, Seeing Xiao Yifeng let out a mighty shout: "Shadow Demon Art—Shadow Descent!"

Instantly, a layer of pitch-black shadows surged around his body, as if he had transformed into a messenger of darkness. Immediately after, those shadows swept toward that youth.

That youth also sensed the threat of this dark power; he wanted to retreat, only to find himself completely enveloped by those shadows.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A series of dull thuds echoed throughout the main hall; those shadows, as if possessing terrifying power, blocked all of that youth's attacks.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng tightly gripped the green long sword and charged toward that youth wrapped in shadows. He understood in his heart this was his only chance.

With both hands gripping the green long sword, he thrust toward that youth's chest.

Just as the green long sword was about to pierce that youth's chest, a black shadow instantly erupted from within that youth's body.

It was a figure wearing a black long robe, emitting a dark aura even stronger than the Shadow Demon Art.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng felt his heart as if frozen by an icy force; he could barely breathe. He clearly felt his body completely shrouded by that dark power.

"This... this is..." he thought in shock.

That black shadow instantly moved before Seeing Xiao Yifeng, placing one hand on his shoulder.

"Your Shadow Demon Art is still far from complete; if you continue to comprehend it, perhaps you will still have a chance." A low voice sounded, a voice completely inconsistent with the dark aura, filled with endless years of vicissitudes.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng felt his body instantly thrown into midair by a powerful force, then heavily crashing onto the ground.

He barely raised his head and found that black shadow had vanished; only that youth still stood there, though his eyes now held a complex meaning.

"Who exactly are you?" Seeing Xiao Yifeng asked.

That youth said nothing, merely gazing toward the depths of the main hall, as if pondering something.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng felt his body had suffered severe injuries; he must heal quickly, otherwise his body would gradually collapse.

He struggled to his feet and walked toward the main hall's exit. Before leaving, he turned to glance at that youth and found his gaze had been following him all along.

"We will meet again," Seeing Xiao Yifeng thought silently.

He walked out of the main hall; the sky had grown completely dim, and everything around had become blurred and indistinct. He tightly gripped the green long sword and walked toward the ruin's depths.

He knew many unknown dangers awaited him within this ruin. He must make full preparations to avoid falling into inescapable peril.

He did not know how much time had passed when he reached a huge Shi Shizhong and found a strange aura permeating within. He felt this aura seemed related to that mysterious old man he had encountered in the forest.

He walked step by step into the Shi Shizhong, determined to investigate. The interior of the Shi Shizhong was circular; in the center stood a stone platform, upon which lay an old man in a gray long robe—precisely the mysterious old man who had previously saved Seeing Xiao Yifeng in the forest.

The old man's face was pale as paper, as if life had already departed. Seeing Xiao Yifeng immediately rushed to the stone platform, attempting to examine the old man's condition.