Chapter 189: Yin and Yang United, the Cauldron's Might Suppresses Evil

Shennong Cauldron! the Black Judge cried, his eternally dead‑pan face showing for the first time a complex mix of shock and greed, "The Shennong Cauldron actually protects its master on its own?"

Kill! Charge in for me!

At that moment, outside the annex, a earth‑shaking shout of killing suddenly rang out!

Qin Boyan's aged yet still booming voice echoed through the night: "Qin family members, hear my orders! Eliminate the Shadow Organization's fiends, protect our Qin legacy! Kill——!"

Countless torches blazed to life as Qin Boyan personally led the remaining loyal Qin clansmen from outside in a surprise attack on the Black Judge's group; in an instant, blades flashed and killing cries shook the heavens, temporarily entangling the Shadow Organization's forces.

The Black Judge's face turned livid with rage—he never imagined that the Qin family, this ant he could crush anytime, would still have the strength to bite back, nor that the Shennong Cauldron would unleash its power at this critical moment.

You useless lot! the Black Judge roared, black energy swirling around him, "Break this damned barrier! If you can't take them down and seize the Shennong Cauldron today, you know what fate awaits you!"

He himself stepped forward, his withered palm condensing energy as dark as ink, and he slammed it hard against the azure barrier!

Bang——!

The azure barrier shuddered violently, its light dimming slightly, but it held firm.

The Black Judge's rear‑guard Shadow Organization acolytes likewise unleashed their signature moves—various sinister, eerie attacks rained down like there was no tomorrow, all smashing into the azure barrier.

Though the energy barrier projected by the Shennong Cauldron was formidable, under the combined furious assault of the Black Judge and several powerful Shadow Organization acolytes it began to shake violently, the runic light flickering, clearly unable to hold much longer.

Fine cracks began to appear across the barrier.

Qin Yueyao gazed at the trembling azure barrier, then at the Qin clansmen desperately fighting the Shadow Organization's acolytes, she gritted her teeth, turned sharply to Zhang Jun and Lin Xue, and urged: "Use your Yin‑Yang Jade Pendants! The Shennong Cauldron's power resonates with your pendants—channel their energy into the core of the barrier the Cauldron projects; there should be an invisible nexus there… perhaps… perhaps it will unleash stronger protection, even… even turn the Cauldron's power against them!"

Qin Yueyao's words had barely left her lips.

Lin Xue swiftly scanned the interior of the azure barrier.

Her sense of formations was keen; focusing, she quickly sensed a spot where the energy flux was oddly vacant.

"There!" Lin Xue pointed with her jade finger.

At the core where the barrier's light converged, there was nothing—yet it resonated distantly with the azure column piercing the sky.

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue exchanged a glance, instantly understanding each other's intent.

"Move!" Zhang Jun hissed low.

The two simultaneously circulated their inner strength.

Gold‑blue pure energy shot from the pendants like a whistle, streaking straight toward the nexus Lin Xue had indicated!

Hum——!

Above the Tranquil Thought Pavilion, the azure column that had merely projected the energy barrier suddenly surged in its hum, multiplying manyfold, bright and far‑reaching, as if it had pierced through the ages.

Above the Tranquil Thought Pavilion, that same azure column blazed forth, its brightness increasing more than tenfold over before!

The azure barrier, formerly riddled with cracks and on the verge of collapse, under this sudden, endless influx of mighty energy saw its fissures seal in an instant, restoring it to pristine condition—even tougher and thicker than before.

The ancient runes flowing across it became crystal clear, exuding an awe‑inspiring pressure that made hearts tremble.

Not good! the Black Judge's eyelid twitched, alarm bells ringing in his mind.

Before he could react, another change occurred!

The newly restored azure barrier suddenly shoved outward!

Boom——!

A vast, mighty surge—brimming with endless vitality and the weight of ages—like a dam‑bursting torrent, erupted violently from the barrier!

This formless, intangible wave contained the power to cleave heaven and earth, sweeping toward the Black Judge and his underlings who were frenziedly assaulting the barrier.

Pfft!

Ugh!

The Black Judge took the brunt, his chest struck as if by a heavy hammer, a gush of black blood spraying out as he was flung several zhang away, crashing with a boom into and collapsing half of the courtyard wall.

The Shadow Organization acolytes behind him fared even worse.

The two weaker among them didn't even get a chance to scream before the wave shattered their seven orifices, broke their tendons and bones, and they collapsed lifeless on the spot.

The others also surged with qi and blood, their faces turning deathly pale as they staggered back, filled with terror.

This… this is impossible! Shennong Cauldron… how could the Shennong Cauldron possess such power! the Black Judge struggled to his feet from the rubble, wiped the blood from his mouth, and the face hidden beneath his hood twisted into a grotesque mask of shock and fury.

He could clearly feel that the power emanating from the Shennong Cauldron was upright and vibrant, a natural bane to his yin‑evil cultivation.

Before that force, his prideful yin‑toxic energy melted away like snow under a blazing sun, utterly powerless.

The Shennong Cauldron is the Medicine Sect's supreme treasure, passed down for myriad ages, brimming with the vitality of heaven and earth—how could you filthy heretics dare covet it! Qin Yueyao's voice was ice‑cold, tinged with pride.

She stood within the azure barrier, bathed in the Shennong Cauldron's soft green glow; her formerly pallid face regained a hint of rosiness, and her listless spirit revived considerably.

She fixed the Black Judge with a stare devoid of fear, feeling only bone‑deep hatred and a hint of… indescribable satisfaction.

The Black Judge's visage shifted between gloom and fury as he glared at the impregnable azure barrier, then gazed toward the Qin family manor where the killing cries still shook the heavens—Qin Boyan, that old coot, was clearly resolved to fight them to the death.

The power now displayed by the Shennong Cauldron far exceeded his expectations.

If they kept fighting, they would gain nothing and might lose all the acolytes he had painstakingly nurtured.

Withdraw! the Black Judge snarled, forcing the word from between his clenched teeth.

Though he was immensely unwilling, he also knew when to yield to circumstances.

The Supreme One's plan is paramount; we cannot lose the big picture over small gains.

We're leaving! the Black Judge spat venomously at Zhang Jun, Lin Xue, and Qin Yueyao, then flickered away with his remaining acolytes, retreating like a tide and vanishing into the night.

The Shadow Organization's troops withdrew, and the suffocating pressure inside the Tranquil Thought Pavilion suddenly eased.

Qin Boyan led the Qin family members in swiftly clearing the remaining foes outside; only after confirming the Shadow Organization had fully retreated did he bring everyone to the exterior of the Tranquil Thought Pavilion.

Yueyao, are you all right? Qin Boyan gazed at the unharmed Qin Yueyao within the courtyard, as well as Zhang Jun and Lin Xue, his turbid old eyes flashing with relief and lingering dread.