Chapter 25: Three Jades Unite

However, at this very moment, fighting sounds came from ahead. Zhang Jun and Lin Xue exchanged a glance and quietly approached.

In the thick mist, over a dozen black-clad men were besieging several injured hunters. The leader was Long Aotian, wielding a longsword, his face ferocious.

"Get out! This Dead Valley is the Long family's territory from today onward!" Long Aotian roared.

Zhang Jun silently thought, "Not good: Long Aotian actually got here first!"

"We have to help those hunters," Lin Xue said, about to rush out.

Zhang Jun grabbed her: "Wait, let's observe the situation first."

At that moment, a hunter was pierced through the chest by Long Aotian's sword. Blood spattered, and the hunter collapsed, unable to rise.

"Go!" Zhang Jun no longer hesitated, pulling Lin Xue as he charged out.

Long Aotian sensed the movement, turned his head and saw Zhang Jun, first startled, then burst into wild laughter: "Zhang Jun? You came just in time! Saves me the trouble of looking for you!"

"Long Aotian, you deserve to die!" Zhang Jun shouted angrily, activating the Profound Yin True Technique and the Yang Gang Righteous Qi Technique simultaneously.

"Watch me kill you to avenge my father!" Long Aotian swung his sword straight at Zhang Jun's throat.

Zhang Jun did not dodge or evade, gathering yin and yang energies in his palm and striking forward. The moment the blade touched his palm, it was as if striking a steel plate, emitting a crisp "ching" sound.

Long Aotian turned pale: "How is this possible?"

Zhang Jun sneered, using the momentum to counterattack. The united yin-yang palm surged like a mountain-collapse, sea-overwhelming wave, forcing Long Aotian to retreat repeatedly, in a sorry state.

Lin Xue, meanwhile, fought the remaining black-clad men. With the Ice Heart Scripture pushed to its limit, ice needles shot forth, striking wherever they went, causing the black-clad men to fall one after another.

Seeing the situation turn bad, Long Aotian roared: "Kill them!"

The black-clad men launched their attacks in unison, and the scene instantly descended into chaos. Lin Xue was besieged by three experts, unable to break free for the moment.

"Lin Xue, be careful!" Zhang Jun shouted, but saw Long Aotian seize the opportunity to circle behind Lin Xue, thrusting his sword straight at her back.

In the nick of time, Lin Xue barely turned sideways; the blade missed her vital spots but pierced deep into her shoulder.

"Ah!" Lin Xue cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, Zhang Jun's vision turned crimson. He raised his head and let out a long whistle, his internal power exploding to an unprecedented level. Yin and yang energies instantly merged, forming a huge Taiji diagram that enveloped his whole body.

"Long Aotian, I will make you die!" Zhang Jun thrust both palms forward; the palm wind howled, the air flow like blades.

Long Aotian hastily raised his sword to block, but heard a crisp "crack"; the sword snapped in response. Immediately after, Zhang Jun's unstoppable palm force slammed into Long Aotian's chest.

Long Aotian flew like a kite with its string cut, traveling over ten zhang before crashing heavily into the cliff wall. He spat blood, his five viscera and six entrails shattered, appearing unable to survive.

Zhang Jun did not pursue, but hurried to Lin Xue's side. Her injury was serious, her face as pale as paper.

"Are you alright?" Zhang Jun asked softly.

Lin Xue weakly shook her head: "I can hold on."

Zhang Jun was about to treat Lin Xue's wounds when he suddenly heard a strange laugh from Long Aotian. Turning his head, he saw Long Aotian half-leaning against the cliff wall, his face covered in blood yet grinning wickedly.

"Zhang Jun…do you think you've won?" Long Aotian said haltingly, "Too late…my father has already…entered the secret realm…you will never catch up!"

Zhang Jun's heart jolted: "What do you mean?"

"You thought…your mother was imprisoned? Hahaha…" Long Aotian laughed even more ferociously, "She is…the mastermind behind all of this!"

Before his words finished, Long Aotian tilted his head and breathed his last.

Zhang Jun felt as if struck by lightning, standing stunned on the spot. Long Aotian's words echoed in his mind: Mother…mastermind…how could this be?

Lin Xue saw his shock and weakly said: "Don't believe his words; he's just trying to disturb your mind."

Zhang Jun slowly nodded, yet could not fully dispel the doubts in his heart. He helped Lin Xue up: "First heal your injury; we must enter the Dead Valley as soon as possible."

Zhang Jun's heart surged with complex emotions; Long Aotian's final words struck him like a heavy hammer, hitting deep within.

His mother's identity, the Long family's conspiracy—everything instantly wove into a vast net that enveloped him and Lin Xue.

"Go!" he said softly to Lin Xue and Liu Quan, despite his heart full of doubts, but he knew he had to take a step forward.

The three entered the Dead Valley cautiously; thick mist filled the air, the surroundings so silent it was suffocating.

As they went deeper, the ground gradually hardened; eventually they found a crevice, its edges emitting a faint glow.

Zhang Jun felt a stir in his heart, leading Lin Xue and Liu Quan to slide down along the crevice.

Upon entering underground, the view suddenly opened up before them: a huge underground palace.

In the center of the palace stood an altar; upon it, Long Tianba held an ancient book, chanting softly, while the surrounding stone pillars were carved with runes that, as the incantation was sung, emitted an eerie light.

"Zhang Jun, you've finally come!" Long Tianba's voice thundered, echoing in the palace. He turned, wearing a smug smile: "Perfect timing! The blood of the Zhang sect descendant is the key to unlocking the final secret!"

Zhang Jun's heart tightened; Long Tianba's gaze was like a blade, piercing straight at him.

"Dodge!" Liu Quan shouted; Zhang Jun swiftly sidestepped, avoiding the fatal blow. The sword light swept past, bringing a gust of wind; Zhang Jun's heart clenched—Long Tianba's strength far exceeded his imagination.

"You think you can escape?" Long Tianba sneered, his sword flashing like a rainbow, launching successive attacks. Zhang Jun exerted all his power to circulate the Profound Yin True Technique to meet them, but the opponent's force was like a mountain, pressing down so he could barely breathe.

"I have absorbed part of the essence of the Nine Yang True Scripture; you are no match for me!" Long Tianba's sword flashed like a rainbow; Zhang Jun felt a sharp pain as the sword pierced his shoulder, blood gushing out.

"Young Master Zhang!" Lin Xue, seeing this, felt her heart tighten; enduring the pain, she activated the Ice Heart Scripture, trying to buy time for Zhang Jun. Her inner energy circulated through her body, sensing Zhang Jun's anguish, a sour feeling rose in her heart.

"Don't worry about me!" Zhang Jun gritted his teeth, secretly thinking he needed to find a chance to counterattack. Just then, Lin Xue's voice sounded in his ear: "Zhang Jun, close your eyes, feel our power!"

Zhang Jun blinked slightly, then closed his eyes, silently reciting the mantra of the Ice Heart Scripture. As Lin Xue's inner energy flowed in, he felt a warm force moving within him, as if resonating with Lin Xue's technique.

"Come on!" Lin Xue's voice firm and clear, Zhang Jun's heart ignited with hot blood. He felt the two powers merge within him, forming a perfect yin-yang cycle; his injuries instantly healed, his power surged.

"What are you doing?" Long Tianba saw this, his face slightly changing, a vague unease stirring in his heart. Zhang Jun opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with determination, his whole body exuding a mighty aura.

"Long Tianba, I will not retreat today!" Zhang Jun roared, thrusting both palms forward; yin and yang energies intertwined, forming a huge Taiji diagram that enveloped his surroundings.