Chapter 26: Yin‑Yang Creation

Long Tianba's expression was cold, the ancient tome in his hand faintly glowing. With a casual wave, a wave of black qi surged toward Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun and Lin Xue met each other's gaze and, in unspoken sync, activated their techniques. Mysterious Yin True Skill and Ice‑Cold Heart Scripture resonated, forming an invisible barrier that blocked the lethal strike.

"Some skill," Long Tianba said, closing the ancient tome, "but today none of you will leave alive."

Zhang Jun gently supported Lin Xue, continuously channeling his internal power into her to steady her wounds. Standing together, their breaths gradually merged, and the power of Yin‑Yang Fusion silently grew.

Long Tianba snorted coldly and attacked again; his palm wind sliced like a blade, cracking the air wherever it passed. Zhang Jun and Lin Xue stood back‑to‑back, one attacking, one defending, in perfect coordination. Chilling qi and scorching true essence intertwined, creating layered defenses that stubbornly halted Long Tianba's fierce onslaught.

"Petty tricks, behold the true Dragon‑family supreme art!" Long Tianba roared, and eerie black qi suddenly surged around him, coiling over his body like a living thing. His eyes turned blood‑red, his face twisted, and his aura surged more than tenfold.

Liu Quan's complexion changed dramatically: "Nine Nether Soul‑Devouring Technique! This is a long‑lost forbidden art, how could—"

"Indeed, it is the Nine Nether Soul‑Devouring Technique," Long Tianba sneered, "In the past twenty years I've devoured the essence of three hundred sixty‑five masters, waiting for today!"

Zhang Jun felt the terrifying aura radiating from Long Tianba and his heart tightened. Lin Xue also sensed the danger; her Ice‑Cold Heart Scripture surged to its limit, and frosty qi spread around.

"Zhang Jun, let's combine forces," Lin Xue whispered.

Zhang Jun nodded, once again driving Mysterious Yin True Skill together with the Yang‑Robust Righteous Qi Formula, merging with Lin Xue's Ice‑Cold Heart Scripture. Their palms faced each other, and Yin‑Yang qi coalesced between them into a brilliant radiance.

A hint of apprehension flashed in Long Tianba's eyes, but he quickly resumed his cold sneer: "Even if you achieve Yin‑Yang Fusion, what then? Before absolute power, all techniques are empty!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he thrust both palms forward; the Nine Nether black qi split into countless fine threads, lunging at Zhang Jun and Lin Xue like starving wolves. The two simultaneously launched palms, the unified Yin‑Yang force meeting the black qi.

"Boom!"

A massive explosion roared through the underground palace, and the shockwave hurled the three apart. Zhang Jun and Lin Xue were tossed several zhang, crashing heavily into stone pillars. Long Tianba also stepped back a few paces, but quickly steadied himself.

The stone pillars surrounding the altar began to crack, the entire underground palace trembled incessantly, and debris fell from the ceiling.

"Your power is decent, but still far from enough," Long Tianba sneered as he walked toward them.

Zhang Jun struggled to his feet, suddenly feeling something inside him awaken. The scene of his grandfather's death‑bed transmission flashed in his mind, and a complete mental method instantly imprinted on his consciousness— Nine Yang Returning Origin Formula!

"Lin Xue, lend me your strength!" Zhang Jun growled low.

Lin Xue understood immediately, once again standing back‑to‑back with Zhang Jun as their techniques ran in tandem. This time, Zhang Jun guided the two streams of power to circulate within his body according to the path of the Nine Yang Returning Origin Formula.

A marvelous change occurred. The surrounding Yin‑Yang qi seemed summoned, surging toward Zhang Jun's palm like countless rivers flowing into the sea. A ball of golden light gathered in his hand, growing brighter and more solid.

"This is..." Long Tianba finally showed a look of astonishment.

"Returning Origin!" Zhang Jun unleashed a palm strike.

The golden light shot straight for Long Tianba's chest; he scrambled to block, only to see the Nine Nether black qi inside him being forcibly ripped away by the golden light. Long Tianba felt his entire essence being wildly drained, letting out a harrowing scream: "Impossible! What technique is this?"

His body withered at a visibly rapid pace, as if his very essence were being sucked out. The essences he had devoured were being forcibly stripped away by the Nine Yang Returning Origin Formula.

Even more shocking, the golden light in Zhang Jun's palm solidified into a tangible weapon—a golden Yin‑Yang sword! Its blade was half black, half gold, embodying the materialization of Yin and Yang qi.

"This... this is Zhang Sanfeng's supreme art!" Long Tianba's face turned ashen, "Yin‑Yang Creation!"

Zhang Jun hadn't expected such a change, but the Yin‑Yang sword in his hand resonated with his will, swinging as light as nothing. He stepped forward, ready to end Long Tianba's life.

Long Tianba fell to his knees: "Don't kill me... I can tell you the whereabouts of the Nine Yang True Scripture..."

Zhang Jun sneered coldly: "Did you think I'd believe you?"

The Yin‑Yang sword rose high, about to descend.

"Stop! My son..."

A familiar yet strange female voice suddenly came from behind the altar. Zhang Jun shivered, his movement halted abruptly. He turned slowly and saw a veiled woman stepping out, her aura linked to his bloodline.

"Mother?" Zhang Jun could hardly believe it.

The veiled woman slowly lifted her veil, revealing a face about seventy percent similar to Zhang Jun's. Time had left marks on her skin, but could not hide the heroic spirit within.

"It's me, child," the woman said, tears in her eyes, "Twenty years have passed, and I finally see you."

The Yin‑Yang sword in Zhang Jun's hand dissipated into specks of golden light. He staggered forward a few steps, his heart filled with indescribable, tangled emotions.

"Why... why are you here?"

The woman sighed deeply: "The situation is far more complicated than you imagine." She glanced at Long Tianba, her eyes complex, "He is not the enemy you think he is."

Long Tianba, now feeble, managed a wry smile: "She is right, Zhang Jun, your mother's true identity is..."

Lin Xue suddenly shouted, "Watch out!"

While everyone's attention was diverted, the ancient tome on the altar suddenly burst with blinding light. A black shadow leapt out, instantly attaching itself to Long Tianba.

Long Tianba let out an inhuman howl as his body swelled and warped, eerie red light flashing in his eyes. His voice turned hoarse and deep, no longer human: "At last... the moment when the Zhang bloodline and Dragon family essence appear together..."

Zhang Jun's mother cried out, "Bad! It's the lingering soul of the Demon Sect leader! He revived using the Nine Nether Soul‑Devouring Technique!"

The underground palace shook violently again, more pillars collapsing. Long Tianba— or rather the Demon Sect leader possessing his body— sneered and reached for Zhang Jun: "Come, offer me your Yin‑Yang power, and I will regain a mortal body and dominate the martial world!"

Zhang Jun was silent for a moment, then turned to Lin Xue: "Are you ready?"

Lin Xue nodded, her gaze steady: "Whenever you wish."

Zhang Jun was thrilled, about to step forward for an embrace, when Lin Xue suddenly blocked him: "Wait, the situation is unclear; beware of deception!"

"Miss Lin, you're overthinking," the woman said with a bitter smile, "I am Zhang Yunyao, and indeed owe you an explanation..."

Taking advantage of the brief exchange, Long Tianba— or rather the Demon Sect leader within him— suddenly erupted in fury, a mass of black qi slithering like a poisonous snake toward Zhang Jun and his mother.

Zhang Yunyao reacted instantly, turning and delivering a palm strike; the technique mirrored Zhang Jun's but was even more refined. The palm wind transformed into a golden beam that pushed the black qi back three zhang.

"You actually betrayed the organization!" Long Tianba roared in a mix of anger and shock.

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Yunyao's eyes: "You were the ones who first betrayed the chivalric code!"

Long Tianba cackled wildly: "Betrayal? Do you think I don't know what you've been doing for twenty years? The Mysterious Heaven Pavilion has your eyes!"

Zhang Jun heard the words hazily: "Mother, what's going on?"

Zhang Yunyao sighed: "I originally intended to tell you after everything was over..." While keeping a wary eye on Long Tianba, she explained, "Back then I wasn't imprisoned; I voluntarily infiltrated the Mysterious Heaven Pavilion, disguising myself for twenty years solely to locate the Nine Yang True Scripture. The Dragon family was merely a pawn; the true mastermind is the 'Heaven Beyond Heaven' organization."

"Heaven Beyond Heaven?" Zhang Jun had never heard that name before.