Chapter 28: A Thread Between Life and Death

Zhang Jun was equally surprised: "Our cultivation method seems to have developed some kind of symbiotic relationship."

What's even more shocking is that Zhang Jun suddenly flashed some unfamiliar images in his mind—a little girl practicing sword in a courtyard, a kind old man teaching her heart method mantra… This is clearly Lin Xue's memory!

"I saw the scene from your childhood." Zhang Jun said in surprise.

Lin Xue widened her eyes: "I also saw your days in Jiangbei… Did you secretly come see me three times?"

The two stared at each other, realizing an unbelievable fact—their souls were mutually merging!

"Yin-yang symbiosis…" Zhang Jun murmured, recalling his grandfather's dying words, "Is this the secret of the Zhang Clan bloodline?"

Although Lin Xue's toxin was temporarily suppressed, her face remained pale: "We must seize the time; the toxin is only temporarily receded."

Zhang Jun nodded and continued on. After two days and nights without rest, he finally saw the distant snow mountain outline—Spirit Vulture Peak was right before his eyes!

However, at the mountain's base, a group of black-clad people suddenly appeared, blocking the way.

"At last I've caught up to you." The leader sneered, pulling off his mask to reveal a familiar face.

"Zhao Wushuang?!" Zhang Jun exclaimed in shock, "Aren't you already dead?"

Zhao Wushuang gave a feral grin: "A disciple of Heaven Beyond Heaven—how could you easily kill me?" He glanced around the black-clad men, "Do you really think you can escape Heaven Beyond Heaven's grasp? Zhang Jun, your mother's fate will also be yours!"

Zhang Jun shielded Lin Xue behind him: "What happened to my mother?"

"Your mother?" Zhao Wushuang laughed, "Zhang Yuyao has been a member of Heaven Beyond Heaven for twenty years! She merely harbored hopes of betraying the organization. Now she has paid the price for it!"

Zhang Jun's heart churned—his mother a member of Heaven Beyond Heaven? How could that be?

Lin Xue suddenly grabbed Zhang Jun's arm: "Don't listen to his nonsense; he's trying to disturb your mind."

Zhao Wushuang sneered, "Miss Lin, do you think your Ice Soul Body is a coincidence? It's the result of Heaven Beyond Heaven's careful cultivation! Your father Lin Zhen is the executor of this task!"

Lin Xue's face changed drastically: "You're talking nonsense!"

"The truth is often crueler than imagined." Zhao Wushuang slowly drew a black long sword, "Now, obediently hand over the Nine Yang True Scripture and your lives, and I'll let you die a little less painfully."

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue stood back to back, the black-clad people closing in step by step.

"Lin Xue, can you still fight?" Zhang Jun asked softly.

Lin Xue nodded: "Our cultivation methods are interconnected; I can draw on your strength."

Zhang Jun took a deep breath; the yin and yang qi in his body circulated again. This time, he felt Lin Xue's Ice Heart Classic also flowing within him, the three techniques perfectly merging.

"Yin-yang unity!" Zhang Jun shouted, condensing a yin-yang sword in his palm.

Lin Xue likewise activated her technique, an ice-crystal shield appearing around her. Their breaths intertwined, as if they were one.

Zhao Wushuang's expression shifted slightly: "Kill! Leave none alive!"

Black-clad figures surged forward like a tide; Zhang Jun and Lin Xue went out to meet them. A line between life and death, a battle with backs to the wall!

"At last I've caught up to you." He stepped forward slowly, leaving a line of bloody footprints in the snow, "Zhang Jun, do you really think you can easily kill me?"

Zhang Jun guarded Lin Xue, warily staring at the opposite side.

"Three Lives Reincarnation Technique!" Zhao Wushuang fiercely flipped his palm, a blood-red seal appearing in his hand, "Heaven Beyond Heaven's secret not passed on—death and rebirth—this is merely my first life."

The black-clad men pressed closer; Zhang Jun circulated Profound Yin True Technique, feeling the scant true qi remaining in his body. Although linked with Lin Xue suppressed the toxin, it also consumed greatly.

"Lin Xue, step back." Zhang Jun ordered softly.

Lin Xue shook her head, forcing herself to stand firm: "I can still fight."

The toxin surged within her, each breath as painful as a knife cut. Black qi had spread to her neck; without detox, death was certain.

"A successor of the Zhang Clan is no more than this." Zhao Wushuang casually waved, and two black-clad men lunged forward.

Zhang Jun struck out like lightning; the two fell instantly. But this was only the beginning—more black-clad men rushed forward.

Zhao Wushuang watched coldly: "Heaven Beyond Heaven's power far exceeds your imagination; even your father back then was only slightly better."

Mentioning his father ignited Zhang Jun's fury; he abruptly activated Profound Yin True Technique. The icy qi gathered in his palms, forming a yin-yang sword radiating cold light.

"Kill!"

Sword qi swept across; several black-clad men fell. Yet Zhao Wushuang merely sneered, stepping forward to engage personally.

The moment they clashed, Zhang Jun fell to the disadvantage. Zhao Wushuang's strength far surpassed before, each move carrying lethal intent.

"How does it feel to be poisoned with Soul-devouring Toxin?" Zhao Wushuang looked at Lin Xue, "Rest assured, you'll see him die before you."

Lin Xue endured the pain, trying to circulate her Ice Heart Classic to aid the fight, but the toxin's stimulation knocked her down, unable to rise.

"Zhang Jun, watch his left palm!"

No sooner said than done, Zhao Wushuang's left palm, laden with black qi, struck toward Zhang Jun's chest. Zhang Jun barely avoided vital spots, his shoulder still hit, sending him flying several zhang.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth; Zhang Jun staggered to his feet, feeling his internal qi disrupted.

"Resign yourselves, hand over the true scripture, and I'll give you a quick death." Zhao Wushuang attacked again.

Zhang Jun was forced to retreat repeatedly; in desperation he suddenly recalled a secret technique recorded in the true scripture.

"Yin-yang chaos!"

He bit his tongue hard, spitting out a mouthful of essence blood. The blood turned into a mist in the air, swirling around him. Profound Yin True Technique and Yang Rigid Positive Energy Method ran wildly, the two forces no longer balancing and merging but violently colliding.

A terrifying aberration suddenly occurred—Zhang Jun's eyes turned one black, one gold; his hair whitened at visible speed, soon half his head as pale as snow.

"This is—" Zhao Wushuang showed a shocked expression.

Zhang Jun emanated a horrifying aura, like a demon god descending. Yin-yang chaos burned the essence of life, briefly unleashing power far beyond limits.

"Go die!"

Palm force like mountains overturning seas, Zhao Wushuang hastily responded, his chest instantly pierced. He stared in disbelief at the blood hole in his chest, staggering back.

"I still have one last life!" Zhao Wushuang shouted, struggling, trying to flee.

Zhang Jun ruthlessly caught up, his palm blade like a knife, slicing across Zhao Wushuang's neck.

"Then give me this last life as well!"

The head hit the ground, rolling into the snow. The remaining black-clad men, seeing this, scattered and fled.

Victory came swift but also tragic. Zhang Jun only felt utterly exhausted, his vision darkening, he collapsed heavily into the snow.

"Zhang Jun!" Lin Xue dragged her wounded body, crawling to his side, felt his breath, her hand icy cold.

The aftereffects of the yin-yang disorder far exceeded imagination; Zhang Jun's breath was weak as a silk thread, his life hanging by a thread. Lin Xue's tears fell like rain, about to send true qi to save him, when suddenly a rapid horse-hoof sound came from the mountain.

A white-clad woman arrived riding the wind, her long hair flowing, holding a horsetail whisk, her bearing extraordinary.

"Elder Mo sent word, indeed not empty words." The white-clad woman looked at the two on the ground, sighed, "Son of Zhang Tian Gang, he almost died down the mountain."

Lin Xue asked warily, "Who are you?"

"Mo Wuyou of Lingjiu Peak." The white-clad woman took out a letter, exactly what Elder Mo entrusted, "My senior brother entrusted me to look after you before his death."

Mo Wuyou examined the two's injuries, his expression grave: "The soul-devouring poison has already entered the meridians; fortunately, your yin-yang mutual connection temporarily suppresses the poison. This young master is in greater danger, burning his life essence, damaging his foundation."