Chapter 39: Blood Debt

The Ironwood Clan Head wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.

His breathing had become heavier but the spiritual pressure around him remained immense. Green spiritual energy crackled along his arms like the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator pushed to the point of his limits.

Ao stood about several meters away.

His clothes were torn and blood poured down from his arm where he had suffered an injury to his shoulder. The injuries did not impede him.

The Clan Head stared at him for several breaths.

"You have more strength than I expected."

Ao gave no reply.

The Clan Head straightened his back despite the pain in his chest. Green spiritual energy flowed around his body for the second time.

"But you’re still only at Core Formation."

Ao looked at him calmly.

"And you’re still alive because I haven’t used everything."

The look on the Clan Head’s face became dark.

"Then show me."

His spiritual energy exploded.

The ground cracked beneath him as his body moved forward. He moved like a hurricane given form throwing his palm towards Ao’s chest as though the motion alone would shatter stone.

Ao moved at the same time.

Their fists collided sending tremors rolling up the mountain. Trees for hundreds of meters bent away from the shockwave and the air burst into the sky with dust and debris.

The Clan Head’s palm came towards his throat.

Ao turned his body allowing the attack to pass before following up with his own fist aimed at his ribs. The Clan Head caught his elbow with his own.

Ao’s knee followed.

The Clan Head twisted away.

Both of them separated landing a few meters apart facing each other. The ground between them was cracked and smoking.

The Clan Head charged forward.

Ao met him in the middle.

The next exchange of blows was quicker. The Clan Head’s attacks had the weight of a Nascent Soul cultivator behind them. Each time he attacked the surrounding mountains rumbled and every movement Ao used to block or deflect spent more of his own spiritual energy.

Ao did not try to overwhelm his opponent directly.

He waited. He watched. He adapted.

A palm came towards his face. Ao tilted his head. A fist followed. He caught the wrist before the Clan Head twisted away and struck with his other hand. Ao blocked his blow which sent him skidding backwards. His feet carved two deep lines into the ground.

The Clan Head did not allow him to stop.

"Ironwood Mountain Body!"

Green spiritual energy surrounded his arms hardening his skin like ancient bark. He swung his fist forward.

Ao raised both of his arms.

The impact sent him flying sending him crashing into a boulder. The rock shattered and he landed among the pieces.

The Clan Head came rushing forward.

Ao rose to his feet.

Their bodies collided once more. The Clan Head’s fist crashed against Ao’s shoulder while Ao’s elbow sent a shockwave into the Clan Head’s ribs. He grunted in pain sending another punch into Ao’s chest blocking another then a third until his fist finally found its mark.

Ao’s fist struck his chest sending the force rolling through his body. He staggered back. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth staring at Ao with wide eyes.

"You..."

Ao wasted no time.

He stepped forward.

The Clan Head freed himself of all restraint. His spiritual energy erupted into the sky black clouds rolling over the mountain as the surrounding wood-element spiritual energy flooded towards him. Massive roots tore through the ground. Trees erupted from the earth. The forest grew anew.

"Ironwood Ancient Domain!"

Ao disappeared within the trees.

The Clan Head attacked immediately.

Wooden spears shot from every direction. Ao moved between them. One passed by his shoulder. Another stuck the ground marking the space where his foot had been. A third came from behind Ao twisting to avoid it as the spear grazed his side drawing blood across his robe.

Ao continued moving.

The Clan Head controlled the entire domain. Every root became a weapon. Every branch a conduit to his spiritual energy. Ao destroyed one attack after another but more took their place.

His breathing grew heavier.

The Clan Head felt it.

"How long can you keep this up?"

Ao did not reply.

Another wooden spear shot towards him. Ao caught it. The weapon writhed in his grip before he crushed it.

The Clan Head’s eyes widened.

Ao had stopped trying to avoid the domain. He was coming for him.

The attacks became faster. Ao pressed forward. A wooden blade cut his shoulder. He ignored it. A root struck his leg. He stepped over it. Another spear came towards his chest. Ao twisted aside. The spear passed. He kept moving forward.

The Clan Head finally appeared ahead of him. The two men stared at each other through the trees. The Clan Head’s breathing was rough. Ao’s clothes were soaked in blood.

Neither looked away.

The Clan Head raised his hand. The entire forest responded. Hundreds of wooden blades appeared behind him.

Ao’s eyes narrowed.

The blades shot forward.

Ao moved.

He struck the first one which shattered. He avoided the second and third. The fourth cut his arm, the fifth passed his head before more came.

Ao continued his advance.

The Clan Head looked on in shock as Ao walked past a storm of attacks. Then he disappeared from his sight.

The Clan Head’s eyes widened.

Ao appeared in front of him. His fist struck.

The Clan Head crossed his arms.

The impact sent him flying crashing into several trees before landing on his back. The Ironwood Ancient Domain trembled.

The Clan Head pushed himself up his arms shaking. Blood ran from his mouth.

Ao walked towards him.

The Clan Head looked at him. For the first time since the battle had begun he knew his advantage was over. He had used his strongest domain and expended a large portion of his spiritual energy. Yet Ao was still walking.

The Clan Head slowly raised his hand. Ao stopped. His spiritual energy gathered again.

Ao looked at him.

"You still want to continue?"

The Clan Head gritted his teeth.

"I will kill you."

Ao looked at him.

"Then try."

The Clan Head roared his spiritual energy erupting once more. He charged forward.

Ao reached into his storage space.

His fingers closed around something cold. He pulled it free.

A black artifact appeared in his hand. It was long and thin like a nail forged from darkness itself. Ancient golden characters covered it. They glowed with a faint light that seemed to swallow the air around it.

The Heaven-Severing Nail.

The Clan Head’s eyes widened. He felt the danger in it. He did not stop. His attack was already coming.

Ao raised the artifact.

The Clan Head’s palm struck.

The Nail moved.

A thin golden light crossed the battlefield. Everything went silent.

The Clan Head stopped. His palm was mere centimeters from Ao’s chest.

A thin line appeared across his body.

His spiritual energy began collapsing.

The Clan Head looked down. His eyes widened. He struggled to circulate his cultivation. His Nascent Soul shook violently. The Heaven-Severing Nail had severed the spiritual energy protecting his body and reached into the foundation supporting his cultivation.

He forced more spiritual energy into his body.

The golden mark spread.

His knees grew weak.

Ao stood in front of him.

The Clan Head looked up.

"You..."

His voice was not loud.

Ao looked at him.

"You concealed that..."

Ao said nothing.

The Clan Head’s body finally collapsed.

The Ironwood Clan Head was dead.

Ao looked at him for several seconds before placing Heaven-Severing Nail away.

He turned towards Azure Cloud City.

Then he disappeared.

---

Night had already fallen over the Lin residence when Ao returned.

The remaining Ironwood cultivators were gathered in the courtyard. They spoke among themselves waiting for their Clan Head to return.

One of them looked towards the entrance. His expression changed.

Ao stood there.

Blood covered his clothes. A gash ran across his shoulder and blood had dried along the side of his face.

The courtyard fell silent.

The cultivator stared behind Ao. There was nobody there.

His face turned pale.

"Where is the Clan Head?"

Ao continued walking.

The man swallowed.

"Where is our Clan Head?"

Ao stopped.

"He won’t be coming back."

The man’s expression changed. Someone behind him whispered, "Impossible."

Ao looked at the group.

The Ironwood cultivators immediately reached for their weapons.

One of them shouted, "Kill him!"

They attacked.

Ao moved. His body disappeared from where he had been before appearing in front of the first Ironwood cultivator. He struck him in the chest sending him flying. Before he could land Ao had turned towards another.

A sword came towards his neck. Ao caught the blade. The cultivator tried to pull it back. Ao gripped it harder. The sword broke. His palm struck the man’s chest before he collapsed.

Another attacked from the side. Ao turned. His fist struck. The man fell.

The remaining Ironwood cultivators panicked. Some attacked together. Others tried to retreat. None would get away.

Ao moved through the courtyard. Every attack was met with a counter. Every attempt to escape ended the same way.

Soon, the courtyard fell silent.

No Ironwood cultivator remained standing.

Ao stood among their bodies. Blood dripped from his hand.

Lin Yue watched from near the main hall. She had seen Ao fight before. This was different. There was no hesitation in his movements. He was not fighting for the Lin family anymore. He was finishing what had already begun.

Lin Yue slowly walked towards him.

"Ao."

He turned. Her eyes immediately went to his injuries.

"You’re bleeding badly."I’m fine."

"You’re not fine."

She stopped in front of him.

"You fought a Nascent Soul cultivator and then came back here to fight all of them. You need to stop and treat your injuries before you do anything else."

Ao looked towards the bodies.

"They came here for the spiritual spring."

"I know."

"They’ll come again."

Lin Yue frowned.

"The Clan Head is dead. The people who came here are dead. The matter should end here."

Ao shook his head.

"It won’t."

Lin Yue understood what he meant.

"You want to go after the entire Ironwood Clan."

"I want to make sure they don’t come back."

"Ao, listen to me. You’ve already done enough. Whatever happens to the Ironwood Clan after tonight can be dealt with later. You should rest first."

Ao looked at her.

"Where is the Ironwood Estate?"

Lin Yue’s expression changed.

"Ao..."

"I need the location."

"Why?"

"I’m going there."

Lin Yue stepped closer.

"You just fought their Clan Head. You’re injured, and you’re exhausted. You don’t need to finish this tonight."

Ao’s expression did not change.

"If I leave them alive, someone else will eventually take his place."

Lin Yue shook her head.

"You don’t know how many people are there."

"I don’t need to."

"Ao, that’s exactly why you should stop."

Before she could say anything else, Lin Mei stepped forward.

"I know where it is."

Lin Yue turned towards her.

"Mei."

Lin Mei looked at Ao. She could see the blood covering his clothes. She also knew he had already made up his mind.

"The Ironwood Estate is about fifty kilometers east of Azure Cloud City," she said. "It’s beyond Blackstone Ridge. Their main estate is surrounded by a large forest, so you’ll see it before you reach the mountain."

Lin Yue stared at her.

"Why would you tell him that?"

Lin Mei looked at her sister.

"Because you’re not going to convince him to stay."

Lin Yue opened her mouth.

Lin Mei continued before she could speak.

"And if the Ironwood Clan is really planning to come after us again, then I’d rather Ao deal with them before they have another chance."

Ao looked at Lin Mei.

"Thank you."

Lin Mei nodded.

"You’re welcome."

Lin Yue sighed. She turned towards Ao.

"At least treat your wounds before you leave."

Ao shook his head.

"Later."

"Ao."

He looked at her.

"I’ll come back."

Before Lin Yue could respond, the space around him distorted.

His figure disappeared.

Lin Mei stared at the empty space.

Lin Yue remained silent for several seconds. Then she looked at her younger sister.

"You really helped him."

Lin Mei folded her arms.

"He was going anyway."

Lin Yue sighed.

"That’s what worries me."

Far beyond the Lin residence, Ao appeared beneath the night sky.

He looked towards the distant mountains. The Ironwood Estate was somewhere beyond them.

His expression remained calm.

Then he stepped forward.

Space folded around his body.

Ao vanished into the darkness.

The Ironwood Clan would not survive the night.