Wu dong Qian Kun: I, Lin Langtian, Refuse to be a Supporting Character

Chapter 145: Taiqing Sky Step

"Cough... cough..."

As the smoke and dust cleared, a harsh, violent coughing echoed from the depths of the crater. Slowly, a hand emerged, pressing against the ground as a figure, bloodied from head to toe, struggled to climb out—it was the old man in the hemp robe.

His entire body was drenched in blood, his clothing torn and tattered, leaving hardly a patch intact. He eventually managed to stand up, his face pale and twisted in horror.

"What… is this…?" he murmured, suddenly feeling an eerie black mist seeping from his body. This dark energy wasn't just eroding his physical body; it was eating away at his mind, leaving him increasingly disoriented.

"Cursed power!" His already pale face grew even whiter. Even among powerful Nirvana-level practitioners, this was a dangerous, feared force from ancient times, a power capable of overwhelming anyone, even those with strength like his own.

Terrified, he turned to look at the young man in green robes standing a short distance away. Not only did this boy possess the Devouring Ancestral Symbol, but he also had the means to momentarily boost his power to the Nirvana level, mastering both mystic arts and that sinister cursed force. These abilities were unknown even in his prestigious Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace, and here he had encountered them from a prodigy of a lesser dynasty!

In the sky, Lin Langtian looked down at the elder, who was barely clinging to life under the force of the curse. Finally, he relaxed, exhaling deeply. As he did so, his own power rapidly diminished, giving way to a wave of intense weakness that spread through his entire body. His skin throbbed with sharp pain, making him feel as though his body was falling apart.

The weakness washed over him like a tidal wave, and Lin Langtian nearly fainted, though the Devouring Ancestral Symbol began pulling in nearby energy, helping him stave off unconsciousness. Looking down at the near-defeated elder, Lin Langtian's gaze grew cold. He spread his fingers, and the black vortex in his palm swirled outward, releasing an intense devouring force that surrounded the old man.

One must uproot all threats. Lin Langtian knew he could not leave this old man alive.

The elder, sensing the devouring force tugging at his mind and body, felt his energy being forcibly drained. Horrified, he stammered, "B-boy, I am of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace! You cannot kill me! If you offend the Taiqing Palace, you will be left with no place to stand in the Eastern Profound Territory!"

Lin Langtian sneered, unphased, as he intensified the devouring force.

As the old man's strength was wrenched from him, his expression turned frantic. Realizing his threats meant nothing, he shifted to desperate pleas, his voice trembling. "Young friend, please spare me! I will serve you as your subordinate! I can give you anything you desire! I can even secure you a place within the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace. With your talent and my support, you could rise to greatness in the Palace, perhaps even in all of the Eastern Profound Territory!"

Hearing the old man's pathetic plea, Lin Langtian scoffed, his tone scornful. "A mere elder from a third Nirvana level in the Taiqing Palace—no more significant than an insect. Your so-called 'support' is laughable."

Lin Langtian tightened his grasp, denying the old man a chance to continue. The devouring force surged, wrenching out streams of the elder's essence, siphoning every last trace into the black vortex.

Crash!

The elder's lifeless body collapsed to the ground, his eyes frozen wide in terror. Once considered a powerful figure, the old man from the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace had met his end here.

Exhausted but resolute, Lin Langtian collected his magic puppet, then felt a fresh wave of weakness wash over him. Surveying the desolate battlefield one last time, he wasted no time in leaping onto the back of the massive black-gold crow.

"Caw!"

Sensing its master's weakened state, the black-gold crow let out a piercing cry, spreading its dark wings and lifting off. As they took flight, Lin Langtian noticed the elder's storage pouch dangling from his belt. He reached out, summoning the last remnants of his devouring power to pull it into his hands.

With that, his strength finally gave way, and he drifted into unconsciousness atop his mount.

"Caw!"

The crow, feeling its master's sudden limpness, glanced back in concern, calling out as though afraid he might not wake again.

"Don't worry, little one. Your master is only temporarily unconscious. Find a safe place where he can recover."

The crow perked up at the sound of a dignified, gentle voice in its mind—it was Ling Yi's. Perhaps reassured by her composed tone, the crow calmed, finding a safe spot in the distance as the setting sun's rays bathed them in a soft, golden glow.

Three days later, within a hidden cave along a steep cliff face, a tall figure slowly opened his eyes, squinting at the sunlight filtering in through the cave's entrance.

As the light met his gaze, Lin Langtian winced, the brightness momentarily stinging his eyes. After a few moments, the pain faded, and he adjusted to the light. The first thing he saw was his small, black-gold crow, watching him like a faithful sentinel.

Lin Langtian chuckled softly, reaching out to stroke the soft feathers of his loyal companion. "Thank you for guarding me, little crow."

With the last few days of rest, he had regained his full strength. As he looked at his loyal companion, the little crow chirped happily, fluttering around the cave, relieved to see him awake.

Lin Langtian watched with a smile. Although he had originally chosen the crow because of its rare potential as a royal beast, he had developed a strong bond with it over time. His determination to kill the old man had been in part due to the elder's interest in claiming the crow for himself.

Remembering the elder, Lin Langtian furrowed his brow. Reaching into his tunic, he took out the storage pouch he had seized from him. Given the old man's status in the Taiqing Palace, it was likely he had valuables worth investigating.

It took little effort for Lin Langtian to remove the elder's imprint on the pouch, given his current mental power and the Devouring Ancestral Symbol. As he delved into its contents, his gaze fell upon a polished, jade scroll, beautifully crafted and glowing faintly.

His heart quickened as he examined the scroll, its title catching his eye, inscribed in ethereal, mist-like characters:

"High-Level Body Technique: Taiqing Sky Step."

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