CHAPTER 464: CHAPTER 98: MYSTERIOUS ORIGINS

Zhang Yan noticed that the green-clothed youth spoke as though he knew him well. His brows furrowed slightly as he took a closer look at the young man.

This youth had sharp features and a graceful appearance, clad in luxurious silken robes, with fair skin reminiscent of a maiden. He appeared to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, but his entire being was surrounded by a thin layer of green energy, akin to a film of oil, which lent him an air of malevolence.

Since embarking on his path of cultivation, Zhang Yan had never forgotten anyone he had met, even briefly. Yet he was certain he had never seen this person before. Studying him carefully, Zhang Yan found the youth’s aura deep and unfathomable, his cultivation level completely indiscernible. Zhang Yan asked in a low voice, "Your Excellency, who are you?"

The green-clothed youth placed his hands behind his back and smiled playfully. "Li Daoist, though you do not know me, I am well acquainted with you and aware of your abilities. Now that we’ve crossed paths here, if you are willing to submit to me, I can overlook all our past grievances."

Hearing this, Zhang Yan’s mind stirred.

The youth addressed him as "Li Daoist," clearly unaware of his true identity. This indicated that the youth had only recognized him after he had altered his appearance, most likely through covert observation. From his tone, it seemed there was some enmity between them...

Thoughts raced through Zhang Yan’s mind as he guessed at several possibilities, though he could not yet confirm any of them.

Seeing Zhang Yan offer no response, the green-clothed youth chuckled darkly, raising a hand. Suddenly, a surge of brilliant green light poured out from him like an overturned basin of water, rushing toward Zhang Yan in a torrential wave.

Zhang Yan stood unmoving, his expression unchanging as he coldly watched the green light surge toward him. He raised his palm and struck out.

As his sleeve swept forward, a fierce gale erupted, accompanied by a deep, resonating roar. The wind collided with the green light, and with a deafening "boom," the torrent of green light was driven back as if struck by a powerful breaker.

Though the green light appeared frail, like thin smoke, it did not dissipate entirely under the fierce impact, instead sagging in large sections.

Zhang Yan’s gaze turned icy. Without withdrawing his hand, he pressed forward, taking a forceful step as his shoulders surged forward and his palm remained firmly against the green light.

With a thunderous rumble, the cliffside trembled. A great gale rose from the flat ground, carrying the fury of crashing waves as it bore down upon the green light. Unable to withstand this ferocious force, the light’s flexibility faltered. Forced to retreat several feet, it wavered violently like a candle in the wind, seemingly on the verge of shattering with just a bit more pressure.

The green-clothed youth’s mouth twisted into a grimace. Straining under the immense pressure, his figure tilted backward in mid-air as he snorted. With a sweep of his sleeve, he withdrew the green energy. Arching a brow, he extended a hand toward Zhang Yan and shouted, "Li Daoist, hold!"

A faint sneer appeared on Zhang Yan’s face. Rather than stopping, he let out a shout and threw himself forward, launching a powerful punch!

The punch erupted with piercing roars that echoed for miles, its force rippling like crashing waves and roiling clouds, descending upon the youth with the momentum of a storm.

The green-clothed youth felt as though he had been swallowed by a viscous vortex, the surrounding pressure making movement nearly impossible. His expression changed as he realized the peril. Without a moment’s hesitation, he unleashed the green energy once more, gathering it into a shield before him.

Zhang Yan’s punch struck directly against the youth’s shoulder, driving him to stagger back. The green energy shattered like collapsing clouds and dispersing mist.

Taking advantage of the opening, the green-clothed youth retreated quickly, wrenching himself free from the skirmish. In the next instant, he leapt into the air, transforming into a streak of emerald light and speeding away into the sky.

High above, Hou Sanlang had been carefully observing the battle. Seeing the green-clothed youth at a disadvantage and Zhang Yan preparing to pursue, he hesitated for a moment before pulling out two Colorful Thunder Pearls. He hurled them down toward Zhang Yan!

At the same time, the green-clothed youth let out a strange laugh. His emerald light streaked toward Hou Sanlang, sweeping him up as they fled together. Their tunneling light was astonishingly swift, disappearing dozens of meters away in the blink of an eye.

With a thunderous crack, an explosion echoed from the cliffside, sending smoke and black clouds billowing into the air.

When Zhang Yan emerged unscathed from the dissipating smoke and cast his gaze into the distance, the two had already fled far away.

From the sky came the faint, jubilant laughter of the green-clothed youth. "Li Yuanba, I know of your prowess, but now is not the time for us to determine victory or defeat. If we continue, it will only end in mutual destruction. As long as you don’t obstruct my plans, I won’t trouble you for the time being. Haha..."