Chapter 952: Chapter 675: Uncle Master, Why Didn’t You Dodge?
Yang Xiao, who was thrown onto the ground dizzily, stood up bewildered. He didn’t even see what move his uncle-master used; the opponent merely raised a hand, and Yang Xiao felt as if he had crashed into an invisible wall of air, which catapulted him away.
"Uncle-master, what was that..." Yang Xiao picked up the bamboo stick that had fallen on the ground, wondering if he had somehow offended his uncle-master.
"Again, I’ll reduce my strength a bit this time." A voice of an elderly man came from behind the curtain, mixed with a sigh.
Yang Xiao seriously suspected that his uncle-master looked down on him, and without further courtesy, he gripped the bamboo stick and circled around the elderly man, looking for an opportunity to strike. An opportunity to engage with a Netherworld-level Apostle was too precious to waste.
A moment later, Yang Xiao suddenly spotted a copper mirror on the wall behind his uncle-master, an important discovery. Without showing any emotion, he rapidly calculated in his mind and soon devised what could be considered a perfect combination move.
"Uncle-master, I am going to strike now, are you ready?" Yang Xiao stopped moving, stood properly facing the elder’s position, his left hand holding the Ghost Lantern and his right hand gripping the bamboo stick, adopting a fighting stance.
The elder didn’t reply, but the silhouette behind the curtain nodded.
"Then... I apologize in advance!"
Yang Xiao charged forward rapidly, tucking the bamboo stick under his arm and whipping out the Human Bone Staff from his waist with a backhand strike.
A familiar sensation came over him, an invisible, eerie force aimed at the elder behind the curtain. But just as Yang Xiao’s body was about to make contact with the curtain, a burst of green light suddenly exploded.
Indeed, Yang Xiao had detonated the Ghost Lantern; in an instant, the dazzling green light obscured his figure, and by the time the green light faded, Yang Xiao had emerged from the copper mirror, appearing behind the elder.
In the nick of time, the binding power of the Ghost Lantern in his left hand activated, instantly trapping the elder within a green cage.
Having landed a successful hit, Yang Xiao decisively dropped the Human Bone Staff and swung the longer bamboo stick towards the elder’s head.
However, to Yang Xiao’s surprise, the elder had not turned to look at him throughout the encounter, nor had he made any movements.
As the bamboo stick, now revealed to be a Ghost Duster – a Magic Artifact, closed in on the elder, Yang Xiao began to panic. He worried about accidentally injuring his uncle-master; he was all too aware of the brutal power of the Ghost Duster, capable of maiming or killing, one of the most ruthless among his numerous Magic Artifacts.
In the final moment, Yang Xiao forcefully diverted the blow, causing it to miss the elder’s head and instead strike the ground with a "thud," the tremendous force making his arms go numb.
"Hu——"
"Hu——"
Yang Xiao gasped for breath and turned to look at the elder beside him. The elder slightly bowed his head, sitting still and cross-legged on a cushion, motionless as a bell.
"Uncle-master, why didn’t you dodge?" Yang Xiao was certain that had he not held back, the blow would have struck his uncle-master on the head. He did not understand what kind of charade his uncle-master was playing with him.
Yet facing Yang Xiao’s question, the elder still kept his head bowed, unmoving, silent, as if he were a lifeless object.
"Uncle-master?" Yang Xiao slowly approached the elder, feeling increasingly puzzled and sensing something odd.
The next second, a bell sound suddenly rang near Yang Xiao’s ears, deep and sonorous. He swiftly turned around, following the sound, only to see a gray curtain not far behind with a tall, thin silhouette seated at the center.
At this moment, Yang Xiao was utterly stunned. Turning back, he saw not his "uncle-master" but rather an alchemy furnace as tall as himself, its bronze body covered in patches of rust.
"Hahaha..." Senior Brother Qingfeng, who had been watching, could no longer hold back, issuing a harsh and rough laughter, appearing thoroughly amused.
At this moment, how could Yang Xiao not realize that he had been caught in an Illusion Technique? He imagined his perfect attack strategy had all been used on this alchemy furnace, but he could not understand when he had fallen for the trick.
"Once more." A hoarse voice came from behind the curtain.
"No more, uncle-master, you were clearly making fun of me. This isn’t funny." Yang Xiao felt discouraged; he had recently been successful and powerful, sailing through life with ease, and it had been a long time since he was mocked like this, giving Yang Xiao an uncomfortable sense of defeat.
"There is always someone better, there are heavens beyond our heaven, killing Pingxi Marquis means nothing. The world is vast, not something a mere Pingxi Marquis could fathom."
The elder’s voice gradually became serious, "You are decent among your fellow apostles, but in front of a true master, you are merely a jester at the gatehouse. Center your mind, keep your pride and impetuosity in check, only then can you go further."
"Thank you for your teachings, uncle-master!" Yang Xiao clasped his hands and bowed earnestly.
"You should leave now; Xiang Ma Town is crowded and bustling, not a place for a long stay. You possess many varied Magic Artifacts; remember to use them cautiously, never let them cloud your mind, or they will backfire, causing you to tread the old paths of your master and brother."
After bidding farewell to his uncle-master, Yang Xiao’s eyes were covered again, about to leave with Senior Brother Qingfeng. Just as he was about to leave the secret room, a voice suddenly called out from behind him.
"Today’s last attack was clever, likely unstoppable by anyone below Ghost Level. Good job."
With his eyes covered, warmth filled Yang Xiao’s heart, but before he could speak, he was led out of the space, returning to the infinite staircase.
Walking on the staircase, Senior Brother Qingfeng, carrying his hands and walking in front of him, let out a soft sigh, his wrinkled eye corners seemingly moistened, "Junior brother, the master really values you. It has been many years since I heard the master say such things."
