Chapter 53: Equivalent Exchange—Each Takes What They Need

“Who is trying to play tricks here?” Yu Shang rose unhurriedly, his gaze calm as it swept the surroundings. It seemed that the sight of a drifting shadow had not startled him; on the contrary, this sudden event appeared well within his expectations. A strange smile curved his lips as he addressed the empty air, “I already know who you are. Come out—unless you want me, a junior, to invite you personally?” Having spoken, he waited for a response, but only silence returned. Yu Shang shook his head helplessly, then gathered his inner energy and, with a swift motion, struck fiercely toward the corner.

The shadow lurking in the corner, unwilling to yield, revealed its true form. Raising a hand with a casual wave, it dispelled Yu Shang’s attack. Then, with bare hands, the shadow lunged at Yu Shang. Though the move seemed ordinary, it contained a formidable strength. Its claws were so sharp they seemed capable of rending the very air, and with a wild sweep, they tore through Yu Shang’s skin—unyielding and tough as black iron.

Suddenly, a sense of déjà vu flashed through Yu Shang’s mind; he felt he had encountered such a scene before. As he twisted to dodge the shadow’s assault, the memory struck him: the technique, and those razor-sharp claws, bore an uncanny resemblance to the monsters he and Xiao Yin had encountered in the Underworld City. Could it be that this terrifying aspect was a result of that place? What manner of existence was Fu Youming, that every bizarre event seemed somehow linked to him?

“Senior, please cease—do you truly intend to kill me to silence me?” Yu Shang parried the shadow’s relentless attacks while persuasively reasoning with him. Yet the shadow was unmoved, continuing its frenzied assault. With no other choice, Yu Shang drew his treasured blade, channeling his fierce energy into a powerful strike at the shadow.

As the sharp blade was about to cleave down upon the shadow’s head, the shadow betrayed no trace of panic. Instead, it caught the blade with its bare hand, halting its descent. But the instant it grasped the blade, blood began to trickle uncontrollably to the ground, swiftly pooling into a small puddle. Indeed, in this world, nothing is without weakness or flaw—some simply have yet to encounter their nemesis. Whether the shadow was fortunate or not, today it had met its match.

Seeing this, Yu Shang hastily withdrew his blade from the shadow’s grasp and recalled his energy. He sighed, perplexed. “Ah, senior, why go to such lengths? Did you lure me here just to offer my life as a sacrifice to wandering souls outside? Yet, I can’t help but feel you have other motives. What are you truly planning?”

He waited quietly for a reply.

Upon hearing this, the shadow abandoned all pretense and revealed his true face. He was none other than the academy elder who dwelled in the little wooden hut—the very master responsible for heartlessly tearing apart Leng Huaiyi and Xun Mishuang.

Yu Shang, recognizing the man, smiled faintly and said, “So it really is you, senior.” From the first sight of this demon, Yu Shang had found him oddly familiar, but his urgency to uncover the truth had left him no time to ponder it further. It was only when, during his final battle, a surge of energy brushed across the blood-soaked face and lifted the already loosened hair that Yu Shang finally saw the man’s true features. Though his view was not entirely clear, Yu Shang could identify him: the Grand Elder of the Yanlan Academy.

“The one standing before you can be said to be me, and yet not me. But since you knew this was a trap and still came, are you so certain I won’t kill you to silence you? Sometimes, the fewer people who know a secret, the safer it is.” The Grand Elder’s gaze was chilling, like a death god luring souls, his look taunting, as if life itself were but a joke.

“If I truly had no value to you, you would have disposed of me unnoticed the moment I set foot in Yanlan Academy. You wouldn’t have wasted time explaining strange maps, negotiating fair trades, or risked luring me here to uncover this earth-shattering secret. I believe I must now hold a significant bargaining chip, enough for you to negotiate with me, so I’m confident I’m not in immediate danger,” Yu Shang replied easily, as if unconcerned by his entrapment. He even seemed poised to turn the tables.

“Do you not know that being too clever can corner you, leaving you helpless and at the mercy of others?” The Grand Elder’s tone betrayed his displeasure. Intelligence is a virtue, but excessive cunning invites disaster and the resentment of others.

“Luckily, I don’t consider myself too clever, but I’m not foolish enough to be anyone’s pawn.” Yes, this was the approach: first gain psychological advantage, then seize the initiative and reverse the situation, paving the way for future success.

“Do you really believe that with all my years of experience, I’d suffer defeat at the hands of a greenhorn barely out of the womb?” The Grand Elder sneered, his eyes brimming with disdain, as if to say, “You dare challenge me? You’re far too naive!”

Yu Shang paid no heed to the elder’s scorn, smiling with a trace of inscrutable amusement. “Victory does not rest solely on experience, but on a wise and composed mind. Of course, I do not question your wisdom, senior, but it’s clear you are not calm at this moment.” In truth, Yu Shang was far from certain he could break through the Grand Elder’s defenses, but if he could wear down his opponent’s psyche, he might yet reverse the situation. Relying on his blade alone, he would not survive an hour; his corpse would soon be buried outside, or worse.

“Hahaha! Not only is your cultivation outstanding, your cunning surpasses most. I truly pity those who will one day oppose you—they’ll surely meet a miserable end!” The Grand Elder burst out laughing, and Yu Shang felt a weight lift from his heart; it seemed the old man would not trouble him further, for now.

“You flatter me, senior. I merely speak the truth; how could I dare play tricks before you, knowing I may not leave here alive?” Even when forcing someone’s hand, one must not go too far—this was Yu Shang’s creed. Though moments ago they had battled for their lives, now he offered his adversary a way out; otherwise, both would suffer.

The Grand Elder smiled but said nothing, yet in his heart he was wary of Yu Shang. He had never expected this polite young man to possess such a subtle and venomous mind; he himself, seasoned and shrewd, had nearly fallen to Yu Shang’s psychological onslaught. Evidently, unless absolutely necessary, he must not cross swords with this man. Otherwise, if war broke out, they would surely be at a disadvantage—especially as some academy students had already been won over to Yu Shang’s side. This was not a man to offend lightly.

“Let us strike a bargain, just between us two—it concerns neither others nor Yanlan Academy. I will wager all my cultivation in exchange for something I desire. I assure you, you stand to lose nothing.” The Grand Elder dropped all pretense and spoke plainly of his purpose in summoning Yu Shang.

“What do you mean, senior? I do not understand.” Yu Shang was puzzled—what did he possess that warranted such a trade?

“To be frank, I have watched you since you entered the academy. I know everything that has happened to you. I also know you urgently seek to unlock your inner Gate. Only my cultivation can help you, by supplying a vast amount of essence to nourish it. Of course, I have my conditions: I need you to retrieve something I lost at the bottom of the pool in that mysterious realm, where I once fell by accident,” the Grand Elder said evenly, his tone utterly devoid of emotion.

“You once fell to the bottom of the pool? Just as I suspected, your identity is far more than that of a mere Grand Elder. But if even you could not reach the pool’s depths, how can you be sure I can? And what exactly is it that you want?” Yu Shang could not help but be intrigued by the offer.

“Since you are the chosen wielder of the blade, you are destined to be connected to that mysterious realm. Reaching the pool’s bottom should be effortless for you—if you cannot command its waters, you can’t hope to open the tomb’s gate. As for what I seek, I shall speak plainly: I want you to recover a fragment of my lost soul!” the Grand Elder declared solemnly, but to Yu Shang, it seemed utter fantasy.

“Surely you jest, senior. If your soul were truly incomplete, how could you stand before me, alive and with such profound cultivation?” Yu Shang scoffed.

“How I am able to stand before you intact is another matter—it does not concern you. All you need do is answer whether you accept this bargain; do not ask questions that are not yours to ask!” For some reason, at Yu Shang’s query, the Grand Elder’s expression changed drastically—fear, anger, and helplessness warred upon his face. As if he recalled a past that haunted him, that he could never escape.

Yu Shang was baffled; he had only asked in passing, yet the elder’s reaction was so extreme. Could it be that his years of slaughter were all to mend his own soul? He could think of nothing else that would provoke such a response. Clearly, there was a great secret here—if only he might be privileged to hear it.

“Very well, I accept.” No sooner had Yu Shang spoken than he felt a pair of hands press upon his back, and a powerful force surged through every corner of his body, all converging upon his Gate. Yu Shang was wracked with pain, as if his very meridians would burst; he could barely endure it. His face was ashen, drenched in cold sweat that quickly soaked his robes. At last, with a final, agonized cry, Yu Shang could hold on no longer and collapsed into unconsciousness.