From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 233 The Secret Manual in Peril: Xiao Yao's Predicament

The appearance of the man in black was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves.

The joyful atmosphere inside the library instantly froze, replaced by a suffocating sense of oppression.

Alarm bells rang in my mind, and a sense of foreboding arose spontaneously.

"Who is your master?" I suppressed my unease and tried my best to make my voice sound calm.

The man in black snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain, "How dare you, a junior, inquire about my master? You only need to know that my master is an envoy of an ancient sect, who has come to retrieve what belongs to our sect."

"Something belonging to your sect?" I sneered. "This immortal technique manual was something I obtained through my own cultivation. When did it become something belonging to your sect?"

"Hmph, this immortal technique manual originally belonged to our sect; it was just that it had been lost to outsiders. Now that you have successfully cultivated it, it should be returned to its rightful owner." The man in black spoke firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

I was furious; this was clearly sophistry!

I gripped the lotus flower tightly in my hand, my fingertips turning white from the force.

The atmosphere instantly became tense, as if the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder.

"What if I don't hand it over?" I looked directly into the man in black's eyes, my tone icy.

The man in black smirked coldly. Suddenly, several other men dressed in black appeared behind him, emanating a powerful aura that pressed down on me like a mountain, making it hard to breathe.

I felt my body tremble slightly, but my gaze remained firm.

"You won't pay? Then don't blame us for being impolite!" As soon as the man in black finished speaking, the men behind him simultaneously released a powerful aura. I felt as if I was being crushed by a mountain, almost suffocating.

The atmosphere inside the library became even more tense, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

I gritted my teeth and struggled to resist this powerful pressure.

My heart is filled with pressure, but I will never give in!

"What...do you want?" I tried to remain calm, but my voice still trembled slightly.

The man in black didn't answer my question, but just sneered and slowly raised his hand...

I felt as if the air around me had frozen, and the oppressive aura emanating from those men in black was like an iron lock, trapping me firmly.

My body was almost unable to move, but my eyes remained resolute.

The rivals, including Master Ziyang and Fairy Feiyu, stood not far away, their eyes flashing with complex emotions.

They seemed to be waiting for something, and their gloating gaze filled me with contempt and anger.

"Xiao Yao, if you're not willing to part with this manual, then just wait to be taken away by the ancient sects." Master Ziyang's words rang in my ears, his voice carrying a hint of mockery, as if I had been completely seen through by them.

Fairy Feiyu snorted lightly, a cold smile appearing on her arrogant face, "That's right, this manual originally belonged to them, so why do you claim it as your own?"

I gritted my teeth and suppressed my anger.

Their instigation made me feel even more isolated and helpless.

Upon seeing this, the man in black's sneer deepened.

He slowly raised his hand, as if preparing some kind of special spell.

The atmosphere around them grew increasingly tense, and the tranquility inside the library seemed to freeze time.

I felt a powerful force emanating from the man in black's hand, and a strange energy fluctuation filled the air.

This is a special spell from an ancient sect. My heart sank, knowing that this would be a life-or-death struggle.

"Xiao Yao, your good days are over." The voice of the man in black seemed to come from the deepest abyss, sending chills down one's spine.

The light in his hand grew brighter and brighter, as if it wanted to seal me away completely.

I struggled with all my might, but the powerful force was like an iron chain, binding me so tightly that I couldn't move.

My strength is gradually fading, and feelings of despair are slowly growing.

Everything around seemed to blur, except for the black-clad man's cold gaze, which remained clearly visible.

Just then, the man in black suddenly waved his hand, and a beam of light shot straight at me. I felt my body being suppressed by an invisible force, and I could hardly breathe.

My heart was filled with resentment, but my body could no longer resist.

"Xiao Yao, accept your fate." The voice of the man in black seemed to come from afar, carrying a hint of triumphant smugness.

In that perilous moment, I felt a warm force welling up from the bottom of my heart, as if telling me that hope had not been completely extinguished.

A warm current surged from my dantian and flowed throughout my limbs and bones.

This feeling...

It's a lotus!

I suddenly remembered an ancient method of unsealing recorded in the manual, and it resonated with me at this moment!

Is it...

Is this my destiny?

Overjoyed, I exerted all my strength to mobilize my inner energy, guiding the warm current to break through the power that imprisoned me.

Everything around me seemed to slow down, and I could clearly feel the binding force gradually disintegrating.

I closed my eyes and silently recited the mantra. The lotus flower in my hand emitted a dazzling light, illuminating the entire scripture pavilion.

With a soft "click," the forces binding me shattered like glass, and I regained my freedom!

I took a deep breath and felt my body fill with power.

Looking at the man in black again, the sneer on his face had frozen, replaced by shock and disbelief.

I smiled slightly, revealing a confident expression.

"Is that all you've got? You dare to try and steal my things?" I sneered, and the lotus flower in my hand shone brightly, unleashing a powerful force that struck the man in black.

With a loud "Boom!", the man in black was knocked back several steps before he could regain his footing.

He looked at me in disbelief, and everyone else in the library was stunned. They had thought I would be easily subdued, but I had unexpectedly turned the tables and won.

The mockery on the faces of Master Ziyang and Fairy Feiyu disappeared, replaced by deep apprehension.

I slowly walked towards the man in black, each step filled with power, as if I were stepping on his heart.

"Now, do you still think this manual belongs to you?"

The man in black was pale, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a word.

Looking at his disheveled appearance, I felt a great sense of accomplishment.

"It seems you're not going to answer my question." I stopped, the lotus flower in my hand shining even brighter. "Then..."

I raised the lotus flower in my hand and pointed it directly at the man in black. "Let me show you what true power is!"

The lotus blossoms radiate a dazzling light, illuminating the entire library like a small sun.

I felt a powerful force continuously flowing into my body, filling me with confidence and strength.

The man in black clearly hadn't expected me to suddenly erupt. He frantically tried to defend against my attacks, but he seemed powerless to do so.

"Overestimating yourself!" I snorted coldly, and swung the lotus in my hand even more swiftly, unleashing a barrage of sharp sword energy that swept towards the man in black like a storm.

He struggled to stay afloat, his black clothes torn by the sword's energy, revealing the armor underneath.

The others in the library had already kept their distance, fearing they would be drawn into the battle.

Master Ziyang and Fairy Feiyu were pale-faced. They never expected that I, whom they considered a good-for-nothing, would possess such great power.

"Impossible! How could a useless person like you, without any spiritual roots, possibly..." The man in black stared wide-eyed in disbelief, his voice filled with resentment and despair.

I sneered and ignored his questioning.

The lotus flower in my hand danced even faster, and the sword energy crisscrossed, completely enveloping the man in black.

He let out a scream as his body was blasted away by the sword energy and crashed heavily to the ground.

"Is that all you've got? You dare to try and steal from me?" I walked step by step toward the man in black, looking down at him. "Now, do you know my strength?"

The man in black was deathly pale, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He struggled to stand up, but was too weak to move.

"Who...who are you?" he asked in a trembling voice.

I gave a cold laugh and didn't answer his question.

I slowly raised the lotus flower in my hand, preparing to deliver the final blow.

Just then, a powerful aura suddenly descended, causing the entire Sutra Repository to tremble.

"Stop!" A majestic voice rang out in the library, deafening like thunder.

I was startled and quickly turned my head to look.

An old man dressed in a golden robe slowly walked into the library. He exuded a powerful aura, as if he were an invincible ruler.

“You are…” I looked at the old man, my heart filled with doubt.

The old man ignored my question and instead turned his gaze to the man in black on the ground.

"Useless! You can't even handle this simple matter!" the old man roared.

The man in black immediately knelt on the ground, trembling.

"Sect Leader...spare me..."

The old man ignored the black-clad man's pleas for mercy, and slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on me.

"So you are Xiao Yao?" His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.

I looked at him, and a strange sense of tension rose in my heart.

"It's me," I said in a deep voice.

The old man looked me up and down.

"I never expected you would actually succeed in cultivating it." His tone carried a hint of admiration, but even more so, greed.

"It seems that this immortal technique manual is indeed on you." He walked towards me step by step, his powerful aura overwhelming me and making me feel suffocated.

I gripped the lotus flower tightly in my hand, my heart filled with vigilance.

"What do you want to do?" I asked in a cold voice.

The old man's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sinister smile.

"Of course... I want to take back what belongs to me."