Principal Yuan Beidou, along with Long Xiao, Xue Lianxing, and Xue Hu, exited the principal's office and walked north along a small path, soon arriving at the edge of a forest.
The forest was not very dense. Standing at its edge, one could see the opposite wall at a glance.
"That wisp of Yin energy is in the forest. Students love to come to this forest for dates. A while ago, someone walked into this forest and came out like a different person..."
Yuan Beidou explained the situation to Long Xiao and the others. After Long Xiao understood, he said, "I'll go in and take a look."
"Master Long, be careful. This forest is extremely sinister," Yuan Beidou warned Long Xiao.
Long Xiao nodded and stepped into the forest. After only a few steps, he stopped in front of a tree, placed his right hand on it, and observed the tree's vital energy.
After a few minutes, Yuan Beidou's phone rang.
Taking out his phone, he saw it was his elder brother calling and quickly pressed the answer button.
"Beidou, I've brought a few old friends and we've entered the school. Where are you now?"
After telling Yuan Nandou his location, Yuan Beidou said, "Brother, I have a Master Long here. He's also from Donghai."
Donghai Master Long? Yuan Nandou thought hard but couldn't recall anyone surnamed Long in the metaphysical circles of Donghai.
"I haven't heard of this person. He's likely a fraud. Beidou, bringing a fraud to the school, you've lost a lot of face."
Yuan Beidou was also worried about being scammed and quickly said, "Brother, he's already entered the forest. Hurry over. If he's a fraud, he won't be able to escape."
After they ended the call, less than ten minutes later, several elderly men rushed over.
Yuan Nandou, who bore a strong resemblance to Yuan Beidou, wore plain clothes and held a string of peach kernel prayer beads.
Accompanying Yuan Nandou were Hua Xianfeng, with his white hair and ethereal demeanor, Li Tianshu, whose movements were graceful, and Lin Wei, a master of physiognomy.
Upon seeing them, Yuan Beidou hurried forward to greet them.
After Yuan Nandou introduced the others to Yuan Beidou, he asked, "Beidou, where is that Master Long?"
Yuan Beidou pointed towards Long Xiao, and everyone's gaze fell upon him. At that moment, Long Xiao was still communing with the tree.
"Long Xiao, why is he here?" Lin Wei said upon seeing Long Xiao.
"Master Lin, do you know him?" Yuan Beidou asked.
Lin Wei nodded and replied, "Of course, he's the live-in son-in-law of my granddaughter, Lin Xuan."
Yuan Beidou felt a blush creep up his neck, realizing that a live-in son-in-law was being addressed as a master by him.
Out of respect for Lin Wei's feelings, Yuan Beidou didn't react outwardly, but his expression clearly soured.
Hearing that the man in the forest was Lin Wei's grandson-in-law, Hua Xianfeng and the others immediately recalled the gift Long Xiao had presented at the old lady's birthday banquet.
"Old Lin, is he the grandson-in-law who gave you the 'Crimson Flame Insect Amber'?" Li Tianshu asked.
Lin Wei nodded, "Yes, this boy has a peculiar destiny; he's definitely not an ordinary person."
"Old Lin, tell us what's peculiar about him," Hua Xianfeng inquired.
Lin Wei shook his head, "I can't see through him. I studied him before he joined the Lin family. Even after he joined, I observed him many times, but I couldn't find anything special."
For these masters of metaphysics, the more unfathomable something was, the more intrigued they became. All eyes were on Long Xiao, wanting to see what he was doing.
Long Xiao examined the vital energy of over a dozen trees and discovered that they had all been invaded by a Yin energy.
To quickly ascertain the origin of this Yin energy, Long Xiao employed his "Chīmèi Xiāoyáo Bù" (Spectral Carefree Steps) and began to move rapidly through the forest.
While the people outside possessed some martial prowess, they were no match for Long Xiao. They couldn't even see how he moved.
Long Xiao's speed was so astonishing that to their eyes, he simply disappeared from one spot and reappeared in another.
Witnessing Long Xiao's ghost-like movements, everyone was shocked.
"What kind of movement technique is this? It's too bizarre. I've never seen anything like it," Yuan Nandou exclaimed.
"'Misty Steps'," Hua Xianfeng said. "The Tianshan Sect's 'Misty Steps'."
Yuan Beidou shook his head, "It doesn't seem like it. It resembles the Luo family's 'Ghostly Profundity'."
While they were speculating outside, Long Xiao had circled the entire forest and stopped at the northeast corner.
The Yin energy originated from beneath a small mound in the northeast corner. The mound didn't resemble a grave, but the Yin energy emanating from it was intensely strong.
Long Xiao had figured out that this Yin energy was spreading through the roots of the trees, infecting every tree in the forest and using them to turn this area into its territory.
Modern science has only risen for a few hundred years, and the definition of the word "science" is relatively recent. Metaphysics, on the other hand, has a verifiable history of six thousand years, and unrecorded metaphysics has been passed down for tens of thousands of years.
Attempting to explain metaphysics with modern science felt too pale and utterly inadequate.
Long Xiao, having received a modern scientific education, also wanted to use modern science to explain metaphysical phenomena. The result was only increasing confusion; he felt his acquired knowledge was insufficient.
After standing in front of the mound for a few minutes, Long Xiao decided to first cut off the spread of the Yin energy and then find a way to deal with it.
He observed that only a dozen or so trees surrounded the small mound. The Yin energy first transmitted to these trees, and then through them, it connected with the other trees.
Long Xiao reached out and grabbed a tree, unleashing his "Lóng Tūn Sìhǎi" (Dragon Swallowing the Four Seas) technique. The tree in his hand instantly withered, its leaves falling to the ground.
As Long Xiao reached for the next tree, a voice suddenly appeared in his mind: "What are you? Are you trying to annihilate everything?"
Long Xiao knew this was the Yin energy communicating with him.
"You've caused immense harm. I will not allow you to leave this mound."
"Heh heh, little thing, such bold words. You dare to challenge me, an elder?"
The Yin energy was incredibly powerful. As Long Xiao's hand reached for the third tree, a mighty surge of Yin energy struck him, hitting his chest like a heavy hammer.
With a bang, Long Xiao was sent flying backward. The surrounding trees suddenly stirred as if attacked by an unseen force, rustling incessantly, as if preparing to lash out at him.
Long Xiao leaped up and drifted out of the forest like a wisp of green smoke.
He sat down on the ground, his face ashen. Long Xiao sat in a cross-legged position, channeling the life force from his Dantian throughout his body, expelling the invading Yin energy and healing his damaged body.
Everyone saw a stream of black smoke seep out of Long Xiao's body. In less than a minute, his complexion returned to normal.
Yuan Beidou, who had initially suspected Long Xiao of being a fraud, now saw that Long Xiao could quickly expel Yin energy. Recalling his earlier healing, he was certain that Long Xiao's abilities surpassed everyone present.
"Young Master Long, are you alright?" Xue Hu asked, rushing to help him up as soon as Long Xiao opened his eyes.
Long Xiao shook his head and replied, "I'm fine. This Yin energy is too powerful. We need to choose an opportune moment to set up a formation to deal with it."
Turning, Long Xiao spotted Lin Wei and his face lit up with joy. "Grandfather, you're here too."
Lin Wei chuckled, "Long Xiao, well done. I didn't misjudge you."