A week passed since Long Tianyan's return. The Verdant Mist Sect buzzed with rumors—some said he had stumbled upon a divine inheritance, others whispered he had sold his soul to demons. But since Elder Yan had publicly declared him her personal disciple, no one dared challenge him—at least, not openly.
One crisp morning, the Martial Arena buzzed with tension. Dozens of outer disciples had gathered for sparring matches, but everyone sensed something was about to happen.
Then, with a streak of azure light, Liu Yan descended from the sky. The Liu clan's crest gleamed on his chest as spirit pressure rolled from his body in waves—undeniable, suffocating.
"Tianyan," he said, his tone laced with contempt, "you return with fanfare, yet ignore your senior. Isn't that... disrespectful?"
The arena fell silent.
Long Tianyan stepped forward. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned like smoldering embers.
"You tried to kill me," he said flatly. "Don't expect respect from the dead."
Gasps erupted. No one had ever dared speak to Liu Yan like that.
Liu Yan's smile vanished. "I see you've grown bold. Let's see how much power that arrogance carries."
"Tianyan doesn't need to prove anything to you!" a sharp voice rang out.
It was Chen Yixuan, the quiet girl with the sharp eyes who had always stood by him. Her fists were clenched. "You're already in the 7th Layer of the Spiritual Sea Realm. You'll only bully him again!"
But Tianyan raised a hand to stop her. His gaze didn't waver.
"If I back down now, I'll never stand tall again."
He walked into the center of the arena.
The duel began.
Liu Yan vanished in a blur. A fist cloaked in blue spirit energy shot toward Tianyan's chest like lightning.
Tianyan barely twisted aside—too slow—the blow grazed his ribs, and pain bloomed instantly. But he gritted his teeth and responded with a sweeping palm wrapped in golden dragon energy—Dragon Soul Breathing Art!
Liu Yan blocked with his elbow, but the impact still pushed him a step back.
The crowd gasped.
They clashed again—fist, palm, elbow, knee—blow after blow echoed like thunder. The arena trembled. Dust flew. Spirit energy shattered the tiles under their feet.
Tianyan's body ached. Each breath burned. He was being pushed back step by step.
"Disappointing," Liu Yan sneered. He raised his hand. "Azure Spiral Break!"
A roaring vortex of blue spirit force surged forth, engulfing Tianyan like a tidal wave.
Boom!
Tianyan was flung across the arena. Blood sprayed from his mouth. His vision blurred.
"You don't belong here!" Liu Yan shouted.
But Tianyan's fingers dug into the ground, halting his slide.
"I belong... wherever I choose to stand."
He rose slowly, body trembling, veins glowing gold. His ancestor's voice echoed faintly in his mind: "Let the blood roar."
He channeled everything into one strike. Dragon-shaped energy coiled around his arm. "Draconic Awakening Palm!"
A golden dragon phantom burst from his palm, roaring toward Liu Yan.
Liu Yan's eyes widened. "What—?"
The dragon crashed into Liu Yan's Azure Spiral Break. The collision shattered the air itself.
Both fighters were thrown back like rag dolls. Smoke and light blinded the crowd.
When it cleared—
Liu Yan was kneeling, arm trembling, blood trickling down his chin.
Tianyan stood, barely, swaying—his chest heaving, but his golden eyes burning with defiance.
Then—a breakthrough.
Spirit energy surged around him, golden and fierce.
4th Layer of the Spiritual Sea Realm.
The crowd erupted.
Liu Yan's face twisted in disbelief. "He broke through… during battle!?"
Fury burned in Elder Liu Tian's eyes. He stepped forward, spiritual
pressure exploding out.
"You dare injure my grandson?!"
But Elder Yan appeared instantly, her own aura clashing against his. "He fought fairly. Interfere, and I'll stop you."
Both stood at the 6th Layer of the Heavenly Passage Realm, and neither backed down.
Then—a greater pressure descended like the weight of the heavens.
Sect Master Qing Wuyou landed between them. His presence vast, his gaze indifferent but commanding. He stood at the 9th Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm.
"It is rare I intervene in outer sect affairs," he said coldly. "But if two elders fight here... consider it a challenge to the sect itself."
Everyone froze. Elder Liu Tian stepped back with clenched fists.
Chen Yixuan rushed to Tianyan's side, helping him stand.
"You did it," she whispered. "You stood your ground."
Tianyan smiled faintly. His legs nearly gave out, but he remained upright.
"I'm not done yet," he said.
From the clouds above, the wind stirred unnaturally—whispers of fate shifting once more. The prince who was cast down had fought back.
And now, the heavens were watching.