The tension in the air was thick enough to be cut with a blade. The entire battlefield seemed to slow as Cai Feng and the white-robed man faced each other, their presence dominating the chaotic surroundings.
The man in white stood calmly, his expression unreadable, save for the faint curve of amusement tugging at his lips. His striking features, high cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and piercing, almost luminous crimson eyes, exuded an otherworldly charm, made even more distinct by the single red dot on his forehead, like a marking of something beyond mortal comprehension.
He tilted his head, studying Cai Feng as if examining something of interest. Then, in a voice too smooth, too relaxed for a battlefield, he finally spoke.
"Oh? What a rare sight," His lips quirked slightly. "A cultivator of your strength in this small region?"
Cai Feng's expression didn't shift, but a dark gleam flickered in his gray eyes. His grip on his long, single-edged blade tightened slightly.
"If you are aware of it, then you better take your man back with you." His tone was low, even. Unshaken. "Or you won't be leaving this place unscathed."
The white-robed man exhaled lightly, almost as if disappointed. "A shame," He sighed, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Because I don't intend to leave."
Then, he moved.
In an instant, the entire battlefield trembled as both men erupted in motion.
Cai Feng launched himself forward, his blade a blur of silver as he swung with a force that could sever steel. But before his strike could land, the white-robed man's form flickered, like a mirage, vanishing from sight.
Feiyin's heart pounded. His eyes strained to follow, barely catching the moment the man reappeared on the opposite side, his palm crackling with condensed Essence Qi, shaped into an emerald-hued crescent arc of energy.
"Verdant Crescent Slash."
With a flick of his wrist, the glowing crescent surged forward, slicing through the air with a sharp hum.
Cai Feng's eyes flashed coldly as he pivoted, his footwork stable, his blade engulfed in a faint golden light as he executed a powerful upward swing.
"Iron Sun Severance!"
His Essence Qi surged outward, clashing against the Verdant Crescent Slash with a thunderous explosion, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
Dirt and debris were kicked into the air, blinding some of the militia still engaged in battle. The sheer force of the impact sent some weaker cultivators stumbling backward, struggling to remain upright.
Feiyin could feel the pressure from where he stood, his chest tightening under the weight of the unleashed Essence Qi. This was a battle between Qi Condensation cultivators using external Qi projection.
His father had spoken of this step before, the true power of cultivators in the Qi Condensation Realm lay in their ability to wield their Essence Qi externally, shaping it into lethal techniques and enhancing their weapons beyond their natural limits.
And now, he was witnessing it firsthand.
The white-robed man didn't stop, his movements eerily smooth, almost effortless. With a light tap of his foot, he soared backward, landing gracefully on the rooftop of a nearby house. He raised his hand, and seven faintly glowing emerald orbs of Essence Qi manifested above his palm, pulsing with raw energy.
"Emerald Serpent Fangs."
With a flick of his fingers, the orbs lashed out like striking vipers, zigzagging through the air with unnatural speed, leaving behind faint streaks of emerald light.
Cai Feng didn't waver. His blade gleamed as he planted his foot firmly on the ground. A thin layer of golden Essence Qi wrapped around his entire body, sharpening his aura to an almost tangible edge.
"Golden Mantle- Sun's Ward."
The first emerald orb struck, but instead of piercing through him, it veered off course, deflected by the golden aura surrounding him. The next two came simultaneously, curving like snakes, but Cai Feng shifted slightly, twisting his body in a calculated maneuver that let them pass within inches of his frame.
The remaining orbs converged all at once. Feiyin held his breath. But then, his father moved.
With a single explosive burst, Cai Feng vanished from his spot, reappearing in a blazing streak of golden light, cutting straight toward his opponent like a falling meteor.
The white-robed man's eyes widened slightly, then, for the first time, his smirk faded. Cai Feng's blade was mere inches away from cleaving into him. At the last moment, a powerful surge of emerald energy erupted from the white-robed man, forming a translucent barrier of force.
"Verdant Wall!"
Cai Feng's blade met the shield with a resounding impact, a shockwave blasting outward, shattering windows, cracking wooden walls, and tearing through the air like a violent tempest. The white-robed man skidded back across the rooftop, his robe fluttering violently from the sheer force. He exhaled lightly, studying his opponent with a new gleam in his eyes. He lifted a hand, flexing his fingers before offering a slow, approving nod.
"…Impressive." His voice was calm, yet tinged with something else, curiosity, perhaps even amusement.
Cai Feng straightened, his expression cold, his blade steady.
"You talk too much," he muttered.
The white-robed man let out a soft chuckle, his fingers twirling lazily in the air. "Perhaps. But I do so enjoy drawing out these moments. A true duel should not be rushed."
The air between them hummed with unseen tension. The battle had only just begun.
---
The village square had turned into a battlefield, the once peaceful air now thick with the clash of steel, the cries of pain, and the acrid scent of blood. The militia fought fiercely, their movements disciplined and coordinated thanks to Cai Feng's rigorous training, but the black-clothed attackers were ruthless, their strikes precise, their numbers overwhelming.
Feiyin's pulse pounded in his ears as he scanned the battlefield, trying to make sense of the chaos. Jiang Hu fought at the front, wielding a heavy saber with brutal efficiency, his strikes splitting the enemy ranks like an axe through wood. Beside him, Liu Shan, a burly man with a shaved head, swung his massive iron staff in wide arcs, breaking bones and sending enemies sprawling.
But even though the militia was holding its ground, the invaders were unrelenting, their movements too calculated for simple bandits. They weren't just here to raid, they were here to kill.
Then, his eyes landed on Sun Ke.
His friend was locked in a desperate struggle against one of the black-clothed attackers, his smaller frame clearly at a disadvantage. Sun Ke's opponent was a head taller and far more experienced, pressing the attack with rapid, ruthless swings. Sun Ke was barely holding on, blocking with his short sword but failing to gain any ground.
Then, in a blur of movement, the attacker's knee drove into Sun Ke's stomach.
Sun Ke let out a strangled gasp, his body buckling from the blow before he stumbled backward. His grip on his sword faltered, and before he could recover, the enemy raised his blade for a finishing strike.
Feiyin moved before he even thought. His heartbeat was a thunderous drum in his ears as he sprinted forward, his grip tightening around his saber. His father's voice echoed in his mind.
"A drawn blade is a known one, and a sheathed one is an unknown. People fear the unknown."
The black-clothed man hadn't noticed him yet, too focused on delivering the final blow to Sun Ke.
Feiyin closed the distance, his breath steady, his mind clear with a single intent,
Strike before you are seen. Kill before you are killed.
His blade whispered through the air. The moment he slashed forward, time seemed to slow. The edge of his saber met flesh, cutting cleanly into the side of the attacker's neck. There was a gurgled choke, a sharp exhale, and then the body crumpled to the ground, unmoving.
For a moment, everything blurred. The noise of the battlefield faded. The rush of blood in his ears roared louder than any battle cry. He stared at the body before him, the realization hitting him with a cold, paralyzing grip.
He had taken a life.
His fingers trembled around the hilt of his blade. His stomach churned, his breath came in short gasps. He had trained to fight, trained to defend, but this was different. This was real. The body wasn't moving.
He had killed someone.
"Feiyin!"
Sun Ke's panicked voice snapped him back. Feiyin blinked rapidly, his gaze shifting to his friend. Sun Ke was staring at him, wide-eyed, clutching his stomach where he had been hit, but still very much alive. Feiyin swallowed, pushing down the storm of emotions that threatened to consume him. His hands stopped trembling. His breathing steadied.
"There is no time for weakness. If you hesitate, more will die."
He clenched his jaw, lifting his gaze back to the battlefield.
"Can you still fight?" he asked, his voice steadier than he felt.
Sun Ke gave a weak nod, his face still pale. "Yeah… yeah, I can."
"Then let's go."
Feiyin turned, scanning the battlefield, his father's teachings sharpening his instincts.
"A fight is not just about power, it is about awareness. Look for opportunities. See what others do not."
The militia was pushing back, but some were struggling, outnumbered, outmaneuvered. Feiyin focused, his eyes darting across the battlefield, searching for openings.
There.
A militia member was locked in combat, fending off two opponents at once, his movements slowing as exhaustion set in. Feiyin rushed forward, his steps swift and precise. He circled behind the closest enemy, who hadn't yet noticed him, and struck. His saber drove cleanly through the back, between the ribs. Another body fell.
This time, he didn't freeze.
There was no hesitation, no trembling hands. The enemy had died, but the militia member had survived. That was all that mattered. With every step, Feiyin moved differently now. His eyes scanned the battlefield with a new clarity. He was small, fast, unnoticed, but that was an advantage. The enemy had under estimated him.
He wouldn't waste that.
Through the chaos, he kept moving, striking from the blind spots, assisting where he could. His mind sharpened, his instincts honed, his body moved with the training drilled into him. This was not the battlefield he had envisioned, but it was the one he was on.