"Delusions of grandeur—why should I share the premium spirit herbs I've gathered with you?"
Yufeng nocked another three talisman arrows, scowling as he aimed them at Qingfeng. Qingfeng chuckled. "I'm a 7th Heaven Qi Refiner—you're only 4th. How do you expect to compete?"
"Better put those arrows down, Yufeng," Qingfeng added, still smiling. "They're useless to me. Wasting them would be a shame."
Yufeng's face twisted with anger. After a long beat, he grudgingly snapped, "Fine, one each. I can't match you, but don't think I won't report you to the Clan Elder. Let's see how your precious Zhenzhen Sect handles a beating!"
Qingfeng's smile stiffened. The Zhenzhen Sect Elder was infamous—a wild, stubborn woman whom even a Nascent Soul elder would think twice about crossing. If Yufeng went running to her, his own elder (who lived by the motto "Die a disciple, not a master") would toss him to the wolves without hesitation.
Before Qingfeng could decide, a deep, rumbling voice boomed from above: "Enough squabbling over two carrots, you two. Aren't we all friends here?"
Looking up, Qingfeng and Yufeng froze.
Clambering down from a boulder was a burly man with a thick accent, grinning ear to ear.
"Lan Cailian—what are you doing here?" Qingfeng snapped. "Aren't you from the Ghost Valley Sect, supposed to be in the Southern Mountains?"
Lan Cailian ignored their hostility, sniffing the air toward Zhao Xunan. His face lit up. "Harmony above all. This rowdy nonsense? Let's nip it in the bud. No thanks needed—just doing my part."
Before anyone could react, he yelled, "Gale Force!"
A blue lightning bolt erupted from his palm, slamming into Qingfeng's chest and blasting him backward. Yufeng's three arrows exploded mid-flight, consumed by a sudden wall of stone.
Qingfeng leapt to his feet, sword in hand. "Left Thunder Formation!"
Blue lightning crackled across his blade as he lunged at Lan Cailian. But Lan Cailian was already moving—his fist collided with Qingfeng's sword, sending a shockwave that hurled Qingfeng into a boulder.
Yufeng, meanwhile, loosed a flurry of talismans, forcing Lan Cailian to dodge. But the burly man laughed, grabbing a boulder and hurling it at Yufeng. The impact sent Yufeng flying, blood spraying from his mouth.
"Bastard!" Yufeng scrambled up, slapping a boost talisman onto his chest. "I'll kill you for this!"
Lan Cailian just grinned. "Try it, then."
Zhao Xunan watched the chaos, shaking his head. These were clearly seasoned Qi Refiners from mountain-secluded realms—their techniques were worlds beyond the average mortal cultivator. Lan Cailian, especially, was a revelation. He'd never heard of the man in his past life, but his mastery of talismans and combat was unmatched.
But they were reckless. Zhao Xunan clicked his tongue.
Just as he considered intervening, the ground trembled. A hulking, green-faced fiend erupted from the soil—its fists the size of boulders, its roar shaking the air.
Yufeng was sent flying, Lan Cailian buried in dirt, and Yufeng's last arrow shattered against the fiend's hide. The creature then grabbed a boulder and hurled it at Zhao Xunan.
Zhao Xunan's eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary beast—it radiated the aura of a near-Foundation Establishment cultivator. In his past life, he'd faced such monsters; even a Foundation Establishment elder would struggle.
Run.
He sliced through the fiend's attack and bolted.
The fiend chased, but Zhao Xunan's legs pumped faster. He'd downed a millennium-old polygonum multiflorum, its essence surging through his veins. His speed doubled—enough to outrun the beast… for now.
Behind him, Yufeng and Lan Cailian's bickering faded. "Bloody hell, that thing's fast!" Yufeng panted.
Lan Cailian laughed. "You're the one who talked big about fighting over carrots!"
Zhao Xunan gritted his teeth. He'd burned through the polygonum's essence and was already slowing. The fiend was closing in—its claws glinting, its roar deafening.
Then, a flash of silver.
A hole materialized ahead, its edges glowing like a full moon. Zhao Xunan skidded to a halt, staring. An exit?
He didn't hesitate. Diving through, he landed hard on the other side, gasping.
The air smelled of pine and earth. Above, sunlight filtered through trees. He was… outside?
Zhao Xunan looked around. The forest was lush, but unfamiliar. No signs of the Celestial Garden's chaos.
Had the garden collapsed? he wondered. Was the Celestial Garden just an illusion?
He shook his head. In his past life, the garden had thrived for millennia. Thousands of cultivators had entered; none had reported it collapsing. This must be a different path.
Straightening, he adjusted his clothes and continued north, keeping an eye out for danger. The garden's rumors of endless treasures still lingered, but he'd learned his lesson—greed was a trap.
An hour later, he heard voices.
A crowd of people milled ahead—over a thousand, by the looks of it. Most wore simple robes; a few had swords or staves. None were cultivators—students, perhaps?
Zhao Xunan's brow furrowed. The Celestial Garden was dangerous, even for Qi Refiners. Why would students wander here?
A scholarly man in a long gown spotted him, then paled. He turned and fled.
Zhao Xunan smirked. West Liang students. The two nations were enemies; they'd bolt at the sight of a Great Qin soldier.
A drill sergeant shouted, "Stay within the marked area—these lands are sacred, won by the blood of our ancestors!"
Zhao Xunan nodded. Makes sense. The garden's dangers were no secret. Only fools wandered beyond the safe zones.
As he passed, the students stepped aside, their eyes lingering on his cold-forged armor and sword. A Great Qin soldier—rare, but not unheard of.
Then, a scream pierced the air.
Zhao Xunan spun.
A half-human, half-tree fiend (a Linmei) was attacking the students. Its massive frame crushed a teacher beneath its arm; students scattered, some fleeing toward the exit, others panicking.
One student triggered a trap, torn to shreds by invisible force. Another group vanished as the ground swallowed them whole.
"Help!" a teacher yelled, blood seeping from his wounds.
Zhao Xunan's jaw tightened. He couldn't just watch.
He sprinted back, his blade clearing a path. The Linmei roared, its claws tearing through the air.
"Die!" Zhao Xunan yelled, slashing with all his might.
The Linmei paused, then lunged.
But Zhao Xunan was faster. His blade pierced its chest, and with a roar, he tore it in half.
The students gaped. The teachers bowed, tears in their eyes. "Thank you, Hero!"
"Hero? Just doing my part," Zhao Xunan said, sheathing his sword. "Leave this place—now. It's getting too dangerous."
The lead teacher nodded. "May we know your name? We'll honor you with a monument!"
Zhao Xunan snorted. "Monuments are for the dead. Just… go."
As they fled, a student called out, "Wait—are you… General Zhao Xunan? The one who reclaimed West Pass and crushed the grassland khanate?!"
Zhao Xunan froze. They knew him?
The student blushed. "Of course we do—your poems, your battles… Even our dean says you've captured eight-tenths of Great Qin's talent!"
Another student added, "'Autumn Mountain Ballad,' 'Green Jade Table at New Year's Eve'—who doesn't know them? You're a legend!"
Zhao Xunan chuckled, scratching his head. Legends, huh? He'd never thought of himself that way.
But as he watched the students vanish toward the exit, he couldn't help but smile. Maybe… just maybe… this Celestial Garden wasn't such a bad place after all.