Before the flames devoured everything, Tianen Village was a haven of peace and tranquility. Children played in the dusty streets, farmers toiled in the fields, and the aroma of delicious cooking filled the air. Qing Feng, though unable to cultivate, enjoyed his simple life. He helped his father in the fields and listened to ancient tales from his parents.
Now, amidst the fiery ruins of Tianen Village, Qing Feng hid with his mother. The inferno consumed all, reflecting terror in Qing Feng's wide eyes. Yet, beside him, his mother was a pillar of calm, though behind her stoic facade, her heart raced like a trapped bird.
Qing Feng's small lips trembled as he asked, "Ma, did you see Ren Chao?" The question slipped from his lips, thin as silk veiling fear. His once-innocent eyes pleaded for an answer, and his mother could only hold him tighter, wordless.
Shock painted Qing Feng's mother's face at the mention of Ren Chao's name. Her lips quivered, holding back the words surging within. Finally, she said, "Ren Chao was at the front lines, the first to raise a barrier to protect the village. That's all I know." The words fell on Qing Feng's ears like icy droplets, freezing the confusion in his heart.
Hearing his mother's admission, Qing Feng felt his world crumble. Ren Chao, a hero? Impossible! With tears welling in his eyes, he bolted away, leaving his mother amidst the ruins. She watched him go, her face hardening, frustration mixed with a worry that burned in her heart. Why did that child always act so impulsively?
"Damn it, Ren Chao... they say you're evil. But why did you save the village? Is it true that bad people aren't always bad?" Qing Feng muttered, his mind swirling like a whirlpool, torn between hatred and admiration. His feet pounded the earth as he ran, trying to escape the suffocating confusion in his chest.
Ignoring the dangers lurking about, Qing Feng ran as fast as his legs could carry him towards the front lines of the battle. His mind was filled with Ren Chao and his father, and he could no longer remain still.
---
At the Front Lines.
Qing Feng abruptly arrived at the front lines and froze. His father, a man who was anything but a fighter, was facing Ren Chao. More confusingly, Qing Feng saw Ren Chao using a barrier—protecting them from incoming attacks. Confusion and fear tore at his heart; why was his father doing this? Why was Ren Chao helping them?
"So, Ren Chao does have some good in him, but the past has tainted his heart. I want to help them... but how?" Qing Feng muttered inwardly. His heart was torn in two, one side wanting to hate, the other wanting to save. Cold sweat drenched his body as he wrestled with the suffocating confusion.
A smile bloomed on Qing Feng's face, his eyes gleaming with determination. "What am I hesitating for? I will save them, even without cultivation." The whisper was full of unwavering conviction. His resolve was as strong as steel, unyielding to whatever stood in his way.
As Qing Feng walked towards his father and Ren Chao, a strange light suddenly erupted from within him. The light was blinding, turning the sky into a sea of gold. Qing Feng stared at his hands in bewilderment; what power was this?
All eyes were drawn to the golden light, and breaths were held as they watched Qing Feng shine brightly, cleaving through the darkness of the fiery sea. Qing Feng himself felt a strange power coursing through him, and for a moment, his fear vanished.
The light contracted, and Qing Feng was flung somewhere—into a room darker than a starless night. The darkness was like a thick blanket that choked the light. The air was stuffy and heavy, smelling of dust and something ancient. Qing Feng did not recognize this place, and confusion gripped him like icy claws.
As the light reached its peak, Qing Feng felt himself drawn into a vortex of uncontrollable energy. The world around him began to spin and fade, before finally being replaced by a dense, impenetrable darkness.
---
In the Dark Room.
Amidst the darkness, the light stirred to life. It coalesced and solidified, forming the body of a woman of breathtaking beauty. Her face remained a mystery, hidden behind a veil of light, but the mere shape of her body was enough to captivate Qing Feng.
"Hello, Qing Feng. You must be wondering why you're here?" The voice was flat, but the aura it emitted pierced the bones. Qing Feng felt a chill run down his spine, as if something profoundly evil was present in the room.
"Yes, curiosity surges within me," Qing Feng said, his eyes probing the figure. "However... why do I feel so familiar with you? Have we met before?" The feeling was like an echo of a long-forgotten dream, stirring faint, unreachable memories.
"That's a secret, Qing Feng," the figure replied, her voice a ripple. "But I must finish my business here soon. I don't have much time left, Qing Feng." Each word felt like a warning, and Qing Feng felt the tension that choked the room.
"Qing Feng, you must have felt the light enveloping your body, haven't you?" The figure asked gently, then stepped closer. Qing Feng took a step back, feeling a mixture of curiosity and caution. "If you're wondering what it is... let me tell you."
Filled with curiosity, Qing Feng didn't want to waste any time. He stared at the figure with a serious face and nodded his head, signaling that he wanted to get straight to the point. His eyes sparkled like fire, showing a burning curiosity.
"Hahaha... you are indeed determined to find out about that light." The laughter disappeared like morning dew, replaced by a sharp and meaningful gaze. The figure's face turned serious. "Alright, I will tell you what it is." Qing Feng felt a mixture of relief and suspicion.
"That light is the light of your power, Qing Feng. The light of newly awakened cultivation." The figure said, a cynical smile playing on her lips. "You must be wondering why you suddenly can cultivate, aren't you?" Qing Feng frowned, feeling uncomfortable with the figure's tone.
"Tell me, why have I been unable to cultivate all this time? Could it be that you are a messenger of the heavens sent to take my life?"
Qing Feng's harsh words hung in the air, and the figure's light began to fade. The longer Qing Feng stared, the dimmer the light became, until it was almost invisible. Confusion gripped Qing Feng; what was happening?
The figure's light faded further, but before disappearing completely, she smiled at Qing Feng. The smile was like a glimmer of hope in the midst of darkness, appearing and disappearing as quickly as a flash of lightning.
"If you want to know, Qing Feng, find your own answers and solve your problems in the real world. Remember, you are in the Cosmic Enlightenment realm level 9 peak, but it will only last for 30 hours. After that, you will return to the Qi Sensing Level 1 realm." The tears sparkled like shooting stars before disappearing. The light vanished without a trace. Qing Feng was stunned, trying to process the words.
As the light vanished, Qing Feng staggered and lowered his head. The sadness weighed on his shoulders like an unbearable burden. Tears welled up in his eyes like dew in the morning, ready to fall. The room felt quieter and emptier now.
CRACK!!
The tears hadn't fully dried when Qing Feng saw it—a giant crack splitting the room in front of him. The aura of the crack was like a cold hand choking life, making the air feel heavy and suffocating. The smell of sulfur stung his nostrils. Qing Feng wiped away his tears, his face turning into a mask of seriousness and determination.
With a sword in hand, Qing Feng stepped into the crack. The sword, which he had crafted during training with the Willow Tree, felt as light as a feather in his hand, but emanated unimaginable power. He gathered the falling woods one by one, and the Willow Tree helped him complete the sword—a sword that would accompany him on his cultivation journey.
Before Qing Feng could digest all the information, the crack in front of him widened further, pulling him into the swirling darkness. The next moment, he found himself back in the midst of the chaotic battlefield, but with a strength that motivated him to protect his loved ones.
---
Outside the Crack.
The battle in Tianen Village was a devastating storm, testing the limits of Ren Chao and Qing Feng's father's strength and endurance. Ren Chao, with ragged breaths, felt every attack slam into his body. He staggered backward, and blood welled up on his lips.
The devastating attack sent Ren Chao flying backward, As he struggled to get up, he saw Qing Feng darting with astonishing speed. His speed blurred the vision, as if he was the wind itself. Ren Chao could only see a passing shadow. 'What... can Qing Feng really be that fast?'
BOOM!!
A thunderous explosion shook Tianen Village, making everyone gasp. The battle on the ground paused for a moment as all eyes turned to the sky. Smoke billowed like a gray curtain, hiding the secrets and dangers that had just occurred.
The smoke began to thin, revealing the silhouette of someone in the sky. The figure stood gallantly, holding a sword confidently. Ren Chao frowned: the silhouette seemed familiar, but he couldn't be sure who it was?
"Apparently, the one attacking Tianen Village is the Flower Entwined Sect," the figure said in an ice-cold tone. Ren Chao flinched: The Flower Entwined Sect was known for their cruelty and their long-standing feud with the villages around Mount Tianen.
The first elder of the Flower Entwined Sect stepped forward, his lips trembling like leaves in a storm. "Who are you? Why are you so presumptuous as to hinder our path?" The figure only smiled, not answering.
The entire Tianen Village was shocked, even Qing Feng's father and Ren Chao, as they looked at the figure. "My name is Qing Feng," Qing Feng said, his smile holding the secrets of newfound power. "In the past, I was just someone who couldn't cultivate." He wanted them to know who was going to defeat them—someone they underestimated.
Before anyone could blink, Qing Feng darted with a speed that split the air, leaving a devastating explosion that shook the earth. The powerful light blinded the sect members, making them helpless to follow his movements. Ren Chao could only gape—what exactly was happening to Qing Feng.
SWUSH!! SWUSH!! SWUSH!!
Slash after slash, devastating explosions shook the ground with tremendous force. Qing Feng continued to slash the Flower Entwined Sect members with ferocity, each slash emanating Spiritual Energy so powerful that the sky itself seemed to crack. The sect members screamed in terror, unable to withstand Qing Feng's newfound power.
"Damn, I've been too fixated on these sect members for too long," Qing Feng grumbled. "Even though there are still ten hours left, I haven't had a chance to try the technique that I formed with the Willow Tree." He had deliberately held back, wanting to test the extent of his power without the technique. Qing Feng drew his sword. The Flower Entwined Sect members froze, their hearts pounding as they awaited the next disaster.
With a hopeful smile, Qing Feng prepared a ball of power in his hand. The ball shone like a small sun, radiating unimaginable power. "Stop him!" one sect member shouted. "We're going to die!" their fear filled the air.
The Energy ball solidified and transformed into a small sword as fast as lightning, like a dream come true. Qing Feng, with a wide smile, launched the sword into the sky. "God Slayer Sword Technique!" His voice split the sky, announcing the coming Power.
The darkness swallowed everything, like a giant mouth that was never full. Lightning struck like the whip of a god, punishing those who dared to defy. Amidst the chaos, a yin and yang symbol appeared, symbolizing the balance of extraordinary power. From the center, a small blade emerged, emanating an oppressive aura that forced everyone to humble themselves.
The sword blades stretched out from the clouds across the sky, like the fingers of a god ready to punish. Qing Feng felt the power of his peak Cosmic Enlightenment beginning to recede, and panic gripped him. "Damn... what's going on? There's only four hours left!" He had only just realized how fast time was passing. "Oh well, let's try that!" The sect members stared at the sky in horror, realizing that a greater disaster was about to arrive.
Behind the sword blades that covered part of his eyes, Qing Feng radiated an extraordinary aura. Then, a small dragon appeared, writhing gracefully before growing larger and larger, its hot fire like the sun blinding anyone who looked.
"Heavenly Emperor Dragon Slash Sword Technique!!"
The slash hurtled with incredible speed, like a dragon awakened, illuminating the darkness with its rage. The Flower Entwined Sect members had no chance to dodge. "Watch out! Dodge!" they warned each other frantically, their cries overlapping like a chorus of death, foreshadowing the coming destruction. Qing Feng felt his Cosmic Enlightenment energy draining, but he had no regrets.
BOOM!!
The explosion in the sky adorned the night sky like a captivating painting, but beneath it, Qing Feng fell like a shooting star, its light fading rapidly. The leader of the Flower Entwined Sect instantly realized something. "So, you've only been using fake cultivation all this time? But how is it possible... how could a fake cultivator use a divine technique? Could it be that you are an Immortal in disguise?" The other sect members exchanged glances, confusion and fear mixed in their hearts.
Loudly, the first elder ordered, "Attack him quickly! Don't let him escape!" He didn't want to take the slightest risk; even with fake cultivation, Qing Feng was too dangerous to be left alive. The sect members, motivated by fear and obedience, immediately swarmed towards Qing Feng.
Qing Feng opened his eyes, but only emptiness emanated. "Is this the end," he whispered inwardly. Resignation enveloped him like a shroud, muffling fear and regret. He closed his eyes, letting the bitter memories haunt him.
Qing Feng heard heart-wrenching screams of pain, but strangely, he didn't feel any pain. Confused, he opened his eyes. In front of him, lay a figure he recognized—his father, covered in blood. The other sect members seemed frozen, unable to believe what had just happened.
"FATHERRRRR..." Ren Chao's roar split the silence, shaking every soul that heard it. Birds flew frantically from the trees, while the villagers looked up with faces full of shock and confusion.
Before anyone could react, the Second Elder darted with a speed that triggered a gust of wind. In the blink of an eye, he was already above Qing Feng, ready to launch his attack. "Sky Tier Flower Sword Technique!!" he shouted, Qing Feng could only gape—the technique was said to be able to tear apart the heavens and the earth.
"Death awaits you, Qing Feng!" the Second Elder growled. His eyes gleamed like sharpened swords, ready to slash Qing Feng's life. Qing Feng, though injured, stared back with a defiant gaze.
BOOM!!
The explosion was like the wrath of a god unleashed, tearing apart the heavens and the earth mercilessly. However, amidst the chaos, the Second Elder saw something impossible—a figure moving calmly yet deftly, carrying Qing Feng away from danger. The Second Elder's face hardened.
The Elders' anger burned like hellfire, ready to burn everything in their path. They caught up with Qing Feng and the figure, while the Flower Entwined Sect disciples, like hungry wolves, swarmed Tianen Village and carried out a merciless massacre.
---
Epilogue.
Qing Feng was in his mother's arms, who floated in the air like a phoenix, graceful and dignified. Qing Feng's eyes widened in shock; how could his mother fly, when all this time he knew his mother was just an ordinary woman? His mother smiled gently, as if hiding a great secret.
Qing Feng stared at his mother with a confused and frightened gaze. His lips trembled, trying to utter an unspoken question. However, before the words came out, his mother quickly put her finger on Qing Feng's lips, signaling him to remain silent. Her eyes flashed a warning—danger lurked.
"Why won't mother let me ask? I really want to know how mother can fly," Qing Feng thought to himself. His eyes twinkled like stars, radiating boundless curiosity. Even though the screams from Tianen Village could still be heard, Qing Feng felt safe in his mother's arms. He knew, his mother would protect him from any danger, even if it meant sacrificing herself.
Seeing his son's face filled with curiosity, Yan Xunxi felt worry grip her heart. "Forgive me, Qing Feng," she whispered inwardly. "Mother kept this a secret from you, but even I don't understand why this power is flowing within me again." The look in her eyes radiated a burning determination. "Your safety is paramount, Son."
They danced among the towering trees, Qing Feng's mother leading with astonishing agility. The forest appeared like an endless green sea, with the treetops towering like frozen waves.
Could they escape the clutches of the Elders? Or would the beauty of this forest become a silent witness to the end of their story?
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Chapter 6 Completed.