Chapter 16: From the Sky to the Edge
The last echo of thunder faded from the valley, leaving the air heavy with the scent of scorched earth and medicine.
Lin Xuan stood in the clearing, the celestial-grade Qi-Boosting Marrow Pill glowing faintly in his palm.
He didn't hesitate. The moment the pill touched his tongue, it dissolved into pure, liquid qi that flooded his meridians in an instant.
His body burned. His marrow rang like struck iron. His qi pathways widened, doubled in capacity, then widened again.
> [Qi Condensation – Stage 2 → Stage 3 → Stage 4 → Stage 5 → Stage 6 → Stage 7]
Lin Xuan's breath came in sharp bursts. Every strike of his heartbeat sent another wave of power through him. He clenched his fists, feeling the raw strength in his limbs.
And then… he felt them.
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Hunters on the Wind
Far above, qi signatures surged. His divine physique could sense their presence before they even came into view. Dozens of cultivators — some sect-affiliated, most not — streaked toward the valley.
Qiu Wansheng stood on a distant peak, eyes narrowed as he peered at the fading tribulation clouds. "So that's where it came from… If that boy made a pill strong enough to draw Heaven's notice, then it belongs in my hands."
And beyond him, rogue cultivators smelled profit. To them, a tribulation-grade pill meant wealth, advancement — power. And they didn't care who had to die for it.
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First Blood
Lin Xuan was already moving, spear in hand, Void Phantom Steps carrying him through the undergrowth. The first pair of rogues dropped in front of him — mid-stage Qi Condensation, greedy smiles already on their faces.
"Hand it over, boy—"
Shhhhk!
The Heavenstorm Lance struck before the man finished speaking, lightning bursting through his chest. The second turned to flee, but Lin Xuan's space-skip thrust caught him in the back. Both bodies vanished into the Evervault without slowing his pace.
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The Gauntlet
More came — Foundation Establishment realm, early stage. Lin Xuan's upgraded Aegis flared to life, absorbing saber qi and deflecting talisman fire. His spear answered with arcs of lightning and bursts of fire, each kill making him move faster.
But there were too many. His barrier cracked more than once, and his breathing grew harsher with each clash.
Then a shadow fell across the path ahead.
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The Peak Foundation Establishment Wall
The man who stepped forward radiated killing intent so thick it was suffocating. His cultivation — peak Foundation Establishment — made the very air heavy.
"You've made a lot of noise, boy," the man said, spinning a heavy glaive in one hand. "Now hand it over before you die."
Lin Xuan's grip tightened on his spear. "Come take it."
The clash was immediate. The man's glaive swept with bone-breaking force, each strike making the earth tremble. Lin Xuan's upgraded armor absorbed one direct hit that would have cut him in half, but the shockwave rattled his bones.
A second blow struck his side, breaking his stance. Pain flared, and the world tilted.
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The Fall
The force of the strike launched him backward — off the edge of a jagged cliff.
The wind roared past his ears. His body slammed into an outcropping, the Earth-grade Stormhide Mantle taking the brunt of the impact and keeping his ribs intact.
He fell again, crashing through branches before smashing into a sloped bank of loose earth and sliding to a stop.
Everything hurt, but he was alive. Barely.
Max Luck had done its work — he'd landed in a narrow crevice, hidden from above, where the fall had slowed just enough to avoid killing him outright.
He coughed, tasting blood, and forced himself to his feet. Somewhere above, his enemies still hunted.
"This… isn't over."