The cheers from the central arena still echoed faintly in the distance, but my heart had already left the celebration.
I stood before Mu Lingyao, my gaze sharp.
"Hey… where is Yun Sha?" I asked.
Mu Lingyao's face stiffened. Her voice trembled. "Ah… s-senior Yun… she went back to her clan. For… marriage."
A storm of silence fell between us.
I blinked once, then stepped closer. "What did you say? She's getting married? By her choice?"
Mu Lingyao hesitated, then shook her head. "No… she was forced. Her clan made her return. The wedding is… in seven days."
I clenched my fist.
"Then let's go."
Without another word, I summoned my sword and took Yang Kai, Mu Lingyao, and Feng Xuan with me. Our swords tore through the skies, heading east—toward the Eastern Continent, toward the Yun Family.
Mid-flight, I sat cross-legged.
"Yang Kai, control the sword."
"Yes, Master!"
Then, in the silence of the wind, I spoke inwardly:
"System, how many breakthroughs can I perform now?"
DING
Host can perform four breakthroughs.
"Do all four."
DING
39800 XP deducted.
Current XP: 10200
A golden torrent surged through my meridians like a dragon awakening from slumber. One… two… three… four pulses of pure energy shattered invisible bottlenecks inside me.
Lightning crackled around my form. My bones hummed like celestial bells.
DING
Breakthrough successful: Nascent Soul – 9th Layer
A glowing screen opened before me in the sky:
---
STATUS WINDOW
Name: Zhen Huan
Level: Nascent Soul - 9th Layer
HP: 2500/2500
SE: 1580/1580
Strength: 2900
Agility: 2300
Intelligence: 20/20 – MAX
Charm: 95/100
Luck: ???
Skills:
• Inferno Slash – First Form
↓
[Show Full Status]
---
Wind roared, blades of pressure cutting through clouds. My companions looked at me in stunned silence.
Mu Lingyao whispered, "What… are you? A god in disguise? Your cultivation speed is terrifying…"
But I didn't answer. My voice was cold, like iron drawn from a forge.
"It's not talent. It's rage. And the Yun Family… will feel it when I arrive."
It took us six days to reach the city nestled in the Yun Clan's mountain fortress, where preparations for Yun Sha's wedding had begun.
The festive colors. The laughing guests. The wedding banners waving in the wind.
They disgusted me.
As we hovered on a cliff overlooking the city, I spoke, "We wait till dawn."
Yang Kai, with blazing eyes, stepped forward. "Master… I will help save your wife."
I placed a hand on his head and smiled faintly.
"Then tomorrow… we let the heavens themselves witness what happens when they try to steal what's mine."