Night hung softly over the mountain, stars glittering like quiet watchers in the sky. In the wooden house lit by a dim spiritual lamp, Xuan Long lay resting with Xun'er, the little girl who had clung to his side since the day he rescued her from ruin.
Nestled against his chest, her tiny hand gently gripped his robe. Her eyes, half-lidded with sleep, shimmered with fear as she whispered:
"Brother… don't leave me… I'll do whatever you say… I'll be good… but please… don't go."
Xuan Long's eyes softened, his usual coldness melting in the presence of her fragile voice. He gently brushed her hair back and looked into her teary eyes.
"No matter what happens," he said, voice low and warm, "I will never leave you. You are not just my sister, Xun'er… you are my heart. My love. My reason."
A soft smile formed on her lips, and she buried her face in his chest.
"Okay… I believe you… always."
Within moments, her breathing steadied. She was asleep again, wrapped in warmth and safety that only he could give.
But dawn came like a storm.
From the distant skies, the heavens trembled as thousands of footsteps shook the earth. Dust rose in waves as more than a thousand disciples clad in uniform robes marched toward the mountain base. Among them, ten elders, each radiating immense pressure—Core Formation Level 5 to 8—hovered in the air.
At their center, a cold, domineering presence stood: the Sect Leader, a man with terrifying power at Nascent Soul Level 5.
With eyes full of contempt, he raised his hand and shouted.
"Xuan Long! Come out and face your fate!"
The mountain was silent for a moment—then the doors of the house creaked open.
Xuan Long stepped out, his robes fluttering in the morning wind, his expression calm and unshaken, as if the massive force below him was nothing but dust.
The leader sneered.
"Kneel, boy. Beg for your life. What you see here—these numbers, these elders—they are only a fraction of our strength. Not even one of you can match a single elder of mine."
He paused, smirking.
"But I'm merciful. Submit. Let your little army become our slaves. Work under our flag like obedient dogs—and I'll let you live."
A brief silence followed.
Then… Xuan Long chuckled. Low at first… then dark and venomous.
"Pfft… Hahahahaha…"
The leader's expression twisted.
"You dare laugh?!"
Xuan Long raised his head slowly, a wicked grin playing across his face.
"What if I say… no?"
The leader's smile vanished.
"Then you die."
Inside the house, Xun'er stirred from her sleep. The shouts outside reached her ears, and her heart trembled.
"Brother…?"
Still in her simple night robe, she tiptoed quietly toward the door, her small hands pushing it open as golden morning light spilled over her face. Her eyes widened at the sight of countless enemies gathered below.
Outside, the tension snapped.
With a roar, twenty disciples charged at Xuan Long with drawn blades and glowing talismans.
But before they could reach him—Mu Chen appeared like a phantom, eyes gleaming with green light. He moved like poison itself, swift and silent. With one fluid motion, his toxic mist exploded in all directions.
One… two… five… twenty.
All twenty disciples collapsed in seconds, their bodies convulsing and blackened by spiritual venom.
Mu Chen turned to Xuan Long and gave a slight bow.
"Brother Xuan… I broke through to Core Formation last night."
Xuan Long's eyes glimmered with pride.
"Good. You've taken your first real step on the true path."
Suddenly, two more shadows stepped forward. The demi-human twins, clad in dark armor, bowed.
"Master. We have broken through as well. Core Formation Level 1. Our strength is enough to challenge even Level 2s."
Xuan Long nodded once more, his aura growing heavier.
Among the enemy elders, one grew furious. His face twisted with rage as he watched the scene unfold, as if they were mocking their presence.
"They dare ignore us?! Arrogant fools!"
He raised his hand and unleashed a spiritual mental attack, targeting Xuan Long directly with intent to crush his mind.
But as it struck—
It vanished.
A moment later, the elder clutched his own head and screamed in pain. His spiritual sea shattered—his own attack reflected back at him.
He trembled, foam at his mouth… then dropped from the sky, lifeless.
The remaining elders stared in horror.
"H-He… he reflected the mental attack?! How? Even Nascent Soul experts can't do that so casually!"
Xuan Long looked up at the stunned enemy forces, smile widening.
"Weaklings… come to die."
Behind him, Xun'er stepped out of the house. Her tiny hands gripped the doorframe, eyes wide.
The moment she saw Xuan Long standing alone before an entire army, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around his leg.
"Brother… don't fight alone…" she whispered.
Xuan Long gently lifted her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
"Don't worry. Your big brothers and I will handle this."
He turned back to the battlefield, his aura exploding like a god descending upon mortals. Behind him, Mu Chen, Hei Mo, the demi-human twins, and the full shadow army of 120 stood ready—eyes blazing.
The mountain would drown in blood today. But it would not be Xuan Long's blood.
It would be the blood of fools who dared threaten what he loved.