SKY PIECER!
Wu Han thrust his spear forward with full power. The weapon twisted like a storm and flung forward. Whether it was an error in his move or intentional, the spear flew out of Wu Han's hand and shot toward Yan Fei like a drill powered by a raging gale.
Yan Fei, caught off guard by the speed at such a short distance, couldn't react in time. The spear pierced his right arm, shattered his Qi armor, and tore up his shoulder from the sheer destructive force. The damage was so great that even Wu Han was surprised himself.
Looks like I overdid it. Well, it worked the first time, so it's all good.
Wu Han shrugged and recalled the spear back with ease. His Qi was nearly depleted from that one strike. Trying to mimic a powerful technique unknown to him, and even modify it on the spot, was nothing short of a miracle for anyone else.
For Wu Han, it was just an overdone experiment.
Next time, there won't be another mistake.
Meanwhile, Yan Fei lay horrified on the ground, blood soaking through his shoulder. The wound slowly stopped bleeding as he focused his Qi to slow the flow before pulling out herbs to mend it. Being a Luo disciple, he'd been trained in first aid after injury.
"You… what did you do?"
Hong Qing's voice was low and threatening, her hand gripping her sword, ready to strike at any moment. The force of a 7th-stage cultivator pressed down on him, locking him in place. Wu Han stayed calm, suppressing her killing intent, and said evenly,
"If you want to, I'll give you one move too."
He still had a little Qi left to spare. He invited a strike from Hong Qing—just observing her, he could tell she was far stronger than Yan Fei, and maybe even the strongest person he had met, if Luo Chen and Luo Lan were excluded.
Whatever happened next would show him his current limits, not just as a cultivator, but as a mage as well.
"You asked for it! Prepare yourself!"
In a single motion, the air stilled. Her blade moved in that stillness, a motionless strike that blended into the environment, visible only as a single flash when drawn.
Starlit Slash!
The fastest attack in Hong Qing's arsenal. She aimed at his shoulder, fully intending to slice it off as payment for hurting her fiancé. Though fast, it came from a 7th-stage cultivator on the path of the sword, its power was immense, and no martial art in Wu Han's arsenal could block it.
But a spell could.
Rank 1 Magic, Shield!
A colorless hexagonal barrier appeared out of thin air, blocking the sword without Wu Han even moving a finger. It was an instant defensive spell, one known to every mage, the strongest defense in existence, from Wu Han's perspective.
A complete blockade between two spaces.
The sword clashed with the shield and stopped cold. Wu Han's reserves were emptied in that single block, but he stayed composed and said,
"We can call it a draw, then?"
Seeing his taunting pose, her blade still on the handle, she knew he wouldn't be able to block a second strike if she went for it. But this was enough. Any further, and it wouldn't be wise.
"Agreed."
She sheathed her blade, but before she could react, Yan Fei rushed forward from behind, spear thrusting straight through Wu Han, his strike full of killing intent.
"Die!!"
The spear approached fast, but Wu Han didn't even flinch or look interested. Because behind Yan Fei, a chain lashed out and ensnared the spear mid-thrust.
"What are you doing, Yan Fei!? Have you forgotten our rules!?"
A booming voice echoed from behind, revealing a tall man in a Luo family robe. Wu Han recognized him; he was the guardian who'd escorted him to meet Luo Chen and Luo Lan during his first visit.
"What!? Brother Tong, this man's an intruder! Why stop me!?" Yan Fei shouted in confusion. Why was Master Tong, one of the senior members of the Luo Clan, treating this stranger with such respect?
"You dare disrespect your senior!? You'll receive punishment once I'm done here!" Tong barked, yanking the spear out of Yan Fei's hand and dragging him back across the ground. His face showed not just anger but concern, his eyes darted between Yan Fei and Wu Han, or more specifically, to the storage ring on Wu Han's hand.
"Hong Qing, take him to the Medical Pavilion. I saw your restraint, but remember to train your fiancé better," Tong said, his tone stern.
Hong Qing bowed quickly and accepted his words without question.
"Greetings, junior brother. You must be a disciple of Doctor Zhong. My name is Yu Tong," the man said politely. He didn't confirm Wu Han's identity, but the ring on his finger left no room for doubt, it was a signature ring of the Luo family, one personally given by the clan leader to those he favored.
Even Wu Han didn't know its meaning; the ring's simple design made it unrecognizable to most.
Seeing Tong walking up to Wu Han and then knee down, everyone was shocked.
"Who is he? He used a mysterious technique I've never seen before!"
"That's Brother Tong! I heard he's already reached the ninth stage and is preparing for a breakthrough. And he still bowed to that man!?"
Every senior member was easily recognized. Only a few elite members were accepted by the Luo family as internal officers responsible for maintaining peace and order within the clan. Most others were assigned to task forces and sent out on missions.
That showed how strong and respected Tong was within the Luo Clan.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Tong, and thank you for helping me." Wu Han bowed respectfully, then pulled out a jade slip and handed it over. "This should clear your doubts. My master told me to visit here and train as much as I can."
The crowd gasped when the jade slip lit up, glowing with the mark of Luo Chen.
They immediately bowed, whispering among themselves about who or what Wu Han might be.
Some recognized his name; others recalled rumors of a mysterious Doctor Zhong who had recently visited town.
Putting two and two together, the news of Wu Han's arrival spread like wildfire throughout the Luo Clan.
And with that, he announced his presence to the top clans of the town.
In Azure Peak Town, three main factions held absolute power over the entire city.
The Luo Clan, rightful rulers with blood ties to the imperial family, had stood here since the days when this land was still barren.
The Han Clan, a warrior sect that valued strength above all else, excelled at hunting bandits and seeking out strong opponents to challenge.
"Han Shi, did you hear? The disciple of that miracle doctor joined the Luo! As if they weren't already strong enough!"
The whisper came from a secret training hall within the Han Clan. The men there spoke to their strongest disciple, a man with muscles cut and scarred by countless fights, his eyes sharp as invisible blades slicing the air.
"I don't care," Han Shi replied, voice low. "My opponent is Luo Lan. Only her."
Not far away, Meiyi, now Han Meiyi, trained beside her husband in silence. Han Suwen could see it in her face even if she said nothing: the ambition and rage inside her burned hotter than his brother's pride ever could.
The Flaming Cloud Sect, perched high in the northern mountains, served as the barrier protecting the town from the dangerous Northern Forest, where spirit beasts roamed freely.
Atop the mountain, a small eagle landed on a man's finger. He wore a torn red robe, torn by his own hands after killing a spirit bear with them. The bird chirped, delivering its message. The man's grin faded into a cold frown.
"Is that so?" he muttered.
The bird nodded and kept talking. As the message went on, the man's rage flared. The rock beneath him cracked, then shattered to dust. Animals fled in panic.
"To all Flaming Cloud Sect disciples!" he roared. "Bring me Wu Han's head, and you'll be rewarded with one thousand spirit stones!"
His voice thundered down the mountainside, and the answering cry of the sect rolled back like a storm.
He stood there, handsome and cruel, the wind catching his hair as he whispered,
"Luo Lan… just wait. I'll make you mine!"