Xu Yuan is the only heir of the Xu Family and one among the few counted talents of Qin Shan Academy.
Qing Shan Academy which is considered to be one of the strong powerhouses of the Xia Empire. It has produced countless prodigies over decades who even made their name in the cultivation world.
Nobles, geniuses, and Young cultivators from all across the empire strive hard to join the academy.
And as for Xu Yuan, with his status as the sole heir of the Xu Family and Inner disciple of Qing Shan Academy, he should have had a bright and smooth path ahead, yet his personality was far from what it should have been.
Arrogant and overbearing, he relied on his family's name to bully the weak, carrying himself as if he were a young master above all others, and an attitude as if those around him felt nothing but resentment and envy.
He doesn't even needed a proper reason to bully people.
"Hah! Brother Xu! Who allowed a street trash like you call me that? Call me Young Master Xu!"
"That bastard begger dared to blocks my view, kill him!" Threatening a poor begger in street who blocks his view by mistake.
"You son of a bit*h! How dare you look at me with those vulgar eyes of yours! Are you lusting over my body, You Bastard!" With that a man getting beaten up by his lackeys.
But right now the most important thing, the reason Xu Yuan had come to this strange place, 'Western Beast Mountain Ranges' was not for cultivation or training, but to ambush someone—a person called Bai Chen.
Bai Chen, a mere Outer court disciple of Qing Shan Academy, and though it had not been long since he joined, his name was already souring throughout the academy like wildfire. Wherever you go, whispers about him follow like a shadow.
"Have you heard? That Bai Chen again!"
"Of course! Yesterday he beat Senior Brother Jin without even breaking a sweat!"
"Not just that," a male disciple covered her mouth and giggled. "He smiled at me. I nearly fainted on the spot!"
"Hmph, lucky you!" another girl said, pouting. "I only saw his back, but even that made my heart skip."
In just a short time, he had built a strong following among Outer Court disciples.
Moreover, he had beaten several of Xu Yuan's lackeys, who had been doing nothing more than innocently bullying some weak outer court disciples, and he had even gone so far as to nearly defeat Xu Yuan himself in front of countless onlookers.
A mere outer court disciple defeating a renowned talent among the Inner court was humiliating… truly humiliating.
To make matters worse, the most intolerable thing of all was that Bai Chen had grown closer to Xue Mei.
Xue Mei was Xu Yuan's junior sister in the inner academy, and the one he had always liked deeply.
She was not only beautiful, but also famous throughout the Academy for her looks, her elegance. Her beauty was unparalleled, almost like a Goddess.
Countless Disciples just admired her from afar, yet the girl who was admired by all was always praising Bai Chen, always standing by his side and supporting him.
Xu Yuan's pride could not accept such humiliation. The girl he liked most was leaning toward another, the weak disciples who once bowed and trembled before him were now rallying around Bai Chen, and even the position he once held proudly within the academy was slowly being overshadowed.
To Xu Yuan, all of this could only be traced back to Bai Chen's existence.
And to put a proper end to all his problems, Xu Yuan concluded that this Bai Chen has to be removed from the whole story.
So, when he discovered that Bai Chen was heading to the Western Beast Mountain Ranges—a region at the border of the Empire, filled with terrifying creatures.
This was a perfect chance for him. No one would suspect if Bai Chen died there; it would be nothing more than a beast feast, otherwise, if tries anything at the academy those outer court disciples would definitely create trouble.
With a proper plan, he secretly arranged an ambush and hired some assassins.
That night, beneath the cover of darkness, Xu Yuan stood in the shadows of a forest clearing.
"Even though Bai Chen is just at ninth layer of Qi Refining Realm, Do not take him like a child. you cannot afford to be careless," he warned in a low voice with a sharp tone, eyes filled with killing intent.
Three figures stood before Xu Yuan, while another three watched from the shadows, hidden from sight.
One of the men in front stepped forward and spoke with confidence, "Young Master Xu! Since you have entrusted this task to Black Moon Society. I can assure you, You'll not be disappointed, Just consider that brat died."
"Fine," Xu Yuan nodded coldly before tossing them a pouch filled with spirit stones.
As he watched them, his mind churned with restless thoughts. 'Even though I broke through to the second layer of Foundation realm a few months ago. Still I don't have the confidence to kill him myself…
That bastard…
I don't know what happens but everytime, somehow things always end up in his favour.
But… This time I won't let him go."
Xu Yuan was sure this time his plan was flawless with three peak Qi Refining realm, two second and one third layer Foundation realm assassins. No matter what his plan, this time will be Bai Chen's last time.
...
The Qi Refining Realm was considered to be the true beginning of cultivation.
After breaking through the shackles of Mortal Realm when one enters this stage, he learns to sense the energy of heaven and earth, drawing it into their body and refining it as Qi.
And use it to strengthen their physique, temper the bones, and expand the meridians, creating the Foundation for higher realms.
By the time one reached the higher layers, their qi became stable enough to flow through weapons and even manifest outside the body, giving birth to true qi.
Each of these Realms is further divided into nine layers. For example; only after breaking through these nine layers of the Qi refining realm one enters in the foundation realm.