Xu Tian lay on the soft grass of the sacred spirit peak, eyes half-closed, letting the mountain wind play with his hair.
For the first time since waking up his memories in this body, he felt almost relaxed.
The tiny thrill from Xu Lingxue's sword still lingered in his memory like a good joke.
The system's voice drifted lazily.
[Host, your heart rate is actually normal. Are you… enjoying yourself?]
Xu Tian smirked.
"Don't ruin it."
A low rumble rolled across the sky.
He opened his eyes fully.
The Azure Sword Sect airship cut through the clouds, much larger than he expected and flanked by two smaller escort vessels. Sword-shaped prows gleamed, and the formations hummed with killing intent.
Xu Tian sat up.
"Someone's in a hurry."
Down in the Xu Clan square, panic had already set in.
The Patriarch and elders rushed to assemble a greeting formation, their faces pale but determined. They had sent emergency transmission jades the moment Xu Tian vanished to the peak, telling stories of a monster who suppressed the entire clan, robbed the treasury, and toyed with their holy daughter.
Now the sect had answered.
Fast.
The airships landed with a heavy thud that cracked the square tiles.
Three Core Formation elders stepped down first, their auras pressing down like mountains. Behind them came a dozen Foundation Establishment experts and over thirty core disciples, an escort fit for war rather than recruitment.
The lead elder, with a stern face and white robes embroidered with azure swords, scanned the kneeling clan.
"I am Elder Li Tianhong. We received your distress call. Where is the one called Xu Tian?"
The Patriarch bowed so low his forehead touched the ground.
"Esteemed elders! The monster is on the sacred peak! He—"Elder Li raised a hand.
"Enough. We will handle it."
He turned to Xu Lingxue, who stood silent at the side, expression unreadable.
"Holy daughter, are you injured?"
She shook her head once.
Elder Li nodded.
"Good. Stay here."
Then he looked up the mountain.
"Xu Tian! Come down and face judgment for your crimes against the Xu Clan and disruption of sect affairs!
"His voice boomed with spiritual power, echoing across the peaks.
Xu Tian heard it perfectly.
He stood slowly, brushed grass from his robes, and yawned.
"Crimes? I was napping."
He floated down the mountain at walking speed, hands in his sleeves, looking like he was out for a stroll.
By the time he reached the square, every eye was on him.
The three elders tensed.
The disciples gripped their swords.
The clan held their breath.
Xu Tian landed lightly in the center.
He looked around.
"Big crowd. You brought the whole circus?"
Elder Li stepped forward.
"You have committed grave offenses. Return the stolen treasures, kneel, and we may grant you a swift death."
Xu Tian tilted his head.
"Or?"
Elder Li's aura exploded with full Core Formation pressure, sword intent slicing the air.
The other two elders flanked him, formations activating.The escort vessels hummed, cannons charging.
Xu Tian scratched his cheek.
"You woke me up for this?"
His voice was soft.
Then he sighed.
"Fine."
He raised one finger.
A tiny flick.
No Qi visible.
No technique name.
Just a flick.
Crack.
The lead airship's main formation shattered.
Crack.
The second vessel tilted, hull splitting.
Crack.
The third dropped ten meters, alarms blaring.
All three elders coughed blood from backlash.
The disciples dropped to their knees.
Xu Tian walked forward casually.
He stopped in front of Elder Li.
"Treasures?"
Snap.
Every storage ring on the sect experts flew off and lined up in front of him.
Pills, weapons, spirit stones, and sect tokens all poured out and vanished into his ring.
He smiled pleasantly.
"Travel expenses. Thanks."
Elder Li's face was purple.
"You dare rob the Azure Sword Sect?!"
Xu Tian patted his shoulder.
"Already did."
He turned to the Patriarch.
"Complaining to outsiders? Bad habit."
The Patriarch collapsed, foaming at the mouth.
Xu Tian looked at Xu Lingxue last.
"You coming or staying?"
She gripped her sword, eyes burning.
Xu Tian shrugged.
"Your choice.
"He floated up."
Tell your sect master: don't send more ants. It's annoying.
"Then he shot into the sky — a black streak vanishing beyond the horizon.
The pressure lifted.
The airships smoked and groaned.
Elder Li stared at his empty hands.
The clan stared at the sky.
No one spoke.
Three days later.
Heavenly Merchant City was the continent's busiest trade hub, with streets packed with cultivators, merchants, and rogue experts.
A small tea house opened on a prime corner.
A simple sign read: "Void's Rest."