C21 When He Saw Injustice He Would Draw His Sword to Help

"Drink up!"

Buzz!

In the midst of a vast plain, Ling Yunfan sat cross-legged on the ground, enveloped by swirling Cosmic Spiritual Energy. With a sudden flash of his eyes, he let out a thunderous shout, and the dragon-phoenix silhouette at his back grew immensely. As the silhouette merged into his body, it unleashed an odd suction, drawing in all the Cosmic Spiritual Energy from the plain in an instant.

As the abundant Cosmic Spiritual Energy flooded into Ling Yunfan's body, it was refined by a formidable force and channeled into his dantian. There, the dantian, already a whirlwind of countless air streams, swiftly coalesced into a vortex resembling the eye of a storm. His cultivation soared, breaking through to Essence Gathering Level One as his dantian transformed.

"Phew, I've finally advanced to the Essence Gathering Stage. What an incredible sensation!" Ling Yunfan, now standing, stretched and looked at his hands with a joyous expression.

In that moment, as if responding to Ling Yunfan's elation, the once overcast sky cleared up in the blink of an eye.

Having spent the entire night to achieve a significant breakthrough, Ling Yunfan felt a joy unmatched by any other. It was just unfortunate that there was no one around to share in his delight. With no other choice, he mounted the horse that had been waiting for him and set off towards the distant Purple Gold City.

...

"What do you think you're doing? Stay back!"

In a secluded forest, a young girl in a green dress, her hair braided, looked on with revulsion at the middle-aged man encircling her.

"Don't be scared, little beauty. I noticed you were all by yourself and thought it might be dangerous, so I wanted to extend an invitation for you to join me. I'm Xiaotian, the Third Regimental Commander of the Cloud Mercenary Group. With me, you'll be safe from harm," the man said, his tone gentle as he and his entourage of over ten people closed in around her.

Despite his seemingly upright tone, the predatory gleam in his eyes betrayed his true intentions. It was precisely this that made the young girl distrust him completely. Her own cultivation was at Essence Gathering Level One, while this man, Xiaotian, boasted a cultivation at Essence Gathering Level Two, allowing him to intimidate the young girl.

"Absolutely, our Third Regimental Commander is a true gentleman. There's no need to fear. Please, quickly tell us your destination so we can escort you there."

"Yes, do tell."

One after another, Xiaotian's companions stepped forward, coaxing the young girl to speak.

As the young girl watched these wolves in sheep's clothing trying to deceive her, her anger swelled, nearing its breaking point. Yet, constrained by the disparity in their spiritual cultivation, she conceded, "I appreciate your offer, Commander Xiaotian, but I can manage on my own. There's no need for your assistance."

With that, she moved to exit through a gap in their circle.

But Xiaotian, captivated by the girl, was not about to let her slip away so easily and quickly blocked her path.

"I'm done wasting words. You're coming with me today, or you won't be leaving at all." With a shout, Xiaotian reached out and seized her firmly.

"Release me!"

Suddenly grabbed, the girl's patience snapped. She concentrated spiritual force into her left hand and struck out at Xiaotian.

"Thud."

Despite the swiftness of her attack, the gap in their spiritual levels meant it was effortlessly parried.

"Scoundrel, unhand her at once!" Just then, Ling Yunfan, who had been secretly observing from a tree, was about to intervene when a voice stopped him cold.

He looked to find a young man standing behind the Cloud Mercenary Group, clad in a brown shirt and black trousers, wielding a white spear of a high-level battle artifact. His tousled hair suggested he was about seventeen years old.

Both Ling Yunfan and Xiaotian recognized the newcomer's strength at Essence Gathering Level Two.

"Kid, if you value your life, step aside. You're out of your depth meddling in my affairs. I'm in a good mood today and would rather not lose my temper. Be smart and stay out of this." Xiaotian, aware of the young man's cultivation level, not only kept his grip on the girl but also dismissed the spear-wielding youth with a sneer of contempt.

"You're foolhardy!"

The young man, incensed by the other's disregard and insults, brandished his spear with vigor. Channeling spiritual force, he drew in the wind around him into his weapon and unleashed a barrage of Wind Blades at Xiaotian.

Puchi... Puchi...

"Ahh... Ahh..."

In an instant, members of the Cloud Mercenary Group, mere Body Refining Level Eight cultivators, were cleaved in two by the Wind Blades, blood spurting wildly.

The girl, having narrowly escaped Xiaotian's grasp, retreated quickly, just managing to avoid the spray of blood.

"You've got nerve, kid. What's your name? I don't kill without knowing a person's name!"

Xiaotian, enraged at the sight of his fallen comrades, demanded the young man's name with a voice heavy with murderous intent.

"The name's Ye Tianwen, and it's one I'll neither change nor hide behind," the spear-wielding youth replied confidently in his mature-sounding voice.

"Meet your end."

No sooner had he spoken than Xiaotian, seething with anger, amassed a formidable spiritual force in his right hand, shaping it into a fist as if encased in mud, and hurled it at Ye Tianwen.

"A Human Rank High Level Martial Skill? Xiaotian does have some skill," Ling Yunfan observed from his perch in the tree, instantly recognizing the technique's caliber.

"Hmph, I, Ye Tianwen, never shy away from a direct confrontation. Behold my Thunder Spear Strike!" Ye Tianwen, gripping his spear, infused it with spiritual force, transforming a portion into Thunder Lightning Power and merging it with the rest. The power converged along the shaft of the spear.

Bang!

"Ye Tianwen? I may not have heard the name before, but his prowess is undeniable, and he seems about my age," the girl mused silently, her mouth agape in astonishment as she watched the impending clash from the sidelines.

Bang!

With a resounding crash, a fist as massive as a boulder slammed into a long spear crackling with thunder and lightning. The two forces locked in a deadlock.

"Flaming Fist!"

In that instant, a voice searing with heat reached Xiaotian's ears, and a fist engulfed in flames struck Xiaotian's face.

"Ugh!"

Reeling from the Flaming Fist, Xiaotian, who was at Essence Gathering Level Two, took a direct hit from both the fiery punch and Ye Tianwen's martial skill, sending him flying back, severely wounded.

"Who are you, and why did you intervene on my behalf?" Ye Tianwen, his brow furrowed, inquired of the slender youth who had unexpectedly come to his aid.

Upon being questioned, Ling Yunfan replied with a warm smile, "My name is Ling Yunfan, and I am one of the candidates set to attend the Dragon Hidden Sect's Inner Sect Disciple Assessment."

"So, Mr. Yunfan, you're heading to Purple Gold City as well?" With Ling Yunfan's response, Ye Tianwen's defenses dropped, and he asked again, this time with a hint of excitement.

"It seems we are destined to cross paths, Mr. Tianwen. You, too, are on your way to the Dragon Hidden Sect's Inner Sect Disciple Assessment. What a fortunate coincidence," Ling Yunfan remarked genially, pleased to learn they shared the same goal.