Spiritwind Blades

"Wind Spirit, attack!"

Fang Zhao held the Windchaser Sword and unleashed the low-grade source-class battle art, "Whirlwind Spirit Step."

His figure was as light as the wind. In a flash, he arrived, the Windchaser Sword in his hand already pointed at Li Tianming's brow.

"Li Tianming, three years have passed. Let me show you the results of my cultivation over these three years."

As he swung the Windchaser Sword, Sword Qi formed sword blossoms that blanketed Li Tianming.

As for Li Tianming's lifebound beast, Little Yellow Chick, Fang Zhao completely ignored it.

"Tempest Heavenly Sword Art!"

This was a mid-grade source-class battle art. Being able to wield a mid-grade source-class battle art at the second level of the Spirit Source Realm proved that Fang Zhao deserved his status as a disciple of Yanhuang Academy's intermediate class.

With his status, if he returned to his hometown city, even the city lord would personally come out to welcome him.

At this moment, his sword momentum was like a storm, his sword light shimmering as hurricanes howled.

The Wind Spirit Crane had already shot into motion. Spreading its enormous wings, it whipped up an even fiercer tempest.

The Wind Spirit Crane's sharp, long beak and claws also looked as hard as Beast Weapons.

The combat coordination between a beastmaster and a lifebound beast began in the Beast Pulse Realm, with the connection between Martial Arts and Beast Arts. By the Spirit Source Realm, lifebound beasts possessed formidable spirit-source divine abilities and became the main force in battle.

By the third realm of cultivation, the "Unity Realm," their coordination reached its peak. Within a "Unity aura," the two became like a single whole.

When Fang Zhao unleashed the Tempest Heavenly Sword Art, the Wind Spirit Crane could also use its wings and claws to perform the Beast Art portion of that battle art.

This portion was called "Tempest Heavenly Claw." Its claws were practically several daggers, tearing apart trees in their path as they seized straight for Li Tianming's head.

Though they had once been classmates, Fang Zhao struck even more viciously than he would against an enemy.

"It seems the cowardly you from three years ago really has grown capable now." Li Tianming found it amusing.

Three years ago, Fang Zhao had been timid and afraid of trouble, shrinking back at every turn. It seemed Yanhuang Academy's cultivation had indeed given him courage.

"Li Tianming, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—do not bully a young man for being poor." Fang Zhao's swordsmanship pressed down upon him, his face full of fervor.

Hearing that, Li Tianming nearly burst out laughing.

The saying was true enough, but the key was that he had never bullied Fang Zhao three years ago.

On the contrary, when others bullied Fang Zhao for his cowardice, Li Tianming had even stood up for him.

Under his opponent's suppression, Li Tianming's Eternal Purgatory Beast Origin, which had only just risen to the ninth level of the Beast Pulse Realm, erupted savagely.

His opponent's movement technique was impressive, but Li Tianming's was even more illusory.

When he moved, it seemed as though the air around him was burning. Flame afterimages flickered, real and false impossible to distinguish. When Little Yellow Chick used the same movement technique, its tiny body became even more unpredictable.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Fang Zhao and the Wind Spirit Crane pressed forward, their sword shadows and claw shadows capable of splitting even rocks.

"Have you had enough?" Li Tianming suddenly turned around. The Thunderfire Chain in his hand shot out like a venomous snake, instantly seeming to become a spear!

Thunder and fire coiled around that spear. In an instant, its eruption directly pierced through Fang Zhao's sword momentum!

The Wind Spirit Crane tried to circle behind him at that moment, only for a sudden stabbing pain to strike its back!

It looked back and saw a flaming chick standing on its wing, one claw directly tearing off feathers and flesh.

"What are you looking at? You ugly bastard."

Little Yellow Chick once again turned into a flickering fire shadow.

Those words infuriated the Wind Spirit Crane, which had been preparing to encircle Li Tianming. Proud and noble as it was, it could not endure such provocation!

It immediately lost its head and chased after Little Yellow Chick, only to be toyed with until it spun round and round.

Without the Wind Spirit Crane's support, Fang Zhao was also forced back by Li Tianming's Thunderfire Chain!

Feeling humiliated, he swung his sword and charged forward again!

But he never imagined that Li Tianming would be faster. The Thunderfire Chain in his hand was simply too nimble, and its speed was more than sufficient.

In the briefest instant, the Thunderfire Chain clashed with the Windchaser Sword more than ten times, producing a piercing barrage of clanging sounds.

The tremendous force transmitted through the Thunderfire Chain nearly split the web between Fang Zhao's thumb and forefinger!

"How is this possible? He's only at the ninth level of the Beast Pulse Realm. Where did such berserk strength come from?!"

The thought of retreat arose in Fang Zhao's heart.

In that sudden moment, Li Tianming's gaze frightened him.

He had never been a person with a particularly strong heart. Once suppressed, he could not even properly handle his sword momentum.

Just then, the Thunderfire Chain became even faster. The flames upon it blazed fiercely, turning it into a fire dragon!

The fire dragon was so fast it created afterimages. At the instant Fang Zhao's mind wavered, it pierced through his sword momentum, then with several swishing sounds, directly wrapped around Fang Zhao.

This was the mid-grade source-class battle art—Heavenfire Soul Bind!

It was Li Tianming's first time using it, and he was not yet very familiar with it. But Fang Zhao's state of mind was too poor, allowing him to succeed with ease.

With a flick of his wrist, the Thunderfire Chain wrapped Fang Zhao in three layers!

The power of Li Tianming's Eternal Purgatory Beast Origin traveled through the Thunderfire Chain and instantly burned across Fang Zhao's body, scorching his skin until it split open and his flesh tore apart!

But how could a mid-grade source-class battle art be as simple as binding and restraining?

Li Tianming gave a tug, and immense force directly flung Fang Zhao into the air!

Fang Zhao immediately screamed. Then he was swung in a circle through the air, his feet leaving the ground, before being hurled behind Li Tianming in an instant!

Smack!

Fang Zhao's body slammed into the ground, and he immediately felt as though he were falling apart.

Amid the excruciating pain, he let out a mournful cry and screamed miserably, "Wind Spirit, save me!"

On the other side, the Wind Spirit Crane was playing chase with Little Yellow Chick.

It never expected Fang Zhao to be defeated so miserably.

When it saw Fang Zhao bound by the Thunderfire Chain and flung onto the ground until stars danced before his eyes, it was instantly enraged!

At that moment, all the feathers across its body began to shine.

Amid a terrifying aura, the feathers all over its body transformed into countless blades and flew out in an instant, sweeping toward Li Tianming!

This was its spirit-source divine ability—Spiritwind Blades!

It had to be said that these Spiritwind Blades were terrifying. Even movement techniques could hardly evade them.

But unfortunately, Fang Zhao had been too careless. He had not used them to suppress Li Tianming from the very beginning.

As a result, Li Tianming gave a slight tug at this moment and dragged Fang Zhao flying back, directly positioning him before himself to block the Spiritwind Blades.

"Ah!"

With death looming over him, Fang Zhao let out an earth-shaking scream. His legs actually began to tremble, followed by the sound of rushing liquid.

Li Tianming looked down, shook his head helplessly, and thought that Fang Zhao was still the same bluffing coward he had been three years ago.

Just like that, he had already wet his pants.

Seeing this, the Wind Spirit Crane hurriedly withdrew its divine ability, and those feathers returned to its body.

During this process, Little Yellow Chick suddenly appeared. A Netherfire Ghost Claw struck the wing that was temporarily unprotected by feathers, instantly shattering the bones in its wing.

The Wind Spirit Crane shrieked. Half its wing was drenched in blood, and it could no longer even fly.

On this side, Fang Zhao, controlled by Heavenfire Soul Bind, had already been enduring the torment of flames and lightning.

While wetting his pants, he was flung out by Li Tianming and sent crashing straight toward Li Tianming's group of old classmates.

"Here, you can have Fang Zhao back. Remember to remind him to change his pants."

Li Tianming put away the Thunderfire Chain, smiling calmly and composedly.

Whoosh!

The entire group hurriedly scattered. Not one of them caught Fang Zhao, letting him slam heavily onto the ground once more, hard enough to break bones.

After all, who would dare catch someone who had wet his pants?

"Li Tianming, the humiliation you gave me today, I will repay tenfold someday!"

Fang Zhao's eyes were split wide with fury, his face flushed red. He struggled to his feet, trembling all over as he stared at Li Tianming.

"You should change your pants before talking about not bullying a poor young man..." Li Tianming said.

With Fang Zhao looking so ridiculous, many of the onlookers could not hold back their laughter even if they wanted to.

"Are you all not planning to make a move?" Fang Zhao looked at Lu Guanxiong, Lin Kun, and the others in disbelief.

At that question, several of them exchanged glances and roughly came to a decision.

They had come with Fang Zhao. If they did nothing after Fang Zhao had been taught such a lesson, they would be mocked upon returning to the intermediate class.

Though, in truth, when they saw Li Tianming defeat Fang Zhao, their hearts had indeed trembled somewhat.

They had originally believed that Li Tianming had wasted three years and had long since been left far behind. They could have easily used their status and strength as senior disciples to suppress him at will.

But reality was that Fang Zhao had suffered a crushing defeat.

He had even been scared into wetting his pants, losing all face.

The way they looked at Li Tianming was now different. At the very least, they no longer dared to look at him with mocking faces and treat him as a disgraced fool.

Still, they were not afraid. After all, everyone had reached the same conclusion.

They would definitely join forces to suppress Li Tianming and teach him a lesson.

"Li Tianming, now that you have returned to the academy, you must follow its rules. You dared act recklessly and injure Fang Zhao. If we do not teach you a lesson, you may have forgotten the rules of our academy."

Lu Guanxiong and the others stood together resolutely, staring at Li Tianming with blazing eyes.

Fang Zhao was the weakest among them. Lu Guanxiong, for example, was already at the third level of the Spirit Source Realm. If they joined forces, Li Tianming could only accept his fate.

"You can even say something like that without being ashamed. Truly shameless." Li Tianming was speechless at their disgraceful behavior.

They had once been classmates. Why did they have to drive him to the wall? Would they really feel miserable if they did not flaunt their superiority?

"You still dare talk back?" The group pressed down on him.

Li Tianming looked behind them, then suddenly smiled. "You dare join forces to bully a new academy student right here at Mu Wan's class. You clearly do not hold Instructor Mu Wan in any regard."

"You just graduated from Instructor Mu Wan's class, and you already look down on Instructor Mu Wan this much?"

"Do not spout nonsense." Lu Guanxiong sneered. He understood that Li Tianming was invoking Instructor Mu Wan because he was admitting defeat.

"Who is spouting nonsense?" Just then, a cold female voice came from behind Fang Zhao and the others.

That voice made the entire group shudder, and they turned around trembling.

When they saw the woman who had spoken, their faces had already gone deathly pale.

"Instructor, please uphold justice for Fang Zhao. Li Tianming humiliated him and severely injured him! We merely wanted to stand up for Fang Zhao..." Lu Guanxiong quickly said, his wits sharpening in desperation.

"Heh. There is no need to say anything. You have only just climbed into the intermediate class, and you already dare throw your weight around here. You lost because your strength was lacking, yet you still have the nerve to complain."

"You lot can only crawl back from here today."

The moment Instructor Mu Wan spoke those words, they fell into despair.

Only then did they understand what true fear was.

Thus, Li Tianming watched as Instructor Mu Wan gave them a vicious beating.

Aside from Lin Qingyu, who had not taken part, everyone else, including Fang Zhao, ended up with torn skin and ripped flesh, weeping bitterly as they begged for mercy and crawled away.

"If you dare come to my place again, I will let you experience just how gentle I truly am." Instructor Mu Wan said with a smile.

Hearing that, they shuddered even more and crawled faster. Fang Zhao especially looked as though he might have a second plum blossom bloom and need another pair of pants...

"Get lost." At a glance from Instructor Mu Wan, the onlooking new students had witnessed her terror and fled in panic, rolling and crawling away.

They had thoroughly understood that regardless of Li Tianming's reputation, Instructor Mu Wan seemed to value him highly.

They were angry. They were jealous. But there was nothing they could do.

Li Tianming could even defeat senior disciples from the intermediate class. In all of Mu Wan's class, there were likely not many who could match him.

After they dispersed, only Li Tianming and Mu Wan remained.

But in the next moment, a middle-aged man appeared behind Instructor Mu Wan.

The man wore a golden-yellow robe. His long black hair was combed very neatly, his face clean, and his eyes carried a faint golden radiance.

His aura was immensely powerful. When he appeared, even Mu Wan's aura was suppressed.

He was undoubtedly a top-tier expert. With every gesture, he likely could make the earth shake and mountains tremble.

[Preview] Tomorrow night at 20:00, the third new-book event will begin. The final chapter update that night will contain a question, and the answer can be found among all previously released chapters. The first four people to post the correct answer in the book review section (called Jianghu on the mobile app) will have their posts marked as featured comments and each receive a 500-yuan reward. For details, please see Related to This Work: New Book Event + Declaration of War Against Conspiracy Theories.