Tiny Ants

"This Wang Ritain is the true prodigy! The so-called martial arts geniuses I've seen before are worlds apart from him!"

A white-haired old man spoke with deep emotion.

Admiration and astonishment showed in his eyes, and the cane in his hand tapped lightly against the ground without him realizing it.

"Exactly. To be able to kill a Finger Profound Realm expert—how many people in the whole martial world could do that?"

A young martial artist beside him clenched his fist, his eyes shining with excitement.

One after another, they voiced their praise for Wang Ritain.

Though they hadn't gained anything from him, they had witnessed the rise of a prodigy with their own eyes.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng slowly got to her feet. Her gaze remained fixed on the direction Wang Ritain had gone, her expression complicated.

"If Wang Ritain survives this, he'll become one of the martial world's foremost figures."

She murmured softly, a hint of admiration in her voice.

Once dismissed by everyone in his family as an insignificant nobody, he had now revealed such terrifying strength. How could that fail to stir her emotions?

After the shock wore off, the martial artists turned and went their separate ways. They knew the battle that had shaken the martial world was over, and it was time to return to their own lives. But the Xuanyuan Family's retainers remained rooted to the spot like stone statues. Their faces were filled with fear and worry, their eyes betraying their helplessness.

"What are we supposed to do? Xuanyuan Jingxuan was killed, and we failed to stop the culprit. If we report this to the family, we'll surely be punished severely." One retainer spoke in a trembling voice, his body swaying slightly as he talked, as though he could already feel the family's harsh punishment bearing down on him.

"Exactly. Old Ancestor Xuanyuan is unpredictable. If he takes his anger out on us, we'll be dead without a place to bury us." Another retainer chimed in. Sweat covered his forehead, glistening harshly in the moonlight.

The retainers were caught in a dilemma. They feared Wang Ritain's terrifying strength if they went after him, but dreaded the family's harsh punishment if they turned back. They were like lambs lost in the dark, unable to find their way forward.

Just then, a booming voice rang out like a great bell. "What happened? Why all the commotion?" Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Wang Shengwu and several others bearing the Xuanyuan Family's insignia striding toward them. Wang Shengwu was built like a towering mountain, and an overpowering aura radiated from him—the strength of the Vajra Realm. In the Xuanyuan Family, his standing was second only to the family head and a few young masters. The men behind him were all at the peak of the Great Grandmaster level. It was an undeniably formidable group.

When Wang Shengwu and the others saw the bodies strewn across the ground and Xuanyuan Jingxuan's head, Wang Shengwu's heart jolted, and his expression froze. He hurried forward and examined Xuanyuan Jingxuan's corpse. A look of disbelief flashed in his eyes. "W-what happened here?" he asked urgently, his voice trembling.

Seeing this, the retainers hurriedly told Wang Shengwu the whole story, without leaving out a single detail. Wang Shengwu's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief. "An insignificant retainer actually managed to kill Xuanyuan Jingxuan, a Finger Profound Realm expert? H-how is that possible?" he murmured, as though trying to convince himself it was all a lie.

When the shock had somewhat subsided, Wang Shengwu's expression darkened. He glared at the retainers and cursed them. "You cowards! Wang Ritain was badly wounded, and you didn't even dare pursue him? If you hadn't been useless, the family wouldn't have suffered such humiliation!" The retainers lowered their heads and didn't dare make a sound, silently enduring his scolding.

Wang Shengwu took a deep breath and composed himself. He turned to the men behind him, a look of resolve flashing in his eyes. "Come on. We're going after Wang Ritain! No matter how strong he was before, he's badly wounded now. How could he stand against me, a Vajra Realm expert?" His voice brimmed with confidence, as though he could already see Wang Ritain crushed beneath his feet.

"If I bring back Wang Ritain's head, Old Ancestor Xuanyuan will help me break into the Finger Profound Realm!" Wang Shengwu thought to himself, his eyes filled with greed and longing. With that thought, he pushed off the ground and raced after Wang Ritain with the men behind him, all of them surging with energy. Their figures streaked through the moonlight like black lightning, swift and fierce.

At that moment, Wang Ritain was making his way slowly along the main road, recovering from his injuries as he walked. Thanks to the immense power of his Innate Dao Body, he continuously absorbed the spiritual energy around him. Though he still looked wretched, with tattered clothes and bloodstains covering his body, seven or eight tenths of his internal injuries had already healed. After that fierce battle, his true energy had grown purer, and his strength had increased even further.

Wang Ritain estimated that if he fought Xuanyuan Jingxuan again, he could kill him within a hundred moves with absolute confidence. It all showed the immense power of the Innate Dao Body. It was like an inexhaustible spring, constantly supplying Wang Ritain with strength and carrying him farther along the path of martial arts.

Wang Ritain came to a teahouse. His steps were heavy, but his gaze remained firm. He went inside, took a bowl of tea, and sat down to rest in silence. At that moment, he was like a wounded tiger: exhausted, yet still radiating an aura that inspired fear and respect.

Wang Shengwu and the others soon caught up. They arrived at the teahouse and saw Wang Ritain sitting there. A flicker of delight crossed Wang Shengwu's eyes. He quietly drew a throwing dart from his robes. It was infused with his powerful true energy, and a hit would be enough to gravely wound a Great Grandmaster. He suddenly flicked his wrist, sending it flying toward Wang Ritain.

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Wang Ritain lightly flicked the dart with a bent finger just as it was about to hit him. A flash of true energy sent it ricocheting away. With a clang, it embedded itself in a pillar of the teahouse.

"Who's there?" Wang Ritain asked coldly, his voice utterly calm, as if the attack had been nothing more than a trifle.

Seeing that his ambush had failed, Wang Shengwu strode out without a care. He saw the blood and grime covering Wang Ritain and became even more certain that he was badly wounded. "Hmph, Wang Ritain, today is the day you die!" he declared, his voice filled with confidence and arrogance.

Wang Ritain raised his head and looked at Wang Shengwu, a trace of disdain in his eyes. "You've come to kill me?" he asked calmly.

Wang Shengwu burst out laughing. "That's right, Wang Ritain. You're badly wounded. Surrender quietly, and I'll give you a quick death. Otherwise, I'll cut off your head with my blade and offer it to the Old Ancestor!" As he spoke, he drew the long saber at his waist. Its cold edge gleamed in the moonlight.

Wang Ritain said nothing, only gazed steadily at Wang Shengwu, his eyes radiating a chilling aura. Wang Shengwu felt a shiver run through him under that gaze, but he forced himself to stay calm and charged at Wang Ritain, swinging his saber.

Wang Ritain's eyes narrowed. He casually hurled the teacup in his hand. Though it looked ordinary, it was now wrapped in dense true energy and hurtled toward Wang Shengwu like a cannonball.

Wang Shengwu felt a tremendous force bearing down on him. He had no time to dodge, and the long saber in his hand was knocked flying.

Before Wang Shengwu could react, Wang Ritain had already struck with his blade.

A flash of cold light swept past. Wang Shengwu felt a chill at his throat and instinctively clutched at his neck. Blood gushed through the gaps between his fingers, and his eyes filled with disbelief.

"H-how is this possible..."