A Prodigy

His voice was like an arrow piercing the forest, startling the frightened birds into flight.

Standing before the gates of Celestial Master Temple, the Celestial Master stared at the figures rushing out of the woods, his expression grave.

Changchunzi strode forward, the Chongyang Sword in hand. His sharp gaze fixed on the Sect Leader Celestial Master, and he spoke in furious tones. "Celestial Master! Doesn't your Celestial Master Temple pride itself on being righteous? How could you stoop to such despicable deeds, secretly murdering Feng Qi and several of my disciples? Hypocrites!"

"Changchunzi, if you want to seize my sect's grounds, then come and try. Why spread such vile accusations?"

How could the Celestial Master have known about Xue Ding? To him, Changchunzi was simply slinging mud, looking for an excuse to justify his treacherous behavior.

For all he knew, Feng Qi might have been killed by his own people, all as part of a scheme to feign victimhood and give themselves a pretext for attacking.

"Celestial Master! Since you refuse to hand over the culprit, then my Quanzhen Sect will have to find him ourselves! Disciples, heed my command! Enter Celestial Master Temple and find the murderer of Feng Qi and the others!"

"Find the murderer!"

"Find the murderer!"

Changchunzi knew better than anyone that he was indeed using this as an excuse. If he kept arguing with the Celestial Master, he might let something slip and embarrass himself. Better to give the order decisively and waste no more time!

A gust of wind whipped at his robes.

On either side, several elders circulated their true energy and shot forward like arrows loosed from bows!

Behind them, one Quanzhen Sect disciple after another followed, sprinting down the mountain paths on both sides!

At the same time, Wang Mingshou, head of the Wang family, made a cold gesture. His clan's disciples surged out of the woods and joined the Quanzhen Sect disciples. Their shouts of slaughter shook the heavens, shattering the mountain's tranquility. Killing intent swept through the forest like a gale!

Wang Mingshou didn't care how the outside world would judge him or the Wang family after this battle. As long as they could seize Celestial Master Temple's grounds now and complete their crucial arrangements before the future arrived, strengthening the Wang clan, everything else was a minor concern.

A reputation was only a reputation. After this was over, he had a hundred ways to clear their name, one step at a time.

Seeing that their forces outnumbered Celestial Master Temple's by three or four to one, Changchunzi and Wang Mingshou both smiled.

The advantage was ours. Victory was assured!

The disciples of Celestial Master Temple, by contrast, all paled.

Before the battle, they had been indignant, each displaying immense courage. But when they actually faced the two enormous forces charging at them with murderous intent, they couldn't help feeling somewhat afraid.

"They have too many people. How are we supposed to fight them?"

"Many Wang clan disciples have undergone technological martial arts modifications. They can easily master techniques that would normally take years, or even more than a decade, of cultivation. Their combat strength is formidable..."

"We can't hold them off. Even if we throw our lives away, the outcome might not change at all. Is it worth it?"

"Perhaps today isn't the time to fight to the death. Preserving our strength is the only sensible choice. What do you think?" The disciple speaking had already begun unconsciously backing away. He only asked because he wanted others to agree, to ease his guilt.

Faced with the overwhelming numbers of the Quanzhen Sect and the Wang family, Celestial Master Temple's morale plummeted.

Just then, a streak of sword light surged against the tide, darting toward the enemy ranks like a shooting star. He charged alone, instantly drawing everyone's attention!

"Senior Disciple Brother!"

"Xue Ding!"

"He dares to draw his sword now?"

"Just a junior, charging alone with great bravado. He's only courting death. How foolish. Heh."

An elder of the Quanzhen Sect, his face weathered and ancient, chuckled. With a tap of his foot, he sent grass flying and charged toward Xue Ding at tremendous speed, intent on killing him before the enemy ranks and dealing an even greater blow to Celestial Master Temple's morale.

The two raced toward each other and clashed in an instant, sparks bursting from their blades.

The Quanzhen Sect elder felt a chill run through his body. In the sword's icy surface, he saw a pair of deep eyes that seemed to see right through him. The pressure left him nowhere to hide, like a prison pinning him in place.

This feeling... I've been seen through completely!

The elder was horrified and refused to believe it. He had only ever felt this way when facing someone vastly stronger than himself. How could it happen between him and Xue Ding?

Splurt!

Blood sprayed as the first kill of the battle came to an end.

The Quanzhen Sect elder fell, leaving many stunned.

The smile on Changchunzi's lips froze. The rhythm of the battle had been disrupted, and Xue Ding's lightning-fast kill had suppressed his side's soaring morale.

By contrast, Celestial Master Temple's morale quickly surged. Every disciple was elated.

"He's reached the Dragon Opening Realm."

Changchunzi narrowed his eyes. Across all of China, there weren't many young people who could reach the Dragon Opening Realm.

Xue Ding had been considered a promising talent, but his demonic thoughts had held him back for years. Now that he had broken through, he had clearly overcome the trial in his heart and reached a higher level.

His demonic thoughts had been a fierce obstacle on Xue Ding's path of cultivation.

This trial had both drawbacks and benefits.

It was like having an extra difficult question on an exam. If he couldn't solve it, it would hold him back. But if he did, he would earn more points.

Even those at the same realm could differ greatly in strength.

Xue Ding's Dragon Opening Realm was more valuable from the start. The elder who had underestimated him was the best proof.

"Kill him."

Wang Mingshou's cold order rang out at once. He intended to kill the disciple who had rallied Celestial Master Temple's morale and put a stop to their rising momentum.

In an instant, two nearby Quanzhen Sect elders, a Wang family elder, and a young Wang family prodigy all charged at Xue Ding, attacking him from every side!

This wasn't some honorable duel on a platform. What mattered now was efficiency and the outcome, not virtue. Who would bother insisting on a one-on-one fight?

"Isn't it shameful to send so many people after one junior? I'll take them!" The Sect Leader Celestial Master rushed forward, wind swirling around him.

Two figures arrived almost at the same time, blocking his way. It was two against one.

They were Changchunzi and Wang Mingshou.

"Celestial Master, we'll keep you company."

The elders of Celestial Master Temple who rushed to provide support were all intercepted as well. The numerical advantage of their opponents was now on full display, leaving no room for reinforcements.

"Kill Xue Ding first and break their morale!"

"Understood!"

The four surrounding Xue Ding nodded and immediately attacked.

A powerful blast of true energy and wind pressure descended upon him. Four people were hunting down a single young man. The sight astonished the onlookers on every side, who grew anxious about Xue Ding's predicament.

They were opportunity-seekers from Wangwu Mountain, including strange beings, cultivators, and members of small cultivation factions.

"The outcome of this battle actually rests in Xue Ding's hands."

"Looks like Celestial Master Temple's Senior Disciple Brother commands great respect among the disciples. He's the one every disciple looks to!"

The four closed in. The Wang family prodigy struck first. No one knew what kind of modifications he had undergone, but as he swung his arms, freezing true energy poured out and condensed into two curved blades attached to his forearms, like the scythes of a mantis.

Looking closely, the onlookers were astonished to see rows of tiny holes covering his arms. The freezing true energy poured from those holes.

"Xue Ding! Remember my name: Wang Longshan!"

A bitterly cold wind pierced to the bone. White streaks of frost spread through the air, forming an icy prison of blades that trapped its prey—a beautiful yet dangerous sight.

The biting cold crept onto Xue Ding's brows.

A sword rang out. As Xue Ding spun, the Celestial Master Sword leapt from its sheath. His right foot, wrapped in a surge of righteous true energy, shot forward, precisely finding an opening amid the intersecting ice streaks and appearing before Wang Longshan's forehead!

Wang Longshan's pupils contracted. It felt like a dream. How could his opponent's sword be so fast?

Splurt!

The shadow of the sword pierced through his head and landed in Xue Ding's hand as he flashed behind him.

The bloodstained blade pointed diagonally at the ground. Xue Ding slowed his steps, his robes fluttering. The bearing of a Celestial Master had begun to take shape in him, drawing everyone's gaze.

He didn't even glance at the prodigy behind him. His gaze was cold, his anger blazing like fire.

"Come!"