Morning Sun Chu Family

The young man had initially dismissed Chu Yuan, thinking that someone from a backwater place like his couldn't possibly be that strong, regardless of any innate talent.

He had assumed that only someone like Li Hong, a low-ranking member of the Li Family, would bother trying to befriend him.

But in that fleeting glimpse, he realized he had been outrageously wrong!

The mockery and composure that had been on his face vanished entirely, replaced by sheer terror.

His aura surged violently as he desperately tried to shift his body, attempting to dodge that soul-snatching cyan light.

Fortunately, he succeeded, yet not entirely.

As the cyan light grazed him, he felt a chill in his left arm, followed by the complete loss of sensation in it.

"Stop..."

The young man didn't even have time to feel relieved before he let out a frantic shout.

At the cost of an arm, he realized he was no match for Chu Yuan!

But before he could finish his sentence, he heard the sound of wind behind him.

The cyan light crisscrossed, darting through his body several times in a mere instant!

His right arm and both legs were severed simultaneously!

He crashed heavily onto the ground.

In the blink of an eye, he seemed to understand: he hadn't been lucky enough to dodge Chu Yuan's attack earlier.

Rather, his opponent had never intended to kill him with a single strike.

But why?

Chu Yuan had already thrown his weapon like a hidden projectile, so why did this sword come from behind him?

Agonizing pain surged like a tide, and his heart was filled with terror and confusion.

Chu Yuan walked over, and the Wind Cutter, as if possessing a spirit of its own, automatically returned to the scabbard at his waist.

The young man had guessed correctly; he indeed hadn't intended to kill him instantly.

Because he still had a few questions to ask.

"Did Li Ji order you to ambush me here?"

The young man screamed, no longer even caring about the pain of losing his limbs: "You can't kill me! I am from the Wang Family of the Prefecture!"

"And I am from the Chu Family of Chenyang City. Don't make me ask a second time." Chu Yuan felt a flicker of impatience; he didn't understand why there were always people from this family or that family.

Arrogant and domineering, feeling inherently superior.

They only allow themselves to kill others, but never allow others to resist?

Yet, in truth, he could understand it to some extent.

If one day he were to reach the Nascent Soul Realm, or even the Spirit Transformation Realm, perhaps he too would become the background that others used to act with impunity.

When the young man heard the words "Chu Family of Chenyang City," he was momentarily stunned.

Chenyang City was just a small town with few martial arts resources; there shouldn't be any martial arts families there at all!

But he realized in an instant that Chu Yuan was mocking him.

Yet, he understood even more clearly that Chu Yuan held no regard for the Wang Family backing him.

This realization filled him with immense rage, and even as he lay in a pool of blood, he still glared stubbornly at Chu Yuan.

"Yes! It was Brother Ji... it was Li Ji who sent me!

The grudge between you and them has nothing to do with me!"

He said earnestly.

Let the family be looked down upon; as long as he could survive, anything was fine.

"Nothing to do with you? Then why did you come here to seek death?" Chu Yuan's brow twitched; this kid didn't seem to be telling the truth.

"Li Ji's family is stronger than mine! He himself has already reached the Internal Breath Realm. He told me to come and cause you trouble, and I didn't dare disobey him..."

"In which direction did Li Ji go? And how did you know I would pass through here?" Chu Yuan continued to ask.

"He went in this direction!" The young man lifted his head and tried his best to "point" in a direction, then replied: "I didn't know you would pass through here either.

But this route is the richest in resources and also the most dangerous.

Martial arts geniuses who are confident in themselves basically all choose this route...

Anyway, I... anyway, Li Ji just told me to wait here for a while; if I could catch you, fine, if not, it didn't matter."

Chu Yuan suddenly laughed: "A genius? How did you know I was a genius?"

"Because Li Hong wanted to recruit you..."

Chu Yuan nodded; so it was because of the "family member certification."

"What is your name?"

"Wang Cheng! My name is Wang Cheng! My grandfather is a Sixth Realm martial artist!

Don't kill me, I promise I won't seek revenge..." Wang Cheng seemed to see a glimmer of hope for survival, his tone hurried. "You have already offended the Li Family; if you kill me as well, you will face the hostility of two martial arts families!

Even if someone protects you, you will be in a lot of trouble!"

He spoke with a tone as if he were considering things for Chu Yuan, which made Chu Yuan nod inwardly;

It was a pity, however, that if the trace of resentment in the depths of his eyes had been hidden just a little better, it would have been even more convincing...

"I have one more question. If you attack me, won't the terminal record it?"

Wang Cheng blurted out, "Of course not..."

But the next instant, his expression stiffened, and he met Chu Yuan's icy gaze in terror;

A wisp of spiritual energy spread out, piercing through his heart in an instant...

In truth, Chu Yuan's final question was merely for reference;

Regardless of whether the terminal would record it or not, Wang Cheng was not going to survive.

Wang Cheng had attacked him first; surely he was allowed to kill in self-defense?

As for his grandfather, the Sixth Realm martial artist... times had changed. The Principal seemed to have a rather profound background, and the Principal was his own backing;

Although the two had never explicitly stated it, they both tacitly operated under this assumption.

While the Sixth Realm was not insignificant... in higher circles, it was nothing special;

Otherwise, Wang Cheng would not have been hovering around Li Ji like a lackey...

Chu Yuan glanced in the direction Wang Cheng had pointed out to him and activated his Smoke-Drifting Steps to depart.

Little did he know, about a dozen seconds after he left, several figures arrived together;

One with sharp eyes discovered the severed limbs on the ground.

"What is that?"

"It looks... like a person?"

"Good heavens! Someone was attacked so quickly!? Wasn't it said there were no Blood Beasts nearby?"

"The limbs were cut cleanly... this wasn't done by a Blood Beast! Someone did this!"

"How deranged!"

"You can't say that, what if it was..."

"I recognize him! It's Wang Cheng! He's a scion of the Prefecture Wang Family!"

The group exchanged glances, their understanding of the danger level of this trial reaching a new level of gravity...

In a valley, Li Ji wiped his long blade clean and casually kicked the corpse of a Blood Beast at his feet into the stream;

"Let's go."

"Li Ji, aren't we going to wait for Wang Cheng?" a girl in his party asked.

"No."

"Heh~ you really are heartless; after all, he went to do things for your Li Family."

"I never asked him to." Li Ji's expression remained unchanged;

"If you hadn't shown such disdain for that kid, Wang Cheng wouldn't have made such an unnecessary move.

Are you trying to ditch him because you think his combat power isn't enough?"

"...Boring."

"Show-off..."