In the vibrant spring, the forest came alive with a burst of colors. Lush green leaves adorned the towering trees as delicate blossoms emerged, painting the landscape with hues of pink, white, and purple. The soothing melody of a nearby river could be heard, its crystal-clear water dancing gracefully over smooth rocks, creating a captivating melody. Birds chirped joyfully, adding their voices to the symphony of nature. The air was filled with the fresh scent of blooming flowers, Xiaotian played in the water, jumping, splashing water everywhere. Her expression was joyous and peaceful. Her eyes squinted in a bright cheer.
"Look!" Xiaofen exclaimed as she held a small water creature, no bigger than her little finger, shaking vigorously in her cupped hand. It was a silver gray fish, glistening in the light. Xiaofen's smile was radiant as she brushed a few strands of hair from her face, her delicate skin glowing with a gentle expression. Bingwen couldn't help but stare, completely enchanted by her uniqueness. There was something calm and refreshing about her presence.
Lan Ren observed his master, amazed to see him so serene. Bingwen, a marquis, constantly faced pressure as his family closely scrutinized his every move. They held high expectations of him and looked to him for guidance.
Being the young successor of the Bing clan was filled with stress and danger. Bingwen was constantly exposed to conspiracies and secrets. He grew up in harsh conditions, feeling unloved and unwanted. People would shower him with fake flattery and concern just to win his favor, while others schemed against him or plotted his assassination. All he ever wanted was a simple life free from deceit, but his mother wouldn't allow it.
Lan Ren spun around abruptly, his eyes darting with wariness and suspicion. The atmosphere grew still, the only sounds were the gentle splashes of the duo playing in the water and the hushed conversations of the guards and crackling of the bonfire. Bingwen's senses heightened, detecting the presence of intruders who had breached their invisibility formation. They both exchanged a knowing glance, preparing for an unexpected encounter.
The invisibility formation was a technique in the art of formations that allowed a cultivator to disperse their spiritual energy within a short range to create an invisible barrier, which blends perfectly with one's surroundings. The user could see from outside the barrier, but others could not. If someone intruded, the barrier would break and alert the user.
Being able to enter the barrier undetected or without breaking it was a sign of high skill. Lan Ren easily detected their presence since he was a Sage low tier, middle-level cultivator in the advanced stage.
In the cultivation world, there existed five realms of life: Mortal, Phathom, Spirit, Sage, and God. These realms were further divided into three cultivation levels: low, middle, and high. Advancement through the levels included the primary, intermediate, advanced, and pinnacle stages. Mortal and Phathom belonged to the low level, Spirit and Sage to the middle level, while God was the realm for high level cultivators. Lan Ren approached Bingwen, respectfully addressing him as "Master," his expression grim. Bingwen acknowledged him with a nod of approval. The carriage jolted along the rough road, the once bustling forest now eerily devoid of wildlife, its silence unsettling. The guards cautiously surveyed their surroundings, exchanging signals, and proceeded with utmost caution.
Out of nowhere, masked men dressed in black leaped out, launching a surprise attack. "Assassins! Protect the Marquis!" shouted one of the guards. They swiftly engaged in battle, employing simplified versions of the Bing clan's sword techniques, but the assassins outnumbered them.
"Fuck it!" Lan Ren exclaimed in frustration. It became clear from their swordplay and technique that they were none other than the infamous Black Crow army, a secret and ruthless faction within the Xiongnu army. Known for their brutality and lack of mercy, they would stop at nothing to eliminate anything that stood in their path.
With a burst of spiritual energy, an assassin cautiously approached the carriage and split it open.
"Huh!" The assasin's eyes widened in shock as he noticed that the marquis had disappeared. The fighting assassins also realized the marquis was no longer there. "I hope you're safe, master," Lan Ren hought, his heart filled with worry. Meanwhile, Bingwen and Xiaofen ran through the woods, the sound of their footsteps echoing crisply on the fallen leaves. Suddenly, Bingwen came to a sudden stop, sensing shadows lurking nearby. Xiaofen, puzzled by his hesitation, turned around to see what had caught his attention.
"Well, well, well..." Xiaofen's eyes narrowed as she recognized the deep, monotonous voice filled with malice and mock respect. Her gaze shifted to a tall, muscular man adorned in gleaming silver armor, who emerged from the woods accompanied by a group of armed soldiers.
Well, well, if it isn't Marquis Wen," he sneered with a sly grin, his eyes filled with sudden desire as they fixed upon Xiaofen. "Oh, look who we have here?" he taunted. "Give it up, Bingwen. You're completely surrounded.
Bingwen resheathed his sword, its presence exuding a formidable aura accompanied by a flickering glow. Bīng xuě huā, "Frozen Flower," as it translates to English, perfectly captures the essence of the sword's battle prowess. It evokes imagery of delicate petals encased in a shimmering layer of frost or ice, symbolizing the chilling and devastating effect it has on its targets. A pinnacle of spirit-tier weaponry, each stroke and slice permeates its victims with bone-chilling force.
Without hesitation, Bingwen swiftly pulled Xiaofen to the ground, narrowly avoiding a rain of slender arrows that mercilessly targeted them. Amidst the chaos, he deftly parried and blocked the arrows aimed at both him and the girls. "Shit!" cursed General Zhang, the silver-armored man, as he fought to defend himself from the relentless onslaught. It became apparent that some of the soldiers had unwittingly triggered a hidden mechanism.
With a sneer, the assailant darted away, taking some wounded soldiers along. Bingwen, using his heightened spiritual energy, scanned the surroundings for any lingering danger before turning his attention to Xiaofen. Assessing her condition with his keen vision, he cautioned her to be careful as she attempted to move. Nodding in understanding, she proceeded forward cautiously.
In a sudden moment, they were startled by a menacing growl. "Hey!" a voice retorted, catching their attention. They glanced up to find themselves surrounded by a gang of bandits accompanied by a pack of ferocious beasts.