The rugged wilderness, already uneven and rough, had been transformed by a torrential downpour into natural pitfalls, repeatedly causing him to lose control and fall.
Ignoring the disarray and disregarding the mud that covered him, the youth scrambled up and dashed forward with all his might.
Finally, as he was about to reach the suspended Divine Bird, the young man burst out with a loud shout, "Pang Lin!"
Following his shout, the youth who received no response did not hesitate to draw his bow and fit an arrow, aiming for the forehead of the Divine Bird and releasing it.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
The Divine Bird remained motionless. The arrows struck its forehead, producing only a few sparks of electric light, without leaving a single wound.
Sun Bin, along with his guards from Yin Shan and Yin Hai, watched the youth's bow-drawing and -shooting with an involuntary laugh.
Amidst the sky, the Divine Bird Qing Jue, annoyed by the youth's arrows, narrowed its cold eyes slightly, as thunder from the depths of the sky was stirred.
"Boom! Boom, boom!"
Fierce thunderbolts fell from the sky, striking the muddy area surrounding the youth's dwelling, carving out massive deep pits that were charred black, with bolts of lightning scattering in all directions.
At the same time, an overwhelming divine might suddenly enveloped the area.
Pang Jian's mind trembled in fear, sensing the lightning and thunderbolts all around him, each capable of reducing him to ashes, knowing that any reckless move would instantly result in his death.
"Brother!"
Beneath the glowing azure screen, Pang Lin had long since responded, her cries of urgency clear, but her voice unable to penetrate the divine light.
"Enough."
Sun Bin uttered a low shout, and the light screen, which appeared slightly murky from outside, suddenly became transparent.
In that moment, Pang Jian could finally see his sister's urgent cries and understand her words by reading her lips, yet he couldn't hear her.
The youth became alert, realizing that neither the Divine Bird in the sky nor the strange light screen encircling the dwelling, including the strangers who had suddenly intruded, were ordinary beings or objects.
Separated by the shining transparent azure light screen, the youth looked at Pang Lin, unharmed, and noticed that her usual rough hemp clothes had been replaced by a dress of bright and rich colors.
His sister's delicate and lovely face complemented the brand-new dress, transforming her aura entirely; she no longer resembled a wild girl from the mountains but rather seemed like a lady from a noble house.
Next to his sister stood an emaciated, elderly man in green, clearly of distinguished status, along with a tall and a short middle-aged man.
The elder's eyes sparkled with a piercing light, even more blinding than the azure divine glow that separated him from his family. His hands, hanging naturally at his sides within the loose sleeves, seemed to harbor a terrifying storm.
Pang Jian looked astonished, unclear about what had transpired at his home, yet seeing his sister unharmed, he too breathed a sigh of relief and lowered the raised bow and arrow.
Then, Pang Jian locked his cold gaze on Sun Bin, and asked without any semblance of fear, "Who are you?"
Sun Bin appraised the youth before him and found the boy unafraid, revealing through a smile, "A noble who can change the fate of you and your sister."
Pang Jian, unusually tall and strong for his age and having developed an intense and wild nature from years of solitary hunting in the mountains, looked akin to a Ferocious Beast lurking in the forest, which Sun Bin found remarkable.
While Pang Jian's demeanor and character were somewhat extraordinary, his cultivation potential couldn't be determined by Sun Bin due to the distance.
"Let that wild boy in."
Without looking up, Sun Bin gave a soft command to the Divine Bird Qing Jue in the sky.
Upon hearing the command, the Divine Bird raised its head and let out a pleasant low chirp, as the thunderous noise quickly subsided.
Pang Jian, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted, discovered he could finally hear the voices beneath the bright light screen.
After appraising the three unfamiliar figures yet again, Pang Jian gripped his Long Blade tightly, proceeding with the caution of entering a pack of beasts.
As his body touched and passed through the light screen, Pang Jian felt a warm sensation and then stepped onto the grounds of his home.
Outside, a heavy rain poured, chilling to the bone, yet the courtyard beneath the light screen was warm as spring, not a single drop of rain touching it, resembling an altogether different space and time that befuddled Pang Jian even further.
"Boy, to us, Pang Lin is a once-in-a-lifetime treasure. Living with you in the Lower Realm would only bury her talent, so whether you both like it or not, I will take her away this time to cultivate in the Heaven and Earth of the Upper Realm," Sun Bin stated directly, cutting to the chase about his arrival, then added, "As for you..."
Sun Bin's voice trailed off, his eyebrows stirring slightly.
Out from the depths of his shadowed eyes, sudden beams of azure lightning shot forth, instantly disappearing into Pang Jian's body.
The youth felt intense pain throughout his body, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, distinctly feeling slender blades of green lightning traversing through his limbs and organs.
The lightning, like Sun Bin's eyes, was exquisitely controlled, meticulously probing every part of Pang Jian's body.
The youth endured agonizing pain from this "torture" without yelling out, biting down hard on his teeth.
Pang Lin's pretty face was covered in worry as she saw the miserable state of her brother but dared not even breathe too deeply for fear of ruining his blessing.
She was well aware that her brother's chance to earn Sun Bin's favor hinged on this moment.
"His character is indeed commendable," Sun Bin praised him without reservation, and Yin Hai and Yin Shan behind him voiced similar amazement.
Those who had yet to formally begin their cultivation journey and faced such brute "probing of bones and marrow" typically couldn't bear the extreme pain, often losing consciousness in short order. Only a rare few could withstand it, accompanied by screams of agony.