As the sun rose over Maple City, the tranquil morning seemed at odds with the tension hanging in the air. Birds chirped from the treetops, and the scent of blooming flowers filled the breeze, but beneath this peaceful facade, an undercurrent of unease rippled through the streets.
Just outside the Li Clan Estate, the forces of the Zhou and Peng Clans gathered once again. The previous night's failed assault had left their ranks weary and frustrated, but their resolve was far from broken. Now, in the clear light of day, the full magnitude of their failed siege was beginning to weigh on them.
The Zhou Clan's leader, Zhou Feng, stood at the forefront, his tall frame imposing as he surveyed the shimmering barrier that protected the Li Clan. The defensive array glowed faintly, a visible reminder of their failure to breach it. His face was a mask of barely contained fury, his jaw clenched tight as his eyes flicked over the barrier, searching for any sign of weakness.
Behind him, the Zhou Clan's forces stirred uneasily. Many of the younger cultivators whispered among themselves, their faces pale with the memory of the shockwave that had thrown them back the previous night. They had all believed in the inevitability of their victory—until the Li Clan's barrier had made a mockery of their expectations.
Standing beside Zhou Feng was Peng Yue, the head of the Peng Clan. His expression was equally grim, though frustration radiated from him even more visibly. His fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly, and his sharp eyes darted from Zhou Feng to the barrier, then to the soldiers under his command. The Peng Clan had staked much on this attack, and to be thwarted by a defensive array was nothing short of humiliating.
"Another day wasted," Peng Yue muttered under his breath, his tone laced with irritation. "How much longer are we going to dance around this?"
Zhou Feng didn't respond immediately, his eyes narrowed in thought. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and measured. "This array… it's not what we expected. It's far stronger than a Tier 2 should be."
Peng Yue scoffed, his patience wearing thin. "Stronger than a Tier 2? That's an understatement. I've never seen a barrier that can launch counterattacks like that. What in the heavens is going on inside that estate?"
Zhou Feng's gaze hardened as he continued to study the barrier. "The Li Clan must have obtained something… a Tier 4 or Tier 5 array, perhaps. Something they could only have gotten by sheer luck. That's the only explanation."
Peng Yue's eyes darkened at the thought. The idea that the once-weak Li Clan could have acquired such a powerful defensive array was infuriating. It disrupted the natural order of things, where the Zhou and Peng Clans had been the undisputed powerhouses in the region. And yet, here they were, staring at a glowing wall that had not only stopped their combined might but humiliated them in the process.
The soldiers behind them began murmuring, their voices rising as their frustrations mounted.
"What's taking so long? It's just a barrier. Can't the leaders break it?"
"I thought we'd crush them by now. What kind of trickery is this?"
"Maybe we should've brought more Qi-condensation realm experts. We're just wasting time here."
Zhou Feng's patience snapped. "Silence!" His voice boomed across the ranks, and the murmuring immediately ceased. He turned to face his forces, his eyes flashing with barely restrained fury. "This barrier may be strong, but it will not last forever. The Li Clan cannot hide behind it forever."
Beside him, Peng Yue stepped forward, addressing his own soldiers. "We've come too far to turn back now. The Li Clan is a cornered beast. It may thrash and fight, but in the end, it will fall. We will tear down this barrier, and we will crush them beneath our feet."
Despite his confident words, Peng Yue couldn't shake the unease that gnawed at him. He and Zhou Feng had led their clans to this battle believing that the Li Clan would be an easy conquest, weakened by the death of their patriarch. But the reality was far different. The Li Clan's defensive capabilities were far beyond what they had anticipated, and the longer this dragged on, the more likely it was that word of their struggles would spread.
Inside the Li Clan Estate, the atmosphere was calm but tense. The elders gathered once again in the council chamber, their expressions serious but resolute. They had spent the morning reviewing the status of the defensive array, making sure it was still functioning at full capacity after the previous night's assault. So far, it had held up perfectly, but no one was taking any chances.
Li Bao sat at the head of the table, his face impassive as he listened to the elders' reports. His mind, however, was already planning the next steps. He knew that the Zhou and Peng Clans wouldn't give up easily, especially after the humiliation they had suffered. The day ahead would bring more attacks, more pressure—and eventually, they would have to face their enemies head-on.
"We can't stay behind the array forever," Li Jun said, breaking the silence. He stood with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on Li Bao. "Eventually, they'll start attacking the city."
Li Leyue, ever cautious, nodded in agreement.
Li Bao's eyes remained on the reports before him, but his thoughts were elsewhere. "We will be ready," he said calmly. "But for now, we let them exhaust themselves. The more time they spend outside our walls, the weaker their morale becomes. And when the time is right, we'll strike."
Li Runchu, the strategist of the group, chimed in. "The array isn't just a defense. It's a weapon. We've already seen how it can fight back. As long as it holds, we control the battlefield."
Outside, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows over the city. The Zhou and Peng forces had regrouped, their elders now gathered at the front lines to discuss their next move.
"This is absurd," Peng Yue growled, his frustration finally bubbling over. "We've thrown everything we have at that barrier, and it hasn't even flinched. We need to break through, or we'll lose face."
Zhou Feng, his eyes still locked on the barrier, spoke in a low voice. "We will break through. But not with the same tactics as before." He turned to Peng Yue, his expression dark. "It's time to use our full strength."
Peng Yue blinked, then nodded slowly. "You're right. We've been holding back, assuming this would be an easy fight. But if we're going to take the Li Clan down, we need to show them just how serious we are."
Without another word, Zhou Feng stepped forward, his hand glowing with a fiery red aura. The temperature around him rose sharply, and the ground beneath his feet began to smolder. His famed technique, Fire Fist, was known throughout the region for its destructive power. With a single punch, he could incinerate entire buildings, leaving nothing but ash in his wake.
Peng Yue followed suit, his hands swirling with wind and Qi as he prepared his own technique, Gale Palm. The air around him whipped into a frenzy, and a powerful gust of wind began to gather in his palms. His attack could tear through rock and stone with ease, and together with Zhou Feng's Fire Fist, they were confident they could overwhelm the barrier.
The soldiers behind them stepped back, giving their leaders room as they prepared to unleash their full power. Some looked on with anticipation, while others exchanged nervous glances, wondering if even these powerful techniques would be enough to break the barrier.
Zhou Feng's eyes burned with determination as he thrust his fist forward. A massive wave of fire shot from his hand, roaring toward the barrier with blistering heat. The ground scorched in its wake, and the very air seemed to shimmer from the intensity of the flames.
At the same moment, Peng Yue released his *Gale Palm*, sending a whirlwind of compressed air careening toward the barrier. The wind howled as it spiraled forward, tearing up dirt and debris as it traveled.
The two techniques collided with the barrier in a massive explosion of fire and wind. The ground shook from the impact, and the soldiers watching from behind shielded their eyes from the blinding light.
For a moment, it seemed as though the barrier might falter. The flames and wind lashed at its surface, creating ripples of energy that spread outward like cracks in glass. The Zhou and Peng forces held their breath, waiting for the moment when the barrier would shatter and the path to victory would be clear.
But the moment never came.
The barrier glowed brightly, absorbing the full force of the attacks before settling back into its steady, impenetrable shimmer. The ripples of energy faded, and the defensive array stood as strong as ever, untouched by the combined might of Zhou Feng and Peng Yue.
A stunned silence fell over the battlefield.
Zhou Feng's expression darkened with disbelief. "Impossible…"
Peng Yue, his chest heaving from the exertion, stared at the barrier in shock. "How… How is it still standing?"
Their forces shifted uneasily behind them, the confidence they had clung to now rapidly eroding. Whispers spread through the ranks, a mixture of fear and frustration.
"This is insane."