Wang Quan was sitting cross-legged inside his straw hut, cultivating. The Fire Element technique within him had gradually matured, and the fiery energy was now fully integrated into his meridians, becoming a part of his spiritual power. He could feel a significant boost in his offensive capabilities, with the power of the Fire Element technique from the Five Elements Art far exceeding his expectations. As he was deeply immersed in his cultivation, a commotion outside suddenly disrupted the tranquility.
Wang Quan furrowed his brow slightly and slowly opened his eyes. He sensed a familiar yet loathsome presence—it was Li Daoguang.
Standing up, Wang Quan moved to the doorway of the hut and saw Li Daoguang approaching with a group of people, striding toward him with a menacing air. Li Daoguang had a cold smirk on his face, and his followers, looking fierce and aggressive, made it clear they were up to no good.
"Wang Quan!" Li Daoguang's voice was laced with mockery as he called out loudly, "Where are Huang Hu and Yan Qing? I heard they came to see you last night, but today, none of them are anywhere to be found. What's going on?"
Wang Quan remained calm on the inside, his expression showing no sign of worry. He knew that Huang Hu and his group had attacked him without informing Li Daoguang, clearly intending to claim Wang Quan's "treasure" for themselves. Because of this, Li Daoguang's visit was prompted by his suspicion over their sudden disappearance, and he was here to investigate.
Wang Quan chuckled softly and said indifferently, "Huang Hu and Yan Qing? I don't know what you're talking about. I've been cultivating all night and haven't seen them."
Li Daoguang's eyes narrowed, clearly not believing Wang Quan's words. But he also knew that Wang Quan's cultivation level was far below that of Huang Hu, making it unlikely for Wang Quan to have defeated them. While his suspicions remained, Li Daoguang couldn't find any immediate evidence.
"Hmph, quite the act!" Li Daoguang sneered, "Don't think just because Huang Hu and the others aren't here, you can get away unscathed. We still have unfinished business from last time, when you injured me."
Wang Quan's gaze turned cold. He knew Li Daoguang was simply looking for an excuse to cause trouble again.
"Li Daoguang, what's the matter? Do you want to try again?" Wang Quan's voice was icy, showing no fear.
Li Daoguang's eyes flashed with malice. Though still suspicious about Huang Hu's disappearance, seeing Wang Quan's defiant attitude reignited his hostility.
"Today, I'll make sure you pay!" Li Daoguang barked, wasting no time as he waved his hand. His men immediately rushed forward, exuding a menacing aura.
Wang Quan remained composed, readying himself for battle. Just as the fight was about to begin, a group of disciples emerged from the nearby woods. These were outer sect disciples who had long been oppressed by Li Daoguang and his gang, and with Wang Quan's recent rise, they had chosen to follow him.
"Brother Wang, we'll fight by your side!" they called out, standing firmly beside Wang Quan, their expressions resolute.
Though their cultivation levels were lower than Li Daoguang's group, they had faith in Wang Quan's ability to lead them to victory.
"Very well, we fight together!" Wang Quan said solemnly, gripping his sword tightly as a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.
The tension between the two sides grew, and it was clear that a battle was imminent.
Li Daoguang's men were mostly at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining, significantly stronger than Wang Quan's allies. With a command from Li Daoguang, his followers launched their attack. Beams of spiritual energy shot toward Wang Quan and the disciples around him, forming a deadly net of energy filled with murderous intent.
"Strike!" Wang Quan shouted, his sword flashing to life. The fire energy from his Fire Element technique surged into the blade. As he swung his sword, it blazed with fiery force, slashing toward Li Daoguang's men like a flaming arc.
Boom!
The fiery sword energy swept across the battlefield like a raging inferno, forcing several of Li Daoguang's men back. The explosive power of Wang Quan's attack was overwhelming, and each strike carried the fierce intensity of fire, causing his opponents to retreat in fear.
"What kind of power is this?"
Li Daoguang's followers were shocked. None of them expected Wang Quan's strength to have surged so dramatically. Under the onslaught of his fire attacks, they found themselves unable to withstand the heat.
However, Li Daoguang didn't retreat so easily. With a cold snort, he reached into his robe and pulled out a magical item—a large shield.
"Wang Quan, do you think you're that strong? Let's see what you can do against this!"
The shield radiated a soft yellow light, and as Li Daoguang infused it with spiritual energy, the light intensified, forming a glowing barrier in front of him, as impenetrable as a fortress.
"A magical artifact?" Wang Quan's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected Li Daoguang to possess a defensive artifact like this.
Realizing the danger, Wang Quan saw that his earlier fire-enhanced sword energy, while powerful, had been blocked by the shield without inflicting any damage on Li Daoguang.
Li Daoguang sneered, "This is the Yellow Profound Shield, a defensive artifact my senior brother lent me specifically to deal with pests like you. Go ahead, try again and see if you can break through my defense!"
Wang Quan frowned, quickly evaluating his options. The shield's defensive power was formidable, and relying solely on the Fire Element technique might not be enough to breach it. But with the fight already underway and Li Daoguang's provocations in full swing, retreat wasn't an option.
"Fire is fierce, but the elements interact. Perhaps I should change my strategy," Wang Quan thought. As this idea took shape, he swiftly circulated the Five Elements Art, gradually suppressing the Fire Element energy and instead channeling the power of the Wood Element. The Wood Element's strength lay in entanglement and draining energy over time. If he could sap Li Daoguang's spiritual energy, the shield's defense might eventually crumble.
Just as Wang Quan was about to make his move, a stern voice suddenly rang out from a distance.
"Stop!"
The forceful command echoed through the area, and several figures quickly approached. Both Wang Quan and Li Daoguang halted and turned to see a middle-aged man dressed in the robes of a sect official, accompanied by several disciples.
"It's a sect enforcer," Wang Quan thought, his heart sinking, realizing this could complicate matters.
The enforcer walked up between them, casting a cold, authoritative glance at both sides. His gaze carried a sense of pressure, and it was clear that he had come to investigate the disturbance.
"What do you think you're doing?" the enforcer demanded, his voice low and stern, clearly displeased with the conflict between disciples.
Li Daoguang's expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed, saying, "Esteemed enforcer, we were merely sparring. There's no issue here."
Wang Quan stood silently at the side.
The enforcer's gaze lingered on them both for a moment before he spoke coldly, "Regardless of your reasons, private fights that harm fellow disciples are a serious violation of sect rules. Both of you, go to the Hall of Enforcement and receive your punishment."
With that, the enforcer turned and walked away, clearly uninterested in the squabbles of outer disciples.
Though filled with frustration, Li Daoguang didn't dare to defy the enforcer. He scoffed at Wang Quan, saying, "You got lucky this time. You won't be so fortunate next time."
Wang Quan merely smiled coldly, gripping his sword tighter, but said nothing in response.
As the enforcer departed, Li Daoguang and his followers left in frustration. Wang Quan remained where he stood, his expression grim, silently on guard.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Quan felt the fire energy still coursing through his veins. He knew that the next steps he took would be crucial.