Yang Qi walked along the cobblestone streets of the city with a grace he had never had before. His body had undergone dramatic changes following his advancement into the Disciple Realm. Every step he took seemed to resonate in the air, and passersby couldn't help but stare at him.
His hair, once dull and lifeless, now shone brightly under the sunlight. His muscles, though inconspicuous beneath his clothes, betrayed a strength that seemed ready to explode at any moment.
The conversations of the townspeople, who came and went, did not go unnoticed by his sensitive ears. They whispered, but their voices, amplified by curiosity and amazement, sounded like a constant murmur.
"Hey, have you seen Yang Qi?" an old lady said to her husband. "I caught a glimpse of him earlier, and I swear he's completely different." Wasn't he just a piece of trash just a few days ago?"
"That's him," the old man replied, his gaze narrowing. "But I don't understand… How can a young man who had crippled meridians suddenly seem so powerful? It's impossible!"
"Perhaps he obtained extraordinary luck…" another passerby murmured, while observing Yang Qi from afar, looking puzzled. "Or perhaps he found an ancient treasure. Either way, it's troubling."
Yang Qi, despite the murmurs around him, walked forward without paying attention to these rumors. His mind was entirely focused on his next destination: the small, dilapidated courtyard where he lived, located away from the busier parts of the city and far from the clan's main residence. It was there that he would find the peace and quiet to plan his next steps.
However, upon his arrival, something unexpected awaited him. He stepped through the worn gate that led to his courtyard and stopped dead in his tracks. There, in the middle of the dusty courtyard, stood two figures. The first was a figure he was familiar with: Yang Fen, his cousin, the one who had betrayed him by paralyzing his meridians. Yang Qi clenched his fists discreetly, his eyes narrowing in suppressed anger. The second person, however, immediately caught his full attention.
Next to Yang Fen stood a young girl of about fifteen years old, with a captivating beauty. Her long black hair cascaded in silky waves over her shoulders, framing a delicate face with perfect features.
Her eyes were large, deep brown, almost captivating, and a faint glint of arrogance shone in their depths. She wore a light blue silk dress embroidered with subtle floral patterns, elegantly hugging her youthful curves. On the Blue Star, this young woman could be called a heavenly beauty.
—"Wow, even in my old life I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful woman." He thought deeply as he looked at her.
Tianxu who was still with Yang Qi noticed that his young master had his eyes fixed on this young woman.
—"Master, I think your lingering over this woman is not beneficial to you." She is not that beautiful, and she is nothing special. She just has a talent that is a little above average, but that is all."
— "Tianxu, I think you are wrong, I am not interested in her in the least. She does not deserve me. However, I wonder why you say that her beauty is not emphasized, she is still quite beautiful." Yang Qi said with a hint of astonishment.
— "Master, you are only in the spiritual domain, and yet you are in a very isolated region of this world. There are beauties infinitely more beautiful and noble than her. I recommend that the master favor women with a strong bloodline, they will be able to give you strong descendants with high potential." Tianxu said in a calm tone. It must be remembered that he still has a conscience and that he traveled for a long time with his master creator before falling asleep. So he has seen a lot of things.
— "I see. For now it is not a priority, in this cosmos where the strongest decides I must become stronger first." Yang Qi said with determination.
Tianxu just smiled following his master's statement, he saw change in him and it was only for the better.
Yang Qi remained motionless for a moment, his gaze shifting from his cousin to this mysterious young girl. His mind was spinning at full speed.
- "Yang Qi," Yang Fen began with a smirk, breaking the silence, "you don't seem happy to see us. Let me introduce you to this lovely young lady. Her name is Wu Yue… she's your fiancée. You met when you were little and never saw each other again."
Yang Qi was taken aback. Fiancée?
His thoughts raced. He didn't remember ever being engaged to anyone, and certainly not to a young girl like her. But before he could react, Yang Fen continued,
— "Recently, Wu Yue was accepted as an outer disciple of the Red Sun Sect," he continued, glancing boastfully at Wu Yue. "She came here today with me to discuss your engagement. It seems that… some adjustments are needed."
Yang Qi remained silent, his eyes fixed on Wu Yue. He could sense the warrior aura emanating from her, even though she was only at the first stage of the Warrior Realm. It was enough to intimidate any lesser cultivator.
Wu Yue, who had not said a word until then, finally spoke, her voice soft but tinged with obvious arrogance:
—"Yang Qi," she began, her lips stretching into a cold smile, "I came here out of respect for our respective families. However, I want to be frank with you. You are no longer up to par. I am a disciple of the Red Sun Sect, and my ambitions far exceed what this insignificant city or region can offer. There is no way I am tying my destiny to a… piece of trash. I therefore come to give you back your freedom and break off our engagement." »
— "Speaking of which," Yang Fen interjected, his smile widening, "it just so happens that in a month, there will be a grand selection in this city, held by the same sect as Wu Yue. It will be a unique opportunity for those who want to leave this backwater and enter a respectable sect. Oh, but I guess that doesn't concern you, does it? After all, you were paralyzed, right?" He burst out laughing mockingly.
Yang Qi didn't answer immediately. He listened with an impassive expression, but his mind was boiling. This selection represented an opportunity, a way to leave this remote region and dive into this new world of cultivation with tenfold ambition. His thoughts were racing, but outwardly, he remained unmoved.
Finally, after a long moment of silence, Yang Qi spoke. His voice, soft but full of arrogance, cut through the air like a blade:
— "Yang Fen… haven't you ever been taught to knock before entering someone's home?"
Yang Fen, surprised by this unexpected answer, raised his eyebrows, while Wu Yue displayed a slight frown, visibly annoyed by Yang Qi's tone.
Yang Qi continued, a smirk tugging at her lips:
—"As for you, Wu Yue, you may think you're irresistible, but I have to tell you one thing: even if I were to remain single for the rest of my life, I would never be interested in a woman like you."
Wu Yue, shocked by this answer, felt a wave of anger rise within her. Her natural arrogance could not tolerate such an insult. She emanated a subtle pressure, releasing a small portion of her Qi to crush Yang Qi.
—"You're really arrogant for a piece of trash!" she hissed, clenching her fists.
Yang Qi, however, did not flinch.
Wu Yue's pressure, although impressive for a mere disciple, did not leave her hot or cold.
Her eyes remained cold, and an absolute calm reigned on her face.
Yang Fen, standing by, watched the scene, visibly surprised. How could Yang Qi, this piece of trash that he himself had paralyzed, withstand the pressure of a warrior?
Wu Yue, frustrated at not getting the reaction she had hoped for, suddenly rushed towards Yang Qi, her fist charged with Qi, ready to strike him down.
—"You dare disrespect me?!" she shouted as she struck with all her might.
Yang Qi dodged effortlessly, her body moving with a speed that surprised Wu Yue. Before she could even comprehend what was happening, he struck back. His fist, filled with fearsome power, struck Wu Yue with controlled force. She was thrown back, but managed to protect herself with her Qi before crashing into the courtyard wall.
— "Well, how interesting I only used 70% of my strength yet I am as strong as her while I am at the seventh stage of the disciple." thought Yang Qi while looking at his fists. "
— "Master, all this is due to your physique but especially to the technique you used to start building your foundations. I don't think that in this world anyone has a technique as powerful as the one you use so you are necessarily stronger. Currently you have about 2000 jin strength while a common warrior has 1500 jin strength." said Tianxu
Yang Fen, stunned, clenched his fists in rage.
— "How dare you attack an heiress of the Wu clan, you piece of trash!" he yelled, before rushing towards Yang Qi in turn.
Their fists clashed with a dull thud, energy surging from each impact. Yang Fen, who thought he was superior, quickly realized that Yang Qi's strength was at least equal to his own, if not superior. Their duel grew more and more intense, each blow carrying more power.
Yang Fen, enraged, increased the strength of his attacks, but Yang Qi remained calm, dodging with disconcerting ease. Then, in a lightning movement, he countered with devastating precision, striking Yang Fen right in the abdomen.
.....
1 Jin = 0,5 kilogramme
1 Li = 500 mètre