The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains of the house, casting a warm glow over Kellan as he awoke, feeling refreshed after a long, much-needed night of sleep. His body still ached slightly from his recent battles, but his mind was clear. He stretched and quickly gathered his things, heading out the door towards the training grounds.
As Kellan walked through the village, he passed by groups of kids and young adults, each absorbed in their training. Some practiced with wooden weapons, others meditated under the guidance of older clan members, refining their Qi. The air buzzed with the energy of cultivators pushing themselves to their limits. Kellan couldn't help but smile at the familiar sights. The training field was more crowded than usual, likely due to the upcoming clan tournament. Everyone wanted to be at their peak for the trials ahead.
Reaching the training grounds, Kellan spotted a familiar face—Shi Yan. The two had grown up together, and though their paths had diverged over the years, they still remained close friends. Shi Yan was standing off to the side, watching the others train, a distant look in his eyes.
"Hey, Shi Yan!" Kellan called out, approaching with a grin. "What are you up to?"
Shi Yan turned, his expression softening when he saw Kellan. "Ah, just... watching," he replied, glancing around the field. "You know the sphere deemed me unsuitable to cultivate, right? So, I'm not really training anymore."
Kellan frowned slightly. "Yeah, I remember. But what's your plan now?"
Shi Yan shrugged. "I'm going to focus on administrative tasks within the tribe. Earn a good income, raise a family—simple things, but that's enough for me. I don't want to risk my life in the world of cultivation. Too many die young. I'm not cut out for that."
Kellan placed a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "There's nothing wrong with that, Shi Yan. Not everyone is meant to be a cultivator. I'm proud of you for knowing what you want."
Shi Yan smiled, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. Before Kellan could say more, a loud, mocking voice cut through the noise of the training field.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Looks like the loser Shi Yan is talking to another loser. Two failures, side by side."
Kellan turned and saw a group of young men approaching. Leading them was Shi Dao, one of Shi Lin's lackeys, notorious for being a bully. Shi Dao sneered as he walked up, his two friends flanking him like bodyguards.
Shi Yan immediately lowered his head, his shoulders tense. "Kellan," he whispered, "just ignore him. Shi Dao's dangerous... he's at the peak of the second level of the Blood Solidification Realm. Don't mess with him."
But Kellan noticed something strange. Despite his bluster, there was fear behind Shi Dao's eyes, like he was hiding something—perhaps a trauma of his own. Kellan straightened up and stood his ground, refusing to be intimidated.
Shi Dao's eyes locked onto Kellan, narrowing with disdain. "What are you looking at, failure? Want me to gouge your eyes out?"
His friends laughed, echoing his cruel words. "Yeah, Kellan. You better beg for mercy if you know what's good for you."
Kellan stayed silent for a moment, letting the tension build. Then, in a calm voice, he turned to Shi Yan and asked, "Has Shi Dao ever hurt you before?"
Shi Yan didn't answer, but his silence was all the confirmation Kellan needed. His friend had suffered under Shi Dao's cruelty.
Kellan's eyes hardened as he turned back to Shi Dao, his voice firm and aggressive. "You're going to apologize to Shi Yan. Right now."
Shi Dao blinked, caught off guard for a second before regaining his composure. "Ohh! Is the failure trying to threaten me?" he said with exaggerated mockery. "Who do you think you are? If you don't stop acting tough, I'm going to beat you until you can't stand. We'll see how long that bravado lasts."
Shi Dao and his friends laughed again, but Kellan didn't flinch. His gaze remained fixed on Shi Dao, his expression calm but deadly serious. Shi Yan tugged at Kellan's arm, trying to get him to back down. "Kellan, stop. It's not worth it."
But Kellan shook his head, his eyes never leaving Shi Dao. "No," he said quietly. "Let's see who beats up who, Shi Dao."
Shi Dao's smirk vanished, replaced by a flash of anger. "You want to die that badly? Fine!" He snapped his fingers, signaling his two lackeys to attack. "Teach this fool a lesson."
The two lackeys stepped forward, cracking their knuckles as they moved in on Kellan, confidence oozing from their every step. But Kellan stood his ground, his body relaxed yet ready. His recent battle experience had sharpened his instincts, and the Temporal Breathing Technique hummed inside him, like a coiled spring waiting to unleash its power.
Kellan stood tall, his eyes locked onto Shi Dao and his group of lackeys. Tension rippled through the air as the young cultivators circled around him, their faces filled with malicious glee. Shi Dao's sneer deepened as he flicked his hand, signaling the first lackey to attack.
The lackey lunged at Kellan, his fists raised high. Kellan's instincts kicked in immediately, and without even thinking, he felt the familiar sensation of the world slowing around him. His mind sharpened, and the chaotic sounds of the training field faded into the background.
In the slowed-down world, the lackey's movements became sluggish, almost comical in their exaggerated slowness. Kellan's senses heightened, allowing him to see every detail—the clenching of the lackey's fists, the tightening of his muscles as he swung. Kellan shifted his weight, stepping lightly to the side, avoiding the punch with ease.
To the onlookers, it looked as though Kellan had simply disappeared from the lackey's path. He didn't need fancy techniques or raw power—just speed and clarity.
The lackey's punch sailed through empty air, his eyes widening in confusion. Before he could react, Kellan moved behind him, planting his foot firmly on the ground as he delivered a sharp kick to the back of the lackey's knee. The lackey buckled with a yelp, his balance lost as he crashed to the dirt, barely catching himself on his hands.
The second lackey hesitated, glancing nervously at his fallen comrade. Kellan didn't give him a chance to think twice. With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, the world blurring as he pushed his body to its limits. He felt his pulse quicken, and everything around him seemed to slow even further. The second lackey's movements, though quick, appeared in slow motion.
This time, Kellan didn't dodge. He met the lackey's fist head-on, twisting his body at the last moment to deflect the blow. With the same fluid motion, he grabbed the lackey's wrist, locking his grip with a strength that belied his calm expression. The lackey's eyes widened in shock as he struggled to pull away, but Kellan's grip held firm.
Kellan swept his leg out, knocking the lackey's feet from beneath him, and twisted his body, sending the second lackey flipping through the air. The boy crashed into the ground with a thud, a gasp of pain escaping his lips as he struggled to catch his breath.
The crowd that had gathered around the training field watched in stunned silence. Most of them had assumed Kellan would get beaten down quickly, but now, they saw something else entirely. The way Kellan moved, the way he reacted—it was as if he was in complete control of the fight, as if he could see every move coming before it even happened.
The entire exchange took less than a few seconds. The crowd around the training field had gone silent, all eyes on the unfolding confrontation. Shi Dao, now visibly furious, clenched his fists and took a step forward.
"You...!" he growled. "You're dead, Kellan. I'm going to make sure of it."
Kellan stood tall, his eyes meeting Shi Dao's with unwavering confidence. "If you want to fight, then fight," he said, his voice cold. "But you'll be the one begging for mercy before this is over."
Shi Dao's face twisted with rage, but before he could make a move, a voice called out from the crowd.
"Enough!"
Everyone turned to see an elder approaching, his presence instantly commanding respect. The elder's sharp gaze moved between Kellan and Shi Dao, taking in the scene before him.
"This is a training ground, not a place for petty fights," the elder said sternly. "If you want to settle your differences, do it in the tournament. Otherwise, both of you will face punishment."
Shi Dao's face reddened with embarrassment, but he knew better than to argue with an elder. He shot Kellan one last glare before turning on his heel and storming off, his lackeys limping after him.
As the crowd slowly dispersed, Shi Yan let out a shaky breath, his face pale. "Kellan... I can't believe you did that."
Kellan smiled and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Someone had to stand up to him. Don't let people like Shi Dao push you around."
Shi Yan nodded slowly, though doubt still lingered in his eyes. Kellan glanced in the direction Shi Dao had gone, his mind already focused on the future.
The tournament was coming, and with it, the chance to prove himself.