The atmosphere was tense, charged with the residual traces of spiritual energy that had gathered during Kellan's cultivation breakthrough.
He barely had a moment to steady his breathing when he heard footsteps approaching from the shadows.
Emerging into the dim light, two figures clad in dark robes with dagger insignias embroidered on their chests stepped forward, their eyes showing greed.
"I don't have time to hide, I just have to prepare, they're probably gonna try to kill me" Kellan felt nervous
One of the men named Irel took a slow, almost mocking step closer, his gaze raking over Kellan with an expression of contempt.
"Well, well… Based on that garb, you're from the Shi Clan, aren't you?"
His sneer widened as he folded his arms, sizing Kellan up like a hunter with its prey.
"Tell us where the treasure is, and maybe, just maybe, you'll walk away from this."
Kellan forced himself to remain calm, raising an eyebrow and feigning confusion.
"Treasure? You must have the wrong person. I was just out here cultivating, hunting for red-tipped boars."
The second Nightshade member, Koli let out a harsh, mocking laugh, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Cultivating, he says. Do you think we're fools? No ordinary cultivation session would make waves like that, rippling spiritual energy through the forest.
Stop lying. Give us what we came for, or you die here and now."
Kellan's fists tightened, a surge of anger mingling with his fear.
His heart hammered as he struggled to keep his voice steady.
"I'm telling you, there's no treasure here. It was just me breaking through.
If I had anything worth hiding, don't you think I'd be tucked away in some cave?"
But the Nightshade members' patience was thinning. Irel's eyes narrowed, his tone becoming icy as he spoke.
"So, you broke through, did you? Then that means your foundation must be unstable."
He took a threatening step forward, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"Think carefully. If you hand over that treasure now, we'll only take an arm as punishment."
His fingers flexed, as though itching for a chance to strike.
A pressure filled the air, suffocating and thick with menace as both Nightshade members released their auras.
Kellan's senses sharpened, feeling the weight of their cultivation bases.
Each of them was at the third level of the Blood Solidification Realm, just as he was.
But unlike them, he had no allies by his side—Big Bone wasn't here to watch his back.
Why does this always happen to me? he thought bitterly.
Am I cursed or something? Every time I gain a little strength, someone's there trying to kill me.
Irel sneered, evidently picking up on Kellan's unease.
"What's the matter, Shi Clan brat? Getting scared?."
But Kellan straightened, determination hardening in his eyes.
He'd relied on others for too long.
Every time he found himself in a tight spot, someone had always been there to save him.
But not this time. I need to stand on my own, he thought. I need to fight.
In a heartbeat, the Nightshade members lunged, moving with blinding speed.
Their hands sliced through the air, reaching for him like claws.
Kellan twisted his body, narrowly dodging one of the strikes, and retaliated with a punch to the first attacker's side.
His fist connected solidly, but the man blocked it minimizing the damage.
Koli came at him with a swift kick, which Kellan blocked with a raised arm, but the force of the impact reverberated painfully through his bones.
He stumbled back, feeling the burn in his muscles as he struggled to maintain his footing.
These guys are skilled, he thought, gritting his teeth.
They're calculating every attack, wearing me down piece by piece. If I let them control the flow of the battle, I'll be dead in no time.
Irel's patience wore thin.
His expression twisted into a snarl as he reached into his robes, drawing a short, wickedly sharp dagger that gleamed with a dark, almost sinister light.
"Enough playing around," he muttered, his voice dripping with malice.
"Let's end this quickly and take what we came for."
Kellan's heart pounded, but he forced himself to focus.
No fear. Just act. He steeled himself, silencing the dread that clawed at the edges of his mind.
I have to move. I have to strike first.
For the first time, Kellan felt something stir within him—a cold, sharp intent that cut through his fear.
Pure murderous intent.
Channeling his temporal qi, he slowed down time for a fraction of a second, just long enough to spring forward and drive his foot toward Koli with all his might.
His kick connected solidly, sending the man stumbling back a few steps.
But before Kellan could press the advantage, Irel lunged forward with his dagger, slashing in a swift arc.
Kellan barely avoided the full blow, but the blade grazed his arm, slicing through his skin.
Pain seared through him as blood trickled down his arm, warm and sticky.
He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to ignore it.
I need a weapon, he thought bitterly. If I survive this, I'm buying a weapon the first chance I get.
The Nightshade members were faster, likely because of a cultivation technique that boosted their speed. But Kellan had an advantage of his own.
Thanks to the spirit diamond given to him by Lehen and Onru, his spiritual energy replenished faster than the average cultivator's.
With this, he channeled energy back into his body, manipulating time to heighten his own speed and throwing a series of rapid punches at Koli and Irel in quick succession.
Koli spat, rage twisting his features as he staggered back, clutching his ribs.
"You're stronger than you look," he growled, eyes burning with resentment.
"But don't get cocky. It'll only make your death more painful."
Kellan forced a smirk. "We'll see who dies first," he replied fiercely.
"Your Nightshade clan always shows up like roaches trying to kill me.
This time, you're the ones who won't make it out alive."
"Oh?" Irel raised an eyebrow, sneering.
"So you're the one who escaped Trace and Linen. They said Shi Long had to come save you.
Without him, you wouldn't be here right now."
"That's right I remember, that kid Trace is one of the most talented members of this generation of our nightshade clan.
People like us who are only at the third level of the blood solidification realm despite how long we've lived have to scrounge by and kill people to get stronger" Koli replied
Kellan's lip curled in defiance. "And why the hell would I care about the internal affairs of your dog clan?"
He shot back, dodging an attack aimed at his torso.
Seizing the moment, he struck back, driving his elbow into Irel's jaw, then followed with a hard kick to his knee.
Irel stumbled, his knee buckling, but he recovered almost instantly, swinging his fist toward Kellan's face.
Kellan slowed down time once again and ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow, but he wasn't fast enough to dodge the Koli's attack, who landed a brutal kick to his back, sending him sprawling.
Kellan tasted blood in his mouth, his vision blurring for a split second as he struggled to regain his footing.
He wiped his mouth, feeling a surge of anger as he glared up at his attackers.
He could feel his strength waning, his body's energy reserves nearly spent.
If I don't end this soon, I'm finished.
Pain and exhaustion clawed at his mind, but he forced himself to push it aside, focusing on the two enemies before him.
This time, he wouldn't allow himself to be cornered.
Koli sneered, sensing his fatigue.
"Giving up already, Shi Clan brat? Thought you wanted to fight."
Kellan ignored the taunt, his gaze hardening.
He tightened his stance, channeling every last ounce of his spiritual energy into his limbs.
He could feel the killing intent rising within him again, sharpening his senses as he moved.
He charged forward, his movements a blur, channeling temporal Qi at his fist, [Temporal Fist]
Kellan screamed at he struck out with a fierce punch, hitting the Irel square in the chest.
The impact forced him back, his face contorting in pain as blood sprayed out of his mouth.
Irel clutched his chest as he gasped for breath.
"You… you're stronger than we thought," he managed, rage and pain twisting his features
Koli's confidence wavered as he watched his partner fall to his knees.
His eyes darted between his injured comrade and Kellan, his expression shifting from contempt to unease.
"You little…!" he snarled, gripping his dagger tightly.
But even he seemed to sense that this battle was slipping out of his control.
Kellan locked eyes with him, a cold fire burning in his gaze.
"Its kill or be killed in the cultivation world, if you back down now, we can let bygones be bygones."
Koli hesitated, clearly torn.
But in the next instant, his expression hardened, pride and fury driving him forward as he raised his dagger one last time.
"Idiots" and yet Kellan felt strangely excited, as if he relished the fight, his eyes shining with murder.
Without hesitation, he surged forward.
Koli barely had time to react before Kellan's fist, still pulsing with temporal Qi, crashed into his gut.
The blow reverberated through his body, paralyzing him in a flash of agony.
Kellan didn't let up, following with a brutal knee to the man's chest, knocking the air from his lungs.
His opponent staggered, choking and gasping, his grip on the dagger faltering.
"You chose this," Kellan said coldly.
He raised his hand, now pulsing with concentrated temporal Qi, and brought it down with precision, crushing the man's throat.
Koli's eyes widened in shock, a silent scream on his lips, before he slumped to the ground, lifeless.
Kellan straightened, his gaze shifting to the Irel who was still clutching his chest, terror filling his eyes.
The tables had turned, and Kellan was no longer the prey in this fight.