In the dense forest, an eerie silence enveloped the surroundings, occasionally broken by the rampaging of fierce beasts, closely pursued by a group of martial artists whose movements were synchronized, all clad in identical attire, clearly indicating their allegiance to a singular force.
Throughout the periphery of the Fierce Beast Mountain Range, such martial artist teams were ubiquitous, navigating through the underbrush as if in search of something specific.
"This is the seventh wave; it seems the Xue family is waiting for us to emerge!" Perched on a towering tree, Ye Tian and Liu Yiru observed the scene below.
At this moment, Ye Tian's brows were sharp like a blade, his gaze piercing, exuding a formidable aura that even Liu Yiru found intimidating.
**Martial Master Level Ten!**
Indeed, after consuming those fifteen top-grade Qi-enhancing pills, Ye Tian had finally attained his long-desired rank of Martial Master Level Ten.
Having broken through, he initially intended to escort Liu Yiru back to Liu City, but along their journey, they encountered the Xue family's search parties no fewer than seven times.
"Are there any more formidable figures among the Xue family?" Ye Tian inquired softly, his gaze fixed on the retreating figures of the Xue family.
"The Xue family boasts two powerful individuals: one is Xue Xiong, whom you defeated—a Half-step Martial Spirit. The other is Xue Tian's father, the family patriarch, Xue Li. He too is a Half-step Martial Spirit, but he has been in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Martial Spirit realm. It remains uncertain whether he has succeeded," Liu Yiru replied solemnly, concern etched across her face as she realized the implications.
Ye Tian frowned at her words and then directed a cold smile towards the distant Xue family figures, "Whether he has broken through can be determined by capturing one and asking."
No sooner had he spoken than his figure vanished from the giant tree. When he reappeared moments later, he was already close to the Xue family's search party.
"Who goes there?" a Martial Master from the Xue family bellowed, sensing the disturbance behind him.
However, before they could turn around, a wave of overwhelming blade intent descended upon them. In an instant, their weapons soared into the air, engulfed in a fierce radiance, before hurtling back towards their wielders.
"Ah…" Liu Yiru, watching from atop the giant tree, instinctively covered her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief.
Meanwhile, the Xue family martial artists felt their pupils constrict, their bodies trembling; in a state of shock and despair, they were pierced through by their own blades, collapsing to the ground in defeat.
Of the several dozen individuals in their ranks, only one was spared by Ye Tian.
This lone survivor stood frozen in place, paralyzed with fear, his legs quaking.
"Tell me, has your family patriarch ascended to the Martial Spirit realm?" Ye Tian coldly interrogated the quaking martial artist before him, who was visibly trembling with terror.
"Thud!"
At Ye Tian's inquiry, the man dropped to his knees, a foul scent of urine filling the air.
Ye Tian frowned, bemused by the man's cowardice.
In truth, he failed to consider that anyone in such a situation—seeing their comrades fall so brutally—would naturally be overwhelmed with fear.
"Speak!" Ye Tian commanded sharply.
"I…I'll tell you… just don't kill me…" the man stuttered, shaking uncontrollably, unable to lift his gaze. "Our… patriarch… has… already… ascended…"
Swish!
Before he could complete his sentence, Ye Tian understood the implications of what he was saying. With a swift strike, he ended the man's life, then returned to reunite with Liu Yiru.
"Well?" Liu Yiru, casting a wary glance at the corpses strewn across the ground, looked anxiously at Ye Tian. She hadn't anticipated that he could kill so effortlessly, as if squashing ants, devoid of any visible emotion.
Could he be a heartless creature?
This thought nagged at Liu Yiru.
"Xue Li has indeed ascended to the Martial Spirit realm!" Ye Tian remarked casually, aware of Liu Yiru's thoughts; however, having been a special forces soldier in his past life, he had encountered too many enemies to feel any discomfort at taking a life.
"Ah… what should we do?" Liu Yiru exclaimed, her eyes wide with panic. The news of Xue Li's ascension was dire for the safety of the Liu family.
Previously, the two Half-step Martial Spirits from the Xue family had already overshadowed the Liu family, leaving them without a true lord. Now, with Xue Li's elevation to Martial Spirit, the Liu family would likely be utterly unable to contend with the Xue family.
As for the position of city lord, it seemed it would soon be lost.
The thought of impending consequences only deepened Liu Yiru's anxiety, her face awash with concern.
"Do not worry; I promised to protect your life, and I will ensure that no harm befalls the Liu family!" Ye Tian spoke coolly, his principle being to honor his word. Despite the challenges ahead, he was willing to help the Liu family navigate this crisis.
Hearing this, Liu Yiru exhaled a sigh of relief but still looked troubled, "But you're only a Martial Master Level Ten…" While she recognized Ye Tian's strength, the gap between Martial Masters and Martial Spirits was substantial, and she couldn't be certain that he could defeat Xue Li.
"He has merely just ascended to the Martial Spirit realm; I am confident in dealing with him!" Ye Tian replied, brimming with self-assurance, his eyes gleaming. With his recent advancement to Martial Master Level Ten, his power had multiplied manifold. Moreover, he possessed the Xuan Iron War Blade, which, if necessary, could be employed to eliminate those newly ascended Martial Spirits with ease.
"Let's go!" Ye Tian said, stroking the Xuan Iron War Blade on his back, a glint of determination in his gaze.
"Yes!" Liu Yiru nodded.
At that moment, a violent surge of energy erupted from the distance, accompanied by a roar reminiscent of thunder.
Upon hearing such a tremendous commotion, Ye Tian's expression shifted as he abruptly turned to gaze at the sky, and with keen eyes, he faintly discerned a colossal sword light soaring toward the heavens, shattering the very sky itself.
"This..." Liu Yiru, beside him, also sensed it. Her lack of power left her pale, terrified by the sudden disturbance.
"Impressive! That must be a battle force exceeding the Martial Spirit level!" Ye Tian's pupils constricted as he swallowed hard, a spark of fervor igniting in his eyes. "Even from this distance, such overwhelming might suggests it could be a Martial Sovereign level expert!"
"We should leave quickly!" Liu Yiru urged anxiously. For her, a Martial Spirit was already an insurmountable challenge, let alone the legendary Martial Sovereign.
"Leave?" Ye Tian chuckled, curiosity flickering across his face. "If I miss such an extraordinary battle, it would be a lifelong regret!"
With that, Ye Tian propelled himself toward the source of the commotion.
"Wait for me!" Liu Yiru exclaimed, her face flushing with urgency. Though fear gripped her, she hurried to catch up.
The dark red sky signaled the approach of evening, with the sun on the verge of setting. Yet, high above, a massive firebird illuminated the entire expanse.
Engaged in combat with this giant firebird was a middle-aged man with wild hair, his towering stature brandishing a divine sword that sliced through the air, unleashing searing arcs of sword light that fractured the surroundings.
"That's a Fire Cloud Bird!" Liu Yiru gasped in astonishment as she rushed to Ye Tian's side.
"Do you recognize this beast?" Ye Tian asked, surprised.
In the sky, the enormous firebird, nearly the size of a small mountain, was engulfed in seething flames. Even at this distance, the rising temperature could be felt intensely.
"If we got too close, I'd likely be incinerated before it even attacked!" Ye Tian thought, his tongue clicking in awe. This was the first time he felt so insignificant, dwarfed by the true power of the experts from the Divine Continent.
"However, one day, I too shall cleave a Fire Cloud Bird with my sword," he declared, eyes filled with aspiration and confidence, fixating on the middle-aged man who was overpowering the firebird with only a sword.
"The Fire Cloud Bird is a beast of Martial Sovereign caliber. People have claimed to see it in the Beast Mountains, but I never thought it was true!" Liu Yiru explained.
Just then, as the battle between the middle-aged man and the Fire Cloud Bird intensified, a piercing screech suddenly erupted from the forest.
Ye Tian and Liu Yiru stood frozen in disbelief as another massive Fire Cloud Bird soared into the sky, charging toward the middle-aged man.
"Another one!" Ye Tian exclaimed in shock.
"Legend has it that Fire Cloud Birds always come in pairs..." Liu Yiru echoed, equally stunned.
With the arrival of this second Fire Cloud Bird, the middle-aged man felt the pressure mount, and the tide of battle shifted, leaving him at a disadvantage.
"This is bad; this powerful expert may fall!" A flicker of concern crossed Liu Yiru's face.
"Why are you worried about someone who isn't related to you? Moreover, a Martial Sovereign isn't so easily defeated!" Ye Tian replied with a chuckle and a shake of his head.
Indeed, just as Ye Tian finished speaking, the middle-aged man's arrogant laughter echoed through the sky.
"Two mere birds think they can defeat me? What an absurdity!" he boasted, radiating with overwhelming brilliance. Suddenly, he pointed his sword at the heavens, a terrifying aura of sword intent erupting from him, enveloping the entire area.
"I... I can't move!" Liu Yiru exclaimed in shock.
"Neither can I!" Ye Tian echoed, equally astonished.
The immense sword intent emanating from the middle-aged man seemed to bind the surrounding space, rendering them immobile.
Meanwhile, the middle-aged man, with a brilliant flash of sword light, struck at the two Fire Cloud Birds.
As Ye Tian beheld this dazzling display of swordsmanship, his pupils widened, a flash of inspiration igniting within his mind, expanding in an instant.
"Sword intent... blade intent..." he realized, the fiery essence of the blade erupted within him, and he perceived a crimson long sword flickering in his eyes.
In the next moment, Ye Tian felt the restraints lift, and he could move freely once more.
"Ye Tian..." Liu Yiru, still trapped by the immense sword intent, called out to him in distress.
A gleam of understanding crossed Ye Tian's face, yet it was shadowed by elation. "I never expected my blade intent would break through!"
With that, he lifted Liu Yiru into his arms and shot off into the distance.
At this moment, Ye Tian remained unaware that his blade intent had finally sprouted, blossoming into the realm of One-Percent Blade Intent.