Shen Yuan stood calmly, his eyes narrowing as the five cultivators activated their grade 4 defensive array. A shimmering dome of light appeared around them, swords of condensed qi circling within, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
With a casual flick of his wrist, Shen Yuan retrieved a scroll from his storage bag. He unrolled it with deliberate slowness, revealing an array design etched in brilliant silver strokes.
One of the five, the leader among them, burst into arrogant laughter. "A grade 3 array? Are you stupid, or just desperate? Using a grade 3 array to challenge a grade 4? You must be insane!"
The others chuckled, their mockery blending with the hum of their defensive barrier.
But Shen Yuan didn't react. He simply placed the scroll on the ground, its surface facing the incoming swords, and raised his hand, activating the array. The intricate lines on the scroll glowed faintly, a soft hum filling the air.
The swords surged forward, slamming into the array. For a brief moment, it seemed as if the scroll would shatter under the impact. But then, to everyone's shock, the swords began to disintegrate, their qi absorbed into the glowing array.
The mocking smiles froze on the faces of the five cultivators.
"What—" the leader stammered, his voice trembling.
Shen Yuan finally looked up, his iconic grin spreading across his face. "You were saying something about being stupid?"
The array on the scroll began to materialize into a water-like barrier object, releasing shockwaves of concentrated yin qi. The waves struck the defensive array again and again, each impact perfectly aimed at the same point.
The leader frowned, then smirked. "Is that all? It's just attacking one spot over and over. As if that's going to do anything to a grade 4 array."
Outside the secret realm, the crowd observing through the magic projections began to murmur.
"What's he doing? A single attack point? That's almost foolish."
"Yeah, there's no way he can break a grade 4 array like that."
Even Xiang Xiaoli furrowed her brows. "Is he just showing off?" she asked, her tone skeptical.
Seated nearby, Wu Daozhen and Xue Linghun exchanged knowing glances, their lips curling into faint smiles.
"Not bad," Xue Linghun said softly, his voice barely audible.
Hearing this, Xiang Xiaoli turned to him, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean, 'not bad'? He's clearly wasting time."
Wu Daozhen chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "What you're seeing isn't wasteful—it's brilliant. Shen Yuan isn't trying to overpower the array. He's exploiting its weaknesses."
Xiang Xiaoli blinked. "Weaknesses?"
"Grade 4 or not, every array has weak points," Xue Linghun explained. "Shen Yuan's yin qi is precise enough to find and exploit those points. By repeatedly striking the same spot, he's destabilizing the defensive layers. It's not about raw strength—it's about understanding and control."
The crowd fell silent as the explanation sank in. Gasps of realization rippled through the plaza.
"Unbelievable... he planned this from the start?"
"He's not just powerful—he's a genius!"
Back in the secret realm, the grade 4 array had absorbed thousands of shockwaves by now. Cracks began to form on its surface, spreading like spiderwebs. The five cultivators inside exchanged panicked glances, their confidence rapidly crumbling.
With one final shockwave, the array shattered completely. The backlash sent the five cultivators hurtling backward, blood spraying from their mouths as they crashed to the ground.
Shen Yuan strode forward, his grin sharp and mocking. Shen Yuan stood tall, brushing imaginary dust off his robe, his grin as sharp as a blade.
"Arrogance," he said softly, his voice carrying the weight of mockery. He walked toward their leader, his steps unhurried, like a predator toying with prey. "It's not a bad thing, you know. But you..." His tone shifted, becoming cold enough to make the air feel heavier. "You don't even know where and when you can afford to be arrogant."
The leader coughed, his trembling hand pressing against the ground for support. "You—"
"Shhh." Shen Yuan raised a single finger, silencing him instantly. His grin widened as he gestured toward the shattered remains of the array. "Poor craftsmanship. Weak control. And laughable weak points. Honestly, it's not even worth killing you over."
The man's face turned from pale to red, his qi flickering weakly as he struggled to get up. But Shen Yuan had already turned away, his voice carrying over his shoulder as he walked past. "Stay here and reflect on your inadequacy. Or don't. I couldn't care less, for garbage."
Mocking laughter lingered in the air as he vanished, leaving the five cultivators to stew in their humiliation.
The image of Shen Yuan's smirking face faded from the magical screen, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. Conversations erupted almost immediately.
"What's wrong with him? Why not kill them?"
"He's too arrogant! Letting them live will just bring trouble later."
"He's insane—who does he think he is?"
On the edge of the hill, Xiang Xiaoli crossed her arms, her brows furrowing as she glanced at Wu Daozhen and Xue Linghun. "You're awfully quiet," she said. "What's so impressive about that? He's wasting time."
Xue Linghun chuckled, his voice deep and knowing. "You see arrogance; I see brilliance. The boy isn't wasting time—he's making a statement. He's already made it clear to the whole country, weaklings are beneath his notice. And..."
Wu Daozhen nodded, finishing his fellow master's thought. "And his control over yin qi? Remarkable. To use a grade 3 array to dismantle a grade 4? It's not just about power—it's about precision. That's a level of mastery we rarely see, even among Nirvana Realm cultivators."
Xiang Xiaoli blinked, surprised. "You're saying... he actually… like seriously, intentionally exploited their array's weaknesses?"
"Exactly," Xue Linghun said, his gaze fixed on the screen. "He's young, but his understanding of arrays and combat is frighteningly sharp. I've lived for a thousand years, and I've never seen someone with his level of insight at this age."
Wu Daozhen smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with interest. "If he survives this secret realm, he might very well become a force that reshapes the cultivation world."
Hearing such high praise, Xiang Xiaoli fell silent, her gaze lingering on the now-empty screen. "Just who is Shen Yuan?" she murmured.
Hours passed as Shen Yuan continued on his path, the barren landscape stretching endlessly before him. His divine sense stretched outward, but he found no signs of life.
"That's odd," he muttered. "Where did everyone go?"
His answer came in the form of a sudden attack. A black spear of qi shot toward him from behind, forcing him to dodge at the last second. The attack grazed his sleeve, leaving a small tear.
"Tsk," Shen Yuan said, inspecting the damage. "Sneak attacks are so unoriginal."
Figures began to emerge from the cliffs and rocks around him, more than ten in total. Most were Heaven Path Realm cultivators, but their leader radiated the unmistakable aura of the Nirvana Realm.
The leader, a tall man with sharp features, smirked. "Shen Yuan, is it? I'm Jin Dong. I don't care who you are or what you've done so far. Here's how this works: Since I find your Yin Qi very exquisite, whoever captures or kills you will be richly rewarded with wealth or whatever they want."
The other cultivators roared in approval, their weapons and techniques flaring to life.
Shen Yuan tilted his head, his expression one of genuine confusion. "The heck is going on here? Did I accidentally offend someone again or something?"
He sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. You want me that badly? Come catch me."
Before they could respond, Shen Yuan's figure blurred, disappearing into the distance.
"After him!" Jin Dong bellowed.
The pursuit was relentless, but Shen Yuan showed no signs of fatigue. His red lightning crackled around him, disorienting and slowing his pursuers at every turn.
Yet amidst the chaos, he felt it—that pulse of ancient energy, calling to him like a whisper in his soul. His Yin Qi that he got from the Nether Dragon Scripture, surged in response, urging him forward, making the air around freezing.
"What is that?" Shen Yuan muttered, his excitement growing.
The terrain suddenly dropped away into a massive cliff, a roaring waterfall cascading into a misty forest below. The energy was stronger here, almost overwhelming.
Shen Yuan turned to glance at his pursuers, a smirk tugging at his lips. "See you soon."
Before they could react, he leapt off the cliff, red lightning streaking behind him as he descended toward the forest. His laughter echoed through the mist, mingling with the roar of the waterfall.