"How dare you!"
Zhao Menghu's roar reverberated through the courtyard as his finger trembled, pointing at Xiao Chen. Fury painted his face red. He hadn't expected Xiao Chen to be so formidable—much less capable of slaughtering someone right before his eyes.
"How dare you! No wonder you had the audacity to provoke the Zhao family. I've underestimated you!"
A deep, arrogant voice broke through the tense air.
"Master, allow me to take care of him."
From the gathered crowd, a towering figure stepped forward. Each step caused the bluestone tiles beneath his feet to crack and crumble, shaking the ground like the footsteps of a giant.
The onlookers gasped in awe and apprehension.
"It's Zhao Yan! He's at the peak of the Spirit Incarnation Realm!"
"I've heard he survived three moves from Master Zhao Menghu without even flinching!"
"That's not all—I saw him rip apart another Spirit Incarnation Realm expert with my own eyes. Xiao Chen is doomed this time!"
Zhao Yan's frame loomed like a mountain. His presence was oppressive, exuding the might of a level-nine Spirit Incarnation Realm cultivator.
"Aren't you arrogant? Let's see if you can survive this!" Zhao Yan bellowed, his voice like a rolling thunderclap.
Suddenly, his energy surged, and he unleashed his full strength. His punch seemed capable of shattering mountains.
"Yellow-Level Upper-Grade Martial Art: Collapsing Fist!"
Boom!
The ground split apart under the force of his strike, creating a vacuum zone in its wake. The spiritual energy in the vicinity seemed to be devoured, leaving the air tense and heavy.
Zhao Menghu nodded approvingly. "Well executed, Zhao Yan!"
But Xiao Chen remained unfazed. His cold gaze pierced through Zhao Yan.
"If you're so desperate to die," Xiao Chen said with a faint, mocking smile, "I'll gladly grant your wish."
Before anyone could react, a chilling flash of light streaked across the air.
Clang!
The sound of a blade scraping against flesh filled the courtyard. Zhao Yan stumbled back, clutching his throat as blood seeped through his fingers.
"You… dare…" Zhao Yan's words gurgled in his throat before his massive frame collapsed with a resounding thud.
A single move. A peak Spirit Incarnation Realm expert had been slain with a single move.
"Hiss…"
Gasps erupted from the onlookers, their disbelief palpable.
"Even Zhao Yan, the strongest in the Zhao family below the Xuanwu Realm, couldn't stand against him?"
"This… this is monstrous!"
But Zhao Menghu's expression remained icy. "Don't panic. This child is strong, but he hasn't reached the Xuanwu Realm."
He stepped forward, his confidence unwavering. "You may have killed Zhao Yan, but today you will die. Kneel and accept your fate."
Xiao Chen chuckled darkly.
"The Zhao family all speak the same nonsense," he said. "Zhao Fu said the same before he died. Zhao Chen, too. And now you're saying it? How predictable."
His eyes narrowed as he took another step forward. "Do you wish to join them in death?"
"How dare you!" Zhao Menghu barked.
Before he could make his move, more than thirty Spirit Incarnation Realm experts surrounded Xiao Chen, their murderous intent palpable.
"Kill him!" one of them roared.
Spiritual energy surged as they unleashed their strongest techniques, creating a storm of blade lights, sword shadows, and spear strikes. The energy was so immense that it seemed to tear the air apart.
Zhao Menghu smirked. "This is the might of the Zhao family!"
But Xiao Chen merely sneered.
"You're all rushing to die? Very well."
With a single stomp, Xiao Chen shot into the air like a cannonball, charging into the midst of his enemies.
Boom!
His fist shattered the defenses of three Spirit Incarnation Realm experts, sending them crashing into distant pillars.
The Spirit-Slaying Sword in his hand glinted as it cleaved through two more experts with a single sweep.
One after another, the Zhao family's strongest fighters fell like leaves in a storm. Their attacks couldn't even graze Xiao Chen's robes.
It was an overwhelming massacre.
In moments, the courtyard was littered with bodies. Cries of pain echoed as the once-mighty experts of the Zhao family writhed on the ground, defeated.
"You've truly angered me!" Zhao Menghu's roar thundered as he unleashed the full might of his Xuanwu Realm cultivation.
Above him, a massive seal materialized, radiating brilliant light and emanating sharp Blade Qi and Sword Qi.
"Xuanwu Realm Seal!" someone exclaimed in awe.
"Master Zhao has made his move!"
The seal descended with crushing force, its power enough to level a city.
The onlookers held their breath, their gazes locked on Xiao Chen.
Despite everything, Xiao Chen stood tall, his expression unyielding. At just sixteen years old, he had single-handedly defeated the Zhao family's Spirit Incarnation Realm experts. Even in the face of a Xuanwu Realm foe, he showed no fear.
Zhao Menghu's killing intent surged as he charged at Xiao Chen. "Die!"
His first strike was meant to end it all.