The air was thick with the stench of blood and death.
Xiao Lan stood motionless, his sword dripping crimson onto the ruined battlefield. His black eyes remained calm, yet within them burned an abyss of wrath. Across from him, a single man stood, his aura radiating with the power of a seasoned warrior.
This was no ordinary foe.
The man was tall and imposing, clad in dark, battle-worn armor. His golden eyes shone with confidence, and in his grip, he held a long black spear etched with ancient runes.
He studied Xiao Lan for a moment before chuckling. "I've killed many people in my time, but none as intriguing as you." His voice was deep, carrying the weight of countless battles.
Xiao Lan said nothing. He simply raised his sword slightly, signaling his intent.
The man smirked. "Not much of a talker, huh? Fine. My name is Jiang Wu, Commander of the Black Viper Army. You just killed my men… and now, I'll be collecting your head."
Xiao Lan exhaled slowly.
A foolish declaration.
—
BOOM!
Jiang Wu lunged, his spear a blur of motion. The sheer force behind his first strike shattered the ground beneath them. Dust and debris exploded into the air, obscuring everything in a storm of destruction.
Most cultivators wouldn't even see the attack coming.
But Xiao Lan was no ordinary cultivator.
At the last possible moment, he shifted his weight ever so slightly—the spear tip missed his throat by a mere inch.
Jiang Wu's eyes narrowed. "Fast."
But Xiao Lan was already moving.
CLANG!
A single sword strike met Jiang Wu's spear, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. The force alone was enough to split the ground open, carving a deep trench beneath them.
Jiang Wu slid back five steps.
Xiao Lan? He hadn't moved an inch.
For the first time in years, Jiang Wu felt a flicker of unease.
He tightened his grip on his spear. "Not bad. But let's see how long you last!"
He struck again.
This time, he unleashed a flurry of attacks—a hundred spear thrusts in the blink of an eye. Each strike carried enough force to rip through steel, shattering the ruins around them.
Xiao Lan moved like a phantom, his body weaving through the storm of spear strikes effortlessly.
A step forward. A twist. A sidestep. A flick of the wrist.
Each of Jiang Wu's attacks missed by the thinnest of margins. It was as if Xiao Lan already knew where every strike would land.
Jiang Wu gritted his teeth. Impossible!
He roared, pouring all of his strength into a single technique—Heaven-Piercing Fang!
A beam of golden energy erupted from his spear, tearing through the battlefield. The sheer pressure made the air tremble, distorting space itself.
There was no escaping it.
Yet, Xiao Lan didn't dodge.
He didn't block.
He cut.
His sword flickered—one clean slash.
BOOM!
The golden energy split apart. Jiang Wu's ultimate technique was erased in an instant.
A moment of silence followed.
Then—a black blur.
Before Jiang Wu could react, Xiao Lan appeared **directly in front of him.
Too fast.
Too late.
A flash of cold steel.
Jiang Wu's body froze. A sharp pain bloomed in his chest. He looked down a sword Was buried through his heart.
His golden eyes widened in disbelief. "I... I lost...?"
Xiao LAN met his gaze, his voice quit but merciless.
"You were already dead the moment you raised your spear against me."
With a flick of his wrist, he twisted the blade.
SPLURGE!
Jiang with gasped, blood spilling from his lips. The light faded from his eyes, and his body collapsed lifelessly onto the battle field.
The fight was over.
Xian LAN pulled his sword free, flicking the blood off it's blade. His expression remained unchanged.
This was only the beginning.
Suddenly--
A powerful aura surged in the distance.
Xiao man's eyes narrowed as he turned toward the horizon. A presence far greater than Jiang Wu's was approaching.
A slow smirk curled on his lips.
___