Within the woods, in Jian Feng's typical training spot.

Here young Jian Feng was training and analyzing his martial skills. He was freshly thirteen, and his jet black hair was thrown across his head in a bizarre manner. His face was handsome and fearless, far above average. His most peculiar feature was his bottomless eyes, which carried a heroic spirit that seemed as if it wanted to either study the world or challenge it. Coupled with his jet-black hair, Jian Feng was immediately recognizable as a leading youth.

"Cloud Step, Middle-Class Martial Skill." Jian Feng muttered to himself, remembering the middle-class skill he had picked up from the library. Although he was unable to actually train it, he was currently perceiving the mysteries within it.

"A single step so elusive and quick it seems as if you were on top of a cloud. Once trained at higher levels, it would be nearly impossible for the enemy to touch you. Requires level Six Body Transformation." Jian Feng kept on reading and inquiring about the skill. He completely skipped over the cultivation requirement, as it rarely ever mattered to him.

"The whole point is to use one's Qi and move it to their feet, allowing them to carry themselves a farther distance than usual - and faster. It's definitely a helpful movement technique." Jian Feng was satisfied, then got up to begin training it himself. After only a couple glances at the instructions and demonstrations within the book, he understood the basic movements.

"Although I'm unable to use Qi...I must master these footsteps and integrate them into my normal movements." And with that, Jian Feng began to move and dash around just as the martial skill described.

At first, he looked like a fool just dashing around and around! But after more and more attempts, his footsteps seemed to become closer and closer to the demonstration in the skill! Of course, the process wasn't easy, and Jian Feng had been learning and studying the art for several days before this.

To use a martial skill without the most important element - Qi! How many could do this? How could it be easy?

But Jian Feng persisted on and on, training until his fundamental movements looked the same as the skill itself. Although Jian Feng's version couldn't compare to an actual Level Six artist - it was still impressive!

And before too long, Jian Feng completely perceived the mysteries of the martial skill - and his footsteps seemed almost cloudy and indiscernible. His speed went up by a small amount, but the most important part was that he fundamentally understood the movement skill itself!

If Jian Feng were to be able to access the massive amount of Qi jailed up within his dantian - he would be able to use this martial art like no other!

"Ahhh. That's one more skill learned, I should go back to the Martial Library and pick up another one. But I think the library running out...truly lamentable." Jian Feng wiped the sweat off his brow and changed shirts. It was still mentally taxing to study advanced skill like that, but he had become used to it. No one knew as many skills from the Martial Library as him!

But at the same time, Jian Feng knew his power was still weak. He predicted his fighting capacity to cap around the Third or Fourth Level; not being able to use Qi greatly hindered his strength. But this was already impressive, and if anyone else were to know of such strength they would be shocked!

It was still midday, and Jian Feng quickly departed to the Martial Library to pick another skill. But when he arrived there, it was already good into the evening so many other youths were there as well.

"Jian Feng, you're here?" A sneer came from the youth outside the library, coming from a young boy who Jian Feng immediately recognized. This was Jian Su, one of Jian Hui's lackeys. Surrounding him were a group of similarly aged boys and girls, all the adorers of Jian Hui.

"Of course I'm here, don't you see me?" Jian Feng had zero tolerance for those like Jian Su - after all, all they did was torment the weak and fear the strong. They had mocked him since he was young, where was the need for courtesies?

"You're tongue still remains sharp, it would be a shame if someone were to cut off. Stay grateful that you are the Clan Lord's son, cripple." Jian Su spat out with viciousness, to the laughter of his surrounding group of lackeys. He had always held Jian Feng with disregard, just like the others in the clan.

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"Didn't you recently breakthrough into the Third Level? Why are you wasting time talking to me, a cripple? Truly, you must have something better to do." Jian Feng spoke out loud, refusing to allow Jian Su the right of way in the argument. But at the same time, he didn't want to waste time talking to a group of fools and proceeded to walk to the open doors of the library.

"Jian Feng, don't you know Jian Hui is inside the library? I don't think you even have the right to step inside the library at all, forget about it when a genius like Jian Hui is there! Stay outside!" Jian Su became even more aggressive, shouting out for Jian Feng to halt his steps.

"You don't have the right to tell me where I can or cannot go. Shut your mouth, dog." Jian Feng was already annoyed at seeing Jian Su and his foolish group and was quickly losing patience with them. He simply wanted to pick another skill, he didn't want to be harassed.

"Jian Feng, you cripple, dare talk to my friend like that? It seems no one has ever disciplined in your life. I, as a peer of yours, should take that duty upon myself." At that moment, another voice came from inside the old library. It was a brown-haired youth whose voice was full of demeaning arrogance.

This was Jian Hui - the number one talent in the Jian Clan! Pride and arrogance were written all over his face, and disregard and disgust molded his eyes as he looked at Jian Feng. He clearly didn't have good intentions.

"Jian Hui, you talk about discipline but clearly it is your lackey here who is barking at me. If you are unable to even train your dogs, how can you possibly talk about disciplining me - a human?" Jian Feng's voice immediately retorted Jian Hui - causing the entire library to shush. The surrounding Jian Clan youths were shocked - this Jian Feng truly has bravery above all!

"Good, good, you have such a tongue. But I always ask myself, can you ever back up such talk!" Jian Hui burst out in fury - how could a mere cripple talk to him like such? Clearly, this boy understood neither talent nor strength!

"You want to fight a mere mortal and call yourself the number one genius of the clan? Get out of my face!" Jian Feng was already tired of the nonsense, and rose his voice against Jian Hui! He clearly knew no bounds!

But in truth, Jian Feng knew what he was doing. He knew that no matter how furious Jian Hui would be, there was no way he could cause harm to Jian Feng - as the Clan forbid outright fighting amongst youths. Not to mention, the two had argued since they were young - why show courtesy now?

Jian Hui, after all, was the son of the First Elder. This immediately made Jian Feng, the son of the Clan Lord, Jian Hui's enemy. But when the news came out Jian Feng was simply a cripple with damaged meridians, Jian Hui found himself without a rival in the clan and just disgust for Jian Feng.

But Jian Feng refused to lie down obediently to Jian Hui from a very young age. Jian Feng knew that he was the Clan Lord's adopted son, and despite his own lack of cultivation, he refused to let his father's name go to shame! This is why he always retorted against those who opposed him while keeping his depths hidden.

But today, in this escalating conflict between the two, a plot began.

"Jian Feng, I am tired of your useless battering. Sixth Elder, call the other elders here!" Jian Hui hissed out, calling out to Sixth Elder who was at the door to the library. The Sixth Elder made a confused expression, as this wasn't a matter that needed the attention of the Elders.

"Jian Hui...Elders cannot be summoned so easily." Sixth Elder spoke carefully, as he knew the power behind Jian Hui was the First Elder. But with Jian Hui status as the number one of the genius in the clan, the truth was, he could probably summon the elders even without the First Elder's influence.

"Sixth Elder, do as I say!" Jian Hui arrogantly spat out, crossing his arms as he venomously smirked as he scanned Jian Feng. At that moment, Jian Feng felt that something was wrong!

"Calling the elders...what for? Are your feelings really so soft you have to rely on those of the older generation?" Jian Feng spoke out, as his mind began to contemplate exactly what Jian Hui was thinking. The Elder's were the leaders of the clan, and this was a simple word-to-word conflict. There was clearly something bigger happening here!

In only a few moments, a bunch of figures began to walk towards the martial library, surrounding the two boys in a semi-circle. They were all older gentlemen, with the Sixth Elder being among the youngest there, and they were all the experts in the Clan!

Strangely, they were all here today - which was a rare occurrence! Usually at least one or two elders would be out handling foreign business, it wasn't often all of them would be in the clan at once!

"This is a setup!" Jian Feng thought to himself and sensed that things were suddenly becoming really bad. He looked at the man in front of the elders, wrapped in gray clothes and having similar facial features to Jian Hui.

This was the First Elder, the father of Jian Hui! And from the smirk on his face, clearly, all of this was in his expectations!

"Today, in front of all the Elders, I challenge you - Jian Feng to a life and death battle in the training area!" Jian Hui, seeing all the elders gathered, suddenly cried out almost righteously. He pointed his finger at Jian Feng, to gather momentum, and made his proud declaration.

This...this was bad!