'Close range, long range, and finally, strength...' The WindBlade Emperor's words trailed off as he dusted himself off, wincing slightly from the aches coursing through his battered body.

Grains of dirt and debris fell away as he waved a calloused hand, dispersing the lingering cloud of dust kicked up by his own devastating attack.

His frame rose slowly, every muscle protesting from the exertion as he regained his footing. Sharp eyes, burning with an indomitable spirit, locked onto Ji Wuye, whose calm crimson gaze met his steadily, unfaltering.

'This young man...' The WindBlade Emperor's inward musing was accompanied by a low rumble resonating from his interal body—the howling incarnation of the very Wind Qi that coiled through his meridians like a tempest, filling his Dantians with raw, elemental power.

His fingers tightened around the hilt of his jian, now little more than a shattered remnant after their clash. '...has everything.' His steely gaze flicked down, jaw clenching almost imperceptibly at the sight of his broken blade.

"Remarkable," he remarked aloud, the simple word carrying weight despite his tone being devoid of arrogance or conceit. The WindBlade Emperor's eyes narrowed faintly as he studied the young man before him—Ji Wuye's sharp features sculpted into a visage of striking handsomeness, framed by locks of windswept white hair.

Yet there was no mistaking the power lying beneath that elegant exterior. Despite the open praise, Ji Wuye capped the Emperor's words with a courteous, flowing gesture, cupping his hands together.

"It's my honor to receive such praise from one of the Five Emperors," Ji Wuye replied evenly, his voice calm and measured, betraying neither excessive humility nor overconfidence.

His piercing gaze never wavered as he observed the WindBlade Emperor, assessing his state with scrutinizing eyes. 'He hasn't gone all out yet,' the thought rang clearly in Ji Wuye's mind.

The recollection of their most recent clash replayed vividly—the explosive release of energies colliding, the thunderous concussions of force meeting force that seemed to fracture the very air around them.

Ji Wuye knew this was merely a warm-up for the WindBlade Emperor. Zone, Sword Zone, and lastly elemental control — rumored to be attainable only upon reaching the 9th realm, as the Black Thunder Emperor’s jaw-dropping display had already proven during his arrival, when he fought against the Elders and the Patriarch.

'And he only displayed his martial moves so far...' Ji Wuye thought.

"But young man, you still haven't answered my question," The WindBlade Emperor spoke.

As the WindBlade Emperor spoke, the debris surrounding him began to stir, scraps of earth and shattered stone lifting slowly into the air as if drawn upward by some invisible, rising force.

The broken hilt still clutched in his grasp suddenly became enveloped in a miniature cyclone—a concentrated vortex of howling wind that whipped his robes and whirled the dust into a frenzy around him.

"How is it that you are so proficient with my martial art?" he asked, his sharp tone now underpinned by an intensity that seemed to grow in tandem with the escalating windstorm.

But before Ji Wuye could respond, both he and the Emperor instinctively shifted aside as a hunched, elderly figure suddenly materialized between them, appearing without warning across the vast distance that separated the two combatants moments before.

Draped in flowing white martial robes adorned with dark yellow stripes, the diminutive yet commanding presence of the old man stood in stark contrast to the swirling maelstrom. With an almost casual flick of his gnarled hand, the cyclone dissipated in an instant, the howling winds falling still as the dense cloud of kicked-up dust and debris scattered.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"With the Black Thunder Emperor at the front and the WindBlade Emperor at the back, have the two of you officially decided to turn Kunlun into your enemy?" The elderly figure's stern voice cut through the stillness like a razor.

This was none other than the Grand Elder, who now surveyed the ruined courtyard with an evident frown—taking in the shattered stone, massive craters, and obliterated landscape resulting from their apocalyptic clash.

Ji Wuye reacted instantly, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture towards the newly arrived Elder. "Greetings, Grand Elder." The WindBlade Emperor immediately followed suit, mirroring the deferential move despite his lofty status as he replied, his tone resolute yet tinged with solemnity.

"Greetings, Senior. No, I'm not like that rash and reckless old man. I am merely here to see my disciple." His piercing gaze remained steady as he refuted the accusation, the words seeming sincere. Yet words alone could not undo the catastrophic results of their unrestrained battle, no matter how genuinely intended.

"You claim you are 'seeing,' yet this is how you decide to arrive? Then tell me—what difference is there between you and the Black Thunder Emperor?" The Grand Elder's retort sliced through the air, his sharp, narrowed eyes scrutinizing the WindBlade Emperor's form with a critical gaze.

His piercing stare took in the disheveled state of the WindBlade Emperor—loose strands of raven hair whipping across his face, the traces of blood at the corner of his mouth, the tattered remains of his robes hanging loosely from his powerful frame.

"It's merely a misunderstanding," the WindBlade Emperor replied, his tone courteous and demeanor unchanged despite the condemning accusations. "I was simply curious about how this young disciple could be so proficient in executing my martial art." As he spoke, he gestured an open palm towards Ji Wuye, acknowledging the peculiarity that had piqued his interest.

Ji Wuye remained an impassive observer, silently taking in the heated exchange between the two Seniors. He had no intention of meddling in their affairs unbidden. However, now that the WindBlade Emperor had referred to him directly...

"That's none of your business," the Grand Elder cut him off curtly, his sharp tone leaving no room for discussion. Just then, the sudden sound of soft footfalls echoed, seemingly out of place amidst the tense confrontation.

A young woman emerged from behind Ji Wuye, her delicate figure casting no shadow as she stepped into the warm rays of the daylight sun filtering through the dust-choked air. Her gaze swept across the decimated scene before her, unflinching.

Without a moment's hesitation, she suddenly broke into a run, brushing past both Ji Wuye and the Grand Elder in a flutter of flowing silk.

"Master!" Her voice rang out, light and cheerful, belying the destruction surrounding them. Delicate features betrayed no more than twenty years of age—a radiant vision of youthful beauty.

Silky tresses the warm shade of maple leaves in autumn danced in gentle waves just past her shoulders, swaying with each stride. Luminous eyes, deep and rich like polished acorns, sparkled with unrestrained joy as she closed the distance.

Flinging her slender arms around the WindBlade Emperor in an eager embrace, the young woman's heart-shaped face glowed with an innocent, beaming smile that seemed to emanate light itself into the rubble-strewn ruin.

Of course, there could be no mistaking her identity—she was none other than Song Jia, disciple of the WindBlade Emperor himself.

"This girl..." The WindBlade Emperor's stern expression softened almost imperceptibly as the corners of his mouth curved into a rare, gentle smile.

His calloused hand rose to tenderly stroke Song Jia's silken tresses, the paternal gesture seeming at odds with his imposing aura moments before. "How did you notice I was here?" he asked, his gruff tone now softened with unmistakable affection.

Pulling back slightly from the embrace, Song Jia responded with an exaggerated pout, her delicate brows furrowing in a display of mock offense as she snorted lightly. "

You show up here without even a message to let me know?" The rebuke flowed easily from her lips, yet the spark of playful mirth danced in her deep ochre eyes, swiftly melting the feigned displeasure from her radiant features.

Her expression shifted once more, nose wrinkling ever so slightly as the faint metallic scent of blood reached her—a crimson trails left by their still-unexplained clash.

On the other hand...

Ji Wuye observed with slightly widening and narrwoing eyes, the intimate exchange from the sidelines with subtle curiosity, witnessing a side of Song Jia he had never seen before.

The Song Jia he knew, determined young woman he knew so well was now displaying an entirely different persona—an almost girlish demeanor, playful and affectionate in a way that reminded him of how his own Senior Sisters. 'So even she can display a face like that,' he mused inwardly, a slight quirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Then, as if suddenly recalling their present company, Song Jia froze mid-conversation, her widening eyes flicking away from her Master's fond gaze. Following her line of sight, Song Jia's eyes landed squarely on the figure of the Grand Elder, causing her to visibly start.

"Ah! Greetings, Grand Elder!" she exclaimed, rapidly cupping her hands together in a gesture of respect. It was only then that her roving eyes finally found Ji Wuye lingering behind, their gazes locking momentarily.

"Greetings, Sister Song," Ji Wuye replied evenly, allowing the faintest of nods in acknowledgment.

For Song Jia, the juxtaposition of Ji Wuye's casual presence alongside her Master and the Grand Elder, coupled with the chaotic scene surrounding them, stirred a growing sense of unease.

While she maintained her respectful bow, cupping her hands obediently, her eyes began darting back and forth, rapidly taking in every shattered detail of the decimated training grounds.

The cavernous pits gouged into the earth. The countless stones, shattered into jagged shards as if by the force of terrible impacts. The dark, viscous smears that could only be spilled blood. The unnaturally contorted forms of lifeless bodies scattered amidst the rubble...

Her delicate features froze, the playful warmth draining away as Song Jia's widening eyes took in the full, grisly scene. Slowly, almost reluctantly, she turned back to face her Master, her expression a mixture of stunned disbelief and growing concern.

"M-Master...did you kill those disciples?"