Jian Wu’s heart burned with fighting will, his entire being radiating killing intent. Facing Yu Wenyan, he quickly assessed his opponent’s cultivation level. The man was in the early stages of the second level of the Celestial Body Stage, but his Qi was chaotic and unstable—a clear sign of a weak foundation. Despite being a level lower, Jian Wu felt no fear.

“As long as I’m not up against a second-level cultivator with a solid foundation or advanced techniques, I won’t lose,” he thought, his confidence unwavering.

During his three-month journey to Blue Cloud City, he spent all his time in cultivation, reaching the peak of the first level of the Celestial Body Stage. His progress was astonishing, but Jian Wu knew that cultivation alone wasn’t enough. If he wanted to follow the Martial Dao, he had to be brave and willing to risk everything.

For a cultivator, true strength came from life-and-death battles. Only by standing on the brink of death could a cultivator sharpen their skills and break through their limits. Those who relied solely on meditation and safe techniques would inevitably hit a bottleneck and never progress further. Jian Wu understood this better than anyone. He had no intention of staying low in this lifetime. He welcomed all life-and-death battles.

“This one is perfect,” Jian Wu thought. “He’s weak enough to handle, yet strong enough to push me. I need this fight.”

With his fighting spirit blazing like fire, Jian Wu charged forward, his movements fluid and precise—a storm of deadly intent. His strike was sharp and decisive, closing the distance between them with astonishing speed.

When Yu Wenyan saw the boy charging at him with deadly precision, he swung his knife. The blade whistled through the air, aiming straight for Jian Wu’s throat. If it didn’t kill him, it would at least force him to slow down. But Jian Wu, with instincts sharpened from his rebirth, moved quickly. He sidestepped with calculated precision, the blade missing him by mere inches.

Yu Wenyan stumbled slightly from the failed strike, leaving himself open. Jian Wu wasted no time. His fist shot out, landing a powerful punch to Yu Wenyan’s ribs. The force was far greater than Yu Wenyan had expected from someone so young. He gasped in pain, taking a step back to steady himself.

“You’re stronger than you look, kid,” Yu Wenyan spat, clutching his side. His eyes burned with anger as he raised his knife again. “But you’re not leaving here alive! Blazing Fang Slash!”

With a loud roar, his knife began to glow faintly with a reddish aura. Yu Wenyan swung downward with all his strength, aiming to crush Jian Wu with raw power.

Instead of dodging, Jian Wu stepped forward, closing the gap before the slash could reach its full speed. His hand struck Yu Wenyan’s wrist sharply, sending a painful shock up his arm. The knife wavered in Yu Wenyan’s grip. Seeing the opening, Jian Wu followed with a brutal elbow strike to his opponent’s face.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Yu Wenyan staggered back, blood dripping from his nose. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, his expression growing darker. “You’ll pay for that, you brat!” he snarled, planting his feet firmly on the ground. His body began to move unpredictably as he launched into a spinning strike. “Shadow Serpent Step!”

Yu Wenyan’s movements became wild and erratic as he approached. His blade slashed in a twisting, snake-like pattern, aiming at Jian Wu’s vital points.

But Jian Wu didn’t panic. His sharp eyes followed Yu Wenyan’s every move. These chaotic attacks might have overwhelmed him in his past life, but now he could see through the patterns. He waited patiently, biding his time.

When Yu Wenyan committed to a thrust aimed at his chest, Jian Wu shifted to the side. The blade missed by a hair’s breadth.

This time, Jian Wu countered with precision. His fist struck Yu Wenyan’s elbow, forcing the knife from his grip. Yu Wenyan let out a cry of pain, but before he could recover, Jian Wu grabbed his arm and twisted it. With a swift motion, he slammed Yu Wenyan to the ground. The sound of the impact echoed in the empty alley.

Yu Wenyan groaned as he scrambled back to his feet. His movements were slower now, his confidence shaken. Fear flickered in his eyes, though he tried to hide it behind bravado. “You think this is over? Rising Flame Kick!” he shouted.

Yu Wenyan leaped into the air with surprising speed, his leg igniting in flames as he aimed a powerful kick at Jian Wu’s head. The heat from the fire scorched the air around them.

But Jian Wu didn’t flinch. As the flaming kick descended, he took a single step back. The strike missed him by inches.

Before Yu Wenyan could recover from his landing, Jian Wu closed the distance in an instant. His speed was too much for Yu Wenyan to handle. Jian Wu swept his leg low, knocking Yu Wenyan’s supporting leg out from under him. The scammer hit the ground hard, groaning in pain.

Jian Wu didn’t stop. He stepped forward and brought his foot down on Yu Wenyan’s knee with cold precision. A sickening crack echoed through the alley, followed by Yu Wenyan’s agonized scream.

“Stop! Please, stop!” Yu Wenyan begged, clutching his shattered leg. Fight was finished and he knew it.

Jian Wu’s expression was cold, devoid of mercy. “Did you stop when you robbed and beat me? Did you stop when you humiliated me and left me to starve in the streets?” He lifted his foot and brought it down on Yu Wenyan’s other knee, breaking it with the same ruthless efficiency.

“What are you talking about? I’ve never seen you before, you psycho!” Yu Wenyan shouted, his voice trembling as he tried to mask his fear.

Jian Wu didn’t respond. Instead, he looked down at Yu Wenyan with a cold, unsettling smile. The aura radiating from him was oppressive, suffocating. It wasn’t the aura of a man—it was something darker, something closer to death itself.

Yu Wenyan howled in pain, his body trembling as he writhed on the ground. “You... You’re a monster...”

Jian Wu’s voice was calm, almost mocking, as he repeated Yu Wenyan’s earlier words from his past life. “This city is dangerous, brother. You really should’ve been more careful.”

With that, Jian Wu ended it. Without hesitation, he snapped Yu Wenyan’s neck. The alley fell silent.

Once he entered the sect, mana crystals would become even more crucial—for purchasing herbs, pills, and artifacts needed for cultivation. Without them, life as a cultivator would be nearly impossible. Jian Wu had chased this thief all the way here for this exact reason, and the haul had exceeded his expectations.

He slipped the ring into his pocket and straightened, casting one last glance at the lifeless body before turning away. As he made his way back to the bustling city center, his thoughts shifted toward the upcoming sect selection. His blood surged with anticipation at the prospect of testing his talent against the geniuses gathered from across the region.

“The real challenge begins now,” Jian Wu thought.