"I've finally managed to find one. You can move back, Brother Fang—go look for Boufeng," Chan Chan's voice echoed through the mist.
"Really? Are you sure? The stimulant I took is about to run out anyway. Be careful," Mo Fang said before turning and running off in search of Boufeng.
"Ha… they may be scumbags, but at least they look after each other," Lian thought as he pushed himself off the ground.
"They got me good—hahaha. Fighting really is fascinating. You get to see all kinds of techniques. Who knew that Wind Essence could overpower Fire Essence? It even multiplied my attack's power… how grand."
His expression tightened.
"Mmm… but what did she mean by saying she was ready? I have to pa—"
"Craaaaawwwww!"
A sharp, piercing cry tore through the mist.
"What—? A high-tier demonic beast…?" Lian's eyes widened.
"Was it drawn here because of all the fighting…?"
He twisted aside just in time, dodging the first strike.
The massive creature flew straight past him and hovered above Chan Chan's head, its wings beating heavily as it let out another shrill cry.
"Hehehe," Chan Chan giggled softly.
"Like Brother Fang told you—hand over that bag, and we'll let you go."
Her eyes gleamed coldly through the fog.
"You may be strong, but there's no way you can fight both a fifth-tier beast and me in your current condition."
She raised her flute slightly.
"You've already used too much Qi."
She spoke with a huge grin stretching across her face.
"Yeah. Had it been any other time, I would've been in serious trouble. But now that I've gained an understanding of something… there's no way I'm losing."
Lian reached into his bag, pulled out a Yin Lily, and stuffed it straight into his mouth.
Normally, such a spiritual flower would need to be refined into a medicinal pellet before consumption. But from the fight earlier, Lian had realised something crucial.
He could refine it inside his own body.
The flames within his dantian ignited, wrapping around the Yin Lily as it dissolved. At the same time, faint traces of Wind Qi were drawn in, circulating alongside the fire and enhancing the refinement process.
Though Lian hadn't consciously grasped the Law of Wind during the fight, he had caught its essence—just enough to imitate its function.
"I don't know how… but every time I deflected those blades, the lotus absorbed wisps of Wind Qi and refined them."
His brow furrowed.
"Just what is this lotus? Ever since I obtained it, my cultivation has been advancing at an absurd speed. I'll have to investigate it properly later."
His eyes sharpened.
Lian sent his Will Qi surging forward.
It crashed down on Chan Chan—and the massive beast hovering above her.
"Oh…?" Lian's lips curled upward.
"A Thunderbird."
A pulse of excitement surged through him.
"A fifth-tier beast… perfect."
If he killed it,
"I'll have all the points I need to qualify."
His gaze burned with intent.
"The Martial Roots of a Supreme… they'll be mine."
"Nice of you to bring the beast straight to me," Lian's voice boomed as he stepped forward.
"It would've been a hassle searching all over for a magical beast."
"You—!"
Chan Chan's face twisted with fury.
"Keep underestimating me, and you'll learn what pain truly is!"
She raised her flute.
The melody shifted—sharp, violent.
The Thunderbird shrieked and shot through the air, its wings tearing the mist apart. A crackling sound echoed as lightning burst from its beak, ripping forward like a spear.
"Hng—!"
Lian twisted aside, barely avoiding the strike. The lightning grazed past him, scorching the ground behind.
"That was close," he thought grimly.
"When it comes to speed… thunder truly reigns supreme."
His eyes hardened.
"Celestial Blade—First Form!"
Lian thrust his blade forward.
Silver light erupted, slicing through the air like a divine arc. The ground split open beneath it, the fog torn apart as if reality itself had been cleaved.
"Thunderbird—defend me!" Chan Chan cried out.
The beast screeched and rushed forward, placing itself between her and the incoming attack.
Slash!
The silver light cut straight through its body.
The Thunderbird was cleaved in two.
Yet its sacrifice weakened the strike. The remaining force slammed into Chan Chan, tearing across her chest.
Blood sprayed as her robes were ripped open, left hanging loosely and torn.
"Huff… huff…"
Lian staggered slightly, breathing heavily.
"This form still drains too much," he thought.
"But at least it doesn't send me flying anymore…"
He looked down—
His blade was crumbling.
Fragments turned to dust, scattering into the air.
"…Tch."
"I guess even you couldn't withstand the pressure of the Celestial Blade," Lian thought as he stepped closer.
"In the end, the only way to truly wield that technique… is with an actual blade."
His gaze drifted to his hand.
Five stars had formed on the back of his palm.
Three glowed a deep blue.
Two pulsed with a faint purple light.
"Huh… why are they different colours?" he wondered.
He stopped in front of the fallen girl.
"She's not dead," Lian realised, narrowing his eyes.
"I thought that strike would've finished her. She's more resilient than I expected."
His gaze shifted to the side.
Her flute lay nearby—
split cleanly in half.
"So she used the flute to block…" he muttered.
Lian stood there in silence, Qi buzzing violently around his hand.
"…What now?"
"Do I kill her?"
His jaw tightened.
"It feels wrong… finishing someone who can't even fight back."
For a moment, the pressure around him grew heavier.
"Damn it… damn it."
He exhaled sharply.
"…Tch."
"Ah—fuck it," Lian said quietly.
"Looks like it's your lucky day."
He turned away.
Pulling another handful of herbs from his bag, he stuffed them into his mouth as he walked off, the Qi around him gradually calming.
Then—
A furious roar echoed from the distance.
"You monster!"
"What do you think you're doing to Boufēng?!"
Mo Fang's voice thundered across the battlefield.