Centre of the Tianjian Clan Market — Tai Mu Mountain
The heart of the Tianjian Clan market lay in ruins.
Moments ago, this place had been filled with bargaining voices, clinking spirit stones, and the faint hum of formation lights. Now, an unnatural silence pressed down like a heavy weight.
Cracked stone tiles spread outward from the center in a spiderweb pattern. Several stalls had collapsed entirely—wooden frames shattered, banners torn apart, shelves overturned. Spirit herbs were scattered across the ground, their faint glow flickering weakly as dust and debris settled over them.
A shallow crater marked the epicenter.
People lay strewn across the market floor. Some struggled to sit up, clutching their chests in disbelief. Others leaned against broken counters, legs trembling, faces pale as paper. Even seasoned cultivators found it difficult to steady their breathing.
At the very center of it all—
Fang Lin stood upright.
No wounds.
No scratches.
Not even a tear on his robes—except for a few dried blood droplets that clearly did not belong to him.
It was as if the destruction around him had deliberately avoided his body.
The golden bell-shaped projection that had protected him moments earlier was fading now, dissolving into countless motes of light that vanished into the air. As it disappeared, the pressure that had crushed the market finally lifted.
Only then did the whispers erupt.
"How… is he unharmed?"
"That attack just now—wasn't that enough to kill a Rank Four cultivator?"
"Was that… an artifact?"
"No—what kind of artifact does this?"
Fear crept into every voice.
The three black-hooded attackers lay far from the center, thrown back like discarded dolls. Their weapons—once sharp and brimming with killing intent—were broken, bent, or reduced to fragments scattered across the ground.
Mu Chen stared blankly, his mind refusing to process what his eyes had seen.
Vren tightened his grip on his sword, throat dry, instinct screaming that he had just witnessed something far beyond his understanding.
The stall seller knelt on the ground, hands shaking, unable to even gather his fallen spirit stones.
Even the Lin family youths—who had moments earlier stood arrogantly—were now frozen, their confidence shattered more thoroughly than the market itself.
Fang Lin, however, paid none of them any attention.
Fang Lin stood in the middle of the market, trying to make sense of the chaos that had just unfolded. Broken stalls, fallen weapons, and frightened faces surrounded him, yet his mind felt strangely calm—as if he were detached from everything around him.
Suddenly, a figure burst out from the crowd.
A girl ran toward him in panic, her steps unsteady. Before Fang Lin could even react, she reached him and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
For a brief moment, Fang Lin froze in surprise.
"I heard the sound of the explosion," she said, her voice trembling with fear and relief. "I rushed here as fast as I could… I was afraid you might be hurt."
Her words were heavy with worry, as if she had been holding it in ever since she heard the blast.
Only then did Fang Lin slowly come back to his senses, realizing that someone had been genuinely worried about him—worried enough to run straight into danger.
Around them, the whispers in the market grew even louder.
Some stared in shock.
Some in disbelief.
Others in silent confusion.
Fang Lin's mind raced.
Who would care this much…? he thought. Who would be so worried about me that she would rush here without hesitation?
This kind of reaction… it almost feels like how people act when they are deeply afraid of losing someone.
He lowered his gaze and finally noticed her clearly.
Long red hair flowed freely down her back, slightly disheveled from running. She was wearing a gray-blue robe, dust clinging to its edges.
"C–Could it be…?
No… that's impossible…"
Fang Lin quickly placed a hand on her shoulder and gently moved her back, creating some distance. Only then could he see her face properly.
His eyes widened.
"T–Tian Xueya?" he said in shock.
Tian Xueya looked up at him. Her delicate face was pale, and her eyes were filled with unshed tears—clear signs of real fear and worry.
She raised her hands and lightly held the sides of his face, her voice trembling as she spoke,
"Is it wrong for me to worry about you this much?"
Her tone wasn't possessive or demanding—only filled with relief that he was still standing there, unharmed.
For the first time since the chaos began, Fang Lin felt something inside his chest tighten—
not fear,
not anger,
but something unfamiliar.
Concern.
And confusion.
__ _ _ _ _ __
A short distance away from the scene, one of the hooded attackers stood frozen.
At some point, his hood had slipped off. Messy blond hair fell over his forehead, dust and grime clinging to it, yet his eyes were sharp—watching everything that had just happened.
Watching her.
His fingers slowly curled into a fist.
His lips trembled as he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with disbelief and bitterness,
"No… this can't be happening."
His gaze locked onto Tian Xueya standing near Fang Lin.
"You can't be with him," he whispered, jealousy and obsession burning in his eyes.
-----------
Fang Lin gently but firmly removed Xueya's hands from his face.
His expression turned calm—unnervingly calm—and his voice was cold as ice.
"Enough," he said quietly.
"Right now, I want to see who it is that's so desperate to kill me."
His eyes sharpened, a dangerous glint flashing within them.
"I want to know who dares attack the Fang family's rising star in broad daylight."
As his words faded, his gaze slowly shifted past Xueya—
—and locked onto the figures in black hooded cloaks standing within the ruined market.
The air around him seemed to tighten.
The crowd fell silent.
**************
Inside the Lin family's main meeting hall, no one yet knew what had truly happened in the market.
The elders sat relaxed, some even laughing softly.
"Heh, that Fang Lin?" one of them scoffed.
"He's still the same as before—timid, cowardly, always lowering his head."
Another chuckled, shaking his head.
"Exactly. Even if he awakened with talent, people like him don't change. Our young masters are nothing like that disgrace."
They compared their young masters to the old Fang Lin again and again, their smiles filled with confidence and mockery—
completely unaware that the Fang Lin they spoke of no longer existed.
***********
Inside the Yan family's grand hall, the atmosphere was lively and proud.
At the head seat, Yan Qingshan leaned back with a satisfied smile, his hands resting calmly on the armrests of his chair. The elders below listened attentively as he spoke.
"My son has finally grown," Yan Qingshan said, his voice filled with confidence.
"Today, his name is spreading throughout the clan. Everywhere I go, people speak of his talent and courage."
One elder nodded approvingly.
"The young master truly lives up to the Yan family's expectations."
Another added with a light laugh,
"With achievements like this, our family's reputation will only rise higher."
Yan Qingshan's smile deepened.
"Let him experience the world a little more. Hardship tempers steel. By the time he returns, the entire Tianjian Clan will know the Yan family's name."
Laughter echoed softly through the hall
none of them aware that the day's events were already spiraling far beyond their imagination,
and that the name they praised so confidently was standing on the edge of something far darker.
************
Inside the Verdant Jade Garden of the Que family manor, medicinal fragrance lingered in the air. Rows of spirit herbs swayed gently beneath the sunlight, each leaf shimmering with faint vitality.
Que Hongyuan, the Que family head, walked calmly along the stone path, his hands clasped behind his back. Beside him walked his daughter, Que Lianhua, her expression refined, yet her eyes carried an unmistakable pride.
"This is the Frostleaf Orchid," Que Hongyuan said, stopping near a glowing herb.
"It requires extremely stable spiritual roots. Even a minor flaw in aptitude can cause it to wither."
Que Lianhua smiled faintly, her lips curving with quiet disdain.
"Just like cultivators, Father. Some people gain attention too early… and mistake it for true strength."
She paused, then spoke with a light scoff,
"I heard Fang Lin possesses A-grade aptitude. Yet from what I see, he's nothing special."
Que Hongyuan let out a soft chuckle, his tone indifferent.
"Aptitude is merely a starting point. Many so-called geniuses shine briefly before being crushed by reality."
His gaze drifted toward the distant pavilions of the clan.
"Without heritage, proper guidance, and restraint, even A-grade talent is bound to waste itself."
Que Lianhua laughed softly.
"Then Fang Lin is just another stepping stone—someone destined to be surpassed."
The garden remained serene, spirit herbs quietly absorbing heaven and earth's essence—
****************
Wei Shun hurried toward the center of the market, irritation clearly written across his face. He murmured under his breath,
"Damn it… because of that Fang Lin, I ended up wasting a whole white spiritual stone without even getting anything out of it. I don't get those easily in the first place…"
His steps slowed slightly as resentment deepened.
"Today, after so much work, the Sixth Supreme Elder finally gave me one… and now it's gone. Just like that."
Then, a sudden explosive sound echoed from the center of the market.
Wei Shun's eyes widened in shock.
"What was that…?" he muttered, his expression changing instantly.
"The center of the market…?"
A trace of disbelief appeared on his face.
"I've always heard that fights never break out within the Tianjian Clan's territory. The people here are supposed to be righteous… strictly bound by rules."
An uneasy feeling rose in his chest as he instinctively quickened his pace, his gaze fixed in the direction of the disturbance.
When he finally saw it, Wei Shun froze, his face a mix of shock and disbelief. Then, slowly, a small, incredulous smile curled on his lips.
"What… what is this?" he murmured. "The boy everyone dismissed as ordinary… today, he took down three men by himself. Not a scratch, not a bruise…"
His eyes widened as they landed on the girl clinging to Fang Lin—one of the Southern Wildlands' top three beauties. His mind raced. How could a single Awakening Ceremony change a person this much? From timid, bullied, and weak… to this?
Wei Shun's lips quirked in a calculating smile. "Interesting… very interesting."
He rubbed his chin, taking a step closer to the crowd without being noticed. This boy… Fang Lin… he's not just strong. He's cunning, precise, and ruthless when he needs to be. If he's already like this now, after just one Awakening, how strong will he be after he fully cultivates?
His heart raced, not with fear, but with the thrill of curiosity. I need to see this more closely. I need to know how far this rising star of the Fang family can go… and whether he will be a threat—or an asset.
Wei Shun's eyes flicked between Fang Lin, the fallen men, and the protective girl. His thoughts spun faster than his heartbeat. Huh… a single ceremony, and the whole dynamic of Tianjian Clan's young generation could shift. This is… unprecedented.
The corner of his mouth lifted again. "Interesting… very, very interesting indeed."
Wei Shun stepped out of the crowd, moving directly toward Fang Lin, who was advancing toward the hooded boy.
As he reached Fang Lin, he dropped to one knee, folding his hands over his bent knee and bowing his head respectfully. His voice was calm, cold, and without a trace of arrogance.
"Young Lord Fang Lin… please forgive me for arriving late," he said, keeping his tone neutral and composed, as if duty alone guided him.
There was no hesitation in his words, no pride—just the measured respect of someone acknowledging a superior's presence.
Fang Lin was taken aback as someone suddenly showed him respect. Looking down slightly, he thought to himself, "Who is this? White robe again… must be from my family, the Fang family. If they're kneeling before me, they're probably just a servant."
He straightened up and said firmly, "Who are you, and why are you here right now? Did the family head summon you?"
Wei Shun quickly stood, his posture precise and respectful. "No, no, Lord Fang Lin. The family head didn't send any summons. I was only assigned to keep an eye on you, . But I got caught up in some matters and couldn't pay attention."
Wei Shun's appearance was slightly unusual—light red hair that barely reached his neck, and a small metal ornament on his right ear, golden in color. His face was fair and sharp; anyone seeing him on Earth would probably mistake him for a model.
Fang Lin's eyes widened slightly. "Keep an eye on me… but why?"
Wei Shun ran his hand through the back of his hair. "It's nothing major. Just to observe and, if anyone tries to bully you, to inform the family head immediately."
Fang Lin's gaze swept over him from head to toe, measuring every detail. Then he asked, "So… did you see if anyone tried to bully me?"
Wei Shun lowered his head respectfully. "Forgive me… I didn't notice. But I can help you now, if you wish."
Fang Lin looked at him for a moment, then slid his Azure Silent Gleam sword back into its sheath. "If you want to help… then you came at the right time. Bring those hooded guys and the two in the green robe to me—quickly."
Wei Shun didn't hesitate even for a breath.
"Yes, Lord Fang Lin."
The moment the words left his mouth, his figure blurred. With swift, practiced steps, he slipped into the chaotic crowd, his presence sharp yet controlled—clearly someone used to carrying out orders in dangerous situations.
Fang Lin remained standing where he was, calm and composed, as if the destruction around him had nothing to do with him. His gaze stayed fixed in the direction of the fallen hooded figures, cold and unreadable.
Around him, the market had fallen into an uneasy silence.
People who had been whispering moments ago now swallowed their words. Some instinctively stepped back, others stared with fear and curiosity mixed together.
"That's Fang Lin…"
"He really isn't the same anymore."
"Even the Fang family's people are obeying him…"
Tian Xueya stood slightly behind him, watching his back. For some reason, it felt broader than before—steadier. She clenched her fingers lightly, worry still in her eyes, but mixed with something new… trust.
Not far away, the injured hooded men struggled to move. One of them, blond-haired and furious, clenched his teeth when he saw Wei Shun approaching.
"Who are you?" he spat.
Wei Shun's eyes were cold, professional.
"Someone you shouldn't have crossed."
He grabbed them without unnecessary force—yet there was no room for resistance.
As they were dragged back toward the center, Fang Lin finally spoke again, his voice low but carrying clearly through the broken market.
"Now," he said calmly,
"let's find out who really wanted me dead."
__ _ _ _ ___
Amidst the destruction, at the very center of the market stood an old square-shaped building with three floors.
It was an ancient wooden house—its gates and windows tightly shut. The structure looked royal and dignified, yet no one lived there. Over the years, it had become nothing more than a forgotten relic.
From the second floor, a mysterious figure had been watching everything—from the very beginning until the very end.
The figure wore a black conical hat and a blue-grey robe, giving off a sharp, assassin-like aura. His face was completely concealed behind a black mist, making his features impossible to discern.
He softly murmured, his voice calm yet chilling,
"So this is how things are unfolding…
It seems this change will shake the entire clan."
The next moment, his body blurred, turning into a thin veil of mist.
And just like that—
He vanished without a trace.