The ripple of spiritual energy grew stronger.
Chen Yu felt it first.
A cold pressure settled over the training field, like the air had suddenly become heavier.
He instinctively tightened his grip on the wooden staff.
"Senior… do you feel that?" Chen Yu asked quietly.
"Yes," Lin Tian replied.
His voice remained calm.
But his eyes were focused on the distant road leading toward the village.
From his perception, the energy signature was becoming clearer.
Compared to the weak cultivator from yesterday, this new presence was significantly stronger.
Still… in Lin Tian's perception, the energy structure remained extremely simple.
"Interesting," Lin Tian thought.
The system of cultivation on this planet appeared to rely heavily on absorbing spiritual energy from the environment.
However, the control of that energy seemed crude.
Most cultivators were simply gathering power without truly understanding its deeper structure.
Chen Yu looked nervous.
"That energy… it must be a real cultivator."
Lin Tian glanced at him.
"What makes you certain?"
Chen Yu hesitated before answering.
"In our region, ordinary people can't release that kind of pressure."
He pointed toward the village entrance.
"Only cultivators from cities or sects can do that."
The watching villagers had also started noticing something strange.
People slowly stopped their work.
Several of them gathered near the road.
Then a figure appeared.
A tall man in dark robes walked calmly toward the village.
He looked to be around thirty years old.
His posture was straight.
A sword hung at his waist.
Unlike the armored riders from yesterday, this man carried himself with quiet confidence.
Chen Yu swallowed nervously.
"That… that's definitely a cultivator."
Lin Tian observed the newcomer carefully.
The spiritual energy flowing around the man's body was far denser than Liu Kang's.
Yet Lin Tian could already see several inefficiencies in how the energy circulated.
"This world's cultivation techniques waste a great deal of energy," Lin Tian thought.
"Fascinating."
The man stopped when he reached the center of the village.
His gaze slowly scanned the surroundings.
Then his eyes landed on Lin Tian.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
The villagers held their breath.
Finally, the man stepped forward.
"Which one of you is the cultivator who drove away the tax riders yesterday?"
His voice was calm but authoritative.
Chen Yu glanced at Lin Tian.
Lin Tian simply walked forward.
"I was involved," he said.
The man studied him carefully.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You?"
"Yes."
The cultivator seemed confused.
Lin Tian's body emitted almost no spiritual pressure.
To his perception, Lin Tian looked like an ordinary person.
Yet the reports from Liu Kang clearly described someone powerful.
The man introduced himself.
"My name is Zhao Ren."
He tapped the emblem on his robe.
"I am an officer of Iron Ridge City."
The villagers immediately became tense.
Iron Ridge City controlled this entire region.
Even small officials carried significant authority.
Zhao Ren continued speaking.
"Yesterday, several riders reported encountering an unknown cultivator here."
His gaze remained fixed on Lin Tian.
"They claimed you neutralized spiritual techniques effortlessly."
Chen Yu whispered quietly.
"Senior… he sounds serious."
Lin Tian remained calm.
"That happened," he said simply.
Zhao Ren's eyes sharpened.
"You admit it openly?"
"There is nothing to hide."
Zhao Ren took a few steps closer.
"Then allow me to ask something."
Lin Tian waited.
"What cultivation realm are you?"
Chen Yu leaned forward slightly.
He also wanted to know the answer.
Lin Tian thought about the question.
"I do not use your system's classifications," he replied.
Zhao Ren frowned.
"That is not an answer."
"It is the truth."
The tension in the air increased.
Zhao Ren studied Lin Tian more carefully now.
For a moment, he released a wave of spiritual pressure.
It spread across the area like invisible gravity.
Several villagers staggered.
Chen Yu felt his chest tighten.
But Lin Tian stood completely unaffected.
The pressure dissolved around him like mist.
Zhao Ren's pupils shrank.
"Impossible."
Even experienced cultivators should react slightly to that pressure.
Yet Lin Tian looked as relaxed as if nothing had happened.
"You're hiding your cultivation," Zhao Ren said slowly.
Lin Tian tilted his head.
"I am not hiding anything."
Zhao Ren suddenly drew his sword halfway from its sheath.
The metallic sound echoed across the square.
"I will test that claim."
Chen Yu panicked.
"Wait! Senior helped our village!"
Zhao Ren didn't even glance at him.
"In the cultivation world," Zhao Ren said calmly, "strength determines truth."
Lin Tian studied the sword.
Compared to the crude weapon from yesterday, this one contained faint spiritual energy.
Clearly forged with better materials.
Still… the energy flow through the blade was unstable.
"Your weapon has a flawed energy channel," Lin Tian said.
Zhao Ren froze.
"What?"
Lin Tian pointed at the sword.
"The spiritual reinforcement line near the hilt is misaligned."
Zhao Ren stared at him.
"That's impossible."
Lin Tian continued calmly.
"When you swing downward, energy will disperse unevenly."
Chen Yu blinked.
"How can you tell just by looking?"
Lin Tian answered simply.
"The structure is obvious."
Zhao Ren's expression hardened.
"You're trying to confuse me."
He pulled the sword fully free.
"Enough talking."
He raised the blade.
"Let's see if your strength matches your arrogance."
The spiritual energy around Zhao Ren surged.
Wind began swirling across the village square.
Chen Yu stepped back nervously.
"This is bad…"
But Lin Tian simply stood still.
His eyes calmly analyzed every movement of Zhao Ren's energy circulation.
Within seconds, he had already identified seven structural flaws.
"Primitive technique," Lin Tian thought.
"But effective enough against ordinary opponents."
Zhao Ren lunged forward.
His sword cut through the air with a powerful arc.
The villagers gasped.
Chen Yu shouted.
"Senior!"
But Lin Tian raised one finger.
Just one.
And lightly tapped the flat side of the incoming blade.
CLANG.
The sword stopped instantly.
The shockwave of the halted strike blasted dust across the ground.
Zhao Ren's eyes widened in disbelief.
"How—?!"
Lin Tian spoke calmly.
"You rely too heavily on external energy."
Then he gently pushed the sword aside.
Zhao Ren staggered backward three steps.
The entire village had fallen silent.
Even Zhao Ren himself looked stunned.
Lin Tian looked at him thoughtfully.
"For your current cultivation stage, your control is acceptable."
Zhao Ren stared at him.
"You… analyzed my technique during the attack?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu whispered in amazement.
"He just corrected a city cultivator…"
Zhao Ren slowly sheathed his sword.
The arrogance in his expression had completely disappeared.
Instead, he bowed slightly.
"You are far stronger than I expected."
He looked at Lin Tian seriously.
"Sir… would you be willing to visit Iron Ridge City?"
Chen Yu's eyes widened.
"Why?"
Zhao Ren answered carefully.
"Our city lord would be very interested in meeting someone like you."
Lin Tian looked toward the mountains again.
Iron Ridge City.
That name had appeared several times already.
Perhaps it was time to see the wider world beyond this village.
After a moment, he spoke.
"I may consider it."
Zhao Ren nodded.
"Then I will return tomorrow."
He turned and began walking away.
But before leaving the village, he glanced back once more.
His eyes held deep curiosity now.
"Just who are you…" he murmured quietly.
Meanwhile, Chen Yu looked at Lin Tian with shining eyes.
"Senior!"
Lin Tian turned slightly.
Chen Yu grinned.
"If Iron Ridge City is inviting you…"
His excitement was obvious.
"…does that mean we might leave the village soon?"