Chapter Fourteen: A Deadly Struggle

For three years, he practiced tirelessly day after day. Aside from cultivating the Crimson Flame inner energy, every waking moment was devoted entirely to perfecting his fist techniques, movement skills, and mastery of archery. He had reached the point where he simplified his fist techniques, breaking free from the rigid patterns of the Seventy-Two Forms of the Void Fist; its essence was now ingrained in his very bones.

Born a man, he found himself most enthralled by the exhilarating, heart-pounding thrill of close combat. Among the three arts taught by Grandmaster Ye Yu, Ye Yun’s greatest proficiency was naturally in the fist techniques.

He never neglected his cultivation of Crimson Flame inner energy either; now, he had reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining. His inner energy had grown robust—if he unleashed his fist techniques with Crimson Flame inner energy, he could slay a fierce tiger with a single punch.

“This task is hardly a challenge for you. I have another trial prepared for you,” said Grandmaster Ye Yu.

With a flicker, Ye Yu vanished from the stone, and in the next instant appeared beside Ye Yun. With a gesture, a cloud appeared beneath their feet, whisking them swiftly into the sky.

“We’re flying!” Ye Yun shouted in excitement as they soared above.

“When you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you’ll be able to fly at will,” Ye Yu said with a smile.

“Master, what task have you assigned me?” Ye Yun asked, his excitement lingering.

“You’ll soon find out…” Ye Yu replied, shaking his head with a gentle smile, not saying more.

The Sacred Dragon Dynasty stretched endlessly across the land. In the western frontier, aside from the Ye clan—a powerful force in Cloudwater City—there was the neighboring Flying Dragon City, home to the Wu clan, rivals of the Ye family. Their conflict often erupted into strife.

Wu Jiang was a steward of the Wu clan in Flying Dragon City. Every morning, he trained in a small grove outside the city.

On this day, while he practiced martial arts, a sense of unease suddenly crept into his heart. Turning, he saw a silver-haired young man and a boy of about ten appear behind him, seemingly out of nowhere. These two were none other than Grandmaster Ye Yu and Ye Yun.

“Yun, your next task is to kill that man,” Ye Yu said coldly, pointing to Wu Jiang ahead.

“Kill him? Master…” Ye Yun was startled by the severity of this trial and momentarily lost his composure.

“That man is Wu Jiang, an enemy of our Ye clan. Over the years, his hands have been stained with the blood of countless Ye clan disciples. You need feel no pang of conscience for killing him.”

Ye Yu spoke only these words before his figure vanished, leaving no trace.

Kindness and hesitation spell doom for those who step into the world of cultivation. Ye Yun, sheltered from the outside world since childhood, still possessed an innocence untouched by worldly strife. This needed to change, or disaster would surely follow.

“I can protect you for a time, but not for a lifetime,” had always been Ye Yu’s guiding principle.

Among cultivators, who has hands unstained by blood? This was a trial Ye Yun had to experience firsthand.

Wu Jiang was somewhat portly, his face lined with age. Dressed in a blue robe, he watched the pair warily. Hearing their exchange, he laughed in fury. “Such insolence from a mere child! Do you truly intend to murder me?”

He glanced around, seeing no ambush, his confidence grew, and his sneer deepened. “The Ye clan grows more foolish by the day. Since you seek death, I’ll send you both to your graves!”

Ye Yun had never disobeyed his master, though his hesitation stemmed from his youth—at eleven, the act of killing was hard to accept.

He had read countless books, which taught that murder was the act of the wicked. Yet those same books declared that one must not spare those deserving death.

A black iron bow appeared in his hand. He drew and nocked an arrow in one fluid motion, flawless as flowing water. Crimson Flame inner energy surged into the arrow; with a thunderous twang, the bowstring vibrated, and the arrow shot forth in a blaze, streaking toward Wu Jiang.

Wu Jiang’s face twisted in terror. The distance between them was less than ten paces; if he moved at full speed, he could close the gap instantly. He had not expected the boy to shoot without hesitation, catching him off guard.

“Such skill with the bow!”

Wu Jiang had earned his position as steward through merit; his cultivation had reached the late stage of Qi Refining. Ye Yun’s arrow was swift, but not enough to kill him in one blow.

The flaming arrow grazed Wu Jiang’s temple, exploding a nearby tree into splinters with a deafening crash. The power was astonishing.

Wu Jiang dodged the arrow, and Ye Yun’s eyes flickered with panic, but he quickly steadied himself. He remembered the principles of archery—maintaining distance from the opponent was crucial.

He invoked the Roc Soaring Technique, moving like a shadow, widening the gap between himself and Wu Jiang. He drew and loosed another Crimson Flame arrow.

“You missed with your first arrow, boy! Even if you shot a hundred more, you wouldn’t touch a thread of my clothes!” Wu Jiang sneered. Though his body was somewhat heavy, his movements were agile. Yet his skills couldn’t match the Roc Soaring Technique; despite his best efforts, he couldn’t close the distance, and had to dodge Ye Yun’s arrows.

“You brat, you rely on superior movement, but you’re too inexperienced. I’ve seen more battles than you’ve eaten meals. Let’s see how many arrows you can shoot, and how much inner energy you have left!”

Wu Jiang was right—the Roc Soaring Technique was swift but drained inner energy rapidly, and each arrow consumed even more. In moments, Ye Yun’s Crimson Flame inner energy was already half depleted.

“Archery can’t harm him. If I want victory, I must defeat him with close combat and fists!”

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. He stowed his bow and arrows in the Dragon-Phoenix Pendant’s storage space, turned, and launched into the Seventy-Two Forms of the Void Fist, engaging Wu Jiang.

Yet Ye Yun had never fought a human opponent before; in three years of training, he only battled fierce beasts, who lacked cunning and technique. They could not compare.

With a loud smack, Wu Jiang struck Ye Yun in the chest, forcing him to swallow blood.

Wu Jiang moved with uncanny agility, slipping past Ye Yun’s punch, smirking, “You’re just a novice. No matter how well you practice martial arts, without battle experience, it’s useless!”

Ye Yun was struck again, spitting blood. But his mind suddenly calmed. Though he had only fought beasts before, he wasn’t so easily flustered during combat.

He was hit twice because he lacked experience fighting people. Give him time to adjust, and he would master the rhythm of battle and turn the tide.

Moments later, counting the two initial blows, Ye Yun had suffered six strikes from Wu Jiang. Anyone else would have died on the spot.

Each blow was infused with inner energy—let alone Ye Yun at mid-stage Qi Refining, even an expert at peak Qi Refining couldn’t withstand six such strikes and live.

“You have a protective treasure?” Wu Jiang’s eyes gleamed in shock.

After enduring six blows and only sustaining injuries, Wu Jiang realized Ye Yun must possess something extraordinary.

Before reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, cultivators cannot forge magical treasures, nor can their inner energy control them in battle. Yet some Foundation Establishment cultivators fail in forging, producing lesser artifacts called ‘spirit tools,’ which are prized by Qi Refining cultivators. Even among powerful clans like Ye and Wu, spirit tools are rare and not easily obtained.

“Brat, hand over your protective treasure and I’ll spare your life. Otherwise, even with your treasure, I’ll only waste a bit more time to kill you!” Wu Jiang threatened. It was well known that activating a spirit tool consumed vast inner energy; once Ye Yun’s energy was spent, his protection would fail.

“You old fool, don’t try to trick me! If I gave you the treasure, would you really spare me? Why should I hand it over?” Ye Yun spat blood defiantly.

“Impudent brat, you’re begging for death!” Wu Jiang roared, charging forward with raised palms.

“You’re the one who’ll die!” Ye Yun rushed to meet him, his fists blazing with Crimson Flame inner energy.

Fist and palm collided. Ye Yun felt the force of Wu Jiang’s formidable inner energy; his face flushed, his throat tasted sweet, and he spat blood.

At the same moment, Wu Jiang grunted, feeling the boy’s inner energy—fierce and overwhelming—shake him to his core, his organs nearly shattered.

“What powerful inner energy! This boy’s cultivation isn’t as advanced as mine, but his energy is incredibly strong. His cultivation method must be extraordinary!”

Wu Jiang’s heart surged with shock and rage. Ye Yun’s inner energy, though mid-stage, was far more refined than Wu Jiang’s late-stage cultivation.

Ye Yun knew his master, Ye Yu, was nearby watching over him, but he dared not be complacent. Bearing the pain from Wu Jiang’s attacks, he pressed on. The Crimson Flame demon mark shone on his brow; his inner energy surged to its limit, unleashing a storm of punches.

Wild fists could kill even a master; with his Crimson Flame energy far superior in quality, Ye Yun’s relentless assault forced Wu Jiang to cough up three mouthfuls of blood. Wu Jiang retaliated, slamming his palm into Ye Yun’s chest, sending him flying.

“Yun, what is a man’s duty?” a voice echoed.

“To be brave, to possess unwavering courage and resolve!” Ye Yun recalled his father’s teachings from childhood.

He sprang to his feet, wiped the blood from his lips, activated his cultivation technique, wrapped himself in inner energy, and charged forward once more.

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