The scent of blood had long faded, and the wind was quiet again.
Xiao Feng moved calmly through the dense underbrush, each step silent. After slaying the Ironhorn Lizard, he had begun exploring deeper into the Magic Beast Mountain Range—seeking stronger opponents, rarer herbs, and isolation to hone his skills.
But today felt… different.
His instincts, sharpened from months of battle, prickled at the edges of his awareness.
> "I'm being watched."
He stopped on a cliff edge overlooking a deep ravine. The wind shifted unnaturally. A leaf fluttered where there was no breeze.
He spun, his hand on his sword's hilt.
From behind a tree, a figure stepped out.
Then another.
And another.
Three in total.
Each wore light armor, and two had swords while the third carried a curved glaive. Judging from their presence, all were Dou Zhe realm, perhaps around 6 to 8 stars.
The one in front, a lean man with a scar down his cheek, gave a lazy grin. "Didn't think we'd find a kid this deep into the range. What's your name, boy?"
Xiao Feng's gaze remained indifferent. He didn't answer.
Another man stepped forward, smirking. "You alone out here? Or did you wander away from your sect?"
Still silent.
The third narrowed his eyes. "He's carrying a beast core… that's not from a weak creature."
The scarred leader raised an eyebrow, suddenly more interested. "You kill that thing yourself?"
Xiao Feng didn't move. His right hand still rested casually on his sword hilt, wind stirring faintly around his feet.
"Leave," he said finally. His voice was calm, but laced with cold authority.
The three looked at each other—then burst out laughing.
"This kid's got guts!" one said, cracking his knuckles.
"Or maybe he's just stupid," the glaive wielder muttered, stepping forward with clear killing intent.
But before he could make another move—
Shiiing!
The sound of steel being unsheathed was followed by a violent gust of wind.
The glaive user froze. His instincts screamed danger. His neck bled before he even realized what had happened.
He stumbled back, hand clutching the shallow slice.
The other two immediately dropped their laughter. Their Dou Qi surged, eyes filled with new wariness.
But Xiao Feng didn't press forward. He simply sheathed his sword again and looked at them coldly.
"I said leave."
The scar-faced leader studied him now, the grin gone. He could sense it—this boy was not simple. His movement was too precise. His attack too clean. That wasn't a casual warning.
It was mercy.
"Tch… let's go." The leader turned, gesturing to the others.
"But—" the glaive user started.
"He's not worth dying over."
They vanished into the forest shadows, tension still lingering in the air.
Xiao Feng stood there for a moment longer, expression calm.
> "So… not all beasts here have fur and claws."
This encounter reminded him of something important—people were sometimes more dangerous than magical beasts.
He turned and walked away, deeper into the forest. This place was no longer just a training ground.
It was a battlefield.