The earth-shattering scene in Chaos City had left countless people in awe, yet for Xuan Yi and his companions, it was little more than a fleeting incident. With a single, effortless strike, Xuan Yi had obliterated the black-robed middle-aged man. Then, without hesitation, he calmly departed with Gui Yiyi and the others, leaving behind only a stunned and hushed crowd.
The cultivators of Chaos City remained in heated discussion for hours, voices filled with awe, disbelief, and fear. But Xuan Yi had no interest in lingering any longer. His group quickly departed, leaving the city behind and heading back toward Half Moon City.
The journey was smooth and uneventful.
After all, when a Nascent Soul expert made their move, who among the surrounding regions would dare challenge them? The mere thought was enough to make even the bravest cultivators reconsider their actions.
Half Moon City stood in stark contrast to the chaos of the previous days. Smaller, quieter, and more peaceful, it lacked the frenzy of Chaos City, but beneath its calm exterior, a storm was quietly brewing.
The Gui family, having witnessed Xuan Yi's terrifying strength firsthand, was already undergoing profound changes.
When news arrived that Xuan Yi, Gui Yiyi's master, was a Nascent Soul expert, the entire Gui family was shaken to its very core.
"Wh… Nascent Soul?"
The words were barely a whisper, but they carried a weight that echoed throughout the hall.
Gui Tiancheng, the patriarch, sucked in a sharp breath, his mind momentarily blank. The other senior members of the Gui family, still reeling from the news, exchanged glances, their faces pale.
Nascent Soul. An existence that could create and lead their own sect.
Even the powerful Witherwood Gate, a force that had long terrorized the region, only had one Nascent Soul expert. And now, the Gui family had somehow become entangled with a Nascent Soul cultivator.
The news sent waves of disbelief through the family. Despite their earlier estimations of Xuan Yi's power, they had still underestimated him. The reality of it hit them like a thunderclap.
Xuan Yi was not just powerful—he was an absolute authority in the Heavenly Wind Kingdom.
As the days passed, the Half Moon City Grand Competition drew closer.
In the city, everything seemed calm on the surface, but an undercurrent of tension was palpable. The Wang Clan had not yet returned, and with them, the news of Gui Yiyi's joining the Profound Sword Sect remained confined to a select few. The competition, however, was about to unfold, and its ramifications would be far-reaching.
On this particular day, in Xuan Yi's private courtyard…
"Master! I broke through!" Gui Yiyi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with joy.
She had been struggling at the fourth level of Qi Condensation for some time now, and her breakthrough was a long-awaited achievement. But when her gaze met Xuan Yi's, she saw little of the expected joy in his expression. A knot of unease formed in her chest as she hesitated before speaking, "Master… I… I've disappointed you, haven't I?"
She couldn't shake the feeling that, despite her efforts, her progress had not met Xuan Yi's expectations. Though she had broken through a stage, it was a far cry from the rapid advancement she had hoped for.
"No, how could that be?" Xuan Yi's voice was gentle, reassuring. "Your cultivation may not have surged as quickly as expected, but your progress in other areas has far exceeded my expectations."
He wasn't just comforting her. He spoke the truth.
Over the past few days, while her cultivation had only moved by a single stage, her martial prowess had increased by several times. The improvements were nothing short of astounding. Gui Yiyi, once merely at the fourth level of Qi Condensation, now possessed the strength to take on someone in the early stages of the Qi Foundation Realm.
"It's time," Xuan Yi said, breaking the silence. "The Half Moon City Grand Competition is about to begin."
Gui Yiyi's breakthrough had come just in time. Today marked the beginning of the event the city had been waiting for. The Half Moon City Grand Competition, held once a year, was a major event for the three great clans of the city.
This year, however, it was expected to be different.
Gui Lan, the pride of the Gui family, had won the competition for the past two years, solidifying his reputation as Half Moon City's top genius. But this time, there was a new player in the mix. Duan Li, having joined the Witherwood Gate and risen to prominence under the tutelage of a powerful elder, was expected to challenge the status quo.
When Xuan Yi and Gui Yiyi arrived at the competition arena, it was already teeming with spectators, their voices creating a low hum of excitement and anticipation.
Unlike previous years, the arena was filled with a tense energy, charged with whispers of Duan Li's newfound strength. Word of his connection to the Witherwood Gate had spread like wildfire, and it was clear that many of the spectators were more interested in the aftermath of the competition than in the event itself.
"Alas, the Gui family, once poised to reach new heights, will likely fall after today," murmured a voice from the crowd, filled with a mix of pity and certainty.
The three great clans had already assembled, and the eyes of the spectators were focused on one thing: Duan Li. His master, an elder of the Witherwood Gate, sat quietly beside him, his presence dominating the space. The black-robed elder emanated a silent, yet terrifying, pressure, one that made the air feel heavy with foreboding.
The head of the Wang Clan, his brow furrowed, looked toward the black-robed elder, sensing the immense power emanating from him. The difference in strength was unmistakable. While the Wang Clan's patriarch was a powerful cultivator, his strength paled in comparison to that of the Witherwood Gate elder.
Duan Li's presence alone had shifted the balance of power in Half Moon City.
The competition rules were simple: five participants from each clan, and the last one standing would be crowned the victor. It had always been a battle of pride, a showcase of the younger generation's talents.
This year, however, things were different.
"The competition this year should be interesting," someone remarked. "Duan Li, now a disciple of the Witherwood Gate, has become far stronger. Can Gui Lan defeat him and claim his third consecutive victory? It's anyone's guess."
But the true significance of today's competition lay not just in the fight between the two geniuses. The fate of the Gui family hung in the balance.
As the competition began, Duan Li made his dramatic entrance, stepping onto the stage with a defiant grin.
"Come, I'll sweep through you all by myself!" His voice rang out, bold and brash.
It was an absurdly arrogant statement—one that left the crowd in stunned silence. Duan Li, who had previously struggled to even land a blow on Gui Lan, was now claiming he could defeat every competitor, including Gui Lan, with ease.
In response, Wang Yan, the second strongest member of the Wang Clan's younger generation, leapt onto the stage. He had faced Duan Li before, and this time, he was determined to prove himself.
"Duan Li, you're far too arrogant. Let's see if you can back up your words," Wang Yan challenged, his voice full of fiery determination.
Before anyone could react, Wang Yan charged forward, his body moving like a blade aimed directly at Duan Li.
Duan Li's eyes narrowed with contempt. He had no intention of backing down.
With a single, disdainful motion, Duan Li swung his fist.
The two forces collided with a deafening crash. A single punch, and Wang Yan was sent flying from the stage, blood spraying in all directions.
The audience gasped in shock. It had all happened so quickly. Wang Yan, a formidable fighter in his own right, had been defeated in an instant.
"How strong…" someone whispered in awe.
The sheer difference in power was undeniable.
In the span of half a year, Duan Li's strength had skyrocketed, and with it, his arrogance. The Witherwood Gate's influence was unmistakable, and Duan Li's sudden surge in power had left everyone stunned.
The crowd's gaze shifted to Gui Lan, the former champion, now facing an entirely different threat. Their pity for him was palpable, but so was the sense that, perhaps, fate had simply decided to toy with him.