The square fell silent. Only the crackle of burning beast corpses filled the night.
The Azure Cloud Sect disciples stepped forward, their robes clean, their swords gleaming faintly with Qi. The lead youth smirked, chin tilted in practiced arrogance.
"This beast tide was ours to cull," he declared, sweeping his sleeve. "By Azure Cloud Sect law, all spoils fall to us. Hand over the core and hides, and perhaps I'll let this hamlet live."
Villagers trembled. The elder bent slightly, voice shaking. "Young master, the beast was slain by this youth, not—"
"Silence!" the disciple snapped, his Qi flaring. The elder stumbled back, coughing blood from the pressure alone.
Gasps erupted. Mothers clutched their children. The villagers dared not move.
Long Chen's eyes narrowed. He stepped between the elder and the arrogant youth, his aura calm but unyielding.
"You strike mortals for words?" His voice was low, steady. "That's your sect's law?"
The youth sneered. "Bold. You think killing a beast makes you a cultivator? You're just a lucky ant. Now kneel, hand over the spoils, and perhaps I'll take you as a servant."
Long Chen's lips curled faintly. "Ants kneel. Dragons don't."
The Azure Cloud disciple's face darkened. "Insolent!"
He unsheathed his sword in a flash of cold light, thrusting toward Long Chen's chest. Qi surged down the blade, sharp enough to shear through steel.
Villagers screamed.
Long Chen moved. His Iron Fang Blade rose, forged from the Wolf King's tusk, meeting the strike with a clash that rang across the square. Sparks flew.
The disciple staggered back, surprise flashing in his eyes. "What? A mortal deflects my sword?"
Long Chen's golden gaze burned. He pressed forward, blade sweeping in a brutal arc. The disciple barely raised his weapon in time, the impact numbing his arms.
"This strength—!"
Long Chen's aura flared. The dragon mark beneath his robe pulsed once, unseen. His bloodline whispered, urging him to devour the arrogant fool before him.
[ Quest Triggered ]
First Clash with Cultivators
Objective: Defeat the Azure Cloud Sect disciples.
Reward: +3 Strength, Low-Grade Qi Manual, Reputation Unlock.
The two other disciples leapt forward, blades drawn. Qi surged, three against one.
Long Chen stepped aside, parrying the first slash, ducking beneath the second, his Iron Fang Blade carving sparks from stone. He was slower, his realm still low—but his spirit burned hotter than theirs.
One disciple sneered, "Suppress him together!"
They struck in unison. Blades weaved arcs of light, forcing Long Chen back step by step. His chest heaved, sweat dripping, wounds from the Wolf King battle still raw.
If I fight like this, I'll be cut down…
Then his gaze fell on the corrupted tusks piled nearby.
"System," he growled, "Devour materials—now!"
The dragon mark flared. Light surged from the tusks, their residual Qi ripped into his body.
[ Devour Activated ]
Consumed: Wolf King Tusks (Weapon Material)
Conversion: 68% → +2 Strength, +1 Agility
Bloodline Unseal: 16.9% → 19.2%
His aura exploded.
Long Chen roared and lunged. His blade cleaved through the first disciple's defense, knocking him sprawling with blood spraying from his shoulder.
The second swung wildly. Long Chen stepped inside the arc, palm slamming into his chest.
"Devour!"
The youth shrieked as Qi ripped from his meridians into Long Chen's veins. He collapsed, unconscious, his body pale and trembling.
The skies trembled faintly. Thunder rumbled again. Heavenly Observation stirred, faint but present.
Long Chen suppressed his aura quickly, golden eyes flashing. Not yet. I won't let the heavens strike me down so soon.
The last disciple froze, blade trembling in his hand. The smirk was gone, replaced by naked fear.
"You… what are you?"
Long Chen stepped closer, his shadow falling across the youth. "I am Long Chen." His voice was quiet, but carried the weight of truth. "Remember that name when you crawl back to your sect."
He raised his blade, cutting a shallow line across the disciple's cheek. The youth flinched, but Long Chen did not finish him.
"Leave. Tell your sect: if they hunger for this village, they'll choke on dragon blood."
The disciple stumbled back, dragging his injured companion. With one last look of hatred and fear, they fled into the night.
The villagers exhaled in relief, dropping to their knees. The elder wiped blood from his lips, staring at Long Chen with awe.
"You faced sect disciples… and lived."
Long Chen sheathed his blade. His chest still burned, but his spirit was steady. "I fought because I must. Remember—mortals have the right to live without fear."
The elder bowed deeply. "If the heavens are just, they will carve your name into fate."
The System chimed softly.
[ Quest Complete ]
First Clash with Cultivators
Reward: +3 Strength, Low-Grade Qi Manual (Iron Body Tempering)
Bloodline Progress: 19.2% → 20.5%
Long Chen glanced east, toward the horizon where faint light hinted at dawn.
So this is the cultivation world. Arrogant disciples, mortals trampled, power claimed as law.
He gripped the hilt of his blade tighter. Then I will walk my own path—one the heavens cannot chain.