The night had barely settled when the air shifted.
It was subtle at first.
A faint tremor beneath the ground.
A ripple across the celestial barrier.
Then—
A distant surge of energy, sharp and violent, tearing through the calm like a blade.
Yan Fu's eyes opened instantly.
He had not been asleep.
Not truly.
Ever since Ling Fei's warning, his senses had remained alert, stretched across the entire Ji Xia Sect like an invisible net.
Now—
That net had been touched.
"…They're here."
His voice was calm, but the weight behind it was undeniable.
Beside him, Ling Fei stood already awake, her golden eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. Her black robes swayed slightly, though no wind blew.
"I told you," she said quietly.
"No time wasted."
Yan Fu exhaled slowly.
"Good."
He stepped forward, staff appearing in his hand in a flash of white light.
"I was getting bored."
At the edge of the sect—
The barrier trembled again.
This time—
It wasn't subtle.
A violent impact slammed into it, causing golden waves to ripple outward across the sky like a disturbed ocean.
BOOM
The entire sect shook.
Disciples jolted awake, rushing out of their quarters. Confusion quickly turned into tension as they felt the pressure building outside.
Li Fei appeared almost instantly, flames already dancing around his arms.
"Master!"
Zhao Tian followed, calm but focused.
"They've started."
Yan Fu nodded once.
"Stay inside the barrier."
Li Fei frowned.
"What? No way—"
"That's an order."
His tone left no room for argument.
Li Fei clenched his fists but didn't speak again.
Meanwhile—
The second strike came.
Stronger.
Heavier.
BOOM
Cracks of light spread across the barrier, not breaking—but testing its limits.
Ling Fei stepped forward slightly, her gaze fixed on the sky.
"…Three of them."
Yan Fu narrowed his eyes.
"I only feel two strong ones."
She shook her head.
"The third is hiding."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Smart."
Yan Fu's grip tightened on his staff.
"Then let's greet them properly."
Without another word—
He stepped forward and vanished.
The next moment—
He appeared above the sect, standing just beneath the barrier, his figure illuminated by the golden light surrounding it.
Outside—
Three figures floated in the air.
All wearing crimson robes.
Their auras burned like fire, violent and oppressive.
At the center stood a young man, his expression calm but arrogant, as if everything before him already belonged to him.
"So…"
His voice echoed through the barrier.
"You're Yan Fu."
Yan Fu looked at him without expression.
"And you are?"
The young man smirked.
"Someone who's about to take everything you've built."
Behind Yan Fu—
A second presence appeared.
Ling Fei.
She stood slightly to his side, her golden eyes scanning the three figures with quiet interest.
"Oh?"
She spoke softly.
"You brought weak people… and called it an attack?"
The air froze.
The two cultivators behind the young man stiffened instantly.
The young man's smile faded slightly.
"…And who are you?"
Ling Fei didn't answer.
She simply looked at him.
And in that single glance—
Pressure descended.
Invisible.
Overwhelming.
The air around them grew heavy.
The young man's expression hardened.
"…Interesting."
He stepped forward slightly, his aura flaring.
"Then I'll deal with you first."
Yan Fu moved.
Just a single step—
And he was already standing in front of Ling Fei.
"No."
His voice was calm.
"They came for me."
Ling Fei looked at him for a moment.
Then—
She stepped back.
"Don't disappoint me."
Yan Fu smirked faintly.
"I won't."
The barrier above them flickered.
Then—
It opened.
Just enough.
Yan Fu stepped through.
The moment he crossed—
The pressure changed completely.
The protection of the sect was gone.
Now—
It was a battlefield.
The young man wasted no time.
He attacked instantly.
A massive wave of crimson energy surged forward, tearing through the air with destructive force.
Yan Fu raised his staff.
"Too direct."
The attack collided—
But instead of resisting it head-on—
He redirected it.
The energy split, passing around him and exploding behind.
The sky lit up.
The young man's eyes narrowed.
"You're… different from what I expected."
Yan Fu tilted his head slightly.
"You talk too much."
And then—
He moved.
Faster than before.
Faster than during his fight with Ling Fei.
His body flowed through the air, guided by perfect balance.
His staff struck—
The young man blocked—
BOOM
Shockwaves erupted, pushing both back.
But Yan Fu didn't stop.
He pressed forward immediately, his attacks continuous, precise, and controlled.
Each strike carried weight.
Each movement carried intent.
The two cultivators behind the young man exchanged glances.
Then—
They joined.
One attacked from the left.
The other from above.
Three directions.
Perfect coordination.
Yan Fu's eyes sharpened.
"…Finally."
Golden energy surged around him.
"Guardian Resonance."
This time—
He didn't fully activate it.
Just enough.
Shadow strengthened his defense.
Lightning enhanced his speed.
Light stabilized everything.
Three attacks came—
He met all three.
BOOM
The sky shook violently.
Energy exploded outward, forcing all four of them apart.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
The young man laughed.
"Good."
His aura flared even stronger.
"This is worth my time."
Yan Fu lowered his staff slightly.
"Now you're talking."
Behind him, within the barrier—
Ling Fei watched quietly.
Her golden eyes followed every movement.
Every exchange.
Every detail.
"…He's holding back."
She murmured.
Vorath, beside her, snorted.
"Of course he is."
Aetherion's voice was calm.
"This is only the beginning."
The Eclipse Sovereign remained silent.
But its gaze…
Was fixed on the hidden third presence.
Because it had already found it.
And soon—
That hidden threat would make its move.
Back in the sky—
Yan Fu stood facing the three enemies.
His aura steady.
His expression calm.
But his eyes—
Were sharp.
Because this fight…
Was no longer just a test.
It was the first step—
Into war.