Dueling Yanaro

Luo Huan had a burning desire to catch up with Qin Wentian, so she decided to pay him a surprise visit in his dorm. Little did she know, this visit was about to take a hilarious twist.

When Luo Huan arrived, she was greeted not by Qin Wentian, but by the unexpected duo of Fan Le and Little Rascal.

"Hey, where's Wentian?" she inquired with a puzzled expression.

Fan Le's face lit up with a mischievous grin. "Senior Sister, come on in! Wentian's on one of his crazy adventures again, this time in the Dreamsky Forest," he replied, excitement in his voice.

Luo Huan couldn't help but roll her eyes. "That guy is out of his mind! He's practically living in that forest. Any idea why he's pushing himself so hard?" she wondered aloud.

Fan Le leaned in, whispering dramatically, "Well, rumor has it that it's all because of Luo Qianqiu. Wentian can't stand feeling underestimated, you know."

Luo Huan sighed, understanding the complexities of male pride all too well. "Alright, I'll wait for him outside. Fatty, why don't you keep me company?" she suggested, taking a seat under an ancient tree near the dorms.

Fatty's eyes widened with a mixture of excitement and dread. He agreed with forced enthusiasm, secretly praying that Qin Wentian wouldn't return too soon.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the City of Illusions, Qin Wentian was causing quite a commotion. His fiery red kirin mask gave him a sinister aura as he stood over a hapless member of the Knight's Association. The poor fellow whimpered and shot Qin Wentian a dirty look, wondering why he had become the target of this masked menace.

The members of the Knight's Association swarmed around, their eyes brimming with cold hostility. One of them, Yanaro, stepped forward, his voice dripping with venom. "We're curious to know who you are, stranger."

Qin Wentian tilted his head to regard Yanaro. He recalled the last encounter with this guy at the academy, where Yanaro had casually injured him with just a finger. It seemed that in Orchon's absence, Yanaro was calling the shots.

In a bold move, Qin Wentian extended his hand and theatrically drew a finger across his throat, mimicking an execution. His eyes blazed with an intense killing intent.

Yanaro's face contorted with disbelief. Who was this audacious individual? The members of the Knight's Association wasted no time and charged toward Qin Wentian, eager to find out.

At that very moment, Qin Wentian sprang into action. He became a blur of shadows, his body moving with unparalleled grace and speed.

"Attack!" shouted a Knight's Association member as he lunged toward Qin Wentian. His cultivation had reached the formidable 5th level of Arterial Circulation, and he thrust his spear forward at lightning speed, fully expecting to skewer Qin Wentian. But just before the spear could make contact, Qin Wentian gracefully twisted away, evading the strike like a leaf dancing in the wind. The Knight's Association member felt a bone-chilling sensation, his knees trembling as he failed to realize when his throat had been slashed.

Qin Wentian moved past the fallen foe, his momentum unbroken. He concentrated his Divine Energy into his feet, causing the ground to tremble with each step. His explosive steps propelled him into the air, resembling the majestic flight of a Garuda, and he landed effortlessly on a nearby rooftop.

Looking back at his pursuers, Qin Wentian locked eyes with Yanaro before vanishing from their view.

Yanaro's expression soured as he witnessed Qin Wentian's incredible agility. He couldn't help but wonder if he could leap to the top of that building with a single bound. It seemed as though the masked man could defy the laws of gravity.

"I must uncover your identity!" Yanaro roared, charging forward in pursuit of Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian moved like a shadow, leaving his pursuers far behind. He was no longer the inexperienced newcomer who had enrolled in Emperor Star Academy. He was confident that it wouldn't be long before he trampled Yanaro underfoot.

Unbeknownst to him, he found himself on the circular platform once again. This time, there were two people waiting there. Aside from the girl he often sparred with, there was another woman wearing a phoenix mask, concealing her identity.

"Is this the one with the kirin-styled mask?" Chu Ling inquired, turning to Mu Rou.

Mu Rou nodded, her curiosity piqued. "Yes."

"My agility has improved significantly after our sparring sessions. Thanks for that," Mu Rou said, her gaze fixed on Qin Wentian. "I'm Mu Rou, from the Royal Academy. Would you mind being friends?"

She removed her mask, revealing a strikingly beautiful face, her eyes filled with genuine interest. Beside her, Chu Ling also awaited Qin Wentian's response, her gaze locked onto his masked visage.

However, beneath their expectant gazes, Qin Wentian turned and began to walk away, his intentions clear – he had no intention of revealing his face at that moment.

Mu Rou's face fell, disappointment evident in her eyes. She had already unmasked herself, yet this guy didn't seem the least bit interested.

"Hold on a second!" Chu Ling shouted, halting Qin Wentian in his tracks. He turned to look at her, an air of calm about him.

"Are you thick-headed or just plain stupid? Mu Rou unveiled herself, and you're treating her like she's invisible?" Chu Ling exclaimed, her annoyance palpable. Qin Wentian's eyes flickered as he replied, "Did I make any promises?"

Both Mu Rou and Chu Ling were rendered speechless, as if Mu Rou's hope of becoming friends with Qin Wentian had been nothing but wishful thinking.

In reality, aside from their sparring sessions, Mu Rou and Qin Wentian had barely interacted. Their frequent battles had indeed improved her martial skills, but she had hoped for more than that. She had wanted to be friends with Qin Wentian, but it seemed he had no interest in that.

Meanwhile, several figures appeared in another direction, and Qin Wentian's eyes turned icy. These individuals were like relentless bloodhounds on his trail.

"Yanaro," Mu Rou's expression darkened. She hadn't expected to encounter him here.

"Mu Rou." Yanaro's face lit up with interest as he approached, a sly smile on his lips. "Mu Rou, I've been longing to see you after our last encounter."

"Cut the nonsense, Yanaro," Mu Rou replied coldly.

"Stop bothering Mu Rou; all you know how to do is annoy her," Chu Ling whispered, her words catching Yanaro's attention. He turned his gaze towards her and recognized her identity.

"So, it's Princess Ling'er," Yanaro acknowledged with a slight bow. "I see you haven't lost your sharp tongue."

"That's right," Chu Ling retorted, removing her mask with an icy stare. "And you, it seems you haven't gained any manners."

"Is that so?" Yanaro's eyes grew colder. He approached Mu Rou and Chu Ling, maintaining his eerie smile. A sharp glint flickered in his eyes; these two women were clearly not showing him any respect.

"Kill him," Yanaro ordered, pointing at Qin Wentian. The Knight's Association members closed in on him.

Initially, Qin Wentian had wanted to leave, but witnessing the unfolding situation, he changed his mind. As he observed the Knights surrounding him, he selected one randomly and dashed forward.

His chosen adversary locked eyes with him and summoned his Astral Soul, which took the form of a giant python, its furious roar filling the air. A sinister aura radiated from Qin Wentian. This time, he didn't evade. Instead, he channeled Divine Energy throughout his body and unleashed the Dragon Subduing Fists, his fist flying amid draconic roars. With a thunderous crack, his opponent's head exploded, ending his life in an instant.

This shocking display caused another Knight's Association member, who was closing in on Qin Wentian, to hesitate momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, Qin Wentian materialized before the Knight and slashed his dagger across the man's throat, taking another life in the blink of an eye.

Yanaro, Mu Rou, and Chu Ling bore witness to the spectacle before them. A smoldering rage ignited in Yanaro's eyes, while the girls' gazes shimmered with a mixture of admiration and astonishment.

"Fifth level of Arterial Circulation," Yanaro's eyes turned as sharp as blades. This individual had been deliberately targeting members of his Knight's Association in recent days. To think that his true strength rested at the fifth level. He had been masking his power, emanating the aura of the fourth level during their previous encounters.

"He wasn't using his full strength during our sparring sessions?" Mu Rou's eyes widened in disbelief as she sensed the pressure emanating from Qin Wentian's body. Her own cultivation was also at the fifth level of Arterial Circulation, and she was certain that Qin Wentian had projected the strength of the fourth level throughout their training sessions.

Unbeknownst to them, Qin Wentian had been operating at the fourth level of Arterial Circulation all along. It was only in the last couple of days, after countless battles within the City of Illusions, that he had achieved a breakthrough.

Qin Wentian halted his steps, positioning himself not far from Yanaro. His energy radiated like a storm as he shouted to Mu Rou, "Get out of here!"

"Be careful," Mu Rou responded, departing alongside Chu Ling. In this lawless dreamscape, with Yanaro present, she feared for what might happen to her.

"I'm genuinely curious about your identity," Yanaro remarked, his aura surging to the seventh level of Arterial Circulation as he closed the distance.

With a flick of his finger, Yanaro summoned Astral Energy, shaping it into a torrent of razor-sharp swords.

Qin Wentian stood his ground, not yielding an inch. He unleashed the power of his Dragon Subduing Fist, shattering the onslaught of swords hurtling towards him.

"Hmph," Yanaro huffed, stepping forward and extending all five fingers. The air filled with a swarm of swords, spinning and slicing through the air as they converged on Qin Wentian.

To Yanaro's astonishment, instead of retreating, Qin Wentian advanced. He stepped aggressively, his form blurring into shadows as he advanced. Faced with the barrage of flying swords, he channeled Divine Energy into his Dragon Subduing Fist, resolutely maintaining his position.

"You're asking for death," Yanaro roared, exuding a surge of sword Qi. His palms became a flurry of motion, launching a ten-fingered assault. Each finger manifested into a radiant sword light, rending the fabric of reality.

Yanaro grinned maliciously within, confident that this attack was impossible to evade.

Yet, Qin Wentian moved with the swiftness of lightning, countless swords seemingly piercing his body. Undeterred, he pressed forward, eventually breaking free from the sea of blades.

"Get lost!" Yanaro bellowed, his hands morphing into sword-like shapes, thrusting toward Qin Wentian. In a shocking twist, Qin Wentian's lips curled into a grin. Moments later, his fist, imbued with the power of Divine Energy, shattered Yanaro's head, resulting in both of them perishing within the dreamscape.

"NOOOOOOO!" Yanaro's roar echoed in his final moments. Caught off guard, he hadn't anticipated the attack. What a humiliation! He had been defeated by someone with a supposedly weaker cultivation. But who was this enigmatic masked figure? He was willing to endure the agony of countless swords to ensure his adversary's demise.

Naturally, Yanaro couldn't connect the masked figure to Qin Wentian. Though Qin Wentian was familiar with the Dragon Subduing Fist, many had mastered the technique. Moreover, Yanaro viewed Qin Wentian as a weakling despite his potential.

Simultaneously, Qin Wentian's eyes flickered open. But instead of an enraged howl, a triumphant grin stretched across his face. Though this battle had ended in a draw, he was certain that in future encounters, he would crush Yanaro beneath his heel.