The Silhouette Behind

The warhorses thundered forward, their hooves creating a resounding symphony against the snow-covered ground. A menacing air of danger seemed to radiate from the spears wielded by the soldiers. Before they even reached Qin Wentian, their spears, like venomous snakes, lunged toward him with a shrill, deadly hiss.

The snowy ground cracked beneath their force, but Qin Wentian's response was swift. He stomped his foot, sending frost and snow swirling into the air. An overwhelming aura surged from him as he stood tall and imposing, a majestic figure against the wintry backdrop.

"Chi..." Two spears jabbed from the flanks. The attacking soldiers felt a gust of wind and swirling snow that obscured their vision. In that momentary blindness, Qin Wentian sprang into action.

It was as if an invisible force had seized their long spears in a vice-like grip.

"Get lost."

The incredible force hurled them backward, crashing into the soldiers riding behind them. In an instant, the entire row of soldiers tumbled from their mounts, landing in a chaotic heap.

Qin Wentian advanced slowly, his gaze fixed on Yanaro and the members of the Bai Clan who had unexpectedly appeared. He hadn't anticipated encountering Bai Qingsong here.

Another row of soldiers charged forward, but Yanaro spoke calmly, "Let me handle him."

The soldiers halted in their tracks, making way for Yanaro, who rode forward and halted in front of Qin Wentian, looking down at him with disdain.

"We've had two inconclusive battles before. Since you're still alive, today, I'll end your life," Yanaro declared calmly. Despite being at the 7th level of Arterial Circulation, he had never been able to defeat Qin Wentian. The humiliation gnawed at him. After months of relentless training, his innate technique had grown stronger, and his cultivation had reached the peak of the 7th level.

His combat prowess had elevated by a whole level, and today, he was determined to ensure Qin Wentian met his end by his blade.

Yanaro unleashed his Sword-type Astral Soul, his second Astral Soul from the 3rd Heavenly Layer. His body emanated a fearsome Sword Qi, and even his gaze seemed as sharp as blades.

The drifting snowflakes in the vicinity were sliced into oblivion by the Sword Qi radiating from him.

"Yanaro's Fragmented Sword innate technique has reached the third level. This battle will likely be one-sided. No matter how much Qin Wentian has improved, he's still going to meet his demise at Yanaro's hands," a young soldier commented, earning nods from the other onlookers.

"He should have perished long ago," Bai Qingsong sneered, his eyes glinting with coldness. Qin Wentian's survival was nothing short of miraculous.

"Qingsong, my Wentian has the courage to stand against a whole regiment on his own. As for you and your daughter, Autumn Snow, you can only scavenge like thieves, lurking in the shadows," Qin Chuan retorted with a biting sarcasm, eliciting a frosty glare from Bai Qingsong. He retorted, "Just wait for his death. I want to see what you'll say then."

Yanaro dismounted and advanced, releasing Sword Qi that wailed and shrieked, setting the falling snow into a frenzied dance between them.

"If you desire death so ardently, today, I shall grant your wish," Yanaro declared, his hand forming into a sword-like stance. An intensely sharp sword intent radiated outward.

"What a formidable aura," the spectators observed as Yanaro advanced while Qin Wentian remained motionless, like a statue.

"You're unworthy," Qin Wentian stated as he stepped forward, dispersing the snow beneath his feet. His aura surged, not fueled by any energy but purely from his own presence.

Though he possessed no ultimate techniques, the aura he exuded rivaled that of top-tier martial artists. It conveyed a sense of freedom and purpose, along with a hint of responsibility.

"Hmm?" Yanaro squinted but soon resumed his cold smile.

"Aura manipulation? Mere parlor tricks, unable to withstand a single blow," Yanaro taunted as he continued his deliberate approach. It seemed as if his Sword Qi could rip through the fabric of space with each step.

"I wonder," Qin Wentian replied, summoning his first Astral Soul, which materialized into a Heavenly Hammer. He stood his ground like an immovable mountain. No matter how domineering Yanaro's Sword Qi was, it couldn't topple him.

Simultaneously, Qin Wentian's 6th level of Arterial Circulation aura erupted, and the constellation-like gleam in his eyes pierced through Yanaro, making him shudder.

In Qin Wentian's eyes, Yanaro saw an unwavering sense of confidence, determination, and dominance. Just this glimpse was enough to make anyone feel small and insignificant.

"Boom." Qin Wentian took a stride, and Yanaro's heart raced as the sound reverberated.

"Even though he's at the 6th level, I don't believe he can challenge me," Yanaro silently reassured himself as he continued forward. His Sword Qi howled, shredding everything in its path.

"This battle will be one-sided for sure. Qin Wentian is already a dead man," the crowd murmured confidently. Oddly, they couldn't sense the pressure Qin Wentian's single step imposed on Yanaro. That's why they were so certain of Yanaro's victory.

Finally, when they stood just a step apart, Yanaro thrust his finger forward. In mid-air, the energy transformed into countless sharp short swords, hurtling toward Qin Wentian.

In that climactic moment, it felt like the world held its breath. The outcome seemed inevitable – Qin Wentian's doom was sealed.

"Boom!" The Heavenly Hammer swung in Qin Wentian's hand, devoid of complex techniques, relying solely on sheer strength. As the hammer entered Yanaro's field of vision, he plunged into an illusionary quagmire. An immense mountain brimming with boundless strength appeared before him, unleashing an overwhelming pressure, as if intent on burying him beneath its unimaginable might.

"No..." Yanaro's formidable demeanor seemed to crumble. For a fleeting moment, Qin Wentian instilled in him an overwhelming sense of danger.

"Rumble!"

The Heavenly Hammer collided with Yanaro's short swords, obliterating them. The force of the impact propelled Yanaro backward, while Qin Wentian advanced, delivering another powerful palm strike.

"What's happening?" Shock etched across the faces of the spectators. To their amazement, Yanaro appeared weaker between the two combatants. Qin Wentian's attacks carried an imposing, majestic aura, akin to a formless pressure. Though not ultimate techniques, each strike possessed a strength that rivaled innate techniques capable of rending the heavens and earth asunder.

Yanaro attempted to counterattack, but his effort lacked the previous vigor. His palms trembled upon impact, and Qin Wentian had already seized one of his arms.

"This is the arm that pointed at my father, isn't it? Now, this arm belongs to me."

Qin Wentian's palm quivered, and Yanaro let out a blood-curdling scream. In a single exchange, Qin Wentian shattered one of Yanaro's arms.

"How is this possible?" The spectators were dumbfounded. The formidable Yanaro had one arm broken by Qin Wentian in a single confrontation?

Confusion reigned, and even the troops escorting Qin Chuan were at a loss for words.

"How dare you!" Several voices erupted in anger as mounted soldiers prepared to charge at Qin Wentian. Simultaneously, a figure materialized, soaring through the skies and hovering above.

Among the troops escorting Qin Chuan, there was a Yuanfu cultivator.

Qin Wentian raised his head to confront the figure, witnessing the energy being condensed into a golden halo hurtling toward him. However, just as the golden halo took form, a faint, enormous arm manifested in the air, flying toward the halo. Both manifestations exploded simultaneously with a deafening boom. Another figure emerged to block the previous Yuanfu cultivator.

"The Heaven Fist technique. Who are you?" The enemy Yuanfu cultivator demanded to know.

In response, the other figure calmly stated, "No one is allowed to harm Qin Wentian."

"Today, he dared to rescue a prisoner. The price for such audacity is death." The eyes of the enemy Yuanfu cultivator gleamed with a sharp, golden light.

At the same moment, the warhorses on the ground galloped toward Qin Wentian.

In a flurry of movement, Qin Wentian's body transformed into a blur of shadows. With a stomp of the ground, a silvery long spear materialized in his hands as he charged forward.

Kill!" Qin Wentian's eyes blazed with determination as he unleashed a fierce battle cry. With a furious roar, he launched the silvery spear like a bolt of lightning.

"Chi, chi, chi..." The spear, moving with incredible speed and power, pierced through the soldiers' throats. Blood rained down, staining the once pristine snow in shades of crimson. In the blink of an eye, an entire row of soldiers lay lifeless.

As the remaining soldiers closed in, Qin Wentian conjured a second divine weapon – an ancient Chinese halberd.

When one soldier thrust his long spear at him, Qin Wentian stepped forward, wielding the ancient halberd with unstoppable momentum. In an instant, he pierced and obliterated the enemy's heart.

The galloping warhorses and the movements of the soldiers came to a sudden halt. The sight of the ancient halberd impaling their comrade exuded an aura of dominance that left them frozen in fear.

"Anyone who dares to block my path shall meet their end," Qin Wentian bellowed in fury, causing the soldiers to tremble and step back in fear.

While two Yuanfu cultivators battled fiercely in the air, the ground remained eerily quiet. All eyes were fixed on the blood trickling from the corpse impaled by Qin Wentian's ancient halberd.

"How powerful," murmured the spectators, astounded by the young man's unexpected strength. His slender frame stood like an ancient tree, while Yanaro, once his adversary, was now a forgotten presence beneath his feet.

"Interspatial ring," the crowd whispered among themselves as they realized that both the silver spear and the ancient halberd had seemingly materialized out of thin air. It was evident that Qin Wentian possessed an interspatial ring, a treasure that was far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Beside the iron cage containing Qin Chuan, an old man emerged and approached Qin Wentian.

"Wentian, be careful! This old man is a Yuanfu Realm cultivator," warned Qin Chuan, recognizing the jailer who had kept him imprisoned.

A sinister expression crossed the old man's face as he advanced. However, his progress halted abruptly as another figure appeared beside Qin Wentian. The old man's gaze shifted between the newcomer and the Yuanfu Realm cultivator battling in the air. The audacity of someone supporting Qin Wentian left him bewildered and apprehensive.