Crafty Old Man

Crafty Old Man...

Returning to the mountain under the Arrow Emperor's domain, Qin Wentian was greeted by the sight of Chu Mang earnestly practicing his archery, guided by Fan Le. Nearby, a charming young lady received Fan Le's tutelage.

This girl, adorned in a verdant gown, radiated an aura of innocence and vitality.

"Brother Fan Le, could you showcase the Setting Sun Arrow Technique once more for me?" The young lady requested with a sweet smile.

"Absolutely." Fan Le didn't hesitate, drawing his bow and releasing an arrow that seemed capable of bringing down the very sun. A continuous chain of ten arrows, linked from feather to tip, projected an amplified force with each shot, producing a cumulative surge of power.

"Senior Brother, you're so amazing!" The young lady applauded, then shifted her gaze to Qin Wentian, curiosity lighting up her expression. Qin Wentian also studied her, and couldn't help but think, What a stunning girl. She has an ethereal quality, like the kind of beauty you'd only encounter in dreams.

"Boss, meet Xuan Xin, my junior sister. She's also a skilled archer." Fan Le introduced her with a grin, noticing Qin Wentian's presence.

"You're Qin Wentian, right? I've heard your name everywhere since I arrived in the Unmatched Realm." Xuan Xin blinked. People instinctively felt at ease in the presence of her pure and innocent beauty.

"Xuan Xin." Qin Wentian nodded with a smile, then glanced at Fatty. The Arrow Emperor had taken such a lovely disciple – spring days might be coming for Fatty again.

"Speaking of which, Boss, didn't you have something to do with Big Bro Chu Mang? He's over there. Don't let us interrupt you guys. I'll keep coaching Xuan Xin," Fan Le continued, his brazenness leaving Qin Wentian taken aback. This shameless Fatty was probably afraid they'd spoil his plans.

"Chu Mang, let's go." Qin Wentian shot Fatty an exasperated look and led Chu Mang away. Fan Le, still chuckling, turned to Xuan Xin and said, "Big Bro Chu Mang and my Boss Qin Wentian have incredibly impressive talents. They're essentially the second and third best in the Unmatched Realm, just slightly behind me."

Hearing this from a distance, Chu Mang and Qin Wentian exchanged incredulous glances. This Fatty was taking things to a new level with his attempts to impress the ladies.

"Didn't you say Qin Wentian was granted access to all thirty-six Dao-Cultivation Halls?" Xuan Xin's voice carried over.

"Yeah, my genius must've rubbed off on him. He's the all-rounder type, so you could say he's a jack of all trades. As for me, I specialize in archery because when I commit to something, I go all the way. It's like when I fall for a girl, she's the only one in my heart," Fan Le declared solemnly, leaving Chu Mang and Qin Wentian utterly defeated.

Chu Mang returned to his master Qiao Long's Dao-Cultivation Hall, while Qin Wentian found a nearby cave dwelling and began his cultivation. But as soon as he closed his eyes, a shrill whistle pierced the air.

A biting cold wind swept in, its icy chill slicing through bone. Qin Wentian was drenched in sweat as he felt the frigid gusts. A surge of alarm jolted him awake as he witnessed a violent hurricane barreling into his cave entrance.

"What's happening?" Panic painted Qin Wentian's face as he struggled to get outside. Yet, the hurricane's strength threw him off balance, making it nearly impossible to stand his ground.

"Buzz…"

Carried by the wind, Qin Wentian was lifted into the air. A deafening crash echoed as he slammed into the ceiling, his head throbbing as if it might split open.

"Where's this wind coming from?" His heart raced as he struggled to his feet. The wind's fury was concentrated at the entrance of the cave, though it filled the interior as well. However, the gales indoors were far less intense than the tempest within the tunnel.

Determined, Qin Wentian braced himself and took a step into the tunnel. But the wind's ferocity battered him, his eyes squeezed shut against the onslaught.

"BOOM!" He was thrown off balance again, smashing headfirst into a cave wall.

"WHO?!" His voice reverberated with fury. This wind couldn't have sprung up out of nowhere. Someone was controlling it, orchestrating this storm. He rose into the air, a forceful punch imbued with the Mandate of Force targeting the ceiling. But despite the thunderous impact, the stone remained unyielding. It was as if the walls had been reinforced to withstand his attack.

He didn't give up, trying various sections of the cave, yet his efforts were futile. He was trapped, intentionally held captive by someone.

With his fist clenched, Qin Wentian eyed the tunnel's howling wind that kept him confined.

"I won't be kept prisoner here." His blood surged as his body filled with Astral Energy and the force of his Mandate. A surge of demonic qi filled the air as he transformed into a Garuda, hurtling toward the tunnel's exit with explosive speed.

"Bzzz!" He felt a lightning-like bolt coursing through the hurricane, striking his body. Although he managed to cover only a third of the distance, his advance was halted. With each exertion, the rebound seemed stronger. This time, as he collided with the wall, a mouthful of blood was forced from his lips, his insides rattling from the impact.

Repeatedly attempting to stand, only to fall again, Qin Wentian's hopes dwindled as each effort met with failure. He was ensnared by the cave's walls, unable to escape. Worse still, the tunnel's hurricane was gradually encroaching into the interior, its approach painstakingly slow.

"This can't go on. If that hurricane makes it inside and I can't counter it, I'll be crushed to death."

Qin Wentian's face drained of color. He needed power—more of it. He wasn't strong enough yet.

Crashing into walls, spitting blood, he pressed on despite the pain. Were his body and bloodline not as sturdy, he'd already be on death's door.

"Who's responsible for this?"

Qin Wentian was frustrated. The booms within the cave persisted, and before he knew it, half a month had elapsed. Under the hurricane's relentless pressure, his strength grew by leaps and bounds. At this point, the Mandate of Demons had enveloped his entire body, enabling him to resist the wind for short bursts. Yet, he remained trapped in the cave.

Now, the hurricane had reached the cave's interior. Against the wall, his body was pinned. It wasn't what he wanted, but the wind's force kept him from advancing. His face was pale as paper, his appearance far more haggard than when he'd entered.

Coughing blood time and again, he cursed the one responsible for this assault in his heart. If curses held power, that person would be dead a million times over.

Outside the cave, on an ancient tree, an old man lounged on a branch, appearing to be dozing. Out of thin air, a fierce figure transformed into a streak of light, hurtling toward him. But the old man merely exhaled, and his breath sent the figure somersaulting.

"AWOOOO~" Little Rascal's eyes glowed gold as it glared at the old man. Yet, it was met with indifference; the old man continued to sleep.

"Sigh, where else will you find such a patient old man like me, painstakingly guiding the younger generation? Kind souls are always misunderstood," the old man mumbled to himself. Little Rascal bared its teeth, its ferocity amplified. If Qin Wentian heard this, he'd surely be infuriated enough to cough up more blood.

For an entire month, every second was an agony for Qin Wentian. The count of his broken bones and the tally of blood he'd coughed up blurred together in his mind. Still, the cave's grip on him persisted.

Whispers circulated in the Unmatched Realm, painting Qin Wentian as a coward who had hidden himself away. He'd become an elusive figure, absent for an extended stretch.

After two months, a figure stumbled out of the cave. Upon exiting, he collapsed onto the ground, utterly drained and breathless. His clothes were ragged, his hair disheveled, and he could hardly muster concern for his appearance. But his eyes were wide open as they fixated on the old man slumbering in the tree. If glares could kill, the old man would've perished on the spot.

Revenge—plain and simple. That cunning old man was nursing a petty grudge, and it showed.

"Hmm, who's cursing me?" The old man stirred and cracked an eye open. When he saw Qin Wentian's hostile gaze, his eyes narrowed, and he chuckled. "No need for gratitude. People like me, exemplars of kindness, perform noble acts without expecting anything in return."

"I'll find a way to 'repay' you someday," Qin Wentian seethed.

"No need, no need." The old man sat up and levitated away, waving his hand dismissively. "Your strength now flows evenly throughout your body. Good to see your Mandate of Force has reached the Perfection Boundary. And as a true gentleman, I'll remain unnamed as I depart, basking in the glory of my undisclosed contributions to the world."

Qin Wentian had the urge to pummel the old man before him. Yet, it was clear he wasn't a match. In all likelihood, a mere flick of the old man's finger could send him hurtling off the mountain.

"Wait, my Mandate of Force reached the Perfection Boundary?" Qin Wentian froze.

He hadn't realized it in the midst of his ordeal, but he'd inadvertently achieved it through countless trials. The only way to escape the hurricane's grasp was to infuse his entire body with the Mandate of Force, an action that had ultimately pushed him to the Perfection Boundary.

"That old man deserves a special place in hell. He'd better not cross my path," Qin Wentian bitterly chuckled. Such a breakthrough came at the cost of excruciating trials. Only someone as mad as that swindling old man would concoct such a plan. Without reaching the Perfection Boundary, he might have succumbed within the cave.

Closing his eyes, Qin Wentian could finally rest. He slept deeply for seven days, luxuriating in his slumber. In the end, he remained reluctant to rouse from it.

Half a year had elapsed since Qin Wentian's arrival on the Azure Continent.

During these six months, his growth had been unwavering. But he wasn't alone. Ouyang Kuangsheng and Wang Xiao had also advanced, breaking through to the seventh level of Yuanfu. This progression wasn't limited to them—every practitioner within the Unmatched Realm experienced improvement, regardless of their methods or locations.

For these exceptional talents, time was an invaluable asset that no one was willing to squander. In their world, a single moment's delay could translate into eternal lag behind their peers.

At this juncture, the Grand Xia Empire's prodigies were setting their sights on the Ancient Kingdom of the Ginkou Continent. Some departed, eager to reach the new destination, while others stayed back, determined to maximize their growth until the final moment. Their pursuit was relentless, fueled by the understanding that only by giving their all could they hope to measure up against Grand Xia's fiercest rivals.