Chapter 37: Malicious intent 

Beside the Liu mansion, a terrifying scenario unfolded at the entrance to the estate. A man, standing at a height of more than 2 meters, brutally pounded on the array-created barrier with his fists. Witnesses were astounded by the shirtless man's power and drive as he relentlessly rained down fist blows, showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever.

"That strange man attacking the Liu clan's array—who is he?" The martial artist, who had a black complexion and looked like ebony wood, really astounded a worried bystander with his skill. With each fist hit he delivered, his muscles were pumped up and bulging, evidently exuding an astonishing amount of energy.

The strong barrier didn't appear to phase the black man, who remained firmly planted. The barrage of fists only accelerated with time, so it was obvious to anybody watching that the barrier would give way first. Two conceited-looking youths stood close to the black martial artist, staring down at the action with smug looks on their cheeks.

"Your servant is not terrible, I must confess brother Shen Mu." Zhou Tian said in a cheerful tone as he observed the shirtless practitioner toil hard and repeatedly assault the obstruction without rest, while having a tiny grin on his fair face. "What did you say his name was?"

"Brother Zhou Tian, you flatter me." Shen Mu chuckled malevolently as he saw the barrier enclosing the Liu clan fade under the constant attack of his family's most loyal servant, who had also shocked him with the force he had showed. "The subordinate is known as Wu Zhen; previously, I had only seen him a few times standing guard outside our main hall."

This was the first time Shen Mu had truly seen the black practitioner exhibit his strength, which left him little taken aback by the raw savagery of the naked fighter. When he initially called his clan, Shen Mu was somewhat suspicious, as Wu Zhen was the only one that arrived. However, all uncertainty had been put aside now that he saw the results.

"It would seem that only Wu Zhen is required in order to destroy the barrier; I had assumed that at least a dozen Core Formation practitioners were needed." Zhou Tian quietly murmured at the strength a single human being held; after all, based on his deduction, around a dozen warriors at the Core Formation had to join hands to effectively smash the blockade before them.

On the contrary, here was Wu Zhen, who was close to performing a task that would typically need several others by himself. Zhou Tian was slightly reassured that such a formidable figure was under the flag of the five clans and wasn't just going amok.

Wu Zhen continued to assault the array like a wooden puppet, without saying a single word of protest or complaint. Several bystanders collected their bravery and stayed to witness the performance, not thinking about the repercussions and only satisfied their curiosity.

Before he could continue smashing the barrier, Wu Zhen's brow wrinkled slightly as the impediment evaporated into thin air, leaving him standing in place, confused of what to do next.

"Excellent work!" Shen Mu chuckled loudly, evidently delighted that his subordinate was successful in his duty, but didn't dare get close the big guy owing to the suppressive waves radiating from his body.

Zhou Tian wordlessly witnessed the uproar but was also gratified by Wu Zhen's efforts. However, before the trio could stride past the gates, they were blocked by the one they had sought for. Li Wei quietly stood between them and the main hall.

Li Wei's attire comprised of snow-white robes absolutely free from any contaminants. His manner gave one the sensation of an unrestrained academic, entirely aloof from the world. His eyes carried a tranquil yet penetrating glance that made the observers feel as if he could see through their own souls.

Before Shen Mu and Zhou Tian could speak a phrase, Li Wei began to apologize for not coming out sooner. "I apologize for the delay," he continued, his tone calm and steady. "I had to change my robes due to interacting with filth like yourselves."

Shen Mu, thoroughly incensed, proceeded to assault Li Wei with a sword in hand, fully set on murdering him with a single slash. Li Wei, however, expertly deflected Shen Mu's strike with a smooth stride to the side. With a faint smirk on his lips, he simply answered, "Violence is not your strong suit, my friends."

Li Wei's form blurred as he emerged behind Shen Mu and lashed out with a palm strike on his back , sending Shen Mu flying to the ground with a pained moan. "You may want to work on your reflexes as well," Li Wei commented, his voice remaining calm and steady despite the situation.

The rudeness didn't end then as Li Wei took a hankercheif from his robes and stated disdainfully, " Your quite dirty; perhaps a bath is in order." The insult struck hard as Li Wei wiped his hands clean although his manner remained unaltered.

He had previously beaten up Shen Mu earlier that same day, which was why he felt no accomplishment in besting him once more. It was evident that he wasn't a match for him in any manner, since Li Wei was the stronger, more talented combatant. "What about you?" Li Wei curiously questioned the other young master, who was dumbfounded at the speed at which his friend was removed.

Zhou Tian was confused whether to make a move on him or to simply walk away and avoid any potential dispute. Li Wei's attitude and lack of respect for others made Zhou Tian worry if dealing with him would be worth the hassle. In the end, Zhou Tian thought it was better to keep his distance and rely on Wu Zhen in the hopes that he would settle the arrogant person in his midst.

Wu Zhen, still standing stoically at the now-vanished barrier, shifted his focus onto Li Wei, his dark eyes narrowing with a frigid resolve. The sight of Shen Mu being effortlessly destroyed had not escaped him, nor had the smug serenity of Li Wei.

"Wu Zhen," Shen Mu muttered from the ground, his voice filled with a mixture of anguish and wrath, "teach this arrogant wretch a lesson."

The tall martial warrior did not need additional prodding. With a forceful step forward, the ground appeared to tremor beneath Wu Zhen's sandals as he closed the space between himself and Li Wei. His fists, still humming with leftover force from the barrier assault, were now focused at the young master, who stood calmly before him.

Li Wei's countenance remained unaltered, his eyes darting with a touch of enjoyment as he regarded the incoming menace. Wu Zhen released a flurry of blows, each one infused with enough force to break stone. Yet, Li Wei moved with exquisite fluidity, deftly avoiding each strike with accuracy and ease.

As Wu Zhen's irritation rose, Li Wei finally spoke: "You fight with anger and brute strength, but true power comes from control and precision." With those comments, Li Wei swiftly countered Wu Zhen's next move, bringing him plummeting to the ground in one fell swoop.

This demonstration of expertise made Shen Mu pale with dread as he learned the actual level of Li Wei's powers. He realized that beating this opponent would need more than simply a powerful subordinate: 'Only the elders can settle this guy.' He thought to himself.

Wu Zhen refused to surrender and sought to sweep Li Wei off his feet with a strong stroke, but to his dismay, his assault hit thin air, leaving him susceptible to a Li Wei counterattack. In a single fluid move, Li Wei jumped up into the air and directly stamped on Wu Zhen's chest, fracturing many of his ribs.

"ARRGH!! HAH!" Wu Zhen could not resist the anguish as the broken bones penetrated his intestines like hot knives, which left him in a miserable situation. Li Wei was fairly happy by the situation of his opponent and turned to Zhou Tian with a smile on his face. "What are you waiting for? Pick up your pal and inform his father that this kid of his is not up to standard."

Zhou Tian stopped for a time, terror clear in his eyes as he recognized the magnitude of Li Wei's strength. With a sad heart, he approached Shen Mu and assisted him up, knowing that their defeat was certain. Li Wei's vicious laughter rang in the courtyard as he relished in his win while confidently standing over the crumpled up figure of Wu Zhen.

"Mark my words; you shall regret this." Zhou Tian could feel the weight of sadness and guilt sitting in his chest as he made his way towards Shen Mu's father, anticipating the inevitable showdown that awaited them both. .