Chapter 4: The Heir of the Azure Dragon

The next day, Li Feng couldn't focus on his usual routine. His mind was occupied by his newfound cultivation and the strange incident Wang Tao had witnessed. Were there already powerful cultivators hiding in the city?

His answer came sooner than expected.

After work, he was walking home when he felt something—a presence.

It was faint, but his newly awakened senses picked up on it immediately. Someone was watching him.

He turned a corner and stepped into a narrow alley, pretending not to notice. The presence followed.

Then, in a blur of movement, a figure appeared in front of him.

The young man was tall and sharp-featured, his long black hair tied in a traditional topknot. His clothes were casual, but his aura was anything but ordinary. His piercing blue eyes radiated confidence—and something else. Superiority.

"You must be Li Feng," the stranger said, his voice calm but carrying an underlying arrogance.

Li Feng instinctively tensed. "Who are you?"

The man smirked. "Jiang Chen. Heir of the Azure Dragon Sect."

Li Feng's heart pounded. The Azure Dragon Sect—one of the legendary hidden cultivation clans rumored to control vast wealth and influence in the modern world.

"I've been keeping an eye on you," Jiang Chen continued. "Last night, the moment you broke through the First Gate, I felt it. You've inherited something, haven't you?"

Li Feng's mind raced. If Jiang Chen could sense his breakthrough, that meant he was far stronger.

"Why does it matter to you?" Li Feng asked, keeping his voice steady.

Jiang Chen chuckled. "Because I don't like competition." His aura surged, sending an invisible pressure crashing down on Li Feng. "Weaklings shouldn't dream of reaching the heavens."

Li Feng's knees nearly buckled, but he gritted his teeth and resisted. The pressure was overwhelming—it felt like standing before a raging storm.

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes. "You can withstand my Qi suppression? Interesting. That means you're not completely worthless."

The pressure vanished, and Li Feng gasped for air.

Jiang Chen turned to leave but paused. "Listen, Li Feng. This is a world where the strong rule. If you want to survive, you'd better grow fast. Because the next time we meet… I won't hold back."

With that, he disappeared into the night, leaving Li Feng standing there, fists clenched.

A rival had appeared. And now, his journey was no longer just about survival—it was about proving he was worthy of walking the path of immortality.