The Battle at the Abandoned Shrine

The abandoned shrine stood alone in the depths of the bamboo forest, its old walls cracked. The once proud stone altar now crumbling beneath the weight of time. 

Thick vines stretched over its foundation, and the scent of wet earth mingled with the cool night breeze. 

The roof, half collapsed, allowed soft moonlight to spill through the gaps.

Lu Chen stood at its center, calm and composed, his hands at his sides. His breath was steady, but his senses were sharp.

he emanated the newly broken aura of a 6th layer Qi Condensation cultivator. He prepared everything he could for this moment.

Tonight, he will kill Zhao Feng.

His once arrogant enemy needs to be eliminated, He was already getting himself into too much trouble, he can't have an arrogant lunatic on his tail.

To say he wasn't nervous, or that he wasn't in conflict would be a lie, but a man must do what must be done.

...

Zhao Feng had always been arrogant, always believed himself superior to those around him. 

Not being able to end the life of a mere outer disciple twice in a row was the ultimate humiliation for him.

The only good thing is that there was no one there to witness either time he let the ant escape.

But it wasn't humiliation or revenge that drove him here tonight.

It was opportunity.

Lu Chen's sudden ability to anticipate movements, and his mysterious composure in battle, Something that didn't exist moments before, all pointed to one truth in Zhao Feng's mind.

"Lu Chen must have a treasure."

Something that allowed him to predict opponents' attacks, something that gave him an advantage in combat.

Zhao Feng wanted it for himself.

...

The night air was cold.

A breeze passed through the bamboo, rustling the leaves.

Then…

Lu Chen sensed him before he even saw him. A shadow moved at the shrine's entrance.

Then, Zhao Feng stepped into the moonlight.

His Inner Sect robes were immaculate, his dagger hidden within his sleeve. His expression was calm, but in his eyes, a glint of greed burned.

"Lu Chen." Zhao Feng's voice was smooth, almost casual. "You should have been smarter."

Lu Chen pretended to have a panicked expression.

Zhao Feng smile.

"You should learn to cover your tracks better, this kind of carelessness can cost a life." he continued, stepping forward. "Take this lesson with you when you reincarnate."

His fingers twitched near his sleeve.

Lu Chen said nothing! He just stood there, pretending to be shocked and looking for an escape. Everything was going according to plan.

Zhao Feng struck first.

SWOOSH!

The dagger flashed in the moonlight, a silver light cutting through the air.

his eyes filled with greed and confidence. He was certain that the difference in strength between them was overwhelming, that his blade would cut down Lu Chen before he could react.

He laugh.

The dagger shot forward like a viper, aiming for Lu Chen's throat in a single, precise movement.

But the moment his foot touched the center of the shrine, the ground shifted beneath him.

A faint crack echoed in the air.

Zhao Feng's pupils shrank.

"What…?!"

The formation collapsed beneath his feet, the old, unstable energy disrupting his Qi flow. The Decay Qi that had long remained in the shrine's foundations surged upward.

That was the moment Lu Chen had been waiting for.

He moved.

His Shadow Step technique activated, and in an instant, Lu Chen's figure vanished from Zhao Feng's sight.

Zhao Feng's instincts screamed danger. He forced his body to react, twisting away… But he was too slow.

Lu Chen appeared behind him, his palm already descending.

BOOM!

A precise palm strike slammed into Zhao Feng's back, sending him staggering forward. His breath hitched as the Decay Qi coiled around his meridians.

His Qi was still unstable.

Lu Chen couldn't waste time.

He pressed forward, his second strike already aiming for Zhao Feng's ribs, but Zhao Feng gritted his teeth and forced his Qi to circulate.

SWOOSH!

His dagger flashed upward, intercepting Lu Chen's next attack in an instant.

CLANG!

The clash sent sparks flying, and for the first time, Zhao Feng managed to push back.

His Qi had stabilized a little, the window of opportunity was closing.

"I have seconds left before I lose my advantage."

Lu Chen's eyes showed determination.

He stepped forward without hesitation.

Zhao Feng saw the movement, his lips twisting into a sneer.

"Too predictable."

His dagger reversed its grip, aiming straight for Lu Chen's heart.

But Lu Chen had already saw through his plan.

At the last moment, Lu Chen shifted his weight, letting the dagger glide harmlessly past his ribs.

Zhao Feng's eyes widened.

"He—!"

Lu Chen's final strike landed.

A palm slammed directly into Zhao Feng's chest, sending a violent shockwave through his meridians. His Qi, already weakened by the Decay formation, collapsed completely.

His dagger slipped from his fingers.

His body swayed.

For the first time, fear entered Zhao Feng's eyes.

"You—"

Lu Chen's voice was calm, without hesitation.

"You lost the moment you walked in here."

His blade flashed.

And Zhao Feng fell.

"You're not here to be a problem anymore."

Before Lu Chen could breathe a sigh of relief, undisguised footsteps reached his ears.

Lu Chen's heart pounded as he locked eyes with the masked figure standing at the edge of the ruined shrine.

Their presence was a heavy, suffocating aura of power that belonged to a true Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Instead, their gaze remained firmly on Lu Chen.

"You have something that doesn't belong to you," a voice smooth but laced with cold amusement.

Lu Chen gritted his teeth.

The masked man was here for the Path of the Withered Shadow.

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