The two Nascent Soul projections clashed violently in the sky. Every time their fists collided, shockwaves of spiritual energy ripped through the clouds, sending thunderous booms echoing across the area.
To the thousands of disciples on the ground below, the fight looked shockingly evenly matched.
Envoy Zhao Wuhen gritted his teeth, his face twisting in frustration as he channeled more of his spiritual energy. With a rapid hand seal, his silver projection manifested a gargantuan, gleaming spear. With a roar that shook the firmament, the nascent soul projection lunged forward, thrusting the spear directly toward the chest of Lin Yuan’s projection with world-piercing momentum.
Sensing the sheer density of the incoming attack, Lin Yuan did not attempt to dodge. His projection raised the hundred-foot blade of thunder, using the flat side of the sword as a massive shield.
KRA-KOOOM!
The tip of the silver spear slammed into the body of the thunder blade. The resulting explosion temporarily turned the morning sky entirely white. The sheer force of a Middle Stage Nascent Soul’s focused strike was undeniable. Even with his flawless foundation, Lin Yuan’s projection was physically pushed back several feet in the sky.
Down below, Wang Tianze’s eyes were practically bulging out of his skull.
The Patriarch of the Wang Clan was utterly paralyzed by a profound shock. How is this possible?! his mind screamed. He was pushed back, yes, but he held the line! An Early Stage Nascent Soul expert is actually matching blows with Envoy Zhao Wuhen in a direct clash of projections! The sheer quality of his foundation is shocking!
High above, despite being pushed back, Lin Yuan’s expression remained perfectly composed, his deep purple eyes calculating the flow of the battle.
His goal today was not to kill the Envoy. If he truly wanted to end things, he could simply unleash the absolute might of his Death Gaze, instantly killing the Envoy. But Lin Yuan absolutely did not want to start a blood feud with the Cultivation Council.
The Cultivation Council was a force he had no desire to cross paths with. To provoke the Council while being only at the Early Nascent Soul Realm was nothing short of madness. "Foolishness" was simply too mild a word to describe such a suicidal act. The Council possessed experts at the Soul Transformation Realm, and he was sure that it housed cultivators far beyond that realm.
Lin Yuan just wanted to push the Envoy back. He needed to demonstrate enough overwhelming strength to force the man to stand down and recognize his boundaries, so that Lin Yuan could simply talk business with the Wang Clan head.
"You dare block my attack?!" Envoy Zhao Wuhen roared.
Refusing to be stalemated by a junior, the Envoy bit his tongue and burned a drop of his blood essence. His hands blurred through a terrifyingly fast sequence of seals. The silver projection dissolved its spear and thrust both its hands forward. The sky violently rippled as four massive, silver misty dragons erupted from the Envoy’s domain. They roared with killing intent, twisting through the air and converging on Lin Yuan from four different blind spots.
Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed. The area of effect was too wide for a standard parry. It was time to condense his power.
With a single thought, Lin Yuan completely removed his Nascent Soul projection. It vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving Lin Yuan’s physical body hovering alone in the sky.
Simultaneously, the massive hundred-foot thunder blade compressed. The Five Thunder Splitting Sword was now perfectly sized for Lin Yuan’s grip.
Lin Yuan grasped the hilt with both hands. His Body surged with terrifying might.
As the four silver misty dragons closed their jaws around him, Lin Yuan spun.
He unleashed a single, horizontal slash.
A wave of lightning sword Qi erupted from the sword.
SHING!
The Sword Qi effortlessly cleaved all four silver misty dragons in half simultaneously. The terrifying beasts did not even have the chance to detonate; they were instantly erased, returning to harmless ambient spiritual energy.
"Gah—!"
The instantaneous destruction of his technique triggered a severe spiritual backlash. Up in the sky, Envoy Zhao Wuhen violently coughed up a mouthful of blood. His internal meridians burned as if they had been dunked in boiling acid, and the Middle Stage expert was forced to stumble and retreat several steps backward just to stabilize his collapsing domain.
Down on the Peak of Golden Wisdom, Wang Tianze felt his own soul threatening to leave his body from sheer terror.
The clan head’s shock reached a pinnacle of utter absurdity. To force a Cultivation Council Envoy to cough up blood and physically retreat in a head-on clash... it meant that this rogue cultivator’s Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivation could effortlessly rival a Middle Stage Nascent Soul old monster!
In the sky, Envoy Zhao Wuhen wiped the blood from his chin, his chest heaving. The arrogant fury that had clouded his mind was instantly replaced by a something else.
He did not want to step in arrogantly anymore.
Zhao Wuhen rapidly deduced that this young man was no ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator. The purity of his power, the incomprehensible physical strength, and the sheer density of his qi belonged to the absolute apex of prodigies—the kind nurtured only by monstrous experts.
The Envoy shifted his gaze downward, looking at Wang Tianze. Intentionally, Zhao Wuhen had stepped in to make this rogue junior recognize his authority as an Envoy of the Council. But it was now abundantly clear that forcing submission would require vastly more effort than he ever imagined.
With a slow exhale, Envoy Zhao Wuhen completely withdrew his aggressive aura. The oppressive silver light faded from the sky, signaling a total de-escalation.
He clasped his hands together, "Daoist," the Envoy asked politely, his tone completely transformed into one of diplomacy. "May I ask your esteemed name?"
Lin Yuan lowered the crackling sword, his eyes recognizing the shift in the winds. He mirrored the calm demeanor.
"Lin Yuan."
"Daoist Lin," the Envoy nodded deeply, offering his own identity. "I am Zhao Wuhen. I must admit, your foundation is terrifyingly strong for an Early Stage Nascent Soul cultivator. I have misjudged the situation. Any issue that you have with the Wang Clan strictly does not concern me, nor does it concern the Cultivation Council. You may proceed as you see fit."
Having cleanly washed his hands of the Wang Clan’s business, Zhao Wuhen’s eyes gleamed with a new, opportunistic light.
"However, Daoist Lin, a talent such as yours should not be wasted in a remote corner like Azure Cloud City," Zhao Wuhen continued. "The Cultivation Council is currently holding grand trials for open Envoy positions across the entire Zhao Province. With your heaven-defying talent, you can surely land a prominent place and leave this stagnant city behind."
The Envoy spread his arms, gesturing to the vastness of the world. "The Cultivation Council controls the apex of resources in the Nine Provinces. We possess sutras, spiritual veins, and pills that can guide your cultivation to unprecedented heights! Joining us means that reaching even the Spirit Severing realm is an absolute guarantee with our guidance."
To emphasize his point, Zhao Wuhen raised his hand. The massiveCrown rapidly shrank, descending from the sky and landing gently as a golden circlet in his palm.
"We reward our own handsomely," Zhao Wuhen said proudly, showing Lin Yuan the artifact. "I received this from the Council’s inner treasury. Among all the offensive artifacts currently registered in the Zhao Province, this crown is ranked fifth. Imagine what treasures could belong to you."
Lin Yuan looked at the glowing crown and the confident Envoy. He wouldn’t lie to himself; the offer was undeniably tempting. Guaranteed resources, artifacts, and a paved road to the Spirit Severing realm were the dreams of every cultivator.
But Lin Yuan’s Dao Heart was firm. He had no business being a lapdog for the Cultivation Council, shackled by their hierarchy, answering to corrupt elders, and doing their bidding across the province while leaving his wife unprotected.
"I appreciate the high regard, Envoy Zhao," Lin Yuan replied, his voice calm but completely resolute. He offered a respectful bow to soften the rejection. "But my path is my own. I must kindly decline your offer."
Envoy Zhao Wuhen studied Lin Yuan’s unwavering eyes for a long moment. Recognizing his unyielding conviction, the Envoy did not press the issue or take offense.
"Very well," Zhao Wuhen nodded, securing the crown back into his spatial ring. "Suit yourself, Daoist Lin."
With a final, polite nod, the Envoy of the Cultivation Council turned around, tore open the void, and completely teleported from the sky, leaving the Wang Clan entirely at Lin Yuan’s mercy.