Chapter 43: First Encounter

Mo Xuan and Mo Chen’s faces were ashen. Mo Chen had announced his family name precisely to intimidate the other party into retreat. After all, a family that had produced three Saint Spirit Warriors was one of the most ancient and formidable among the human clans, and the illustrious Mo family ranked among the ten great families of the race. Who would dare offend them?

Yet the adversary showed not a hint of fear, disregarding them entirely and even drawing his sword. Just a newcomer, and yet so brazen! The two had never suffered such treatment; to them, it was a grave humiliation.

In truth, they did not know that, in Chu Feng’s eyes, the prestige of old families and mighty factions meant nothing. Even when facing a Saint Spirit Warrior himself, Chu Feng cared only to act with a clear conscience.

Mo Xuan’s expression was dark enough to drip water. The intimate address “Xiao Yue” repeatedly pricked at his nerves, like a dagger thrust into his heart.

Mo Chen sneered, barking, “Do not make a mistake. Some people are not for the likes of you to—”

Before he could finish, his expression changed; a flash of swordlight forced him to retreat, barely evading Chu Feng’s strike.

Chu Feng acted decisively, unwilling to waste breath on pointless argument, preferring to demonstrate his resolve with action. His sword was not at full force; he did not arrogantly assume a newcomer could challenge a ninth-tier Saint Spirit Warrior. His aim was not to defeat, but to silence.

“You court death!” Mo Chen roared in fury, instantly manifesting his spirit and preparing to rush Chu Feng, intent on teaching the reckless newcomer a lesson.

But at that moment, Mo Xuan reached out and stopped him.

“Brother Xuan!” Mo Chen called, bewildered at the sudden intervention.

Mo Xuan’s gaze never left Chu Feng; now, a faint smile curved his lips as he spoke calmly, “Such a spirited young man deserves respect, does he not? Bullying him like this is pointless.”

Chu Feng was caught off guard by these words; he had not expected such a remark.

He sheathed his sword, ignoring the youth beside him and looking only at Mo Xuan, his voice cold: “Give me time, and I will surpass you!”

“Hmph, such arrogance! A mere newcomer dares make such claims—you truly think yourself a once-in-a-millennium genius?” Mo Chen scoffed, his eyes flashing coldly.

Chu Feng ignored him entirely, not sparing him a glance. In his view, though Mo Chen was also a prodigy of the Heaven Camp, compared to the man in purple, he was but a minor character.

Chu Feng fixed Mo Xuan with a chilly stare, sharp as blade; Mo Xuan likewise observed him coldly. For a moment, the two were silent.

Mo Xuan felt a measure of surprise. As a ninth-tier Earth Spirit Warrior of extraordinary talent, the notion that a newcomer—almost deemed a failure—would surpass him was laughable; ordinarily, he would not bother. Yet, facing this newcomer now, he sensed an immense conviction from him—so strong that he almost believed in miracles.

Chu Feng, too, was moved; he found the man in purple not as disagreeable as expected, and his bearing inspired a certain respect.

“You have courage, but do you have the strength? Dare you let me test you? Rest assured, I know my limits and will not harm you,” Mo Xuan said evenly. His curiosity about the newcomer was genuine; after all, the pressure he exuded was not something a newcomer could withstand, and he wished to probe further.

Mo Chen, meanwhile, wore a mocking expression, never once considering the newcomer anything but a failure.

Upon hearing this, Chu Feng did not hesitate; even if it came to real combat, he had no fear, let alone a mere test. To have a ninth-tier Earth Spirit Warrior test his strength was nothing shameful.

Chu Feng clasped his sword and his fists, replying calmly, “Chu Feng. Not yet spirit-manifested; battle power, second tier.”

At this, Mo Chen’s smile froze. A newcomer unable to manifest spirit yet possessed the battle power of a second-tier Earth Spirit Warrior? If true, it was astonishing—such a thing had never happened before.

Even among those who could manifest spirit, without awakening their spirit attribute, no one had ever reached second-tier battle power; after all, the path of cultivation truly began only after awakening that attribute.

Mo Chen’s face twisted into scorn. “That’s shameless! Are you trying to fool children? Everyone knows only those who have manifested spirit qualify for the Spirit Warrior Pavilion.”

Chu Feng’s expression remained unmoved, never once glancing at the youth, his distaste clear.

Mo Xuan, meanwhile, was genuinely startled, but he was more inclined to believe the newcomer. Meeting Chu Feng’s gaze for a moment, he replied, “Mo Xuan. Earth Spirit Warrior, ninth tier.”

“My sword is sharp. Be careful.” Chu Feng drew his blade.

Suddenly, Mo Xuan caught sight of the “Domain Suppressor” inscription on the gray-white sword, and his pupils contracted: “That’s the Domain Suppressor Sword!”

He signaled Mo Chen to step back and addressed Chu Feng calmly, “Make your move.”

Chu Feng shot forth like an arrow, targeting Mo Xuan.

A fierce battle was imminent. Mo Xuan did not manifest spirit, facing Chu Feng bare-handed, controlling his power and not overwhelming the opponent.

His palm technique was extraordinary; his fingers seemed to gather unimaginable force. Clearly, he knew the Domain Suppressor Sword’s danger and avoided its edge with every swing.

After only a dozen exchanges, Mo Xuan was astonished—the opponent’s swordplay was exquisite, beyond expectation, leaving Mo Chen dumbfounded.

Mo Xuan realized that, if he restrained his power and speed to match Chu Feng, evading Chu Feng’s attacks became difficult.

He gradually increased his speed, but Chu Feng rose to the challenge, his refined swordplay compensating for any lack of speed.

“Can swordsmanship truly reach such heights? His burst power is beyond any second-tier Earth Spirit Warrior—remarkable indeed,” Mo Xuan marveled inwardly.

His keen judgment quickly confirmed that Chu Feng’s claim was no exaggeration. Such superb swordplay, combined with formidable physique and the Domain Suppressor Sword, could defeat any second-tier Earth Spirit Warrior.

Their battle was intense, and Chu Feng was likewise impressed: a ninth-tier Earth Spirit Warrior was indeed mighty—even a small fraction of his strength was formidable.

At last, Mo Xuan used stronger force to drive Chu Feng back, ending the duel. He regarded Chu Feng calmly: “You may go.”

“Farewell,” Chu Feng replied, sheathing his sword and departing.

Mo Xuan walked away, hands clasped behind his back, without looking back.

By the roadside, Mo Chen glared viciously at Chu Feng’s retreating figure, his heart full of resentment—never before had he been so slighted. He quickly caught up with Mo Xuan, protesting, “Brother Xuan, letting that brat go is too generous, isn’t it?”

Mo Xuan did not pause, replying coolly, “What’s the point of fussing with a newcomer now? When he grows strong, he and I will fight, and then—I’ll crush him beneath my feet before Long Yue!”

“What use is mastering some desperate technique? Without spirit manifestation, he’ll never control the greatest forces of heaven and earth. At his age, even if he does manage to manifest spirit, entering the Yellow Camp will be next to impossible. Such a failure could never become strong—Brother Xuan, you overestimate him,” Mo Chen said, his tone dripping with contempt.

“Just a hunch,” Mo Xuan replied, glancing at Mo Chen before saying nothing more.

Mo Chen stayed silent, thinking, “I trust reality more. A mere newcomer won’t defy fate—I’ll make him pay for today’s arrogance.”

After leaving, Chu Feng passed through the woods and soon arrived at a familiar garden, where he and Liu Yantao had once shared drinks.

“How did I end up here again? Next time, I’ll go out of my way to avoid this place,” Chu Feng thought, slowing his steps and proceeding with caution—after all, he’d met with setbacks here twice already, making three times counting the first.

“I seem to have run into his damned barrier here before,” Chu Feng mused, recalling the exact spot after suffering twice in the same place. He knew that the transparent barrier was deliberately set up by Liu Yantao upon spotting him. Chu Feng was impressed by Liu Yantao’s skill in arranging barriers, though he also found him somewhat bored.

He glanced at the distance, knowing that beside the garden was an empty plot with a stone table, hidden by Liu Yantao’s barrier.

“It’s early—he shouldn’t be here. Who would be bored enough to stay every day?” Chu Feng thought, but still advanced cautiously with his sword. Finding nothing, he concluded, “Looks like he’s not here.”

Just as he was about to move on, Liu Yantao’s voice sounded, “Brother, are you looking for me?”

Nearby, Liu Yantao opened the barrier and revealed himself.

Seeing Liu Yantao, Chu Feng’s lips twitched, feeling an urge to curse.

“Damn, someone really is that bored!” Chu Feng thought, shooting Liu Yantao a glare, “Go cool off somewhere else.”

Liu Yantao put on a mournful face, drained a cup of wine, and sighed, “Ah, brother, you’re riding high now, while I remain alone—how unfair fate is.”

Chu Feng looked at him with disdain. Anyone else might have believed Liu Yantao’s grief, but Chu Feng wasn’t fooled.

Sure enough, the next moment Liu Yantao grinned and bounded over, dragging Chu Feng toward the stone table, exclaiming, “Brother, you’re incredible—how did you win the heart of a cold beauty like Long Yue?”

After yesterday’s events, Liu Yantao had been deeply affected. Who would have thought the top genius of the Heaven Camp would fall for a newcomer?

“Don’t talk nonsense. Long Yue and I grew up together—it’s not what you think,” Chu Feng explained.

“So that’s it—a childhood friendship!” Liu Yantao exclaimed, feeling much relieved. If that was the case, it was a different matter entirely.

“You…” Chu Feng was speechless. In truth, after years living with Long Yue, they were like siblings; anything more had never crossed his mind.

“What do you mean, ‘you’? Don’t deny it—my eyes are sharp as snow. Anyone could see the affection between you two at that moment,” Liu Yantao shot him a look, then said seriously, “But you’d better be careful. The top genius of the Heaven Camp is not so easily won—not everyone has Mo Xuan’s gentlemanly bearing.”