"Junior Sister Ruoling, you're no match for me. You're just courting humiliation!"
Feng Yuan shook his head. He was at the 3rd Layer Meridian Opening Realm, while she was only at the 2nd Layer, making it impossible for her to be his opponent.
"Take this!"
Zhang Ruoling, undeterred, thrust her long sword towards Feng Yuan.
The strike was swift and fierce, the sword light flowing like waves, unending.
Seeing this, Feng Yuan immediately raised his saber to block.
Clang!
The long sword clashed against the blade, ringing with the sound of metal striking metal.
With her first strike unsuccessful, Zhang Ruoling quickly changed her tactics, her sword light dancing as she continued her relentless assault on Feng Yuan.
Clang, clang, clang!
Feng Yuan stood firm like a mountain, blocking and slashing, fending off Zhang Ruoling's continuous attacks.
"Junior Sister, do you really think I'm afraid of you?"
Feng Yuan was slightly annoyed. He had been on the defensive, yet she kept attacking, igniting his anger.
Though she was the Sect Master's daughter and undeniably beautiful, he couldn't let himself be bullied.
"Let me show you the gap between us!"
With a fierce shout, Feng Yuan knocked aside her incoming sword and struck instantly.
"Gale Saber Art!"
The long saber in Feng Yuan's hand slashed out like lightning, enveloped in a howling gale.
The Gale Saber Art was one of the strongest high-grade Human-rank martial techniques in the Azure Light Sect, practiced by many inner disciples.
Feng Yuan had trained in this saber art for five years, reaching near Major Mastery, making its power extraordinary.
Boom!
The saber light, swift as lightning, was unstoppable, sending Zhang Ruoling flying, crashing to the ground.
Pfft!
Zhang Ruoling spat a mouthful of blood, her shoulder's clothing torn by the saber light, blood seeping out.
"Junior Sister, consider this a lesson!"
Feng Yuan said coldly, turning to leave, wary of Zhang Ruoling's persistence, given she was the Sect Master's daughter.
"You...!"
Zhang Ruoling's face flushed with anger, left speechless.
The disciples watching from Feixia Valley weren't surprised by Zhang Ruoling's defeat.
After all, Feng Yuan was older and his cultivation higher than Zhang Ruoling's.
"Feng Yuan!"
On the hillside, Lin Xiao's face darkened at the sight.
His little niece, whom he cherished, had been injured by Feng Yuan.
Lin Xiao wasn't one to stand idly by in such matters.
However, it wasn't the right time for him to act, so he turned and left.
The next day.
Feng Yuan and four junior brothers left the sect, heading to the small town at the mountain's base.
Below the Azure Light Sect, there was a small town where disciples often went to drink or buy daily necessities.
"Senior Brother Feng, won't you be punished by the sect for injuring Senior Sister Ruoling yesterday?"
A disciple asked.
"No, she attacked me first, witnessed by countless disciples. Even the Enforcement Elder wouldn't say anything."
Feng Yuan shook his head, continuing, "Besides, I held back, it's just a minor injury, she'll recover in a few days."
"That's good, but Senior Brother Feng, you shouldn't mention Junior Granduncle Master again, or Senior Sister Ruoling might trouble you!"
The disciple advised.
"Hmph, who knew she'd defend that Lin Xiao so fiercely?"
Feng Yuan scoffed, adding, "I was just stating a fact."
As they walked and talked, a figure suddenly emerged from the woods beside them, blocking their path.
Feng Yuan and the others looked up, startled.
The newcomer wore a gray robe, slightly bulky, with a wooden mask obscuring his face.
"Who are you?"
Feng Yuan and his companions were shocked. How could there be a bandit near the sect's base? Were they courting death?
"Feng Yuan, I've been waiting for you."
Lin Xiao said calmly, looking at Feng Yuan.
He knew the inner disciples liked to visit the town below, so he waited here early in the morning.
He had prepared to wait several days, but unexpectedly, they appeared on the first day.
"Waiting for me?"
Feng Yuan narrowed his eyes, puzzled.
"I saw your Gale Saber Art yesterday. Coincidentally, I also know the Gale Saber Art. Care to take a strike from me?"
Lin Xiao said calmly.
"Who are you?"
Feng Yuan frowned.
Also knows the Gale Saber Art?
Saw his Gale Saber Art yesterday?
This meant the person before him was also a disciple of the Azure Light Sect.
"Watch the blade!"
Lin Xiao, uninterested in further talk, charged forward.
In an instant, his long saber was unsheathed.
Clang!
A brilliant saber light shot skyward, filling the air with saber shadows.
Gale Saber Art—Gale Afterimage.
This strike was powerful and swift as lightning, the afterimage tearing through the air.
Lin Xiao didn't rely on his cultivation to suppress Feng Yuan, only using the power of the 3rd Layer Meridian Opening Realm.
However, the Gale Saber Art at Perfect Mastery was immensely powerful, several levels above Feng Yuan's near Major Mastery.
"What?"
Feng Yuan was shocked, hurriedly raising his saber to block.
But his saber was instantly knocked away, and he staggered back seven or eight steps, falling to the ground.
A sharp pain shot through his chest. Looking down, he saw a deep saber wound, bone visible.
Blood gushed out, staining his clothes red.
"Ah!"
Feng Yuan cried out in pain, clutching his bleeding wound.
He was stunned. The opponent, with the same cultivation, defeated him with a single strike.
The opponent's Gale Saber Art was overwhelmingly powerful.
Was this the Gale Saber Art at Perfect Mastery?
How was it possible?
"Senior Brother Feng!"
The disciples beside Feng Yuan were shocked. Two rushed to help him, while the other two drew their weapons, watching Lin Xiao warily.
"You're too weak!"
Lin Xiao shook his head. With equal cultivation, the opponent couldn't withstand a single strike.
In truth, he had held back with that strike, or he could have taken the opponent's head.
Without lingering, Lin Xiao turned and sprinted into the nearby woods.
One hour later.
Lin Xiao removed his mask, changed clothes, and took out the padding that made him appear bulky, heading to the town below.
After a meal and a stroll around the town, Lin Xiao returned to the Azure Light Sect.
He went straight to the Back Mountain Cemetery to continue his training.
However, Lin Xiao was unaware of the stir his lesson to Feng Yuan had caused within the Azure Light Sect.