The Next Day Before Dawn
« Giddy up! »
A sharp cry pierced the early morning silence, echoing from the Jun family residence. In a flash, a grand carriage, drawn by four powerful horses, sped away from the still-sleeping streets of Fenyan City, kicking up a cloud of dust behind it.
Inside the carriage, seated comfortably despite the jostling of the wheels over uneven roads, were none other than Jun Xiao and his father, Jun Tian.
"If everything goes as planned, the journey to the Linghai Prefecture should take us about three days. Of course, that doesn't account for any unexpected delays," Jun Tian said calmly but seriously, casting a sideways glance at his son while absentmindedly gazing out the window.
His expression deepened as he continued, "Linghai Prefecture is nothing like our modest Fenyan City. There, masters are numerous, talents are everywhere, and competition is constant. You'll see—Fenyan could fit inside Linghai six times and still not cover it all."
Jun Tian spoke in a grave voice, informing Jun Xiao of certain things. "The Spirit Incarnation Realm might be considered strong in our city, but in Linghai Prefecture, it's a different story. There are many experts at the Profound Realm."
"Among them, the most powerful are the Seven Great Families. Each of them has at least two experts at the Profound Realm who safeguard the prefecture. Their strength and skills are formidable."
Jun Xiao listened carefully, nodding slowly without saying a word. Inside, his mind was already racing: Profound Realm experts… So that's what awaits me in Linghai.
Then, without delay, driven by an inner decision, Jun Xiao, still seated upright beside his father in a disciplined posture, gently closed his eyes. His consciousness instantly sank into the space of the system, that mysterious inner world that allowed him to cultivate faster than anyone else.
Jun Tian, seeing his son naturally enter a state of cultivation, felt a mix of mild irritation and admiration. He had just finished sharing important information, and Jun Xiao had already retreated into cultivation, as if every moment mattered more than anything else.
A small sigh escaped him, but a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. "Hmph, maybe he's setting a good example after all… I suppose I should do the same," he murmured.
And so, in the silence that followed the rhythmic beat of hooves on the road, father and son each immersed themselves in silent cultivation.
Three Days Later
The sun was already high in the sky, casting its brilliant light over the vast plains that stretched as far as the eye could see. The carriage, still pulled by its four strong horses, rolled along the road toward Linghai Prefecture, raising dust as it went. Inside, the atmosphere had remained surprisingly silent throughout the entire journey.
Jun Tian, seated across from his son, glanced at him again—with a look of confusion, resignation… and a hint of pride. It had now been three whole days since Jun Xiao had entered his cultivation state. Since leaving Fenyan, he hadn't moved, spoken, or taken a break. He sat there, motionless, back straight, legs crossed, eyes closed, like a living statue, the only sign of life being the gentle movement of his steady breath.
This child… Jun Tian thought, sighing internally. He's completely obsessed with his progress. He hasn't moved an inch in three days… At his age…
But at that precise moment, something shifted.
Within the system space—that mysterious internal world only Jun Xiao could sense—celestial energy surged into his body at an astonishing pace. Waves of qi, powerful and unrelenting, coursed through his meridians, strengthening every fiber of his being. The internal pressure rose, then again. And suddenly, with a burst of ethereal light, a wave of energy erupted like a silent explosion, flooding his entire being.
Jun Xiao slowly opened his eyes in the spiritual realm, a glint of power flashing in his pupils. His breath had grown deeper, steadier, yet it pulsed with newfound strength.
"I've broken through…" he murmured, icy calm in his tone. "I've reached the fifth level of the Spirit Incarnation Realm."
He slowly clenched his fist, feeling the raw power coursing through his veins like an unstoppable torrent. His gaze sharpened—almost arrogant.
"With this level… I can now face any cultivator at the peak of the Profound Realm. I have nothing to fear from Linghai's so-called 'geniuses.'"
A thought crossed his mind—a mysterious, formidable technique granted to him by the system the moment he entered this new realm. His expression shifted slightly, a gleam of curiosity and excitement flashing in his eyes.
I'd really like to test it. This technique… it's been gnawing at me ever since I received it. But I haven't had a chance since the Fenyan tournament. After all this cultivation, I'm thirsty for battle…
Jun Xiao slowly lifted his head, as though sensing a change on the horizon. Even within the system space, he could feel the carriage slowing. The very atmosphere seemed different—denser, more vibrant, as if a new energy lingered in the air.
« Three days… he thought. It's now been three days since we left Fenyan. »
Then, a strange smile spread across his lips—almost sinister. His eyes gleamed with a wild anticipation.
"Ah… Linghai… My new playground." A cruel spark flashed in his gaze.
"Ahaha… ahahahaha!"
Suddenly, a massive roar rang out from the outside world, snapping Jun Xiao back to reality.
The roar was so fierce that even the qi in the air turned chaotic.
Then, a burning energy surged rapidly from afar.
Jun Tian frowned, pulled aside the curtains, and said in surprise, "It's a Firecloud Lion!"
"That demonic beast is comparable to the second level of the Spirit Incarnation Realm. However, its hide is extremely tough—so tough that even a third-level Spirit Incarnation cultivator would struggle to kill it."
Bang! Boom! Boom!
Dull thuds echoed as the beast stepped on the ground, causing violent tremors.
"Firecloud Lion, you court death."
At that moment, Jun Xiao and his father saw a beautiful young woman in bright yellow clothing holding a sword. She glared fiercely at the lion.
But upon closer inspection, her hands were trembling—clearly, she wasn't as strong as she appeared.
"This woman's in trouble," Jun Xiao muttered with a frown, sympathetic.
Indeed, moments later, the Firecloud Lion attacked madly. Wild, violent flames burned everywhere it passed, scorching the earth.
The young woman's face turned pale as death. She grabbed her dagger and readied herself. A trace of sword energy surged forward, trying to resist the beast's onslaught.
However, the lion was stronger than a typical level-two Spirit Incarnation beast—she stood no chance.
With a leap, the Firecloud Lion knocked her flying. Coincidentally, she landed near Jun Xiao and Jun Tian.
Seeing the carriage, she was stunned. Her already pale face turned even whiter as she cried out anxiously, "Run! The Firecloud Lion is coming!"
Before she could finish her sentence, the beast charged forward, its massive shadow blotting out the sky.
« Am I going to die? »
The young woman bit her lips tightly, eyes flashing with despair.
She instinctively closed her eyes.
The next moment…
"Relax."
A low voice echoed.
The young woman opened her eyes to see a figure standing in front of her. The man had one hand on the Firecloud Lion, speaking indifferently.
It was Jun Xiao. At first, he hadn't intended to get involved in others' affairs, but this young woman—unable to protect herself—had still thought of warning them. He found her interesting. A plan began to take shape in his mind.
"Sir, please! Leave now! You're no match for this beast!"
The young woman shouted quickly. To her, the Firecloud Lion was too powerful.
Even though she was already at the peak of the second level of the Spirit Incarnation Realm, she was far from defeating it.
This young man might be a little stronger than her, but he couldn't possibly match a fourth-level Spirit Incarnation beast.
If he angered it, he'd surely die.
She didn't want others to get hurt because of her.
"Oh? You mean this Firecloud Lion?"
Jun Xiao didn't look back and only asked calmly. Then he applied force to his palm and hurled the beast, which weighed over 20,000 jins, with ease.
"It's no match for me."
Bang!
The Firecloud Lion crashed to the ground and died instantly.
The young woman was stunned, her jaw dropping.
"Th-this… that Firecloud Lion was at the fourth level of the Spirit Incarnation Realm… so how did it suddenly become so weak? And it died just from falling?"
Since when were demonic beasts so fragile?
The young woman was lost in thought.
"Are you alright, young lady?"
Jun Tian asked with concern, then handed her some medicine.
"Thank you. Without you, I'd be dead," she said gratefully, then added with a bitter expression, "Uncle, where are you headed? Could you take me with you? My home is in Tianyang Prefecture."
Sensing her request might be too bold, she looked embarrassed and added shyly, "I'd be really grateful if you could take me to Tianyang Prefecture."
Jun Tian waved his hand with a warm smile. "No need to thank us. We're headed to Tianyang Prefecture as well."
"Really? That's great!"
The young woman clenched her fist and sighed softly, her body seeming less burdened.
A Few Hours Later
The city walls of Tianyang Prefecture came into view.
The tall city wall stood majestic and grand, with a large golden character engraved upon it: Linghai.
"Meng Yue, we've arrived at Linghai Prefecture. Where's your home? We'll drop you off first."
Jun Tian asked with a smile.
After spending several hours together, they had learned the young woman's name—Meng Yue—and that her family had lived in Linghai Prefecture for generations.
Meng Yue waved her hand. "It's alright, I can handle things from here. Thank you, uncle."
She blinked and looked at Jun Xiao with anticipation. "I'll come see you again. Let's get to know each other better, Jun Xiao."
"Of course!" He was surprised at first, then responded directly without thinking too much.
As he watched her leave, Jun Xiao smiled with excitement.
« Ahhh… looks like the plan I'd come up with won't be necessary after all. Meng Yue has already fallen under my spell. »