Chapter 40: Taking Action

Yin Tianfang sped toward the main peak, and before he was even close, he could hear a roar of cheers like a tidal wave. Countless disciples of the Profound Dao Sect crowded the martial stage atop the main peak, packed so tightly there was no room to move. Yin Tianfang stood aloft on his sword, surveying the throng below, and his gaze fell upon the arena at the center, making him pause in surprise.

On the platform, Nuolan wielded a long sword, her strikes fierce; yet under Liu Feng’s relentless assault, she was steadily forced to retreat. With Liu Feng’s strength, defeating Nuolan was not difficult, but he seemed in no hurry to finish, as if waiting for something.

“Nuolan may have had a stroke of luck, but her cultivation is still lacking. Defeat is only a matter of time,” commented a sect elder from the viewing stands.

“She hasn’t used her strongest technique yet, has she?” another elder observed.

“She knows that even if she did, it wouldn’t be enough against Liu Feng, so she refrains. Besides, with her current cultivation, it’s merely an auxiliary spell, barely stronger than ordinary techniques,” explained a senior elder.

“Still not revealing it? In that case, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Liu Feng’s expression hardened as he paused his attack and shouted. He extended his palm, grasped at the air, and a giant hand materialized, seizing Nuolan and lifting her high. No matter how she struggled, the tremendous force was impossible to break.

As the grip tightened, Nuolan’s delicate face flushed crimson, and her breath grew rapid.

A chilling blade, radiating cold light and murderous intent, shot straight for Nuolan’s brow, clearly intent on a killing blow.

Sect duels had strict rules: fights must end short of lethal force. Yet at this moment, Liu Feng was clearly disregarding those constraints.

“No!”

“Stop!”

The sudden turn of events prompted the elders on the platform to leap to their feet, shouting loudly, and the Liu family head was equally alarmed.

Their reaction was swift, but someone was faster. As their warnings rang out, a flash of cold light already streaked across the arena.

A metallic clang resounded as a sword crashed fiercely against Liu Feng’s blade, sparks flying. Both swords were flung back, and a figure darted onto the stage, sweeping a hand to shatter the giant hand binding Nuolan.

Nuolan fell from midair, only to be caught around the waist by an arm, landing safely on the platform. Liu Feng’s sword pointed at Nuolan had sent a chill through everyone’s heart. Now, someone had appeared out of nowhere, intercepting Liu Feng’s attack and saving Nuolan at the last possible moment, leaving the audience stunned.

In those brief moments, the crowd’s emotions fluctuated wildly. All eyes, filled with shock and confusion, fixed upon the newcomer standing on the platform.

“Who is he? He’s amazing!”

“No idea—never seen him before.”

“He looks so young,” the spectators murmured below the stage. Most did not recognize Yin Tianfang, nor had they seen him before, though some did, and their faces showed even greater bewilderment.

“When did this kid become so formidable?” Ge Bin stared blankly at Yin Tianfang. He knew Yin Tianfang well, always believing their cultivation levels were similar. Yet with that blow, Yin Tianfang had revealed a third-level Qi Condensation realm.

In the stands, the elders of the sect and the heads of the various clans were equally confused as they watched Yin Tianfang. Especially the elders of the Profound Dao Sect—among the thousand outer disciples, all considered the future of the sect, they should know them well.

Yet Yin Tianfang was utterly unfamiliar.

“Where did this boy come from? Is he a disciple of our Profound Dao Sect?”

“No idea—not a single memory of him,” a few elders muttered, frowning and shaking their heads. A mysterious and powerful disciple could be a blessing—or a hidden peril, should he be a spy from another sect.

As speculation swirled, an old figure suddenly appeared in the stands. His gaze fell upon Yin Tianfang, calm as he declared, “Enough guessing. That boy is mine.”

“Greetings, Elder Xuan Yin!” At his arrival, the elders’ expressions shifted, and they hurried to pay their respects. Though they were all elders of the Profound Dao Sect, in front of Elder Xuan Yin, they showed deference—a testament to his high status within the sect.

The heads of the various clans, at first confused, quickly followed suit in greeting him after seeing the other elders bow. Elder Xuan Yin ignored them, his attention fixed on the arena.

On the stage, Yin Tianfang held Nuolan around the waist with one arm, sword in the other, calmly facing Liu Feng.

Liu Feng tilted his head back, his mouth open as if laughing, though no sound emerged—an odd sight. Suddenly, he fixed his gaze on Yin Tianfang, the corners of his mouth curling up. “So you finally show yourself!”

“You were waiting for me?” Yin Tianfang looked at Liu Feng in confusion. “Why?”

“Of course—to wash away the shame of before! I’ve trained day and night for half a month for this day! I thought you would stand by and watch your woman die beneath my sword, but it seems you couldn’t bear it,” Liu Feng sneered.

“The arms of a woman are the grave of heroes. Today, you are destined to die on this stage for her sake!” Liu Feng’s voice bristled with murderous intent. “To pursue the Dao, one must be single-minded to find their true self, glimpse the path of immortality. You are not worthy—prepare to die!”

With a clear shout, Liu Feng flicked his sword and stomped hard, charging straight at Yin Tianfang. Yin Tianfang frowned, watching Liu Feng approach, and muttered under his breath, “What nonsense.”

A soft laugh broke from Nuolan in Yin Tianfang’s embrace, having overheard his quiet words. Only then did she realize she was still held closely by him; her cheeks flushed and she shyly lowered her gaze.

“You should step down,” Yin Tianfang gently eased Nuolan off the platform.

“Be careful!” Nuolan called anxiously from below.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Yin Tianfang replied without turning, stepping onto the stage with thunderous momentum, sword in hand, charging straight at Liu Feng.

In the crowd, Lin Tian watched Nuolan across the arena. At that moment, Nuolan’s eyes seemed to see only Yin Tianfang; her face was aglow with bashful affection, tinged with crimson. Lin Tian’s fists clenched, the fire of jealousy raging unchecked within him.

“Hmph!” Casting a dark look at Yin Tianfang on the stage, Lin Tian turned and left in fury.