Veil of the Shattered Heavens

Xuan Li walked through the bustling streets of Bloodsteel City, his steps light yet deliberate. The aftermath of his battles lingered in his mind, but his expression remained calm. After his first hard-fought victory, two more challengers came his way. However, these battles were quick and effortless, each opponent falling with barely a struggle. As he left the city gates, he muttered to himself, "In that arena, the strongest was only at the early stage of level-one warriors."

Suddenly, a deep, familiar voice echoed in his mind. It was his master, Verdris. "Disciple, you are currently in the outer areas of this plane. That is why most of the people here are at lower levels or early stages. You must head toward the core areas if you wish to find worthy opponents."

Xuan Li nodded, replying with conviction, "That's why I'm heading toward Tianluo Kingdom. That kingdom is a core area, even among the noble families." His journey continued, the path ahead filled with uncertainty but also quiet determination.

As he walked, a sharp scream pierced the quiet air. Xuan Li immediately dashed in the direction of the sound, weaving through the trees with lightning speed. The voice led him to the edge of a cliff. Below, he saw a group of rough-looking men surrounding a young girl. Scattered around her were the corpses of a dozen others, a grim testament to a fierce struggle.

Focusing his senses, Xuan Li felt the faintest trace of an aura hidden among the group. A smile crept across his face. "So, they have a boss hiding in the shadows," he thought.

Closing his eyes, Xuan Li activated a technique he had developed during his battles against the Thunder Beast pack. His Primordial Core radiated cosmic energy, creating an invisible boundary that extended across the area. Within this boundary, he could feel every movement, detect the faintest ripple in space, and pinpoint anyone's exact location.

Verdris, observing through the locket necklace, smiled with pride. "This boy… At the beginning stages of understanding cosmic energy, he's already creating techniques like this. Impressive."

Suddenly, the group moved, their greedy smiles gleaming as they advanced toward the terrified girl. One of them reached out to grab her, but before his hand could make contact, a shadow flickered. A sharp cry rang out as the man's hand was severed cleanly, blood splattering the ground.

The girl stared in shock as the shadow materialized into Xuan Li. "Step back," he said, his voice firm yet calm. She nodded, retreating as the men around her hesitated, their confidence faltering.

One of them snarled, "Who are you? How can you defeat a level-one warrior with such ease?"

Xuan Li's gaze darkened as he muttered, "Warrior? You dare call yourselves warriors? Scum like you tarnish the honor of that title."

A man from the group sneered. "Enough talk! Everyone, take him down and capture the girl!" He turned to the trembling girl with a wicked grin. "Once I have you, I'll show this fool what real honor is."

The girl shivered, gripping Xuan Li's arm tightly. Sensing her fear, he reassured her, "Don't worry. Go stand over there; it's safer." He pointed to a spot far from the battle. She nodded and moved away, still trembling.

Turning back to the group, Xuan Li's expression turned cold. "Get ready, scum. I won't show any mercy."

With dark expressions, the men rushed at him, their weapons glowing with heavenly auras of fire, wind, and ice. Seeing this, the girl called out in desperation, "Run away! You can't fight them alone!" But Xuan Li didn't listen. Instead, he closed his eyes, channeling energy from his Primordial Core.

His inner world surged with cosmic energy, faint blue with star-like glimmers. The energy coursed through his meridians and exploded outward, cracking the ground beneath his feet. The sky above seemed to bow to his power, his cosmic energy clashing with the heavenly auras of his enemies. The collision was catastrophic—heavenly auras scattered like smoke in the wind.

The group's faces paled. "What… what kind of superior energy is this? It's overwhelming our heavenly auras!" one of them stammered.

Enveloped in cosmic energy, Xuan Li dashed forward with blinding speed. The men shouted in terror, "Don't come near us! We're sorry!" But Xuan Li didn't stop. His punch landed with a sonic boom, creating a storm of wind that tore through three men, stripping their flesh and reducing their bones to powder. The others were thrown back, their bodies hitting the ground with sickening thuds.

The girl stared in disbelief, frozen as the dust settled. The battlefield revealed a deep crater filled with lifeless bodies, some missing limbs, others with heads severed. Xuan Li, too, was momentarily stunned by the devastation. "I didn't know my cosmic energy could be this powerful," he thought, swallowing hard. "This is my first time using it after laying the foundation…"

Turning to the girl, he asked, "Are you okay?" Her shocked expression broke as she fell to the ground, unable to speak. Xuan Li sighed. "She's still in shock," he muttered to himself.

Suddenly, he spoke in a louder voice. "How long do you plan to keep hiding, Mister Boss?" A man emerged from the shadows, retreating instinctively as Xuan Li's gaze locked onto him.

"If you think you can escape, go ahead and try," Xuan Li said coldly. "But the result will be painful. Come out now, and I promise to make your death less miserable. I'll count to three."

The man stiffened, sweat dripping from his brow. "One… two…"

Before Xuan Li could finish, the man stepped forward, clad in a knight's armor. The girl gasped. "Chief Knight! You were behind this? Why would you do this?"

The knight avoided her gaze, lowering his head. "My lady… I was bound by greed and lust. Please forgive me," he begged, crawling toward her.

Disgusted, the girl turned to Xuan Li, her eyes filled with fury. Xuan Li sighed, nodding as he drew a blade. "You're worse than the rest. Betraying your own people… How can anyone trust a knight like you?"

The knight panicked, scrambling to escape. "Give me a chance to repent!" he cried, but Xuan Li moved swiftly, appearing behind him. A single slash ended it—his head rolled to the ground, and Xuan Li stood still, his blade dripping with blood.

The girl slowly approached, bowing deeply. "Thank you, young warrior, for saving me and avenging my comrades."

Xuan Li raised her up gently. "Don't worry about it. But… are you alone?"

She nodded. After a pause, Xuan Li asked, "Where are you from?"

"My name is…Mei Xue" she hesitated, then continued, "I'm from Tianluo Kingdom."

"Are you royalty?" Xuan Li asked. She shook her head vehemently. "No, just a noble."

"Then why were you here?"

"I was kidnapped and brought to this country," she replied. "My household's chief knight… I thought he was rescuing me, but thanks to you, I learned he was behind it all."

Xuan Li nodded thoughtfully. "I didn't realize you were a noble. Your worn-out cloak made it hard to tell."

The girl hesitated again. "I need to return to Tianluo Kingdom… but I don't have the means."

Xuan Li smiled. "If that's the case, you can travel with me. I'm heading there too."

Her eyes brightened. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden…"

"You won't be," he reassured her. "In fact, I'm glad to have a companion."

She removed her hood, revealing flowing silver hair, striking jade-green eyes, and a face that seemed sculpted by the heavens. Stretching out her hand, she said, "Please take care of me on this trip, Mr.…?"

"Xuan Li," he said, shaking her hand. "It's a pleasure to have you as my companion."

As they set off together, Xuan Li thought, "How can someone look so stunning even in worn-out clothes?" Together, they headed toward the next city, their fates intertwined.