Veil of the Shattered Heavens

The grand hall of Tianque Cheng, adorned with golden dragons and majestic crimson banners, had never seen such tension before. The air was thick, not just with the remnants of flame and cosmic energy but with an almost palpable silence. All eyes were locked on the two figures in the center—Mei Zihan, the pride of the kingdom, and Xuan Li, the enigmatic young warrior who had shattered expectations.

Just moments ago, the duel had been nothing short of breathtaking.

Mei Zihan's eyes burned with flames, his aura climbing higher as the phoenix shadow behind him let out a piercing screech. His clenched fists radiated an intensity that seemed to warp the air around him. "Blazing Phoenix Palm!" he shouted, his voice reverberating through the hall as a massive flame-shaped palm surged toward Xuan Li. The temperature spiked, the air shimmering with heat as the fiery technique raced forward.

The nobles and young warriors watching from the sides murmured in awe and confidence. "As expected of Young Master Mei Zihan, the number one flame expert! That attack could crush anyone below Level 2," one whispered, pride evident in their tone.

But when the flame palm collided with Xuan Li, who met it head-on with a clenched fist, a burst of energy rippled through the hall. The force of the explosion shook the walls, and the air rang with the hum of power. When the smoke cleared, Xuan Li was revealed, half-kneeling, his body covered in burn marks and blood spilling from his mouth. He gasped for air, his clothes tattered from the impact.

The crowd sneered, whispers spreading like wildfire.

"So this is the man who escorted the princess?"

"He must have exaggerated his strength. There's no way he could kill a knight commander with this level of power," another jeered.

Mei Xue bit her lip, fury sparking in her eyes as the murmurs grew louder. Sparks of red thunder flickered across her body, and the faint patterns of thunder marks formed at the corners of her eyes. The nobles who noticed stiffened in surprise.

"Two months ago, the princess was only at the early stage of Level 1," one noble muttered, wide-eyed. "Now she's at the late stage... her talent is terrifying!"

Mei Xue ignored them, her gaze fixed on Xuan Li, whose burning resolve she knew better than anyone. "Xuan Li," she thought, her fists clenched. "I know you can end this battle in a split second. Why are you holding back?"

Mei Zihan sighed dramatically, lowering his fiery fists. "Mister Xuan Li," he said with feigned pity, "I've lost interest in this duel. Please, take a rest. You're clearly not ready for someone like me."

The crowd chuckled softly, ready to disperse when suddenly a cold voice cut through the air like a blade.

"The battle isn't over," Xuan Li said, standing up slowly. He wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes gleaming with determination. "It's only just begun."

Mei Zihan frowned, his cocky demeanor faltering for the first time. "What do you mean?"

Xuan Li smirked. "That was just my raw strength. I wanted to test if I could match a half-step into Level 2 warrior without using my cosmic energy. Clearly, I can't." His tone turned icy. "Now, the real battle begins."

The atmosphere shifted instantly. Xuan Li's eyes began to glow faintly with cosmic energy, and an otherworldly aura enveloped him. The nobles and young warriors felt an overwhelming pressure weigh down on them.

"What is this power?" one stammered, trembling. "Why do I feel like I'm facing death itself?"

The once-confident Mei Zihan felt a chill run down his spine. The phoenix shadow behind him screeched again, its flames flaring higher as if in defiance. Mei Zihan gritted his teeth, his voice shaking slightly. "Show me what you've got!"

Xuan Li's cosmic energy surged to the heavens, creating ripples that trembled the hall's walls. He clenched his fist, condensing and constraining the cosmic energy energy into his palm. The air vibrated violently around him, the very particles trembling under the pressure. His fist glowed with a faint blue light as he dashed toward Mei Zihan.

Mei Zihan's instincts screamed at him, warning of imminent danger. Desperate, he activated his defensive technique, Phoenix Wing Aegis, summoning two massive flaming wings that wrapped around him like a blazing cocoon. "This barrier is impenetrable!" he reassured himself, but his back was drenched in sweat.

As Xuan Li closed the distance, the pressure intensified. Mei Zihan felt small—like a speck of dust in the vast cosmos that radiated from Xuan Li's presence.

The fist came closer. Mei Zihan's breathing quickened, his confidence evaporating. Just as the attack was about to strike, he shouted, his voice cracking, "I yield! I lose! Please stop!"

Xuan Li's fist stopped mere inches from the flaming barrier. The sheer force of his attack shattered the Phoenix Wing Aegis into embers, the residual shockwave slamming into the wall behind Mei Zihan and reducing it to rubble with a deafening crash.

The hall fell silent. No one dared to move or speak. Mei Zihan trembled violently, sweat pouring down his face as he stared at Xuan Li in sheer terror.

The silence was broken by a soft voice. "Brother, are you satisfied now?" Mei Xue said, stepping forward with a calm yet pointed tone.

Mei Zihan nodded repeatedly, his pride shattered. "M-more than satisfied..." he stammered.

Xuan Li stood tall, his expression blank, as if the duel had been nothing more than a fleeting inconvenience. Mei Xue, however, couldn't hide the pride swelling in her heart. "That's the man I admire," she thought, her lips curving into a small smile.

King Mei Fengyuan, who had been silent throughout the duel, finally spoke, his voice deep and steady. "Mister Xuan Li, you must be tired after such a display." He gestured toward the servants. "Escort him to our most prestigious guest chamber. He deserves rest after this battle."

Several beautiful attendants stepped forward, bowing politely to Xuan Li. Before they could lead him away, the king turned to Mei Xue. "Mei Xue, go to your chambers. your sister has been waiting to see you."

Mei Xue hesitated, glancing at Xuan Li. Her father's firm gaze left no room for argument. "Yes, Father," she said softly, stealing one last look at Xuan Li before turning to leave.

The king's sharp eyes landed on Mei Zihan, who was still trembling in place. "And you," he said with a sigh. "How long do you plan to stand there? Go to your room and reflect on your impulsiveness."

As the hall emptied, Xuan Li followed the attendants to his quarters. The king remained seated, deep in thought. "This boy... his power is unlike anything I've seen. Who exactly is Xuan Li?"