The battlefield was still burning with tension—3 versus 9.
Shaurya stood calmly, facing the furious Huo Ling, whose aura was exploding with rage.
Shaurya narrowed his eyes and asked the system,
"System, what's Huo Ling's level?"
[ System: "Huo Ling — Qi Refiner Level 2.]
Shaurya was deeply shocked inside.
If I hadn't remembered about the experience points,
he thought,
then I might have really lost this battle… not only lost—I would have definitely been killed by this monster.
But he composed himself and smirked.
"System, how many experience points do I have right now?"
[ System: "You currently have 300,000 EXP points.]
Shaurya grinned.
"Then use them all. Level me up."
[System: "Understood. Initiating breakthrough…]
Shaurya took a confident step forward. Huo Ling did the same. They now stood face to face.
Suddenly, Huo Ling unleashed his aura.
Shaurya chuckled.
"Oh? You think you're the only one who is strong here? Alright… then let me show you my true power."
He whispered,
"Now, System."
[System: "Level up initiated!]
Shaurya spoke in a cold, low tone,
"My power…"
Then Shaurya roared,
"MY FURY!!"
A powerful energy burst surged from his body as his level shot up from Qi Initiate Level 5 → Qi Refiner Level 1. The ground cracked beneath him, and everyone stepped back in shock.
When the light faded, the two figures clashed like destructive forces—Shaurya and Huo Ling, fists colliding and generating earth-shattering shockwaves.
Without wasting time, the Grand Elders charged at Xiao Rui and Xiao Lian.
Each of the elders was at Qi Initiate Level 12. It was too much.
Xiao Lian still held her ground, but Xiao Rui was getting overwhelmed, beaten to the ground again and again.
Shaurya noticed.
With a powerful punch, he sent Huo Ling flying and dashed toward the elders.
With blinding speed, he kicked one elder away, pulled out his Meteorite Sword, and with four mighty strikes, cut down all four Grand Elders.
Just then, Huo Ling roared in anger and pulled out his massive axe, charging at Shaurya again.
Shaurya turned to Xiao Rui and ordered,
"Help your sister!"
Then he charged at Huo Ling again. The clash began once more.
Xiao Rui ran to support Xiao Lian, who was already bleeding but still fighting with unmatched courage.
She cut off one elder's hand and injured the other three.
Then she used her ice attacks to distract the Grand Elders.
Next, she threw her ice sword to Xiao Rui.
He caught it mid-air and instantly decapitated one elder.
Another elder struck him hard in the stomach. He coughed blood and was thrown back.
Lian caught her brother just in time.
One of the last Grand Elders charged at both of them, fury blazing in his eyes.
Just as his strike was about to land—
SHHHING!
A sword strike sliced him in two from the middle.
Everyone froze.
Even Shaurya and Huo Ling turned to look.
The sword strike was delivered by a mysterious boy—cloaked and veiled—the same boy who had silently observed them earlier.
The two remaining elders were stunned.
The boy removed his veil. His skin was crystal-white like jade, his hair silver, and his eyes black.
He threw the veil like a weapon at one elder. The elder tried to deflect it.
The moment it hit—
BOOM!
A massive explosion tore half of the elder's body apart.
From the dust, the boy flashed forward and beheaded the other two elders in an instant.
Shaurya was stunned.
"Did he really use his veil as a weapon?"
[ System: "Host, this veil is a special artifact used to hide aura. It can also act as a spiritual self-destructor. The moment he threw it, he activated its second property—causing it to explode on impact.]
After hearing this, Shaurya was amazed.
Now, only Huo Ling remained.
For the first time in this battle, fear appeared in his eyes.
Panicking, he repelled Shaurya and created distance, then growled,
"Who are you?! Why are you interfering in my sect's affairs?!"
Shaurya added,
"Yes… I'd also like to know. Who are you, boy?"
The boy replied with overwhelming arrogance,
"I am Wang Tian. I've taken an interest in joining this sect. So you have no chance of destroying it."
Everyone was speechless.
Shaurya blinked in disbelief.
"You… want to join my sect?"
Wang Tian smirked.
"Yes. You are lucky that I, Wang Tian, chose your sect."
Shaurya immediately felt something wasn't right.
This boy spoke like someone superior—not just powerful, but ancient.
Just then, the system appeared.
[System: Correct, Host. As expected from someone who has consumed too many cultivation novels… you guessed it.]
A stat panel appeared.
[System Profile — New Member]
[Name: Wang Tian
Past Life Name: Ghost Shadow
Level: Qi Refiner Level 1
Physique: Divine Dragon Body (Unlocked)
Identity: Reincarnation of an Immortal-Level Emperor]
Shaurya stared at Wang Tian for several moments.
A reincarnated Immortal Emperor.
One of the most terrifying existences imaginable.
And this person wanted to join his sect.
The realization finally settled in.
A grin immediately spread across his face.
He stepped forward and placed a hand on Wang Tian's shoulder.
"Then I should be the one saying thank you."
His smile widened.
"I'm very lucky to have someone like you join the Sanatan Flame Sect."
Wang Tian merely nodded.
The reaction was so casual that it almost felt arrogant.
Then again...
Considering who he really was, perhaps it wasn't arrogance at all.
Shaurya pulled out a recruitment form and handed it over.
"Welcome to the sect."
Wang Tian accepted it without hesitation.
"I'll fill it out now."
His attention immediately shifted toward the document.
As though the furious young master standing nearby simply didn't exist.
Unfortunately for everyone present—
Huo Ling definitely existed.
And he had just been ignored for the second time.
BOOOOOOM!
Violent spiritual energy exploded outward.
The ground beneath Huo Ling's feet shattered as crimson Qi erupted around his body. His muscles swelled, veins bulged across his skin, and his eyes became bloodshot with rage.
The pressure sweeping across the plaza instantly doubled.
Nearby spectators staggered backward.
Several weaker cultivators turned pale.
The system window immediately appeared.
[Warning.]
[Target has activated a forbidden technique.]
[Combat Strength Increased.]
[Current Combat Level: Qi Refiner Realm Level 4.]
Huo Ling's chest rose and fell violently.
His face had become completely twisted.
"How dare you ignore me!"
The roar echoed throughout the square.
Yet neither Shaurya nor Wang Tian looked particularly concerned.
Wang Tian continued filling out his form.
Shaurya simply raised an eyebrow.
Then smiled.
Wang Tian noticed immediately.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
That smile looked familiar.
Very familiar.
Someone was about to suffer.
Without saying a word, Shaurya drew the Meteorite Sword.
The black blade slid free with a low metallic hum.
Then he began walking.
Not running.
Not rushing.
Walking.
Every step appeared calm and deliberate.
His robes moved gently in the wind while his sword remained lowered at his side.
The confidence alone was infuriating.
Huo Ling's rage reached its peak.
"You think you can look down on me?!"
His body exploded forward.
The distance vanished instantly.
The plaza trembled beneath his charge.
Spiritual energy wrapped around his fist as he unleashed everything he had left.
The strike descended like a falling star.
A killing blow.
A desperate blow.
A final blow.
The spectators stopped breathing.
Xiao Rui's eyes widened.
Xiao Lian unconsciously clenched her fists.
Even Wang Tian finally looked up from his form.
The next moment—
Shaurya moved.
The Meteorite Sword flashed once.
Only once.
SWOOSH!
A black arc cut through the air.
Elegant.
Clean.
Effortless.
Huo Ling froze.
His body continued forward for several steps.
Then stopped.
Silence spread across the plaza.
Nobody understood what had happened.
Not immediately.
A thin crimson line slowly appeared across Huo Ling's neck.
His eyes widened.
Confusion.
Disbelief.
Fear.
All of it surfaced together.
Then the line split apart.
Blood erupted skyward.
His head separated cleanly from his shoulders and tumbled across the stone ground while his body remained standing for a brief moment before collapsing heavily beside it.
The forbidden technique disappeared instantly.
The pressure vanished.
The battle ended.
Just like that.
Shaurya stood silently in the center of the plaza.
The Meteorite Sword rested in his hand.
A cool breeze swept through the battlefield.
Slowly, he raised the blade toward the sky.
His eyes closed.
His voice carried softly across the square.
"It's over."
Nobody spoke.
For several heartbeats, the entire city remained silent.
Then—
"MASTER WON!"
Xiao Rui nearly jumped into the air.
Xiao Lian's face lit up with excitement.
Several newly recruited disciples began cheering as well.
The atmosphere erupted.
Meanwhile, Wang Tian continued staring at Shaurya.
A faint glimmer of approval appeared within his eyes.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
At that moment, familiar notifications appeared before Shaurya.
[Mission Complete: Defend Sect from Jade Fire Sect.]
[Rewards Granted.]
[Medicinal Garden Unlocked.]
[Sect Technique Acquired: Dragon Fist (Immortal Level).]
[Experience Gained: 200,000.]
[+50 Dharma Points.]
Shaurya's eyes brightened.
Now those were beautiful words.
The battle had ended.
The danger had passed.
Yet as he looked toward the distant horizon, he knew this was merely the beginning.
Much larger storms awaited him in the future.
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Finished."
Wang Tian stood before him.
The completed recruitment form rested in his hand.
Shaurya accepted it with a smile.
"Good."
Then he turned toward Xiao Rui.
"Show him around the sect."
Xiao Rui immediately straightened.
"Leave it to me, Master!"
Shaurya nodded.
"Help him choose a room as well."
Wang Tian glanced toward the mountain where the Sanatan Flame Sect stood.
For the first time since his reincarnation...
He felt a faint sense of anticipation.
And thus, the future strongest disciple of the Sanatan Flame Sect officially joined the sect.
Shaurya walked back to his hall.
He sat on his throne, letting out a long breath…
And opened his system once more.
TO BE CONTINUED…