"City Lord, I was under the impression that this was your mansion, yet here, a nobody like him dares to give orders to your guards."Xiao Wei said, his voice rising just enough for everyone in the room to hear.
His words landed like a thunderclap.
The entire hall fell silent. Even the approaching guards paused in their steps. Every gaze shifted from Xiao Wei to the City Lord, who sat in his regal seat among the four dignitaries at the front of the room. His expression had grown dark.
The City Lord—Fu Lian, a man known for his pride—stroked his beard slowly and narrowed his eyes at Xiao Wei.
Before he could speak, someone else from the crowd, a minor clan leader dressed in jade-colored robes, added fuel to the fire.
"City Lord, this boy has a point. Since when can an outer disciple of the Sword Pavilion command the guards of Kin City?"
Another voice rose, this time sharper and more mocking.
"Is he above the City Lord now? Are you saying your mansion bows to outer disciples now, City Lord?"
The color drained slightly from Fu Lian's face as the room murmured in agreement. His authority had been challenged—not just by Xiao Wei, but now by others who clearly saw the political misstep.
Still, the City Lord recovered quickly. His face hardened, and his voice came out sharp and clipped.
"This young man you call 'nobody' is maybe an outer disciple of the Sword Pavilion! But his brother is an inner disciple of the Sword Pavillion, not only that but he is also a disciple of the Second Elder of the Sword Pavilion. Now do you still think he is nobody"Fu Lian said and paused, turning his gaze toward Xiao Wei.
A collective gasp rippled through the grand hall.
The mention of the Second Elder's name was like thunder rolling across the skies of Kin City. Every Cultivator present—even the arrogant minor clan leaders and the guards who had frozen mid-step—stiffened in disbelief.
That title alone carried unimaginable weight.
All elders of the Sword Pavilion were Martial King Cultivators—figures that stood at the very peak of power in the Mo Empire. To be directly taught by one of them wasn't just a mark of prestige—it was a declaration of future dominance.
And this so-called 'nobody'? His brother was a personal disciple of one?
The shock was immediate and profound. Whispers gave way to murmurs of admiration and even fear.
"Then that young man—Xiao Yen—he carries the protection of the Sword Pavilion itself?"
"More than that, if the Second Elder favors his brother, then this Xiao Yen is no ordinary outer disciple. He's a dragon hidden among men."
The mocking voices from earlier had vanished, replaced by attempts to curry favor.
One of the minor clan leaders who had laughed moments ago now stepped forward and gave a low bow.
"Young Master Xiao Yen, please forgive my earlier disrespect. I was blind and did not recognize a jade hidden among stones."
A second chimed in, offering a polite smile.
"The grace of the Sword Pavilion is known far and wide. It's only right for such talent to be shown the respect he deserves."
Xiao Yen felt a warm surge of pride rise within him as the powerful Cultivators from noble clans and esteemed sects began to praise him openly. Their words, once unthinkable for someone of his outer disciple status, now echoed through the hall like anthems honoring his name.
He lifted his chin slightly, his eyes full of arrogance.
Suddenly Fu Lian shouted.
"Guards, throw him out!"Fu Lian said while pointing his finger towards Xiao Wei.
The guards resumed their movement, this time with greater certainty, fully intent on carrying out the City Lord's orders.
Yet in the middle of this tense moment, Xiao Wei did not break.
He looked at the guards now surrounding him, then let his gaze drift back to the elevated seats where Fu Lian and the Sword Pavilion envoys sat. Finally, his eyes settled on Xiao Yen, who was watching him with open glee.
With a faint smile, Xiao Wei spoke.
"We will meet again, City Lord. And you, Xiao Yen…"Xiao Wei said and paused, his tone sharpening.
"We will meet again in three years. I suggest you do your best not to die before then."Xiao Wei said.
Those words cut through the hall like a blade.
Before the guards could grab him, Xiao Wei's foot moved as he used his Water Flow Steps movement technique.
Xiao Wei darted through the guards like a phantom, weaving between them with fluid grace, his body a blur of motion. By the time the guards reacted, he had already cleared the perimeter of the hall and sped toward the exit.
"Stop him!"Fu Lian roared, slamming his palm onto the table in anger.
But it was already too late.
By the time anyone reached the main door, Xiao Wei had left the City Lord Mansion and vanished into the streets of Kin City, leaving behind only silence and stirred dust in his wake.
Back inside the mansion, the atmosphere remained tense.
The hall of the City Lord Mansion buzzed with confusion and disbelief long after Xiao Wei had disappeared. The lingering silence wasn't just because a Martial Apprentice had openly challenged the City Lord and escaped unscathed—it was because four Martial Master realm guards had failed to even touch him.
It was unprecedented. Unheard of.
The once-smiling Xiao Yen now looked troubled, a sliver of doubt creeping into his mind.
The name Xiao Wei, once something he had associated with shame and weakness, now rang with defiance and challenge. He had thought today would be the end of that boy's life, yet instead, Xiao Wei had left with his dignity intact—and more importantly, with the attention of everyone in the room.
Senior Brother Ni leaned closer to Xiao Yen and muttered.
"That one… doesn't look as ordinary as you made him out to be."Senior Brother Ni said.
Xiao Yen clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Other than Xiao Yen, Senior Brother Ni and City Lord Fu Lian at the front, there was one more person there who had thus far remained still with his eyes closed but it finally stirred. He was a young boy, no older than Xiao Wei, with long black hair tied loosely behind his head and a sword wrapped in plain cloth.
As murmurs filled the room, he opened his eyes slowly.
His gaze was sharp like an unsheathed sword, and his aura, though restrained, carried a mysterious sharpness that made even seasoned Cultivators wary. He glanced at the empty space Xiao Wei had occupied only moments ago.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he muttered to himself.
"Interesting... That boy made my sword heart restless. His presence disrupted my focus. Could he be the key? If I defeat him, perhaps I can break through the final barrier and truly comprehend Sword Intent..."
No one heard him, but a faint light shimmered in his eyes, as though a sleeping sword within had been stirred awake.
Meanwhile, City Lord Fu Lian remained seated, his expression stormy. He had been outmaneuvered publicly, and the name Xiao Wei now burned in his mind like a brand. He made a mental note to investigate Xiao Wei in detail.
Outside the mansion, Xiao Wei stopped in a busy street and exhaled quietly, gazing at the sky tinged with the colors of dusk. Shadow Ming's voice echoed in his mind with a mixture of praise and concern.
'Brat, you're either brave or stupid. That could've ended badly.'
"Maybe both"Xiao Wei replied under his breath.
He took a step forward, disappearing into the city's shadows, already thinking of the path that lay ahead.
After some time, Xiao Wei was already far from the City Lord Mansion and now he was roaming the bustling streets of Kin City.
Having shaken off his pursuers and regained his calm, he strolled through the crowded lanes, the sun casting long shadows behind him as it descended toward the horizon. Though Kin City was filled with majestic shops and towering clan estates, Xiao Wei's attention was drawn to something different.
At the corner of a narrow street sat a small, run-down shop. The wooden sign above the entrance creaked with the wind, its faded characters reading: Cloud Shop.
One of its corners was collapsed, and the paint had long peeled from the walls. It looked abandoned, barely standing.
Yet, something about it called to him.
Curious, Xiao Wei stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold, he felt something unusual—a ripple of energy brushing against his skin like a probing hand. It wasn't hostile, but it was definitely intrusive. He felt as though someone had just looked directly into his soul.
"That… felt weird"Xiao Wei muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes.
"Don't just stand there, boy"a deep voice spoke from within the dim shop.
Startled, Xiao Wei turned his head toward the source of the voice.