An Understated Dominance

  The handsome man, Bai Chan, forced himself to endure the weakness from his body’s reconstruction. Turning into a dim white light, he flew southeast toward a hidden valley. Under the moonlight, his figure no longer carried the graceful, immortal aura of before, but instead looked somewhat panicked and disheveled. Passing through layers of primeval forest shrouded in eerie mist, and skimming over swamps that radiated dangerous auras, he finally reached his destination. The valley entrance was concealed by thick vines and oddly shaped stalagmites. Without knowing the path, one would never discover it. Bai Chan chanted an obscure incantation under his breath. At his fingertip, he barely managed to gather a faint glow of light, which he pressed into the air. Ripples spread outward. The vines and stalagmites twisted like illusions and vanished, revealing a narrow cave entrance that could admit only a single person. The cave was deep. On both sides of the passage, strange gemstones embe...

“Hu…” Dustin let out a long breath—finally, it was over. This was the first time he had faced an opponent of the same realm, and it truly wasn’t easy to handle. Moreover, within the opponent’s body there was a very peculiar power, unlike the Grandmaster’s gangqi, but rather another kind of energy, indescribable and strange. But regardless, the threat was finally eliminated. At this moment, the sound of footsteps rang out. In the distance, Margaret and the others cautiously walked out from the edge of the forest. Their eyes swept over the scene of devastation, yet still could not hide the fear in their hearts. That apocalyptic clash of thunder and sword-qi just now made even these distant onlookers feel as though their hearts were being clenched in an iron grip. Now that they approached, the scorched ground still warm, the blood-dyed waters by the lakeshore, and the heavy stench of blood in the air—all silently told of the battle’s brutality. Qingzhu quickly walked to Dustin’s side. Loo...

Two blinding beams of light erupted like twin miniature suns above the lakeshore. The balance of heaven and earth was thrown into chaos; even the howling wind seemed frozen in place. The handsome man’s body shuddered. From his left nostril trickled a bright red stream, blooming into a sinister flower upon his robes. Instinctively, he raised his hand, fingers brushing the blood at his nose. The sight of crimson on his fingertips filled his once-cold eyes with blazing fury. Never before had he suffered such humiliation. Not only had his spiritual force failed to suppress his foe, but he himself had been injured in turn. “You dare court death!” His roar cracked the skies like thunder. The white light around him suddenly swelled severalfold. The once-clear heavens darkened, black clouds boiling with writhing purple lightning serpents that hissed with searing sound. With one hand raised high, he drew upon the storm. His dwindling spiritual force merged with the fury of heaven’s thunder. Fro...

“Not bad at all.” The handsome man narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression far more solemn. “You’re not bad yourself.” Dustin ’s face remained calm, though inwardly he felt some surprise. Since stepping into the Land Immortal realm, he had never encountered a single worthy foe. Yet here, he had found an opponent of equal level. “Again!” the handsome man barked. The white light around him condensed once more. The shattered whale’s phantom did not vanish but instead split into thousands of silvery fish, each fin edged with sharp blades. They darted through the sea, weaving an impenetrable net of light. With a flick of his finger, the net contracted. Countless light-fish shrieked in piercing unison as they surged toward the sword platform beneath Dustin. Wherever they passed, the sea split open into countless fine cracks. Dustin’s eyes sharpened. His wrist turned, his sword traced three flowing arcs. The sword platform suddenly rose a hundred meters higher. From the sea surged countles...

The moment the white egret dissolved into blood mist, the camp fell into deathly silence. Qingzhu’s scream stuck in her throat. Her fingers clutched so tightly at the hilt of her short sword that her knuckles turned white, as if they might snap. She watched in horror as the crimson fog drifted away on the breeze, white feathers mixed with shreds of flesh scattering across the grass—ghastly beyond words. Just a moment ago, that egret had seemed so graceful and full of life. Now only a bone-deep chill crawled up her spine, making her shiver uncontrollably. “Miss… it’s lucky you stopped me just now. Otherwise…” Qingzhu trailed off. Had she stepped forward, she would likely have ended the same way as that egret—blown apart into mist. The thought alone filled her with terror. “This is the horror of a confrontation between high-level experts,” said  Margaret , her face grave. “Their spiritual power has already formed a tangible domain. Any living being that steps inside is no different t...

The faint smile lingered on  Dustin ’s lips as his fingers lightly traced the cloud patterns carved into the sword sheath. His voice was as clear and flowing as water by a lakeshore: “Since you have awakened from slumber, why direct your anger at mere mortals?” His gaze swept across the white radiance swirling about the handsome man. Within Dustin’s clear eyes seemed to turn the stars themselves, as though they could pierce the layers of time clinging to the other’s body. The longsword upon the stone table gleamed with a warm luster under the sunlight. The turquoise inlays along its sheath shimmered faintly, and the air around it carried a subtle fragrance of grass and wood—a sharp contrast to the ancient, chilling aura radiating from the handsome man. The figure hovering in the air faltered ever so slightly, surprise deepening in his eyes. He had been awake for only a few days. Other than being disturbed by that sword aura earlier, he had not crossed paths with anyone. Yet this ma...