Chapter 46: Taking A Hit

Fang Lili's expression darkened as Bia Zhen's words cut through the air like shards of glass. Their history ran deep, tangled in the roots of their shared childhood as their fathers were somewhat of sworn brothers. Once, neighbors whispered of a potential match between them, imagining a future where the fiery-tempered boy and the quick-witted girl might one day become sweethearts, creating a much firmer alliance between the Bia and Fang clans. But such dreams shattered the day the Lei clan intervened in their lives.

It began with a mission of some importance where the Lei clan was invited by the man Bia clan to assist with a tasks that was beyond their capabilities to manage—one that brought the Lei clan's young master into Fang Lili's orbit. His charm and power caught her attention, but more importantly, he took a liking to her. It was a seemingly innocent event but one that became a turning point in Bia Zhen's life. His infamous temper boiled over into a jealous rage, leading to a confrontation.

The young master of the Lei clan made short work of Bia Zhen, leaving him bruised, bloodied, and humiliated before the jeering eyes of his own lackeys. It was a wound not just to his body but to his pride. Worse still, the power of the Lei clan left no room for retaliation. The Bia family, ever pragmatic, refused to risk their standing for the sake of one disgraced youth.

Since then, Bia Zhen's resentment had festered into a simmering grudge against Fang Lili. Every meeting between them turned into a battle of words—or worse. And today proved no exception.

"You worthless piece of trash!" Fang Lili snapped, her voice cracking like a whip. "No wonder you're still stuck at the second phase of the Essence Condensation Realm. With a mentality like yours, it's no surprise you're nothing more than a dog, groveling from one master to the next, you're all the same from top to bottom!"

Bia Zhen's nostrils flared, his aura spiking in an instant. "Are you calling my family dogs?" he growled, stepping closer towards her, his tone laced with venom.

"Bite me, then, you mutt!" Fang Lili shot back, her eyes blazing with defiance as she closed the distance between them. Her body was tense, ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation.

The air between them crackled with tension, heavy and oppressive. The bustling street came to an abrupt halt, bystanders frozen in place as they watched the unfolding drama. The Fang and Bia clans, while not on the level of the six major clans, wielded enough influence in the city to make anyone think twice before interfering.

"Here they go again," someone murmured from the growing crowd.

"Bia Zhen's temper is as ridiculous as ever," another replied. "I heard his older sister made it onto the Obsidian Rankings recently. No wonder he's acting all high and mighty."

"Yeah, but she barely scraped in at the bottom. Still, first-level Golden Core at her age? That's impressive. She's not even two hundred years old yet!"

Jiang Feng stood on the fringes of the commotion, his curiosity piqued. This was his first time witnessing two juniors clash with such intensity. What struck him most wasn't just the confrontation—it was the revelation about Bia Zhen's older sister.

'Golden Core at her age?' Jiang Feng thought, a flicker of awe crossing his face. 'The old man back at the courtyard is at the same stage, but he's easily three times her age. Unbelievable.'

He took an instinctive step back, hoping to avoid getting dragged into the fray.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?"

Bia Zhen's voice roared out like a thunderclap. Before Jiang Feng could react, a forceful shove of energy slammed toward him. Bia Zhen's irritation with Fang Lili had found a convenient new outlet. The crowd look to Jiang Feng with pity in their eyes, this scene was all too familiar to them.

'This bastard!' Jiang Feng thought, fury flaring in his chest. He hadn't done anything, yet here he was, caught in the crossfire yet again after trying to leave and while keeping everything peaceful. 'Screw this shit!'

Seeing the incoming strike, Jiang Feng planted his feet firmly on the ground, twisting his body to the side. Heat surged through him as infernal energy ignited within his chest, rushing through his three meridians, hardening his muscles and searing the air around him. His breath drew in sharp and hot, the ground beneath his feet darkening from the rising temperature.

With a low growl, he countered the strike with a punch of his own, channeling the draconic resilience that pulsed through his blood that he had only just began to practice.

Bang!

The collision of fists echoed like the clash of heavy metal. The shockwave sent Jiang Feng skidding backward, but he quickly regained his footing, his eyes narrowing, sizing up Bia Zhen from head to toe as if truly just noticing that you man.

'Damn, he's strong, is this the vast difference between the Foundation Stage and the Essence Condensation stage?' Jiang Feng thought, flexing his fingers. He reached for his dagger, its newly crafted edge catching the light as blue flames licked along its surface. Blood roared in his ears as he charged forward, the ground beneath him cracking under the heat of his rage-fueled energy.

"Kid, are you looking to die?" one of Bia Zhen's lackeys shouted, stepping forward with a sneer. The man's face twisted in a mix of anger and disbelief, this was because that punch from Bia Zhen should have flatten a boy who seemed to only be in the Foundation Stage.

"Demonic Ape: Mountain Crusher!"

The lackey's fist shot forward, transforming mid-air into a large palm projection that looked like the hand of an ape, dark and hairy. It slammed into Jiang Feng's dagger, shattering his stance and hurling him through the air. He crashed into a nearby building, debris raining down around him.

"You bastards, he's just a kid!" Fang Lili shouted, her voice thick with disbelief. She couldn't comprehend how far Bia Zhen and his lackeys were willing to go to embarrass someone—or how brave, or perhaps how reckless, Jiang Feng had been to stand his ground. But unlike Bia Zhen who was frowning while looking at the rubbles with a perplexed look, Fang Lili didn't seem to noticed the anomaly that was Jiang Feng

'The kid's body is unusually tough,' Bia Zhen thought, his eyes narrowing as he replayed the moment in his mind. 'For a Foundation Stage brat, it actually took a martial technique from an Essence Condensation expert to force him back. And yet... it doesn't feel like he's even in the late stages of beginner's realm. What kind of freak is this?'

Bia Zhen's thoughts churned, his pride battling with unease. His eyes traced Jiang Feng's stance in his mind, noting the subtle tension in his frame, the way the heat still radiated in the air. It wasn't just power, it seemed to originate from somewhere else. 'Could this be a body cultivation technique of some sorts or maybe some grueling training or a bloodline?'

The crowd's murmurs seemed distant, a meaningless hum beneath the weight of Bia Zhen's confusion. His confidence faltered, and for a brief moment, he found himself staring into the unknown. But before he could untangle the thoughts swirling in his mind, a shout snapped him out of his daze, cutting through the haze like a blade.

"Sword Dance!"

Fang Lili darted toward Bia Zhen, her silver sword slashing through the air with deadly precision. The blade gleamed with an ethereal light, vibrating as it drew in surrounding spiritual energy. The sound of rushing water accompanied her every move, a testament to the sword's might.

"That's the Silver River Sword of the Fang clan!" someone in the crowd gasped.

"When did she get her hands on it? It's a Class Four Human Rank weapon!"

"It's one of the famed River Swords! Incredible..."

The murmurs of the crowd faded as the clash between Fang Lili and Bia Zhen intensified, Bia Zhen was now holding a long silver spear that crackled with lightning, their auras colliding in a dazzling display of power. The tension was far from over, and neither side showed any sign of backing down.