Along a winding ancient path through undulating green mountains, a young man in blue robes sprinted at considerable speed.

  Leo smiled wryly. As the date for entering the Bloody Battlefield drew nearer, the marketplace had grown increasingly frenzied. He had planned to rent a spirit bird to take him to Pond Peak Town, but upon leaving his inn and inquiring, he discovered that every single one had already been rented out by other cultivators.

  "It looks like I'll have to check Heavenly Summit Peak for a spirit bird. Otherwise, I'll be walking to Pond Peak Town."

  Heavenly Summit Peak was closest to the marketplace, and as one of the most powerful domains in the Palace, if they had none there, the others would be the same.

  "You've got some nerve, showing up in Heavenly Summit Peak after offending me!"

  As he passed through a stretch of rocky forest, a group of six or seven people blocked his path. Leading them was the imposing Lowell, flanked by the alluring Quincy and five other lackeys.

  "Senior Brother Lowell, I've been so bored these past few days without a proper weapon to practice my combat techniques." Quincy pouted, her charming expression captivating Lowell and the others.

  Lowell puffed out his chest and planted his hands on his hips. "Junior Sister Quincy, watch closely. Today, I'll avenge that insult from before."

  "The sect forbids private battles. You want to fight here?" Leo frowned. He hadn't expected Lowell to be so vindictive.

  "Hmph, this rocky forest is deserted. As long as we don't make too much noise, no one will notice. Teaching you a lesson won't take much effort." The brocade-clad youth grinned. "Senior Brother Lowell, let me go first. I'll beat him so badly he won't know which way is up."

  "Fine, you go. Give him a taste of hardship. Teach him to watch his step, daring to anger Junior Sister Quincy."

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  Lowell considered. As a lightning cultivator, his attacks were powerful but noisy. Though this place was remote, a real commotion might attract the attention of Foundation Establishment masters in Heavenly Summit Peak.

  "Got it! Take this, punk!" The brocade-clad youth drew a spirit saber and charged at Leo.

  These people really had no fear. Leo cursed his luck. He shouldn't have come to Heavenly Summit Peak. Then again, with backgrounds like Lowell's and Quincy's, even violating sect rules would likely bring only light punishment. For now, he just had to get through this.

  Leo tapped the jade gourd at his waist. A swarm of Shadow Ants poured out.

  "So, an insect cultivator. That explains the arrogance."

  Lowell snorted disdainfully. The brocade-clad youth wasn't so confident. He was far weaker than Lowell.

  The youth activated a talisman, summoning a third-grade Water Spirit Shield. Gritting his teeth, he charged, hoping to reach Leo before the ants surrounded him.

  Leo wouldn't let him. He lightly stepped back, floating gracefully, and unleashed several wind blades. They sliced precisely between the ants, striking the youth's thick Water Spirit Shield. The shield's blue light rippled.

  Lowell's arms dropped. Surprise flickered across his face. The dense, swirling ant swarm made Leo's fast and accurate wind blades extraordinary. Lowell's expression darkened. He knew the youth's strength well. Losing the initiative against so many ants meant probable defeat. Let him wear down the swarm.

  "Damn it! Fight me fair and square, blade to blade! Hiding behind bugs—what kind of skill is that?" The youth, surrounded, raged.

  Idiot. Leo cursed silently. An insect cultivator fight up close? The youth was delusional. Ignoring him, Leo stood dozens of meters away, directing the swarm. Occasionally, a wind blade or earthen spike struck the Water Spirit Shield, making it shudder.

  The youth roared, swinging his blade wildly. A curtain of cold saber energy swept out, slicing apart forty or fifty ants. Twenty lay in pieces. Leo remained calm. Six years in the Black Water Stockade Mine had built his swarm. The jade gourd released more ants, filling the gaps. Soon, the youth was on the verge of defeat.

  Suddenly, a lightning bolt shot up, electrocuting dozens of ants. They fell, charred, dead. The survivors scattered in panic.

  "Attacking while I fought your man? Impressive, Senior Brother Lowell." Leo's face hardened.

  Insect cultivators were formidable, but lightning cultivators were rarer, their attacks more potent at the same rank. Lowell, gifted and among the Palace's top disciples, couldn't be beaten with ants alone.

  "I don't need tricks against you. You were just too aggressive. An insect cultivator with a few bugs, acting like you own the world. Let me show you there's always someone better." Lowell hadn't wanted to intervene, but Leo was tough. The youth hadn't even gotten close before losing. The others were no match. He had to act. He produced a twelve-foot spear, crackling with lightning, and pointed it at Leo. The air sizzled.

  Leo dodged. The spot where he'd stood erupted, rock fragments flying.

  Lowell blinked. Dodging so easily? Experience took over. He advanced, denying Leo space, and swept his spear.

  "Blazing Fire Rain!" Leo gestured. A volley of fireballs rained down, blanketing the area. Unblockable.

  "That won't stop me!" Lowell speared several fireballs, but there were too many. He raised a Lightning Shield, expensive but effective, and bulled forward.

  Fireballs exploded against it. The flashes were blinding.

  "Senior Brother, watch out!" The youth, who had suffered, shouted.

  Boom! A massive stone spike slammed into the Lightning Shield. The force drove Lowell back, feet sliding, six or seven steps before he stopped.