Chapter Eleven: First Stage of Qi Induction

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Somewhere within the city, in a narrow alley.

Tap, tap...

Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the alley.

A tall, slender man emerged first, a sword strapped across his back. Trailing behind was a slightly younger, still boyish youth—though from what Tianming observed, both possessed cultivations surpassing his own.

At that moment, the tall man stopped and looked toward the boy, who was walking with his head down.

"Zhizhi!"

Lost in thought, the young boy bumped straight into the tall man. "Ah!"

Shaking his head, the man reached out to gently ruffle the boy’s hair.

"In the Hanchen District, south of the city, the Heavenly Sword Sect is currently recruiting disciples. As your older brother, I think you should try your luck!"

"Me... Can I really?" The boy scratched his head and took a few hesitant steps back, his voice trembling.

"This time, even the elders are involved. Besides, the family has placed great hopes on you by allowing you out here. Do you really want to spend your whole life muddling along and disappointing them?" The man’s tone was stern, full of exasperated expectation.

"What about you, Brother?" the boy asked quietly, still looking down.

"Me? Forget it. I’m well into my thirties—given my talent, I doubt they'd even let me sweep the floors. But you’re different. You’re barely in your teens, with time aplenty ahead. Even if you’re only at Seventh Grade Martial Warrior now, I believe you’ll become a proud inner disciple someday." With a sigh, the man patted his shoulder and crouched down to speak softly.

...

From the shadows, Tianming finally let out a breath. So it was just two brothers passing by.

He couldn't blame himself for lurking in the dark; after all, who could tell whether newcomers were friend or foe.

Bang!

Just as Tianming relaxed, a purple sword aura, three meters wide, slashed toward him. Hiding behind a trash bin, Tianming immediately pulled out his Vitality Cannon and fired at the incoming sword energy.

Boom!

A black energy sphere shot from his hand, exploding on contact with the sword aura. The shockwave alone, spanning three meters, blasted the rubbish bins around him, filling the alley with a foul stench.

Chaos reigned instantly, while the two conversing brothers leapt back several miles in an instant.

Cough, cough!

“Damn it, what rotten luck—injured for no reason!”

Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, Tianming stood up. He kept the Vitality Cannon aimed at the two men before him, his eyes cold as ice.

"Who are you? Why were you eavesdropping on our conversation?" the swordsman demanded, eyeing the youth before him.

He seemed surprised by the odd weapon in Tianming’s hand and the youth’s mere First Grade Martial Warrior aura—or perhaps wary of his spotless attire. Instead of advancing, the sword-wielding man hesitated.

"Does this alley belong to you? Am I not allowed to nap here? I should be accusing you of chattering and ruining my rest! Yet you attack first—good thing I reacted quickly, or I’d be a ghost by now!" Tianming retorted coldly, anger flashing across his face.

"Brother, let it go—I don't think he's a bad person," the boy whispered, tugging at his brother’s sleeve.

At his words, the man nodded.

"My friend, I apologize. I thought you meant us harm, so I acted first. I’m truly sorry." He returned his black iron sword to the scabbard on his back, then cupped his fists and bowed with a smile.

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"By the way, I overheard you talking about joining the Heavenly Sword Sect?" Wiping the grime from his face, Tianming stepped forward and asked.

He didn’t want to dwell on the earlier misunderstanding—better to make peace if possible.

"Wait, aren’t you Brother Tianming, the one who made a fool of the Qi clan’s young master at the city gate?" As Tianming finished cleaning up, both faces filled with shock, a bead of cold sweat sliding down their foreheads.

"You know me?" Tianming asked, surprised.

His eyes darted in thought; he hadn’t expected anyone to recognize an unknown like him, especially with so many experts gathered outside the city.

"Of course! I even saw you speaking with the renowned Elder Wang Sheng. My apologies for earlier—please forgive me." The man smiled and bowed again in apology.

The boy, who had been staring at Tianming, now lowered his head in guilt.

"It’s nothing. Elder Wang Sheng only spoke to me at someone’s request—you don’t need to worry about it. As they say, a fight brings new friends." Tianming gave the man a friendly pat on the shoulder.

Given his height advantage, it was easy for him to reach.

"Ha! I haven’t introduced us yet. I’m Leng Yuansheng, and this is my younger brother, Leng Zhide." He tugged the boy closer for an introduction.

"Hello, Brother Tianming. Just call me Zhide," the boy said shyly, looking up at Tianming, his voice louder than usual from excitement.

"That’s a fine name," Tianming nodded. "I’ll call you Zhide then."

Leng Zhide nodded again, visibly thrilled.

"Brother Sheng, I heard you’re going to the recruitment as well. I’d like to come along and see for myself!" Tianming added quickly, as if reminded of something.

He was unfamiliar with this city and didn’t know the exact location of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s recruitment. Though already an inner disciple of the Heavenly Evolution Sect, his status was not yet public, so there was no harm in observing.

"Of course you ca—watch out!" Leng Yuansheng cut himself off, shoving Tianming aside and drawing his black iron sword in one motion. A slash of purple energy struck where Tianming had just stood, and Yuansheng leapt back.

Clang!

A sharp dagger, its blade gleaming, shattered on the ground where Tianming had been.

"Stay alert, Tianming! The attacker is still here!" Landing with both feet, Leng Yuansheng glanced at Tianming. His steps cracked the stone beneath, and with a leap along the walls, he slashed at a hidden eave.

He had sensed the murderous intent all along—since it hadn’t come from Tianming, he’d been on edge. Now, the hidden enemy could no longer resist striking.

Splat!

In a flash, a purple sword aura erupted atop the eaves, trailing a mist of blood.

It only took a moment for Tianming to realize Leng Yuansheng had found the assailant’s hiding place.

...

“Trying to ambush me? Courting death!” Before Tianming could think, he leapt to his feet and raised the Vitality Cannon.

Bang.

He turned to where Leng Zhide’s sword pointed and spoke two words.

As soon as he saw the blood mist, the Vitality Cannon unleashed a black energy sphere, blasting the falling shadow.

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Bang!

The shadow, already gravely wounded by Leng Yuansheng’s sword, was blown apart in a bloody explosion.

Leng Yuansheng opened his mouth as if to stop him, but thought better of it.

"– Final execution by Tianming. Hunted and killed a Sixth Grade Qi-Channeling cultivator. Reward: 160 experience points."

"Congratulations – Tianming has advanced to First Grade Qi-Channeling. You have earned a chance at the prize draw."

...

"Tianming, you—" Leng Yuansheng landed, astonishment written all over his face.

It was hard to believe someone as seemingly harmless as Tianming could be so ruthless. Leng Zhide’s reaction was even greater: he crouched low, unable to look, clearly unaccustomed to the violence of the martial world.

Seeing their reactions, Tianming smiled and helped Leng Zhide up.

"It's obvious—the attacker must have been under Qilianchuang’s orders. No need for surprise, Brother Sheng. If someone tries a deadly ambush, why should I show mercy? If he escaped, you two would only be dragged into this mess." Stowing the Vitality Cannon in his interdimensional space, Tianming patted Leng Yuansheng’s shoulder and added, "And thank you, by the way!"

After all, Tianming was new to this world, with only a handful of enemies so far.

"It’s nothing. I was just worried for my brother—he’s always been squeamish about blood," Leng Yuansheng sighed, glancing at Leng Zhide crouched on the ground.

"I..." Hearing this, Tianming clenched his fists, guilt flooding his face.

Before Tianming could finish, Leng Yuansheng hoisted Leng Zhide onto his back and interrupted him.

"Tianming, don’t blame yourself. No matter how much we’d rather avoid the cruelty of this world, we can’t hide from it forever. Facing it sooner will do Zhide good."

"Sorry, Brother Tianming." Perched on his brother’s back, Leng Zhide looked at Tianming with an apologetic smile.

Seeing it, Tianming nodded.

"Don’t say that. If it weren’t for you two, I’d be lying dead on the ground. I owe you both, and don’t even think about refusing, or I’ll be truly upset!" Tianming said sternly, waving a hand.

He spoke with genuine goodwill, and perhaps a touch of personal feeling. Though Brother Sheng brushed it off, Tianming swore to repay the debt—for without their help, he’d be dead by now. In the end, it was they who’d been dragged into his troubles.

"Alright," Leng Yuansheng replied with a smile, seeing that refusal was pointless.

With a toss of his head, Tianming regained his usual cheer and followed after them.

"By the way, Brother Sheng, I’m new to Chang’an—could you show me the way?"

Seeing Tianming’s warm smile, Leng Yuansheng turned and nodded, the gloom of moments before gone from his face.

"Brother, put me down!"

"Alright."

...

Their steps paused for a moment. Watching the two brothers walk side by side in such harmony, Tianming’s eyes shone with light. Smiling, he hurried to catch up with them.