Within a storm-wracked and fiery expanse formaly covered with youthful pine trees, tribulations rained down as torrents of blistering flames ascended. Hundreds of swords, wreathed in scorching fire, soared through the tempest, intercepting bolts of pure lightning Qi as they descended from the heavens. Amidst the chaos, a blazing red jade statue rose into the sky with a deafening roar, its body shimmering and becoming translucent as the flames surrounding it surged with an otherworldly intensity.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Fang Lee's swords split into formations of twenty, breaking apart mid-air to intercept the incoming tribulation bolts. The redirected lightning scattered in dazzling arcs, yet the heavens refused to relent. As if possessing a will of its own, the storm roared in defiance, its fractured bolts twisting through the air, seeking their true target. But before they could reach him, another wave of his Qi swords surged forth, forming an unyielding barrier against the relentless assault.
Hissss...
Rain sizzled into steam as Lian Xue's burning jade form streaked through the storm like a celestial comet. Her very body, now an embodiment of flame and destruction, cut through Fang Lee's sword formations without pause—a flickering inferno of jade and crimson fire racing headlong into the heart of the tribulation.
Spirit Flame Forge!
Lian Xue activated a makeshift technique, merging the foundational principles of Fang Lee's Ten Sacred Swords with her own refined Fire Qi. A false Foundation Establishment Realm technique took form within her, pushing her body beyond mortal limits, forging her flames into something sharper, stronger, deadlier.
Hiss hiss hiss
Rumble—FLASH!
The storm howled in response. Rain evaporated the moment it touched her, vanishing into hissing vapor as the very skies recoiled from her defiance. The winds howled, trying to halt her advance, but she pressed forward. A blinding bolt of tribulation lightning, thick as an ancient pillar, crashed downward—its sheer power threatening to erase her existence.
But Lian Xue did not falter.
The flames roaring from her jade-carved body condensed, twisting into shape. A set of blazing armor encased her form, searing patterns of ancient sigils into the air, while in her hands, the fire surged into the form of an ancient Chinese spear, wreathed in unquenchable divine flame.
She raised the weapon, her grip unshaken, and thrust it forward—meeting the heavens' wrath head-on.
BOOM!
The heavens trembled as Lian Xue's blazing spear collided with the tribulation lightning. A blinding explosion of fire and electricity erupted, splitting the sky in half. A shockwave of scorching heat and wild Qi surged outward, incinerating the precariously untouched sections of the youthful pine forest below, reducing towering trees to smoldering embers.
But Lian Xue did not waver.
Her jade-carved body pulsed with surging Fire Qi as she forced her spear forward, pushing against the tribulation's might. The golden-white bolt of divine punishment coiled and twisted like a furious serpent, trying to overpower her, but her burning form only grew stronger.
CRACK!
The sky itself seemed to shatter.
Lightning screamed down in rapid succession, bolts crashing like celestial punishment, attempting to annihilate the defiant red jade treasure that dared to challenge the heavens.
HISS!
Lian Xue's flames burned brighter, hotter. Her Spirit Flame Forge pulsed with volatile energy, forging each lightning strike into her own power. Her crimson inferno roared as the fiery spear in her hands elongated, its form refining under the tribulation's relentless strikes.
Fang Lee watched from below, his army of Qi swords still intercepting stray bolts, his gaze locked onto the battle unfolding above. A hint of admiration flickered in his eyes. Lian Xue's… tempering herself through the tribulation? Absorbing its power to refine her Qi?
BOOM!!!
Another colossal BOOM shook the heavens as she swung her spear in a wide arc, slicing through an incoming bolt. The split lightning scattered into fragmented arcs, twisting and fading as her flames devoured them whole.
The tribulation clouds churned furiously, unwilling to accept defeat.
RUMBLE!
The sky darkened further. A final, towering bolt gathered above—a single, condensed strike carrying the full wrath of the heavens. Its form flickered between reality and destruction, vibrating with apocalyptic energy, as if the world itself could barely contain its existence.
Lian Xue's crimson eyes flashed.
She gripped her flaming spear tighter, her jade-like skin radiating an almost divine glow. The heat surrounding her became unbearable, distorting space itself.
Then—she moved.
A single step.
The air cracked beneath her as she launched herself toward the incoming judgment. Her body became a streak of molten brilliance, a shooting star of burning jade and untamed will.
The final bolt descended.
Lian Xue thrust her spear forward, piercing straight through the heart of the tribulation.
BOOOOOOM!
A deafening explosion consumed the world. The sheer impact shattered the storm clouds, ripping them apart as waves of golden fire surged outward. The oppressive darkness that had once blanketed the heavens was torn asunder, revealing the pristine night sky.
The tribulation... was gone.
Lian Xue hovered in midair, her fiery spear dissipating into glowing embers. Her jade body shimmered, the flames within her now calm, tempered. Her Qi had transformed, refined to a level beyond its previous limits.
She exhaled slowly, her gaze flickering downward.
Fang Lee stood below, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. She didn't say anything to him, not like she had the capacities to form sentences anymore, and then turned her gaze to the now-clear sky, a lingering trace of defiance in her crimson eyes.
For the first time, she had forced the heavens to submit.
—
In the resently cleared night sky. A lone storm cloud drifted toward the charged heart of the seclusion forest—a sacred refuge where the young members of the Fang Clan retreated when an inevitable breakthrough loomed, seeking isolation from mortal affairs.
"Now I see why some in the clan speak so highly of you, Fang Lee~" Fang Xiu teased, her tone light yet laced with intrigue as wisps of lingering tribulation Qi coiled around her, drawn to her presence like moths to a flame.
Fang Lee had already sensed her approach, his senses now honed to a dangerous degree after his breakthrough. Without hesitation, he summoned his Qi swords and Lian Xue back to his side.
Swiss! Swiss!
His narrowed gaze locked onto the woman before him. Her aura was strong, refined—but unfamiliar.
"You don't look familiar. Who are you?" His mind sifted through distant memories as his two hundred Qi swords gracefully arrayed themselves behind him in a layered circular formation. At the same time, Lian Xue's jade body descended from the sky, landing before him with a resounding impact.
Boom!!
Dust and ash swirled around Lian Xue as she landed, quickly falling into a combat stance, her eyes fixed on the storm cloud above, which now seemed to envelope Fang Xiu in a swirling cocoon.
!!
"Meng… Is that you?!" Fang Lee's eyes widened as he finally saw her clearly, his voice a mix of shock and recognition. The storm clouds shifted, revealing Meng's form to the world, her cheeks flushed slightly from the sudden attention.
Fang Lee wasted no time. He leaped into the air, one of his Qi swords breaking away from the formation behind him. He used it to propel himself toward the descending cloud.
Fang Xiu's lips curled into a mischievous smirk, her head tilting ever so slightly. "Hmph. Should I be pleased that you remember your little servant girl's name, or should I be insulted that you've completely forgotten your cousin after twenty whole years~?"
Her gaze lingered on Fang Lee, eyes flicking briefly to his bare form before settling back on his face. She crossed her arms, the motion subtly lifting her chest, and a playful pout graced her lips. The teasing energy around her was unmistakable.
"But look at you now… Already catching up to your big cousin in cultivation. If I hadn't just broken through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, I might have felt a little embarrassed~"
Fang Lee, unfazed by her scrutiny, stood tall with a slight smirk of his own. "So my current state doesn't…?" He shifted his stance, his body moving fluidly. His confidence was unapologetically on display, and the freedom of his nakedness only seemed to add to his nonchalant attitude.
Fang Xiu's eyes flickered downward, her teasing smile never faltering. "Why, you're a bold one, aren't you~?" she remarked, her voice low and playful, taking in the entirety of his presence. Her tone was both impressed and amused.
"Of course I am," Fang Lee replied smoothly, meeting her gaze with a glint of mischief in his own eyes.
Fang Xiu's lips curled into a smirk, her eyes never leaving Fang Lee's form. The air around her crackled with an invisible tension, as if the storm had not only cleared but had left something electric in its wake. "Bold indeed," she murmured, her voice dropping even lower, now rich with teasing intent.
Fang Lee, aware of her scrutiny, maintained his confident stance, his posture relaxed yet powerful. "It's only natural when one is... comfortable in their own skin," he said with a grin, his eyes gleaming with unspoken challenge.
Fang Xiu tilted her head slightly, letting her gaze linger just a fraction longer before she took a deliberate step forward. Her aura shifted, becoming more alluring as it wrapped around her like an invisible cloak. "Is that so?" she purred, her voice like silk, a challenge laced within.
Fang Lee met her gaze with a smirk, his eyes steady and unwavering as he took in the change in her aura. The playful, intoxicating energy surrounding her seemed to wrap around him like a tightening coil, yet he stood firm, unaffected. "It is," he replied, his voice low and confident, as though daring her to push him further.
Fang Xiu's smile deepened, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and intrigue. With each float forward, her presence became more intense, more magnetic—like a predator closing in on its prey. She closed the distance between them, her every movement deliberate and fluid.
"Comfortable, huh?" she murmured, her voice dropping to a soft, sultry tone. "Then show me how comfortable you really are." She stepped even closer, until they were nearly touching, the heat of her body mingling with his. The subtle scent of her perfume teased his senses, heightening the electric tension in the air.
"Maybe another day~ Right now, I'm a bit too tired to show you just how comfortable I can be," Fang Lee replied with a sly grin, his tone laced with playful defiance. He then casually turned his gaze to the side, his eyes landing on Meng.
"You're not hurt are you Meng?" Fang Lee said as began faking some consern, his eyes softening as she avoided meeting his eyes, her heart pounding at the sudden focus on her.
"I-I'm fine. Just a little… overwhelmed, that's all."
Fang Lee gave her a reassuring nod, though the corners of his lips curled slightly upward as he noticed her flustered demeanor. There was something amusing about how easily she became shy when placed under his gaze, especially with the storm of tension still hanging in the air.
Turning his focus back to Fang Xiu, he raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure we can continue our chat later. But right now—"
Beep~ Beep~
Beep~
—
Inside a modest room within a decent-sized house located in the peaceful town of Hoshizuki, a young blond boy with unmistakable European features stirred restlessly in his bed. His face contorted in frustration as his eyes slowly fluttered open, the sharp, insistent beeping of a digital clock cutting through the still morning air.
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
His hand shot out from under the blanket in a futile attempt to silence the obnoxious sound, fingers fumbling blindly as they swatted at the offending alarm clock. The cool morning light filtered through the half-open window, casting a pale glow across the room, but it did little to ease the growing irritation simmering in his chest.
"Argh..." he groaned, his voice thick with sleep as he pulled himself upright, rubbing his eyes in frustration. His blonde hair stuck up in tousled waves, clearly the result of a restless night. Despite the familiar warmth of the room, his body felt heavy, as though the weight of the world had settled into his bones.
He glared at the clock, his blue eyes narrowing as he finally managed to silence the infernal beeping. The room fell into quiet stillness, yet the weight of another day pressed down on him. With a deep sigh, he sank back into his pillows, the brief comfort of his bed tempting him to shut his eyes again. But there was no escape—reality had already set in, along with the responsibilities and expectations that awaited him.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A polite yet firm rapping came from his door.
"Oliver onii-chan, you'll be late for school at this rate," a youthful, familiar voice called out.
Outside the room, Yumi Sakuragi—a fourteen-year-old girl with long, sleek black hair—stood patiently, dressed in a crisp Japanese school uniform. Her delicate fingers rested against the wooden doorframe, while her other hand held onto a small, blond-haired boy no older than four. The child blinked up at her with sleepy curiosity, his tiny fingers clutching at her sleeve as he waited alongside her.
Yumi's voice was gentle yet firm, the practiced tone of a responsible sister—even if, in this case, she was merely his stepsister. "Hurry up, Oliver. You don't want to be late again."