Volume One: The Youth Enters the World Chapter Forty-Four: An Obstruction

Facing Fang Tian’s murderous glare, Zhou Yunshu straightened his back and gave a mocking smile.

“Angry? And what good will that do you?”

“I wish I could tear you to pieces!” Fang Tian snarled.

“The world of cultivators has always been like this—full of deceit and treachery. Caution at every turn. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too trusting. No one else is at fault.”

“I want you dead!”

“Hah! Ridiculous. You’re a cripple, poisoned and powerless. What chance do you think you have?”

Fang Tian’s heart was already consumed by fury, focused solely on killing Zhou Yunshu and avenging his village.

At that moment, his rage surged through his soul, and the spiritual energy that had vanished from his body unexpectedly reemerged. An icy, sinister force swept through his veins, filling him with cold power.

He noticed the strange sensation coursing through him, but his mind was a storm of wrath, eclipsing all else.

He flexed his wrist, surprised to find it no longer weak. As the cold energy continued to surge, his body’s strength gradually returned.

Zhou Yunshu, smug and oblivious, noticed nothing amiss. “Since you refuse to reveal the treasure’s location, I’ll send you on your way.”

With a flourish of spiritual power, he raised his palm toward Fang Tian. If he could not have the treasure, he would destroy Fang Tian—let no one else claim the prize.

“I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed!” A glint of icy resolve flashed in Fang Tian’s eyes as he spoke coldly.

“What?” Zhou Yunshu was puzzled, but his attack did not falter, palm striking toward Fang Tian.

Just as his hand was about to land, Fang Tian suddenly unleashed a burst of chilling power, channeling it into his palm as he stood and met Zhou Yunshu head-on.

A thunderous boom.

A sharp crack.

Palm met palm, and twin surges of spiritual energy exploded, sending a shockwave through the room. The wine table beside them shattered, porcelain plates and cups flying and breaking against the beams and pillars.

Fang Tian’s sudden counterattack left chaos in its wake.

“Impossible! How do you still have spiritual power?” Zhou Yunshu shouted in disbelief.

“There’s much you don’t know! Prepare to die!” Fang Tian’s voice was harsh and commanding.

Zhou Yunshu’s face twisted with disdain. “So what if you’ve recovered your strength? It’s just the second level of Spirit Gathering. My cultivation is higher than yours!”

“Hmph, in a moment, your life will be mine!”

“Such arrogance!”

Without another word, Fang Tian summoned his energy and launched himself at Zhou Yunshu.

Seeing Fang Tian’s ferocity, Zhou Yunshu wasted no time, gathering his spiritual power and clashing with Fang Tian once more.

Fang Tian’s fingers formed a sword, his body weaving in and out of shadows, each icy strike aimed at Zhou Yunshu’s vital points.

Zhou Yunshu refused to yield, dodging nimbly while channeling spiritual power into his palm. With a roar, he struck out, blazing flames surging toward Fang Tian’s chest.

Attack and evade!

The two exchanged blows, evenly matched, their duel carrying them from the main hall into the courtyard.

Sensing mutual openings, both unleashed their full strength, bodies blurring as they raced toward each other—each landing a blow on the other.

Fang Tian’s chilling sword-fingers pierced Zhou Yunshu’s chest as Zhou Yunshu’s flaming palm slammed into Fang Tian’s abdomen. Both spat blood, staggering backward from the force until they crashed into the courtyard wall.

With a rumble, the wall collapsed.

Clutching their chests, they struggled to their feet amid the rubble, watching each other closely for the next move.

“Xiao Tian, I didn’t expect you to be this formidable. Even with my higher cultivation, I could only fight you to a draw.” Zhou Yunshu, having realized Fang Tian had reached the second level of Spirit Gathering, was quietly astonished.

“Uncle Zhou, you flatter me. But now, I’ll give it my all.”

“What, am I supposed to be afraid? Come!”

Power surged around them as they readied their techniques.

“Mystic Frost Sword Technique—New Style: Drifting Snow!”

“Blazing Palm—Third Form: Incineration!”

With a shout, both vanished from sight. Sword-fingers and flaming palm collided, blue frost and crimson fire intertwining in a tempest of spiritual energy. Smoke billowed, the ground erupted in shards, and stone slabs flew, embedding themselves in the courtyard walls.

As the smoke cleared, the two figures reappeared. Around Zhou Yunshu, snowflakes swirled, landing on his hands. Frost crept from his fingertips, spreading rapidly until his entire body was encased in ice, transformed into a sculpture.

At such close range, he could not withstand the Drifting Snow. He was defeated.

Fang Tian stared at the ice statue before him, his anger unquenched and ready to finish Zhou Yunshu once and for all. At that moment, the courtyard gate burst open and Zhou Xiaodie rushed in.

She ran straight to Zhou Yunshu, spreading her arms to shield him as she faced Fang Tian, her eyes red from weeping. Her voice trembled, “Brother Fang Tian, please, don’t kill my father. I beg you.”

With her sudden appearance, Fang Tian’s anger began to ebb. He spoke quietly, “Do you know that he ordered the slaughter of my entire village?”

“I know. My cousin told me everything. I know the reasons behind it all.”

“Then why are you stopping me? Even if he’s your father, it makes no difference!”

Zhou Xiaodie lowered her head, biting her lip as tears streamed down to the ground.

After a pause, she looked up, wiped her tears, and with newfound resolve, said seriously, “Brother Fang Tian, if you want revenge, then kill me instead. I’ll take his place.”

Fang Tian’s heart trembled.

“Xiaodie, you…!”

“Brother Fang Tian, I can’t just watch my father die by your hand. He may have done wrong, but he is still my father. If he must pay, let his daughter atone for him.”

Seeing her so determined, Fang Tian was overcome by a sense of unspeakable loss.

“Xiaodie, have you considered how I would feel about this?”

“Brother Fang Tian, do it! After I’m gone, please let my father live.”

Fang Tian sighed. How could he bring himself to harm her, the one he loved?

Seeing his hesitation, Zhou Xiaodie gritted her teeth, raised her hand, and struck her own chest with spiritual force.

By the time Fang Tian realized what was happening, she coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.

“No!” he cried, rushing forward to catch her, pouring his own spiritual energy into her to stabilize her injuries.

“Xiaodie, why would you do this?”

She lay weakly in his arms, eyes barely open.

“I never thought… with my low cultivation, I can’t even die properly,” she said with a feeble smile.

“You fool.”

“I’m not a fool, Brother Fang Tian.”

“Enough, enough.” Fang Tian shook his head helplessly.

Now, he understood why she did it—caught between loyalties, she could only choose this path to escape the pain.

Seeing how frail she was, Fang Tian’s heart ached. He gently propped her against the wall and continued to heal her wounds.