"Three punches to blow me away? Hahahaha…"
Kaelen's scarred cheek twitched as his booming laughter echoed across the courtyard. "Trash Darian, for a moment I thought your challenge to Lucian meant you had some guts. Turns out you've just gone mad! What's wrong—ten years as a useless cripple finally got to you?
"Heh… trash will always be trash. Daydream all you like, but remember to keep your tail between your legs. Otherwise, if I'm in a bad mood one day, I might crush you with a single finger!"
The ridicule was infectious. The five or six Valeblue youths standing with Aeris burst out laughing, their eyes sweeping over Darian with naked contempt.
Aeris's lips curved in a faint, mocking smile. To her, the very fact that she had once been engaged to Darian was an unbearable humiliation—one she had never forgiven.
She was Theron's daughter, the Aeris family's jewel. Countless times she had privately begged her father to annul the engagement. Every time, he had refused. In her mind, there was only one reason— Darian shamelessly clung to the hope of marrying her when he turned eighteen.
It wasn't until Lucian returned from seclusion that she saw a chance. Talented, handsome, and openly attentive toward her, Lucian had promised to help end the engagement. The martial arena scene that followed was supposed to be her perfect moment.
But instead of humiliation, desperation, or madness, Darian had met the announcement with calm relief—he had even requested the annulment himself. That single moment nearly made her faint from rage. Her hatred deepened to the point of obsession.
And then, as if to spite her personally, Darian had gone on to challenge "Lucian" in front of everyone.
She convinced herself it was deliberate—his way of disgusting her. And today, she intended to repay the insult.
Today, Darian… I'll make you regret everything.
Her eyes turned cold, her mocking smile shifting into one of cruel intent. She wanted to see him crushed underfoot like a beaten dog.
Darian's voice cut through the air, calm and unhurried.
"Done laughing? Either fight or move. Good dogs don't block the road this early in the morning—you are bad luck."
His right fist lowered, hands folding behind his back. His earlier sharpness was hidden, but the brilliance in his eyes remained. The breeze lifted his black martial robe as he stood tall, unrestrained, untouchable.
Something about him made Aeris Hai uneasy. The arrogance he'd shown yesterday was gone—replaced by a depth Aeris Hai couldn't quite read.
He crushed the thought instantly. His body tensed, muscles coiling, fists lifting, eyes narrowing with a flash of malice.
"Yesterday, I held back so I wouldn't kill you by mistake. Today… I won't."
Boom! Buzz!
"Take this! Duskwrath Tiger Soldier Fist!"
Blood and qi roared through his veins, origin force surging as he charged forward in three heavy steps. Behind him, a faint phantom tiger took shape, roaring as his qi penetrated skin, flesh, and tendon. At Ironbody Tier Eighth Stage, Bone Refinement Great Completion, Kaelen came at Darian with full strength.
Roar!
Stone cracked beneath his feet. The tiger descended the mountain, his fist splitting the air.
The onlookers murmured—
"A mid-grade martial art? Against a Fifth Stage cripple? Overkill."
"He's just showing off. That punch will keep Darian in bed for months."
Aeris crossed her arms, lips curling coldly. She could tell Kaelen wasn't merely trying to "teach a lesson."
"Go down!"
His fist closed in—only a paces away.
Darian didn't move until that final instant. His right fist, drawn from behind his back, met Kaelen's strike in a plain, unhurried punch.
Bang!
The phantom tiger shuddered—and in the next heartbeat, Kaelen's eyes widened.
What—?!
A strange, terrifying force exploded from Darian's fist, forcing him back step for step.
Step… step… step…
Six steps later, he stood exactly where he'd started—face twisted, arm trembling.
Darian hadn't even swayed.
Gasps erupted.
"Trash Darian… forced him back?"
"The Tiger Soldier Fist doubles your strength—how did he…"
"Could Kaelen have held back?"
Aeris's eyes narrowed. No—he hadn't held back at all.
Kaelen's face darkened. His arm throbbed painfully. His pride burned.
Darian glanced at his fist, murmuring so softly only he could hear, The power of Holy Dao Battle Qi is… impressive.
His gaze sharpened.
"Darian! You're not Fifth Stage—you're Sixth!"
The realization struck Kaelen like a blow. Just yesterday, Darian had been a Fifth Stage cripple—now he was at Sixth Stage, Tendon Refinement Great Completion. And he had forced back an Eighth Stage Bone Refinement cultivator.
Across two realms. Impossible.
"I don't believe it! That was luck!" Kaelen roared. "Tiger Soldier Fist—Tiger Shatters the World!"
The phantom tiger behind him roared louder, merging with his body. Blood-red eyes blazed as he leapt, fists descending like a predator's claws.
Even the onlookers blanched. This was Kaelen's killing move.
Darian's voice rumbled like thunder.
"Tiger Soldier Fist? How fitting—I can use it too. Second punch—Tiger Shatters the World!"
Holy Dao Battle Qi surged. Golden-red qi and blood boiled. A phantom golden tiger roared into existence, charging upward.
Roar! Bang!
The golden tiger tore through its striped counterpart. The shattered phantom dispersed, hurling Kaelen to the ground. He landed hard, pale and clutching his chest, fear flickering in his eyes.
Darian stepped forward, descending like a war god.
"Third punch—let's see if I can blow you away."
The pressure alone made Kaelen's heart clench. He wanted to retreat—but Aeris's gaze burned into his back.
With a roar, he met the punch head-on.
Bang!
Blood sprayed from his lips. He flew backward, rolling across the ground until he landed at Aeris's feet—spattering her red dress with crimson.
Now white as paper, Kaelen lay unmoving, like a beaten dog.
Aeris froze. The killing intent in her eyes dissolved into shock and… fear. The other Valeblue youths were pale, their throats dry.
Darian's voice was calm.
"I said three punches to blow you away—so three punches it is."
He strode past Aeris without even a glance.
"Darian! What are you doing? I warn you—don't you dare or else—"
Ignored.
Humiliation and hatred twisted in her chest. She forced down her fear and shouted after him—
"Darian! You trash! Just wait until Lucian crushes you in a month!"
He didn't stop. A faint glint of sharpness flashed in his eyes.
"Lucian, huh? Heh… I can't wait."