(Tian Ling's Perspective)
The mist of the forbidden zone began to lose density as Tian Ling advanced. With each step, the atmosphere became less oppressive and more vibrant, as if the world outside itself breathed differently. The spiritual Qi here was lighter, more alive, more "free."
He was about to cross the last stretch when a rumble echoed in the distance.
BOOOOM!!
The impact reverberated across the ground, shaking the ancient trees around.
Tian Ling stopped immediately. His eyes, identical to Jun Tian's, narrowed. Another explosion came soon after, followed by terrified screams.
— Hmph… a fight. — he murmured.
The spiritual link reacted. Jun Tian, inside the ruins, felt only fragments of the scene — distant sounds, the vibration of energy, the murderous intent. The link didn't transmit perfect images, but it transmitted sensations with absolute precision. Tian Ling advanced.
He leaped from rock to rock, moving so fast that his body nearly dissolved into streaks of light. In moments, he reached the edge of a jagged valley, where the air was heavy with dust, Qi violently agitated, and the smell of fresh blood lingered.
And then he saw.
Seven cultivators, all wearing robes embroidered with silver in the shape of a three-tailed bird—the emblem of Tianfeng Daozong, a mid-sized sect known for its mastery of wind techniques and spirit spears.
They stood in defensive formation, sweaty, wounded, and gasping for breath.
And before them…
A colossal creature leaped from the center of the valley.
An enormous toad, over six meters tall, with metallic gray skin and black markings that pulsed like heated iron. Its eyes were golden orbs, filled with savage fury.
Tyrannical Toad of the Iron Valley
– Spiritual Beast, Peak of the 3rd Realm
– Skin harder than reinforced ore
– Specialized in sonic pressure attacks and devastating leaps
The creature opened its mouth and a deep roar exploded like trapped thunder:
ROOOOOOAAAR!!
The sound rippled through the air, shattering rocks and pushing three cultivators back like rag dolls.
—Form the Wall of Winds! NOW!—shouted the group leader, a young woman with a silver spear and cultivation at the intermediate 3rd realm, but visibly exhausted.
Five of them raised their spears.
The Qi gathered.
Clang! Clang! Fwooosh—!!! A wall of wind arose, but weakened the instant the beast slammed its body against it.
Tian Ling watched from afar.
"They'll die in three moves," he said calmly.
The link connected the conclusion directly to Jun Tian's spirit.
The team leader spat blood.
The frog leaped at them with the force of a collapsing mountain.
And that was the moment Tian Ling moved.
Not fast.
Not hurried.
Just… inevitable.
He appeared between the group and the monster like a silent shadow.
The frog's enormous shadow fell upon him, and the leader's eyes widened.
— YOUNG MAN! GET OUT OF THERE! YOU'RE GOING TO DIE—
Tian Ling raised his hand.
Technique – Paralyzing Spiritual Weave.
Lines of purple light spread from his fingers, leaping like ethereal threads.
In the air, they drew a pattern.
And then descended, enveloping the frog like invisible chains.
CRACK—!!
The monster was paralyzed in mid-air. Literally frozen an inch off the ground.
The cultivators were speechless.
"W-what technique is that...?"
"He paralyzed a beast from the peak of the 3rd kingdom!"
"That's impossible…"
The frog struggled, roared, its metallic skin crackling beneath the runes, but it couldn't move.
Tian Ling stepped forward.
He whispered, "You're too noisy."
He snapped his fingers.
The runes tightened.
BOOOOM!!
A muffled rumble echoed through the valley.
The frog's spine buckled.
The whole creature sank into the ground, crushed, its spiritual soul shattered.
Silence.
Dust settled slowly, displaying the lifeless body of the Tyrannical Frog.
The seven cultivators simply stared at Tian Ling as if they were before a divine being.
She took a deep breath, her fingers clasped tightly around the spear to hide the trembling.
"Young man… who are you?
"Your aura… I don't recognize your sect…"
"That technique… we've never seen anything like it…"
Tian Ling looked at them calmly.
— Only a wandering cultivator.
The suspicious glances intensified — but mixed with respect and profound astonishment.
The leader then bowed her head in reverence.
- You saved our lives. Tianfeng Daozong is grateful. — If you are traveling through the Tianxu Continent… our sect will welcome you as an ally. Tian Ling gave just a slight nod.
— Hmm.
But deep within his soul…
The bond with Jun Tian pulsed.
And through it, Jun Tian sensed:
Information. An emotional map.
The structure of the valley.
The travel routes.
And the name Tianfeng Daozong shining clearly in his mind.
The first step on the continent had been taken.
And Tian Ling smiled slightly.
— Perhaps this will be useful.
The world is vast… and this continent, even more so.
The wind blew.
The toad's corpse gleamed with a dense, metallic spiritual core.
Tian Ling bent down, collected the core, and stored it in the ring—which immediately sent it to Jun Tian in the ruins.
— Let's see… what else this continent hides.
And then he began to follow the group, hearing about the world, the sects, the dangers…
With a single movement, the Tianxu Continent began to reveal itself.