Chapter 30: The Chaos Begins II

"Stop yelling and come with me!" Lekai smacked Rambo on the head to shut him up.

"Lekai, they... they're all dead? What on earth is happening?" Rambo was completely disoriented by now. The events unfolding seemed entirely out of line with his expectations. The reinforcements Walker had called in not only failed to capture Lekai, but had lost their own lives in the process. Even the guards assigned to protect him had fallen silently. What was going on?

Lekai's eyes narrowed. His right hand brushed his wrist almost imperceptibly before he frowned and sighed. "Forget it, we shouldn't leave after all." Only he could see the virtual screen, where a mass of red dots were converging at speed, encircling them. The surrounding buildings were also marked with these red dots at every strategic point, each clearly labeled with energy readings—none weaker than an elite soldier.

All these special operatives had a single target: the mayor's son.

In this situation, even as confident as Lekai was, he knew better than to think he could take on an entire army by himself.

"Why not? Everything’s in chaos right now. If we don’t go, we’ll be suspects and get arrested," Li Yan protested, confused. Rambo was beyond words, his face a mask of terror.

"Because we are their targets. No matter where we run, we can’t escape. If capture is inevitable, why waste the effort?" Lekai spoke calmly, but his gaze was fixed past the panicked crowd, landing on a single man.

That man’s lips curled into a smile. The sleazy aura he’d worn vanished, replaced by an unbridled arrogance and wildness. His stubborn eyes, tinged with a faint smile, seemed to scorn the masses below, as if he were a god looking down on ants. He met Lekai’s stare without flinching, even with a hint of admiration, their gazes locking together in a silent battle as he walked forward.

He did not move quickly, but with measured rhythm. The chaotic crowd parted before him as if unaware of his presence, flowing away on either side, not impeding him in the slightest.

"Kid, your strength is impressive. Among your peers, you’re second to none. When I was your age, I wasn’t even a tenth as capable. You’re a born warrior, a genius at cultivation. Given time, you’ll become the savior of this planet, a blessing to all its people."

The burly man did not hold back his praise. "A genius like you is destined to carry the hopes of the people. Meeting me was fate. Welcome home! Join us, and you’ll gain endless honor, realize your life’s worth."

Lekai’s gaze was unmoved. "I already have a home, but it isn’t in the Sky Realm. Sir, don’t be so insincere. You’re itching to strike, but you hide behind hollow words. With people and organizations like yours, I dare not join, nor do I wish to."

"Hahaha! Bold boy, you’ve got guts, I like it! My name is Wu Niantian. What’s yours?" The man called Wu Niantian laughed heartily, halting three meters in front of Lekai—not a step more or less.

Lekai still held Li Yan’s hand in one of his, the other resting on his old-fashioned sword hilt, steady as a rock, silent as a monk.

Seeing Wu Niantian’s movements, Lekai’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. He thought to himself, He knows to stop at the three-meter mark—that’s exactly my attack’s limit. His control over energy is remarkable indeed. This man is not to be underestimated.

"My name is Lekai—‘Le’ as in joy, ‘Kai’ as in open," he replied.

"A fine name. It’s a pity, though; on Azure Star now, the people live in deep suffering. To truly be joyful is only a dream." Wu Niantian’s gaze grew more admiring. "For someone so young to have such power, your background must be extraordinary. Who are your parents?"

Lekai gently released Li Yan and stepped forward, a faint smile on his lips. "Defeat me, and I'll tell you."

His step seemed casual, but his body vanished from view in an instant. The three-meter gap closed in a flash, and a gleaming arc of the blade slashed down from above, tracing a semicircle through the air.

The Returning Step technique was unfathomable. Though it looked like a single stride, Lekai’s body moved at super-high speed, not only closing the distance but leaping high, bringing his blade down with explosive force. Only when the blade’s light burst forth did the accumulated momentum erupt like a bomb, the shockwave and presence sweeping the hall.

Wu Niantian’s expression changed.

He’d overestimated Lekai’s strength again and again, but never expected a child’s combat power to reach such terrifying heights. In that instant, the surge of power contained boundless destruction and killing intent, making it almost hard to breathe. For even a master at the "Purify Spirit, Temper Marrow" level to feel fear, what kind of power was this?

What dreadful killing intent. What overwhelming force.

What a terrifying youth!

Though his mind was nearly shaken, Wu Niantian’s own strength was not to be underestimated. A "Purify Spirit, Temper Marrow" master was far beyond the imagination of ordinary elite soldiers. One more step, and he would reach the "Unity of Mind and Spirit" realm, becoming a true super-expert.

Wu Niantian was precisely such a genuine "Purify Spirit, Temper Marrow" master.

A master of this level not only possessed power several times greater than normal, but also had formidable mental strength and reaction speed.

With a twist of his body, Wu Niantian shouted with thunderous force. His entire frame bent backward, as if pulled by an invisible cord, and slid away at an impossible angle. Sparks flew from the ground, ignited by the violent friction.

Boom!

Clang!

The blade’s fierce edge crashed into the hardened adamantite floor. The supposedly indestructible surface split with a brittle crack, as if torn paper, sending up a cloud of dust. Lekai grunted, but as if he had anticipated this, his body bounced like a rubber ball, leaping nimbly once more. His small form, wrapped in the blade’s glow, shone brilliantly.

"Wu Niantian, surrender and live!" Though young, Lekai’s voice boomed with depth and authority.

"Arrogant brat, it’s too soon to say who will win! Don’t blame me for not cherishing talent. Take this—throwing weapons!" Wu Niantian nearly choked on his rage. Was this kid so conceited he thought a sneak attack gave him victory?

Even retreating at full speed, Wu Niantian managed to draw hidden weapons from his robe and hurl them—evidence of a true "Purify Spirit, Temper Marrow" master. With a flick, several cold stars shot toward Lekai with bullet-like speed, vanishing in a flash.

Yet, to his shock, Lekai’s body seemed insubstantial, as if the projectiles passed right through him without slowing his attack. In the next instant, that uncanny figure vanished again, reappearing behind him as if by teleportation.