The Starfall Forest lay in the southern region of the Eternal Glory Kingdom. Positioned precisely on the border between the Eternal Glory Kingdom and the Kingdom of Black Wind, it spanned an area of roughly ten thousand square kilometers. Despite its relatively small size, its location made it one of the most sensitive regions in the kingdom. It was under full military control, and a powerful marshal was stationed there to command the troops and oversee the forest.
Yet, the forest's notoriety wasn't solely due to its strategic location. Deep within its heart, a long-standing rumor persisted—whispers of a strange and powerful aura hidden at its center. Many patrolling soldiers had even confirmed its presence in their reports. Some claimed the aura belonged to a Rank Four Mortal-class beast, a creature so powerful it could rival warriors from the Profound Realm.
The Profound Realm surpassed even the Innate Realm. Only a handful of individuals in the Eternal Glory Kingdom had ever reached it. For most, it remained nothing more than legend.
...
Warm sunlight filtered through the thick, interwoven canopy above, casting flickering golden rays onto the forest floor like a shimmering curtain drawn by nature itself. The distant calls of birds could be faintly heard—but this peace felt more like the calm before a storm.
In the forest's dim heart, where sunlight grew faint, a battle raged.
The roar of a bear thundered through the trees like an explosion. Branches snapped, the ground trembled. The Earth Yellow Bear—a colossal creature with a rocky body—charged with primal fury. Its eyes blazed with rage, and its mud-colored hide acted like natural armor.
Standing before it was Chiantai Wuji, calm and composed. His clothes were spotless, untouched by dirt or dust. Despite facing a mid-class Rank Two Mortal Beast, his expression remained ordinary.
The Earth Yellow Bear attacked again, this time swinging a massive paw horizontally, the strike slicing through the air with a whistle. Wuji ducked low, spun, and just as the paw passed by, he raised his fist.
Under his breath, he muttered, "Shaking Mountain Fist."
Energy surged from within. The air grew dense. His punch slammed into the bear's chest with such force that a cracking sound echoed from within its body. The beast staggered back several steps but remained standing. Its breathing, however, had grown heavier. A flicker of fear sparked in its eyes—but it refused to retreat.
Wuji glanced at the bear's paw. One of them was injured, trembling. The strike had worked. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, raising his palm.
"Green Sun Palm!"
A swift, spiraling strike. A vibrant green energy burst from his hand and landed on the bear's shoulder. This time, the creature screamed, its right leg buckling. Dark, blackish blood seeped from its thick skin.
Even wounded, the Earth Yellow Bear remained deadly. With frenzied rage, it lowered its head and charged like a wild bull. Wuji barely dodged—but the beast's heavy tail slammed into his side and sent him flying.
His body crashed into a tree trunk with a dull thud before hitting the ground. For a moment, the earth trembled beneath him. Blood trickled from his mouth, yet his eyes remained clear.
"Hmm… The bear's physical strength isn't exaggerated. But this ends now."
His voice was calm. His breathing, steady—as if he weren't under any pressure. The Earth Yellow Bear sensed death closing in. It tried to flee, but...
Too late.
In one blink, Wuji was beside it.
"Ooooooh!"
The bear roared in despair, unleashing all its power in a final charge.
A moment later, its body collapsed on the grass. No one could tell exactly how Wuji struck—but the Earth Yellow Bear was dead.
Silence fell.
Only Wuji's breathing could be heard. The trees gently swayed in the wind. Sunlight still streamed through the leaves as though nothing had happened.
The lifeless body of the beast lay still. Wuji took a moment to catch his breath, looked down the winding path ahead, and resumed walking. There was no time to rest.
A narrow trail twisted through the forest. With every step, the crunch of leaves echoed in the silence. The sun had climbed higher; its rays now pierced through the trees at a sharper angle. The forest's colors warmed, becoming strangely surreal.
Two hours passed.
During that time, several other beasts had attacked—but none posed the threat of the Earth Yellow Bear.
A Crimson Flame Serpent slithered through broken trunks, but before it could breathe fire, Wuji severed its head with a swift, slicing strike.
An Iron-Hunched Monkey with glowing red eyes leapt from a branch—but midway, a sideways Green Sun Palm shattered its bones instantly.
Wuji never even slowed his pace.
Now, a light mist had settled across the forest floor. Sunlight still filtered through the upper branches, casting golden flecks upon the ground—but the silence that followed carried a haunting pulse of life.
Wuji stepped past a thick root when a sharp flicker caught his eye.
From the shadows, a wolf emerged—its fur silvery-gray, body moving like smoke. Its dark green eyes gleamed, and dagger-like fangs jutted from its snout.
Shadow Wind Wolf.
One of the fastest Rank One Mortal beasts, classified in the high tier. Its speed was a deadly threat to even many warriors in the Acquired Realm.
But not to Chiantai Wuji.
He took a deep breath, stepped forward instead of defending.
A quick pivot with his left foot. His right fist drew back, bones charging with energy.
"First Wave... Shaking Mountain Fist!"
He struck.
The air compressed from the blow. A compact yet fierce shockwave shot forward, hitting the wolf mid-air, just as it lunged for him.
Boom!
The sound echoed like stone exploding in a cavern. Bones shattered. The beast's body flew back in a swirl of leaves and dirt, hitting a tree, lifeless.
Silence returned.
Wuji exhaled. Took a few steps forward. But—
His instincts screamed: Danger!
He turned sharply. A razor-sharp sound split the air beside his ear. A thin needle had shot from an unseen direction—but his reaction was just fast enough. The bush behind him withered and turned black where the needle struck.
"A poison needle..." Wuji's eyes sharpened. Had it hit him, the damage would've been serious.
His gaze darted toward the source.
Two men emerged from the forest shadows. Dressed in black, they blended into the trees and gloom. Their faces were concealed behind masks.
They were the same black-clad figures from the morning.
Wuji's eyes narrowed. In one of their hands, a small golden insect shimmered—a Spirit Gold Wasp—a creature used exclusively by professional assassins to track their targets.
Wuji said nothing, simply stared at the wasp. His lips curled slightly.
Calmly, he said, "Assassins…"
One of the men stepped forward. His voice was cold, emotionless. "As expected. Your reaction was flawless." The needle he had fired moved so fast that even mid-level Acquired Realm warriors would struggle to dodge it.
The other man, wielding a thin black sword, smirked. "Just like the rumors. Exactly what we expected from the Son of Heaven."
Wuji raised an eyebrow. That title hadn't been used publicly in years. Now he was sure—something deeper was at play.
He spoke softly. "You know who I am?"
The first assassin stepped closer. "Who doesn't know of the kingdom's great prodigy? The Son of Heaven, Chiantai Wuji. The boy who opened ten meridians at a young age. Though your meridian ranks remain shrouded in mystery, they must be at Earth level—or beyond."
Wuji's eyes narrowed—not in fear, but curiosity. Anyone who knew him this well must have received orders from a powerful source.
He asked, firmly and without pretension, "Who sent you?"
The sword-wielding man smiled bitterly. "It doesn't matter who. What matters is—this is where your journey ends."
In an instant, he drew his sword, slashing toward Wuji's neck. At the same time, the second man attacked with a black chain from the opposite side.
Wuji didn't respond with words.
His right foot slid back. His left palm shot up.
"Green Sun Palm!"
A burst of warm, radiant energy shimmered like sunlight, deflecting the chain. Then with a sharp spin, he threw his right fist forward.
"Shaking Mountain Fist!"
His strike smashed into the swordsman's chest. The assassin let out a grunt but didn't fall—he spun, blade slicing the air, but only the wind brushed Wuji's skin.
The battle ignited.
Strikes. Blocks. Spins. Collisions. Sword. Chain. Martial arts. Rapid footwork. Dust and dry leaves whirled around them in chaos.
All three were fighting at a high level. The assassins were clearly mid-tier Acquired Realm fighters—one in the fifth layer, the other in the fourth. But their coordination was their greatest strength.
Still, Wuji remained calm. In fact, he was almost thrilled.
This was the perfect test for his Martial Will.
His breaths were steady. His mind—sharper than ever. Now was the time.
He stomped the ground. Power surged from deep within.
His eyes glowed. The sky darkened momentarily. A pressure began to build in the air—unseen, yet undeniable.
Martial Will.
An overwhelming force, like an awakened spirit, enveloped him. A faint image of a radiant sun illuminating its world appeared behind him.
"Martial Will...? That wasn't in the intel!" the swordsman blurted, unable to hide his shock. Wuji's power was already monstrous—and now with Martial Will, their mission had become nearly impossible.
The chain-wielding man frowned. The pressure on his mind was tangible. Wuji's Martial Will was clearly affecting him.
Then Wuji struck.
His target: the swordsman—closest to him.
The blow crushed the man's chest. Bones shattered. A gasp—and silence.
The assassin collapsed. His eyes were open—but lifeless. He couldn't understand how Wuji had moved so fast.
But there was no time for reflection.
"No…"
The second assassin screamed. That man was his younger brother. The two had completed countless missions together. Their success rate neared 90%. This assignment—killing the Son of Heaven—had promised immense reward. He never imagined losing his brother here.
He hurled his chain in fury—but it was too late. Wuji appeared behind him like a phantom and snapped his neck with a swift twist.
Silence.
Breathing slowed. Wuji stood, staring at the two corpses. Assassins were supposed to be emotionless. But these two... had cared. Perhaps brothers.
Did it matter?
The air reeked of death. But Wuji's thoughts were elsewhere.
Who?
Who had the power and reach to send assassins of this caliber after him?
His lips moved softly. "Only a few names remain…"
The sun was setting. Its orange rays pierced through the trees of the Starfall Forest, bathing his wounded body in gold and painting the battlefield in light.
But Chiantai Wuji still stood.