CHAPTER 7 DANIEL

“Daniel, have you been hiding your strength?”

Daniel smiled slightly. “If you can hide yours, why can’t I?”

“Daniel, don’t rejoice yet. I haven’t lost to you!” Lu Xuan tried to stand up, but Daniel didn’t give him the chance. He moved very quickly and stood before Lu Xuan, placing his sword at Lu Xuan’s neck.

“You’ve lost!” Daniel smiled, seeing Lu Xuan’s face that could not accept this reality.

“How could I lose to you? Please explain to me how you can be stronger than me? I’m not just a talented disciple, but I also come from a strong background. While you, you have no background, so how can you be stronger than me?”

Daniel didn’t answer. He just smiled as usual. However, when Liu Qingyun was about to announce the winner, an old man’s voice suddenly rang out.

“Fa Wa, why didn’t you tell me there was such excitement happening at your place?”

Fa Wa immediately stood up, frowning. He saw an old man coming with two middle-aged men and a young man about Lu Xuan’s age.

Fa Wa recognized the man; he was the patriarch of the Endless Valley. “Gan Feng, what are you doing here?”

Gan Feng sneered. “I came specifically to see who the winner of your sect’s competition would be. Now let the champion fight my disciple! Xing Han, face him.”

“Yes, Patriarch.” Xing Han did not wait for Fa Wa’s approval; he immediately went to the martial arena.

Fa Wa was very angry. However, Gan Feng stared at him sharply. “Fa Wa, are you afraid your disciple will lose? If you’re scared, just say that your sect’s disciples are incompetent and admit defeat.”

Fa Wa cursed the old man in his heart. ‘Damn, if this old bastard didn’t have a son working in the empire, he wouldn’t dare to cause trouble in my place. I can’t refuse this challenge; if I do, I’ll lose face.’

Fa Wa was stronger than Gan Feng. The difference was, Gan Feng had someone in the She Empire, so he acted arrogantly wherever he went in the She Dynasty.

“Daniel, face him and show your abilities!” Fa Wa shouted to Daniel.

Xiao Tian furrowed his brow at the scene. "Daniel is no match for him; that man has 280 inner strength circles, almost breaking through to a fourth-class warrior."

Ziyan Rouxi seemed to mishear; since when did her adopted brother become a keen observer?

Daniel cupped his hands. "Patriarch, I will fight him!"

Xing Han sneered coldly. "Trash, step forward!" he taunted fearlessly.

Without hesitation, Daniel leaped forward, swinging the sword he held. The blade glowed with a mysterious purple energy.

With swift and agile movements, Daniel launched a series of attacks, both slashes and thrusts. However, Xing Han seemed unperturbed. He dodged Daniel's attacks easily as if dancing among the rain of swords.

Clang—

Daniel executed a fast and decisive strike with his sword, but Xing Han calmly and deftly used his scabbard to block the attack. Xing Han didn't even draw his sword, as if mocking Daniel's efforts to wound him.

On the other side, Xiao Tian felt anxious about the situation. He turned to FA Wa and said, "Grandfather, Daniel is not his match. From Xing Han's attacks, he intends to launch a surprise attack and incapacitate Daniel. This can't be allowed." Xiao Tian's expression was worried while FA Wa pondered momentarily, observing the ongoing fight between Daniel and Xing Han.

"Tian, I know that. But no other student can compete with him under the age of 17. I hope Daniel surrenders before he gets hurt.” Fa Wa smiled bitterly at this one-sided fight. The boy named Xing Han wasn't even attacking despite clearly having greater inner strength; he was merely toying with Daniel.

"Grandfather, let me fight him! I won't let that old man humiliate you in your own Sect."

"Tian, you haven't even trained. How can you fight?"

Xiao Tian looked at his grandfather with sincere eyes, his face full of determination. "Grandfather, Tian will be honest. I often trained without your knowledge. My strength is enough to drive out that uninvited guest!" he said firmly.

Seeing Xiao Tian's serious face, Fa Wa was slightly confused, unsure whether to believe him. His brows knitted together as he observed every detail of Xiao Tian's expression.

After a few moments of contemplation, Fa Wa made up his mind, deciding to trust Xiao Tian. After all, he knew his adopted grandson's character; he wasn't one to joke, especially in such a situation.

Fa Wa nodded slowly, then patted Xiao Tian's shoulder with confidence. "Go ahead! But, if you can't fight him, admit defeat immediately." Fa Wa was very worried; even though others hid their strength, he could see everything. However, he couldn't see Xiao Tian's strength.

****

"Trash, it's time for me to end this fight!" Xing Han suddenly drew his sword and moved swiftly, intending to kill Daniel; he didn't want just to injure him.

However, just as Xing Han's sword was about to reach Daniel's neck and take his life, a shadow suddenly flashed by with incredible speed. Xiao Tian was already standing before Daniel, protecting him from Xing Han's attack. With extraordinary strength, he pinched Xing Han's sword with two fingers, stopping the lethal attack in Daniel's face.

"That's enough! Or I'll teach you a lesson!" Xiao Tian said with a bone-chilling tone.

Everyone in the room was shocked by the young man's sudden appearance. The elders and disciples were stunned; even Fa Wa, Xiao Tian's adopted grandfather, was utterly astonished.

Xing Han furrowed his brow, puzzled by the figure who dared to stop him. He stared at Xiao Tian, who appeared younger than him. But what intrigued Xing Han was the cold aura from Xiao Tian as if it could freeze every soul that approached him.