Volume One: Youth Enters the World Chapter Twenty-Four: Astonishment

When Chen Shiqing saw Fang Tian preparing for another attack, he immediately became guarded, wanting to see what other tricks Fang Tian had up his sleeve. As he watched Fang Tian unleash a new move, a sense of unease crept into his heart. Seeing the white light surge toward him, he hastily enveloped himself in spiritual energy, bracing for the blow—yet nothing happened as he’d imagined.

The attack brushed past him, barely grazing his side. Chen Shiqing was momentarily bewildered.

Did he miss…?

Letting down his guard, Chen Shiqing burst out laughing, then called to Fang Tian, who was sitting on the ground, “Boy, are you playing games with me? I thought you had some new technique, but I never imagined you could actually miss your attack! Truly unheard of!”

Fang Tian, his whole body aching, could only respond feebly, “You’ll know soon enough.”

Chen Shiqing glanced around in confusion, seeing no change in the surroundings. He assumed Fang Tian was only bluffing and strode toward him.

He had barely taken two steps when he stopped suddenly. A chill, sharp as ice in his very bones, crept over him. He couldn't understand it—cultivators were usually resistant to cold, so this sensation was unnatural.

Above his head, faint white light began to shimmer, coalescing into frost and then transforming into falling snow.

In the deep night, snowflakes began to drift down from the sky, but only in the spot where Chen Shiqing stood—a strange, magical sight.

The snow landed in his palm. He examined it closely, but the flakes did not melt. One after another, they settled on his body.

Panic seized Chen Shiqing. Frantically, he summoned his spiritual energy to drive it off, but it was too late. His hands and feet slowly froze, his consciousness slipping away into numbness.

He heard Fang Tian’s final words:

“This time, I’ll let you go. But if there’s a next time, you’ll find no mercy!”

Then consciousness fled him. His entire body was consumed by the snow. A gentle wind swept past, scattering the snow to reveal a human figure—Chen Shiqing, now an ice sculpture, frozen by Fang Tian’s new martial skill.

Fang Tian gazed at the group he had turned to ice, exhaling slowly before lying down on the ground himself.

He murmured to himself, “At last, I managed to use it. I’d thought I would fail again, just like last time.”

Previously, when sparring inside the sword’s inner world with Old Tian, he had tried this move, but could only succeed once—after that, no matter how he tried, it wouldn’t come out. Old Tian had warned him: creating one’s own martial skill was no small feat. If he was careless, a conflict of spiritual energy could arise and backfire, injuring him. He advised Fang Tian to refrain from using it.

Every time he failed, Fang Tian was hurt; it was only thanks to the medicinal pool within the sword that he dared take such risks.

Now, sitting up, Fang Tian reached out with his mind to speak to Old Tian.

“Old Tian, I can use that martial skill again.”

“I saw, Xiaotian. I didn’t expect you’d manage to unleash your self-created skill at such a critical moment.”

“I guess I was lucky. Just now, I was about to ask you to come out and help me, but fortunately I trapped them all.”

“Well, self-created martial skills are not something ordinary people dare attempt. Only you have the nerve and curiosity to try.”

“Heh, Old Tian, this new skill is pretty good, isn’t it?”

“Naturally. Think, how many in this world can create their own martial skills? You truly are a prodigy.”

“Haha! Old Tian, are you complimenting me?”

“Consider it so. Of all the people I’ve met, only those who’ve cultivated to the highest realms can create martial skills on their own. Among the younger generation, it’s exceedingly rare.”

“So there are others, then?”

“Indeed, but such prodigies cannot be found in a place as small as this.”

“All right, Old Tian, let’s talk later. I’m going to withdraw for now.”

“Then you’d best leave this place.”

“Mhm!”

With that, Fang Tian severed the connection. His gaze swept over the ice statues. He left them be and turned away.

As for why he didn’t kill them, Fang Tian felt there was little enmity between them—no need to be ruthless. Better to give them another chance.

As for the ice that bound them, it was meant to trap them for several hours, to teach them a lesson. Besides, he was too exhausted to lift the spell, and even if he did, they would only retaliate.

So it was better to keep them restrained until the ice melted naturally and they could free themselves.

Taking advantage of the lingering night, before dawn broke, Fang Tian dragged his weary body home. If he returned too late, he might alarm many.

As Fang Tian left the clearing, on the other side, the Chen family waited anxiously for news of Chen Shiqing and his men.

Inside the Chen residence, Chen Shikang stood at Chen Yufeng’s bedside, watching over him.

Chen Yufeng was still unconscious.

Chen Shikang’s fists clenched faintly, betraying his impatience. All he wanted was for his second brother to bring Fang Tian back—he had no mind for anything else.

He hadn’t expected his own son would have his arm broken and lie unconscious for days. His hatred for Fang Tian only deepened.

As he gazed out the window, wondering when Chen Shiqing would return with their quarry, a muffled groan sounded from the bed. Elated, he looked over—Chen Yufeng was waking.

Slowly, Chen Yufeng’s eyes opened, glancing about until he saw his father at his bedside. He sat up, asking, “Father, what happened? Why am I in bed?”

“Feng’er, do you not recall what happened before?” Chen Shikang asked.

Chen Yufeng frowned, trying to remember. After a while, recollection dawned. His face, once calm, suddenly twisted in fury as he growled, “Father, I remember! I was wounded by a lackey from the Zhou family—he broke my arm. That’s all I recall. You must help me find him, I want him to pay!”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already sent your second uncle to deal with it. He should be bringing him back soon.”

“So soon? I’ve just woken up.”

“You’ve been unconscious for several days.”

Chen Yufeng was astonished that a mere servant from the Zhou family had left him bedridden for days. Remembering the searing pain of his broken arm, fear and lingering dread flitted across his heart.

He quickly flexed his arm, finding it unharmed—it seemed his father had found someone to set it right.

Thinking back to the events at the restaurant, Chen Yufeng felt something wasn’t quite right. Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he asked, “Father, do you know the name of the one who injured me? I don’t believe he’s really from the Zhou family!”

“I’ve investigated—his name is Fang Tian, a guest invited by the Zhou family. He’s already reached the Spirit Gathering Realm at such a young age.”

“What? That Fang Tian has already reached the Spirit Gathering Realm?”

“Yes. Moreover, I hear he’s quite close with Zhou Xiaodie from the Zhou family. But don’t worry, tonight he’ll be kneeling before you.”

“You mean Fang Tian is here now?”

Chen Yufeng’s question made sense—if Fang Tian was cloistered in the Zhou household, they’d have no chance at him.

Chen Shikang laughed, “Who knows what possessed that boy to wander around late at night? Our men happened upon him by chance. Isn’t it amusing?”

“So his luck really is terrible—couldn’t be worse!”

“By the way, Father, when did Second Uncle go out?”

“Now that you mention it, it’s been several hours since he left.”

“He should be back by now—it’s rather odd.”

“Perhaps dealing with Fang Tian proved difficult. After all, his cultivation is not low.”

“You may be right.”

“Let’s wait a bit longer.”

“Yes, waiting is fine.”

An hour passed. Chen Shikang realized no one had returned. Unease grew within him, making him pace the room in mounting agitation.

He stopped suddenly, turning to Chen Yufeng. “Feng’er, rest here. I must see what’s happened. I have a feeling something has gone wrong.”

Chen Yufeng, sensing the abnormality, nodded quickly. “Go ahead, Father. I’ll wait here.”

Without another word, Chen Shikang opened the door and left. He needed to find out what had occurred.

Knowing where they had gone to find Fang Tian, he set out at once with his men.

A short while later, he arrived at the clearing. Seeing more than a dozen ice sculptures, his mind was thrown into chaos, his eyes filled with utter shock!