The emerald light wrapped around Li Wei as he plummeted from the rooftop, a streak of jade fire against the violet sky. Wind howled past his ears. The air trembled with spiritual resonance, vibrating as if an immortal blade was cutting through the heavens themselves.

Below, the plaza erupted in shocked cries.

"WHAT—!"

"From the roof!"

"Someone's descending—gods, what kind of speed is that?!"

"IT'S HIM! THE THIEF!"

"LI WEI!"

The jade platform flared as formation masters reacted instinctively, channeling qi into the binding arrays. Arrows were already notched. Spears raised. The execution slaves jerked their heads upward, hope and terror mingling in their wide eyes.

Han Zhuo's expression twisted into surprise, rather outrage before his face settled into a sneer.

"Fool," he spat, spreading his stance as soldiers formed ranks behind him. "You descend into the tiger's jaws willingly."

Magistrate Yun rose halfway from his balcony seat, eyes narrowing to slits of gold.

Steward Huo leaned forward like a viper sighting prey.

But Li Wei was no mere morsel.

He struck the ground like meteorite.

BOOM!

A crater spread beneath his feet, shockwaves rippling across the plaza. Dust and jade fragments danced around him in a whirlwind of emerald qi.

For a heartbeat, everything froze.

Even the drums stopped.

Then, slowly and deliberately.

Li Wei raised his head, while his eyes shone like burning torches. "Magistrate Yun," the young man spoke up, voice calm as the winter frost, "you have three breaths to release those prisoners."

A wave of whispering panic swept through the plaza.

"Three breaths? Does he think he's an immortal?!"

"That is Magistrate Yun!"

"He must be mad!"

"No… look at his Martial aura. That man isn't bluffing."

Han Zhuo stepped forward, veins bulging with suppressed fury.

"Li Wei," he spat, "you come alone, and you dare—"

Li Wei raised a hand.

Han Zhuo's words died in his throat as a crushing pressure descended abruptly, clean yet omnipresent. It rapidly spread across the jade platform as several guards staggered just to keep their balance, while two weaker formation apprentices collapsed to their knees.

Even Magistrate Yun's eyebrows twitched.

Li Wei's voice cut through the air again "I was not speaking to you." The humiliation was like being slapped in front of the entire city, Han Zhuo's qi flared in fury.

Li Wei did not spare him a glance as his gaze remained fixed on Yun.

Three breaths.

Yun lifted his cup of tea again. His expression remained tranquil, almost amused. "I see," the magistrate murmured. "So you have chosen the path of bravado."

Li Wei's tidy garments fluttered in a wind that came from nowhere, while emerald sparks danced along the edge of his sleeve. "No," he replied quietly. "I have chosen the path few traverse."

He shifted his stance. The emerald compass floated beside him, spinning wildly. "Your time is nearly up."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Yun raised a brow. "You believe you can defeat an entire city?"

Li Wei's eyes narrowed. "I will uproot your entire clan if need be"

Han Zhuo snapped.

"SOLDIERS! ENTER FORMATION! KILL HIM!"

Forty armored cultivators surged forward, spears thrusting in unison.

But Li Wei, did not even move.

The young master closed his eyes.

His hair lifted slightly, as if stirred by unseen currents. A pylon of emerald qi blossomed around him like lotus petals opening beneath the dawn.

Then he stepped forward.

Just once.

The world convulsed.

[Empyrean Step – Severing Heaven's Veil]

His body flickered before vanishing in plain sight and reappeared ten meters away, standing behind the first row of soldiers.

They didn't even have time to scream, As a single sweep of Li Wei's sleeve unleashed a ripple of concentrated qi that struck their armor like a hammer forged of stars.

CRACK.

CRACK.

CRACK.

Twenty soldiers soared backward, crashing into formation pillars, smashing lantern stands, spilling over chained prisoners. Their spears shattered like bamboo stalks struck by lightning.

Han Zhuo's eyes bulged.

"What—WHAT LEVEL IS THIS?!"

"That technique—impossible—no human can move like that!"

"Is he a demon?!"

"No… that's not demonic. That's pure spiritual force…"

Li Wei took another step.

Two breaths exhausted.

Yun's smile faded.

Steward Huo flicked his wrist in panic. "Activate the binding array!"

Formation masters scrambled, channeling their qi. The jade platform pulsed with ancient symbols, summoning chains of golden light that shot toward Li Wei.

Li Wei didn't even have the time to dodge.

His compass flared.

[Emerald Heart Compass — Reversal of Binding]

The golden chains twisted in midair and wildly whipped around, before lashing toward their casters.

Formation masters screamed as their own arrays ensnared them, slamming them into the platform floor.

Yun's teacup cracked in his hand.

Li Wei walked forward, steps slow, steady.

"I have given you more than three breaths," he said. "Time is up."

Han Zhuo roared like a beast.

"YOU ARROGANT BASTARD!"

He leapt from the platform, spear bursting with crimson qi. His killing intent shook the air, the pressure fierce enough to make weaker cultivators faint instantly.

Li Wei continued walking forward "You killed fifty of my men!" Han Zhuo screamed, thrusting his spear.

Li Wei lifted two fingers. The spear's crimson edge met his fingertips.

Han Zhuo's eyes widened in horror.

The spear screeched—cracked—

SNAP.

Li Wei broke the weapon in half like a twig.

Han Zhuo stumbled backward. "What—what are you—"

Li Wei appeared behind him. "How many have you killed in the name of your magistrate?"

Han Zhuo swung his fist wildly.

Li Wei caught it gently, like a man aiming to assist instead of harm.

But then—

CRACK.

Han Zhuo's arm shattered like twigs in autumn.

He screamed, collapsing to one knee. The plaza watched, paralyzed.

Li Wei's voice remained cold.

"You used fear and suffering to control these people. I will return that pain with interest"

He raised his palm—

—but paused.

Not out of mercy.

Out of contemplation.

Killing Han Zhuo now would draw Yun's true forces prematurely and there were still innocents bound on the stage. The formation was still active, unstable from reversed bindings.

He couldn't risk triggering the slaughter.

So he closed his fist and struck Han Zhuo's chest. It certainly lacked any killing force, but the damage to the internal organs was not minor.

Han Zhuo vomited blood, collapsing unconscious, heartbeat slowing but alive.

Gasps spread through the crowd.

Li Wei turned back toward Yun.

"I gave you three breaths. Yet you send your lackey to do the job? Pathetic...."

Magistrate Yun finally stood.

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