They returned home defeated and humiliated that night. Lin Feng's injuries were so serious that Lin Yun had to carry his body as they fled from Xuanyuan Zhen's hut. The house of the village Chief was within the centre of Red Mist Village.
It wasn't just a bigger hut like one would expect. It was bigger and more luxurious than the rest, thanks to money obtained from extortion and tyranny. His cultivation realms at the peak of Foundation realm gave him the qualifications to achieve this. His sons are just cut from the same cloth.
Lin Dong stood outside watching his sons coming home with injuries on their bodies.
"WHO DARES TO HURT MY SONS!!!," he roared with fury on his face. He was eager to kill such a person with all ruthlessness.
"It was that peasant Xuanyuan Zhen Father!," Lin Yun replied with resentment on his face as he clenched his teeth in anger.
"Lin Feng and I went to the forest to hunt a fierce beast. Then the bastard ambushed us when we are exhausted and stole it from us. He injured and humiliated us greatly, saying that our Father the village Chief is an older trash than us. We must make him pay Father."
"Hmph," Lin Dong scoffed at his sons," there's no we here. You can't even handle a peasant boy. Still, the house of Lin cannot be humiliated by some weak peasant boy. Tomorrow, we kill him."
He has a few servants due to his position as Chief. He instructed them to take care of his sons, especially Lin Feng who appeared to be in critical condition.
---
Xuanyuan Zhen saw so many shops and stores, watching the intense activity at the night. He just wondered how much of activity occurred during the day. Maybe the next day he'd find out. He arrived at a store called the Myriad Fragrance Pavilion. All sorts of sales and purchases, as well as conducting auctions.
He went to the receptionist present, a twenty-something year old woman. She wasn't an outstanding beauty, but was presentable and refined enough for the role.
"Welcome to the Myriad Fragrance Pavilion, esteemed guest," she greeted respectfully," how can we help you this evening?".
"Good evening," he began placing the beast hide and other extracted items on the table, "I like to sell these items."
The receptionist inspected the items placed. As a cultivator at peak Foundation Establishment realm, she understood the hardness of the hide of the Iron Scaled Tiger, as well as the sharpness of the claws. They make excellent items for weapon and tool refinement.
"10 spirit stones the hide and another 10 for the claws and teeth," she said. Xuanyuan Zhen agreed, given the value of a single spirit stone.
"Exchange 10 stones for body tempering pills," he replied. His cultivation could not be delayed. She nodded in confirmation, then proceeded to get the pills and spirit stones.
When she returned with them, he received them left the store.
Immediately after leaving the store, he began walking back home. Suddenly, he was surrounded by 5 black clothed figures, all Qi Condensation cultivators.
"That's a nice ring you have there," the leader, at 7th stage Qi Condensation said pointed to the black ring in Xuanyuan Zhen's hand and said."Plus the spirit stones you have."
The rest of the bandits at Qi Condensation 6th and 5th stage tried pressuring him with their cultivation levels. After all, what threat does a Body Tempering realm 5th stage have?
One of them, rushed towards Zhen, trying to attack with a fist. Before the fist landed, it got caught up mid air. He was shocked to find his attack restricted by a mere Body Tempering cultivator. Before he could react, he felt an iron grip on his neck.
With a CRUNCH, Xuanyuan Zhen crushed his neck, then ripped it from his shoulders with a SQUELCH, as blood gushed out splattering on the ground. The rest of the bandits watched with shock as one of their members just died in front of them, killed with ease. None of them had that strength, not to mention a Body Tempering cultivator. Was that even his true strength?
"So...,"Xuanyuan Zhen began as he stared at them calmly. "Are you all coming at me together, or do I come at you."
The remaining four felt anger and humiliation upon hearing the statement. They all rushed towards him. Two came at him from the sides and the other two in front of him. Seeing their charge, he unleashed the aura hidden within him. Purple-golden blood Qi erupted within his body as he readied himself to fight.
The air was thick with tension — four men circling, blades drawn, boots grinding against the cracked earth.
He stood still at the center. No stance. No guard. Just a calm, unreadable silence that made the others hesitate.
Then they struck.
Two from the front — steel flashing — while the other two lunged from the sides.
He moved.
The world seemed to slow as he twisted his body between the incoming blades. His arm shot out like a hammer, catching the first man by the throat. Bone snapped under the grip, a wet crunch echoing as he swung the body like a weapon, slamming it into the one charging from the left. Both went down in a heap of limbs and blood.
The other two didn't even have time to flinch. He was already upon them.
A fist tore through the air and met a ribcage — the sound was sickening, like wood splitting. The man folded in half, eyes wide, before being kicked aside with enough force to roll across the dirt.
The last attacker roared and swung wildly, slashing in panic. Sparks burst as the blade grazed his skin — but that only earned a grin.
He caught the man's wrist mid-swing, twisted until tendons popped, then drove his knee into the attacker's chest. The crack was thunderous. A heartbeat later, he ripped the man's own blade from his grasp and drove it through his neck.
The battlefield fell silent.
Bodies lay scattered around him, blood steaming on the cold ground. His breathing was steady — too steady — eyes burning like a creature that hadn't quite finished killing.
It was the first time he killed a human, but he didn't feel uncomfortable. Years of surviving in suffering has tempered his mind. He walked away from the scene. The bystanders watching the scene were shocked at the outcome, some happy that the bandits were killed and others horrified by the his strength.