Chapter 4: Clan Patriarch Arrives
The news of Li Wei slapping Elder Sun spread like wildfire across Azure Cloud Academy. By noon, it had already reached the ears of inner disciples; by afternoon, even the secluded cultivation halls buzzed with rumors. Outer disciples flooded the main plaza, forming clusters of excited whispers and exaggerated retellings.
"Did you hear? He didn't just slap Elder Sun once—he slapped him twice!"
"They say the sound echoed across the entire courtyard!"
"Three days ago, he was trash. Now he's terrifying."
"And Zhao Feng hasn't dared to show his face since!"
In a quiet, broken-down courtyard on the academy's outskirts, Li Wei sat cross-legged, seemingly unaffected by the storm of attention surrounding him. Before him floated a small cauldron, faint steam curling upward as medicinal herbs melted into a glowing liquid. His fingers moved with practiced precision, guided not by years of training but by the system's flawless instructions.
The scent of refined pills filled the air.
Inside his dantian, spiritual energy churned like a rising tide. Each breath he took drew in surrounding qi, refining it rapidly. The results were immediate—his cultivation surged steadily.
Qi Refining 7th stage… peak… breakthrough.
Qi Refining 8th stage.
Li Wei exhaled slowly, opening his eyes. A faint glimmer of satisfaction passed through them. In just a few days, he had leapt across stages that would normally take months, even years.
"Status," he murmured.
A translucent panel appeared before him.
Host: Li WeiCultivation: Qi Refining 8th StageSpirit Points: 3100Techniques: Advanced Slap Technique (Upgradeable)
Before he could examine further, the familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[New mission detected.]
[Mission: Face-slap the Azure Clan Patriarch.]
[Reward: 1500 Spirit Points, Intermediate Cultivation Technique, Hidden Boss Title.]
Li Wei raised an eyebrow.
"The Patriarch himself?" he muttered. "Looks like things are escalating faster than I thought."
As if on cue, the sky above the academy darkened.
A terrifying pressure descended like a mountain collapsing from above. The ground trembled. Disciples staggered, weaker ones collapsing outright under the weight of the aura.
A streak of golden light tore through the clouds and slammed into the central plaza.
BOOM!
Dust exploded outward as a figure emerged from the crater—tall, imposing, clad in luxurious golden robes that shimmered with spiritual energy. Behind him stood ten guards, each radiating the unmistakable presence of Foundation Establishment experts.
It was Zhao Tian, Patriarch of the Azure Clan.
His eyes swept across the crowd, cold and merciless.
"Where is the dog," he thundered, his voice reverberating like a storm, "who humiliated my son and Elder Sun?"
Silence fell instantly.
No one dared to speak.
Then, pushing through the crowd, Zhao Feng stumbled forward. His face was still swollen, his pride shattered but his hatred burning brighter than ever.
"Father!" he cried, pointing toward the outer courtyards. "That Li Wei trash dares challenge our clan's authority! He slapped me—twice!"
Elder Sun followed, his cheeks wrapped in thick bandages. His eyes were filled with venom.
"Patriarch," he said hoarsely, "this insolent brat must be executed immediately! He has no regard for hierarchy or respect!"
Zhao Tian's expression darkened further.
"Bring him to me," he commanded.
A ripple of tension spread through the crowd.
But before anyone could move—
"I'm already here."
The calm voice cut through the silence.
All eyes turned.
Li Wei walked steadily into the plaza, his posture relaxed, his expression indifferent. At his waist hung a silver spirit sword, its blade faintly humming. His aura, though only at the Qi Refining level, was strangely stable—solid, even intimidating.
Zhao Tian's gaze locked onto him instantly.
For a brief moment, confusion flickered in his eyes. This… was the one?
Just an 8th stage cultivator?
Then his expression twisted into a sneer.
"A mere ant," he said coldly, "dares cause such chaos?"
He stepped forward, each movement carrying immense pressure.
"Kneel," Zhao Tian ordered, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "and I might grant you a quick death."
Li Wei didn't move.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
"That's interesting," he replied. "Your son said something similar."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Zhao Feng's face turned red with rage. "You—!"
Zhao Tian raised a hand, silencing him. His killing intent surged.
"Very well," he said. "Since you don't understand your place… I'll personally teach you."
Without warning, he struck.
A single palm shot forward, carrying the overwhelming force of Foundation Establishment power. The air itself seemed to compress, forming a visible wave that tore toward Li Wei. The ground cracked beneath its pressure.
Gasps erupted.
"That attack… he's not holding back!"
"He's going to kill him!"
Li Wei's eyes sharpened.
"System," he muttered internally. "Activate Advanced Slap Technique."
[Confirm expenditure: 1000 Spirit Points.]
[Technique enhanced.]
Power surged through his arm. His palm glowed faintly, spiritual energy condensing into a terrifying force.
As Zhao Tian's attack arrived—
Li Wei moved.
PA!!!
The sound exploded like thunder.
Palm met palm.
For a split second, everything froze.
Then—
BOOM!!!
A shockwave erupted, blasting outward in all directions. Disciples were thrown back. Buildings trembled. Dust filled the sky.
When it cleared—
Zhao Tian stood three steps back.
A bright red handprint burned across his face.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Zhao Tian… had been pushed back.
Slapped.
By a Qi Refining cultivator.
"Impossible…" someone whispered.
Zhao Tian's eyes widened, disbelief turning rapidly into fury.
"You… you slapped me?!" he roared.
Before Li Wei could respond, the ten guards behind Zhao Tian charged simultaneously, their auras erupting like flames.
"Kill him!"
Li Wei's figure blurred.
Using his movement technique, he vanished from sight.
PA!
The first guard flew backward, teeth scattering.
PA!
The second spun midair, crashing into a pillar.
PA! PA! PA!
Within seconds, four guards were sent flying, their faces grotesquely swollen, bones audibly cracking.
The remaining guards hesitated, fear creeping into their expressions.
Zhao Tian's fury reached its peak.
"You dare!" he shouted.
Golden energy surged around him, forming the image of a roaring dragon behind his back. The ground beneath him shattered as he launched forward with full power.
The dragon phantom roared, shaking the air.
Li Wei stood his ground.
"Let's see how strong a Patriarch really is."
He poured another surge of spirit points into his technique.
Energy gathered in his palm once more.
The dragon descended.
Li Wei struck.
PA!!!
The dragon shattered instantly.
Fragments of golden energy scattered like glass.
Zhao Tian's body spun uncontrollably in midair before crashing violently into the ground. His robes were torn, his dignified appearance completely ruined.
And on his face—
Another handprint.
Perfectly symmetrical.
Li Wei lowered his hand slowly, his voice calm but resonating across the entire plaza.
"Azure Clan Patriarch," he said, "today I slap your face."
He stepped forward, gaze cold.
"If your clan dares bully the weak again… I won't just slap you."
"I'll destroy you."
The system chimed.
[Mission completed!]
[Rewards distributed: +1500 Spirit Points.]
[Intermediate Cultivation Technique unlocked.]
[Hidden Boss Title acquired.]
A surge of energy flooded Li Wei's body.
His cultivation soared.
Qi Refining 8th stage… peak… breakthrough!
Qi Refining 9th stage!
Then again—
Qi Refining 10th stage.
He stopped just short of Foundation Establishment, his aura now vastly more powerful than before.
The crowd erupted.
Cheers, gasps, disbelief—all blending into chaos.
Some outer disciples dropped to their knees.
"That's not a person… that's a monster!"
"He defeated the Patriarch!"
Zhao Tian struggled to stand, his body trembling—not just from injury, but from something far more unfamiliar.
Fear.
He looked at Li Wei, his pride shattered.
"This… isn't over," he said hoarsely. "The Azure Clan will remember this humiliation."
He turned abruptly.
"Retreat!"
With that, he fled, dragging his injured guards and stunned son with him.
No one dared stop him.
No one dared speak.
Li Wei watched them leave, then calmly sheathed his sword.
Without another word, he turned and walked back toward his courtyard, ignoring the sea of gazes filled with awe and reverence.
Behind him, the legend continued to grow.
And ahead—
Even greater storms awaited.
His rise… had only just begun.