Beyond Virtue

The oppressive mist around the group seemed to thicken as the crow let out another ear-piercing screech. Suddenly, its wings angled sharply, and it dove once more—this time, its talons glowing faintly with dark energy.

Xu Yan noticed the shift in its movements immediately, his eyes narrowing. The crow wasn't aiming randomly; its crimson gaze locked onto him with predatory intent.

"Xu Yan!" a disciple shouted in warning, but the crow was already upon him.

In the split second before the attack landed, Xu Yan shifted his stance. His body blurred as he stepped to the side with a sudden, fluid motion, avoiding the deadly talons by a hair's breadth. It wasn't just speed—it was precision, a movement technique that seemed to defy the crow's calculated strike.

Wei Feng's eyes widened as he caught the moment. "What was that…?" he muttered under his breath. Xu Yan's technique wasn't one he recognized, and its execution was flawless, almost unnatural. But there was no time to dwell on it.

"Now!" Wei Feng roared, snapping the disciples back to the present. "It's vulnerable, attack!"

Seizing the opening, Wei Feng leapt forward, his sword glowing with concentrated qi. The other disciples followed his lead, their weapons igniting with their own energy as they unleashed a coordinated barrage of strikes. Blades of qi slashed through the air, and the forest erupted into chaos.

The crow screeched in fury, its massive wings flapping wildly as it tried to regain altitude. A flurry of blows rained down on it, piercing through its defenses. Wei Feng's sword slashed deep into the beast's flank, while another disciple's spear struck one of its legs, forcing it to the ground.

Despite its injuries, the crow refused to surrender. It lashed out with its talons, catching one disciple in the arm and sending him sprawling. Another swipe of its wings sent a gust of wind that staggered the group. Still, they pressed on, their attacks relentless.

Xu Yan moved closed without notice. When the crow turned its attention toward him again, he launched a decisive blow with the Blood Crushing Fist. His punch landed squarely on the crow's side, the impact resounding like a thunderclap. The crow let out a final, piercing cry as its body collapsed, its movements slowing until it lay motionless on the blood-soaked ground.

The forest fell eerily silent, save for the disciples' ragged breaths. Wei Feng wiped the blood from his sword, his expression grim but victorious.

"It's over," he said, his voice steady. He turned to Xu Yan, his sharp gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than necessary. "What technique was that?"

Xu Yan didn't answer immediately, his face unreadable. "Something my master taught me," he said finally, his tone even.

Wei Feng's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he addressed the group. "Good work, all of you. Spirit beasts in the Feral Spirit Realm are no easy opponents, but we handled it. Rest for a moment, then we move on."

As the disciples began to regroup and tend to their minor injuries, Xu Yan stood apart, his hand unconsciously drifting to the pendant beneath his robes. His expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his gaze.