Legend of the Divine Archer

Yan Jin stood at the entrance once again, his breath misting in the air as the familiar cold winds greeted him. It was his fourth attempt in seven days, and each time he had been defeated by the overwhelming power of the storm. His Gwi bloodline, the source of his ice abilities, should have given him the strength to counter the cold, yet the storm froze him to death every time. He had tried everything—his bloodline, his soul energy, and even a combination of the two—but each effort had ended in failure.

Sitting in deep thought, Yan Jin analyzed the situation once more. The Gwi, a nether bird born with cold flames and death energy, thrived on the border between life and death. It didn't make sense that a bloodline attuned to such extreme cold could be overwhelmed by it. His mind raced, trying to piece together what he had missed.

Then it clicked. Perhaps the challenge wasn't about resisting or overpowering the storm. Perhaps the key was in letting go.

He stood up, his resolve renewed. This time, he wouldn't fight the cold. He would embrace it. With a deep breath, Yan Jin stepped through the door again. The frigid air wrapped around him immediately, and the familiar sensation of the cold wind plastering against his skin returned. But unlike his previous attempts, he didn't resist. He let the cold sink into his bones, allowing it to flow through him as if it were part of him.

The storm picked up, becoming violent and sharp as the winds howled around him. Ice shards whipped through the air like daggers, and the blizzard intensified. But Yan Jin didn't try to shield himself from it this time. Instead, he surrendered to the storm's might, allowing the wind to carry him.

His body floated with the wind, the storm lifting him off the ground and pushing him forward. He closed his eyes, trusting the flow of the storm to guide him through. His connection to the Gwi bloodline wasn't about control

—it was about understanding. The cold wasn't his enemy; it was a force of nature, and he had to become part of it.

As the wind swept him through the freezing plains, Yan Jin's senses heightened. He no longer felt the sharp bite of the cold or the sting of the ice shards. Instead, he felt a strange harmony with the storm. His body moved effortlessly with the gusts of wind, dodging obstacles and navigating the endless expanse of snow.

Minutes passed, and the storm's intensity slowly began to fade. He found himself standing on the other side of the frozen plains. He had passed the challenge, not by fighting it, but by becoming one with it.

--

It had been a few weeks since Huang left for the mid-levels of Babel Tower, but the excitement in the lower levels hadn't died down. Under the leadership of Lee Ann, Wei Xi, Zhang San, and Yan Bai, their group quickly became the new center of attention, outshining the once-dominant Miracle Generation. They steadily climbed the ranks, delivering thrilling, crowd-pleasing performances.

Following the instructions Yan Jin left behind, the four found their stride in their new roles. Lee Ann managed operations with ease—her knack for planning and gathering information had impressed Yan Jin, who entrusted her with running the show. On the surface, the three bloodline warriors entertained the illusion of rivalry, while Lee Ann orchestrated the betting, raking in more money than she'd ever seen in just a few weeks.

Zhang San found himself juggling responsibilities between training and managing the Treasure Pavilion. For the first time, he truly understood the burden his sister had carried, and he was determined to support her by becoming stronger. Wei Xi, on the other hand, felt a sense of freedom after Nie Li's death. With his family's mysterious background now coming to light, his focus shifted fully to growing his strength.

Yan Bai remained Yan Bai—his mental state steadily improved. Working with the old man in the blood pool hall gave him a sense of purpose, helping him move on from his past tragedies.

"According to Huang, we'll be leaving the tower in a few weeks," Lee Ann said, breaking the silence.

"Wait, you're coming with us?" Zhang San asked, surprised.

"Did you think I did all this work for nothing?" she replied with a mischievous grin. "But before we leave, we have time for one final showdown."

"What are you thinking, Sister Lee?" Wei Xi asked, sensing they were getting closer to their journey to the eastern region.

"A three-way fight between you," she announced, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

"A three-way fight?" Zhang San repeated.

"Yes! Haven't you all wanted to know who's the strongest after Huang? This is your chance."

"I'm in," Wei Xi agreed with a smirk.

"I've always wanted to wipe that smug look off his face," Zhang San said, pointing at Yan Bai.

"It doesn't matter to me," Yan Bai shrugged, nonchalant as ever.

Lee Ann clapped her hands. "Good! Now here's the plan—I need you all to climb aggressively to build some momentum. Here's how we'll do it..."

After Lee Ann laid out her plan, the group dispersed in different directions, leaving Yan Bai and Wei Xi alone in the room. The air grew thick with tension as the two sat quietly, knowing they had unresolved history between them.

"I heard your clan was wiped out," Wei Xi began, his tone neutral as he sat polishing his spear.

"Yes," Yan Bai responded, shifting uneasily. "My grandfather's greed doomed us all. The only reason I survived is because my master is someone powerful."

Wei Xi paused, his eyes hardening. "He killed Meng Xiao."

Yan Bai's gaze dropped. "I know. He tormented me every day with the memory of her death."

Wei Xi let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "How did we end up here? The Young Master of the Yan Clan and the City Lord's son—both orphaned and on the run."

"The world was never kind," Yan Bai replied, lost in thought. "We were sheltered, coddled into thinking it was. Yan Jin faced that harsh truth before us. I guess it's our turn now."

Wei Xi's expression softened for a moment as he thought about their blind leader. "At least Nie Li is dead."

Yan Bai nodded but his voice wavered. "I miss my grandfather."

"I get it," Wei Xi said quietly. "I'm scared I'll turn out like my family if I dwell on it too much... but I miss them. I miss them all."

"Yeah, your family was a bit... twisted," Wei Xi replied, trying to inject a touch of humor. "Guess you hit the jackpot when it comes to terrible parents."

Yan Bai managed a faint smile. "What do you think happens once we leave the tower?"

Wei Xi shrugged. "I'm not sure. But if we want to stick with Yan Jin, we'll need a lot more strength."

"He's already stronger than my grandfather ever was," Yan Bai said, almost in awe.

"Yeah, chasing after someone like that... it's motivating," Wei Xi agreed, a glint of determination in his eyes.

"It really is," Yan Bai echoed, feeling the weight of the future pressing down on him. Discover hidden stories at m,v l'e-NovelBin.net

The silence hung in the air again, but this time it was more reflective than tense. Wei Xi, leaning back against the wall, twirled his spear between his fingers with practiced ease. Yan Bai stared at the ground, the weight of their conversation heavy on his shoulders. The memories of his clan's downfall felt like a ghost hovering over him, and no matter how far he ran or how much stronger he became, the past was always just a step behind.

"Do you ever wonder what it would've been like if none of this happened?" Yan Bai asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Wei Xi paused, considering the question. "All the time," he admitted. "If our families hadn't fallen... maybe we'd be different. Maybe we'd still be in the city, living in luxury, with everything handed to us."

Yan Bai nodded, but his expression darkened. "Or maybe we would've ended up just as corrupt as them. We were so blind, Wei Xi. All of us."

Wei Xi gripped his spear tightly, his knuckles white against the metal. "Yeah. I think about that too. We were headed down a dangerous path. But now? Now we have a chance to change. A chance to make something of ourselves."

There was a long pause before Yan Bai spoke again. "You think Yan Jin ever struggles with that? He's strong, no doubt, but I wonder how much of that strength is him fighting against who he could have been if things were different."

Wei Xi shook his head. "Yan Jin's different. He's seen more than us, lost more than us. That kind of pain either destroys you or makes you unbreakable. And he's already proven which side he's on."

"I want to believe that," Yan Bai replied, his voice quiet. "I want to believe we can be like him. But sometimes I feel like... no matter what I do, I'll always be tainted by my past. Like I'll never truly escape it."

Wei Xi leaned forward, meeting Yan Bai's gaze with fierce determination. "That's where you're wrong. It's not about escaping the past. It's about owning it. Yeah, our families screwed up. But we're not them. We're something else now. We're survivors. And if we keep following Yan Jin's path, we'll be more than just survivors. We'll be legends."

Yan Bai let the words sink in, a flicker of hope sparking inside him. "Legends, huh?"

"Yeah," Wei Xi grinned. "And when we leave this tower, the world better be ready. Because we're not the same scared boys we were before. We're stronger now, and we're just getting started."

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