Chapter 153: Echoes of the Phantoms, Elder Xuan's Offer
Silence fell over the desolate road. Dust drifted lazily across the ground, and even the wind had gone still.
The remaining Phantoms stared at their leader's body—crumpled on the earth, mangled beyond recognition, blood pooling in the dust. Then their gazes shifted to the young man still seated on the white horse. His golden eyes gleamed with icy indifference, one hand resting lightly on his sword hilt, azure robes swaying gently in the breeze. Though his face was partially concealed by a mask, his youthful build and the smooth skin visible around his eyes marked him as someone sixteen or seventeen.
"This—" They glanced at each other, shock rippling through their ranks.
"Kid! Do you have any idea what you've done?!" one of them shouted, voice cracking with rage.
Su Tianhao looked down from his horse, expression utterly indifferent. "He tried to kill me first. I only returned the favor."
"Hmph! You bastard!" another Phantom spat. "If our squad leader wanted to kill you, you should have just stretched out your neck and accepted your fate. At least then you'd have gotten a quick death. Now you're going to suffer far worse."
"What kind of logic is that?" Su Tianhao's gaze turned cold, his presence radiating terrifying killing intent that fell upon the remaining Phantoms like a foreboding mountain.
"W-What are you trying to do?" The Phantoms' voices trembled despite the defiance in their eyes.
Hmph.
Su Tianhao snorted, sparing them no words.
"Remember this—we will find you. And when we do, we'll make you wish you were never born!"
Before Su Tianhao could even respond, the Phantoms activated their movement techniques, their figures dissolving like shadows scattered by light.
Su Tianhao's brows furrowed as he watched them flee, but he made no move to pursue—it was useless. Though his swordsmanship was devastatingly swift, his raw movement speed couldn't match their specialized techniques. Not because he was inferior—far from it. Simply because he had yet to cultivate a proper movement technique of his own.
'I've delayed long enough,' he thought, jaw tightening. 'I have to change that.'
Just then, the carriage guards snapped out of their daze, expressions cycling through shock, disbelief, and grudging intrigue.
Captain Kang stepped forward, but before he could speak, the carriage door slowly swung open and an elderly figure emerged.
An old man with a single long silver braid trailing down his back. Though his hair was grey and his shoulders carried the weight of years, his body pulsed with vibrant, youthful energy—his face remarkably smooth, only the faintest lines hinting at his age. His eyes were bright and steady, carrying the calm, all-seeing quality of someone who had walked countless paths.
"Elder Xuan!"
Captain Kang exclaimed, barely masking his alarm. The surrounding guards were equally stunned, quickly offering deep bows of respect.
Their reaction was not unfounded. Elder Xuan—Wang Xuan—was the First Elder of the Wang Mansion, a force inferior only to the three great sects and the imperial family. He was a direct descendant of the Wang family and the Patriarch's closest friend, he commanded absolute authority within the household. Even their young miss called him Uncle.
"Elder Xuan, what concerns you that you must personally intervene? Please—allow this humble servant to assist," Captain Kang said, voice heavy with reverence.
"Be at ease, Captain. I'm only interested in that young man." Elder Xuan's gaze settled on Su Tianhao, a friendly smile playing at his lips.
Murmurs rippled through the surrounding guards. Captain Kang's eyes went wide.
"What is your name, young hero?" Elder Xuan called across the distance, his voice calm and measured yet carrying clearly.
Su Tianhao didn't answer immediately. He could already sense where this was heading. Without a word, he tightened the reins and calmly guided his horse forward, stopping before the carriage.
"This one is called Tian Hao," he said, expression unreadable.
He had decided on an alias rather than his real name. Tian Hao was clean, simple and unique. More importantly untraceable—the first option that came to mind.
"Tian Hao... What a powerful name," Elder Xuan said with a knowing smile.
Su Tianhao held his gaze, making no effort to conceal his impatience.
"Where are you headed, Tian Hao?" Elder Xuan asked, seemingly unbothered by the boy's attitude—which visibly stunned the surrounding guards. Elder Xuan was a man of little tolerance, known within the Wang Mansion for disciplining even their finest talents without hesitation. The only person who received his patience unconditionally was their young miss. Everyone else was subject to his scolding and correction.
"Cloudrise City," Su Tianhao answered, sensing no malicious intent. "I have business there."
"What a coincidence—so do we." Something flickered in Elder Xuan's eyes. Interest, perhaps. Or quiet calculation. "Why don't we travel together?"
"No," Su Tianhao said without hesitation. "I'm better off on my own."
"Who are you to refuse Elder Xuan's good intentions?!" Captain Kang snapped with barely restrained fury. "Clearly you don't know what's good for you! Do you have any idea who Elder Xuan is? It's an honor just to be offered passage!"
"Enough."
Elder Xuan's voice cracked through the air like a single roll of thunder—calm in tone but carrying the full weight of absolute authority. Captain Kang sealed his mouth instantly. The murmurs around them died.
Elder Xuan let the silence hold for a moment before turning back to Su Tianhao, his expression shifting into something more measured.
"Don't be so quick to refuse, young man. The man you killed was a member of the Phantom Blade Faction. Though only a low-ranking member, their organization does not let debts go unanswered—they will pursue you until the matter is settled."
"I already know that," Su Tianhao said calmly. "I could tell from their expressions they had no intention of letting this go."
"Then why not travel with us where you'd have protection?" Elder Xuan's brow furrowed slightly. "The Phantoms have means of relaying information very quickly. With their Young Lord currently stationed in Cloudrise City, this incident has very likely reached him already. He will be sending people."
"There's no way they could relay information that quickly," Su Tianhao said, unconvinced.
"Oh? What if they used a voice transmission token?"
"A voice transmission token?!" Su Tianhao repeated, stunned.
Although he hadn't seen one, he was far from unfamiliar with the concept. His inherited memories covered it clearly. A voice transmission token was a specialized device operating through paired inscriptions, allowing two parties to communicate across vast distances—limited only by the token's grade. Even the lowest grade could reach across dozens of kilometers. More than enough to relay everything that had just happened.
His expression darkened.
Elder Xuan pressed on, seeing the shift. "Though I cannot see through your concealment technique, I can estimate your level. Given your age and the absence of spiritual energy attacks during that exchange—I'd say Peak-stage Martial Adept, at most."
Su Tianhao's lips twitched slightly—a subtle reaction, but visible to eyes as experienced as Elder Xuan's.
The guess wasn't entirely accurate. He was only at the 1st level Martial Adept Realm. But with the Supreme Dragon Transformation Technique and Shadow-Splitting Flash combined, his true combat power rivalled even Peak-stage Martial Adepts. Elder Xuan had read the surface correctly, if not the depth.
The elder felt quietly vindicated.
"Look, Tian Hao—reaching Peak-stage Martial Adept at your age shows you are a rare genius. But if you travel alone and are ambushed by the Phantoms, you'll die before ever reaching your true potential." Elder Xuan's voice carried genuine weight. "That is something I do not wish to see."
Su Tianhao could sense the sincerity behind those words. The man had no reason to deceive him. And refusing now would be foolish—this was a matter of survival, not pride.
"Thank you, Elder Xuan." Su Tianhao cupped his fists and offered a subtle bow. "This Tian Hao will be in your care."
"Good." Elder Xuan nodded with evident satisfaction, then turned to the guards. "One of you—see to Tian Hao's horse."
Without waiting for a response, he gestured toward the carriage. "Come with me."
Su Tianhao nodded once. He adjusted his posture in the saddle, then swung down gracefully—long black hair and azure robes catching the breeze as his feet met the ground.