The silence between them grew heavy.
Neither moved at first.
But the tension had already shifted.
The man's expression was no longer calm. His eyes were sharper now, focused entirely on Xu Tian.
"…You think this is over?" he asked quietly.
Xu Tian didn't answer.
He simply stood there, steady and composed.
That alone was enough.
The man exhaled slowly.
Then something changed.
The air around him tightened, not wildly, but with control. The pressure became deeper, more concentrated than before.
Xu Tian felt it immediately.
"…So you were holding back," he thought.
The man raised his hand again.
This time, the energy gathering around him was different. Denser. More refined. Even the snow at his feet shifted slightly without being touched.
Xu Tian's gaze sharpened.
"…Good."
The next moment, the man moved.
Faster than before.
Not just speed, but precision.
Xu Tian reacted, but this time he was a fraction too late.
The strike came from the side.
He turned, but the impact still landed against his shoulder.
A sharp force pushed him back.
His feet slid across the ground before he stopped.
Xu Tian steadied himself.
The difference was clear.
"…Stronger," he murmured.
The man didn't pause.
He pressed forward immediately.
Another strike followed, then another.
Each one sharper, more controlled.
Xu Tian adjusted.
Step.
Turn.
Block.
But now he was being pushed back.
Not overwhelmed, but pressured.
The people watching had already retreated further. No one dared to get close.
Xu Tian's breathing remained steady.
His eyes stayed focused.
"…So this is your real strength."
The man didn't respond.
He attacked again.
A direct strike.
Xu Tian didn't dodge this time.
He stepped forward instead.
Their attacks collided.
A stronger impact echoed.
Xu Tian held his ground.
This time, he didn't move.
The man's eyes flickered slightly.
Xu Tian saw it.
That small hesitation.
He moved.
Fast.
His counter came instantly.
The energy inside him surged.
Clear.
Controlled.
His strike landed.
The man stepped back.
One step.
Then another.
The balance shifted again.
Xu Tian pressed forward.
Not rushing.
Not reckless.
Precise.
Each movement deliberate.
The man tried to regain control, adjusting his stance, redirecting the flow of the fight.
But it was slipping.
Xu Tian's next strike came faster.
The man blocked, but the force still pushed him back.
Snow scattered beneath his feet.
His expression tightened.
"…Impossible," he muttered.
Xu Tian didn't stop.
He stepped in again.
Closing the distance completely.
Now there was no space left between them.
The man tried to strike once more.
Xu Tian moved first.
His hand rose.
Then stopped.
Right in front of the man's throat.
Everything froze.
The wind passed through the settlement, cold and sharp.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The man's breathing grew uneven.
He understood.
If Xu Tian continued, it would end here.
Xu Tian's gaze remained calm.
"…Enough," he said.
The word was quiet, but absolute.
Slowly, Xu Tian lowered his hand.
But he didn't step back yet.
"…Take your people and leave," he said.
The man didn't answer immediately.
He looked at Xu Tian, as if trying to understand something.
Then he stepped back.
One step.
Then another.
The tension broke.
The other two cultivators moved closer to him, but they didn't attack.
Not anymore.
"…We'll remember this," the man said.
Xu Tian remained calm.
"That's fine," he replied.
The three turned and left.
This time without hesitation.
Without looking back.
The settlement stayed silent even after they disappeared.
Xu Tian stood there for a moment longer.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"…That's enough."
He adjusted the children in his arms.
Then turned toward the path ahead.
The world was no longer something he needed to avoid.
Now, it was something he could walk through without hesitation.
And anyone who stood in his way would think twice.