The pressure tightened.
Heavier than before.
Sharper.
Focused entirely on Xu Tian.
Five opponents.
One leading.
All moving as one.
Xu Tian stood still for a brief moment.
Not retreating.
Not advancing.
His breathing slowed.
The world around him seemed to quiet.
"…Closer," he thought.
The energy inside him was different now.
Not unstable.
Not unfamiliar.
It was gathering.
Aligning.
Waiting.
The next attack came.
Fast.
Precise.
From multiple directions.
Xu Tian moved.
But this time, something changed.
His movements were no longer just reactive.
They were guided.
Each step came naturally.
Each turn precise.
He avoided the first strike.
Redirected the second.
Blocked the third.
Without hesitation.
Without wasted motion.
The cultivators noticed immediately.
Their expressions shifted.
"…He changed," one of them said.
Xu Tian didn't respond.
His focus deepened.
The energy inside him surged again.
Not outward.
Inward.
Condensing.
Sharpening.
The man in the center stepped forward.
His presence pressed down harder.
Trying to suppress.
To control.
Xu Tian felt it.
Clear.
But it no longer slowed him.
"…Not enough," he said quietly.
The next moment-
He moved.
Faster than before.
Cleaner.
Smoother.
His strike landed.
The cultivator in front of him failed to block in time.
The impact pushed him back several steps.
Shock flashed across his face.
Xu Tian didn't stop.
He stepped forward again.
Closing the gap instantly.
Another strike.
Another impact.
The formation began to break.
The others reacted quickly.
Trying to recover.
But they were a step too slow.
Xu Tian's movements had changed completely.
The energy inside him flowed without resistance.
Each motion carried more weight.
More control.
The man in the center narrowed his eyes.
"…You broke through," he said.
Xu Tian didn't deny it.
He felt it clearly.
The barrier that had held him back-
Was gone.
Xu Tian stepped forward again.
The pressure around him no longer felt overwhelming.
It felt manageable.
Predictable.
The next attack came.
Xu Tian didn't dodge.
He met it directly.
Their forces collided.
This time-
The opponent was pushed back.
Not him.
Silence followed.
Just for a moment.
Xu Tian's gaze remained steady.
"…Now it's my turn."
He moved again.
Fast.
Decisive.
The nearest cultivator tried to block.
Too late.
Xu Tian's strike landed cleanly.
The man was thrown back, falling hard onto the ground.
He didn't get up.
The others froze.
Only for a moment.
Then they attacked again.
Together.
Stronger.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Into them.
His movements were fluid.
Unstoppable.
Each strike precise.
Each impact controlled.
One by one-
They were forced back.
The formation collapsed completely.
The man in the center stepped forward.
His expression no longer calm.
"…Enough," he said.
Xu Tian stopped.
Just slightly.
Their eyes met.
The air between them grew heavy.
Not with pressure.
But with intent.
The man exhaled slowly.
Then lowered his hand.
"…We're leaving," he said.
The others hesitated.
But didn't argue.
They understood.
Xu Tian's gaze didn't change.
"…Good."
The man looked at him one last time.
"…This isn't over."
Xu Tian didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
The five turned and left.
This time, without hesitation.
Without resistance.
The settlement fell silent once more.
Xu Tian stood still.
The energy inside him settled.
Calm.
Controlled.
Stronger.
"…So this is it," he murmured.
Not the end.
Just the beginning.
He adjusted the children in his arms.
Then looked toward the distant horizon.
The world ahead felt wider now.
Less unknown.
More within reach.
And this time-
He was ready to face it.