That single sigh, drifting from the depths of the storm, seemed to come from the Ninth Heaven itself—falling into everyone's ears like a thunderclap!
"What was that sound?" someone asked, utterly baffled.
"Did it come from inside that tornado?" Someone looked up, eyes fixed on the swirling wind dragon.
That massive wind dragon had already pulverized the mule cart into dust, and even the flat ground was carved into deep craters by the sheer force of the gale.
Now, looking around, the ground was almost completely leveled, with patches of turf ripped up and tossed aside.
But right at the center of that towering wind column, a faint black silhouette stood out starkly!
"Impossible!"
Miles Wan was closest to the tornado, so he saw everything even more clearly.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the figure inside the gale—standing steady as a mountain!
"Such petty tricks, and you dare call them a mystic art? Just a mere mortal, yet you presume to comment on wind-riding techniques—how laughable, how pathetic."
From within the storm, the boy's clear voice rang out.
Warren Wu's face, deathly pale just moments before, suddenly flushed with color as he gazed over with newfound hope.
Inside the tornado, the youth took a step forward, undaunted by the raging wind!
The next moment, the wind still howled and roared, but now the youth inside the storm soared upward—rising from the heart of the tornado, climbing skyward step by step, his feet treading on the wild gale!
"When I rise with the wind for a day, I soar straight to the Ninth Heaven!"
Evan Lin's tone was calm, his voice utterly serene.
As his words echoed, everyone snapped back to their senses, heads shooting up in astonishment!
There, high above, at the very top of the wind column, a figure slowly emerged from within the storm!
He carried a backpack, his face calm and detached, black hair fluttering, the hair at his temples swaying gently in the wind. Not a speck of dust clung to him—at a glance, he looked like an immortal ascending to the heavens, riding the wind itself!
With his hands clasped behind his back, the youth stood atop the tornado, head slightly bowed, looking down from above at Miles Wan, who stood on the ground below!
"I called your move a petty trick—do you accept my judgment now?"
Evan Lin spoke coldly, every word ringing out like thunder in spring, exploding in everyone's hearts!
"What on earth is going on?" Lucy Lu looked up at the youth standing atop the tornado, her expression a mix of confusion and awe.
"How could this be..." Queenie Tong's pretty face went pale as she stared blankly at the figure suspended in midair, her eyes flashing with confusion, disbelief, regret, and fear!
This kind of power was absolutely beyond what any ordinary person could possess!
Queenie recalled every word that youth had just spoken—words she'd dismissed as nothing but a delusional chuunibyou's fantasy. But now, the scene before her had already shattered her imagination!
"Is that guy even human or is he some kind of ghost?!"
"Oh my god, that's terrifying! That tornado didn't even leave a scratch on him!"
The onlookers were all petrified, craning their necks as they tried to make out the youth's face atop the tornado—but the wind was wild and the distance too great; they couldn't see clearly.
"Petty tricks? I'm the Young Valley Lord of Medicine King Valley! Who the hell are you to come here and challenge my Valley? Are you tired of living?"
Miles Wan's eyes blazed with fury as he rapidly wove hand seals, trying to wrest control of the wind column and crush the arrogant youth beneath it.
But in the next instant, Miles realized he'd completely lost his connection to the tornado!
Miles's face went ghostly pale; once suave and composed, now he looked ready to collapse in the raging wind!
"Irrelevant answer. Punishment is due."
Evan Lin snorted coldly and flicked his right hand—instantly, the wind column beneath him churned with lake water, which transformed into countless water arrows shooting straight at Miles Wan!
Seeing the sudden barrage of transparent water arrows, Miles's face twisted in panic. He dove to the side, trying to dodge, but the arrows seemed almost alive—curving midair to chase him down!
Bang!
A series of dull thuds rang out one after another.
The water arrows slammed into Miles, leaving him coughing blood from his mouth and nose, battered and helpless—he couldn't put up any resistance at all!
Wracked with pain and terror, Miles shot a venomous glare at the youth atop the tornado, then forced himself to scramble up and dash toward the lake.
Just before reaching the water, Miles leapt, diving in like a fish, then shot off toward Medicine King Valley at full speed.
"Trying to run?"
Evan Lin shook his head slightly, smiling coldly. Standing atop the wind column, he gave it a gentle kick—instantly, he soared upward as the massive tornado swept across the lake like a soccer ball.
The raging wind crashed into the lake, sending up countless sprays of water. Miles, who'd been sneaking along the lakebed, suddenly felt a surge of danger behind him. He whipped around, only to see the wind column bearing down like Mount Tai, his face twisting in terror.
But submerged in the lake, Miles had no way to dodge—the tornado slammed straight into the water!
The youth stood calmly at the pier, hands behind his back, gazing indifferently at the lake before him.
A deafening crash erupted.
The fierce wind plunged into the lake, and with Miles at its center, every drop of water within several meters was swept up, leaving a dry zone behind.
Miles, who'd been swimming in the water, instantly lost all buoyancy and crashed painfully onto the lakebed.
Looking around, he saw that the surrounding lakewater had been sucked up, forming four towering walls of water that trapped him inside—a sight that made his heart seize with dread.
Miles Wan turned his head, staring at the youth standing calmly at the pier, his face full of terror. "Spare my life! If you kill me, Medicine King Valley will never let you go!"
"Just let me live! Forget everything that just happened—I'll even personally recommend you to the Valley Master, let you join Medicine King Valley and enjoy a century of our foundation!"
Miles shouted at the top of his lungs, out of options and hoping to stall for time. If he could just get back to the Valley, he could call on the elders or even the Valley Master himself!
By then, even if this youth wielded heaven-shaking power, he'd still end up dead in the Valley!
"You tried to kill me and failed, and now you want mercy? Isn't that laughable?"
Evan Lin sneered, his eyes flashing. Instantly, the walls of water and the tornado seemed to receive a silent order—they closed in from all sides, crushing down on Miles Wan!
The youth—unstoppable, like a rainbow cutting through the sky!