Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: The First Clash

The gathering storm had finally broken. Li Ming, his senses acutely tuned by the Sword Halo, felt the tremors of approaching spiritual energy long before he saw the Humiliation Sect's forces. He had been observing a small, isolated village, one that lay perilously close to the Li Clan's old mining territory—the very area where the ancient evil's influence seemed strongest. The villagers, simple farmers and hunters, were oblivious to the true nature of the encroaching danger, only knowing the fear of the Humiliation Sect's heavy-handed patrols. From his vantage point on a rocky outcrop overlooking the village, Li Ming saw them: a contingent of twenty Humiliation Sect disciples, led by none other than Chen Feng, the arrogant young master who had once mocked him so mercilessly. Chen Feng's face was still pale, his usual swagger replaced by a tense urgency. They were not here for a casual patrol; they were here to search, to dig, to uncover the secrets that Li Ming now understood were far more dangerous than any spiritual treasure. As the disciples began to roughly interrogate the villagers, demanding information about unusual spiritual fluctuations or hidden caves, Li Ming felt a surge of cold fury. Their recklessness, their ignorance, threatened to unleash a catastrophe. He could not stand by and watch. His personal vendetta against Chen Feng and the sect now aligned perfectly with his mission to protect the world from the ancient evil. This was his chance to strike, to protect the innocent, and to send a clear message. He descended from the outcrop, his movements fluid and silent, the Sword Halo a barely perceptible shimmer around his broken blade. He moved like a shadow, weaving through the sparse trees, until he was positioned between the Humiliation Sect disciples and the terrified villagers. Chen Feng, distracted by a particularly stubborn elder, did not notice him until Li Ming spoke, his voice clear and resonant, cutting through the tense atmosphere. "Humiliation Sect, cease your harassment!" Li Ming's voice, though calm, carried an undeniable authority, imbued with a sliver of his nascent sword intent. It startled Chen Feng, who spun around, his eyes widening in disbelief as he recognized the tattered figure before him. "Li Ming?! You… you're still alive?!" Chen Feng stammered, his face contorting in a mixture of shock and rage. "And you dare to interfere with the Humiliation Sect's affairs? Seize him! He's a rogue cultivator, a criminal! "The disciples, though hesitant, drew their swords and advanced. They were mostly at the first and second stages of the Body Tempering Realm, with a few at the third. Individually, they were no match for Li Ming, but their numbers were significant. Li Ming met their charge with a cold, unwavering gaze. The Sword Halo flared, its light now visible to all, a defiant beacon against the encroaching darkness. He moved first, a blur of motion. His Shadowed Edge technique, refined by weeks of intense training and guided by the ancestral knowledge, was no longer clumsy. It was swift, precise, and deadly. He didn't aim to kill, but to incapacitate, to disarm, to humiliate them as they had once humiliated him. His broken blade became a silver streak, deflecting attacks, striking pressure points, and disarming opponents with astonishing speed.One disciple, bolder than the rest, lunged with a heavy saber. Li Ming parried, the Sword Halo absorbing the impact, and then, with a flick of his wrist, the broken blade twisted, striking the disciple's wrist and sending his saber clattering to the ground. Another tried to flank him, only to find himself disarmed and pinned against a tree by a single, precise thrust of the broken sword, its tip inches from his throat.Chen Feng, watching his disciples fall like dominoes, his face paling further, finally understood. This was not the trash scion he remembered. This was a true cultivator, one whose power far surpassed his own. He roared in frustration, drawing his own ornate sword, its blade shimmering with his spiritual energy. "You dare to defy me, Li Ming?! I will personally teach you the price of insolence!"Li Ming met his gaze, his eyes cold and unwavering. "Your insolence threatens more than just my clan, Chen Feng. It threatens this entire region." He lunged, not waiting for Chen Feng to attack. Their blades met in a shower of sparks, the clash of spiritual energy echoing through the valley. Chen Feng was stronger than his disciples, his cultivation at the fourth stage of Body Tempering, but his movements were predictable, his sword intent lacking the profound depth of Li Ming's.Li Ming parried, dodged, and countered, his broken blade moving with an almost supernatural grace. The Sword Halo pulsed, guiding his every move, anticipating Chen Feng's attacks before they even fully formed. With a final, decisive move, Li Ming disarmed Chen Feng, sending his sword flying and pinning him to the ground with the broken blade at his throat. The arrogance had drained from Chen Feng's face, replaced by pure, unadulterated terror."Tell your Sect Leader," Li Ming said, his voice low and dangerous, "to cease his reckless digging. There are things beneath the Li Clan's lands far older and more dangerous than he can imagine. If he continues, he will unleash a catastrophe." He released Chen Feng, who scrambled away, his disciples quickly gathering their fallen comrades and retreating in disarray. The villagers, who had watched in stunned silence, now erupted in cheers.Li Ming stood amidst the cheering, his broken sword still humming with the Sword Halo. This was just the first clash, a small victory in a much larger war. But it was a beginning. He had faced his tormentors, protected the innocent, and issued a warning. The storm was indeed gathering, but now, a new force had entered the fray, a force wielding the Halo of the Sword Dao.