The Chief’s Turn

Xuan Li and the panther were silent, both deep into their own thoughts, when a loud commotion broke their train of thoughts. Confused, they opened their window to check what was going on and saw a large crowd of villagers, the group that tortured Xuan Li. Leading them were a lady and a bearded man.

"Hello, my name is Roman, and I am the head of this village. Sorry for the noise, I just returned and heard that a master is currently staying here." The village chief spoke to Xuan through the open window.

Xuan Li was staring at Roman without saying a single word, making the atmosphere awkward. Luckily, it didn't last long. He closed his window and walked to the exit of the inn they were staying at.

"Ah, yes, I have heard about you. Are you here to try my inheritance?" Xuan Li finally spoke, his hands clasped behind his back.

"So it is true. You will hand your inheritance to the one that kills you." Roman felt quite convinced after seeing Xuan Li. Simply because he did not answer Roman immediately and just stared at him. When Roman first saw Xuan, he felt no mana or QI around him. He appeared like a mortal!

If Li had answered him immediately and showed some form of respect, Roman would find the guy a joke. Yet he made him stand outside for a while and mention his inheritance. Clearly, Xuan Li must have been analyzing his strength just as he had.

If Xuan Li could hear Roman's assumptions, he would break down and start laughing uncontrollably.

"Yes. Do you have what it takes? Lead me somewhere with more space. Don't want your village blown to pieces. " Xuan Li gave a slight smile while maintaining his dignified expression.

The chief led him further away from the village with the villagers all behind. Compared to the previous attempt done by the group of ten, they had to see their chief in action. To them, the chief was the strongest mage! He had united all the surrounding villagers and had never lost against the invasions of bandits or beasts!

The villagers, Eduana, and the group formed a uniform crowded circle around Xuan Li and Roman. The baby panther was close to Roman and Xuan Li compared to the crowd, casually laying down. Everyone knew this panther was powerful despite his looks, so no one dared to move him and let him have his place.

"Well, give it your best shot." Xuan Li simply stated.

'Come on! Don't disappoint me. End this shit of a life. I want to rest in peace.' He thought to himself. Though he may have treated this difficulty to die as a joke, on the inside, every failure just hurt him more and more. It meant that he would have to build up the courage to accept a death blow again, and get over the disappointment of the previous one. . He hoped that this chief had some way to kill him.

Roman wanted to start light. If he used one of his more powerful spells, the villagers might get caught in it.

He motioned his right arm in a semi-circle, creating a green magic circle with a shuriken-shaped pattern in the center. A light green-colored sphere shot out from the magic circle, causing an explosion of dust and debris at where Xuan Li was standing.

Boom!

The villagers were at awe at that power.

'That other guy is a goner!'

'I can't believe he didn't even retaliate!'

'Hehe, that's what he gets for challenging our chief!'

The crowd had mixed thoughts, but all of them were positive to the chief!

They were about to swarm around him and congratulate his win, but another three green spheres were shot out, one after another. It didn't stop there. Roman kept firing those spheres at Xuan Li.

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

The sounds of explosions resonated and the villagers watched in shock. Even the group was impressed by Roman's spell even though they knew it was a level 1 spell.

A large amount of smoke and soil chunks finally settled when Roman stopped his attacks. When it cleared, Xuan Li was lying down against the crushed ground, inside a small crater.

Xuan Li, who had passed out from the green spheres' effects, was jolted awake by the panther sending a small shockwave to him. Luckily, the panther was an expert and made sure to be discreet. All Roman saw was a slight burst of energy inside Xuan Li's body, which he assumed was Xuan Li's power.

Xuan Li jumped back up.

Roman's eyes widened. 'Even if he was powerful. I sensed no defenses nor reflexes from my attack! Yet he looks completely unharmed.'

The truth was, it was not like Xuan Li had purposefully stood there without flinching. It was just that Roman's attack was too fast for him to notice! Before he could think or even breathe, he passed out.

With a cough, "Is that it? I expected a peak tier 2 mage to have more strength than that." Xuan Li spoke out with great authority.

Hearing this, Roman extended his hands outwards, and a green magic circle appeared above both hands and they began to spin the air around them violently. Green colored air began to manifest around the spinning air blades until it looked like saw-blades.

He shot both of them at the same time!

However, when the air blades made contact with Xuan Li, the air stored in the circles wholly dispersed, and the air blades shattered into pieces.

After that, Roman casted more level 1 spells in succession, increasing the air pressure around Xuan Li to make his body explode, sending him as high as possible and letting gravity do its job. A drill of wind was supposed to pierce his skin. Sadly, none of them posed any life-threatening harm to Xuan. All he felt was the bursts of pains before the spells shattered. Except for falling from a high place, though his body was fine, he felt the pain of falling several feet off the ground.

Roman was anxious. He casted another spell, clasping his palms together, he slowly pulled them apart, which created a green magic circle, but this one made a huge compressed air sphere, with green sparks flying out from it.

Everyone, even Xuan Li, could feel the terrifying power from that sphere.

"Alright! This is one of my strongest spells! Usually I wouldn't use this unless I am with a team as it takes time to charge. However, in this situation, I have no choice!"

Roman, seeing that Xuan Li took all his attacks, had enough. It was clear that no half-assed spell would take this man down! He prepared one of his strongest spells whose power was said to be very destructive, once mastered. That's right, it was a spell hard to learn even by tier 3 mages, yet Roman was able to master it as a tier 2 mage. Even though he didn't have the same mana control level as a tier 3 mage, this could be used as a death blow!

Even if someone was a high tier in cultivation or mage, if they don't even bother to defend, they would definitely suffer great damage.

The energy from the spell continued to build up. Harsh winds began to flow around Xuan Li and Roman, blowing the villagers back.

The villagers and the group were trapped by the intense winds blowing at them, unable to do anything from the pressure this spell added on. If this continued, the villagers' lives would be in danger.

"Enough!" Eduana shouted in fury and shot an ice bolt at Roman, piercing his left shoulder. The loss of concentration shattered the spell circle and blew Roman backward.

Xuan Li was surprised by Eduana's actions but then noticed the villagers were gasping for air.

He didn't pay much attention to their states. However his heart was racing, he wondered what would happen if that spell had hit him. Would it have killed him?

Eduana rushed to her husband and fed him a red vial of liquid. Soon after, Roman's injuries were fully healed.

"Eduana! Your stunt could have crippled me!" Roman shouted at his wife's intervention.

"Look around you, Roman! Your stunt nearly risked the lives of the villagers AND our sons! Eduana furiously retorted.

Roman looked around and saw some of his villagers on the floor, gasping for air, fear apparent on their faces.

"I know, Roman! I know this is an opportunity for you to break past tier 2! But destroying our citizens in the process isn't the way!" Eduana hugged her husband. Roman shed slight tears in her embrace.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry." Roman mumbled in his wife's ear. He kissed his wife and addressed his villagers, "I apologise! It was my mistake for causing potential harm to you all. I let my emotions get the better of me! I am truly ashamed to be called your village chief for this mistake. "

He bowed. Eduana bowed as well.

"I am sorry for my husband's actions."

Their two sons joined them. " We are sorry for our father's actions."

The villagers were speechless and clueless about what to do.

"A-ah, please, stand up! It's okay chief!" Someone from the crowd called out.

"U-uh yeah! Chief, we are at fault for coming!"

"Yea! We were just holding you back. Please don't apologize. You're our mighty chief!"

The villagers cheered for their chief to continue what he started.

"Oh dear, they love you too much," Eduana sighed while looking at her husband.

"Ahaha, without you, I would have never become so popular." Roman laughed lightly.

The atmosphere between the villagers and chief were brightening up until a loud cough sounded.

"Uh, sorry to ruin the moment. But are you giving up on the inheritance?" Xuan Li spoke out. He did not care for this joyful atmosphere and the loving gaze from the chief and his wife. It made him hurt seeing them cheerful.

"Ah, yes, sorry about that. However, I giv-" Roman awkwardly laughed.

"Yes, give us a moment. We will continue, just need to move the others to a safe place." Eduana butted in before Roman finished his sentence.

Eduana told the villagers to move behind them instead of the circle they made before. The villagers followed and proceeded to walk behind them. Roman wanted to say something but was shut down by his wife.

"Dear, let's continue. I heard when the kids tried. They teamed up. I know this means a lot to you, so...let's work together and use 'that' to kill him. 'That' will surely work." Eduana encouraged Roman.

He thought about it.

"Are you sure...you'll reveal yourself." He wanted to double-check his wife's words.

"Yes. This could be your chance, Roman." Eduana answered with a fire burning in her eyes.

Roman nodded.