Systemless Villain

Long Tian stood alongside the cultivators, gazing at the hundreds of soul beasts pouring out of the red portal.

His expression remained calm, unlike the panicked and despairing cultivators around him. Though there were possibly more than 300 soul beasts, his demeanor didn't waver.

Amidst the collective despair, a sudden tap on his back made him turn. It was Yu, Jian, and Yang.

As they gathered, Yu inquired, "Young master, how do you plan to deal with these soul beasts? Their numbers are overwhelming. Will you resort to using that technique again? Despite the strength of the cultivators here, they've been battling since the portal appeared, they certainly have stamina limits," his tone a blend of calmness and determination.

Long Tian didn't reply immediately, his gaze still fixed on the portal where it seemed no more soul beasts were emerging.

Suddenly, the portal shifted to a hue of blue, eliciting surprise from Long Tian and his companions.

"What? It changed color? What does this mean?" Jian questioned, brows furrowed in confusion.

Yang and Yu were equally curious about the significance of the color change.

"Perhaps it's the final surge, indicating the portal is now accessible," a voice chimed in from behind, prompting Long Tian, Yu, Yang, and Jian to pivot and face Lin Xian'er, who wore a confident smile.

While Yu, Jian, and Yang nodded in understanding, Long Tian's expression darkened. Lin Xian'er had just attempted to manipulate him with her charms, but fortunately, he possessed the fortitude to resist.

Not that he didn't appreciate her allure, but one couldn't rule out the possibility that Lin Xian'er was a sly fox.

"So, that's the theory. How did you come to that conclusion?" Yu inquired.

"Well, I can't say for certain, but I sensed something. My comrades and I have been entrenched in battle here since the beginning, but my senior managed to enter the portal when it was blue. The chaos escalated only after it turned red and unleashed a horde of soul beasts," Lin Xian'er explained.

Yu, Jian, and Yang nodded thoughtfully, finding Lin Xian'er's explanation plausible.

"But the situation has grown dire. If we're left to face hundreds of soul beasts alone, we'll be overwhelmed," Lin Xian'er continued, her tone grave, sweat shimmering on her brow as she surveyed the now-blue portal.

Yu and the others turned their attention to the portal as well. "Indeed, the situation is escalating. Shouldn't the imperial forces dispatch elite reinforcements here? If this continues, the soul beasts will wreak havoc on weaker cultivators elsewhere," Yu voiced his concern.

"Should I reach out to the sect leader for assistance?" Jian offered.

Yu stroked his chin in contemplation. "Hmm, I don't think it's necessary. I doubt he'd send reinforcements; most of them are currently deployed at the Murim border for training," he reasoned.

Jian nodded in acknowledgment. As a lower-ranking member of the Wuxia sect, he was less privy to the sect's internal affairs.

While Yang remained silent, Lin Xian'er approached Long Tian, gently taking hold of his arm. "But with Tian'er here, surely, you can handle it, right? And I'll even reward you," she teased.

Yu, Jian, and Yang couldn't help but blush at Lin Xian'er's flirtatious gestures. They couldn't deny her charm, which even they, with their strong wills, found hard to resist.

However, unlike them, Long Tian furrowed his brow, displeasure evident on his face.

"Haven't I told you not to bother me, woman?" he said, unpleased, releasing Lin Xian'er's hand.

Yu, Jian, and Yang were dumbfounded by Long Tian's reaction. A stunning woman like Lin Xian'er trying to tempt him, yet he responded harshly? It was hard for them to believe.

Lin Xian'er, on the other hand, remained unfazed and continued to smile, embracing Long Tian's arm.

"Come on, don't be so uptight, Tian'er. I lost to your mother once, but it's okay, now there's you!" she said with a wide grin, her cheeks flushed but without any shame.

Long Tian's brow furrowed even more, "You're insane!" he cursed, trying to pull away from Lin Xian'er.

But Lin Xian'er held on tight, refusing to let go.

On the flip side, Yu, Jian, and Yang were completely stunned by the interaction between the two. In their hearts, they were truly envious. Lin Xian'er appeared to be an elegant woman who was hard to approach, but it was surprising that she was clinging to Long Tian. What's more shocking, Long Tian himself was pushing her away.

While Long Tian and Lin Xian'er were still engaged in their subtle argument, Yu, Jian, and Yang could only watch from a distance.

"Let go of me! If I tell my mother, she'll kill you!" Long Tian threatened, his tone menacing.

Lin Xian'er, still holding onto Long Tian's arm, responded with a grin, "Don't worry, I'm sure I'm stronger than your mother."

Long Tian fell silent. His mother had indeed never displayed her strength; she only did household chores and worked in her company. Even in the original plot, her strength wasn't clearly explained.

"Come on, Tian'er, can't you see the beautiful woman beside you? Just so you know, I can cook, take care of the house, cultivate in the nascent soul realm, and I'm a senior at Xuantian Academy," Lin Xian'er said proudly, her tone full of pride accompanied by a confident smile.

Hearing this, Long Tian, Yu, and the others looked surprised. Especially Yu's group, even though they expected Lin Xian'er not to be simple, they didn't expect her to be so accomplished.

On the other hand, Long Tian arched an eyebrow. Lin Xian'er's words seemed genuine, devoid of any deceit.

Before he could reply, his gaze shot upward, widening in astonishment as he spotted a fiery object hurtling through the sky!

Lin Xian'er, Yu, and a few other cultivators, their danger senses heightened, also looked up. Judging by its smoky trail and blazing form, It was unmistakably a meteor!

"What in the world? A meteor?" Yu exclaimed, his voice tinged with seriousness.

Shock and disbelief painted the faces of everyone present as the colossal meteor rapidly descended.

"Run!" a voice cried out, igniting a wave of panic among the crowd.

In a frenzy, many dashed away from the portal's vicinity, driven by a singular goal: self-preservation.

Lin Xian'er instinctively seized Long Tian's arm. "Let's go, Tian'er!" she urged, pulling him along.

With no time to resist, Long Tian followed her lead, fleeing from the portal area.

As panic gripped the crowd, the thunderous roar from the sky intensified, signaling the meteor's imminent arrival. Its origins remained a mystery, but one thing was certain—it was not of natural occurrence.

Meanwhile, the newly emerged soul beasts remained still, their gaze drawn upwards towards the descending anomaly, a sight unfamiliar to them.

With each passing moment, as the distance between the cultivators and the meteor widened, some of the more perceptive soul beasts began to grasp the looming danger posed by the celestial intruder.

The booming sound, coupled with the escalating heat, underscored the imminent peril.

Despite their roars, the soul beasts' cries were drowned out by the approaching meteor's deafening tumult.

A handful of soul beasts attempted to flee from the portal area, but it was too late—the meteor hurtled closer with unstoppable force.

BOOM!

The meteor collided with the ground, unleashing a cataclysmic explosion!

The deafening blast, accompanied by raging flames, unleashed a shockwave that swept across the landscape, propelling fleeing cultivators, including Long Tian, at breakneck speeds.

The scene unfolded dramatically, as the shockwave's reach extended for kilometers, enveloping the portal area and likely claiming the lives of the hundreds of soul beasts within its radius.

As flames raged and thick smoke billowed, cultivators from all corners of Tianzhou city rushed to witness the spectacle. Even from a distance, figures like Long Gongyu and the promising talents of the Long and Xia families observed with expressions of shock and gravity.

"A meteor? Where did it come from? Could it have originated from a soul beast? Given the distance, its point of impact should be near the portal!" Long Jin speculated, his brow furrowed with sweat.

Xia Feng responded promptly, his tone grave, "I doubt it came from a soul beast. It's more plausible that it was summoned by a powerful cultivator!"

"A cultivator? They must possess formidable strength. Any guesses on their identity?" Long Jin inquired.

"I'm at a loss. With numerous powerful cultivators converging here, it's conceivable that this individual hails from a prestigious sect or institution," Xia Feng conjectured.

Long Jin nodded, absorbing the explanation with understanding. Yet, the revelation of a falling meteor left him astonished.

Meanwhile, Long Gongyu maintained a composed demeanor, his arms crossed, as he cast his gaze skyward, where thick smoke billowed. Though intrigued by the meteor's origins, his immediate concern lay elsewhere—he awaited the arrival of a messenger from the Long family.

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