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21. Roar of the Dragon

  Elder Shen Mu lunged forward, his Qi-infused palm strike aimed directly at Juwon’s heart.

  The force behind it could shatter boulders, but Juwon remained still. His eyes, dark and piercing, held no fear—only calculation.

  Then—he inhaled deeply.

  A sound unlike anything heard before tore through the arena. A deep, resonating roar, not of man, but of something far older, far more terrifying.

  The Heaven-Devouring Dragon Roar erupted from Juwon’s core, a formless yet overwhelming force shaking the entire sect grounds.

  The shockwave crashed into Shen Mu’s strike, erasing his gathered Qi instantly. His palm, once filled with lethal intent, became nothing but a powerless touch against Juwon’s chest.

  A beat passed. Then, the true effects of the Dragon Roar rippled outward.

  - Half the outer disciples crumpled, their organs rattled from the shock.

  - Inner disciples staggered, covering their ears as some coughed up blood.

  - Core disciples held their ground, yet even they felt an unbearable weight pressing upon them.

  - Elders narrowed their eyes, their expressions unreadable, but their bodies stiff with restrained tension.

  The entire sect bore witness to something that should not exist in this era.

  Shen Mu’s face twisted in confusion. His Qi was gone, his body refusing to move under the sheer dominance of Dragon’s Killing Intent.

  He could see a massive, spectral dragon head materializing behind Juwon, its golden eyes burning with an ancient fury, its maw wide open, ready to rip his head off.

  A primal, ancient fear clawed at his soul, reducing him to nothing more than prey before an apex predator.

  Terrified.

  He tried to step back. He had to step back.

  But a firm grip tightened around his forearm.

  Juwon’s lips curled into a slow, terrifying smirk. His voice was low, mocking.

  “Caught you.”

  Before Shen Mu could react, Juwon’s palm was slowly and calmly kept against his chest.

  Utter silence

  A surge of golden Qi erupted.

  Dragon Claw: Dragon’s Wrath!

  The primordial Qi could not be seen outside of Juwon's hand. However, there was a faint yellow glow inside the elder's torso. Suddenly, a shockwave of raw force exploded from Juwon’s strike, engulfing Shen Mu’s torso.

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  The elder’s body was launched backward like a ragdoll, crashing into the stone ground with a thunderous impact. The elder spat blood. "Ugh"

  Dust and debris scattered as the elder coughed violently, blood splattering against his robes. His chest burned; the imprint of Juwon’s palm seared into his skin.

  Juwon exhaled, lowering his hand.

  “I want you to remember. If not for the respect for Sect Leader, I could’ve taken your arm.”

  Murmurs filled the air.

  The sect had never seen anything like this.

  Shen Mu, panting, forced himself upright. His fingers clenched the stone beneath him, his voice a breathless whisper.

  “I have to kill him… we have to kill him.”

  His Qi surged again, his killing intent fully ignited.

  But before he could attack, a blinding golden flash split the battlefield.

  Sect Leader Zhang Taichen had landed.

  “Enough.”

  The authority in his voice made Shen Mu hesitate.

  Yet, his rage was not extinguished.

  “Sect Leader, do you intend to take his side? How preposterous! He nearly killed a disciple! And now an elder”

  The crowd was split.

  Some disciples nodded, others murmured uncertainly.

  Liang Fei scoffed, his voice laced with disdain.

  “Yes, Sect Leader! How can we allow an outsider to challenge the very foundation of Wudang? He has no lineage, no right!”

  Another voice interjected, calmer but firm. “But is that not what we all witnessed? Both of them fought with deadly intent. Should we ignore that and act as if only he is to blame?””

  Liang Fei sneered,. “So what if they fought? The burden of proof was on him! He had to demonstrate beyond doubt that he is a Celestial Guardian! And yet, no matter how strong he is, he remains an outsider! Are we truly so quick to abandon tradition?””

  Zhang Taichen’s gaze hardened, his expression one of unwavering authority as he stepped forward.

  “You had no place in this fight, Shen Mu.”

  His voice was calm, but showed disappointment. “And I witnessed it myself—the Thousand Phantom Needle. Your own hidden weapon, laced with lethal intent."

  "You intended to kill him from the very beginning. I am willing to overlook this once. But do not test my patience”

  Shen Mu flinched, his face contorting between defiance and forced submission, his pride battling against the undeniable truth before him.

  His fists trembled at his sides, his knuckles white from the force of his grip, yet no words came to defend himself.

  The truth had been laid bare for all to see.

  With a sharp, deliberate turn, he flung his robes with frustration, striding away with fury.

  “Mph… This is outrageous.” His voice, though muttered, carried across the silent courtyard, laced with bitter resentment and humiliation.

  Zhang Taichen turned toward the sect, his voice calm yet absolute

  “All of you—did you feel it? Did you see it? That was no ordinary Qi technique.”

  The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, uncertainty spreading.

  “The kid unleashed a true Dragon’s Roar—a technique passed down to our ancestral guardian by the True Dragon Gods themselves.

  “This is no mistake. No illusion. What we witnessed today is the power of our history—of our legacy. And this boy, whether he willed it or not, has proven something undeniable."

  A pause.

  He let the weight of his next words settle deep into their bones.

  “For centuries, the Guardians have protected this land. They stood beside Wudang, defending its people, preserving its traditions. And now, a Guardian has returned.”

  The silence was deafening. Eyes widened, breaths held.

  “No matter how young he may be, no matter where he came from, it is our duty to uphold their honor. This moment marks a new era. This moment marks a celebration.”

  His voice rose, ringing out across the sect.

  “This marks the return of our Guardian—protector of the mainland!”

  Juwon, barely standing, felt his vision blur. His body had reached its limit.

  He saw the crowd bowing in respect and adoration.

  His lips barely moved as the world faded to black.

  “But I can’t be bound to—”

  His body collapsed.

  And darkness took him.

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