Chapter 70: One Battle Shocks the City (Part 7)

In the very instant the first realm's gate opened, Yun Che barely heard a faint muffled thud echoing from within the mystical veins coursing through his body. Suddenly, the mystical energy in those veins exploded outward in a frenzy—not merely expanding, but its density surged to astonishing degrees as well. Simultaneously, both the quantity and density of his mystical energy spiked beyond all reason. This utterly illogical state manifested with startling clarity the moment the "evil spirit" gate activated, all within Yun Che's mystical pathways.

And accompanying it was Yun Che's mystical energy going berserk!

As Yun Li and Yun Che had said, the "Evil God Technique" possesses the power of "frenzy"—his mystical energy spiraling into uncontrollable chaos!

The runaway mystical energy surged forth from all fifty-four mystical gates, instantly flooding every corner of Yun Che's being. A terrifying sensation coursed through his mystical pathways and entire body—as if they were on the verge of bursting apart—but it was merely "on the verge," not beyond endurance. Yun Li had said he could barely activate the first realm's "Evil Spirit" technique—indeed, he was pushing it to the limit!

BOOM!!

Wing Fang and Yun Che's fists collided with a solid, ear-piercing thud—no elegance, no artifice, just pure mystical force in direct confrontation!

CRACK!!

A sharp sound of bone snapping echoed through the hall. Everyone present heard it clearly, and no one found it unexpected. Then followed a piercing, heart-wrenching wail...

But that wail wasn't Yun Che's—it was Wing Fang's!!

In that instant of impact, the four fingers besides his thumb on Wing Fang's right hand all shattered, his wrist smashed inward as well. Meanwhile, Yun Che's fist didn't halt—after driving Wing Fang's fist aside with his raging mystical energy, he pressed forward with a devastating blow to Wing Fang's chest.

Wing Fang's protective mystical energy shattered like fragile glass in an instant. He felt his chest crushed by a massive boulder, his body flying backward like a leaf torn by a violent storm, crashing onto the central pillar in the hall with a heavy thud, launched several meters away. He collapsed twisted on the ground, eyes wide as saucers, unable to rise.

The entire hall fell silent as if no bird or beast remained. Everyone opened their mouths wide, unable to believe what they'd just witnessed...

In a pure mystical force clash, a first-level mystic had defeated... and routed a third-level mystic! Not even the venerable elders who'd lived through countless trials could believe it.

Yun Che slowly lowered his arm, centering his spirit and will, and sealed the briefly opened first realm. Instantly, the swelling and stabbing sensations throughout his mystical pathways and body vanished, leaving only a slight weakness. Taking a step forward, he gazed at Wing Fang—who stared back with shock, humiliation, and utter disbelief—and spoke calmly: "I was arrogant because I have sufficient grounds for arrogance. Your arrogance before me only brought your own disgrace. A third-level mystic and a first-level mystic clashing in pure mystical force—you were utterly defeated. Hah, now you know who the joke is, don't you?"

"Y-you..." Wing Fang gritted his teeth, struggling to stand. His right hand trembled from the pain, his face pale as death. He knew that single strike had dealt him serious internal injuries.

The hall remained still and quiet. Most of the disciples from the Seven Sects had fallen completely stunned. Between their sects, they often exchanged knowledge, and they all knew Wing Fang's strength well—especially his "Nine Transformations of Wind and Cloud," enough to make opponents two levels above him scramble in confusion. Yet his "Nine Transformations of Wind and Cloud" had only reached the second transformation, and Yun Che had smashed him into disgrace with a single solid punch.

"Yun Che! You... you actually think you've beaten me!" Wing Fang's anger flared instantly. He clenched his left fist: "Just now, I held back. Otherwise, how could a first-level mystic defeat me?"

He raised his left hand, his mystical technique surging anew, wind vortices rippling around his body. But anyone watching could clearly see this time's wind vortex was nearly half as weak as before—he'd clearly been seriously injured.

"Enough!" The headmaster of Wind Cloud Manor let out a cold hiss: "Fang, you've lost. Get out!"

Wing Fang clenched his left fist even tighter, gritting his teeth: "Master, I haven't lost! I merely held back, letting my guard down. My 'Nine Transformations of Wind and Cloud' had only reached the second transformation. If I'd fully unleashed it..."

"Shut up!" The master's face darkened with fury: "In that pure mystical force clash, did you hold back? Everyone there could clearly see it! A third-level mystic defeated by a first-level mystic—and you're making excuses here? Do you want to add insult to injury for our Wind Cloud Manor?"

Wing Fang's face went pale. He glared at Yun Che with hatred, lowered his head, and walked away.

Yun Che pulled out a low-grade mystical energy pill and swallowed it, slowly restoring his mystical energy. Then he stood again at the hall's center, his gaze proud as he swept his eyes over the Seven Sects' seats: "I've already defeated three. Next one... who'll step up?"

He stood there like a proud monarch, radiating monarchical pride, shouting his royal challenge.

Who would be next?

This was a defiant challenge, a provocation, and a face-slapping affront all at once! For this newcomer from the New Moon Manor had already defeated three of their Seven Sects' disciples in quick succession—and those three weren't ordinary disciples. They were all renowned geniuses of the New Moon City's younger generation, universally acknowledged as geniuses. Yet today, on the very battlefield they'd chosen to taunt and prove themselves against the New Moon Manor, they'd all been routed by Yun Che alone. And the opponent was merely a first-level mystic!

Everyone's gaze on Yun Che had completely changed. Defeating Yuan Xu could be chalked up to his unusual agility and mystical techniques landing a lucky hit. Defeating Yan Ming seemed due to his repeated low-level mistakes. But defeating Wing Fang... everyone saw it clearly—it was a real, unvarnished mystical force clash, and a ruthless, no-holds-barred victory!!

To face a third-level mystic and crush him to that degree, one would typically need at least a fifth-level or even sixth-level mystical force! Yet a first-level mystic had unleashed such terrifying mystical energy. What could explain this? The only possibility was that he'd been deliberately holding back, never allowing himself to transcend, keeping his mystical energy level artificially low, thereby allowing his mystical energy to become incredibly dense. Thus, though his mystical energy level remained first-level, its intensity might rival a fifth-level or even sixth-level!

This was the only explanation anyone could conceive!

Which meant this Yun Che... at sixteen years old, yet possessing strength equivalent to fifth-level or higher mysticism!!

Upon realizing this, everyone was utterly stunned. What an incredible talent and potential! Such gifts, even among the Seven Great Sects, would rank among the absolute pinnacle!

Azure Xue Ru's eyes were ablaze with brilliance, unable to suppress her praise: "Brother Xia, your husband is truly that powerful! Is he really from the same Flow Cloud City as you?"

Though she possessed exceptional talent, by the same age she absolutely could not have achieved what Yun Che had.

"This... this... ah... yes..."

More stunned than Azure Xue Ru was Xia Yuan Bo, who'd already forgotten his own injuries. He knew Yun Che intimately, and seeing him so formidable now, his eyes were practically bulging out, having muttered in his heart countless times: "Brother, you're really that powerful... Brother, you're really that powerful... Brother, you're truly that powerful..."

All the venerable elders of the New Moon Manor, who'd spent years worrying and trembling, were now beaming with joy, eyes sparkling with excitement. Wing Fang's defeat had absolutely showcased Yun Che's overwhelming strength, with no underhanded tricks involved! He'd routed three renowned geniuses from the Seven Sects, humiliating them all, bringing honor to the New Moon Manor. Most crucially, the New Moon Manor had finally produced a disciple with such extraordinary talent and strength. Based on Yun Che's performance and potential, he might one day ascend to the Celestial Mysticism realm!If that day ever came, the entire New Moon Manor would be glorious because of him.

"Venerable Si, is he really our New Moon Manor's disciple?" Two elders sitting beside Si Kong Han asked in unison. Though Yun Che bore the New Moon Manor's seal, and claimed to be a disciple of theirs, they'd now begun to doubt that such a prodigious talent could join their ranks.

Si Kong Han slowly nodded, his smile never fading. He stroked his sparse beard beneath his chin, proudly declaring: "Exactly! He's the grandson of a dear friend of mine. I heard he came here, so he sought me out... hehehehe."

"Oh my! Venerable Si, this time you've truly brought in a genuine genius for our manor!" The two elders exclaimed in unison.

The disciples of the New Moon Manor were even more thrilled. Seeing Yun Che defeat three people in rapid succession, continuing his proud challenge, they—who'd long been suppressed, bullied, and looked down upon by the Seven Sects—felt an indescribable excitement and joy. Yun Che's name and image had deeply imprinted upon them. This young junior brother, newly initiated into the manor, had finally raised his head high in the face of the Seven Sects.

Yet before Yun Che's challenge, none from the Seven Sects had stepped forward.

Among the disciples the Seven Sects brought this time, the highest strength at sixteen years old—aside from the superhuman Xiao Luo City—was peak third-level mystic, that of Wing Fang. Yet Wing Fang had been routed in less than three moves by Yun Che. Others of equal strength would face no different outcome. As disciples of the Seven Sects, they'd been overpowered by a peer from the New Moon Manor—an utterly humiliating defeat! The news would spread far and wide, inviting countless mockeries. No one wanted to bear that mark.

As for those older in age, they dared not step up either. Winning would mean defeating someone far weaker—bringing no glory, only inviting shame. Losing... would be simply disastrous.

As for Xiao Luo City, though he and Xiao Sheng were both sixteen, everyone instinctively overlooked him. As the young patriarch of Xiao Sect's external branch, merely sixteen years old yet already reaching tenth-level mystic, famed throughout the region as the number one genius of New Moon City's younger generation, his aura was unparalleled. Though Yun Che's strength and talent were indeed extraordinary, no one would pit him against Xiao Luo City—that would be an outright insult to Xiao Luo City.

Xiao Luo City sat quietly there, his long fingers gently tracing circles along the cup's rim, a faint, indifferent smile on his lips, as if having no interest whatsoever in what had transpired in the hall.

[After working all day, I started writing when night had already fallen... it seems I owed a chapter still, promised to make it up these two days... Ah! So you can all go to sleep now, and when you wake up tomorrow, you'll find the update has reached chapter 72...]

[I'll adjust the update schedule within a week, so no more late-night waiting for you all... I'm sorry~~~~(>_<)~~~~]