Chapter 78: Crippled!

It was said that Xiao Luo City had dug its own grave, seeking death for itself, and there was no injustice in it at all.

Had he managed to keep sufficient calm and wariness in his clash with Yun Che, rather than relying on his size, mocking, and an arrogant, careless posture, he would have immediately detected the terrible nature of Yun Che's "Shooting Star" technique and instantly evaded it with the sect's martial arts and mystical techniques.

Even should he fail to evade, he would immediately employ all his mystical energy to shield himself.

With his mystical energy surpassing Yun Che by nearly a full level, Yun Che's strike would likely not inflict serious injury, at least not as severe as it had already done, leaving him barely short of death.

And then, with Yun Che's mystical energy entirely drained, he would be left vulnerable, ripe for being cut down.

But there were no such things as "if" in this world.

Xiao Luo City was clever enough, its cunning deep enough, this much was undeniable.

Yet he had to face Yun Che.

Yun Che had lived through two lifetimes, experiencing countless battles, life and death, escapes, and schemes, far more than Xiao Luo City.

In terms of scheming and manipulating hearts and minds, Xiao Luo City was outstanding among his peers, but before Yun Che, he was not even worthy of being brushed off.

From the start, Yun Che displayed a clear madness, a madness so extremely confident and arrogant as to be almost blind to the world.

Even facing the Seven Sects, he remained unyielding in his arrogance, offending the Seven Sects almost entirely.

In anyone's eyes, his arrogance naturally stemmed from his astonishing talent at such a young age, and at the same time, it inevitably gave rise to an impression of him being overly arrogant, reckless, and lacking in caution and discretion.

Yun Che had already fought five battles, deepening this impression each time, confirming that while he was a genius, he was still too young, bearing the typical youthful impulsiveness and arrogance of most, utterly lacking in cunning and subtlety.

Almost everyone held this view, including Xiao Luo City.

Moreover, upon his emergence, his impression of Yun Che was not only arrogance and pride but also an overbearing ignorance and foolishness, further intensifying his contempt, even regretting his decision to strike out against such a "fool."

Thus, from the moment he clashed with Yun Che, he had not the slightest caution or wariness toward him.

Guided silently by Yun Che, in his second attack, he never even considered evasion or defense, and boldly met him head-on, exerting seven-tenths of his strength to knock him out.

When his fist met Yun Che's, he felt something was amiss—it was already far too late.

"Less... the Patriarch!!!"

After a deathly silence, a terrified shout erupted, followed by the middle-aged man accompanying Xiao Luo City scrambling toward him, the other disciples of the Xiao Sect rushing after him in a panic.

Upon reaching Xiao Luo City, they gazed at his wounds up close, the middle-aged man trembling, his hand flying to Xiao Luo City's wrist, his face changing dramatically.

He suddenly turned his head toward Yun Che, his expression grotesque: "You little brat, I... I'll kill you!!!"

The middle-aged man exuded a fierce, murderous aura, letting out a roar, charging toward Yun Che, his right hand like a hook, aiming straight for his neck, his immense mystical energy shaking the entire hall.

But Yun Che was already too weak to stand, let alone fight.

Even in his full strength, he could not possibly survive that strike.

"Hold on!!!"

A mighty shout, another figure leapt from the seat like an eagle, soaring toward the middle-aged man, a vast mystical energy exploding, sending the man flying far away.

That figure landed and stood before Yun Che—it was Qin Yougu, the new abbot of the New Moon Academy.

Looking at Qin Yougu standing protectively before him, Yun Che nodded knowingly.

He knew that, with his performance today, Qin Yougu would, without fail, go all out to protect him.

Qin Yougu's strike immediately caused a stir throughout the hall.

For it was undoubtedly the strength of the Earth Mystic realm!

After all, he came from the Crowned Wind Emperor City, his power was truly extraordinary.

The middle-aged man, blown away, growled angrily: "Abbot Qin, what do you mean? This little brat has seriously injured my young Patriarch—blood debt must be repaid, you dare protect him?!"

"Heh, hehe," Qin Yougu smiled calmly, retorting: "As the abbot of the New Moon Academy, protecting my disciple is righteous. I wonder... what do you say? A senior like you suddenly attacks to harm my disciple—what do you mean?"

"What do I mean?!" The middle-aged man sneered: "It was merely a spar, but this little brat has seriously injured my young Patriarch... now, his left arm bone has shattered into twelve pieces, his entire arm is ruined. His muscles and veins are nearly torn apart, even his mystical meridians have been shattered, his mystical energy scattered, nearly disabled..."

With each word he spoke, the hall's people felt their hearts race.

When he said "mystical energy scattered, nearly disabled," the hall fell into stunned silence.

The disciples of the Xiao Sect turned ashen white.

Ruined... muscles torn nearly in half... meridians shattered, mystical energy scattered...

These words were telling them that the young Patriarch of the Xiao Sect, the supreme genius bearing the future hopes of the New Moon City's outer disciples, the number one genius among the city's youth, had been...

Ruined!

Destroyed by a single strike from Yun Che!

The torn muscles meant his once-astounding talent would now be surpassed by ordinary humans.

The shattered meridians meant he could not cultivate mystical energy until they were repaired, and even if repaired, he would have to start from scratch...

From this day forward, the once-renowned number one genius would fall to become a complete cripple, all his halos vanishing without a trace.

He would no longer face others' admiration and awe, but rather mockery and indifference, both inwardly and outwardly.

At that moment, each person felt a cold breeze seep into their spines, quickly spreading through their entire bodies.

Their gazes toward Yun Che changed completely, from seeing a genius to seeing a monster.

A mere cultivator of the Mystic realm, yet he had destroyed a Mystic realm Level 10 cultivator with a single strike!

The shock of this fact was immense.

Everyone could sense that the Xiao Sect's outer disciples would shake... and the Xiao Sect's upheaval would mean a city-wide earthquake in New Moon City.

This Yun Che had carved a disaster unprecedented in New Moon City's history.

They could imagine what awaited him: the Xiao Sect's brutal retaliation.

The middle-aged man's words struck Qin Yougu with surprise; he had never anticipated such terrifying power in Yun Che's strike, wounding Xiao Luo City to this extent.

Qin Yougu hadn't responded yet, but Yun Che was already smirking faintly, his voice weak: "So? What are you going to do? Before we fought, we had mutually promised that whoever suffered greater injuries would bear no blame, and all present were witnesses. I remember you were the loudest to speak then. Now, with Xiao Luo City gravely injured, you suddenly want to attack me—that's the way of the Xiao Sect? Are you all a bunch of despicable, untrustworthy scum?!"

Yun Che's words changed the middle-aged man's expression, but immediately, his face grew even darker, a cold, murderous aura piercing through Qin Yougu, locking onto Yun Che, yearning to tear him to pieces with his very breath: "You... shut up! My hundred lives are worth less than your young Patriarch's little finger! Today, if I don't kill you, I, Xiao Zhenhe, am a laughingstock!"

He finished, taking a deep breath, his right hand striking out, a gale-force mystical energy crashing toward Yun Che.

The moment he launched his attack, Qin Yougu waved his sleeve, deflecting Xiao Zhenhe's mystical energy completely.

He roared angrily: "Xiao Zhenhe, dare you attack my disciple again, and I won't hold back!"

"You!" Xiao Zhenhe's face turned red with fury: "Abbot Qin, are you going to tear faces with my Xiao Sect?!"

"Heh, Qin of course had no such intention," Qin Yougu smiled calmly, but then his expression darkened: "Yet today, you have violated my New Moon Academy's territory.

Before Yun Che and I sparred, we had mutually agreed that neither would bear blame for injuries, and you, Xiao Sect's young Patriarch, had agreed without hesitation, showing no opposition. All present were witnesses! I Qin have heard and seen it clearly.

Now you suddenly attack my disciple without cause—how could you disregard the New Moon Academy?!"

"My Xiao Sect has long dominated the New Moon City.

But my New Moon Academy will not let you bully us into silence.

If you dare attack my disciple again, I Qin, I don't mind leaving all the people you brought today behind!!!"

From the banquet onward, Qin Yougu had always remained calm and gentle, smiling at everyone, showing no trace of a patriarch's aura.

It seemed he was easy to get along with, even a bit easy to bully.

But now, his words struck like thunder, his tone filled with authority, not a hint of fear or softness from the Xiao Sect.

Today, the four great elders of the New Moon Academy stood up, their eyes blazing with intense emotion, gazing at Qin Yougu.

They now faced the formidable Xiao Sect's outer disciples, daring to imagine that the New Moon Academy would ever dare to speak so firmly to the Xiao Sect.

The previous abbot, though extraordinary in ability, had ruled for five years with great authority in the academy, but when facing the Seven Sects, he was always cautious, enduring pressure silently.

Especially when facing the Bonfire Sect and the Xiao Sect, he had reached a point of utter submission.

But this new abbot, Qin, to protect a disciple, coldly faced the Xiao Sect, even daring to say, "I don't mind leaving all the people you brought today behind"—no! This was no mere harsh words, Qin's solemn expression and expansive aura proved he was serious.

"You!" Xiao Zhenhe's face turned ashen.

The Xiao Sect had long dominated the New Moon City, never having been treated this way.

He glanced back at Xiao Luo City's condition, trembling all over.

Yet he could not muster any harsh words...

That "life and death" agreement witnessed by all had become a stain on his face and chest.

Meanwhile, Qin Yougu's casual strike had deflected his powerful attack, proving this Qin was at least a level above him in cultivation—Earth Mystic realm Level 5 or higher!

Far stronger than the previous abbot, not to mention the Xiao Sect's outer disciples' Patriarch!

Such power, even the Xiao Sect could not help but feel wary, which explained why they dared to be so bold.

Since he insisted on protecting Yun Che, with their Xiao Sect's people present, it was impossible to achieve.

"Fine, very well!" Xiao Zhenhe's lips trembled: "Today's events, and Qin abbot's words—I, Xiao Zhenhe... will remember this firmly! Today's favor, our Xiao Sect... will repay it tenfold tomorrow!!!"

"Come, let's go!"

Carefully lifting the nearly lifeless Xiao Luo City, the others of the Xiao Sect's outer disciples quickly departed.

Each carried a heavy aura of malice.

"If you the Xiao Sect would use the Purple Blood Divine Stone, the meridians and mystical meridians destroyed in Xiao Luo City might be fully restored," Qin Yougu said calmly, gazing at their backs.

Xiao Zhenhe paused, his voice a low growl: "Don't remind the abbot... let's go!"

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Ah—long time since I listed thanks for the supporters... actually, it's not that I'm lazy, I'm just lazy.

But their names, I've kept them safely recorded... you're all such good friends!!!