Lu Shaojing never expected Luo Cheng to truly dare engage him in battle.

Any ordinary Awakening Vein Realm strongman who hears his name would be scared out of their wits and flee! 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that, daring to fight me."

When Luo Cheng heard Lu Shaojing’s mocking words, his expression remained unchanged, and he returned the words verbatim.

"My guts?"

Lu Shaojing sneered arrogantly and teased, "Kid, don’t think that having a little skill makes you invincible! To be honest, I haven’t taken you seriously at all! That strike earlier didn’t even use half my strength! If I were to go all-out, you’d be dead without question!"

Lu Shaojing crossed his arms, slightly tilted his chin upward, standing lofty and superior, waiting to see a panic-stricken look on Luo Cheng’s face.

Instead, what he saw disappointed him.

Luo Cheng smiled calmly, his tone indifferent: "That punch earlier, I barely used thirty percent of my strength."

Upon hearing this, several of the young talents were slightly shocked.

A woman with peach-like cheeks and a graceful figure giggled and said, "Heh, this guy is really full of himself. Still, being able to remain so calm against Lu Shaojing shows he has great confidence in his own strength. Could it be that his strength is truly on par with Lu Shaojing’s?"

"Impossible!"

The nearby Xuanyuan Sect disciple shook his head decisively: "He is merely at the Sixth Level Awakening Vein Realm, middle stage! Even if he could challenge across levels, at best his strength reaches the Eighth Layer level. How could he ever be a match for Senior Brother Lu?"

"Heh, it seems ignorance truly breeds bravery! This fool believes Lu Shaojing is an easy target! But he’ll soon understand how cruel reality can be!"

Learning that Luo Cheng was only at the Sixth Layer Realm, several young talents couldn’t help but smirk coldly, their faces carrying ridicule.

Lu Shaojing was a genius ranked on the Xuanyuan Sect’s Xuanhe List, not an ordinary Awakening Vein powerhouse.

Battles between geniuses are rarely easy for one to challenge levels of cultivation.

What’s more, this opponent was someone with a Wasted Martial Soul.

"Kid, you’re way too arrogant!"

Lu Shaojing was enraged by Luo Cheng’s indifferent demeanor, his eyes gleaming with icy light: "Your talent among Inner Sect disciples is merely average at best! Don’t think that a few brief moments in the spotlight give you the right to spout nonsense before me!"

Boom!

As his voice fell, Lu Shaojing’s body trembled, and an overwhelming aura surged skyward, climbing higher and higher without seeming to stop. Fierce fluctuations of Essence Energy turned into gusting winds, crashing wave after wave toward Luo Cheng.

"Now you should understand just how ignorant and foolish you are! But even if you regret it now, it’s too late. Today, I will give you a lesson you’ll never forget!"

Lu Shaojing looked down at Luo Cheng like an ant, his aura encompassing all directions!

This past month, his cultivation had made progress!

Though he hadn’t yet broken through to the Late Stage of the Ninth Layer Awakening Vein Realm, he was close.

His battle power had risen from rank 490 to rank 463 on the Xuanhe List!

Why would he spare a thought for someone like Luo Cheng?

Amid the crushing force of his aura, Luo Cheng’s robes fluttered, but his gaze remained calm and steady. Slowly, he unsheathed the Thunder Hidden Sword, a swirling sword presence rising to rival Lu Shaojing. He spoke:

"Enough words. Let’s see actions on the battlefield! The outcome of who teaches whom will soon be clear!"

"Sixth Layer Peak!"

Lu Shaojing narrowed his eyes, revealing a hint of surprise before curling his lips into a smirk:

"No wonder you’re so confident! It turns out you’ve made some progress this month as well! But if you think that this small gain in strength is enough to contend with me, then you’re delusional! As the price for challenging me, I’ll shatter every bone in your body! Now, lie down!"

In a fit of rage, Lu Shaojing wasted no more words. With a furious shout, Essence Energy surged from his body and condensed into waves of intense, green-blue water, striking out directly.

"Biluo Water Extreme Kill!"

Whoosh!

As Lu Shaojing pressed his palm downward, the entire arena echoed with the roar of crashing waves. The surging Essence Energy transformed into a water-flow handprint as large as a small hill.

The water-flow handprint was incredibly condensed, pure as crystal, and it descended with the force of a mountain, aiming to annihilate Luo Cheng, piercing through layers of air!

"Such a concentrated palm force!"

"Forget a Sixth Layer cultivator—even a Ninth Layer cultivator at the middle stage would struggle to withstand this! No wonder he’s a genius of the Xuanyuan Sect’s Xuanhe List."

The onlookers, possessing sharp eyes, immediately discerned the terrifying strength of this strike.

No one believed Luo Cheng could remain unscathed—crippled at best, if not dead!

A charming female shopkeeper watching nearby revealed a tense expression.

Luo Cheng was a guest of the Eldest Prince and the Ninth Princess. If anything happened to him, how could she explain?

"Not bad! But... it’s not enough!"

Just as the crowd thought Luo Cheng was doomed, he made his move.

Roar!

Dragon roars echoed within his body as Luo Cheng activated the Xuanlong Technique. Sword Qi erupted, his robes billowing with energy as the Thunder Hidden Sword radiated dazzling sword rays. He struck out with a slash.

This strike appeared slow yet was lightning fast. As his sword descended, the crowd experienced an illusion: a brilliant star had streaked across the sky, plunging the world into darkness!

Clang!

The Bright Sword’s straight Sword Qi soared upward, clashing with the massive water-flow handprint, emitting the sound of metal on metal as the forces collided in mid-air.

The next moment.

Boom!

Both forces exploded simultaneously, scattering Qi Force throughout the arena and causing the nearby protective light barrier to tremble as both figures were pushed backward.

"He blocked it!"

"A Sixth Layer Awakening Vein Realm cultivator—he actually blocked Lu Shaojing’s strike!"

"Such powerful swordsmanship! It even influenced my spirit. This guy’s Sword Dao Realm is anything but simple."

The crowd burst out in exclamations as the faces of the young talents invited by the Eighth Prince, Jin Min, grew grim.

Moments ago, they had asserted Luo Cheng’s inevitable defeat!

Someone couldn’t hold back and shouted, "Lu Shaojing, stop wasting time! Show your true strength! If you lose to this kid, you’ll be a laughingstock!"

Lu Shaojing’s face darkened at these words.

That strike earlier had used sixty to seventy percent of his power—more than sufficient to crush any Awakening Vein Eighth Layer powerhouse!

Yet it hadn’t harmed Luo Cheng in the slightest, leaving him feeling humiliated!

At that moment, footsteps echoed as someone approached.

As if influenced by an invisible force, all eyes instantly focused on the newcomer.

The figure had a tall build, dressed in luxurious attire exuding an aura of nobility. His narrow eyes carried a sinister chill—it was none other than the Eighth Prince, Jin Min!

"Sixth Layer Peak..."

Seeing Luo Cheng on the arena stage, Jin Min’s pupils contracted sharply, and his expression froze for a moment.

A year ago, this "waste" whom he regarded as an ant had grown to such strength in such a short time!

How could he not be shaken!

"Eighth Prince..."

Someone stepped forward to briefly explain the situation to him.

Upon hearing, the Eighth Prince’s expression became even darker.

Taking on a mid-stage Ninth Layer cultivator from the Xuanhe List with a Sixth Layer Peak cultivation—

Even he couldn’t accomplish such a feat.

After a deep glance at Luo Cheng, Jin Min shifted his gaze to Lu Shaojing and commanded coldly:

"Lu Shaojing, stop holding back. Use your full power! Regardless of the consequences, I will bear them!"