A New Challenger

The once lively Golden Sky Pavilion fell into an eerie silence as the crowd parted like a wave.

A tall, black-robed man strode forward, his presence commanding and his sharp eyes scanning the room like a predator.

His every step seemed to echo with authority, and the air around him felt heavy, almost suffocating.

"Who dares to humiliate my younger brother?" His voice was deep, cold, and filled with menace.

Whispers spread through the onlookers like wildfire.

"That's Lin Xuanyuan, an expert at Mortal 2 Master!"

"He's one of the strongest disciples of the Heavenly Blade Sect!"

"This rogue cultivator is doomed!"

Lin Yufeng, still trembling with anger and humiliation, rushed to his brother's side. "Brother! This bastard tricked me! He must have cheated to get that Sky fire Egg!"

Lin Xuanyuan's gaze shifted to the blood-red egg in Wu Chen's hand. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a flicker of recognition crossed his face.

"A Skyfire Egg… no wonder you were so desperate," Lin Xuanyuan muttered under his breath before smirking coldly. "Hand it over."

Wu Chen met his gaze without flinching. "Not happening."

The tension in the room thickened like a storm cloud. The crowd held their breath, their eyes darting between the two men. No one had ever dared to refuse Lin Xuanyuan before.

Lin Yufeng sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "Brother, let's just kill him and take it!"

The Stone Master, an elder from the Golden Sky Pavilion, stepped forward, his voice firm and authoritative. "Fighting is forbidden inside the Pavilion. If you attack here, even the Heavenly Blade Sect won't be able to protect you."

Lin Xuanyuan's smirk deepened, his eyes gleaming with challenge. "Oh? Then let's settle this outside." He turned to Wu Chen, his tone mocking. "You're clearly not weak. If you refuse to fight, everyone will know you're just a coward hiding behind rules."

Wu Chen understood the game. If he refused, Lin Xuanyuan would keep pressuring him, using the Heavenly Blade Sect's influence to make his life miserable.

The only way to end this was to establish dominance.

Wu Chen gave a small nod, his expression calm. "Fine. Let's take this outside."

The news spread like wildfire. Within moments, a massive crowd had gathered in the Golden Sky Pavilion's training grounds, an open-air arena often used for duels.

Cultivators, merchants, and even high-ranking nobles filled the viewing platforms, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

This was no ordinary fight—it was a clash between a rising star of the Heavenly Blade Sect and a mysterious rogue cultivator.

Lin Xuanyuan stood in the center of the arena, his posture relaxed but his eyes cold and calculating.

His younger brother, Lin Yufeng, watched from the sidelines, a smug expression on his face.

"Brother, finish him quickly. No need to waste time."

Lin Xuanyuan smirked. "I wasn't planning to." He turned to Wu Chen, his voice dripping with arrogance. "If you hand over the Phoenix Egg now, I'll let you leave with your life."

Wu Chen remained silent, his face unreadable.

The referee, an elder from the Golden Sky Pavilion, raised his hand. "This is a formal duel. The fight ends when one party surrenders, is incapacitated, or dies. Begin!"

Lin Xuanyuan moved instantly.

BOOM!

He shot forward like a shadow, his saber flashing with deadly precision. The air around him seemed to ripple as he unleashed his technique.

"Heavenly Blade Art: Crescent Moon Strike!"

A sharp arc of energy tore through the air, slicing toward Wu Chen at a terrifying speed. The crowd tensed, their eyes wide with anticipation.

But Wu Chen barely moved.

At the last moment, he tilted his head slightly, letting the attack pass harmlessly by his side.

WHOOSH!

Gasps echoed through the arena.

"He dodged it… with minimal movement?"

"That was a Mortal 2 Master's attack!"

Lin Xuanyuan's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading. "Tch. So you're not just lucky."

He charged again, his saber dancing in a series of rapid slashes. Each strike was precise, aimed to overwhelm his opponent.

But Wu Chen stayed calm, dodging each attack with ease. His movements were fluid, almost effortless, as if he could predict Lin Xuanyuan's every move.

Within moments, Lin Xuanyuan's expression shifted—from confidence to frustration.

"Damn you!" He leaped back, shifting into a new stance. His aura flared, and the ground beneath him cracked under the pressure.

"Heavenly Blade Art: Falling Star Execution!"

A massive wave of energy exploded outward, shaking the ground as it surged toward Wu Chen.

The crowd held their breath, their eyes wide with fear and excitement.

Wu Chen sighed, his expression calm.

Without any grand techniques or visible exertion, he simply took a step forward—and swung his fist.

BOOM!

A single, casual punch.

The force behind it tore through Lin Xuanyuan's attack like paper. The energy wave scattered, vanishing into harmless wind.

The arena fell silent.

Lin Xuanyuan barely had time to react before Wu Chen's next step brought him directly in front of him.

Wu Chen lifted his hand.

And gently tapped Lin Xuanyuan's chest.

CRACK!

Lin Xuanyuan's eyes widened in horror as an invisible force blasted through his body. He flew backward like a broken kite, smashing into the stone walls of the arena.

The ground trembled from the impact. Dust filled the air.

When it settled, Lin Xuanyuan lay motionless, blood trickling from his lips.

The entire crowd froze.

"He… he lost? Just like that?"

"With a single casual blow?"

"Who the hell is this guy?!"

Lin Yufeng's face went deathly pale. "B-Brother…?" He rushed forward, shaking Lin Xuanyuan's body. His brother groaned weakly, barely conscious.

Wu Chen glanced down at him, his voice calm but carrying an edge of steel. "Next time, don't challenge people you can't beat."

Without another word, he turned and walked away, Li Wei following closely behind.

The crowd erupted into hushed whispers, their voices a mix of awe and confusion.

Wu Chen hadn't released his aura, nor had he engaged in a flashy, drawn-out battle. He had simply thrown one casual punch—a single, effortless strike—and that was enough.

No one could sense his cultivation level, and that was by design. His ability masked his power, cloaking it in mystery unless he chose to reveal it or was pushed to his limits in an intense fight.

Without those conditions, his true strength remained hidden, leaving everyone guessing.

No one understood how he had won so easily. Was he a hidden genius? A master in disguise? Or something else entirely? The questions buzzed through the crowd like wildfire, but no answers came.

One thing, however, was crystal clear—Wu Chen was not someone to be trifled with.