Chapter 8

"Let's get started, the sooner we finish, the better!"

Yang Haotian retracted his gloomy gaze. With a light clink, he drew a peculiar, flexible sword from his waist, its cold gleam catching the eye.

Ding Ling Ling!

Chu Ziyun was not to be outdone. Her white silk scarf at her waist flashed, and the crisp sound was like celestial music. With a slight shake of her hand, it transformed into countless waves, sweeping towards Yang Haotian.

"Top-grade elite weapon — Cangjin Ling!"

Yang Haotian's expression changed slightly, and he did not dare to be careless. He twisted his body to try to escape the range of the golden bells at the tip of the silk scarf.

But Chu Ziyun had already closed in, her hands moving like fluttering butterflies. Within a four to five-meter radius, her elusive figure and a white jade-like silk scarf, ringing with a tinkling sound, obscured Yang Haotian.

Both were top geniuses among the outer sect disciples. Not only were their cultivation methods on par, but the weapons they used were also unique, with few able to wield them.

The willow leaf sword in Yang Haotian's hand was also a top-grade elite weapon. As he swung it, silver light flashed, like a dragon in motion, providing impenetrable defense.

Although extremely sharp, it struggled to cut through the silk made from cloud silk, and the two weapons were locked in a stalemate, making it difficult to determine a winner.

For a moment, the crowd was mesmerized by the dance-like movements, transitioning from shock to a state of enchantment.

"Hehe, here comes your fat grandpa!"

Pang Wenshan cast a malicious glance at the somewhat dazed Lü brothers, and with a flick of his hand, the iron staff in his hand hummed and struck down towards the two.

"Trouble!"

Sensing the danger, the Lü brothers immediately regained their senses. Their figures crossed, and they both tried to dodge the attack.

But they were too slow, having lost the initiative. They also underestimated the speed of Pang Wenshan's staff, which was already at their faces. Without time to think, they raised their swords to block.

Clang!

The clash of metal produced sparks. The Lü brothers felt a powerful force from the sword blades, and a sharp pain in their ears. Their chests churned with blood, and they were sent flying backward.

"Let go!"

Taking advantage of the situation, Pang Wenshan's thick legs kicked the ground hard, and he leaped up. With a single swing of his iron staff, he swept away the long swords in the Lü brothers' hands.

Another crisp sound, and the Lü brothers' swords were immediately thrown away, landing on the ground and trembling.

"Have you broken through?"

Thud, thud. The Lü brothers struggled to their feet, their faces pale, with traces of blood at the corners of their mouths and on their palms.

"Do you admit defeat?"

Pang Wenshan showed no shame in his victory over the weaker, instead, he held the iron staff and pointed it at the two with a haughty look.

"Despicable!"

The Lü brothers were unwilling. If they had known Pang Wenshan had broken through to the seventh level of Inner Breath, they would never have dared to face him.

They had entered the sect later and had learned lower-level cultivation methods. If they had learned the same as Chu Ziyun, their demonic aura would have been enough to challenge a seventh-level warrior.

"Tsk, what a coward!"

Pang Wenshan spat in disdain. In his eyes, the other party was just a bully of the weak.

If he hadn't broken through to the seventh level, He Kongming and the others wouldn't have trusted him to lead the protection team. He just hadn't gone to the inner sect to exchange for an identity token and uniform yet.

"Victory!"

The disciples of the South Courtyard cheered softly.

However, a few of them felt a mix of emotions. Li Yuerong bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with complexity.

Chen Songtai's eyes were dark, and he felt uneasy, which eventually turned into a venomous look as he glanced at Li Chen.

Li Chen, who was squatting on the ground, watching Chu Ziyun and Yang Haotian, did not notice the abnormality.

Pang!

"Good kid, you've been hiding your strength well!"

Pang Wenshan sat down next to Li Chen, holding the iron staff vertically.

"Senior Brother Pang is joking, Senior Brother Lu made me do it!"

Li Chen grinned, rubbing his shoulder and scratching his head, the slap from a seventh-level warrior was not to be taken lightly.

"You're not being honest, but I like it, ha ha!"

Pang Wenshan sneered.

"I don't have that kind of hobby!"

Li Chen retorted, then froze, a strange feeling passing through his heart.

Always cautious, he had never spoken so freely or boldly, fearing any mistake that might bring trouble.

"Ah? Ha ha ha!"

Pang Wenshan was also taken aback but soon burst into laughter.

Infected by his laughter, Li Chen's lips curled up, and a heartfelt smile spread across his face, warming his heart even years later when he recalled it.

Seeing this, Chen Songtai felt a surge of jealousy. Core disciples of the outer sect, nine out of ten would enter the inner sect and eventually become True Refinement Realm experts.

At his age, nearly twenty, he was only at the fifth level, and he might never reach the True Refinement Realm. Calling a group of 'young brats' seniors every day had already filled his heart with resentment and distortion.

Ding Ling Ling!

The crisp sound cut through the air, and the white jade chain that had been dancing in the field suddenly stopped. Two figures flew apart.

"Hmph!"

Yang Haotian grunted, his face dark, his eyes full of unwillingness. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his right hand, holding the sword, trembled slightly.

A bowl-sized hole was clearly visible in his chest, revealing a set of golden, shimmering silk armor, looking rather disheveled.

In contrast, Chu Ziyun's chest, which had begun to develop, rose and fell slightly, her face slightly pale but without any injury, making the difference clear.

"You will be mine, sooner or later!"

Yang Haotian gave her a cold look, then lightly stepped and flew away, disappearing into the forest.

His pride was immense, but he was not discouraged by this failure. Instead, it ignited his fighting spirit. With his talent, if he maintained this, he would surely become a great figure in the future.

"Remember to call me Senior Sister next time!"

Chu Ziyun's face turned slightly red with anger, but she did not back down.

A figure stumbled in the distance, seemingly grunting, then disappeared.

"Victory!"

The disciples of the South Courtyard cheered again. The pressure Yang Haotian had brought was immense, and in the presence of such a genius, anyone would feel inferior.

Yang Binglong and the others, seeing this, helped the now awake Lu Hongyang to his feet, reluctantly glancing at the pills and cultivation methods on the ground, and left in a sorry state.

This time, they not only lost face but also suffered a significant loss, especially because Yang Haotian had left them behind without a care.

This clearly showed that he did not consider them important and did not treat them as part of his group.

"Phew!"

Chu Ziyun sighed in relief and walked to the pile of treasures in the field.

Seeing this, the crowd gathered around, holding their breath. This battle was a high-stakes gamble.

After all, even a seventh-level warrior might not have so many Breath Gathering Pills, let alone the extremely precious Human-grade top-tier martial techniques.

"What do you want?"

To everyone's surprise, Chu Ziyun asked Li Chen.

Pang Wenshan held the iron staff with both hands, watching leisurely, with no intention of blocking.

"I... I want to copy these two martial techniques!"

Li Chen scratched his head, speaking hesitantly.

He had already made up his mind. If they gave him, it would be great; if not, he would obtain what he needed through his own strength in the future.

Although he desperately wanted another demon core, he did not want to reveal it at this moment. With these two martial techniques, his strength would definitely improve to a new level, and he could walk confidently below the sixth level.

Even with his astonishing physical strength, he could challenge a seventh-level warrior, ensuring he wouldn't have to worry about martial techniques in the Inner Breath Realm.

"You're quite shrewd!"

Again, to everyone's surprise, Chu Ziyun only glanced at him and immediately agreed, making them envious, but no one dared to ask for anything.

After all, they had not contributed in this battle.

Li Chen did not hesitate, picked up the two books, and walked to the side. Under the envious and jealous gazes of the crowd, he began to read and record with a brush he carried.

The rest was simple. Pang Wenshan took his five bottles of Breath Gathering Pills and, like Li Chen, asked to copy a martial technique, clearly for Chu Ziyun.

Chu Ziyun directly gave each person one Breath Gathering Pill from the five bottles on the ground, and put the rest in her bag.

The crowd, each receiving a Breath Gathering Pill, was naturally overjoyed, shouting praises to 'Senior Sister Chu'.

After this incident, and a busy half-day in the forest, everyone was tired.

Moreover, with Liu Ziqing injured, it was not suitable to travel at night. They found a crack in a stone wall near a mountain spring and prepared to set up camp and spend the night in the forest.

The large demon pig on the ground, weighing several hundred pounds, would satisfy everyone's hunger.