Chapter 58

As everyone's gaze shifted, they found that the other young man on the competition platform stood tall and mighty like a mountain, like a king standing tall, his dark eyes gleaming. His gaze calmly fixed on Fang Hao, who had landed in a sorry state.

Fang Hao's clothes were tattered, with signs of being scorched, his eyes dim, and his aura listless. Under the fierce heat of the flames, the primordial energy in his body had almost become chaotic, and even his meridians were burned, leaving him without the strength to fight any longer.

Xiao Yun's face was cold as he took a step toward Fang Hao.

"How can you fuse with such a powerful异火 (strange fire)?" Fang Hao asked, puzzled, finding it hard to imagine how this young man could control the strange fire with his innate realm cultivation. The strength of this strange fire was clearly not comparable to ordinary flames!

Otherwise, why would the cold aura emitted by his ice martial soul be so easily defeated?

"Why can't I have a powerful strange fire?" Xiao Yun looked down at Fang Hao, speaking each word clearly, "I said, you are nothing in my eyes. You just awakened an ice martial soul, what's there to be proud of?"

The young man's face was indifferent, his words cold, his voice not loud, but it spread throughout the entire square.

At that moment, the entire crowd fell silent, their eyes fixed on the young man on the high platform. He truly looked like a king looking down on the world, inspiring awe.

"Has the former genius really returned?" The cultivators of various clans gazed at the scene, feeling as if it were a dream. How could the young man who hadn't broken through for eight years reach this level in just a few months?

A young man who had borne the name of a waste for eight years, had he really risen?

A waste martial soul that possessed a strange fire and defeated the genius with an ice martial soul—could such a person be a waste?

Fusing with a strange fire was something only the strongest could achieve!

What is a genius? This is a genius!

For a moment, in the minds of the hundreds of thousands of people in the square, the name of the young man as a waste was cast aside, replaced by shock. This young man, with his talent returned, was truly reborn, ready to achieve greater glory, far surpassing his former self.

Under this shock, many people's minds were filled with scenes of what might happen in the future, leaving them rooted to the spot.

"Can I be declared the winner now?" Xiao Yun's eyes were bright as he glanced at the referee and said calmly, his composure and calmness giving people an inexplicable feeling, as if a king had truly arrived.

"Is this still a sixteen-year-old young man?" The referee was also slightly stunned. This young man was so calm, showing none of the wild joy that a young person should have, after all, he had won the championship and had the chance to join the Tianyuan Sect!

Wasn't he excited?

After a moment of shock, the referee smiled and flew toward the final platform.

"I declare that in this Ziyun County City's genius competition, Xiao Yun is the champion and will have the opportunity to participate in the Tianyuan Sect's disciple assessment in the capital." The middle-aged man glanced at the young man on the high platform, feeling a sense of sigh, and then announced to the crowd.

Even he had not expected Xiao Yun to win.

When this voice echoed, the people in the square who were still in shock also recovered.

"Xiao Yun, Xiao Yun!" A roar of excitement echoed through the crowd, the sound waves reaching the clouds, the people's enthusiasm and excitement bursting out like never before.

This was witnessing a miracle, something that was exhilarating.

A young man who had borne the name of a waste for eight years had turned things around, giving many people hope and making them look forward to their own day.

"Did Yun'er win?" On the high platform, Xiao Hong was full of excitement, staring at the front, hardly able to believe it.

"It's Master Xiao Yun who won, hehe. Xiao Yun not only recovered his talent but also fused with a strange fire. Now he is like a tiger with wings, bound to become a great power. In the future, our Xiao family will no longer be laughed at for having no one." The middle-aged men beside him were excited, unable to contain their loud cheers. They had never expected Xiao Yun to win.

Fang Hao had a martial soul!

"Hehe, I said Xiao Yun would win, didn't I?" Yan Shiyi bit her lip, her bright eyes filled with joy. Her gaze swept over to the young girl beside her, who was staring blankly with a look of disbelief.

"How is this possible? How could Xiao Yun defeat Master Fang Hao?" Lin Xiaoman's eyes were blank, staring at the high platform, muttering to herself, "Xiao Yun hasn't broken through for eight years, how could he suddenly become so powerful?"

The young men and elders of the Fang and Zhou families were also stunned, clearly unable to accept this fact.

A young man who had borne the name of a waste for eight years, how could he suddenly turn things around?

In the square, exclamations of surprise rose and fell, all cheering for the young man's victory.

"Xiao Yun actually won?" Lady Yan's eyes were hazy, staring at the front, seemingly not expecting such a result. How could the young man who was worthless in her eyes defeat Fang Hao and become the genius of Ziyun County City?

Beside her, Yan Shifei's beautiful eyes blinked, finally relaxing.

She knew that from now on, her mother would completely change her attitude toward Xiao Yun and would no longer stop their relationship.

"This young man really has the confidence!" Mayor Yan's brows relaxed, his eyes gleaming. He had noticed that Xiao Yun was not simple and must have some foundation, but he had not expected the young man to be so strong, fusing with a strange fire without a sound.

With his talent returned and the strange fire, who could compete with him once he grew up?

If her daughter followed this young man, it would not be bad!

With a smile, Mayor Yan stood up, waving his hands to signal the crowd to quiet down.

Immediately, the people in the square seemed to understand and gradually stopped their cheers.

"Next, I declare that the Ziyun County City competition is over. Xiao Yun, come and receive the token for the Tianyuan Sect assessment." Mayor Yan smiled, looking gentle, gesturing to the young man on the final platform, appearing approachable.

Mayor Yan's demeanor made the elders of the various clans slightly moved.

From this, it was clear that Mayor Yan intended to win over this young man.

Thinking of the intimate scene between Miss Yan and Xiao Yun earlier, the people no longer had any doubts.

"Absolutely cannot let this young man grow up." Seeing his son in a sorry state while Xiao Yun was in the limelight, seemingly unharmed, Fang Xun's eyes darkened as he looked at the old man beside him.

The other elders of the Fang family also had cold glints in their eyes.

Xiao Yun's talent was too terrifying, making them feel threatened.

"Hold on." Suddenly, the old man of the Fang family, who had been silent, spoke, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

"What is he going to do?" The elders of the various clans were puzzled when the old man spoke.

The atmosphere on the high platform became somewhat strange for a moment.

"What is it, Old Master Fang?" Mayor Yan's eyelids twitched, his eyes showing surprise, then he smiled, looking at the old man beside him, his tone slightly respectful, as the old man now gave him a sense of being unfathomable.

"This Xiao Yun once used poison to injure my grandson, Fang Wei, causing him to fall into a coma, nearly dying. If it weren't for the antidote from the Tianyuan Sect, my grandson might not be here. So today, I want to seek justice for my grandson." Old Master Fang's words were calm, but his eyes gleamed, a hint of coldness appearing in them.

"This might not be a good idea." Mayor Yan's eyes darkened.

The cultivators of the various clans also whispered, clearly seeing that Old Master Fang was preparing to settle old scores.

Beside him, Xiao Hai's eyes darkened, and he glared at Old Master Fang, coldly snorting, "Hmph, seek justice? Fang Wei attacked first and injured us. Our Xiao family hasn't even sought an explanation. You, old ghost, are accusing us first."

His fiery temper and protective nature had only grown stronger since he entered the True Essence Realm.

How could the men of the Xiao family allow themselves to be bullied?

"What, do you also want to seek an explanation?" Old Master Fang's eyes narrowed, looking at Xiao Hai with a smile that was not a smile, but the hidden coldness in his smile made the atmosphere tense.

"Fang Kun, don't think your Fang family can cover the sky. Now that our Xiao family's genius has returned, how can you compare?" Xiao Hai shouted, showing no sign of backing down. With the increased strength of the Xiao family, what was there to fear?

"Haha, genius?" Old Master Fang laughed coldly, "What can a genius who has been cut off do?"

"What do you want to do?" Xiao Hai's eyes flashed, a powerful aura bursting from him.

"True Essence Realm? This Xiao Hai has actually entered the True Essence Realm?" Feeling this aura, the elders of the various clans were surprised. A True Essence Realm cultivator was a powerful figure in Ziyun County City, and each clan's addition of one would greatly enhance their overall strength.

Beside him, Xiao Hong's eyes also darkened, a powerful aura bursting from him, ready to act at any moment.

"Two True Essence Realm cultivators? Is this your confidence?"

Old Master Fang laughed coldly, "Xun'er, go and kill that young man."

"Yes!" Fang Xun stood up, a powerful aura bursting from him.

"True Essence Realm?" Xiao Hai's eyes darkened, not expecting Fang Xun to have also entered the True Essence Realm.

Just as he was stunned, Fang Xun stepped out, heading to intercept the young man on the final platform.

"How dare you!" Xiao Hai roared, immediately attacking Fang Xun to stop him.

"Little True Essence Realm, dare to act so recklessly here?" Old Master Fang's eyes darkened, his palm sweeping out, a powerful surge of primordial energy sweeping out like a wall of air, forcefully pushing Xiao Hai back.

Thud!

Xiao Hai's body trembled, retreating several yards before stabilizing, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Such a powerful aura, have you entered the Essence Core Realm?" Xiao Hai looked up, his eyes filled with fear. The strength the old man had shown was too powerful, far exceeding his previous understanding.

This was definitely the strength of a cultivator beyond the True Essence Realm.

"What? Old Master Fang has entered the Essence Core Realm?" The cultivators of the nearby clans were stunned.

"Has this old man really entered the Essence Core Realm?" Mayor Yan's brows furrowed, "No wonder I always felt his aura was strange, giving me a sense of being unfathomable. It turns out he has entered the Essence Core Realm. This is troublesome."

For a moment, the eyes of the people on the high platform were all on Old Master Fang.