Chapter 132: Murong Yi

Bang!!!

As cracks spread to the very edge of the profound energy barrier, the Profound Blood Barrier finally shattered completely, breaking into countless scattered fragments of profound energy. Yun Che’s "Falling Moon Sinking Star" was like a tiger unleashed from its cage, charging forward furiously, striking heavily against Feng Yue’s chest. The distance from the barrier to Feng Yue’s chest was less than half a foot, yet it generated a deafening roar.

Boom!!

A colossal sound, like a boulder exploding, rang in Feng Yue’s ears. His ears and mind buzzed, as if he had been struck in the chest by a ten-thousand-pound hammer. A stream of blood spurted out, and his body was sent flying backward like a launched arrow. Along his path of flight, the ground below was ploughed into an increasingly long and deep gouge by the incredibly violent force of the Falling Moon Sinking Star.

Feng Yue's body flew off the platform, soared over the dense crowd of spectators, and traveled nearly twenty zhang (approximately 60 meters) before crashing onto the ground. He then rolled a considerable distance like a rolling gourd, finally lying motionless. Beneath him, a pool of crimson blood slowly spread.

In that instant, the entire world seemed to plunge into an eerie silence.

Yun Che slowly retracted his hand. Before him, a deep gouge stretched for ten zhang (approximately 30 meters), a shocking sight. A cold sneer briefly flashed across his lips. He harbored no mercy for his enemies. If there were no outsiders present, he would have killed Feng Yue without hesitation. However, this was the Profound Sky Palace, and he was about to become a disciple there, so he would certainly not deliver a fatal blow. Nevertheless, Feng Yue wouldn't be able to get out of bed for at least a month, let alone dare to use any profound energy. Furthermore, the forced breaking of the Scarlet Profound Barrier had caused considerable damage to Feng Yue's lifespan and profound veins. The consequences were far more severe than merely dropping one level of profound energy.

All who witnessed this spectacle were utterly silent. They looked at Feng Yue, who had flown dozens of zhang and whose fate was unknown, and at the long, deep gouge. Cold shivers ran down their spines, and their gazes at Yun Che were like they were looking at a monster!

Feng Yue's strongest ability was defense. Yet, even when not attacking, with all his profound energy concentrated on defense, and even resorting to a life-saving forbidden technique at the cost of permanent self-damage, he was still severely injured by Yun Che in three moves. No one doubted that if it had been a normal fight, rather than an offense against a defense, Feng Yue would still have been defeated by Yun Che, and possibly much faster and more miserably!

A Spirit Profound Realm Level 10 completely defeated a True Profound Realm Level 3! This was not merely a three-level difference but a chasm between two realms. In everyone's original understanding, this was simply impossible! But such a fact was now truly presented before their eyes, overturning their perceptions.

Inside the pavilion, Qin Wuyou had already stood up. With his powerful Earth Profound Realm profound energy and his position as a middle palace tutor of the Profound Sky Palace, his knowledge was incredibly vast, and his mind exceptionally resilient. Yet, at this moment, his face was flushed with excitement. At this moment, he finally began to truly understand why Lan Xueruo had been so insistent on choosing him… The Imperial Heart Arts, which could, to some extent, glimpse fate and destiny, truly lived up to its name.

"Heh heh, this little fellow you've brought back is truly extraordinary."

Behind Qin Wuyou, a middle-aged man in a blue robe with a black beard reaching his chest slowly walked over. He bore some resemblance to Qin Wuyou but appeared slightly younger. He stood beside Qin Wuyou, looking at Yun Che on the platform with a face full of admiration.

"He is the one chosen by Princess Cang Yue," Qin Wuyou said slowly.

"Oh?" A hint of surprise appeared on the middle-aged man's face, then he nodded slightly, deep in thought.

Yun Che on the platform had become the absolute focal point of all gazes, especially those of the newly qualified disciples. Regardless of gender, every one of their eyes had become incredibly fervent. Those disciples who had previously been beaten by Feng Yue until their noses were bruised and faces swollen, in addition to their fervent admiration, were also filled with gratitude and a sense of vindication. Yun Xiaofan stubbornly pushed himself up, and though his body ached intensely, a surprised smile appeared on his lips, his eyes full of adoration and fervent excitement as he looked at Yun Che.

The shock in Sikong Du's heart lasted a long time before slowly subsiding. Others might not be clear, but he knew very well how powerful Feng Yue's final Profound Blood Barrier was. Even he, with True Profound Realm Level 10 profound energy, would find it difficult to shatter in one blow if he weren't serious.

No wonder Mentor Qin regarded him so highly and specifically came to personally observe his assessment process. To be able to unleash such terrifying power from Spirit Profound Realm Level 10 profound energy, this child's talent was simply astonishing… His previous worries and warnings were completely superfluous.

Yun Che's gaze briefly lingered on Feng Yue's body, swept around, then settled on Aoyan.

When Feng Yue was sent flying, Aoyan's face immediately turned pale. Now, suddenly meeting Yun Che's cold gaze, his entire body trembled, and he instinctively stumbled back two steps in panic, his face filled with terror, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Yun Che sneered disdainfully, shifting his gaze to Mentor Qi, whose face was extremely grim, and said loudly, "Mentor Qi, you have been personally witnessing everything. My 'Three-Move Pact' with Feng Yue, I should have won, correct? According to our previous agreement, from now on, wherever I am, Feng Yue must walk backward. All friends present, please also bear witness."

Mentor Qi's face flickered with a dark, uncertain expression. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to say, "Yun Che! Even if you won… it was merely a spar, yet you struck so heavily! How can such a cruel heart be fit to become a disciple of my Profound Sky Palace!"

"Heh…" Yun Che sneered contemptuously and said indifferently, "My profound energy is only Spirit Profound Realm Level 10, while Feng Yue is True Profound Realm Level 3. We are so far apart, how could I have any reason not to use my full strength? How was I to know that Feng Yue, despite having such a high profound energy level, was merely a good-for-nothing who couldn't even withstand an attack from the Spirit Profound Realm? Is that my fault? Furthermore, Feng Yue himself said earlier that injuries are common during spars among palace disciples, and Mentor Qi, you tacitly agreed. Feng Yue severely injured Yun Xiaofan, and you didn't reprimand him one bit. Now that I've injured Feng Yue, you come to reprimand me, even saying I'm not fit to be a disciple of the Profound Sky Palace. Doesn't that seem a bit unreasonable?"

Mentor Qi was, after all, a tutor of the Profound Sky Palace. As palace disciples, even inner palace disciples would not easily offend him, and middle and outer palace disciples dared not in the slightest. But what was Yun Che’s nature? He would give face to those who gave him face, and to those who didn't, he would give absolutely no quarter, even if they were the Emperor of Heaven. Mentor Qi had never expected Yun Che, a prospective disciple, to openly accuse and mock him so logically and flawlessly in front of everyone, leaving him no room to refute. His old face turned crimson with stifled anger, unable to vent.

Sikong Du walked over, smiling, "Elder Qi, Yun Che certainly passed this assessment, didn't he? And the Three-Move Pact with Feng Yue, Yun Che also won, everyone here witnessed it. I trust Mentor Qi is always fair and just, and will have no objection. Furthermore, since Yun Che directly defeated middle palace disciple Feng Yue during the assessment, Yun Che should be able to directly enter the middle palace upon admission. Mentor Qi wouldn't object to that, would you? As for the upcoming combat power assessment, since Feng Yue is severely injured, I can take his place. What do you think, Mentor Qi?"

Mentor Qi's face twitched slightly. He stifled himself for a long moment, only able to forcefully "hmph." This incident occurred in the central plaza, and countless eyes witnessed the entire process. Even if he wanted to protect Feng Yue or make things difficult for and retaliate against Yun Che, it would be utterly impossible. Otherwise, he himself wouldn't be able to remain in the Profound Sky Palace.

"Directly enter the middle palace?" Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd. Especially the newly admitted disciples and those who had long remained in the outer palace with no hope of entering the middle palace, their faces were filled with envy. In the Profound Sky Palace, to enter the middle palace, one's profound energy had to be at least True Profound Realm Level 3; Feng Yue was merely the lowest-ranking middle palace disciple. Although Yun Che's profound energy was only Spirit Profound Realm Level 10, his defeat of Feng Yue was witnessed by everyone, making him fully qualified for direct entry into the middle palace.

Just then, a thunderous roar suddenly came from behind the crowd:

"Move! Which one is Yun Che? Get out here, you bastard!"

Amidst the shouting, the crowd was roughly parted. A tall, stout man, around twenty years old, walked out. Behind him was none other than Murong Ye. Murong Ye's entire right face was still swollen and red, and although the wound had stopped bleeding, it was still horrifyingly bloody. Upon seeing Yun Che on the platform, he glared, pointed, and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Cousin! It's him, he's the one who hit me!"

"That person's armband… is also an inner palace disciple!""It's Murong Yi, seventy-third on the Sky Profound Ranking! What's happening today? These inner palace disciples, who usually can't be seen even once in half a year, two of them have appeared at once today!""I heard Murong Yi's father is Marshal Zhenbei! Not only is his talent astonishing, but his influence is immense… He seems to be here for Yun Che? Did Yun Che offend him?""Offending an inner palace disciple, and the son of Marshal Zhenbei at that, he's going to suffer for it later."

Following Murong Ye's pointing finger, Murong Yi glanced sideways at Yun Che, then leaped onto the platform, looking at Yun Che with dark, malevolent eyes. "You are Yun Che?"

"That's me." As soon as Yun Che saw Murong Ye, he knew what this was about. Mentor Qin had just mentioned Murong Yi, Murong Ye's cousin… As expected, after being beaten, this good-for-nothing lived up to his worthless nature, crying and running to seek protection.

"You hit his face?" Murong Yi pointed at Murong Ye, asking darkly.

"Yes, I did," Yun Che admitted calmly.

"Very good." Murong Yi slowly nodded, then suddenly his gaze darkened, and his body abruptly surged forward, bringing with it a tempest-like surge of air. His right hand formed a claw, like an eagle's talon, aiming for Yun Che's throat.

As Murong Yi's body just moved, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side, profound energy bursting forth. A punch collided with Murong Yi's right claw. With a "boom," both were sent flying backward simultaneously. Then, with a "crack," the stone platform, over a meter high where their hands had collided, directly shattered. A half-foot wide crack extended directly to the edge of the platform, cleanly dividing it in two.

A surge of profound energy blasted towards Yun Che, making his body sway and nearly fall backward. He was secretly astonished: *As expected of an inner palace disciple! Even the aftershock has such astonishing power.*

Murong Yi landed near the edge of the platform from the recoil, almost falling off. He suddenly looked up, glaring angrily at the person who had blocked his attack, and said in a deep voice, "Sikong Du, what is the meaning of this!!"