Chapter 149: The Day of the Challenge

"Heaven... Wolf... Slash... Haaah!"

With Yun Che's explosive roar, the Overlord's Colossal Sword suddenly unleashed a majestic aura, like surging waves. In an instant, the surrounding space churned, and the air was forcefully pushed aside. The moment the heavy sword cleaved down, the image of a sky-howling giant wolf flashed behind Yun Che.

Boom!!!

As the heavy sword struck the ground, the training room, fortified with powerful profound energy restrictions, immediately trembled violently. Countless wide cracks spread rapidly, and a shower of debris flew everywhere. A thick, chaotic cloud of dust instantly filled the entire room. If not for the formidable profound energy protection, the training room would have been shattered into a thousand pieces by this single strike.

"S-succeeded!" Yun Che, leaning on his heavy sword, slowly knelt to the ground, panting. A look of immense excitement spread across his face. "I finally... finally successfully unleashed the Heaven Wolf Slash!"

Jasmine had initially thought that Yun Che mastering the overall secret of the Heaven Wolf Hell God Tome within a month would be his absolute limit. She never expected that he would not only fully comprehend the secret but also perfectly execute the Heaven Wolf Slash, the first sword technique of the Heaven Wolf style. During this period, Yun Che rarely left the training room; his heavy sword was never out of reach. Even while he slept, he carried it on his back. In his daily sword practice, he was extremely harsh on himself, pushing himself to complete exhaustion every time, almost to the point where he couldn't even move his little finger. Initially, he would reach exhaustion dozens of times a day. Gradually, these instances became fewer, and the Overlord's Colossal Sword felt increasingly light and agile in his hands, yet each swing of the heavy sword generated an even more formidable and unmatched storm of power.

The dust in the training room lingered for a long time. Behind the dust, Jasmine silently watched Yun Che's blurry figure, her starlike eyes filled with tears. She had impulsively taught Yun Che the Great Way of the Buddha and the Heaven Wolf Hell God Tome. Wasn't it precisely for a moment like this?

Yun Che's first complete "Heaven Wolf Slash" just now—the sword swing, the roar, the movement of his body, the thunderous impact of the heavy sword—was so similar that for a moment, she saw the figure that haunted her dreams.

But reason cruelly reminded her that it wasn't her brother; her brother could never appear again.

A single "Heaven Wolf Slash" had drained Yun Che of his last ounce of strength. He knelt on the ground, unable to stand for a long time. Just then, the Sound Transmission Jade inside the Sky Poison Pearl suddenly shimmered, and a wisp of Lan Xueruo's voice echoed in his mind's sea:

"Junior Brother Yun, tomorrow is the day of your duel with Murong Yi. Remember to prepare early. It's best to get a good day's rest; I'll come wake you tomorrow morning."

Lan Xueruo's voice made Yun Che's mouth drop open. Tomorrow?

Tomorrow was the day of his duel with Murong Yi?

When intensely focused on cultivation, it was hard to notice the passage of time; sometimes, days would slip by unnoticed while in meditation. Yun Che had been completely unaware that three full months had passed since he first entered the training room.

During these three months, except for one accidental encounter with the Little Fairy outside, he had spent almost all his time in the training room. Three months, neither long nor short, yet in these three months, his gains were substantial. The mastery of the Great Way of the Buddha and the Heaven Wolf Hell God Tome alone had brought about a transformative change in him.

Since tomorrow was the day of the duel, Yun Che naturally wouldn't continue cultivating. The first Heaven Wolf sword technique was also mastered, leaving him thoroughly satisfied. After recovering some strength, he changed his clothes, left the Profound Gathering Pagoda, returned to his residence, and immediately collapsed onto his bed, falling asleep.

While he slept, his True Profound Realm Level One profound energy, which had reached its peak half a month prior, naturally broke through in his tranquil sleep, advancing to True Profound Realm Level Two.

During his time in the training room, Yun Che had only slept for two or three hours daily. This time, however, he slept continuously from afternoon until the next morning, until he was woken by a knock at the door.

"Junior Brother Yun, are you in there?"

Yun Che woke to the knocking, feeling exceptionally well-rested and invigorated. He stretched, got out of bed to straighten his clothes, then quickly went to open the door. Lan Xueruo stood gracefully before him, smiling gently, holding a large bento box from which wafted a delicious aroma.

"Wow! What's that smell? It's so good!" Yun Che had been eating various dried rations for a while. Usually, he didn't mind, but this aroma made his stomach rumble with anticipation.

"Your breakfast," Lan Xueruo said, smiling as she presented the bento box to him.

She opened the box, revealing an exquisite meal of four dishes and a soup, their fragrances wafting out. Since leaving the Xiao Sect, Yun Che had lived off the land for the first half of the year, and for the latter half, he had mostly eaten dry rations. Such a delicious meal felt like a long-lost luxury.

Yun Che sat down at the table and began to devour the food. After a few bites, he suddenly remembered something and asked somewhat awkwardly, "Senior Sister, have you eaten yet?"

Lan Xueruo smiled faintly. "I've eaten. Eat slowly; it's only eight o'clock, and there's still half an hour until the duel."

Yun Che then began to gobble down his food. Lan Xueruo, resting her chin in her hands, quietly watched his childlike eating, a soft chuckle escaping her lips unconsciously. In less than fifteen minutes, Yun Che had eaten everything, leaving barely a crumb. She blinked, then asked with a smile, "Was it good?"

"Mm, it was delicious, almost as good as my little aunt's cooking," Yun Che said, patting his stomach contentedly.

"Mm, that's good," Lan Xueruo nodded, a look of contentment and ease appearing between her brows.

That subtle change in her expression made Yun Che pause. Then he tentatively asked, "Senior Sister, did you make these dishes yourself?"

"Yes," Lan Xueruo nodded, smiling. "It's best if it suits your taste. But your eating habits really are like a child's."

"I'm already seventeen, how am I like a child!" Yun Che pressed his nose lightly, then raised his gaze, his eyes holding a subtle, assertive glint as he looked directly into Lan Xueruo's beautiful eyes. "Senior Sister, you're so beautiful, so gentle, and you even have such great cooking skills... I wonder which man, lucky enough to be struck by lightning, will gain your favor in the future... Uh, can't you really consider a man who's younger than you and already married?"

"There you go again," Lan Xueruo gave him a helpless glance. "If you dare tease Senior Sister again, I won't cook for you anymore."

"Uh... so, if I don't tease you, Senior Sister will still often cook for me in the future?" Yun Che's face immediately lit up with surprise and a smile.

"It depends on your behavior," Lan Xueruo chuckled softly, a hint of charm she herself didn't notice subtly woven into her tenderness. She took out a set of pure white silk training clothes from her spatial ring and placed them in front of Yun Che. "These training clothes were just made for you; they should fit your body well. They've been specially treated, not only making movement very convenient but also providing a certain degree of resistance to external forces. Wear them when you fight Murong Yi later."

Yun Che took them, not putting them on immediately. Instead, he gently sniffed them. Though faint, the scent was familiar—it was Lan Xueruo's gentle, enchanting body fragrance. He smiled and asked, "Did Senior Sister make these training clothes for me herself too?"

Lan Xueruo's pink lips moved slightly, and a faint blush appeared on her fair face. Lowering her gaze, she said, "It's my first time making clothes for a man, so I don't know if they'll fit very well... Just try them on first."

Having said that, Lan Xueruo turned her back. Watching Lan Xueruo's back, Yun Che smiled, a heartwarming sensation rising within him. He quickly removed his outer clothes and put on the training attire handmade by Lan Xueruo.

"Senior Sister, I've changed."

Lan Xueruo turned around. Her beautiful eyes immediately sparkled with an unusual light as she looked at Yun Che, now dressed in the white training uniform.

Compared to three months ago, Yun Che had grown a bit taller. Lan Xueruo had carefully considered this when sewing, so the training clothes fit him perfectly, without any awkwardness. But in these three months, Yun Che had changed more than just his height; the transformative effect of the Great Way of the Buddha had subtly altered his eyes, skin, aura, and demeanor. His eyes had become deeper, appearing like a vast and boundless starry sky at a glance. The smile on his lips was warm yet carried an indescribable hint of wickedness, and his increasingly mature face was exceptionally handsome. She had seen countless handsome men and never felt any inner stirrings due to a man's appearance, yet looking at Yun Che at this moment, her gaze became hazy and dazed, and her heart began to flutter wildly.

She quickly averted her gaze slightly, saying with a hint of fluster, "It fits very well, and... and it looks great."

Yun Che raised his arm, lightly sniffing the scent on the sleeve, and said with a smile, "These are clothes Senior Sister made for me herself; I'll treasure them... Thank you, Senior Sister."

"Then... how will you thank me?" Lan Xueruo's eyelashes curved slightly as she asked, a little playfully.

"Hmm, let me think about that," Yun Che said, tilting his head as if in thought, then suddenly gave a mysterious smile. "Senior Sister, close your eyes first."

"Hm?" Lan Xueruo blinked her beautiful eyes, then obediently closed them, awaiting Yun Che's "thanks." She guessed Yun Che might give her a surprise, and no matter the girl, there was an undeniable anticipation for such things.

The moment her eyes closed, she felt a familiar masculine presence suddenly draw near. Then, a pair of arms wrapped around her slender waist. Before she could react, a fiery warmth pressed against her cherry-red lips, and a strong male scent filled her nostrils.

A soft gasp escaped her.

Lan Xueruo's eyes snapped open, her delicate body suddenly stiffening as her mind went blank. Instinctively, she began to struggle, a wounded animal-like whimper escaping her lips. But Yun Che held her tightly, and her struggles were too weak to break free. The sensation on her lips grew clearer, and the close proximity of his breath heavily stirred her heartstrings, making her heart pound like a trapped deer. Her strength gradually left her. Finally, her struggles grew weaker and weaker. Her small, raised hand fell limply before it even reached Yun Che's chest. Her body remained stiff, not daring to move, and her eyes slowly closed once more.

Lan Xueruo's reaction eased the tension in Yun Che's heart, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his lips. No longer content with just a touch of their lips, he began to greedily suck on her delicate, petal-soft lips. His increasingly aggressive movements made Lan Xueruo's breathing quicken and her heartbeat intensify. Utterly inexperienced, she had no idea how to resist his advances. Her slightly parted teeth were easily bypassed by Yun Che, his tongue reaching her shy, lilac-like tongue.

A soft moan escaped her. Lan Xueruo's entire body trembled as if she'd been shocked. Several traces of light, sweet essence were drawn into Yun Che's mouth; the taste was unexpectedly clear and sweet, making him involuntarily desire more. His hands tightened around her waist, exploring every corner of her mouth.

Lan Xueruo's eyes subtly opened a sliver, her gaze hazy like mist, and delicate hums continuously escaped her nose. Under Yun Che's increasingly passionate assault, her slender neck arched back. From instinctively recoiling, she unknowingly began to respond. Her hot breath fanned against Yun Che's face, her delicate body grew progressively hotter, and her soft arms unconsciously tightened around Yun Che's body.

Meanwhile, one of Yun Che's hands subtly left her slender waist and audaciously moved to Lan Xueruo's swelling bosom, gently kneading that full softness through her not-too-thick clothes.

"Ah..."

The immense stimulation made Lan Xueruo's body stiffen. Her beautiful eyes widened, and a sudden, sharp gasp escaped her lips. In a flurry, she broke free from Yun Che's embrace, instinctively raising a hand to cover the area he had just touched. Her gaze was dazed, her face flushed, her hair disheveled, and she gasped for breath.

"Senior Sister, I..." Yun Che's mind also cleared a little, realizing he had been too abrupt and offensive.

"You..." Lan Xueruo bit her lip, not daring to look directly at Yun Che, unable to suppress the panic in her heart.

"Bad... bad man!" She had intended to scold Yun Che, but what came out was more like a young girl's playful complaint to her lover. This made her face flush even more, and she fled outside as if escaping.

"Senior Sister, wait for me."

Yun Che quickly chased after her, grabbing her small hand. Lan Xueruo instinctively tried to pull away, but after several attempts, she couldn't break free. She could only let him hold her hand as they walked side by side, her head bowed, still not daring to meet his gaze.