Chapter 219: Rapid and Decisive Victory

While Mu Tianbei's words were an "invitation," his tone was filled with arrogance and forcefulness, implying that his offer for Yun Che to join the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress was an immense honor, one that should evoke overwhelming gratitude. His disdain for the Cyan Wind Profound Palace was particularly strong. Yun Che felt Qin Wushang's rising anger beside him and replied with a slight smile, "Thank you, Fortress Master Mu, for thinking highly of me. However, I believe you already know that I, Yun Che, am a disciple of the Cyan Wind Profound Palace. I haven't considered leaving yet, so I can only decline your kind invitation."

Mu Tianbei's expression remained unchanged as he said, "Nephew Yun, such conviction is naturally commendable, but before you make your decision, you must think carefully. The Cyan Wind Profound Palace is merely a place for commoners to cultivate profound energy. Among the empire's major profound cultivation powers, it doesn't even rank in the middle. If it weren't for its association with the imperial family, it wouldn't even qualify as a bottom-tier force! In terms of foundation, resources, and cultivation techniques, it's poles apart from my Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress! A gem like you, staying in a mere Cyan Wind Profound Palace, won't make significant progress. In the end, you might even be assimilated into a commoner."

"Mu Tianbei! Watch your words!" Qin Wushang yelled angrily.

"Palace Master Qin, have I said anything incorrect?" Mu Tianbei finally glanced at Qin Wushang, smiling scornfully. "Has the Cyan Wind Profound Palace ever cultivated a top-tier disciple worth remembering in all these years? As for Nephew Yun, he must be an outsider, correct? Nephew Yun's performance is truly astonishing, but unfortunately, your Cyan Wind Profound Palace isn't worthy of keeping him! Instead, you would only spoil and bury this genius who has the potential to become famous throughout the world! It's different if he comes to my Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress. We will provide him with the best resources and the most superior cultivation techniques. Three years from now, I, Mu Tianbei, am confident that he will secure a top-three position in this ranking tournament and become renowned across the land. Nephew Yun, ultimately, a person lives for themselves. Don't let so-called 'loyalty' jeopardize your future. A small Cyan Wind Profound Palace is simply not worthy of your presence."

Qin Wushang was filled with rage, almost wanting to abandon his composure and curse loudly. At the same time, his heart sank, fearing that Yun Che might truly be poached. He couldn't deny that the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress's power far surpassed that of the Cyan Wind Profound Palace. To be blunt, their respective strengths and conditions were not even on the same level. If Yun Che went to the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress, his profound cultivation conditions would be incomparably better than at the Cyan Wind Profound Palace.

However, Cang Yue had no such concerns. She smiled slightly and said, "While Yun Che is a disciple of the Cyan Wind Profound Palace, the Palace's original purpose was to provide a cultivation ground for countless young profound practitioners in the empire, not to interfere with a disciple's freedom to stay or leave. Fortress Master Mu has made his intentions clear enough. If Yun Che is swayed by this and wishes to leave the Cyan Wind Profound Palace to join your Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress, we will absolutely not interfere."

"Hahahahaha!" Mu Tianbei burst out laughing. "Good! As expected of the legendary Princess Cang Yue, not only is she as noble as rumored, but she also has courage! Nephew Yun, did you hear that clearly? But even if they don't agree, it doesn't matter. As long as you're willing to come to my Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress, even if the entire Cyan Wind Profound Palace tries to stop you, I wouldn't bat an eye."

"Heh, Fortress Master Mu doesn't need to consider that at all," Yun Che said with a faint smile, his gaze casually fixed on him. "The Cyan Wind Profound Palace only allows disciples to stay until they're twenty. I'll leave sooner or later anyway. However, even if the Cyan Wind Profound Palace were to expel me right now, I would absolutely not join your Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress. It's not that your Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress lacks strength, but rather, I believe a sect led by a fortress master who doesn't even understand respect or how to speak properly, no matter how powerful it is, is likely just a chaotic, third-rate place. It's better not to go."

The moment these words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly froze.

Qin Wushang, who had been full of anger, felt not relief or satisfaction, but shock upon hearing this. He had never imagined that Yun Che would dare to speak such words in front of the world-renowned Mu Tianbei. In contrast, Cang Yue was only slightly surprised, because she knew Yun Che well enough... this guy was never afraid of offending people! When he spoke, he said whatever pleased him; he never held back when he didn't need to endure.

Mu Tianbei had considered that Yun Che might refuse, but he never imagined that a junior would dare to utter such disrespectful, even insulting, words to him. His brows furrowed, and his face darkened. "Nephew Yun, what did you just say? I don't think I heard you clearly..."

"I said, a sect led by a fortress master who doesn't even understand respect or how to speak properly, no matter how powerful it is, is likely just a chaotic, third-rate place. It's better not to go," Yun Che repeated slowly, a smile still on his face, facing Mu Tianbei's piercing gaze. "This time, Fortress Master Mu, did you hear that clearly?"

It was as if a ball of rage exploded in Mu Tianbei's chest. His fury surged, and the muscles in his face twitched. Although the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress was not as powerful as the Four Great Sacred Grounds, no one dared to provoke it; people usually scrambled to curry favor with it. Yet now, a junior dared to openly mock him, a dignified fortress master, without batting an eye. His gaze turned fierce, and he said in a low voice, "Good... very good..."

"The feeling is mutual," Yun Che replied with extreme calmness. "You look down on my Cyan Wind Profound Palace, and I look down on your Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress. That makes us even. If you have nothing else, Fortress Master Mu, you may leave. As for me joining the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress, please never mention it again. In my eyes, the Cyan Wind Profound Palace is infinitely better than the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress. Don't even talk about you, a mere fortress master, showing up; even if everyone in your entire sect knelt before me, I would absolutely not agree."

In just a few words, Yun Che unceremoniously returned Mu Tianbei's disdain and sarcasm for the Cyan Wind Profound Palace many times over. Truth be told, Yun Che didn't have much emotional attachment to the Cyan Wind Profound Palace; even if he were expelled, he wouldn't feel much. His fearless counterattack wasn't for the Cyan Wind Profound Palace, but for Cang Yue.

If this weren't Heavenly Sword Villa, where one couldn't casually resort to violence, Mu Tianbei would have directly killed Yun Che. He was so enraged he laughed instead, glaring at Yun Che. "What an arrogant junior! You've truly opened my eyes! I originally had compassion for talent and intended for Yan'er to go easy on you tomorrow, but it seems you don't want to live! I'll see if you're still capable of being arrogant in front of me at this time tomorrow... Let's go!!"

Mu Tianbei let out a heavy snort and strode away. Mu Xiongyi and Mu Xiongyan followed behind him. As they left the courtyard, Mu Xiongyan turned to glance at Yun Che, a malicious smile spreading across his face.

Yun Che's sarcastic counterattack naturally greatly pleased the frustrated Qin Wushang. While grateful to Yun Che, he was more concerned. He sighed softly and said, "Yun Che, you were too impulsive just now. You could have simply refused him; there was no need to offend him. This way, for tomorrow's match, sigh..."

"Don't worry, Palace Master Qin," Yun Che said with a faint smile. "In this ranking tournament, I only have one true opponent. Before I face that true opponent, I will absolutely not be defeated. As for Mu Xiongyan tomorrow, he's not even a threat to me; he doesn't even qualify to make me use my full strength."

The night passed, and a new day began. New matches were also approaching. By early morning, the area around the Sword Discourse Arena was already packed with people, quietly awaiting the start of the Top Sixteen matches. At least so far, the progress of this Cyan Wind Ranking Tournament had been fairly conventional. If there was anything out of the ordinary, it was Yun Che, this super dark horse.

As for the final outcome of the ranking tournament, it was already predetermined in everyone's minds on the first day's Profound Vein Testing Ceremony... The first place would undoubtedly belong to Ling Yun. The second, third, and fourth places would still be contested by the Ice Cloud Asgard, Xiao Sect, and Burning Heaven Clan. Other sects simply weren't qualified to contend for these positions.

The Top Sixteen matches were destined to be far more intense and suspenseful than yesterday's Top Thirty-Two.

The first match of the Top Sixteen: Yun Che of the Cyan Wind Imperial Family — against — Mu Xiongyan of the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress.

"Yan'er, cripple him!" Mu Tianbei instructed in a low voice before Mu Xiongyan stepped onto the stage. A night had passed, but his anger had not subsided. Since becoming fortress master, Yun Che was the first person to dare utter insulting words to him, enough to make him hold a grudge to his very bones.

"Don't worry, Father, I'll make sure he never stands up again for the rest of his life," Mu Xiongyan said with an easy grin.

On the Sword Discourse Arena, Yun Che and Mu Xiongyan stood facing each other. Mu Xiongyan's eyes were slightly narrowed, a cold smirk playing on his lips. His relaxed and casual posture suggested that Yun Che in front of him was merely prey in his hands. Yun Che, however, remained completely calm.

Qin Wushang had explained in detail last night that the Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress was divided into the Heavenly Spear Sect and the Thunderflame Sect. The Thunderflame Sect could transform profound energy into thunder and flame, causing immense destructive power. At the same time, the Thunderflame Sect had always passed down the ability to create and control various high-grade fire weapons. Every Thunderflame Sect disciple carried dozens, even scores, of dangerous fire weapons on them, making them incredibly dangerous and difficult to guard against.

Yun Che wasn't particularly concerned about the transformation of profound energy into thunder and flame, but he couldn't gauge the true power of the fire weapons Mu Xiongyan carried. Countless experiences of life-and-death escapes had taught him that uncertainty was often the source of danger. The safest strategy when facing Mu Xiongyan was to completely eliminate any potential threats in the shortest possible time.

Therefore, for him, this match was destined to be decided in the blink of an eye.

"Match start!!"

As Ling Wugou's voice fell, Mu Xiongyan raised both hands, his fingers splayed. Ten purplish-red spheres of lightning condensed at his fingertips in an instant, emitting a terrifying crackling sound. He looked at Yun Che and laughed sinisterly, "Yun Che, prepare to howl under my thunderflames! I'll make you remember the price of insulting my Heavenly Spear Thunderflame Fortress for the rest of your life!"

Yun Che didn't reply. Gripping his heavy sword, his figure flickered, and he charged towards Mu Xiongyan like a gust of wind.

Mu Xiongyan gestured with both hands, and ten thunderflame beads condensed from profound energy shot towards Yun Che along different trajectories. Yun Che, however, didn't dodge or evade, instead meeting them head-on. This scene made Mu Xiongyan smirk coldly, "Seeking death... Explode!!"

Boom boom boom...

The ten thunderflame beads exploded simultaneously, and the rampant thunderflame light instantly engulfed Yun Che's figure. Before Mu Xiongyan could even laugh aloud, he abruptly discovered that the moment the thunderflame beads exploded, Yun Che's figure had vanished from that spot.

Afterimage!?

The next instant, he suddenly noticed a shadow flash in the corner of his eye. Yun Che had already appeared right beside him, less than two steps away. If it were anyone else, even if they could react quickly and defend themselves, they would surely be flustered. But Mu Xiongyan, far from panicking, instead smirked sinisterly. He didn't turn sideways; he abruptly surged his profound energy, and three crimson thunder-rockets shot out from his shoulders, flying straight for Yun Che's face.

"Ah—"

Cries of alarm erupted around the Sword Discourse Arena, and Cang Yue even let out a nervous shriek. At such close range, and with such an unexpected frontal assault, even an immortal might not be able to dodge these three thunder-rockets.

Whoosh!!

In a flash, the three thunder-rockets had reached Yun Che's eyes and passed through his face...

Still an afterimage!!

Mu Xiongyan's eyes widened. Before he could recover from his shock, an intensely scorching wave of energy crashed down from above...

"Phoenix Wing Sky Splinter!!!"

Boom!!

Yun Che descended from above like a fierce eagle, his hot and violent sword striking fiercely against Mu Xiongyan's back. A massive burst of fire exploded with a deafening roar, engulfing everything.

By this point in the ranking tournament, it was Yun Che's first time using Star God Broken Shadow, whose second stage's continuous triple afterimage was truly unfathomable. Similarly, it was also his first time using a Phoenix Flame skill... Everything was to achieve a quick victory and directly avoid all possible unstable factors.

Amidst the soaring flames, Mu Xiongyan's protective profound energy shattered like thin ice. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, flew out violently, then bounced off the profound energy barrier and hit the ground. The flames on his body did not extinguish; instead, they raged, burning his clothes and flesh, and igniting the dozens of hidden fire weapons on his person...

Bang bang bang boom boom boom...

The fire weapons, upon contact with fire, all exploded wildly on Mu Xiongyan's body, tearing his skin and flesh, leaving him a bloody mess, screaming shrilly like a ghost. Yun Che retrieved his heavy sword and looked at him with pity, murmuring inwardly: "These fire weapons meant for me, you might as well enjoy them yourself!"