Chapter 268: Dominance

The moment Yun Che appeared, someone from Blackwood Fort immediately widened his eyes and quickly leaned forward to whisper to Hei Muqingya: "Fort Master, it's him... He's the one who ruined our plans when we were about to abduct Su Hengshan's daughter!"

Hei Muqingya glanced at Yun Che, then suddenly slapped that person across the face and said in a low voice, "A bunch of useless trash! How could you let someone who just entered the Spirit Profound Realm ruin such an important matter? What good are you wastes?!"

The Blackwood Fort disciple who had been slapped had his face swollen high. He timidly retreated, not daring to utter another word.

Hei Muqingya stared menacingly at Yun Che and whispered to Su Hengyue, who stood before him, "Brother Hengyue, this boy is the one who prevented us from abducting that little girl! Hmph, he really messed up our big plan. If that girl were in our hands now, we wouldn't have to go through all this trouble!"

"It's him?" Su Hengyue's gaze towards Yun Che immediately turned sinister. He sneered, "I was just wondering where to find this brat, and he foolishly showed himself!"

Su Hengyue secretly sent a message to Su Haoyu: "Haoyu, find an excuse to teach this boy a severe lesson! It doesn't matter if you ‘accidentally’ kill him!"

Su Haoyu immediately understood. He scanned Yun Che's profound energy level, and a look of disdain appeared on his face. He took a step forward and said to Yun Che, "Where did this wild brat come from? You don't look like someone from my Vast Sky Gate. Heh! This is where my Vast Sky Gate discusses important matters, not a place for a wild brat like you, who appeared out of nowhere, to act presumptuously. Get out of here right now! If you don't want to leave by yourself, I can always send you rolling!"

As soon as Su Haoyu spoke these words, everyone present sensed something different. Su Haoyu's words were clearly meant to intentionally insult and provoke the other party. It seemed there was some previous conflict between them.

Yun Che, however, wasn't angered in the slightest. He thoroughly scrutinized Su Haoyu with his gaze, nodding at times and shaking his head in disappointment at others, as if he were appraising livestock for sale. He rested his chin in his hand and said unhurriedly, "Hmm, so you're Su Haoyu, the one claimed to have the highest aptitude in the Vast Sky Gate? You look decent enough, though you're at least a hundred thousand, eight thousand, eight hundred miles behind me. But you're presentable. It's just a pity your mouth is too foul; it's sickeningly offensive."

"Hahahaha!" Su Haoyu burst into loud laughter. "I wondered why a wild brat like you would come here. So you're looking for death!"

"No, no, no, no!" Yun Che wagged his finger. "I've lived this long and still don't know how to write the words ‘looking for death.’ I just happened to hear that you are the so-called most talented disciple of the Vast Sky Gate, so I came to see if you look more like a human or a dog. And while I'm at it..." Yun Che extended his right hand and rotated his wrist. "I'll humbly learn a thing or two from you, the so-called number one genius."

As soon as Yun Che uttered these words, many in the audience burst out laughing. Su Haoyu's profound energy at the eighth level of the Spirit Profound Realm was unrivaled by anyone under twenty in the Vast Sky Gate, or even the entire Jiangdong region. Yet Yun Che, merely at the first level of the Spirit Profound Realm, actually had the audacity to "humbly learn"! Yun Che appeared to be seventeen or eighteen. Reaching the Spirit Profound Realm at that age indicated considerable aptitude, but it was nothing worth mentioning before Su Haoyu. Many gazes turned mocking, some even looking at Yun Che as if he were an idiot.

"Heh heh, he truly doesn't know what's good for him." Su Hengyue and Hei Muqingya sneered simultaneously.

Su Hengshan's brow furrowed, and he was about to speak up to stop Yun Che, but just as the words were about to leave his mouth, he swallowed them back. After taking a deep look at Yun Che's expression, he said nothing more. Although he and Yun Che had only just met, in their brief interaction, he had sensed a maturity in Yun Che far beyond his years. He certainly wasn't a reckless or ignorant person... Perhaps there was a deeper meaning to his current actions.

Su Haoyu provoked Yun Che precisely to egg him into fighting him and then take the opportunity to teach him a severe lesson. To his surprise, before he had barely said a few words, Yun Che himself wanted to fight him. Su Haoyu sneered inwardly, crossing his arms over his chest, and said disdainfully, "You? You're not worthy of fighting me!"

"Hahahaha!" Yun Che laughed heartily. "I've seen oxen boast to the heavens, but I never thought a lowly bug like you could boast too. And the air you blow isn't just ridiculous, it's utterly revolting!"

"You... are seeking death!!"

Yun Che wasn't provoked, but Su Haoyu was. With a clang, he drew his longsword and pointed it at Yun Che. "Draw your weapon. Didn't you say you don't know how to write ‘seeking death’? Today, I'll teach you properly!"

Yun Che released Su Ling'er's hand and gently pushed her towards Su Hengshan, but did not draw a weapon. Instead, he casually fiddled with his hands in front of him and said carelessly, "For me to humbly learn from you is already giving you immense face. You actually want me to draw my weapon? You, it seems, are not yet qualified."

"Pfft..." Many people immediately burst out laughing.

"Hmph! This idiot is truly an embarrassment!" Su Haoyu cursed inwardly. Thinking of Xia Qingyue, who was beautiful as a fairy, his heart uncontrollably stirred, and he secretly seethed, "For such a beauty to marry an idiot like this, it's as if the heavens are blind!"

"Good... very good." Su Haoyu suddenly felt that even standing near this brat lowered his status and roared directly, "Then go die."

Su Haoyu thrust his longsword forward. As profound energy surged, the slender sword disturbed the surrounding air, creating ripples in space. The power contained within this single sword strike immediately caused many elders present to nod in admiration.

Yun Che's eyes slanted upwards, and his right hand casually swept out, grabbing towards Su Haoyu's longsword.

"Holy crap! This kid is looking for death!"

"He dares to directly catch Su Haoyu's sword with his bare hand? Does he not want his hand anymore? Let alone being only at the first level of the Spirit Profound Realm, even someone at the tenth level would be crippling themselves by doing this!"

"Young brother, be careful!!" Su Hengshan, already feeling uneasy, saw Yun Che's action and instantly lost his composure, crying out in alarm... But Yun Che's palm was less than half a chi away from Su Haoyu's sword. He could only watch helplessly as Yun Che's palm made contact with Su Haoyu's longsword.

With a 'thwack', Su Haoyu's sword was simply grasped in Yun Che's right hand, unable to advance another inch. The profound energy on the sword instantly dissipated. Before Su Haoyu could react, Yun Che's hand swiftly withdrew, transforming from a palm to a fist, and slammed powerfully onto the sword's blade.

Clang!!!

Yun Che's arm strength was terrifying. Under this heavy blow, Su Haoyu's thumb-web instantly ruptured, and the longsword flew out of his grasp, breaking into several pieces as it flew...

"Wh-What?!"

This was a scene no one could have ever imagined in their wildest dreams. They were all utterly flabbergasted. Even Su Hengshan, Su Hengyue, Hei Muqingya, and even the Grand Elder were completely stunned.

Su Haoyu stumbled back two steps, his pupils constricted. Blood poured from his right palm, and the pain was excruciating. This unexpected turn of events left his mind in a daze. Before he could even catch his breath, Yun Che's figure had already darted in front of him. A cold face appeared in his vision, and a solid punch landed squarely on his chest.

"Crack!!"

With a dull thud, Su Haoyu's entire chest caved in, his ribs completely shattered. He rolled a long distance like a tumbling gourd, leaving a long streak of blood on the ground.

"Haoyu!!" Su Hengyue was scared witless and leaped to Su Haoyu's side. Beside him, the middle-aged man named Li Yunji soared into the air, thrusting his sword towards Yun Che's chest. "You dare to harm my young master? Pay with your life!!"

Su Haoyu, known as the Vast Sky Gate's number one genius, was not only disarmed by Yun Che with bare hands but also severely injured in an instant. This left Su Hengshan both shocked and overjoyed. Suddenly seeing Li Yunji make a move, he quickly rushed over, simultaneously shouting, "Li Yunji, how dare you!! Young brother Yun, be careful!"

The oppressive aura of the Earth Profound Realm bore down. This time, Yun Che didn't dare to be complacent. With a flick of his hands, the Dragon Fault was already in his grasp. Without even looking at his attacker, he briefly activated "Burning Heart" and directly smashed out with a "Falling Moon Sinking Star" attack.

Boom!!!!

This immense boom vibrated eardrums, causing them to tremble for a long time. After Yun Che entered the first level of the Spirit Profound Realm, with "Burning Heart" activated, his peak strength was equivalent to that of an average Earth Profound Realm practitioner in the mid-stage. How could Li Yunji, at the second level of the Earth Profound Realm, possibly withstand it? Amidst the thunderous sound, Li Yunji, who had leaped forth, was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string. After landing, he stumbled back more than ten steps, then knelt down, propped up by his sword, and spurted out large mouthfuls of blood... The domineering power of Yun Che's sword made him feel as if his internal organs had been completely shattered.

Su Hengshan, who had originally intended to rush over and rescue Yun Che, stopped in his tracks. Looking at Yun Che holding the massive sword, his eyes were filled with shock.

Everyone's gaze towards Yun Che was filled with utter horror.

This young man, who appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, had actually defeated Su Haoyu in the blink of an eye, and then heavily injured Li Yunji, who possessed Earth Profound Realm profound energy, with a single strike... Even though they witnessed it with their own eyes, they still couldn't believe it was real.

"Wah, wah, wah, oh!!" Su Ling'er clutched her small face with both hands, her eyes sparkling with more stars than the clear night sky. "Big Brother Yun Che is so amazing! Big Brother Yun Che... is so handsome!!"

With a 'thunk', the Dragon Fault was deeply embedded into the ground by Yun Che. He coldly looked at Li Yunji and mocked, "From what Master Su just said, your life was saved by the previous Master, and you've been sheltered in the Vast Sky Gate for over a decade. Yet, instead of showing gratitude, you're helping those with ulterior motives to trouble and coerce his descendants... Heh! Even a dog knows loyalty. You're truly worse than a dog. The sword strike I just used on you, I feel like it dirtied my hands."

Yun Che was always incredibly harsh when cursing people. These words pierced Li Yunji's heart like daggers. Already suffering from severe internal injuries, his face turned pale, his eyes widened, and under the surge of anger, he directly fainted.

Su Hengyue frantically stuffed more than a dozen pills into Su Haoyu's mouth and continuously poured profound energy into him to dissolve the medicinal effects and stabilize his injuries. He then sharply turned his head, staring at Yun Che, his gaze like a blood-stained blade. "You damned junior! How dare you injure my son?! I'll make sure you die a terrible death!!"

"Hmph!" Yun Che scoffed, curling his lip in utter disdain. "Your son is less skilled but still spouts arrogant nonsense. I kindly stepped in to teach him a lesson. It's fine if you don't thank me properly, but you're still yelling and screaming there. I truly don't know where you get the courage to say such shameless things in front of so many people... If you want to blame someone, blame your incompetent son, calling himself a genius... He's a joke!"

"You!!" Su Hengyue's eyes were wide with rage, his lungs almost exploding from anger. If he didn't have to infuse profound energy into Su Haoyu, he would have surely disregarded his status and attacked Yun Che.

"This one... oh, Grand Elder." Yun Che completely ignored Su Hengyue and turned his gaze to the Grand Elder Su Wangji, whose face was exceptionally grim. "You just said that if a disciple around twenty years old could be found within the Vast Sky Gate who could defeat Su Haoyu, then the matter of the sect's greatest treasure would be entirely up to Master Su from now on. And that Su Hengyue and his son would never be allowed to mention the sect's greatest treasure again. Furthermore, they would have to apologize to Master Su. Su Hengyue also agreed to this in front of everyone present... Grand Elder, you haven't forgotten these words so quickly, have you?”

"Hmph!" Su Wangji snorted coldly. "What I say is naturally as good as gold. Unfortunately, you are not a disciple of my Vast Sky Gate! Even if you were to become a disciple now, it would be useless. The Vast Sky Gate has never accepted outside disciples! Li Yunji is merely half a house servant!"

"Heh heh, it seems the Grand Elder isn't very well-informed." Yun Che narrowed his eyes and said with a chuckle, "Master Su has already betrothed his daughter, Su Ling'er, to me. I am now Master Su's son-in-law... Tell me, am I not a member of the Vast Sky Gate?!"