Chapter 67: The Battle Shocks the City (Part 3)

Li Hao, the strongest among sixteen-year-olds, was easily defeated by his opponent's peer. Xia Yuanba gritted his teeth in silent indignation, regretting his own low profound strength. He couldn't even challenge Xuan Yu, let alone reclaim honor for Li Hao and the New Moon Profound Palace. But to his complete surprise, Xuan Yu pointed his finger directly at him. Staring at Xuan Yu's fingertip, Xia Yuanba's eyes widened, and he froze in shock.

And Xuan Yu actually called him "Senior Brother Big Guy"!

All eyes immediately focused on Xia Yuanba. All the elders of the New Moon Profound Palace frowned deeply, and the disciples were wide-eyed with astonishment. None of them had expected that Xuan Yu's chosen challenger would be Xia Yuanba, who was only fifteen years old and had simply come to watch the fun today! However, given Xia Yuanba's astonishing physique, it was indeed impossible for anyone unfamiliar with him to guess he was only fifteen! Mistaking him for a ten-year-old would have been normal.

Sikong Han spoke up, "This is Xia Yuanba, a disciple of our palace. However, you can't call him 'Senior Brother.' Although his physique is overly robust, he is only fifteen years old this year, making him the youngest in our palace."

"Fifteen... years old?" Many people from the Seven Profound Sect directly spat out the tea in their mouths. Xuan Yu also stared wide-eyed.

"Yuanba, since this disciple from the Profound Heart Sect wants to spar with you, accept the challenge openly," Sikong Han said, turning around. "You are still young, so there's no shame in losing. Just do your best."

"Yes, Elder," Xia Yuanba nodded and stood up. His massive body, nearly 2.3 meters tall, instantly caused a stir among many in the hall when he stood upright. Yun Che patted him and whispered, "Be careful, don't get hurt."

"Heh heh, don't worry. Although my profound strength isn't great, my body can take a beating," Xia Yuanba confidently patted his chest and walked to the center of the main hall. Standing before Xuan Yu, he said, "My name is Xia Yuanba, from Class One of the Profound Branch. I'm fifteen this year. Please guide me."

Xuan Yu clearly wanted to challenge someone older than him to demonstrate his power this time. He didn't expect to pick a "giant" who looked eighteen or older, only to find he was fifteen! A sixteen-year-old fighting a fifteen-year-old would gain almost no glory, even if he won. He casually probed the opponent's profound strength, and his mouth immediately twitched... only level six of the Elementary Profound Realm! Picking such an opponent would simply lower his own prestige!

"This idiot! I knew he'd cause trouble by coming to this banquet! If outsiders think that a mere level six of the Elementary Profound Realm can be an elite disciple of the Profound Branch, wouldn't we be a laughingstock? Hmph, truly disgraceful!"

A low murmur full of scorn and mockery slowly reached Yun Che's ears. Yun Che glanced sideways at Murong Ye, then withdrew his gaze, focusing his attention on Xia Yuanba.

Murong Ye, who had just closed his mouth, suddenly felt a chill run through him, and his whole body shivered violently. He hurriedly turned around, looking left and right, his heart pounding... In that instant, he felt as if he had suddenly plunged into an extremely cold ice cave, and as if a pair of terrifying venomous snake eyes were fixed on him. But he looked around for a long time and found nothing unusual, and the terrifying feeling of that moment had slowly faded. Murong Ye touched the cold sweat that had appeared on his forehead at some point, dismissing it as his own overthinking.

"Haaah! Mountain Splitting Stone Crushing!"

Xia Yuanba made the first move, clenching his fists. His massive body leaped up and slammed down hard. His physique, coupled with that invisible sense of pressure, truly exuded a certain "Mountain Splitting Stone Crushing" aura.

"He has the nerve to show off such trashy profound art! If Xuan Yu lets him last three moves, he'll never be able to show his face in public again!" an older disciple from the Profound Heart Sect said with a sneer.

Facing Xia Yuanba's immense attack, Xuan Yu neither dodged nor avoided it, not even bothering to assume a stance for a profound art. He simply raised his right arm horizontally, blocking Xia Yuanba's seemingly incredibly powerful heavy blow without any fancy moves, a hint of disdain gracing his lips...

With a muffled thud, Xia Yuanba's fists slammed heavily onto Xuan Yu's arm. Xuan Yu's arm sank slightly, then suddenly snapped upwards like a startled venomous snake. He directly trapped both of Xia Yuanba's thick arms in the crook of his elbow, and his profound strength burst forth.

Crack!!

"Ugh-ah-ah!!"

"Yuanba!" Yun Che shot to his feet.

With a cry of agony from Xia Yuanba, both of his arms were instantly dislocated. Xuan Yu swung his arm, actually flinging Xia Yuanba's body, which weighed over 350 jin, more than a meter into the air.

Originally, the "spar" should have ended here. Xia Yuanba was utterly defeated in one move, a result no one found surprising. Xuan Yu's powerful foundation, profound arts, and profound skills allowed him to win against opponents only one level below him within two moves, let alone Xia Yuanba, who was merely at level six of the Elementary Profound Realm. However, just as Xia Yuanba's body was suspended in the air, about to hit the ground hard, Xuan Yu's mouth suddenly curved into a sinister smirk, and a purple glow flashed on his right fist.

Yun Che immediately sensed Xuan Yu's intention and shouted, "Stop!!"

But Xuan Yu paid no attention to his words. A ruthless Purple Cloud Palm struck Xia Yuanba's body just as he was about to land.

The distinct sound of at least three ribs breaking echoed.

"Yuanba!!!!"

Yun Che could no longer care about anything else. He leaped to Xia Yuanba's side and supported his falling body. After Xia Yuanba landed, his face had turned deathly pale, blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, and his features were violently contorted in agony due to the severe pain. Xia Yuanba looked robust, but his protective profound strength was ultimately too weak; how could he withstand Xuan Yu's heavy blow?

Yun Che glared at Xuan Yu, his face pale with fury, and said, "A spar is for friendly practice, to stop when the point is made. The victory and defeat were clearly decided just now, so why did you strike so mercilessly?!"

"Heh!" Xuan Yu sneered with disdain, "Sparring is right, but swords have no eyes, and fists are hard to hold back – everyone knows that. It's common for people to get fatally injured during spars due to difficulty in holding back. A little injury is completely normal. How was I to know that the elite disciples of your New Moon Profound Palace are so fragile? They break bones and vomit blood after just one or two moves. Instead of blaming yourselves for being useless, you blame me?"

"Haha, Junior Brother Xuan Yu is absolutely right."

"Among us fellow disciples, breaking a leg or an arm is a common occurrence during spars. That's what true sparring is. This New Moon Profound Palace can't even handle a little injury, no wonder they've always been so pathetic, tsk tsk..."

"If you ask me, Junior Brother Xuan Yu was already holding back. If Junior Brother Xuan Yu had truly used his full strength, would that kid, with his level six Elementary Profound protective profound energy, still be alive now?"

A series of harsh voices came from the Seven Sects' side. The elders of the New Moon Profound Palace also shook their heads and sighed helplessly. Yun Che, fuming with anger, instead laughed, helping Xia Yuanba to the nearest person, Lan Xueruo. "Senior Sister Xueruo, would you mind helping me look after Yuanba?"

"Of course!" Lan Xueruo quickly knelt down, took out a vermilion and white pill, and placed it in Xia Yuanba's mouth. When she looked up, she saw Yun Che had already stood up and was walking towards Xuan Yu.

"Well said about swords having no eyes and fists being hard to hold back." Yun Che stood before Xuan Yu, his expression now incredibly calm. He stared at the man who dared to maliciously injure Xia Yuanba in front of him, and calmly stated: "Remember those words well... Next, I will be your opponent! Yun Che, Class One of the Profound Branch, sixteen years old!"

"Who is this young man? Sixteen years old, yet he's at level one of the Nascent Profound Realm, and his profound strength seems subtly stronger than Li Hao's. How have I never seen him?" The elders of the New Moon Profound Palace exchanged bewildered glances.

"No need to overthink it, he is indeed a disciple of our Profound Branch, but he only joined this afternoon. He's the grandson of an old friend of mine," Sikong Han explained to the other elders, though a look of worry creased his brow. Yun Che's profound strength aura was indeed slightly stronger than Li Hao's, but only by a little, basically on par. Li Hao was terribly defeated and seriously injured by Xuan Yu; Yun Che could not possibly have a different outcome, at most lasting a few more rounds. If Yun Che were to get injured right after joining the palace, he would truly feel ashamed before Xiao Lie. However, in this situation, those challenged had no choice but to fight, and those who stepped forward voluntarily couldn't be stopped. He could only watch, praying that Yun Che wouldn't suffer too serious injuries.

"Brother-in-law... be careful! He... he's too strong..." Xia Yuanba clutched his chest, speaking in a pained voice.

Yun Che's words startled Xuan Yu, then he burst into wild laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world: "Ah ha ha ha ha, are you warning me? Threatening me? Trying to pay me back in my own coin? Haha... ha ha ha ha! You? Ha ha ha ha..."

Xuan Yu's laughter was brazen and grating, yet no one thought he was being arrogant. He laughed for a long time before saying with a look of disdain, "Tsk tsk, I didn't expect someone in the sixteen-year-old bracket of New Moon Profound Palace to be on par with Li Hao. This level is quite impressive in New Moon City, but it's a pity you met me today. Seeing as you have the guts to challenge me voluntarily, how about I give you a special offer?"

Xuan Yu slowly extended five fingers, wiggling them in front of Yun Che: "Five moves! If you can last more than five moves against me, I'll count this spar as your win. How about that?"

"Hahaha, Junior Brother Xuan Yu, you really think too highly of him." A burst of laughter erupted from the Profound Heart Sect's side.

Qin Wuyou, the chairman of the banquet, who had remained silent since the "spar" began, finally showed a slight shift in expression. He quietly observed Yun Che's gaze, which remained undisturbed despite Xuan Yu's wild laughter and mockery, and inwardly sighed: This young man is not simple.

"Are you done with your nonsense?" Yun Che spoke coldly.

"Oh! Your name is... ah, Yun Che, right? Don't just stand there. If you want to start, just attack whenever you're ready. At least that way you'll get one move in. If I make the first move, you might not get a chance to attack at all," Xuan Yu said with a smirk, crossing his arms.

"Heh," Yun Che also smiled. Without another word, he suddenly lunged forward, extending his left hand straight towards Xuan Yu's neck.

"What? No profound art, not even one?" Xuan Yu's smile became even more mocking, his eyes narrowed. Not until Yun Che's left arm was less than two feet from his face did his right hand shoot out like lightning, abruptly grabbing for Yun Che's left wrist, then precisely catching his extended left hand in his palm...

A sinister smirk flashed at the corner of Xuan Yu's mouth. Just as he was about to unleash his profound strength and directly snap Yun Che's wrist, the hand that had supposedly grasped the wrist felt empty... His five fingers passed through Yun Che's wrist, grasping only empty air! And Yun Che's figure, at that moment, vanished as if turning into mist...

Simultaneously, a whistling gust of wind came from his right side. Stunned, he had no time to react...

An incredibly loud slap echoed through every corner of the main hall. Everyone heard it clearly, as crisp as if it had landed on their own face. Xuan Yu was slapped directly into the air, spinning a full 1440 degrees before falling heavily.

Yun Che had used his full strength without holding back for this slap. He disgustedly wiped the back of his slightly reddened right hand on his clothes and calmly said, "First move."