Chapter 71: One War Shocks the City (Part 7)

The moment the first stage opened, Yun Che faintly heard a muffled thud from within his profound veins. Immediately after, the profound energy in his profound veins began to swell uncontrollably. This was not a simple expansion; even its density increased at an astonishing rate. The simultaneous surge in both quantity and density, a state that defied all logic, manifested with undeniable reality within Yun Che's profound veins the instant "Evil Soul" activated.

Accompanying this was the complete rampage of Yun Che's profound energy!

Jasmine had told Yun Che that the ability of the "God of Evil's Secret Arts" was "Rampage"! The uncontrolled surge of profound energy!

The rampaging profound energy surged out from his fifty-four profound openings, instantly flooding every corner of Yun Che's body. A terrifying sensation, as if his profound veins and body were about to explode, overcame him. Yet, it was merely "almost about to explode," not an unbearable overload. Jasmine had said he could barely activate the first stage, "Evil Soul," and indeed, it felt somewhat strained!

Bang!! Feng Guangyi's and Yun Che's fists collided squarely, producing a dull, deafening impact. This was a straightforward, unembellished confrontation of pure profound energy!

Crack!! The crisp sound of bone breaking echoed clearly for everyone to hear, and no one found it surprising. Immediately after, a piteous shriek rang out… and this shriek stunned everyone into silence…

Because the one screaming was not Yun Che, but… Feng Guangyi!!

All four fingers of his right hand, excluding the thumb, shattered upon impact, and even his wrist was brutally snapped. Yet, Yun Che's fist didn't stop there. After breaking through Feng Guangyi's fist, it continued forward, carrying the rampaging profound energy, and struck fiercely into his chest.

Feng Guangyi's protective profound energy shattered like fragile thin glass. He felt as if a massive boulder had slammed into his chest, and his entire body was sent flying backward like a withered leaf caught in a gale. His back slammed heavily against a central pillar in the hall, bouncing off it several meters away. He lay twisted on the ground, eyes wide, unable to stand up for a long time.

The hall fell silent, utterly hushed. Everyone's mouths hung wide open; they simply couldn't believe the scene before their eyes…

In a direct confrontation of pure profound energy, a level one Elementary Profound Realm practitioner had actually defeated—and completely crushed—a level three Elementary Profound Realm practitioner! Not to mention the young disciples, even the elders who had traversed half their lives and endured countless trials found it utterly unbelievable.

Yun Che slowly lowered his arm, calming his mind and profound energy, and closed the briefly activated first stage. Instantly, the swelling and stinging sensation throughout his profound veins and body vanished, replaced by a slight feeling of weakness. He took a few steps forward, looking at Feng Guangyi, whose eyes were filled with shock, humiliation, and disbelief. Yun Che said indifferently, "I'm arrogant because I have the capital to be arrogant. But for you to be arrogant in front of me, you're just bringing shame upon yourself. A dignified level three Elementary Profound Realm practitioner, yet you lost so miserably to a level one like me in a pure profound energy contest. Heh, now do you know who the joke is?"

"You…" Feng Guangyi gritted his teeth, struggling to stand. His right hand trembled with intense pain, and his face was pale… He knew very well that he had sustained significant internal injuries from that single blow.

The hall remained silent, with most of the Seven Sects' disciples utterly dumbfounded. They often sparred among their sects and were well aware of Feng Guangyi's strength, especially his "Nine Transformations of Wind and Cloud," which was enough to leave opponents two levels above him scrambling. Yet, his "Nine Transformations of Wind and Cloud" had only reached its second transformation before Yun Che's solid punch left him in utter disarray.

"Yun Che! You… do you really think you defeated me?!" Feng Guangyi, enraged and humiliated, clenched his left hand tightly. "Just now, I was merely careless and held back! Otherwise, how could a level one Elementary Profound Realm practitioner like you ever defeat me?!"

After speaking, he raised his left hand, profound energy rising again, and rings of wind began to swirl around his body. However, anyone could clearly see that this time the wind swirls were nearly half as weak as before, indicating he had clearly sustained significant injuries.

"Enough!" The Sect Master of Wind and Cloud Profound Palace coldly snorted. "Guangyi, you have lost. Retreat at once!"

Feng Guangyi clenched his left hand even tighter, gritting his teeth. "Sect Master, your disciple did not lose! I was merely careless and underestimated him just now. My Nine Transformations of Wind and Cloud only reached its second transformation. If I had fully unleashed it…"

"Silence!" The Sect Master of Wind and Cloud Profound Palace was now truly angry. "In the pure profound energy contest just now, anyone who isn't blind could see whether you held back! A level three Elementary Profound Realm practitioner losing to a level one, and you're still making excuses! Haven't you shamed our Wind and Cloud Profound Palace enough already?!"

Feng Guangyi's face immediately darkened. He glared resentfully at Yun Che, then lowered his head and walked back.

Yun Che took out a low-grade profound recovery pill and swallowed it, slowly restoring his profound energy. He then stood back in the center of the hall, his gaze proudly sweeping across the seats of the Seven Sects, and said indifferently, "That's three down. Next… who's coming!?"

He stood there like a proud monarch, exuding kingly pride and proclaiming his royal declaration.

Who would be next?

This was an arrogant challenge, an outright provocation and a slap in the face! Because he, a newly inducted disciple of New Moon Profound Palace, had consecutively defeated three disciples from their Seven Sects! Moreover, these three were not ordinary disciples; they were all renowned and recognized as geniuses among the younger generation of New Moon City! Yet today, on the very battlefield they had intended to use for provocation and displaying their might against New Moon Profound Palace, they had repeatedly fallen to Yun Che alone.

And the opponent was only a level one Elementary Profound Realm practitioner!

Everyone's gaze towards Yun Che completely changed. His victory over Xuan Yu could be attributed to a surprise attack using strange movement profound skills. His victory over Yan Ming seemed to be due to the opponent's repeated basic mistakes. But his victory over Feng Guangyi… everyone saw clearly that it was a genuine, unembellished clash of profound energy, an absolute and undisputed victory!

To defeat a level three Elementary Profound Realm practitioner to such an extent in a head-on collision would require at least level five, or even level six, profound energy! Yet, a level one Elementary Profound Realm practitioner had actually unleashed such terrifying profound energy. What did this imply? The only explanation was that he had deliberately prevented himself from breaking through, maintaining his profound energy level at a very low standard, thereby allowing his profound energy to become incredibly dense during cultivation. As a result, although his profound energy level was only Elementary Profound Realm level one, its intensity might be comparable to Elementary Profound Realm level five or even six!

This was the only possibility everyone could conceive!

In other words, Yun Che… at sixteen years old, possessed power equivalent to or exceeding level five of the Elementary Profound Realm!

Thinking of this, everyone was deeply moved! What monstrous talent and potential this was! Such talent, even within the Seven Great Sects, would be considered top-tier!

Lan Xueruo's eyes were now sparkling with admiration. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Junior Brother Xia, your brother-in-law is actually so powerful! Is he really from Flowing Cloud City in the east, just like you?"

Although her talent was excellent, she admitted that at the same age, she could absolutely not achieve Yun Che's level.

"Uh… uh… ah… mm…"

Compared to Lan Xueruo, Xia Yuanba was so stunned that he had forgotten his injuries and pain. He knew Yun Che's background thoroughly, and seeing Yun Che display such power now, his large eyes were nearly popping out. He had no idea how many times he had muttered to himself, "Brother-in-law is actually so powerful… brother-in-law is actually so powerful… brother-in-law is surprisingly so powerful…"

The elders of New Moon Profound Palace, who had been filled with various worries and anxieties, now beamed with joy, their eyes gleaming with wonder. In defeating Feng Guangyi, Yun Che had demonstrated absolute overwhelming power, with no tricks involved! He had consecutively defeated three city-renowned genius disciples from the Seven Sects, causing the Seven Sects to suffer a setback and allowing New Moon Profound Palace to finally hold its head high. Most critically, New Moon Profound Palace had actually gained a disciple with such powerful talent and strength this time. Given Yun Che's current display of power and potential, he might even have a chance to reach the Sky Profound Realm in the future! If that day truly came, then the entire New Moon Profound Palace would be honored because of him.

"Elder Sikong, is he truly a new disciple of our Profound Palace?" The two elders sitting beside Sikong Han asked almost simultaneously. Although Yun Che already bore the New Moon Profound Palace's insignia and presented himself as a New Moon Profound Palace disciple, they now found it hard to believe that a youth with such astonishing talent had actually joined their New Moon Profound Palace.

Sikong Han slowly nodded, unable to suppress the smile on his face. He stroked the few hairs on his chin, his face full of pride. "That's right! He's the grandson of a long-time friend of mine. He heard I was here, so he came to seek refuge, hehehehe."

"Oh my! Elder Sikong has truly brought a genuine genius to our Profound Palace this time!" the two elders exclaimed in admiration.

The disciples of New Moon Profound Palace were already filled with surging emotions. Watching Yun Che defeat three opponents consecutively and continue his arrogant challenge, the excitement and exhilaration in their hearts, after being constantly suppressed, bullied, and scorned by the Seven Sects, were indescribable. Yun Che's name and his image at that moment were deeply imprinted in their minds. This junior brother, who had just joined the Profound Palace, allowed them to raise their heads high in front of the Seven Sects for the very first time.

However, in response to Yun Che's latest challenge, none of the Seven Sects stepped forward.

Among the disciples the Seven Sects brought this time, in the sixteen-year-old age group, apart from the super-abnormal Xiao Luocheng, the highest strength was peak level three Elementary Profound Realm, which was Feng Guangyi's level. Yet, Feng Guangyi had been miserably defeated by Yun Che in fewer than three moves. Others of similar strength would likely face the same outcome. What immense humiliation would it be for a disciple of the Seven Sects to be defeated by a peer from New Moon Profound Palace in an uphill battle? Such a story would invite countless jeers, and no one wanted to risk such ignominy.

As for the older disciples, they were even more reluctant to step forward. If they won, it would be seen as bullying the young, bringing no glory and only ridicule. If they lost… that would be utterly disgraceful.

As for Xiao Luocheng, although he was also sixteen years old like Yun Che, everyone subconsciously disregarded him as an opponent. As the Young Sect Master of the Outer Sect of the Xiao Sect, having reached level ten of the Elementary Profound Realm at just sixteen, he was renowned as the foremost expert among the younger generation within a thousand-mile radius of New Moon City. His aura was unparalleled. Although Yun Che's displayed strength and talent were astonishing, no one would compare him to Xiao Luocheng, as it would simply be an insult to Xiao Luocheng.

Xiao Luocheng sat quietly, his slender fingers lightly tracing circles along the rim of his cup, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips, as if completely uninterested in everything happening in the hall.