Chapter 117: Honor Battle

Jiang Fan was stunned. How was he looking down on anyone? Just now, he had simply been looking at Xu Yining's back, which reminded him of Xu Youran, and he had zoned out because he missed her. Too lazy to argue with Xu Yining, he nodded, "Yes, yes, you're right."

His perfunctory attitude annoyed Xu Yining even more. Angrily, she drew her sword and pointed it at Jiang Fan, "Let's spar! Do you dare?"

After three rounds of competition, only Cao Zhen, Jiang Fan, and Xu Yining remained. Normally, they would spar in pairs to determine the final rankings. However, Kong Wushuang, who had been watching the spars for a long time, was itching for a fight. He said with a half-smile, "Jiang Fan, how about I join in as well? You and that girl can spar one match, and I'll spar with Cao Zhen! Once those two nuisances are eliminated, you and I can have a proper fight."

Before Jiang Fan could agree, Cao Zhen scoffed, "Kong Wushuang! Do you really think you're all that? Eliminate me?" Of course, he couldn't make decisions on his own. Angrily, he turned to Grand Elder Feng Guchan, "Master, please allow me to teach this insolent fellow a lesson!"

Feng Guchan's eyes flickered, and he slowly nodded, "Don't bring shame to Reincarnation Peak..."

"Hold on!" Liu Wenchen interjected, "This is the Azure Cloud Sect's Ancestor Worship Ceremony. It's inappropriate for an outside sect disciple to participate." Kong Wushuang was the strongest new disciple of the Giant Sect. If he won first place at the Azure Cloud Sect's Ancestor Worship Ceremony, wouldn't outsiders laugh at them, saying that this generation of Azure Cloud Sect new disciples was weak and trampled underfoot by the Giant Sect?

Kong Yuanba chuckled, "Could it be that Sect Master Liu is worried that the Azure Cloud Sect's new disciples are inferior and would be shamed by a loss?"

Feng Guchan smiled and said, "Sect Master, let the youngsters play. It's harmless. With a disciple from my Reincarnation Peak present, victory is guaranteed."

He was smiling, but his words reeked of the arrogance that Reincarnation Peak was the strongest in the Azure Cloud Sect. It was clear he wanted to use the presence of the two major sect masters to display Reincarnation Peak's absolute strength and undermine the Sect Master's Peak's authority. His intentions were malicious.

Liu Wenchen's face was as grim as could be. If Tao Zhengjun were present, he would still have a chance. But the one remaining was Jiang Fan, who had seemingly advanced through luck! How could he possibly represent the Sect Master's Peak and contend with the formidable Kong Wushuang? Reincarnation Peak would completely steal the spotlight at this Ancestor Worship Ceremony. Most importantly, they would steal it in front of other sects. This was extremely detrimental to his reputation as the Azure Cloud Sect Master.

Before he could object, Feng Guchan announced on his behalf, "Let the matches begin! Jiang Fan and Xu Yining first!" By the time Liu Wenchen regained his composure, it was too late. Fury surged within him. The Grand Elder was becoming increasingly presumptuous, even daring to issue commands on behalf of the Sect Master! But constrained by the presence of the two outside sect masters, he couldn't erupt. Otherwise, people would see the serious internal conflicts within the Azure Cloud Sect. He could only swallow his anger and watch Jiang Fan and Xu Yining spar with indignation.

"Watch out!" Xu Yining immediately launched her strongest sword move, unleashing her full cultivation.

Jiang Fan was bewildered, "What did I do to you, to attack so fiercely? You're already at the Azure Cloud Sect, why are you still acting like a spoiled young lady!"

Jiang Fan wouldn't indulge her. He decisively unleashed a high-grade Yellow-tier leg technique from the Moha Stone Wall. Clang— Xu Yining's longsword flew from her grasp. But she gritted her teeth, refusing to give up, and wildly punched Jiang Fan with her small fists. Jiang Fan was speechless. She hadn't even learned any boxing techniques, had she? Without hesitation, he caught her fist with one hand, then spun, pulling her arm behind her back and twisting it. She was easily subdued.

Xu Yining was utterly mortified and furious. After half a month of arduous seclusion, she was subdued by Jiang Fan in just a few moves. The sight of the beauty being bullied made Cao Zhen particularly distressed. He angrily declared, "You, Jiang, how dare you bully Junior Sister Xu like that? I'll make you pay for this later!"

Xu Yining proudly snorted at Jiang Fan, "Did you hear that? Senior Brother Cao is going to stand up for me. You're about to be in big trouble. Hmph!"

Jiang Fan released her, a wry smile on his face, "Let's talk about it after he beats Kong Wushuang. My gut feeling tells me Kong Wushuang won't be easy to deal with."

Xu Yining rubbed her aching arm, a hint of complaint in her voice, "Your intuition is yours; it doesn't represent Senior Brother Cao! Just you wait and see his capability."

Oh, really? Jiang Fan smiled faintly and silently stepped aside. Amidst much anticipation, Cao Zhen and Kong Wushuang stepped into the open area. Both were top talents among the new disciples. Their strength was unparalleled!

Cao Zhen, gripping a longsword, said, "This sword of mine is a mid-grade spiritual artifact, incredibly sharp. Later, blades have no eyes. Don't blame me if you get hurt."

Kong Wushuang stood with his arms crossed, a bored expression on his face, "Stop rambling. No matter how sharp your sword is, you'll need to hit me first! Come on, I'll let you have three moves."

What? Let me have three moves? Cao Zhen felt utterly humiliated. He scoffed, "I, Cao Zhen, am a prodigy. I've sparred with people for years, and I've always been the one to give them concessions. This is the first time anyone has offered me concessions! Fine! I'll see if your strength matches your arrogance!" Clang! He drew his orange longsword and decisively unleashed his swordsmanship.

"Strike the Long Sky!""Chasing Stars, Pursuing the Moon!""Wind and Clouds Cover the Earth!"

He consecutively unleashed all three moves of this low-grade Profound-tier sword technique. However, these seemingly fierce moves appeared to be in slow motion before Kong Wushuang. He maintained a faint smile, arms crossed over his chest, without moving an inch. With just a casual shrug of his shoulder, a tilt of his head, and a slight shift of his body, he effortlessly parried all three moves. He truly honored his promise and let him have three moves.

The elders and disciples present all gasped. "He didn't just give him three moves! He clearly just stood there, letting you hack at him three times. Yet even so, Cao Zhen didn't harm a single hair on him! Are body refiners truly this terrifying? Their reaction speed is astounding!"

Feng Guchan was a little flustered. He had been very confident in Cao Zhen's strength, which was why he insisted on Cao Zhen fighting Kong Wushuang to spread the fame of Reincarnation Peak. Who knew, this Kong Wushuang was terrifyingly strong.

Kong Yuanba said in a sarcastic tone, "You have some nerve challenging my nephew. He possesses the greatest body-refining talent I've ever seen, far stronger than I was in my youth."

Hearing this, Feng Guchan's heart sank. Liu Wenchen was also immensely worried. If Cao Zhen lost, the consequences would be unimaginable!

In the arena, Cao Zhen was surprised and also a little mortified. In front of the entire sect, he had been utterly humiliated. He roared, swinging his sword again, "Don't look down on people!" However, if he couldn't do anything when Kong Wushuang stood still, what about now that the three moves were over? Cao Zhen felt a blur before his eyes. Kong Wushuang, who had just been standing still, turned into an afterimage, instantly sending Cao Zhen, person and sword, flying. He flew several yards, spitting blood, and finally crashed at Liu Wenchen's feet.

Liu Wenchen's face was as grim as could be. He glared at Feng Guchan with immense fury. This defeat wasn't just Cao Zhen's personal loss; it was a blow to the Azure Cloud Sect's reputation! In front of the patriarch's statue, during the grand Ancestor Worship Ceremony, the Azure Cloud Sect's strongest new disciple was severely wounded by an outside sect disciple in a single move. Wasn't this a colossal joke?

Feng Guchan, knowing he had caused a major disaster, argued disingenuously, "Don't you still have a disciple? It's not like only my Reincarnation Peak disciple lost; yours will lose too, won't he?"

Liu Wenchen wished he could have a huge fight with him right there! With such a Grand Elder, how could the Azure Cloud Sect not decline day by day! However, the two outside sect masters were present. No matter how furious he was, he had to suppress it until they left. With a grim face, he said impatiently, "Jiang Fan! Kong Wushuang! Finish this quickly!" He just wanted to quickly end this humiliating scene. After sending off the two sect masters, he would settle accounts with Feng Guchan properly!

Jiang Fan stepped forward expressionlessly. He also wanted to test whether his *Iron-Blood True Scripture* could contend with Kong Wushuang, who had been a body refiner since childhood.