Chapter 745: Wheel Battle

"I can't believe it's Core Disciple Fan Chong this time. Those five Nascent Soul cultivators are in for a bad time."

"Fan Chong's combat talent is incredibly rare, even among core disciples. He's never met his match at the same cultivation level."

"You're right. I heard that even though Fan Chong is only at the Mid-Nascent Soul stage, he can fight a cultivator at the Early-Soul Transformation stage for a hundred rounds before being defeated. That's a cross-tier battle, a challenge beyond his level—the mark of an ancient genius!"

"Wow, he's that strong?"

"How could he not be strong? His master is Daoist Xuan Ling, the only daughter of the Penglai Island Master. Forget Penglai Island, hardly anyone in the East Sea dares to provoke her."

"The Immortal Appraisal Convention is to identify potential immortal cultivators. It seems Fan Chong is the most likely candidate to become an immortal seed this year."

Lu Yang and the others, with their excellent hearing, knew that challenging someone above their level, especially Fan Chong, would be difficult.

As the eldest disciple among the five, Lu Yang analyzed the situation, looking for a way to win. "In my opinion," he said, "though Fan Chong is incredibly powerful, he doesn't have much spiritual energy. If we engage in a war of attrition, we can eventually wear him down!"

"Alright!" Meng Jingzhou was the first to respond to Lu Yang's call.

Man Gu was very confused. Was Fan Chong really as strong as Lu Yang claimed, or did he have some hidden ace that Man Gu hadn't noticed? Or perhaps it was a case of a lion using its full strength even when hunting a rabbit?

"So it's you five," Fan Chong said with a cold smile. He hadn't expected the passersby he'd seen at the shop to be his opponents; it seemed they truly had a connection.

"All five of you, come at me!" Fan Chong said, chin slightly raised. Given his status and already considerable reputation, what he needed now was a crushing victory to establish his image. Only then could he rise to fame at the Immortal Appraisal Convention and be remembered by all.

"See, he wants to finish this quickly, which must mean he's low on magical power," Lu Yang continued to analyze calmly.

"This battle is dangerous. As your senior brother, I'll go first and scout ahead for you."

Just as Fan Chong wondered why the five opponents weren't attacking, Lu Yang's figure transformed into a bolt of lightning, streaking forward and appearing before him in an instant.

"So fast!" Fan Chong exclaimed in surprise, instinctively raising his sword to parry. He was a sword cultivator.

"That's for building a flying car without my permission!" Lu Yang formed his fingers into a sword, bringing two together, and unleashed a sword qi.

The sword qi, like a dragon, was incredibly domineering. It collided with Fan Chong's longsword, producing a metallic clang, and surprisingly, Fan Chong was forced back several steps by the impact.

If he were facing a talisman cultivator, formation cultivator, or body cultivator, Lu Yang would still use his Azure Edge Sword. But since his opponent was a sword cultivator, Lu Yang didn't even need to use his real sword to deal with a sword cultivator of the same level.

"And that's for not paying me patent fees for building that flying car!"

Lu Yang was filled with resentment. Eight million spirit stones! He wasn't short on money, but he couldn't be happy seeing his money fall into someone else's pocket.

"Arhat Fist!" Lu Yang combined his fists with his sword-like movements. Whether Fan Chong used his sword to block or attack, Lu Yang seemed to foresee it. From the moment the fight began, Fan Chong's wrist never managed to rise. At the same time, large clumps of his hair fell to the ground.

"My hair!" Fan Chong cried out. He always cared about his appearance; how could he face anyone like this?

"Phew, he really is tough to deal with," Lu Yang said, feigning a few gasps for breath, and signaled for Meng Jingzhou to go next.

Meng Jingzhou struck just as hard, leaving Fan Chong bruised and swollen. "Even I, young master, am not as ostentatious as you when I go out. Look at how capable you are!"

Then came Tao Yaoye, Man Gu, and Li Haoran.

Playing "Dream Bubbles" without permission was no different from outright robbery, and even Tao Yaoye, with her usually good temper, was furious.

Man Gu, inspired by Lu Yang's actions and understanding the principle of a lion using its full strength even when hunting a rabbit, fought fiercely as if possessed by his ancestors.

Li Haoran had a very poor impression of Fan Chong. He unleashed his true fire, but still held back, otherwise Fan Chong would have died long ago.

The war of attrition plan proceeded smoothly. Fan Chong looked as miserable as if he'd been run over by a truck five times.

"I'll make you pay!" Fan Chong snarled, a menacing look on his face, as an iron lotus flew from his sleeve.

The iron lotus bloomed, and eighteen petals shot out, each one laced with potent poison!

Six-Ding Divine Fire and Grand Deduction True Fire appeared in Li Haoran's palm. His palm, like jade, caught the iron petals, instantly refined them into his own magical treasures, and then he threw them back with a flick of his wrist.

Fan Chong shrieked, collapsing to the ground in convulsions from the poison.

The invited cultivators watching the battle were stunned, as if they had entered an illusion.

"Who are these five people? Each one of them can suppress Fan Chong and beat him!"

"Are they hiding their cultivation levels?"

"No, they're just Mid-Nascent Soul cultivators!"

"How could five such peerless prodigies suddenly appear?"

"Could it be that Fan Chong isn't actually that strong? Was it all just rumors?"

Fan Chong wailed, "Master, kill them! Kill them!" A venomous look appeared on his face. Since they had made him lose face at the Immortal Appraisal Convention, they shouldn't expect to leave Penglai Island alive! Penglai Island was his territory!

"Insulting my disciple like this, do you think there's no one on my Penglai Island?" On the spectator stand, a beautiful female cultivator said calmly, her cold gaze fixed on Li Haoran. Part of her cleavage was exposed, showcasing her tall and alluring figure. Such attire was common in the East Sea and not considered improper.

The woman flew down from the stands. She was Fan Chong's master, the only daughter of the Penglai Island Master, Daoist Xuan Ling.

At that moment, no one had any lascivious thoughts about Daoist Xuan Ling's figure. She released her formidable pressure, demonstrating the might of a Mahayana True Monarch. Even Lu Yang and the other four were enveloped by the pressure, unable to move.

"Master!" Fan Chong exclaimed, seeing his master descend as if he had found hope.

Daoist Xuan Ling didn't even glance at him. She extended a slender, white finger, lifted Li Haoran who was rooted to the spot, and examined him carefully.

Daoist Xuan Ling smiled charmingly, and in a seductive voice, she said, "You're quite handsome. If you become my male companion, this matter can be settled."

Meng Jingzhou: "?"

Lu Yang pondered. Could openly taking male companions be a unique feature of the East Sea as well? Since they were already here, perhaps Junior Brother Li should experience it.

Li Haoran looked back in despair, appealing to Lu Yang and the others for help, but unfortunately, they were powerless to assist him.

"Junior Brother Li, just go along with it," Lu Yang encouraged Li Haoran. "We'll remember your contribution."

Li Haoran grew even more desperate, knowing these guys couldn't be relied upon.

Just as Li Haoran was pondering whether to struggle a bit before submitting to Daoist Xuan Ling, or simply comply immediately, another cold voice came from the spectator stand.

"Xuan Ling, take your dirty hands off him."

Another female figure leaped down from the high platform, also releasing pressure that dispersed Daoist Xuan Ling's aura. Only then did the assembly secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

The woman shielded Li Haoran behind her, watching Daoist Xuan Ling warily.

"Fellow Daoist Su, this is an internal matter of my Penglai Island. You are interfering too much."

Fellow Daoist Su curled her lips into a mocking smile. "Internal matter? This man is my husband. How can I not interfere?"

The one protecting Li Haoran was none other than Su Yiren, who had been invited to observe the Immortal Appraisal Convention.