"Sorry, friend, but you’re scaring her. She doesn’t have time to have a drink with you, so please leave." Shen Haoran took a quick step forward, shielding Han Xu behind him as he spoke with a smile.

When Shen Haoran blocked his view, Ouyang Shaoyu’s brow furrowed. He shifted his gaze to the man he had been ignoring and said with displeasure, "Where did you come from, you blind fool? Do you have any right to speak here? It’s none of your damn business when I’m picking up women. Get lost, or you’ll be sorry!"

With that, Ouyang Shaoyu reached out to toss Shen Haoran aside. In his eyes, Shen Haoran was just a Tier Two Spirit Marquis; throwing him away would be as easy as swatting a fly!

However, just as his hand was about to reach Shen Haoran, it was caught firmly in his grip.

"You really have no manners. Is this how the Fallen Valley educates its disciples?" Shen Haoran asked nonchalantly, still holding Ouyang Shaoyu’s hand.

Staring at Shen Haoran who continued to block him, Ouyang Shaoyu’s face darkened. He glanced at Han Xu behind Shen Haoran, and a sudden realization dawned on him. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Well, well, little lady. This blind fool isn’t your lover, is he? Let me tell you, your taste is terrible. What future do you have with this piece of trash? You’d be better off with me. I am the Direct Disciple of the Fallen Valley’s Valley Master, a candidate for the next Valley Master, and I’m ranked in the top five of the Northern Domain’s Hidden Dragon List. Stick with me, and I guarantee you’ll live in splendor. I’ll make you feel ecstatic every single day!" Ouyang Shaoyu said with a lecherous grin.

Hearing Ouyang Shaoyu’s lewd remarks, the surrounding Martial Artists all frowned and began to whisper among themselves.

"This Ouyang Shaoyu is just as the rumors say—unruly and completely unscrupulous. To say something so vile right in front of the girl’s lover... The Fallen Valley’s reputation is certainly well-earned."

"True, but her lover is pretty useless, isn’t he? Another man is hitting on his woman, and he’s just standing there smiling. How pathetic. What a waste of such a beautiful woman—a fine flower stuck in cow dung!"

"I bet he’s just too scared to fight back. After all, Ouyang Shaoyu’s power is undeniable. He’s fourth on the Hidden Dragon List! Who in the younger generation can possibly be his match?"

The murmurs of the crowd reached Ouyang Shaoyu’s ears, and he found them quite satisfying. He shot Shen Haoran a dismissive glance and sneered, "Little lady, today I’m going to show you just how useless this lover of yours really is!"

The moment he finished speaking, Ouyang Shaoyu’s aura turned frigid. He yanked his arm free from Shen Haoran’s grasp, instantly forming a fist and blasting it toward Shen Haoran’s head. The tyrannical force of the punch created sonic booms as it tore through the air, ferocious and powerful. If it landed, Shen Haoran’s head would likely explode. Ouyang Shaoyu was going for the kill with his very first move, holding nothing back!

"Hmph, bring it on!" Facing Ouyang Shaoyu’s ferocious attack, Shen Haoran’s lips curled into a cold smirk. He clenched his right fist, and a surge of power like Primordial Chaos instantly gathered within it as he met Ouyang Shaoyu’s strike head-on!

The surrounding Martial Artists were stunned. Instead of dodging, Shen Haoran was actually going to clash head-on with Ouyang Shaoyu. ’Does this kid have a death wish?’

BOOM!

While the crowd was still in shock, Shen Haoran’s and Ouyang Shaoyu’s fists collided. A visible shockwave erupted from the point of impact, spreading outward and forcing the surrounding Martial Artists back two steps.

Terrifying waves of power poured from their fists, surging into their opponent. The bluestone slabs beneath their feet shattered under the immense force, exploding into a shower of stone fragments!

BANG...

With a dull thud, their fists separated. Both Shen Haoran and Ouyang Shaoyu were forced backward, each step they took leaving a deep imprint in the ground—a testament to their formidable power!

While retreating, both men stomped down hard, dispelling the residual force and steadying themselves. They stared at each other with grim expressions.

Witnessing this, the surrounding Martial Artists couldn’t help but gasp. This kid actually fought Ouyang Shaoyu to a draw! Ouyang Shaoyu was the Direct Disciple of the Fallen Valley’s Valley Master, a top-five expert on the Northern Domain’s Hidden Dragon List. For a nameless Tier Two Spirit Marquis to fight him to a standstill... ’Who on earth is this kid?’

Hearing the crowd’s shocked gasps, Ouyang Shaoyu’s face became as dark as a thundercloud. In the entire Northern Domain, he had never been matched by anyone except the few ranked above him. ’How is it possible for this brat to be my equal!’

Looking at Ouyang Shaoyu’s dark expression, Shen Haoran simply sneered. "A draw? You really think you fought me to a standstill?"

Seeing the smile on Shen Haoran’s face, Ouyang Shaoyu’s heart lurched. A sense of foreboding washed over him.

"Burst!"

Suddenly, Shen Haoran uttered a single, sharp word. A muffled explosion sounded from within Ouyang Shaoyu’s body. In that same instant, Ouyang Shaoyu’s face went deathly pale, and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth. He stared at Shen Haoran, his eyes filled with utter disbelief!

"You... You dared to trick me!" Ouyang Shaoyu’s body trembled as he hissed, his eyes filled with venom.

"Trick you? What trick?" Shen Haoran said, spreading his hands with a look of pure innocence. ’I just sent a sliver of Fire Spirit Black Obsidian into his body during our exchange and then detonated it. How could that possibly be called a trick?’

"I’ll kill you!" Seeing Shen Haoran’s feigned innocence, killing intent surged within Ouyang Shaoyu. A chilling, ink-black aura erupted from his body as he prepared to lunge at Shen Haoran. ’This brat actually dared to wound me! He must not be forgiven!’

DONG...

However, just as Ouyang Shaoyu’s black aura was about to engulf Shen Haoran, a deep, melodious bell toll echoed across the plaza, shattering his aura instantly. As his aura dissipated, Ouyang Shaoyu suffered a backlash, spitting out another mouthful of blood.

At this point, however, no one was paying attention to Ouyang Shaoyu. Every Martial Artist in the plaza raised their head, their gazes fixed fervently on the sky. Then, in unison, they dropped to one knee and shouted, "We respectfully welcome the Divine Martial Elder!"

"We respectfully welcome the Divine Martial Elder..."

Thousands of Martial Artists in the plaza shouted in unison, the tangible sound wave rushing toward the heavens, deafening all who heard it. A moment later, the space in the sky began to twist and distort, and a hazy figure slowly materialized before their eyes.

With the elder’s appearance, everything seemed to fall silent. Even the air ceased to flow. All eyes were fixed on the old man, and no one dared to even breathe too loudly.

’So this is the Divine Martial Elder? What a powerful presence...’ Shen Haoran murmured, gazing at the old man in midair.