GULP...

For a long moment, the only sound in the Central Martial Arts Arena was a collective, nervous gulp. Everyone stared at Lin Feng, who lay unconscious beside a Stone Pillar with his aura completely depleted. They couldn’t seem to wrap their heads around it.

"O-one move? He was taken out in just one move?"

"Is... is Lin Feng joking? Didn’t he call the other guy trash, a coward? How could he not even take a single blow? Isn’t he a Tier Nine Spirit Marquis?"

"My heavens, to take out Lin Feng in one move... I guess Shen Haoran getting a spot for the Desert Ancient City wasn’t just a baseless rumor after all. With strength like that, he probably would have swept through the selection competition!"

"Holy shit! So he was just playing weak to catch the strong! Tier Five Spirit Marquis? Who’s he kidding? I’m a Tier Five Spirit Marquis too, and I probably wouldn’t last a single move against Lin Feng. If he can take out Lin Feng in one move, there’s no way in hell his real strength is only Tier Five Spirit Marquis!"

Discussions broke out across the Central Martial Arts Arena. The crowd’s gazes on Shen Haoran changed from their initial disdain and jealousy to curiosity and awe. That was simply how these disciples were. In their eyes, strength reigned supreme. They would defer to and admire whoever was strong, while the weak would only ever become a laughingstock.

"Does anyone else object? I’ll take on all challengers!" Shen Haoran declared, his gaze sweeping from the unconscious Lin Feng to the Martial Artists in the arena. His voice boomed, echoing throughout the Central Martial Arts Arena.

At Shen Haoran’s stern challenge, the surrounding Martial Artists all wisely shut their mouths. No one dared to say another word. It was a joke to even consider it; Shen Haoran had taken out Lin Feng in a single move, and their own strength was far inferior to Lin Feng’s. Who would dare oppose Shen Haoran now? Only someone who thought their life was too comfortable and wanted to look for trouble.

Seeing that the disciples had all sensibly fallen silent, Shen Haoran nodded in satisfaction. He then left the Central Martial Arts Arena with Murong Wanqing and Han Xu, whose faces were filled with adoration, and Ling Feng, who was still utterly shocked. Afterward, the news of Shen Haoran taking out Lin Feng with a single punch spread through the entire Sect like wildfire. All the disciples began to see him in a new light, and no one dared to voice any more objections against him.

Meanwhile, in a private courtyard within the Celestial Spirit Sect, Xue Shitian, dressed in a blood-red robe, was sitting cross-legged. A faint, blood-colored halo swirled around him, and the very space in his vicinity seemed to distort under its influence. He appeared to be shrouded in a mist, presenting a peculiar sight.

WHOOSH...

A gentle breeze rustled through, and leaves from the maple tree above Xue Shitian drifted down like snowflakes. Just as they were about to land on him, his tightly shut eyes snapped open. A terrifying aura erupted from his body as countless streams of Spiritual Power shot out, piercing every single falling leaf. And yet, not one of them touched his robes.

If anyone had been there to witness this, they would have been shocked speechless. To use one’s own Powerful Qi to pierce through randomly drifting leaves while leaving them otherwise perfectly intact—what an incredible level of control over one’s own Spiritual Power would that require?

"Young Master Xue, it seems your strength has advanced once again!" After the fluctuations around Xue Shitian completely subsided, a young man with a sly expression walked in from outside the courtyard, applauding in praise. This was Xue Shitian’s strategist and trusted confidant—Xu Lin!

"What brings you here again for no reason?" Xue Shitian asked coolly as he stood up and brushed the dust from his robes.

"I wouldn’t come here without a reason. Naturally, I’m here to give you some news," Xu Lin replied with a light chuckle. He then casually found a table, sat down, and helped himself to the pastries on it.

"If anyone else dared to act like you do in my presence, they’d already be dead," Xue Shitian said coldly, watching Xu Lin make himself at home.

"Heh, would you really have the heart to lay a hand on me, Young Master Xue?" Xu Lin asked with a dismissive chuckle.

"Tch. Fine, spit it out. What’s the news?" Xue Shitian scoffed. It was only because it was Xu Lin that he dared to speak to him this way; he would have killed anyone else.

"It’s about Shen Haoran. This morning at the martial arts arena, he defeated that guy Lin Feng with a single punch. Lin Feng didn’t even have a chance to retaliate," Xu Lin said, his casual demeanor gone, his voice now serious.

Seeing Xu Lin’s grave expression, Xue Shitian was taken aback for a moment. He had known Xu Lin for many years and had never seen him look so serious.

"I heard from the Fourth Elder that you and Shen Haoran are bound to have a fight. I’m advising you not to underestimate him. He isn’t as simple as he appears. In fact, the sense of danger he gives me is even stronger than the one I get from you!" Xu Lin continued.

Hearing this, Xue Shitian’s expression also grew grave, but it quickly returned to a neutral mask. After a moment, he spoke coolly, "I know that kid has combat strength that far exceeds his apparent power level. However, he is still no match for me. That is my confidence."

Seeing the confident glint in Xue Shitian’s eyes, Xu Lin froze for a second before his face lit up with ecstasy. "Young Master Xue, you’ve reached that step? Congratulations!"

Xue Shitian merely gave a faint smile in response to Xu Lin’s praise. He then turned his gaze to the distance, a cold glint flashing in his dark eyes. ’Shen Haoran, is it? I look forward to our battle!’

...

Meanwhile, back in Hua yuan, Shen Haoran had finally gotten rid of the chattering Ling Feng. From the moment they left the Central Martial Arts Arena, Ling Feng had been talking nonstop about Shen Haoran’s victory over Lin Feng, talking their ears off until they were raw.

"Phew... he’s finally gone! Brother Haoran, where are you headed?" Murong Wanqing said, letting out a long sigh. She never would have guessed that when Ling Feng started rambling, he could out-talk a group of gossiping women. She had to hand it to him.

"I’m going to the back mountain. The competition for the spots starts in three days, so you two should get yourselves ready. Try to win a spot for yourselves," Shen Haoran said, glancing toward the back mountain. Ling Feng had told him it was an excellent place to practice Martial Skills, and Shen Haoran planned to test out the power of his Soul Shattering Celestial Assault.

"Okay, we will!" Murong Wanqing and Han Xu both nodded. They also knew the benefits of the trip to the Desert Ancient City, so they each went into their own Cultivation Room to begin their final preparations.

Seeing that the two of them had entered their cultivation state, Shen Haoran’s figure flickered, and he sped off toward the back mountain...