The Wrath of the Cannon King

Vartak stared at him for a long time.

His smile slowly disappeared.

The warmth vanished.

Only coldness remained.

A coldness capable of freezing the soul.

The chaotic void seemed to grow quieter with every passing second. The laughter that had echoed moments ago gradually faded, yet many people’s shoulders were still trembling. Some lowered their heads. Others turned away entirely.

They were afraid that if they looked at Leon again, they would burst out laughing.

Then, a sinister smile appeared once more.

This time, there was no attempt to hide the murderous intent behind it.

His eyes locked onto Leon like a venomous serpent staring at its prey.

Leon, however, appeared completely relaxed.

His midnight robes embroidered with thin amethyst patterns fluttered gently in the chaotic winds. His long black hair swayed behind him, and his purple eyes remained calm and indifferent.

He looked at Vartak for a moment before suddenly speaking.

"Senior, why are you looking at me like that?"

The crowd instantly became alert.

That expression.

That tone.

Anyone with a brain could tell Leon was about to say something outrageous again.

Even Anna had a bad feeling.

Leon rubbed his chin thoughtfully and continued.

"I was only praising you. If Senior doesn’t like the title ’Cannon King,’ we can always change it."

Vartak’s eyelid twitched.

A vein bulged on his forehead.

"Oh?"

Leon nodded seriously.

"Perhaps Patriarch of White Desire Mountain sounds better. Though, to be honest, that title is a little ordinary."

Several nearby experts immediately covered their mouths.

They could already see where this was going.

Leon continued without the slightest awareness.

"After all, not everyone can spend their entire life pursuing cultivation and women with equal dedication."

His expression became one of genuine admiration.

"Senior has truly achieved balance between Yin and Yang. Such perseverance is worthy of respect."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Then—

"Hahahahaha!"

An old cultivator finally lost control.

His laughter exploded throughout the void.

The moment he started, everyone else broke as well.

"Haha, this kid... I think he can do it."

One old expert laughed until tears appeared in his eyes.

"In all these years, he is the first junior who dares to speak to Vartak like this."

Another stroked his beard and nodded seriously.

"Cannon King? Hmm... This title is very suitable."

"Hahaha..."

The surrounding experts instantly laughed even harder.

Some openly laughed.

Others pretended to cough while hiding their faces.

Even several old monsters who usually remained expressionless could not stop the corners of their mouths from twitching.

At this moment, even Anna couldn’t help covering her mouth.

Her beautiful red-pink eyes curved into crescents.

She desperately tried to maintain her cold and aloof image.

Unfortunately, it was impossible.

The more she thought about Leon’s words, the funnier they became.

This person is too interesting.

In the beginning, she thought Leon was truly afraid of Vartak.

She had even felt slightly disappointed.

As the successor of Celestis Academy, pride was engraved into her bones.

If Leon had lowered his head before such a person, she might have looked down on him.

Unexpectedly...

This man was far more dangerous than she had imagined.

His sword had not even left its sheath.

Yet every sentence was sharper than a blade.

The way he mocked people was simply infuriating.

And strangely satisfying.

A faint smile unconsciously appeared on her face.

Meanwhile—

Vartak’s expression had become uglier than ever.

The laughter around him sounded like countless slaps striking his face.

His body trembled slightly.

Not from fear.

From rage.

For hundreds of years, nobody had dared humiliate him like this.

Nobody.

"Good."

Vartak suddenly laughed.

The laughter was cold and terrifying.

"Good kid."

His voice became increasingly sinister.

"Very good."

The surrounding experts immediately stopped laughing.

They knew this expression.

Whenever Vartak revealed such a smile, someone was about to die.

The atmosphere instantly became heavy.

A terrifying pressure spread outward.

Space itself seemed unable to withstand his fury.

The surrounding chaotic currents began to twist violently.

Anna’s expression immediately changed.

"Leon, be careful."

She knew very well how dangerous this old monster was.

Although Vartak’s reputation was terrible, nobody could deny his strength.

A late-stage Pinnacle Realm expert was not someone to be underestimated.

Yet Leon merely smiled.

He seemed completely unconcerned.

As though the person before him was not a terrifying expert but merely an amusing clown.

That calm attitude made Vartak even angrier.

"You are courting death."

The words emerged from between clenched teeth.

The killing intent in his eyes became almost tangible.

In an instant—

His right hand moved.

Several black steel needles appeared silently between his fingers.

The movement was so fast that most people failed to notice it.

But the moment the needles appeared, many experts recognized them immediately.

Their expressions changed dramatically.

"Phantom Soul Needles?"

"He actually used them?"

"This old monster truly intends to kill."

The crowd became serious.

The Phantom Soul Needles were Vartak’s most notorious weapon.

Each needle contained a different deadly poison.

Once they pierced the body, they did not merely destroy flesh.

They attacked the soul itself.

Countless experts had died beneath those needles.

Without warning—

The needles shot forward.

Eight streaks of black light tore through the void.

They moved so quickly that ordinary cultivators could barely perceive them.

Their target was Leon’s throat.

At such close range, avoiding them was nearly impossible.

Everyone held their breath.

Anna’s beautiful face instantly paled.

"Senior Brother, be careful!"

She reacted immediately.

Mana surged through her body.

She prepared to raise her treasured cauldron.

Unfortunately—

She was too late.

The needles had already arrived.

Everyone believed Leon was about to die.

Then—

Ding!

A crisp metallic sound echoed throughout the void.

The black needles suddenly stopped.

Every expert widened their eyes.

A bronze cauldron had appeared before Leon.

Its surface shimmered with ancient runes.

A mysterious aura surrounded it.

The eight Phantom Soul Needles struck the cauldron’s surface and bounced away harmlessly.

Not a single scratch appeared.

The entire battlefield froze.

"What?"

Vartak’s pupils contracted violently.

His carefully planned sneak attack had failed.

Not only had it failed—

Leon had apparently anticipated it.

The greed in Vartak’s eyes instantly surged.

His gaze locked onto the cauldron.

What treasure was this?

To block his Phantom Soul Needles so effortlessly?

Shock.

Greed.

Confusion.

Various emotions flashed through his eyes.

Meanwhile, Leon calmly reached out and stored the Celestial Void Cauldron away.

His expression remained relaxed.

As though nothing had happened.

The contrast nearly made Vartak explode with anger.

"Kid!"

His voice thundered throughout the void.

"Who are you?"

"Do you dare tell me your name?"

His eyes burned with greed.

A young genius.

A mysterious supreme treasure.

A powerful background.

Something was clearly unusual.

Leon looked at him and smiled.

A meaningful smile.

The same smile that had been driving Vartak insane this entire time.

"Vartak Cannon."

"Haha..."

"Since you’re so anxious to die, fine."

"I’ll play with you."

The moment those words fell, the crowd instantly became silent.

The joking atmosphere vanished.

Everyone understood.

The real battle was finally beginning.

Leon slowly stepped forward.

One step.

Then another.

His figure drifted into the center of the battlefield.

His robes fluttered.

His long black hair danced wildly behind him.

A sharp aura slowly emerged from his body.

It was like a divine sword awakening from its slumber.

His right hand gently stretched forward.

Then he spoke calmly.

"Vartak Cannon."

"Celestis Academy."

"Leon."

"I request a fight..."