To the side, Fan Hong’s face was a mask of agony. His fists trembled, but more than anger, he felt heartbreak and disappointment.

Dragon War chuckled. "Oh, I remember now. You must be my darling’s childhood sweetheart, Senior Brother Fan, right? I really have to thank you for delivering my precious to me, whole and untouched. You have no idea about last night... Tsk, tsk. It felt so good. The taste..."

’This woman is crying,’ Wang Meng observed coldly, ’but would a truly heartbroken person have the presence of mind to be fiddling with the hem of her clothes? Knowing Fan Hong’s personality, he was most likely played by her. Back at the Dharma Flower Sect, Fan Hong was the Sect Leader’s Disciple, no matter how you sliced it. He might be reserved, but his status was undeniable, so of course this woman latched onto him. The moment she got here and realized Fan Hong was just another face in the crowd, she naturally went looking for a stronger backer.

But no one, whether Saint Cultivator or Demon Cultivator, likes a traitor. So now she’s putting on this act of a conflicted, innocent maiden.

Damn it!’

"Senior Brother Fan, thank you for bringing me here and letting me meet Brother Long. I only have feelings for you as a sister would a brother," Chan Jing said. With her tear-streaked, pitifully beautiful face, she was truly a heart-wrenching sight.

Wang Meng sighed. ’I’m not like these disciples from the Noble Sects. Back when I was knocking around Thunderlight City, I saw every kind of person imaginable. But someone from a privileged background like Fan Hong wouldn’t notice such details. Especially with his personality, he’s far too willing to trust people.’

Chan Jing’s declaration pleased two people at once. Dragon War felt it gave him a huge boost of face, allowing him to show off in front of his friends, while Fan Hong was left utterly heartbroken.

He’d just been handed the "we’re just like siblings" card, free of charge.

Fan Hong’s lips trembled. If Dragon War had forced her, he would have fought him to the death. But that clearly wasn’t what had happened.

Wang Meng couldn’t help but laugh out loud, the sound jarring in the tense atmosphere.

"Kid, what are you laughing at!" Dragon War said coldly.

Wang Meng cupped a hand to his ear, pretending to listen intently. "Wow, you’re the legendary Star Lord???"

Dragon War and his friends were taken aback. "What Star Lord? Don’t talk nonsense!"

"Oh, so you’re not the Star Lord. In that case, what I laugh at is none of your damn business!"

Wang Meng shrugged.

"Kid, trouble starts with a big mouth, and you only bring on misery by trying to be a hero!" Dragon War said menacingly.

"So bite me!"

Fan Hong was completely disheartened and no longer wanted to cause any trouble.

"Kid, I’ll take the loss just to teach you a lesson! I challenge you to a duel!"

According to the Cultivation Academy’s rules regarding private combat, the challenger had to make a sacrifice by paying a substantial amount of Spirit Stones to initiate a challenge. If they won, it was one thing, but if they lost, they also had to pay compensation.

This was for a formal, binding duel. Unsanctioned brawls were another matter; you could get away with it if you weren’t caught, but there were consequences if you were.

Although the cost pained him, Dragon War had to teach this guy a thorough lesson in front of his friends. Besides, it was a chance to score a victory, so it wasn’t a total loss. After all, he had just cause to initiate the fight.

Fan Hong was stunned. He hadn’t expected Dragon War to actually pay one hundred Top-Grade Spirit Stones to challenge Wang Meng to a duel.

"Dragon War, I’ll fight you!" Fan Hong yelled, but his voice was feeble, lacking any force. It was clear Chan Jing’s betrayal had utterly crushed him.

An uncontrollable trace of contempt crossed Chan Jing’s face. ’Fan Hong is a good person, a great guy all around, but so what? This is the Great Yuan Realm, a much crueler place. Back at the Dharma Flower Sect, he had the Sect Leader watching his back. But here?’

’Such a spineless loser. Even if I stayed with him, I’d have to leave sooner or later. Why not place my bets on a better target?’ All at once, much of Chan Jing’s guilt vanished, and the look she gave Fan Hong was no longer so apologetic.

Wang Meng had observed it all. He clapped Fan Hong on the shoulder. "Buddy, I should be congratulating you. You’re lucky you didn’t get tangled up with a woman like that. This fight is my business. And I just happen to need some cash for a celebration."

Both of their Star Rings flashed, and they were transported to the Battle Space.

Dragon War’s friends immediately activated their Star Rings and followed. Fan Hong stared blankly at Chan Jing’s vanishing silhouette, then gritted his teeth and went in as well. In truth, all he wanted was to find a place where no one knew him, hide away, and lick his wounds.

The three men with Dragon War were also from sects ranked in the top one hundred. In the Great Yuan Realm, one’s social circle was closely tied to their sect’s ranking and personal strength.

Wang Meng drew Broken Heaven Edge, and the crowd immediately burst into laughter. Dragon War looked at Wang Meng, torn between laughter and disbelief. "The Holy Hall... what kind of garbage heap is that place? You don’t even have a decent sword. Get on your knees and kowtow three times, and I’ll give you a handout."

A wicked smile touched the corners of Wang Meng’s lips. "To be honest, using my sword on you would be a bit of a disgrace to the blade."

Dragon War flew into a rage. "You’re courting death!"

He lunged forward, throwing a punch at Wang Meng. From his style, Dragon War looked like a Body Cultivator, but he was clearly more than a simple Body Cultivator from the Holy Hall. The major paths of Cultivation were consistent across the Small Thousand Realms: Sword Cultivators who focused on the sword, Talisman Cultivators who focused on Talismans and Array Techniques, and Body Cultivators who focused on tempering their physical forms.

However, the methods of training were far more numerous. Each Small Thousand Realm had developed differently, leading to a dazzling variety of skills. Even if one changed their Cultivation Technique upon arriving in the Great Yuan Realm, their old Combat Techniques could still be integrated.

WHOOSH...

The punch hit empty air. Wang Meng’s body seemed to sway aside as if weightless. Dragon War unleashed a continuous barrage of fists and kicks as fast as Lightning, but Wang Meng always seemed to be swept away an instant beforehand.

"It looks a bit like the Falling Leaves Body Technique."

"Looks like the kid has a few tricks up his sleeve. It’s not easy to borrow Dragon War’s momentum like that."

With this kind of Body Technique that relied on borrowing an opponent’s momentum, getting caught meant certain death.

Dragon War switched from a punch to a grab, reaching directly for Wang Meng. ZWING...

A flash of sword light swept out. Dragon War grabbed at it without a second thought. Instantly...

Dragon War hastily pulled back his hand as blood splattered. He shot backward, but Wang Meng pressed the attack with another slash.

ZWING...

A gash opened across Dragon War’s abdomen.

This was none other than the Five Elements Sword Skill that Wang Meng had created himself: Five Elements’ Needs and Creation from Nothingness.

’Just a little test,’ Wang Meng thought. ’My Five Elements Technique has entered the second stage. I wonder how much my Five Elements Sword Skill has improved?’

Everyone was stunned. Dragon War’s Elemental Power was at Level 28, and he had been at the Cultivation Academy for years. The Thirtieth Layer was a major threshold; those who had fully mastered their skills at Level 28 and the Twenty-Ninth Layer were at their peak strength before the next breakthrough.

Yet Dragon War had slipped up. He had actually been wounded by some level-twenty-something rookie.

Dragon War wasn’t an idiot. Though he had been careless, he knew those two sword strikes were anything but simple.

He stomped his right foot violently. With a loud BANG, Dragon War’s muscles bulged, his flesh hardening like steel as his eyes flew wide.

*Dragon Beast Body!*

This was one of the Body Cultivation Skills from the Cultivation Academy, an incredibly domineering and powerful technique. It was said that one who mastered it could possess the power of a Primordial Dragon Beast—indestructible and invincible!

Having activated his Dragon Beast Body, Dragon War charged at Wang Meng like a true monster. He brought a fist crashing down with enough force to shatter the heavens and split the earth.

Broken Heaven Edge chopped down on it, but the impact was like striking tough leather. Dragon War’s massive arm immediately swept across, his huge size not impeding his speed in the slightest. Wang Meng was about to dodge when a gust of wind blades swept toward him.

BANG...

Wang Meng dodged Dragon War’s fist but not the shockwave that followed. Watching from the side, Fan Hong fidgeted nervously. He knew Wang Meng had already lost one match; if he lost another because of him, what would he do then?