"Sister Xu, Brother Moyang, let's go out and have some fun!" Su Fei'er tugged at Xu Xin’s arm, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
Just then, Long Wu of the Dragon Pool Pavilion approached. She walked with graceful, lotus-like steps, a faint smile on her face, and headed straight for Moyang.
Long Wu cast a glance at Su Fei'er and Xu Xin, nodding slightly as a polite acknowledgment, before turning her gaze to Moyang. Her lips parted, revealing an indescribable allure as she said, "Brother Mo, could we step aside for a moment to speak?"
"Uh..." Moyang looked stunned. He had only crossed paths with Long Wu once in the arena; they were complete strangers.
Xu Xin and Su Fei'er were both visibly taken aback, casting suspicious and bewildered looks at Moyang.
They had yet to get to the bottom of the incident with the mysterious woman, and now, the most talented disciple of the Dragon Pool Pavilion—the woman hailed as its greatest beauty, no less—was seeking out Moyang in private.
Faced with a woman who possessed both such beauty and strength, even Xu Xin felt an unusual sense of insecurity.
Su Fei'er blinked, then grabbed Moyang’s arm firmly. As if declaring her territory, she lifted her fair chin and asked, "What business do you have with Brother Moyang?"
Xu Xin also furrowed her brows as she looked at Long Wu. The four sects usually kept to themselves, and there was little interaction between their disciples. She wasn't sure what Long Wu’s intentions were—was she looking for trouble?
After all, back in the arena, Moyang had shown absolutely no mercy to Long Wu, forcing her to concede with a casual wave of his hand.
A strange glint flashed in Long Wu's eyes. She curled her lips into a smile and replied, "I have my reasons for seeking out Brother Mo!" She looked back at Moyang and asked, "Brother Mo, can we step aside to speak?"
Moyang frowned, turned to Xu Xin and Su Fei'er, and said, "You two go ahead. I'll find you later!"
Su Fei'er didn't want to leave, but Xu Xin pulled her away.
Watching their retreating backs, Long Wu laughed, "It seems Brother Mo is quite popular in the Lingxu Sect!"
Moyang looked around, noticing that many cultivators in the distance were whispering and pointing at him. He cleared his throat and said, "If you have something to say, just say it."
Long Wu scanned the surroundings. "Shall we talk while we walk?"
Moyang frowned but started to walk forward, as the crowd hadn't fully dispersed and many were still watching him.
Long Wu followed, lowering her voice. "I haven't seen Brother Mo at previous martial arts tournaments of the four sects. I suppose you haven't been in the Lingxu Sect for very long?"
Before Moyang could respond, Long Wu continued, "I wonder, would you have any interest in joining our Dragon Pool Pavilion?"
"So, Sister Long Wu, you're trying to recruit me," Moyang realized.
Long Wu smiled lightly. "If Brother Mo is willing to join the Dragon Pool Pavilion, we will do everything in our power to help you improve your cultivation!"
Seeing no reaction on Moyang's face, she furrowed her brows slightly and added, "Perhaps you don't know this, but just last year I was only at Earth Mystic Realm - Stage 1. The reason my cultivation has reached this point is because we have a Spiritual Energy Pool within the Dragon Pool Pavilion!"
She paused for a moment before continuing, "With your aptitude, if you were to cultivate in that pool, it might not take more than a few years for you to break through to the Heaven Mystic Realm and become a Grandmaster!"
Moyang felt no interest at all. Could this pool really be better than the Star Emperor Pagoda inside him? Just a simple pool of spiritual energy? Was he supposed to be moved? What a joke!
If Long Wu knew that three months ago he was nothing but a waste who couldn't cultivate at all, she wouldn't even have the courage to bring up the pool.
The Star Emperor Pagoda not only contained ancient god runes but also the inheritance of the Star Emperor Scripture and the Cauldron of Fortune. And that was just what he knew about so far; there were surely other mysteries yet to be revealed.
However, Moyang was slightly curious. He frowned and asked, "Is there an array inside your Spiritual Energy Pool?"
Because he had been studying the ancient god runes within the Star Emperor Pagoda, he had gained a certain understanding of the dao-pattern markings that contained mysterious power. One of those runes seemed capable of gathering spiritual energy—after all, runes and arrays shared the same origin, and the ability to gather heaven and earth energy suggested it was likely an array pattern.
Long Wu looked at Moyang with slight surprise, clearly not expecting him to guess that.
She nodded. "Last year, our sect’s elders accidentally activated an ancient array inside the pool. Although the array is incomplete, it remains incredibly mysterious!"
She looked at Moyang expectantly. Faced with such a temptation, any cultivator with a functioning brain would be moved. A constant source of gathering spiritual energy was a treasure trove for cultivation; practicing there would be a massive opportunity.
Yet, Moyang remained completely calm, without the slightest sign of being tempted.
Long Wu was stunned, unsure of how to proceed.
Moyang smiled and said, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I don't have such grand ambitions; I'm happy just living as I please!"
The disappointment on Long Wu's face was impossible to hide. She fell silent, opening her mouth to speak several times but saying nothing. Moyang gave her a strange feeling—within his simple words lay an indescribable firmness, and deep within his calm eyes, there seemed to be two burning fires.
"Well then, I hope we can be friends in the future!" After a moment of hesitation, she regained her composure and said this.
Moyang smiled without replying. If all went well, this would be the last four-sect tournament he would participate in; it was unlikely they would have any more dealings in the future.
After Long Wu left, Moyang walked down the street alone. As the sky grew dark, he felt strange, as if a pair of eyes were watching him from the shadows. The sensation made him uneasy, carrying a faint, lingering sense of danger.
***
By his intuition, Moyang knew he was being targeted by someone powerful; someone was definitely tailing him in the dark.
Calming his mind, Moyang walked forward. The night in Xuantian City was still bustling. Because of the martial arts tournament, an influx of cultivators made it far busier than usual.
Yet, as Moyang navigated several streets, the feeling of being watched never vanished.
"Could it be an elder from one of the other three sects?"
Moyang mused. The disciples of the other three sects had suffered great losses at his hands during the tournament. In everyone's eyes, the three sects had lost all face because of him. If someone were to make a move in the shadows, the most likely candidates were the leading elders.
The most probable one to act was the elder from the Xuan Sect.
"The Xuan Sect elder is at the Heaven Mystic Realm - Stage 4. If I cross him, my survival is uncertain... but surely he wouldn't dare attack here in Xuantian City!"
He hadn't walked far when commotion ahead drew his attention. A crowd of passersby had gathered nearby, and Moyang faintly heard Su Fei'er’s angry shouts.
Frowning, he walked over and saw several disciples from the Xuan Sect surrounding Su Fei'er and Xu Xin.
Su Fei'er was flushed with rage, a handprint visible on her fair cheek.
"You little bitch, who do you think you are to talk back to me? Moyang made our Xuan Sect lose face, and you want the Lingxu Sect to get off easy? Today, I’m going to strip you bare for everyone to see!"
As Moyang stepped into the crowd, he heard Pang Long’s voice.
Xu Xin, also furious, pulled Su Fei'er behind her and lashed out, "Pang Long, you wouldn't dare!"
"Hmph, Xu Xin, get lost. If you try to stop me, I'll strip you bare too!"
Pang Long looked ferocious. He had been filled with unvented rage throughout the tournament. Seeing Su Fei'er and Xu Xin out alone while Moyang was nowhere to be found, he had wanted to vent his anger, only for Su Fei'er to mock him.
As soon as he finished speaking, he threw a punch, sending Xu Xin staggering backward, and lunged forward, his hand reaching for Su Fei'er’s dress.
The crowd chattered away. While many were unhappy with Pang Long’s behavior, no one dared to step in, and some even laughed and cheered.
Just as Pang Long’s hand was about to touch Su Fei'er, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her. Pang Long blinked, looked up, and was about to shout, but his expression changed instantly when he saw that face.
The person was, of course, Moyang. And at that moment, Moyang’s face was cold, a rare killing intent rising in his eyes.
*Slap!*
Without a word, Moyang swung his hand, the force sending Pang Long spinning on the spot. Pang Long couldn't react in time before another heavy slap landed on his face. In an instant, both his cheeks swelled rapidly, marked by two blood-red handprints.
The other Xuan Sect disciples turned pale. The previous arena fights had cast a deep shadow over them; in their eyes, Moyang was a monster.
"Come on, you like slapping people, right? Let's trade blows!"
Moyang said, then raised his hand to land two more heavy slaps. Pang Long was dazed; he couldn't dodge, and he couldn't even follow the movement of Moyang's hand.
"Moyang, you’re courting death!" Pang Long recovered his senses and glared at Moyang, looking like he wanted to swallow him alive.
"I’ve been waiting for you to say that!" Moyang snorted. He took a step forward and, before Pang Long could move, slammed a fist into him.
*Boom...*
Pang Long flew backward, crashing into the crowd and knocking several onlookers away with him, triggering a chorus of gasps.
Pang Long landed ten meters away, blood spilling from his mouth. His chest was caved in, and blood was seeping through his robes.
Moyang remained expressionless, walking toward Pang Long step by step.
The crowd gasped. Seeing Moyang’s demeanor, it looked like he truly intended to kill; everyone could see Pang Long was severely injured, and the sound of cracking ribs had made the onlookers' scalps tingle.
The other Xuan Sect disciples panicked and rushed to block Moyang. One of them stammered, "Moyang, think clearly! This is Xuantian City, our Xuan Sect elder is still..."
Before he could finish, Moyang slapped him aside.
The other two, seeing this, instinctively retreated, their eyes filled with anger but not daring to intervene.
Moyang walked to Pang Long without a word and delivered a brutal kick to his abdomen, sending him flying another ten meters.
The crowd grew, everyone shocked. Was Moyang actually going to kill Pang Long? This would likely trigger a war between the two sects. Pang Long was a genius of the Xuan Sect; if he died in Xuantian City, even the City Lord might punish Moyang.
Xu Xin, who had recovered, hurried to call out, "Moyang, don't..."
Before she could finish, Pang Long was kicked away again.
Pang Long was pale, blood pouring from his mouth. He struggled to stand, stumbling, only for another slap to send him sprawling back to the ground.
"You little brat from the Lingxu Sect, you are far too arrogant!" A roar echoed, and a figure rushed into the crowd, shielding Moyang.
"Arrogant? You’ve been following me in the shadows—aren't you just looking for a chance to kill me?" Moyang’s expression remained unchanged, replaced by a cold sneer.
The crowd was baffled, but many were fearful. Moyang’s performance in the arena had been too spectacular, causing the Xuan Sect to lose all face; it wasn't impossible for a Xuan Sect elder to act out of rage.
The Xuan Sect elder’s eyes flashed with an imperceptible look of surprise, but he regained his composure, sneering, "You brat, how dare you spout such nonsense? Why would a grand elder like me bother tailing a junior like you? I only act because you dared to injure a genius of my sect in public. If I spare you, heaven itself won't forgive me!"
"Old man, get lost, or I'll beat you too!"
Moyang’s tone turned frigid.
The crowd was stunned. Moyang’s boldness was truly off the charts. While he was strong, he was no match for a Xuan Sect elder.
Xu Xin’s face paled. Months ago, at the Lingxu Sect, Moyang had dared to square off against several elders while only at the Earth Mystic Realm - Stage 1. She didn't doubt he meant it. The problem was that the Third Elder was currently absent. If Moyang fought, the consequences would be dire.
***
As more pedestrians gathered, the atmosphere grew tense. Everyone was shocked—Moyang had been arrogant in the arena, but no one expected him to speak like this to a Xuan Sect elder.
Pang Long was curled on the ground, pale as a sheet, his face contorted in agony; he couldn't even stand.
The Xuan Sect elder was livid, glaring at Moyang. "Ignorant child, you're courting death!"
Before the tournament, Pang Long had been injured by Moyang. During the tournament, the Xuan Sect had lost all face because of him. The elder had been stewing in anger. He had indeed been following Moyang, hoping to find a secluded spot to strike; he knew that if Moyang wasn't removed, the Xuan Sect would have no future at the tournament.
He never expected Moyang to be so bold as to openly provoke him, providing a perfect excuse for an attack.
"Old dog, come and try!" Moyang’s expression was cold, his eyes filled with killing intent.
Though the elder was at the Heaven Mystic Realm - Stage 4, Moyang was at the peak of the Heaven Mystic Realm - Stage 1. Moyang wasn't acting on impulse; he had weighed his options. He was genuinely furious.
Xu Xin was filled with worry. With the Third Elder gone, they couldn't intervene in a battle between Heaven Mystic Realm cultivators.
"Junior Sister, go find the Third Elder, hurry!" she urged Su Fei'er.
Su Fei'er, already panicked, glanced at Moyang and turned to run.
*Boom...*
A dull thud signaled the start of the battle. The Xuan Sect elder held nothing back; he saw this as the perfect chance to kill Moyang.
Upon their first clash, Moyang was sent stumbling backward. He was secretly shocked—a gap of several stages was truly different.
However, the Xuan Sect elder was even more stunned. He realized he had severely underestimated this youth; his arm was tingling from the impact. It felt as though Moyang were at the same Stage 4 level, not just the peak of Stage 1, because the power erupting from him far exceeded his actual cultivation.
"Old man, are you getting old? Is this all a Heaven Mystic Realm - Stage 4 has to offer?" Moyang sneered.
The crowd was shocked yet speechless. Moyang’s style was truly alternative; he was nothing like a normal person.
The elder's eyes blazed with intense killing intent. If he let Moyang go now, the Xuan Sect would never recover its reputation.
"Since you’re so determined to die, I’ll grant your wish!"
The elder roared, his presence erupting with lethal pressure. The onlookers retreated in fear of being caught in the crossfire.
Xu Xin turned pale, but before she could react, Moyang rushed forward.
He was attacking!
Moyang moved like a blur, an amazing sharpness radiating from his body. He had condensed a sword aura in his hand, the source of that fierce edge.
The Xuan Sect elder frowned. Though shocked, he couldn't retreat in front of everyone. He snatched a curved blade from his Spatial Ring and hacked it toward Moyang.
*Clang...*
A piercing metallic sound rang out, making everyone's ears buzz. Moyang was knocked back ten steps, his sword aura shattered.
However, the elder also retreated several steps, a look of shock crossing his face. He looked at his curved blade in disbelief; a thumb-sized notch had been carved into it.
How could a mere sword aura be this terrifying? If he hadn't seen it himself, he wouldn't have believed that a sword aura condensed by a junior could be as hard as tempered steel.
Moyang felt a flush of blood in his chest. He sighed inwardly; a Stage 4 expert was indeed terrifying, and with such rich experience, his combat power was far greater than Mu Qiu’s.
Moyang hesitated—should he use the God-Slaying Art he obtained a few days ago? If he used the Row Character Formula to its full extent and unleashed the God-Slaying Art, the power would be extraordinary. Even if he couldn't kill the opponent, he could certainly cripple him.
But it seemed he wouldn't get the chance.
As the elder prepared to strike again, a sword aura swept from the air, instantly piercing through the elder’s chest.
Everything seemed to freeze. A dead silence fell over the area. No one understood what had happened; even Moyang stood rooted to the spot.
The image seemed to cut off abruptly. The elder stood stiffly for a moment before collapsing forward.
Coming to his senses, Moyang turned to look at the sky, where a white-clad figure was descending slowly, as if a celestial being had descended from the heavens.
"Walking on air... could this be a Battle King?"
A moment later, an onlooker exclaimed.
Moyang watched the figure land. It was none other than the mysterious woman who had tricked him and stolen his bank notes—the Sixth Senior Sister from the Qian Sect!
"I can't stand people like him the most," the woman in white said, landing on the ground. She glanced coldly at the elder lying in a pool of blood. Her voice, like her face, was icy, creating an invisible distance between her and everyone else.
The stunned crowd began to retreat subconsciously, filled with bewilderment.