Chapter 65: A Battle Shocks the City (2)
All the guests had arrived, and the time for the banquet to begin had come. Qin Wuyou returned to his seat, raised his wine glass, and said in a clear voice: "Today is for my new appointment. I am honored that all of you distinguished guests have taken time from your busy schedules to come. It is truly my fortune. I am new to New Moon City and know very little about it. In the future, I will need each of you here to graciously offer me your guidance and assistance. This glass of wine, I toast to you all!"
Having said this, Qin Wuyou raised his glass and drained it in one go.
The guests also raised their glasses one after another, and all kinds of blessings and words came forth:
"Haha, Lord Qin is too polite! If ever you need our Azure Dragon Gang's help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
"I heard that Lord Qin comes from the Cangfeng Mystic Palace in the imperial capital. Truly admirable! With Lord Qin's new appointment, I believe the New Moon Mystic Palace will surely thrive step by step."
"Lord Qin's profound strength is unfathomable. I fear you have already reached the fifth level of the Earth Xuan Realm or above. We are truly in awe and feel ashamed."
The atmosphere suddenly became lively, and those who were flattering were naturally the small and medium sects and the city lord's faction. The Seven Great Sects wore restrained expressions, occasionally offering a few polite words.
As the disciples of the Seven Great Sects continuously raised their glasses, their gazes kept darting towards the disciple seating area of the New Moon Mystic Palace, clearly selecting their opponents for the upcoming sparring matches. The disciples of the New Moon Mystic Palace also wore heavy expressions, but their momentum was not weak. However, after the great elders repeatedly surveyed the average strength of the disciples from the Seven Great Sects, they all sighed deeply in their hearts... Although each sect did not bring too many disciples, they were obviously carefully selected, each with astonishing talent, far surpassing the elites of the same age group in the palace. They had thought that after years of development, the New Moon Mystic Palace had narrowed the gap, but now it seemed they had indeed been overly ambitious.
Although the New Moon Mystic Palace had Lan Xueruo, she alone could never change the situation. It seemed that this time, they would still repeat the same outcome as five years ago. Alas, there was no way around it. The foundation and resources of the Mystic Palace could never compare to these great sects that had been passed down for at least several hundred years.
"The atmosphere is quite subtle. It seems this princess will have a good show to watch later," Mo Li said.
"What do you think the outcome will be if these elite disciples of the New Moon Mystic Palace spar with the Seven Great Sects?" Yun Che probed.
"Among the same age group, the disciples of these seven sects are on average two to three levels higher than the disciples of the New Moon Mystic Palace. Need this princess tell you the result?" Mo Li said indifferently.
"...That exaggerated?" Yun Che frowned slightly. If they were half a level higher, they could still fight. If they were a full level higher on average, it was basically hopeless. Two to three levels higher... If that were the case, the New Moon Mystic Palace wanting to avoid repeating the past was a complete dream. It seemed this newly appointed lord would also have to take a solid slap in the face. The only question was how he would handle it.
"Hmph, if we're just talking about the Fen Tian Gate and the Xiao Sect, they are on average four to five levels higher!" Mo Li added another sentence.
"...I want to know, how many levels higher are you compared to them?" Yun Che asked casually.
"Comparing me to them? Are you insulting this princess?" Mo Li's voice carried a hint of anger.
"Cough, I didn't mean that at all. Just asking casually."
A super monster loli who could instantly kill a King Xuan Dragon at thirteen! Any sect genius, any number one young talent of New Moon, was not even worth mentioning in front of her. Yun Che also felt that comparing Mo Li to them seemed indeed like an insult...
Qin Wuyou clearly had a good grip on managing large occasions. After three rounds of wine, the entire banquet was lively and filled with continuous laughter. Although Yun Che did not drink, he ate his fill of the food and wine. Only the long eye contact between the Mystic Palace and sect disciples made the atmosphere increasingly tense. At this point, any spark would set it off.
At that moment, the chief elder of the Xuanxin Sect, Xuan Ao, stood up with a wine glass in hand and said loudly: "This glass of wine, on behalf of the Xuanxin Sect, I wish Lord Qin a swift rise to fame for the New Moon Mystic Palace across the world." After saying this, Xuan Ao drank his glass in one gulp, turned it upside down, and continued: "However, with the banquet at this point, even with so many distinguished guests, it still feels like something is missing, not lively and enjoyable enough. Lord Qin is newly appointed and likely not very familiar with the New Moon Mystic Palace. You must want to know the strength level of the palace disciples. So, I have a proposal: how about letting our sect disciples spar with those of the same age from your palace? This will not only add to the entertainment and deepen mutual feelings but also help Lord Qin understand the strength of the palace disciples. Wouldn't that be three benefits in one?"
"Excellent! Elder Xuan's proposal is wonderful!"
"Indeed, three benefits in one!"
"Great idea! What are we waiting for? Let's start now. I believe Lord Qin will not refuse."
As soon as Xuan Ao's voice fell, the Seven Great Sects responded with praise and cheers. Meanwhile, the great elders of the New Moon Mystic Palace all sighed in their hearts... What was bound to come eventually came. The New Moon Mystic Palace replaced its lord every five years, and every time a new lord took office, they would give him a slap in the face. It had almost become a law.
All of the Seven Great Sects responded, and the disciples even stood up, rubbing their hands together eagerly. Qin Wuyou naturally had no way to refuse. But he was clearly very calm. He stood up, smiled, and nodded: "Elder Xuan's proposal is not bad. So, how should we conduct the sparring?"
"Simple!" Xuan Ao laughed heartily. "The younger generation is different from us. They are still at the starting stage, so one year's age is one step of progress. When sparring, of course, those of similar age should spar with each other for fairness. Naturally, those younger can challenge those older; winning that way would be even more glorious, hahaha."
Xuan Ao's last sentence and his loud laugh clearly implied that even the younger members of their group could defeat the older ones of the New Moon Mystic Palace.
"Since it was proposed by me, let our Xuanxin Sect go first... Xuan Yu, you go! Remember to state your age."
"Yes, Elder!"
The Xuanxin Sect youth pointed to was around sixteen or seventeen, the youngest among the Xuanxin Sect disciples present. He was slightly thin and wore form-fitting clothes. Gathering his energy, he leaped high from his seat and landed in the center of the hall, hands clasped behind his back, his provocative gaze sweeping over the New Moon Mystic Palace disciple seats: "I am Xuan Yu, an unworthy disciple of the Xuanxin Sect, sixteen years old. May I ask which esteemed member of your palace will offer guidance?"
As soon as Xuan Yu entered the arena, the elders of the New Moon Mystic Palace fell silent... This Xuan Yu was indeed only sixteen, but he was already at the second level of the Xuan Entry Realm! These elders knew their own situation. In the New Moon Mystic Palace, among the sixteen-year-old segment, the highest profound strength was only the first level of the Xuan Entry Realm. Moreover, these sect disciples all practiced sect profound arts. When competing at the same level, Mystic Palace disciples had almost no chance of winning, let alone being a whole level lower.
What was most unacceptable was that this Xuan Yu was only mid-tier among the disciples brought by the Seven Sects this time, definitely not upper-tier.
Xuan Yu stood there for a while, but the New Moon Mystic Palace remained silent for a long time. The smile on Xuan Yu's face had clearly turned into a sneer, and the Seven Great Sects also showed contempt. If they remained silent any longer, the New Moon Mystic Palace would lose face before the "sparring" even began. Sikong Han waved his hand: "Li Hao, you go!"
"Yes!"
The Mystic Palace disciple called Li Hao leaped out from the disciple seats, stood in front of Xuan Yu, and said seriously: "Li Hao of Class One, New Moon Mystic Palace. Please offer guidance!"
"Heh, no need to say it, I will guide you well." Xuan Yu laughed softly, saying in a low voice with obvious mockery. Facing the New Moon Mystic Palace they had always dominated, the disciples of the Seven Great Sects always felt a considerable sense of superiority. Conversely, the disciples of the New Moon Mystic Palace might show off in front of the medium sects, but before the Seven Great Sects, they always hung their heads.
"Hmph!" Xuan Yu's contemptuous gaze angered Li Hao. He growled low, condensed his profound strength into his right arm, and threw a punch that whistled towards Xuan Yu's face.
"Heh, is that all?"
Xuan Yu sneered inwardly. He raised his right hand, and a faint purple light suddenly appeared on his palm.
"It's the Xuanxin Sect's profound art — the Purple Sun Art!" an elder of the New Moon Mystic Palace growled.
The gap between the New Moon Mystic Palace and the Seven Great Sects was not only in profound strength level but also in profound arts! Under centuries or even millennia of foundation, the great sects had mature inherited profound arts, which were usually secrets of the sect or clan and never taught to outsiders. If the New Moon Mystic Palace wanted to teach its disciples profound arts, it would have to create its own. Even in profound techniques, the New Moon Mystic Palace mostly used basic low-level techniques, far inferior to the Seven Great Sects.
The purple energy on Xuan Yu's palm rolled and churned like boiling water. He turned his palm into a fist and struck straight at Li Hao's fist... Another simple punch, without any profound technique.
The two fists collided, and a purple light burst at the point of impact. With a "crack!" sound, Li Hao's fist was dislocated, and his face showed pain. His entire upper body leaned backward. A sinister smile curled at the corner of Xuan Yu's mouth. His left fist suddenly swung out, also covered in purple light during the swing, and slammed heavily into Li Hao's abdomen. This time, it was no longer an ordinary punch but a powerful technique of the Xuanxin Sect...
"Purple Cloud Palm!"
"Bang!" The purple-covered fist smashed heavily into Li Hao's abdomen, sinking deep in. Li Hao's face instantly turned deathly pale. With a muffled groan, he flew backward, tumbling several times in the air before crashing heavily to the ground. His chest and abdomen churned violently. Finally, with a "puh!" sound, he spat out a jet of blood. Clutching his stomach with both hands, he lay on the ground convulsing, completely unable to stand up.
"Li Hao!"
"Brother Li!"
Two New Moon Mystic Palace disciples quickly rushed out and helped the disgraced and defeated Li Hao off the field. All the New Moon Mystic Palace disciples felt a chill in their hearts. Li Hao and Xuan Yu were similar in age, only one level apart. They had thought that even if Li Hao couldn't win, he could at least hold out for a long time. But unexpectedly, in just two exchanges, Li Hao was thoroughly defeated.
They had heard that five years ago, the disciples of the Seven Great Sects had beaten their senior brothers and sisters of that year with ten consecutive defeats, miserably. They were still unconvinced, but after this first "sparring" ended, they felt a chill in their hearts.
"Admitting defeat." Xuan Yu smiled and spoke. That previous battle hadn't exhausted him at all. He didn't immediately leave the arena but stood his ground, his eyes fixed on the New Moon Mystic Palace disciples: "May I ask which friend from the New Moon Mystic Palace will offer guidance again?"
"Tch, this kid seems to be addicted to showing off," a disciple of the Seven Kills Sword Sect said with a snicker.
"Ah, bullying these novices isn't much fun. Just treat it as entertainment," another said with a dismissive curl of his lips.
Defeating an opponent in two exchanges and striking quite viciously made the sixteen-year-old disciples of the New Moon Mystic Palace's hearts pound with fear. No one dared to step forward voluntarily. Because Li Hao was already the strongest among the sixteen-year-old segment in the New Moon Mystic Palace. Any other sixteen-year-old going up would only humiliate themselves further without changing the outcome. If a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old stepped up, even winning would bring no glory, and losing would be even more disgraceful.
"Oh? What's the matter? Are the friends of the New Moon Mystic Palace all a bunch of turtles?" Xuan Yu mocked with a grin. Then his expression changed, and he lightly slapped his own cheek: "Look at this mouth of mine, getting worse at talking. This is a noble Mystic Palace established by the imperial family, so its disciples must be the best. Of course, they can't be turtles. So, are they too disdainful to spar with a junior? How about this: I will boldly pick someone to challenge. If I win, it's my luck. If I lose, I'll immediately get off the stage and won't let everyone watch the joke."
Laughter erupted from the Seven Sects.
Before the New Moon Mystic Palace could react, Xuan Yu had already extended his hand, pointing at one person: "That big-built senior brother over there, judging by your look, you must have the strength of ten thousand jun. Please offer me your guidance."
The person he pointed at... was none other than Xia Yuanba!