Chapter 75: Xiao Luocheng
Lu Zhannan rose from the ground in a disheveled state, his face pale as death. A large hole had been burned through the clothes on his chest, revealing skin that had been nearly scorched black. Thanks to his protective profound energy, Yun Che's flames had not caused him too severe an injury, but the pain from the fire that ignited within his body was enough to be seared into his memory for a lifetime, and it left a deep shadow in his heart. As he looked at Yun Che now, his gaze was filled with fear. He lowered his head, dragged his sword behind him, and walked back to the seats of the Seven Killing Sword Pavilion in silence.
He knew that today, he had completely become what Yun Che had called a "stepping stone." The various disdain and mockery he had directed at Yun Che earlier now seemed, in hindsight, like a pile of self-slapping jokes.
"Lu Zhannan... actually... lost!!"
"How terrifying! What level of strength does Lu Zhannan possess? Even he was defeated by Yun Che!"
"Sixteen years old... at the first level of the Xuan Entry Realm, yet his profound energy is astonishingly thick, his movement technique is unfathomable, and he can use such a high-level fire profound art! The fire profound art he just displayed seems different from those of the Cloud Sun Sect and the Fen Tian Gate, but its realm is terrifyingly high... and he's only sixteen!"
"With talent like that, although it's impossible to match Xiao Luocheng, it's not too far off! Perhaps it's enough to be compared to Fen Ziluan of the Fen Tian Gate! Among the younger generation of New Moon City, his talent is enough to rank in the top five... no, the top three!"
From the disciples to the elders of the Seven Killing Sword Pavilion, everyone was collectively stunned, because they knew best what Lu Zhannan's strength was. And yet, with that kind of strength, he had been defeated by a sixteen-year-old disciple of the New Moon Mystic Palace. This mental shock was too great for them, so great that they simply could not dare to believe what they were seeing.
Xuan Yu, Yan Ming, Feng Guangyi, and the others who had been defeated by Yun Che earlier were even more wide-eyed, their throats dry... When Yun Che had defeated them, they were filled with various grievances and unconvinced feelings. But now, they clearly understood that their losses were anything but unjust! When Yun Che had fought them, he simply hadn't used his full strength—perhaps he hadn't even used half of his power! Otherwise, they would have lost even faster and more miserably. The arrogant bluster they had put on in front of Yun Che before... now, thinking back on it, was like an ignorant puppy barking in front of a lion.
"With such talent, it is extremely rare even among the seven sects, which have deep foundations. And yet our New Moon Mystic Palace has produced such a disciple! Perhaps this silent and long-dormant New Moon Mystic Palace will rise because of him," Sikong Han sighed.
The two elders beside him slowly nodded, deeply agreeing.
Geniuses don't need many, and there won't be many. If one can appear, it's enough to bring glory to the sect. As the only imperial-established profound palace in New Moon City, it had been countless years since the New Moon Mystic Palace had produced a genius who could compare with the seven sects. As the two of them spoke, their manner even carried a hint of flirtation... Murong Ye's face instantly turned green, and he nearly ground his teeth to pieces. He and Lan Xueruo were the universally acknowledged golden boy and jade girl of the New Moon Mystic Palace, only one step away from being a recognized couple. But he knew very well how difficult that step was—at least, Lan Xueruo had never treated him the way she was treating Yun Che now.
"That hateful brat!" Murong Ye's gaze grew increasingly sinister in the silence.
And Yun Che, as if sensing the jealous and resentful look directed at him, slightly tilted his head towards Murong Ye's direction, and a faint, almost imperceptible curl appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
At that moment, a crisp sound of clapping rang through the hall. Everyone followed the sound. The person clapping had slowly risen from his seat.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Originally, I came purely on my father's behalf to convey congratulations to Mansion Master Qin. I never expected to witness such a series of exciting dragon-and-tiger battles, and to have the fortune to see the rise of another new star in New Moon City."
As the young man spoke, he walked towards Yun Che, a smile on his face. He looked quite young, about sixteen or seventeen, but there was no childishness on his face. Instead, there was an intangible nobility and pride. His voice was clear and gentle, yet it carried a faint suffocating pressure.
Looking at the young man who was slowly stepping forward, the hall fell into complete silence.
Xiao Luocheng!!
The undisputed number one of the younger generation in New Moon City!
When Xiao Luocheng had first entered the main hall, all eyes had been on him. But afterwards, not many had paid him much attention. Even when Yun Che had arrogantly challenged all the sixteen-year-old disciples of the seven sects, and the seven sects had long been silent with no one daring to answer the challenge, no one thought of him... because Xiao Luocheng's level had already transcended this small New Moon City. His talent was so terrifying that it simply couldn't be compared by anyone in New Moon City, not even the disciples of the seven sects. Tie Hengjun was at the fourth level of the Xuan Entry Realm at seventeen, Lu Zhannan at the seventh level of the Xuan Entry Realm at eighteen—they were both renowned top geniuses of New Moon City.
And Xiao Luocheng... at sixteen, the tenth level of the Xuan Entry Realm!
The sparring matches between the younger disciples of New Moon City's sects had never involved Xiao Luocheng, because among the younger generation of New Moon City, there was simply no one worthy of being his opponent, and no one worthy of making him act.
Although he was now the young sect master of the Xiao Sect's branch in New Moon City, everyone knew that after he turned twenty, he would certainly not stay in New Moon City. Instead, he would return to the Xiao Sect's main sect. With his terrifying talent, even within the main sect, he would hold no low status. The Xiao Sect's main sect was a behemoth that New Moon City didn't even have the qualification to look up to—a transcendent sect that even the Cangfeng Imperial Clan had to curry favor with. That was the place that belonged to Xiao Luocheng. New Moon City simply couldn't accommodate such a peerless genius as Xiao Luocheng.
But now, Xiao Luocheng had actually stepped forward himself, and was even walking towards Yun Che.
Everyone's hearts began to race wildly. Could it be that he was going to...