Chapter 197: Provocation
Qin Wushang was stunned for a long time before he reacted and hurriedly went to check the injuries of Feng Bufan and Fang Feilong. The results left him speechless... Both of them had their shoulder bones shattered and all the meridians in their shoulders ruptured. In such a state, let alone participating in the ranking battles, they would need at least one or two months of quiet recuperation, unable to use any profound energy recklessly.
Qin Wushang was secretly shocked. The strike Yun Che had just delivered seemed completely casual—far from a full-force attack, likely not even half his strength—yet it had injured these two inner palace disciples who dominated the top three of the Heavenly Xuan List to such a degree. With his True Xuan Realm profound energy, he could produce such astonishing power... it was almost unbelievable.
After examining their injuries, Qin Wushang sighed and feigned distress: "Severe shoulder bone fractures... Sigh, you probably won't be able to participate in the ranking battles this time. You should go to the Medicine Hall immediately."
Qin Wushang's words made their faces change... The Cang Feng Ranking Battle was the grandest and most highly anticipated event in the Cang Feng Empire, especially for the younger generation. To personally set foot on the ranking battle arena was the dream of a lifetime. Because it gathered the most outstanding young people from the past. But here at Cangfeng Mystic Palace, with conditions and environments many times better, alchemical supplements, various profound techniques, experienced mentors, and a mature cultivation system, this rate of progress was simply too unreasonable.
"Junior Brother Yun, news of your accident somehow got out earlier. When Yuanba heard about it, he cried bitterly... At least for Yuanba's sake, don't go to such dangerous places anymore." Cang Yue said softly. Thinking of the notorious Death Wasteland, even though Yun Che now stood before her completely unharmed, she still felt a lingering fear.
"Yes, yes, I'll earnestly follow Senior Sister's instructions." Yun Che naturally agreed immediately.
Under their curious questioning, Yun Che briefly told the three about his experiences in the Death Wasteland... Of course, he did not mention anything about Xiao Xiannü. Regarding his encounter with the Dragon God's trial, he only said he had experienced some sort of fortuitous encounter. Unbeknownst to them, a quarter of an hour passed, and Fen Juechen still had not appeared.
"Strange... Logically, Fen Juechen trains with all his might just to wash away his shame against Fen Juebi in the Cang Feng Ranking Battle. Why would he deliberately be late... Could he have lost track of time cultivating in the Gathering Profound Tower?"
Qin Wushang thought it increasingly likely. He turned his gaze toward the direction of the Gathering Profound Tower and said to Xia Yuanba: "Yuanba, go to Profound Room Number One in the Gathering Profound Tower and see if Fen Juechen is inside. Profound Room Number One is on the right side of the second floor of the Gathering Profound Tower."
"Gathering Profound Tower... I... go?" Xia Yuanba pointed at himself, first surprised, then involuntarily excited. After all, the Gathering Profound Tower was a place that only inner palace disciples were qualified to enter. It was said that cultivating inside could yield twice the results with half the effort. Outer palace and middle palace disciples could only stare longingly, never daring to hope. As for Fen Juechen, he was the number one on the inner palace Heavenly Xuan List, and even the number one of the entire Cangfeng Mystic Palace. But all disciples outside the inner palace only knew his name without ever seeing his face. They were full of curiosity and yearning but never had the chance to meet him.
"En, Yuanba, go ahead. The aura in the Gathering Profound Tower is very unique, and you might gain some benefit from it." Yun Che then added: "But if Fen Juechen is really inside, be careful when interacting with him. This person probably doesn't have a good temper."
"Okay, I understand." Xia Yuanba, with an excited expression, trotted toward the tall tower that he could previously only gaze at from afar.
Qin Wushang was not wrong—Fen Juechen was indeed so engrossed in his final cultivation before the ranking battles that he lost track of time. Before long, Xia Yuanba returned, but not alone. A youth of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in black, with a face as hard as a knife, walked in front of Xia Yuanba. His gaze was as calm as a pool of dead water, completely unruffled. His steps were steady and slow, and his entire body exuded a pride that had been ingrained into his very bones.
Fen Juechen!
Fen Juechen approached. His gaze lingered only a moment on Qin Wushang, Cang Yue, and Yun Che, then he didn't spare them a second glance. He walked straight to the largest of the three giant snow carrion birds and said coldly: "Let's go!"
Having kept Vice Palace Master Qin Wushang and Princess Cang Yue waiting for so long, he offered no apology or explanation. Not only that, but he showed them not even the slightest courtesy. That "let's go" was even delivered in a commanding tone, as if he were the greatest being in the entire world. Apart from himself, nothing else entered his sight.
Yun Che glanced at Fen Juechen, then looked at Xia Yuanba. He was about to speak when he suddenly frowned. Xia Yuanba's walking posture was very unnatural. His right leg kept dragging, as if he had been injured. As he walked, the swing of his right arm was also abnormal... Xia Yuanba was trying very hard to act as if nothing was wrong, but he couldn't fool Yun Che's eyes.
Yun Che quickly stepped forward and supported Xia Yuanba: "Yuanba, what's wrong? Are you injured?"
"No... no." Yun Che's question immediately made Xia Yuanba panic. He quickly denied it: "I just... I just accidentally fell down the stairs of the Gathering Profound Tower."
"With your physique, even if you fell down the stairs ten times, you wouldn't end up like this. What really happened? Did some inner palace disciple maliciously attack you?" Yun Che's eyebrows slanted like two sharp swords. "Tell me the truth! With me here... no one can bully you! No matter who it is, I will make them pay the price."
"Re... really, it's nothing." Xia Yuanba continued to deny. But at that moment, a voice dripping with deep contempt coldly rang out: "This trash at the Initial Xuan Realm actually dared to walk in front of me, so I taught him a lesson... What price are you going to make me pay?"
Yun Che turned around, his gaze landing on Fen Juechen. As his eyes slowly narrowed, the light in his pupils turned icy cold.
"You injured Yuanba? Very good... Apologize to Yuanba immediately, then slap yourself three times. Otherwise, I'll make sure you never get to participate in the ranking battles in this lifetime!"