A powerful wave of true essence emanated from Xiao Chen's body, enveloping him in a faint white glow. The space within several meters around him began to ripple gently, like water stirred by a light breeze, accompanied by a low, resonant hum.
"Just now, he didn't even use his true essence and could still match me. This kid's physique is extraordinarily strong!" Wang He thought to himself, his gaze growing more serious.
"The strength of someone at the early Golden Core stage! But his true essence is incredibly violent! No, it should be called tyrannical!" Yang Changfeng exclaimed, his eyes wide in disbelief, his lips and throat dry from his agape mouth.
"Young Master is amazing! His aura doesn't lose to Wang He at all!" a disciple of the Xiao family exclaimed in shock.
Xiao Ling's large, watery eyes were fixed on Xiao Chen, her pretty face full of astonishment. "Brother Xiao Chen has become so powerful that he can even stand against Wang He."
"Xiao Chen's true essence is so violent! How powerful!" Yang Chongshan couldn't help but shout in surprise, his heart racing.
"What kind of cultivation technique is Xiao Chen practicing? Why does he have such terrifying true essence?" Yang Zhengxiong frowned in confusion. If it were an ordinary technique, it would be impossible to have such domineering true essence.
"Gu Yan, do you believe he is Xiao Chen?" Yaoyao asked in shock, her face pale, her chest heaving rapidly. It was beyond her comprehension that a fifteen-year-old could reach the Golden Core stage.
"How can this be fake? We don't know what happened to Xiao Chen in the past three years, but I believe that his current cultivation level is the result of unimaginable hardships," Gu Yan replied, his eyes flickering with terror.
Gu Yan was right. Everyone present only saw Xiao Chen's immense power on the surface, his rise to the most prominent figure in Fengyue City, and envied his astonishing cultivation. But they didn't see the tremendous effort Xiao Chen had put in to achieve his current enviable cultivation level.
"Bang!"
"Whoosh!"
Xiao Chen's cold, murderous gaze swept over Wang He. He then stepped into the air, his figure instantly transforming into a streak of white light, shooting out at a speed three times faster than before, producing a sharp whistling sound.
"Overestimating yourself!" Wang He snorted coldly, ready to strike, looking as if he wanted to crush Xiao Chen into pulp.
"Bang!"
Xiao Chen's speed was astonishing, almost instantaneous. Just as he was about to approach Wang He, his feet stomped in the air, and with a bang, his speed increased instantly.
"What?" Wang He's face changed drastically as Xiao Chen's speed increased again.
"Is that... Xiao Chen can actually do this, increasing his speed instantly while moving so fast?" Yang Zhengxiong also noticed, his expression changing.
"Bang!"
Xiao Chen's sudden acceleration caught Wang He off guard. With a muffled bang, Xiao Chen's head rammed into Wang He's chest, the violent force causing Wang He to spit out saliva as he was sent flying.
"How is this possible? How does this kid have such tremendous strength?" Wang He was shocked, almost vomiting blood from the collision, his internal energy churning violently.
"How could this be? The family head was actually hit by Xiao Chen! How does Xiao Chen have such immense strength?" Wang Kongshan shivered in fear, his body freezing.
Xiao Chen's speed was too fast. Apart from Yang Zhengxiong and Wang He, no one else could see clearly. They only saw Wang He being sent flying by Xiao Chen.
"That damned brat!" Wang Kongyuan said with a ferocious expression, filled with anger toward Xiao Chen, wanting to tear him apart.
"Xiao Chen hit Wang He! Come on, Xiao Chen!" Xiao Kui shouted excitedly, thinking that hitting Wang He meant Xiao Chen could defeat him.
"Bang!"
After sending Wang He flying, Xiao Chen didn't stop. He stepped into the air again, his figure turning into white light and charging again.
"Xiao Chen! Don't push your luck!" Wang He shouted angrily, being hit by Xiao Chen in front of so many people made him furious.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
As Wang He was about to attack, Xiao Chen stepped into the air again, his figure flickering into white light, changing directions quickly, moving around Wang He at a speed that only left white streaks, making it impossible for the people below to see Xiao Chen's figure.
"Bang!"
Xiao Chen's speed was so fast that Wang He, who wanted to attack, couldn't keep up, only able to watch his surroundings warily. However, he underestimated Xiao Chen's speed and was punched by Xiao Chen, sent flying into the buildings below.
"What... what kind of movement technique is this?" Yang Zhengxiong's face turned from shock to solemnity. Xiao Chen's speed was so fast that even his eyes couldn't keep up.
"So fast! I'm getting dizzy!" Yang Changfeng exclaimed in horror, his dark pupils constantly shifting left and right, but he could only see the white light, unable to see Xiao Chen's figure.
"Xiao Chen's cultivation is far stronger than yours. It's normal not to see him! Even I can only barely see a blur," Yang Qing said, his eyes also looking at the sky.
"Crack!"
After a while, Wang He leaped onto the roof of a building, twisting his neck with a cracking sound. He looked up at Xiao Chen and sneered, "Xiao Chen, those two moves were not bad. For someone so young to have such strength is indeed beyond my expectations. But in the end, you're just at the early Golden Core stage. I've been in Fengyue City for decades. Do you think a mere Xiao Chen can defeat me?"
"Wang He has been hiding well. It seems he has long broken through to the mid-Golden Core stage, just hiding it all along. Even I didn't notice. His strength is on par with mine," Yang Zhengxiong thought to himself.
"Is that so? Then do your best," Xiao Chen sneered, his eyes showing no fear.
"Your speed is not bad, but compared to me, it's nothing," Wang He sneered, his murderous intent spreading, almost becoming tangible. The surrounding cultivators couldn't help but shiver.
"Swift Wind Technique!" Wang He activated his true essence, and with a low shout, a fierce wind appeared out of nowhere, quickly spreading around.
"Bang!"
Standing on the building's top, Wang He's figure suddenly shot toward Xiao Chen as he activated his power, the force destroying the roof.
"Xiao Chen, this guy has wind attribute true essence! If he combines it with his movement technique, his speed will definitely double!" the Ancient White Tiger transmitted.
"Is that so? Do you think I used my movement technique just now?" Xiao Chen sneered, his cold, murderous gaze sweeping toward the approaching Wang He. He shouted, "Ghost Shadow Divine Technique!"
"What? His speed just now wasn't from a movement technique?" Upon hearing this, Yang Zhengxiong's body shook.
Just as the Ancient White Tiger said, Wang He's speed doubled, and with a flash of green light, he appeared in front of Xiao Chen, his fist filled with powerful true essence, smashing down.
"Whoosh!"
Just as Wang He's fist was half an inch away from Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen's figure turned into black mist and disappeared. Before Wang He could retract his fist, Xiao Chen had already appeared on his left side.
"What? This is impossible!" Wang He immediately noticed Xiao Chen's presence. As his fist was about to strike, Xiao Chen had already appeared on his left side.
"When it comes to speed, I'm above you!" Xiao Chen sneered but did not rush to attack.
Hearing this, Wang He became furious. As he retracted his fist, he quickly struck to the left, but Xiao Chen's figure turned into black mist again, disappearing. Before Wang He could retract his fist, Xiao Chen had already appeared on his other side, his speed making it hard for Wang He to keep up.
"How is this possible! I have wind attribute true essence, which is known for speed. Combined with the Swift Wind Technique, my speed should double. How can a mere early Golden Core stage Xiao Chen surpass my speed? And how did he increase his speed instantly in the previous battle?" Wang He thought, unable to believe it. But the strange scene before him forced him to believe it.
"Xiao Chen's movement technique is terrifying. Wang He can't hit him even at close range!" Yang Zhengxiong thought, feeling a growing dread toward Xiao Chen.
"So fast! Wang He can't even hit Xiao Chen! What kind of movement technique is Xiao Chen using?" Gu Yan exclaimed in shock, his eyes almost popping out. A mid-Golden Core cultivator unable to hit an early Golden Core cultivator? This was absurd.
"Wang He, defeating you is as easy as pie for me. Even though you are at the mid-Golden Core stage, your strength is just average!" Xiao Chen sneered, showing no sign of fear toward Wang He, his disdainful gaze unabashed.
"Damn brat! Don't get cocky! Watch how I kill you and destroy your Xiao family!" Wang He roared, his face twisted with anger, his muscles twitching, his killing intent soaring. Being looked down upon by Xiao Chen was unbearable.
"Gasp!"
The people below were shocked by Xiao Chen's arrogance, drawing in a sharp breath, dumbfounded.
"Xiao Chen, you're too arrogant!" the Ancient White Tiger immediately transmitted.
"Hmph! If I don't say such things, how can I anger him? Without angering him, how can there be any openings? Even though his strength is mediocre, he's still at the mid Golden Core stage and can't be underestimated. Now, hasn't the desired effect been achieved?" Xiao Chen coldly snorted in a low voice, revealing that he had intentionally provoked Wang He.
"Haha! That's true." The Ancient White Tiger transmitted with a hearty laugh.
"Buzz! Buzz!"
The furious Wang He abruptly activated his true essence, causing a deep rumbling sound to echo through the space as an overwhelming force surged out continuously.
"This guy's strength is comparable to Yang Zhengxiong's. If I want to defeat him, I must go all out! It's the perfect time to use the profound-level martial technique I've just mastered!" Xiao Chen thought to himself, a cold smile appearing on his slightly tanned face.