The training session ended earlier than usual. Yun Xiu turned to Su Yan, "Su Yan, can you give him a tour of the sect?"
Su Yan nodded.
Why was Master Yun favoring this guy so much, even training him personally? She enjoyed such treatment due to her exceptional talent and her grandfather's request, but this guy had neither.
What did he possess to convince Master Yun to train him?
Unbeknownst to her, it wasn't Hun Yu who proposed the training.
Yun Xiu wanted to train him for reasons unknown.
"Okay, you two go. I have some matters to attend to," Yun Xiu said before flying away.
Just as she left, Hun Yu finished his set of punches assigned by Yun Xiu. "So, Su Yan, where did Miss Yun go?" he asked.
Before she could reply, he sensed a sharp sword coming at him. Instinctively, he dodged and backed up. "What?!" He looked at Su Yan, seeking an explanation for the sudden attack.
"It's just that we're training together. I wanted a friendly battle," Su Yan said before launching herself toward Hun Yu again.
She didn't use her qi or full power, knowing it would be unfair. As she lunged, Hun Yu somehow dodged.
Before she could attack again, he grabbed her wrist, and with a swift movement, the sword fell from her hand to the ground.
In the next instant, Su Yan lost her balance and grabbed Hun Yu's collar as she fell. Hun Yu, who had performed a trick Yun Xiu taught him to disarm an opponent, didn't expect her to grab him.
They both fell, Hun Yu landing on top of her.
Su Yan, stunned, didn't process what had happened. How did he manage to disarm her without using any qi or technique? And how did he cause her to fall?
Hun Yu found himself in an awkward situation, on top of her, their legs intertwined, his hands bracing the ground near her head.
Su Yan's face flushed, and in a burst of qi, she pushed Hun Yu away.
Embarrassed, she stood up. Though it was her mistake, she was determined to teach him a lesson. She walked towards him, cracking her fingers menacingly.
After a minute, she said, "Okay, let's get going. I'll show you around the sect," and walked away.
Hun Yu, beaten and bruised, managed to stand and followed her. Understanding women is so hard, he sighed.
As they walked down the mountain, he trailed slowly behind her. When they reached the base, she pointed to a large tower.
"That is the Treasure Pavilion where techniques and weapons are kept. Don't go there without a permit, or the pavilion keeper will throw you out."
Hun Yu nodded as they continued their tour, eventually arriving at an area bustling with sect disciples.
The disciples' attention quickly turned to Su Yan and her unexpected companion, Hun Yu.
"Senior Sister Su Yan with a boy?" one whispered.
"Is there something going on?" another murmured.
"Who is this? It's the first time seeing him," someone else commented.
Their voices were low, meant only for their small group. One of the disciples, feeling the need to inform someone important, slipped away quietly.
As Su Yan continued the tour, the male disciples watching them wore expressions of jealousy, their eyes filled with resentment.
Su Yan was the goddess of everyone's heart, and seeing her walk with an unknown boy stirred their emotions.
"Hey, you! I challenge you to a duel!" One of the disciples stepped forward and shouted at Hun Yu, hoping to impress Su Yan by defeating this masked stranger.
If he could win her favor, his future would be bright.
"You!" Su Yan turned back, glaring at the challenger. He was an average-looking person with no striking features—low cheekbones, a nonexistent jawline, and facial asymmetry.
The sect master had given her the task of showing Hun Yu around the sect. If he were injured, she would be the one scolded by the sect master, who clearly valued Hun Yu.
"If you don't want your bones broken, get lost," she said angrily. Her words silenced the crowd, all eyes on the challenger.
To everyone's surprise, the challenger didn't back down. "Senior Sister Su Yan, I am just challenging a fellow cultivator," he said.
"And it is within sect rules. If I challenge someone to a fight, they must accept."
Su Yan's anger flared. Who did this guy think he was? There was indeed a rule that if someone challenged you, you must accept or be seen as a coward, ridiculed for your weakness.
Hun Yu, who had remained silent, sized up the challenger. Although this guy's rank seemed higher, Hun Yu had the information panel to gauge his capabilities, albeit limited by the difference in their cultivation.
This guy didn't seem very intelligent, and Hun Yu felt confident he could defeat him. Besides, rejecting the duel would not only disgrace him but also tarnish Yun Xiu's name.
"Okay, I will fight you," Hun Yu said, stepping forward. Su Yan's expression grew complicated.
If Hun Yu got injured, she would face the sect master's wrath, but there was nothing she could do now except watch.
"Let's go to the arena, then," the challenger said, leading the way.
Before entering the arena, Hun Yu borrowed Su Yan's sword.
"Okay, boy, get ready to be beaten," the challenger sneered.
Hun Yu wanted to laugh. Calling him a boy? This guy looked younger, probably around 17-18, the same age as Su Yan, while Hun Yu was 20-21.
Hun Yu did not reply to the provocation, his mind as calm as water.
As the battle started, the sound of clashing swords filled the arena. Hun Yu quickly observed that his opponent was not very skilled, relying mainly on brute strength.
From the audience's perspective, it appeared that Hun Yu was being pushed back.
But then, he spoke. "You are so ugly." His words caught everyone off guard, and whispers rippled through the crowd.
"Yes, he looks pretty average," someone muttered.
As the gossip spread, the challenger's face turned an ugly shade of red. "You... You!" he screamed, swinging his sword at Hun Yu with renewed fury, aiming to kill.
Hun Yu's smile was hidden beneath his mask. His trick had worked. The challenger's attacks became erratic and unfocused, leaving an opening for Hun Yu to exploit.
"You are done for. Water Flow Sword Dance!" Hun Yu announced, executing the technique with precision.
His sword cut through the air gracefully, clashing with his opponent's weapon, which was soon knocked away.
But Hun Yu didn't stop. He continued his assault. The challenger tried to defend himself with his hands, but they were no match for Hun Yu's sword.
Despite the opponent's strength, he was still in the body tempering realm.
Hun Yu's Water Flow Sword Dance struck again and again, slicing through his opponent's flesh. The screams of pain echoed through the arena.
The audience was shocked and horrified; they had thought Hun Yu was a weakling, but now they saw his true skill.
Sect rules dictated that once a duel started, no one could interfere unless it was a matter of life and death.
The challenger collapsed, looking up at Hun Yu with terror as he crawled backward. "I admit defeat! I admit defeat!"
But Hun Yu did not stop. His eyes briefly glowed yellowish-orange. Without a second thought, he swung his sword to sever the challenger's head.
"Presumptuous!" a shout rang out. Suddenly, there was a bang, and Hun Yu was thrown back, crashing into the wall. The impact cracked the stone, and he fell to his knees, coughing up blood.
He looked up to see an old man standing protectively in front of the defeated disciple. "Dare to kill a disciple of this sect in broad daylight? Be ready for the consequences," the elder said.
The old man was the executioner of the sect, responsible for punishing rule-breakers. Su Yan, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, rushed to intervene.
If anything happened to Hun Yu, how could she face the sect master?
But she was too late. The old man had already gathered energy in his hand and rushed at Hun Yu. "The punishment for attempting to kill a disciple is being crippled," he declared, slamming his palm into Hun Yu's chest.
As he did, a green energy erupted from Hun Yu, repelling the elder's qi and attacking him. The old man's face changed drastically.
This energy was far beyond anything he had expected, the unmistakable aura of a High Lord Profound cultivator.
Shock and disbelief washed over the elder as he staggered backward, realizing that Hun Yu possessed power far beyond his cultivation level.
The elder's qi was forcefully expelled from Hun Yu's body, and he was hurled into the wall, breaking through one after another until he finally stopped 1 km away.
The commotion attracted the attention of many. Yun Xiu, who was in a hall, turned her head sharply. With a boom, she disappeared from sight, rushing to the scene.