"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
…
Eighteen figures leaped down from the mountain peak in an instant.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
…
The ground erupted in clouds of dust upon their landing.
Beside him, Huo Guang's expression shifted dramatically. The mountain, though not particularly high, was still daunting to him—he wouldn't dare jump down from it. The fact that these eighteen individuals landed safely suggested that each of them was far more skilled than he was.
"Boom!"
The soldiers in the valley immediately raised their spears, forming a defensive circle around the eighteen newcomers.
"Do you really intend to welcome us with this rabble, Yan Chuan?" The man in purple robes sneered dismissively.
Yan Chuan narrowed his eyes at the group and commanded in a low voice, "Fall back to the west!"
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers responded in unison, slowly withdrawing while raising their spears.
The area was a west-to-east canyon, with a light breeze blowing from the west. The dust stirred by the soldiers' retreat enveloped the eighteen figures, making them appear even more ethereal and imposing.
The army retreated to the western side of the valley, their gazes sharp and watchful as they observed the eighteen.
Huo Guang stood protectively in front of Yan Chuan, a rare look of seriousness on his face. He had begun to suspect something.
These eighteen must be from the Immortal Sect! If they are from the Immortal Sect, they would certainly possess magic and perhaps even magical artifacts. To them, mere mortal bows and arrows would be laughable.
What to do?
Huo Guang tightened his grip on his spear, veins bulging with tension, clearly anxious and on high alert.
Liu Jin, too, positioned himself in front of Yan Chuan, his whisk trembling slightly.
The eighteen figures before them looked on with barely concealed disdain.
Yan Chuan patted Liu Jin and Huo Guang.
"Your Highness?" The two men looked at Yan Chuan with confusion.
"Don't be so tense with our esteemed guests!" Yan Chuan said with a smile.
"Uh?" The two were momentarily taken aback.
"Indeed!" They finally made way.
"Bring out the small table from the sedan chair!" Yan Chuan instructed.
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers quickly complied, retrieving a small table from the sedan chair. It was set with pastries, fruits, and a censer.
"Light the incense for our guests!" Yan Chuan told Liu Jin.
"Yes, sir!" Liu Jin promptly took out a fire starter and began to light the censer.
Yan Chuan, holding a Drunken Yuan Fruit he had just plucked from the cliff, picked a single fruit and handed it to Liu Jin, saying, "Add this spirit fruit to the incense, and burn them together!"
"Yes, sir!" Liu Jin followed the instructions.
With the incense smoke curling up, Liu Jin stepped back, and Yan Chuan handed the remaining Drunken Yuan Fruit to Liu Jin, who took it and moved to the side.
The eighteen watched Yan Chuan's actions with a hint of surprise.
"Ha, after seven years in the mundane world, you've picked up quite a few of its complex rituals. Yan Chuan, are you still the same Yan Chuan from before?" The man in purple robes asked coldly.
Yan Chuan stepped forward and gazed at the group calmly.
"Yan Chuan has lost most of his memories. I'm unfamiliar with you all. Why are you so familiar with me?" Yan Chuan asked quietly.
"Ha ha ha ha! Can't you remember me? It seems your memory loss has struck again. Every year you forget something. Without your traitor father's protection, you're nothing but a useless fool. What can you do to oppose me now? Ha ha ha!" The man in purple robes mocked.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Four or five others joined in, laughing derisively. They looked at Yan Chuan with evident disdain.
The elder brother in black, however, merely frowned, his expression unchanged.
Yan Chuan's eyes narrowed as he focused on the mocking man in purple robes.
"Who are you?" Yan Chuan asked again.
"Who am I? Have you even forgotten that?" The man in purple robes sneered.
"This is Senior Brother Feng Shao, the grandson of the current Sect Master!" someone nearby introduced.
"Feng Shao?" Yan Chuan raised an eyebrow.
"What did you say?" Feng Shao's expression darkened.
Yan Chuan ignored Feng Shao and turned to the black-robed elder brother, "And who are you?"
The black-robed elder brother, slightly taken aback, replied, "I'm Jiang Nan. Although your father committed that disgraceful act, I still respect him. Don't worry, we're merely passing through and happened to encounter you. I won't cause you trouble!"
"Disgraceful act? Hmph, it's not for outsiders to judge my father!" Yan Chuan responded coldly.
"Yan Chuan, how dare you speak so arrogantly? Your father conspired with demons, severely damaging our sect's vitality, and you, his wretched offspring, brought disgrace upon us. My grandfather spared you out of kindness, and Senior Brother here is the top disciple of our sect's third generation. What's there that can't be said? You little bastard!" Feng Shao roared.
"Preposterous!" Huo Guang shouted angrily.
"Clack, clack, clack!" The soldiers raised their bows and spears, their hostility palpable.
The prince had been insulted, and the soldiers were ready for battle.
"Hold on!" Yan Chuan waved his hand, stopping Huo Guang.
"Haha ha ha, little bastard, you could act so mighty when your father was here, but now? Just look at them!" Feng Shao's mocking laughter rang out.
"Roar!"
Feng Shao bellowed, sending a powerful soundwave toward Yan Chuan's army.
In the canyon, the roar seemed magnified several times.
"Rumble!"
The sound swept through, causing some of the weaker soldiers to stagger, barely able to hold their spears.
Yan Chuan's clothes flapped violently from the impact, which largely targeted him.
Yan Chuan steadied his footing, pressing down hard, creating a one-inch deep imprint in the ground, remaining unmoved.
"Good!" Some of Feng Shao's followers cheered. Feng Shao grew even more smug.
The elder brother Jiang Nan remained silent, observing without intervening.
"Core Realm? He's achieved Core Realm cultivation?" Huo Guang's face changed in surprise.
The Core Realm was a level only attained by immortals, and no one in the entire Dyan Kingdom had reached it. But here was one person, and he was already at Core Realm?
"What now, little bastard?" Feng Shao taunted.
"Is that all?" Yan Chuan responded coldly.
"What did you say?" Feng Shao demanded.
"Hm?" Jiang Nan also showed a hint of surprise.
"Feng Shao? Ha, seeing how you are always targeting me, I suppose my father used to torment you often, didn't he? Even after seven years, you still hold a grudge?" Yan Chuan said with a faint smile.
Feng Shao's face darkened, clearly struck by Yan Chuan's words.
"Ha ha ha, little bastard, it's been seven years. This isn't the past. I am now a Core Realm master, and you? You're probably still struggling at the Strength Realm!" Feng Shao sneered.
"Want to test it?" Yan Chuan's eyes narrowed.
"Hm?" The others were slightly puzzled.
What did Yan Chuan mean? Could he also have achieved Core Realm cultivation? That's impossible. What resources did he have in the mundane world? And the sect had taken away everything left by his father. Core Realm? Impossible!
The elder brother Jiang Nan watched with narrowed eyes.
Huo Guang and the others feigned calm but were internally anxious.
Feng Shao, after a moment's hesitation, sneered coldly, "Test? Ha ha ha, although my grandfather said not to disturb your life, since you've brought it up yourself, I'll see if your strength has improved after seven years in the mundane world."
Strength Realm Tier 3? Seven years ago, he was at Strength Realm Tier 3, and now, seven years later, Yan Chuan is still at Strength Realm Tier 3.
Yan Chuan felt a bitter smile within. It seemed the continuous memory loss over the past seven years had halted his progress. But it's fine. His past self was finally awakening.
None of the people behind Feng Shao interfered, even the elder brother Jiang Nan watched coldly.
"Seven years ago, you were no match for me. Seven years later, you are still my defeated opponent!" Yan Chuan said calmly.
"Ha ha ha, such arrogance! Even if you don't remember, I still won't let you go. Strength Realm? I could defeat you with a mere breath! Hmph!" Feng Shao coldly retorted.
"Just like that frog's croak from earlier?" Yan Chuan sneered.
"That wasn't a frog's croak, it was our sect's technique 'Heavenward Chant'! And I only used six layers of power!" Feng Shao said angrily.
"Is that so? If your frog's croak can push me from my place, then you win. How about that?" Yan Chuan said dismissively.
"Ha, ha ha, ha ha ha!" Feng Sha
Yan Chuan pressed down harder with his feet, sinking two more inches into the ground. Though his body trembled slightly under the force of the sound wave, his stance remained rooted, completely unmoved!
"A Thousand-Pound Drop? Impressive indeed. But your opponent only used the Heavenward Chant. Strength Realm Tier 3? It's only a matter of time before you lose," the young woman shook her head with a soft sigh.
"That toad's croak still falls far short," Yan Chuan remarked dismissively.
Feng Shao's face twisted in rage. His roar nearly got stuck in his throat from the insult.
As the sound died down, the powerful shout had depleted a great deal of energy from Feng Shao's core. He gasped for air, casting a venomous glare at Yan Chuan.
At that precise moment, Yan Chuan moved—unexpectedly and mysteriously.
No one saw it coming. Yan Chuan's movement wasn't of his whole body but just his finger, flicking a single grape towards Feng Shao.
A grape?
Whether it was the disciples of the Dahan Sect, the soldiers, or the young woman in the sky, everyone stared in disbelief. A grape? Was Yan Chuan really going to defeat a Core Realm expert with a grape? That had to be a joke! Had Yan Chuan lost his mind?
"Thud!"
A muffled sound reverberated through the air, and what happened next was something everyone present would remember for the rest of their lives.
The grape, without deviating in the slightest, shot straight into Feng Shao's open mouth just as he gasped for breath.
"Ahh... ahh..."
Feng Shao immediately clutched his throat, his eyes wide with panic as he looked at Yan Chuan in horror.
"Ahh... ahh..."
A weak wheezing sound escaped his mouth, his face rapidly turning crimson. Beads of sweat broke out all over his body as his eyes bulged in growing agony.
And as time passed, Feng Shao's lips turned an ominous shade of purple.
"Ahh..."
With a final desperate gasp, Feng Shao collapsed, sitting on the ground, utterly defeated.
"Senior Brother, are you alright?" His fellow disciples rushed to his side.
But the grape was lodged in his windpipe. Feng Shao couldn't utter a word, only clutching his throat as his body convulsed in pain.
Huo Guang, Liu Jin, and the others stared in stunned silence.
The once-arrogant and overbearing Core Realm expert, just defeated by the prince... with a grape? A grape defeated him? Was this even real?
In the sky above, the young woman burst into laughter.
"Haha, how amusing! A grape? I thought that boy was crazy, eating grapes while facing a Core Realm expert. But he turned it into a weapon! Who would have thought a single grape could be more deadly than any weapon? A grape? Defeating a Core Realm expert with a grape? This is incredible, haha!" the young woman exclaimed in excitement.
The best moments are always the most unexpected.
The celestial crane let out an excited cry, echoing the young woman's amusement.
On the ground below, the disciples of the Dahan Sect surrounded Feng Shao, including their Senior Brother Jiang Nan.
"Help... help..." Feng Shao gasped weakly, clutching Jiang Nan's robe in desperation, unable to form full words.
In just a short time, Feng Shao's face had turned a deep purple, his eyes streaming with tears as his body drenched in sweat, looking as if he had been fished out of a river. The strength he had once prided himself on was now utterly useless, his body convulsing uncontrollably.
The grape was stuck in his windpipe, and no one knew how to handle it. These experts had experience treating knife wounds, sword injuries, but this? What could they do about suffocation?
"Fffft, fffft!"
White foam began to froth from Feng Shao's mouth as his eyes rolled back. He was on the verge of death.
"Senior Brother! What should we do? What do we do?" The disciples cried out in panic.
Jiang Nan's face darkened as he pressed a hand against Feng Shao's back, trying to assess the situation.
"His windpipe is blocked. If I try to forcefully expel it, I might shatter his windpipe, which would only make things worse!" Jiang Nan said, his expression grim.
"But Senior Brother Feng Shao is about to die!" the disciples wailed in despair.
This was the Sect Master's grandson! If he died...
No one dared to think about what would happen next.