Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. Early in the morning, the entire Feng family gathered at the city gate, waiting in anticipation.
When a few figures in the uniforms of the Azure Dust Sect came into view, everyone, under the lead of Feng Changgen, knelt down on one knee.
"The entire Feng family! Welcomes Elder Lu!"
"…"
By noon, nearly all the prominent families of Falling Phoenix City had gathered at the Ye family's martial arts arena, just to witness the prowess of the Azure Dust Sect experts.
In the very center of the arena sat an elderly man with graying hair. Beside him stood two sect disciples at the Qi Mastery Realm.
This was the elder of the Azure Dust Sect visiting Falling Phoenix City this time: Lu Qing, a peak Gold Body Realm expert.
Flanking him were the elites of various prominent families of the city, including the Ye, Lin, and Zhou families.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on Feng Mo, who stood on the arena platform.
A Heaven-grade Fire Spirit Vein, who at only sixteen years old, had already broken through to the Qi Mastery Realm and caused a phenomenon in the heavens, earning the favor of an Azure Dust Sect elder.
Every single one of these feats was proof of his extraordinary talent!
"Tsk tsk… Truly worthy of a Heaven-grade Spirit Vein. At just sixteen years old, he's reached a height we could never dream of!"
"Haha, what caught the Azure Dust Sect's attention wasn't just his Heaven-grade Spirit Vein but the phenomenon it caused! A talent like this has never appeared in Falling Phoenix City before!"
"Look at this spectacle. It's grander than when the Lin family's young lady joined the sect last year. With a genius like this, the Feng family will undoubtedly dominate the city from now on!"
"…"
Listening to the murmurs from the crowd, a faint smile played on Feng Mo's lips, filled with pride and disdain.
He used to look up in awe at Feng Wuchen and Lin Wan.
But he never imagined that one day, he too would bask in such glory.
Feng Wuchen? Lin Wan?
What of them? So what if they were sword cultivators or possessed dual Lightning and Fire Spirit Veins?
In the face of his heaven-summoning talent, all so-called prodigies were merely stepping stones.
Today, he would trample Feng Wuchen's corpse and rise to fame!
However, as time ticked by, impatience grew on Feng Mo's face, and murmurs began to spread among the crowd.
Despite it being the day of their duel, Feng Wuchen had yet to appear.
"What's going on? Could it be that coward realized he's no match for my son and doesn't dare show up?" mocked Feng Changyun.
"It's possible! A sword cultivator who never retreats? What a joke," Feng Changgen sneered coldly. "There's only one quarter-hour left until noon. If Feng Wuchen doesn't show up by then, he'll be declared the loser."
A wave of disappointment swept through the crowd.
"Could Feng Wuchen really be too scared to come? Retreating before the battle even starts—how disgraceful!"
"Disgraceful? That's the least of it. The one standing on the platform is the greatest genius in Falling Phoenix City's history. Fighting him isn't just about pride—it's a matter of life and death!"
Looking towards the small courtyard, Feng Mo clenched his fists.
Knowing Feng Wuchen was too afraid to come didn't bring him any joy.
Because it would mean all the preparations he made were for nothing.
He couldn't accept it!
He needed to crush that waste in front of everyone to prove he was the true supreme genius!
…
Meanwhile, in a rundown courtyard, Feng Wuchen and Yue Qingyin were deep in combat.
"Boom!"
Yue Qingyin unleashed a powerful sword strike, sending Feng Wuchen flying several meters.
He propped himself up with his Burning Sun Sword, absorbing everything he had gained from their battle.
As the Dragon Abyss Sword Tower within him trembled, the surrounding spiritual energy rushed into his dantian, and he broke through once more.
"Innate Realm Ninth Layer!"
Witnessing this, a rare flicker of surprise crossed Yue Qingyin's usually aloof eyes.
Over the past seven days, she had initially suppressed her cultivation to the fifth layer of the Innate Realm to spar with Feng Wuchen.
Yet, this guy kept growing stronger, constantly breaking through in battle, until she now had to use her Qi Mastery Realm strength to suppress him.
She had never heard of or seen such a method that enabled rapid breakthroughs through combat.
"Progressing so quickly—aren't you afraid of an unstable foundation and inner demons?" she questioned.
Feng Wuchen merely smiled. Through this week of training, he finally understood why that middle-aged man sought a reincarnated soul to inherit the Heaven-Slaying Sword Technique.
Such rapid advancement was terrifying, and only someone like him, with the mental state of a former Celestial Sovereign, could avoid succumbing to inner demons.
"You're asking too many questions."
Seeing Feng Wuchen unwilling to share more, Yue Qingyin wisely dropped the subject and sheathed her sword.
"It's about time. Let's head to the arena."
"Alright…"
"Brother!"
Just as they were about to leave, Feng Ning called out.
Feng Wuchen turned and gave her a gentle smile. "What is it, Ning'er?"
Over the past days, he had grown increasingly fond of this thoughtful and adorable little sister.
Feng Ning bit her lip nervously, her eyes brimming with unease.
"I… I want to go with you!"
"What for? Be good and wait here. I'll be back soon."
"No!" Feng Ning's voice trembled. "I'm scared… scared that you'll leave me behind again."
Looking at her watery eyes, Feng Wuchen's usually calm heart rippled.
He sighed, knelt down, and said, "Alright, hop on!"
"Okay!"
A smile blossomed on Feng Ning's face as she nestled against his back, feeling utterly safe.
Seeing this, a faint tremor ran through Yue Qingyin's eyes.
This young man was cold to everyone else, but he reserved all his tenderness for his sister.
…
On the platform, the moment nearly passed, and just as everyone believed Feng Wuchen wouldn't show, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Feng Wuchen is here!"
All eyes turned in unison.
Feng Wuchen was walking leisurely down the path from the courtyard, carrying a young girl on his back, chatting and laughing along the way.
Everyone was stunned. The martial arts arena fell into silence.
Such a solemn occasion, yet this guy not only arrived late but also seemed so casual. Did he think this duel was a mere stroll?
Feng Mo's face darkened immediately, his rage nearly boiling over.
"You… are you treating our duel as a joke?"
Feng Wuchen didn't reply right away. Instead, he affectionately patted Feng Ning's head and handed her to Yue Qingyin.
"Please, Miss Yue, take care of my sister."
"Of course!"
Only then did Feng Wuchen turn around, surveying the crowd before focusing on Feng Mo.
"A joke? More like stomping on an ant or tossing away trash… Is all this really necessary?"
"Boom!"
The crowd erupted, their eyes filled with shock.
Arrogant!
Too arrogant!
To compare Feng Mo, a Heaven-grade Spirit Vein wielder who summoned heaven's phenomena, to an ant and garbage?
Only Feng Wuchen would dare!
"Is he courting death?"
"Provoking such a genius? He's clearly got a death wish!"
On the platform, Feng Mo's face twisted with rage. "Very well… You've successfully angered me!"
"And then?"
Feng Wuchen remained indifferent, which only fueled Feng Mo's fury.
"I challenge you to a life-or-death duel! Do you dare accept?"
A life-or-death duel!
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
A life-or-death duel meant there would be no surrender. The fight would end only when one of them perished.
Feng Wuchen's eyes sharpened. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure! But you, waste! Do you dare?"
"If you insist on dying, I'll grant your wish. I accept!" With that, Feng Wuchen leapt gracefully onto the stage.
"Good! Then prepare to die!"
At those words, Feng Mo's body turned into a gust of wind. The crowd barely caught a glimpse of his movement before he was already before Feng Wuchen.
"So fast!"
"The difference between the Qi Mastery and Innate Realms is like night and day."
"At such close range, he won't be able to dodge. It's over in the first move!"