In the Divine Blue Sect, nestled deep within the peaks that stretched thousands of meters high, a magnificent pavilion stood majestically against the clouds. Inside, a man sat cross-legged,His muscular frame radiated a sense of dominance as though the very air around him dared not disobey.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and a sharp glint flashed.
"Who—"
Before he could react further, a shadow in a black robe darted past him. Without any pleasantries, it attacked him head-on.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed sharply as a sword strike was intercepted.
Within seconds, two figures exchanged a flurry of blows before retreating to opposite ends of the room. The intruder, draped in a flowing black robe, smirked.
"Zhao Long, it seems you've made progress in your cultivation technique," he remarked, his tone carrying a hint of surprise.
"Hmph! And it seems your habit of sneak attacks hasn't changed, Jiang Lei," the muscular Zhao Long replied, his face showing clear displeasure.
"Oh, nothing too serious." Jiang Lei smiled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just thought you'd like to know we have a new core disciple."
He paused for effect, savoring the irritation already building on Zhao Long's face.
"What was his name again? Xiao... Ming, yes. Apparently, he awakened some 'legendary physique' and caught the Holy Lord's eye. Can you believe it? A Soul Transformation cultivator promoted directly to core disciple! The audacity!"
Zhao Long's brows furrowed, his confusion evident. "A Soul Transformation cultivator... promoted? By the Holy Lord himself?" He muttered, disbelief turning into disdain. "What makes this Xiao Ming so special?"
"And Why are you telling me this news, Jiang Lei?" Zhao Long demanded, his tone less than friendly.
Jiang Lei smiled slyly. "Oh, don't worry. I just thought it would be interesting to test his strength, see if he's truly qualified to be one of us."
"Hmph, stop pretending, Jiang Lei. You just want to challenge Xiao Ming and need me to accompany you. That way, even if the Holy Lord finds out, you can brush it off as a simple sparring match between disciples," Zhao Long retorted.
In the Divine Blue Sect, fights between disciples were forbidden, but sparring under the guise of "friendly discussions" was not only allowed but encouraged.
Seeing that his plan was exposed, Jiang Lei dropped his act, sneering. "So, are you coming or not? Or are you scared of this new guy, Xiao Ming?"
"Scared?" Zhao Long snorted, his pride clearly pricked. "Why would I be afraid of a Soul Transformation cultivator? I'd also like to see how talented and strong this Xiao Ming is!"
With that, Zhao Long leaped into the sky, his figure shooting forward like a bolt of lightning. Behind him, Jiang Lei smirked in satisfaction. His plan was going smoothly.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ming had already arrived at Divine Blue City in his majestic dragon chariot.
The city, nestled at the base of the towering mountain range, exuded a mystical charm. Shrouded in mist that glowed faintly with a divine blue hue during dawn and dusk, it was a sight to behold. The architecture was grand, with jade-tiled roofs and towering spires that seemed to touch the heavens.
Above the city, the Divine Blue Sect stood on the cliffs like a beacon of authority. The sect's grand hall, adorned with sapphire-like stones, shimmered under the sunlight. Cascading waterfalls flowed down the mountains, feeding the rivers below and symbolizing the sect's dominance over the region.
Inside the chariot, Xiao Mei's eyes sparkled as she gazed out at the city below. "Is this the Divine Blue City? It's so big! Brother really wants to move our entire family here?"
Xiao Rui, seated beside her, nodded. "Not just its size. Even the spiritual energy here is far denser compared to Moonshade City."
Xiao Ming, seated across from them, remained silent, lost in thought. He was already planning the necessary arrangements to transfer his family to the sect.
At the gates of the sect, the guards were startled by the sight of Xiao Ming's dragon chariot.
"Is that the new core disciple, Xiao Ming?" one of them murmured.
"Yes, it must be! There's only one chariot in the entire sect pulled by nine transcendent-level flood dragons, and it was gifted to him by the Holy Lord," another replied, awe evident in his voice.
Inside the chariot, Xiao Ming's brows furrowed slightly. He had sensed two powerful auras rapidly approaching. Soon, two figures appeared in front of the chariot.
"Look! Isn't that Zhao Long and Jiang Lei? Why are they here?"
"They don't seem to have come for a friendly chat."
"Yeah, neither of them has a good reputation in the sect. Could they be here to cause trouble for Xiao Ming?"
The crowd below buzzed with speculation.
Xiao Ming stepped out of the chariot, his expression calm as he glanced at the two figures. Xiao Ming stepped out of the chariot, his expression calm but his eyes sharp as they scanned the two intruders.
"Is this the infamous Xiao Ming?" Jiang Lei said mockingly, his eyes filled with jealousy as he glanced at the chariot. "I must say, riding such a grand chariot is impressive. Almost makes me wonder if it's the chariot carrying you, or you carrying it."
Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Jealousy isn't a good look, Brother Jiang. If you wanted a ride, you could've just asked."
The crowd chuckled, but Jiang Lei's face darkened.
Zhao Long, uninterested in banter, stepped forward. "No need for words. Let's see if you're truly worthy of being a core disciple!"
Before anyone could react, Zhao Long's aura exploded.
Boom!
"Almighty Dragon Punch!"
A dragon-shaped image roared behind Zhao Long as his fist surged forward, exuding a terrifyingly oppressive aura.
The crowd gasped. Even though the attack wasn't directed at them, the pressure alone was suffocating.
Xiao Rui and Xiao Mei behind Xiao Ming looked worried, the fear evident in their expressions.
Yet Xiao Ming remained calm, his hands still clasped behind his back. As the attack neared, he tilted his head slightly.
Whoosh!
The attack missed completely, crashing into the ground and leaving a massive crater.
"What?!" Zhao Long's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Was that it?" Xiao Ming asked, his voice calm but laced with mockery. "I've seen toddlers throw tantrums with more force."
The crowd erupted into laughter, and Zhao Long's face turned red with fury. "You dare mock me?!"
He attacked again, each strike more ferocious than the last. But no matter how hard he tried, Xiao Ming dodged effortlessly, as though Zhao Long's attacks were nothing more than a gentle breeze.
Finally, Xiao Ming sighed. "Enough. This is getting boring."
With a single flick of his sleeve, a wave of energy surged forward.
Boom!
The resulting shockwave was so powerful it caused nearby mountain peaks to tremble and crumble. Zhao Long's body was sent flying, crashing into a distant peak with a deafening impact.
When the dust cleared, Zhao Long lay unconscious, defeated.
The onlookers were stunned.
"Zhao Long was defeated so easily!"
"And Xiao Ming barely even tried. It was like swatting a fly!"
Xiao Ming didn't pay attention to the murmurs. His gaze shifted to Jiang Lei, whose face had turned pale.
Jiang Lei, who had been watching nervously, felt a chill run down his spine as Xiao Ming's gaze landed on him.
"Does Brother Jiang Lei also want to 'test' me?" Xiao Ming asked, smiling faintly.
Jiang Lei broke into a cold sweat, his forced smile almost painful. "No, no! Brother Xiao Ming misunderstands! I was just... observing! No need to involve me!"
Xiao Ming chuckled, shaking his head.
With that, he turned and walked back to his chariot. As it rose into the air, Xiao Ming didn't spare the crowd another glance.
The spectators erupted into chatter, their admiration for Xiao Ming reaching new heights.
"That's our Senior Brother Xiao Ming!"
"He's more powerful than we thought!"
Back on the distant peak, Zhao Long groaned, barely conscious. Jiang Lei stood frozen, regretting every decision that led him to this moment.
Xiao Ming, however, didn't care. To him, they were nothing more than minor distractions.