Chapter 50: One Move to Victory? Challenging a Foundation Establishment Expert!

High atop the observation platform, the various Zhenren sat in bored silence, waiting for the event to conclude.

Guangwei Zhenren broke the quiet, his voice dripping with feigned surprise. “I never expected to see Junior Brother Qianyi here. If memory serves, you haven’t shown interest in these gatherings for years.”

Su Qianyi bristled, his reply sharp. “What? Am I forbidden from attending my own disciples’ completion ceremony? Since when is Wuya Hall banned from this place?”

“Oh?” Guangwei Zhenren feigned a pause, his eyebrows raising slightly. “Does that mean you actually have disciples participating in the training this year?”

“It’s the very same disciple you all forced upon me years ago,” Su Qianyi said, his smile tight and mirthless. “Come to think of it, I really should thank you.”

The other Zhenren froze. The memory resurfaced instantly—they had collectively pressured Su Qianyi into accepting a boy with the lowest-tier aptitude to save their own reputations.

They quickly did the mental math. Only 8 years had passed. Could that boy have already completed the training?

If he was graduating now, that meant he had reached the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation within five years of becoming a Novice. Such speed was comparable to a second-tier talent, far exceeding their initial assessment.

“It seems Junior Brother Qianyi has poured quite a lot of resources into cultivating him,” Guangwei Zhenren mused aloud. He couldn’t help but wonder if Su Qianyi had wasted a fortune on the boy just to spite them.

“Haha! I said it back then, didn’t I?” Guangling Zhenren interjected with a laugh, trying to diffuse the rising tension. “Aptitude is important, but for us cultivators, luck is paramount. This child seems to be blessed with great fortune!”

“He’s decent,” Su Qianyi said, unable to keep a note of pride from his voice. “Just the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation.”

“Just the Ninth Layer?” Guangwei Zhenren stroked his long beard, his expression smug. “Ye Jiusi, who entered my sect at the same time, reached the Grand Perfection of Qi Condensation three years ago. He returned to the mountain earlier this year and has already successfully achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.”

“So what if he reached Foundation Establishment? What’s the big deal?” Su Miaoqing shot back, her voice filled with indignation. “Xiaofeng will succeed in his Foundation Establishment in another two years, too!”

“Qing’er, don’t be rude!” Lin Ziyun, seated beside her, quickly tugged at her daughter’s sleeve.

Guangwei Zhenren didn’t deign to argue with a junior. He simply cast his gaze downward.

Below, the awards ceremony had concluded. Now came the highlight of the event: the sparring session.

This was the time for disciples to test their Dao techniques against one another—or to settle old scores accumulated during their harsh training.

The disciples standing in the square suddenly felt the ground tremble.

The center of the plaza sank, and the stone floor groaned as it stretched and expanded. The massive square was transforming before their eyes.

A colossal circular stone platform descended from the sky, hovering in mid-air above the center of the plaza. It was a Dueling Array Platform, its surface shimmering with the faint glow of protective formations.

Ling Sisi and the others stared in awe at the shifting landscape.

Beside them, Xiao Yifeng adjusted his robes. “You all chat here. I’ll be right back.”

Before they could respond, he transformed into a streak of blue light, shooting toward the newly descended platform.

He landed steadily in the center. With a flick of his sleeves and his striking features, he cut a dashing figure—elegant as a jade tree facing the wind.

His voice rang out, clear and confident.

“Disciple Xiao Yifeng of Wuya Hall challenges Li Lifang of Chiyun Hall! I hear Senior Brother Li has already reached Foundation Establishment. Would you be willing to offer me some pointers?”

The crowd erupted.

Ling Sisi and her group exchanged shocked glances. They hadn’t expected Xiao Yifeng to challenge a Foundation Establishment expert so brazenly. The ordinary disciples, however, roared with excitement, eager for a spectacle.

A streak of yellow light shot up from the crowd and landed on the platform.

It was Li Lifang.

Years of hardship had not been kind to him. He looked even more sinister than before. His face had thinned significantly, accentuating his sharp chin and hollow cheeks, giving him a gaunt, simian appearance.

His eyes glinted with cold malice. “I didn’t come looking for you, yet you deliver yourself to my door? Junior Brother Xiao, where do you get the confidence to challenge a Foundation Establishment cultivator with merely Qi Condensation cultivation?”

Li Lifang threw his head back and laughed. “But since you’re so eager to die, I can hardly refuse!”

The disciples below buzzed with confusion. They finally realized the disparity in cultivation. Xiao Yifeng was only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation. Why was he courting death against a Foundation Establishment senior?

On the high platform, Su Qianyi slammed his hand against the armrest of his chair.

“What on earth is this kid doing? This is absolute nonsense!”

Guangwei Zhenren chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Your disciple certainly has courage. Does he think he is some peerless genius who can fight across realms? Who knows, maybe he’ll actually pull it off. Haha…”

He laughed at his own joke. The other Zhenren shook their heads, clearly not optimistic.

Fighting across sub-tiers was common. But crossing a major realm boundary—especially the chasm between Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment—was incredibly difficult. The qualitative difference in spiritual energy was simply too vast.

“Qianyi, calm down,” Lin Ziyun said softly. “You know Xiaofeng’s character. He never does anything without confidence.”

Guangwei Zhenren stood up and projected his voice to the arena. “Disciples, hold your attacks! You may only begin upon my command.”

The two combatants on stage paused, confused.

Guangwei Zhenren turned back to Lin Ziyun, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Since Fairy Lin is so optimistic about her disciple, why don’t we make a wager?”

He waved a hand casually. “If your disciple wins, I will gift him a Middle Grade Flying Sword. But if he loses… Fairy Lin need only give me three Divine Scrolls from the Luoshu Mansion.”

It was a predatory offer.

The Divine Scrolls were used to strengthen one’s Divine Sense. While useful, they were consumable items, nowhere near the value of a Middle Grade Flying Sword.

Guangwei Zhenren didn’t care about the winnings; he just wanted to humiliate Su Qianyi publicly.

Lin Ziyun looked at her husband with a troubled expression.

Su Qianyi snorted coldly. He was a man who lived and died for his face. “Bet, then! Do you think I’m afraid of you?”

“I find this quite interesting as well,” a cool voice interjected. “Do you mind if I place a small side bet?”

It was Liu Hanyan. She produced a shimmering jade pendant. “I will wager this Top Grade Magical Artifact, the Dragon-Patterned Jade Pendant. If you lose, give me one Divine Scroll.”

Su Qianyi’s face darkened further. “I didn’t expect Senior Sister Guanghan to join in. Fine! I’ll take all comers!”

Baiyun Zhenren opened his mouth to join the pile-on, but Guangling Zhenren coughed loudly, signaling that the bullying had gone far enough. The other Elders wisely remained silent.

Su Qianyi’s face had turned a distinct shade of green. He knew they were mocking him.

Seeing his goal achieved, Guangwei Zhenren turned back to the arena. “You may begin! Remember, do not take lives. Stop when victory is decided.”

On the platform, Xiao Yifeng and Li Lifang were oblivious to the high-stakes gambling happening above them. They both let out a sigh of relief when the permission was given.

Both had been terrified their masters would stop the fight.

Li Lifang grinned ferociously. “Junior Brother Xiao, are you ready? I won’t show any mercy.”

Xiao Yifeng’s expression turned icy.

“That is a question I should be asking you, Senior Brother Li.”

“If you can still stand after taking a single strike from my sword… I will count this duel as my loss.”

Silence slammed into the arena.

Then, an uproar exploded from the crowd.

Arrogance! Pure, unadulterated arrogance!

Xiao Yifeng, the underdog, was setting the terms? He claimed he would defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator in one move? It was the ravings of a madman.

Up on the high platform, Su Qianyi felt his blood pressure spike. He was furious. This ignorant brat doesn’t know how high the sky is!

“Xiaofeng! Go for it!”

Su Miaoqing’s voice cut through the noise as she cheered from the stands, her stunning beauty drawing the gaze of countless young disciples.