Chapter 526: Chapter 202: More Than Capable of Dealing with You

“Hehe, Young Master Lu, the banquet is about to begin. Let me take you inside.”

The female manager sensed the tension in the air and immediately stepped forward with a bright smile to greet Lu Shaojing, though inwardly, she was incredibly anxious.

Lu Shaojing was part of the Crown Prince Hall. If these two clashed here, something bad was bound to happen today!

On one side was the Eldest Prince, and on the other, the Eighth Prince!

Both were masters she couldn’t afford to offend.

Lu Shaojing, however, ignored the female manager entirely. He strode directly toward Luo Cheng, sneering coldly:

“Well, well, who do we have here? As it turns out, it’s you, this good-for-nothing waste. Luo Cheng, this Yunding Tower is not a place where just anyone can enter.”

Luo Cheng turned his gaze slightly, giving him a faint glance. “If I’m sitting here, it naturally means I belong here. Besides, whether or not I have the qualifications to be here—what does that have to do with you? We’re not acquainted. Get lost!”

The veiled barbs in the other’s words were sharp and full of scorn. Luo Cheng naturally wouldn’t hold back either.

The female manager’s heart pounded wildly in her chest.

This was exactly what she feared!

Lu Shaojing was a genius from the Xuanyuan Sect’s Xuanhe List, and his esteemed status justified his arrogance.

But she hadn’t expected that Luo Cheng would be even more audacious. Not only refusing to back down, but he also dared to provoke Lu Shaojing directly!

Wasn’t this the same as poking a tiger’s whiskers?

The current situation couldn’t tolerate any overthinking. The female manager gritted her teeth and stepped forward nervously, trying to mediate, “Young Master Lu, Luo Cheng is a distinguished guest invited by the Ninth Princess.”

Lu Shaojing didn’t care for any of that. He hadn’t even settled the score with Luo Cheng for what happened at the Examination Hall, and now this man dared to provoke him? He immediately smirked coldly:

“Brat, how dare you speak to me like that…”

Thinking of something, Lu Shaojing’s tone suddenly shifted. His face revealed a mysterious smile as he said, “Your arrogance merely comes from having Yun Mengli as your backer, am I right? Too bad, too bad… That reliance will serve you no longer.”

Luo Cheng’s eyebrows lifted. “What do you mean by that?”

Lu Shaojing chuckled. “It seems you don’t know, do you? Your formidable backer Yun Mengli fought the genius of the Extreme Dao Sect over a month ago in Guyuan City. She was seriously injured and then surrounded by Blood Demons. To this day, she remains missing. I fear she has already been drained of her essence blood, with no corpse left behind!”

Nangong Jue led several experts from the Crown Prince Hall to investigate Yun Mengli’s whereabouts in Guyuan City.

Yet even after a month, there was no news to be found.

Nangong Jue speculated that Yun Mengli’s fate was bleak and grim!

Luo Cheng’s expression changed slightly. “Is that true?”

Seeing Luo Cheng’s reaction, Lu Shaojing’s face filled with arrogance as he mocked:

“Of course it’s true! Without Yun Mengli’s protection, who are you even? My advice: better mind your manners from now on and behave like the spineless worm you are. Otherwise, you’ll only invite your own destruction!”

Luo Cheng steadied his mind, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he said:

“I may be nothing, but dealing with you is more than within my reach.”

“You dare claim it’s within your reach to deal with me? Such arrogance!”

Hearing Luo Cheng’s words, Lu Shaojing laughed in fury. His eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flashing within them. “Today, I’ll teach you how to properly respect your seniors! Get on the ground!”

Unable to suppress his inner rage any longer, Lu Shaojing struck out in an instant. His five fingers spread wide, and his left palm swung ferociously toward Luo Cheng’s face!

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The air was compressed by the sheer force, producing clear, shattering sounds, like jade and gold breaking apart.

“Begone!”

Luo Cheng remained unmoved, sitting calmly. It wasn’t until the palm almost reached him that he punched forward to meet the attack.

Boom!

Fist and palm collided instantly. With a thunderous explosion, the surrounding tables and chairs immediately flew away, shattering midair. The solid ground beneath them showed visible cracks.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Within the chaotic force currents, one figure couldn’t help but stagger backward several steps.

When they finally got a clear look, the female manager’s expression changed drastically, and she inhaled sharply. “Lu Shaojing was forced back?!”

Lu Shaojing was a renowned genius on the Xuanyuan Sect’s Xuanhe List.

Luo Cheng was merely a newcomer to the Xuanyuan Sect’s Inner Sect, a recently rising nobody, and his so-called Martial Soul was the infamous Wasted Martial Soul!

The most shocked person, however, was Lu Shaojing himself.

“How is this possible?!”

Lu Shaojing’s eyes widened in disbelief that he had been forced back.

Even though his earlier palm strike was casual and not at full strength, it was more than enough to blast away a strongman at the Eighth Layer of the Awakening Vein Realm. It should’ve been impossible for Luo Cheng to withstand.

Luo Cheng, too, was slightly surprised. This punch had merely gained him a slight advantage!

The talent ranking on the Xuanhe List was no joke. Lu Shaojing’s combat prowess far exceeded that of other strongmen at the same cultivation stage.

“Good! Very good! Brat, don’t think you’ll walk out of this Yunding Tower alive today!”

Lu Shaojing’s expression turned cold and dark. The humiliation of losing ground to Luo Cheng drove him to the brink of madness, his face now twisted with rage.

Seeing the situation worsen, the female manager forced herself to intervene, flashing a nervous smile:

“Young Masters, this Yunding Tower is Imperial Family property. If there’s any damage, I cannot afford to compensate. Neither the Eldest Prince nor the Eighth Prince will take kindly to it.”

Hearing this, Lu Shaojing’s expression fluctuated before sneering at Luo Cheng, “Worthless brat, there’s a dedicated arena inside for Awakening Vein Realm duels. Let’s settle this there! Didn’t you just say I’m easy to deal with? Don’t you dare back out now like a coward!”

“You’re courting death; I’ll indulge you.”

Luo Cheng stood up calmly.

He had intended to avoid unnecessary trouble, but since danger sought him out, he wouldn’t back down.

The female manager inwardly sighed, feeling Luo Cheng was too arrogant.

Lu Shaojing hadn’t fought seriously earlier. If Luo Cheng thought this was enough to defeat him, he was probably in for some suffering.

Realizing this conflict wouldn’t end peacefully, the female manager quietly withdrew behind the counter and sent someone to inform the Ninth Princess immediately!

“Excellent! Let’s go!”

Seeing Luo Cheng accept his challenge, Lu Shaojing’s eyes narrowed, a grin spreading across his face as he strode purposefully toward the inner rooms of the Yunding Tower.

Luo Cheng followed without hesitation.

The commotion naturally caught the attention of those nearby. When word spread that the two were preparing to fight, exclamations erupted all around.

As Luo Cheng and Lu Shaojing passed through the main hall, seven or eight young elites emerged from the inner chambers.

Luo Cheng glanced their way, a strange glint flashing in his eyes.

The group consisted of men and women alike, all seemingly no older than twenty. Each exuded an extraordinary aura. Judging by the fluctuations of Essence Energy, all were Late Stage Awakening Vein Realm experts, with two possessing auras surpassing even Lu Shaojing’s—deep and unfathomable—likely top-tier in the Awakening Vein Realm!

“Luo Cheng!”

Among them, one Xuanyuan Sect disciple immediately recognized Luo Cheng and was visibly startled.

“Luo Cheng? So he’s the one from your Xuanyuan Sect who awakened a Wasted Martial Soul and has been opposing the Eighth Prince Jin Min?”

“That’s correct!”

The Xuanyuan Sect disciple nodded.

“He actually dares challenge Lu Shaojing? Where does he get such blind courage?”

“Haha, this should be entertaining! Offending Lu Shaojing, this guy will either die today or leave gravely injured.”

“Lu Shaojing, just get rid of him quickly. The Eighth Prince will arrive soon—don’t let this ruin our drinking mood.”

The young men and women in the group were all esteemed guests of the Eighth Prince Jin Min, four of whom hailed from neighboring nations rather than the Great Yue Dynasty itself.

During their playful chatter, they paid Luo Cheng no mind, fully expecting Lu Shaojing to swiftly defeat him so the banquet could proceed uninterrupted.

After all, the disparity in reputation and strength between the two was immense.

Lu Shaojing was a Middle Stage Ninth Layer Awakening Vein cultivator, ranked 463rd on the Xuanyuan Sect’s Xuanhe List, with a burgeoning reputation throughout the Great Yue Dynasty.

In contrast, Luo Cheng was merely a Middle Stage Awakening Vein cultivator, obscure and insignificant—like an ant in their eyes!

Under the guidance of a servant, Luo Cheng, Lu Shaojing, and a gathering crowd headed to the deepest courtyard of the Yunding Tower.

The courtyard was remarkably spacious, with a hundred-meter-wide arena situated at its center.

An intricate array covered the arena, surrounded by a faintly glowing azure barrier.

The guiding servant explained, “Gentlemen, this arena is designed to withstand duels between Awakening Vein Realm cultivators. However, each use requires a fee of 500 Essence Energy Pills.”

Five hundred Essence Energy Pills!

Luo Cheng hadn’t expected it to be so expensive. However, recalling the destructive power of Awakening Vein Realm experts, he quickly understood. Building and maintaining such an arena would clearly be no small feat.

“Take them!”

Lu Shaojing, eager to crush Luo Cheng, didn’t hesitate. He handed over a box of Essence Energy Pills and leaped onto the arena in one swift motion.

Luo Cheng followed suit.

Seeing Luo Cheng step onto the platform, Lu Shaojing couldn’t contain his laughter any longer:

“Brat, forget your strength. I must admit, your boldness is impressive! To be so recklessly unaware of death, daring to challenge me!”

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