Mulan's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly is this 'Blue Orb'?"
"Something people would kill for," Yun Che muttered.
A heavy silence followed his words.
Yun Che held the fragment between his fingers, the faint glow reflecting in his eyes.
"This thing is ancient. In our realm, we've modernized the existing versions. But this... this is one of the originals."
"What exactly is the Blue Orb?" Cang Yue asked, intrigued.
"In our realm, Blue Orbs increase life force. Extend natural lifespan. It even slows aging for a time." Yun Che said offhandedly, too used to system stats to think much of it. In system terms, it gives them 5000 HP.
Everyone stared blankly at him.
"Uh… For spirit cultivators like me, Nemu, and Retsu—it strengthens vitality. For humans, well… it can turn back your biological age. About five years, give or take." He shrugged.
"Five... years?" Xia Qingyue blinked.
"Yup."
Silence.
"…"
Then the outrage began.
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT SO CASUALLY?!" Cang Yue shouted.
"You're saying this thing can make us younger and you drop that information like it's nothing?!" Mulan gawked.
"That's… unfair." Xue Ling muttered, eyes twitching.
"Do you know what women in this world would do for something that reverses aging?! We drink bitter pills, bathe in spirit water, and pray to the heavens for just clearer skin!" Cang Yue exclaimed.
Yun Che's expression froze.
"…Oh. Right. That matters here, huh?" he coughed awkwardly. "Forget about it."
"Forget about it?" Cang Yue echoed, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"You just casually mention gaining youth and say 'forget about it'?!"
Little Fairy stepped beside him.
"Rascal, I believe you owe us some very detailed explanations about how many of these fragments exist." Little Fairy smiled sweetly—but Yun Che felt the chill down his spine. As Little Fairy is the only one who abuse him for love.
"…I may have made a mistake."
Yun Che held the crystal up again, letting its faint glow shimmer in the air.
"Like I said… it's just a fragment. You need four of the same type to form a complete Blue Orb. Only then can it be refined. Your age stays the same chronologically—but physically? Your body reverts five years. And it extends your natural lifespan by another five."
He sighed as if it were a simple fact, not realizing the storm he'd just reignited in the women around him.
Retsu and Nemu shared a soft sigh between them as they examined the glowing fragment in Xue Ling's hand.
"The Blue Orb fragment…" Nemu muttered.
"It only increases HP by 5000 points for us," Retsu added, her voice calm. "No other effects."
The system kept their bodies perpetually young, flawless, and strong. For them, the fragment was more a novelty than a miracle.
But not everyone shared the same indifference.
"I want it." Mio declared, puffing her cheeks. "If it makes me look younger, then I'll become even more irresistible to Danna-sama!"
"Aren't you bound to the System? You don't need it." Retsu sounded in her mind.
"Ah, I forgot. Teehee..." Mio poked her tongue. "Couldn't hurt trying."
Beside her, Cang Yue crossed her arms. "Same. If I can shave off five years, I'll look younger than Qingyue again."
"You're petty, Yue'er." Qingyue replied, not even looking her way. "And you're already unfairly beautiful."
"Compared to you, it's far from beautiful." Cang Yue sighs.
Qingyue sigh. If she were to take that Blue Orb, her body age would revert to thirteen years old, and she would be already too young. However, she didn't want to take it because he already liked her as it is.
Little Fairy stayed silent, but her fingers brushed the edge of the fragment as her gaze softened. Already in her forties, she carried her years with grace, but the thought of closing the age gap between her and Yun Che's younger companions stirred something in her chest.
"Five years… just five," she whispered, almost to herself.
Chu Yueli and Xue Ling exchanged glances—both thinking of the same man.
"If I looked just a bit younger," Chu Yueli said softly, "maybe Mihawk would…"
"He'd at least notice me," Xue Ling muttered under her breath.
Mulan stood near the corner, arms folded beneath her chest, watching Yun Che from a distance. Her eyes lingered on him longer than usual.
"If he saw me the way I looked five years ago…" she trailed off, her voice lost in memory. She wasn't vain—but she remembered the days when he used to sneak glances at her. She wanted that look again.
Lin Yueru, meanwhile, lifted the hem of her sleeve and admired her reflection in her tea.
"I just want to look pretty," she said with a smile. "Youngest Imperial Protector or not, a girl deserves to shine."
At the far side, Jin Yuelian stared at the fragment with quiet longing. She was older than the rest, a mother, a matriarch—but even she wasn't immune to the pull of youth.
She exhaled deeply, a wistful smile forming.
"If only… just a little…" she whispered to herself.
None of them voiced their desires too loudly, but Yun Che could feel it—the ripple the Blue Orb caused among the women around him. A simple fragment… and already, hearts stirred.
He scratched the back of his neck, awkward and nervous.
"So let me get this straight," Chu Yueli muttered, crossing her arms, "it won't just make us younger—it'll actually prolong our life?"
"Exactly," Yun Che nodded. "It's a spiritual enhancer. Physical and metaphysical benefits. There are thousands out there, hidden in ruins, sealed in treasures, or… like this one…" He motioned toward the broken Martial Judgment statue. "…buried in Combat Adjudicators."
A spark lit in Mulan's eyes.
"Then the second fragment…" she said, turning slowly toward the second Combat Adjudicator still standing silent on the other end of the stage.
Everyone followed her gaze.
Yun Che rose to his feet, his voice cool and cutting through the murmurs of the hall like a blade.
"Gao Family Patriarch."
He smirked. "We'd like to purchase that second statue."
The hall stirred. Whispers rose. The Gao Patriarch narrowed his eyes.
"You dare?" he snapped. "That statue is not for sale."
Yun Che casually pulled out a parchment—the official agreement from earlier.
"As I recall," he said, waving it slightly, "you signed that we owed a debt of ten million purple profound coins to your family. Since you lost, our debt is now yours and doubled to twenty million."
The patriarch froze. His face twitched.
"...You…"
Yun Che's grin widened.
"Tell you what. We'll buy the statue—for exactly twenty million. Consider your debt wiped clean."
The Gao Patriarch clenched his fists. "You… You snake…"
"Unless…" Yun Che shrugged, mockingly polite. "You'd prefer to pay us the full amount in purple profound coins right now?"
"So, the statue or your debts in coins?"
The patriarch's jaw locked. His eyes darted to the statue, then to the murmuring crowd, then back to Yun Che's infuriatingly calm expression.
"Damn you…" he growled.
"Take it," he spat bitterly. "Consider the debt paid."
A stunned silence swept the crowd. Then, murmurs of admiration and shock.
"He… used their own loss to buy the next statue?"
"He's bleeding them dry without even drawing a blade."
"What a terrifying strategist…"
From his seat, Jin Zhuo looked at Yun Che with a new light in his eyes.
He couldn't help but chuckle, pride swelling in his chest seeing his son-in-law in action.
Yun Che turned to the second Combat Adjudicator and motioned toward it.
"Well, another Combat Adjudicator… we can—"
SWOOSH!
A sudden gust of wind blew past the stage.
"Ufuu… the early bird gets the worm."
Retsu's playful voice echoed through the hall as her figure blurred into motion. In a blink, she stood before the second Combat Adjudicator, twin water-katanas already drawn.
The audience hadn't even caught up with what happened when—
SHING! SHING! SHING!
Blade after blade, flash after flash—sixteen strikes erupted in a breathtaking sequence. Each movement flowed into the next with supernatural precision, her blades carving arcs of cold light through the air. The temperature in the hall dipped with every slash.
"Starburst Stream…" Yun Che muttered under his breath, a small smile forming on his lips.
Retsu really is a fast learner.
One flame. Two. Three.
Each flicker on the statue's hands dimmed one after another as Retsu's technique tore through the air—an elegant and deadly dance of blades. The final strike landed, a glacial explosion rippling out as the last flame vanished.
CRACK!
The Combat Adjudicator exploded into pieces—its core dropping with a soft clink onto the polished floor.
Ten seconds.
The hall was dead silent. What the Gao Family failed to accomplish in ten years, this veiled woman shattered in ten seconds.
Another glowing blue fragment clinked onto the floor.
"Yatta~!"
Retsu gleefully scooped up the fragment, her face glowing beneath her veil as she turned and made her way back toward the others.
The entire hall was frozen in stunned silence.
That baker girl.
The same gentle woman who had crafted mountain-shaped bread just summoned twin water-forged swords—and obliterated the Martial Judgment Statue in less than ten seconds.
The murmurs began.
"She… she destroyed it?"
"Wait… that wasn't a fluke?"
"How strong is that baker girl?!"
"She didn't even have a cultivation aura. I thought she's an ordinary person."
Even the most skeptical faces in the room couldn't hide their disbelief.
Yun Che let out a tired sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"She just wanted to test out the Combat Adjudicator… and try Starburst Stream."
"Starburst Stream?" Xia Qingyue's voice held both curiosity and a hint of worry.
"Yes. A 16-hit sword combo. Every strike is different—designed to bypass combo restrictions. If she wanted to, she could take down a six-flame Combat Adjudicator with that technique alone." Yun Che said plainly, as if he were explaining how to boil tea. "Remember how when I destroyed Ling Yun's swords using it?"
"Six… maybe seven flames?" Even Qingyue, calm as ever, was taken aback.
Mio let out a soft sigh, arms crossed under her chest.
"Ufuu… that Ret-chan. Always stealing the spotlight. Well, at least she had fun."
With perfect poise, Retsu landed beside them, her expression bright.
"That was fun~ I've always wanted to use Starburst Stream."
Nemu looked up with admiration.
"As expected of Nee-sama."
Retsu smiled softly and patted Nemu's head.
From destroying ancient statues to baking bread and creating hand pumps—these women were anything but ordinary.
Yun Che crossed his arms, unable to hide the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Retsu…
She wasn't just graceful and kind—she was terrifying when she wanted to be.
To think she mastered Starburst Stream this quickly.
A sixteen-hit combo, no repeats. If she unleashed it at full strength, not even a Sky Profound opponent would survive past the third or fourth strike.
And with Hisagomaru?
He shuddered.
If she wanted to, she could heal her opponent with each strike… only to stop the healing on the final blow.
A full combo turned into a prolonged execution.
Thank God Retsu was the gentlest of the sisters—especially with him. She won't hurt them even if it kills her. But if she ever snapped on an opponent… she had far too many ways to make death a mercy.
Her twin swords disappear into the air. He smiled seeing his fastest learner here mastered using conjured weapons.
"Well, it's a dual sword style… but sometimes we train with just one, right?" she said thoughtfully.
Yun Che nodded.
"Actually… I do have something meant for single sword users."
At that moment, Retsu's eyes lit up. She clutched her hands to her chest and abruptly switched to Japanese.
"Really?! please teach me! I want to learn it next!"
Yun Che couldn't help but chuckle.
"Okay, okay—calm down," he said, patting her head like a doting older brother.
Meanwhile, the rest of the hall was still frozen in disbelief.
A baker girl…
Just used a move that looked like an elegant dance and destroyed a statue that High Level Profound Realm cultivators had tried to break for ten years.
And she called it "just testing."
Mio gave Retsu a playful glare. "Ufuu… Ret-chan keeps getting ahead. I want a new sword combo too!"
Yun Che's smile slowly faded as he turned his gaze toward the Gao Family.
They had unearthed two Combat Adjudicators. Which meant…
They knew where the statues came from. Maybe they had more. The final two needed to complete the Blue Orb. Hidden in the Gao Family.
His eyes narrowed behind his mask.
"They might have a map. Or at least know where to find the rest of them…"
If that old sect left behind more statues—and more fragments—then finding them could mean collecting all four parts of the Blue Orb.
Retsu and Xue Ling gently placed the glowing crystal fragments into Yun Che's hands.
Two down. Two to go.
The fragments pulsed faintly in his palm—four were needed to forge a full Blue Orb, and only one person could absorb it.
Yun Che glanced subtly at the women gathered around him—Retsu, Nemu, Mio.
They didn't need the Blue Orb.
Their youth, their beauty… the System preserved it all flawlessly.
Qingyue?
Definitely not. Making her five years younger would turn her into a thirteen-year-old. She had no desire to be a child again—only to stand proudly beside him. She is already an ultimate beauty in this world.
Cang Yue?
She could shift her appearance at will thanks to her Nezuko form, and her Lin Lunar Ultimate Body ensured her elegance only deepened with age. She didn't need it either.
He could guess that Little Fairy might want it—to even the playing field with Retsu and Mio in terms of younger women.
But…
If she ever discovered Retsu and Mio's actual age, she might laugh and hand over the Orb back herself.
Still, Yun Che had a selfish reason—he liked Little Fairy's quiet, composed, mature look. That calm, graceful air suited her.
He might need to persuade her to give the Orb up—gently. For once, he wanted to keep his "mommy look" Little Fairy just the way she was.
Xue Ling and Chu Yueli?
They might want it too. Anything to catch Mihawk's attention. To stand out. To shine just a little brighter in his eyes.
And Mulan...
She might take it hoping to reignite something in the so-called Mu Che. To stir memories. To bring back feelings long buried.
Lin Yueru?
She was the same age as Cang Yue. Why would she even need it? Her confidence was untouched by time.
Yun Che exhaled softly and slid the fragments into his sleeve.
For now, he would keep them close—and keep his thoughts even closer. He wasn't worried about these girls at all. He was more worried about the people outside their circle. If people outside the Jin Family find out about the power of the Blue Orb, it might be enough to cause a bloodshed.
At the head of the hall, Jin Zhuo exhaled deeply, watching the storm they had weathered.
The Jin Family, once on the verge of ruin, had just crushed seven noble families in flawless succession.
Only two remained untouched:
The Yang Family, who remained neutral.
And the Gao Family, who had paid their debt with relics.
Which left just one. The last challenger.
The strongest of the nine subordinate clans under the Zhu Family's iron shadow—
The Zhang Family.
The patriarch of the Zhang Family sat rigidly in his seat, his pride wounded, his plans shattered. He had expected this tournament to humiliate the Jin Family.
To destroy them once and for all.
But now…
Those very families that joined his scheme were drowning in debt to the Jin.
His voice came out bitter, laced with disbelief and frustration.
"Brat… who the hell are you?"
Yun Che tilted his head.
"Who, me? Just a concerned son-in-law lending a hand."
The Zhang Patriarch slammed the armrest of his chair.
"Then why aren't you fighting?! You challenge us, mock our families—yet you haven't even stepped onto the field!"
The hall fell quiet at that.
Yun Che smiled faintly.
"I've done what I came here to do. But… if it's me you want—"
He slowly stepped forward, eyes calm.
"—I suppose I can make an exception."
The air grew heavy.
The Zhang Patriarch stood.
"Boy, the Zhang Family challenges you to a one-on-one martial battle. No tricks, no stand-ins. Just you—versus one of ours."
Yun Che looked at Old Man Lin, who gave a small nod.
"It's within the rules. If both parties agree, a duel is valid."
Jin Zhuo was about to object, but Yun Che raised his hand.
"It's fine."
He turned back to the Zhang Family with a cold, quiet smile.
"You wanted me. You got me. So, it's one-on-one?" Yun Che raised an eyebrow, already guessing where this was going.
"You sent those girls to the stage, hiding behind them like some coward," the Zhang Patriarch sneered. "But now, you, the man behind the mask, have to step up."
Yun Che gave a lazy shrug. "Fine. Who's the poor soul?"
A young man in ornate QingLong Sect robes stepped forward, confidence oozing from every step. "Zhang Yao, disciple of the QingLong Sect."
Whispers spread through the hall like wildfire.
"Zhang Yao... the Zhang Family's number one genius?"
"Only twenty-eight… already in the First Level of Sky Profound Realm!"
"How can that man—who doesn't even have a trace of profound aura—hope to win?!"
The hall buzzed with disbelief and excitement. Yet Yun Che's face remained calm—completely unreadable.
He stepped onto the stage with the same ease as a man walking through his own backyard. Still no aura, no pressure. Just an unassuming presence that made Zhang Yao's fists itch.
Zhang Yao removed one of his gloves and stepped in close. "I assume you understand the traditions of a formal duel?"
"Nope," Yun Che replied flatly.
"Hmph." Zhang Yao raised the glove high. "Then let me teach you."
Smack!
The glove slapped across Yun Che's face with a loud crack. The crowd gasped.
"That arrogant strategist… he actually got slapped in public!"
"He'll be dishonored if he doesn't accept the challenge now!"
Jin Zhuo quietly sighed. They really thought he was a non-cultivator? Just because he doesn't leak aura like a leaking pot?
They'd forgotten already—Retsu didn't emit a shred of profound power either, yet she crushed the Combat Adjudicator like dry clay.
Yun Che calmly reached into his sleeve, pulling out a single heavy metal gauntlet. A gleam of mischief flickered in his eye.
Without warning, he raised the gauntlet…
Slam!
He smacked Zhang Yao across the face with it.
The entire stage echoed with the impact.
Zhang Yao staggered backward, clutching his cheek, eyes wide with disbelief.
"I accept," Yun Che said coolly.
The hall fell silent for a heartbeat. Then chaos exploded.
"You—!" Zhang Yao shot to his feet, rage burning in his eyes.
Yun Che casually brushed imaginary dust off his shoulder. "Hey, you insisted on traditions, right? So I honored them. You never said what kind of glove."
He held up the gleaming metal gauntlet again with a playful shrug. "I just happened to pick one with a bit more… weight."
"Bastard!" Zhang Yao clenched his fists and lunged forward—but before he could strike, Old Man Lin raised a hand.
"Enough! The duel hasn't started."
Zhang Yao hissed through his teeth as he stopped. Yun Che just smirked, hands in his pockets. "So, are we finally starting this?"
Old Man Lin nodded. "A barrier will be erected around the stage to prevent damage to the hall. The arena is small, so please restrain your attacks."
A shimmering blue spiritual barrier surrounded the platform like a dome.
The Zhang Family fidgeted. Something didn't sit right with them. Yun Che's calm was unnatural—unsettling.
"I don't mind," Yun Che said casually, as if about to stroll through a garden.
"I'm going to destroy you," Zhang Yao growled.
"Right… come on, then."
"Yao'er!" the Zhang Patriarch barked from the stands. "Don't underestimate him! He's the one commanding those girls!"
Zhang Yao scoffed. "An auraless bastard like him leading those beauties? Ridiculous."
Yun Che's smile didn't waver. "Auraless doesn't mean powerless. It just means I don't need to show off."
"Begin!" Old Man Lin's voice rang out like a bell.
Zhang Yao lunged, fist glowing with Profound Energy.
He swung.
THWACK—!
But it didn't connect.
Yun Che's hand moved like lightning—he caught Zhang Yao's fist mid-air with just his palm.
The barrier around them trembled lightly.
The entire hall went still.
"What—?!"
"He stopped a Sky Profound Realm attack… barehanded?!"
Zhang Yao's eyes widened. He could feel it—his fist was caught in something immovable.
Yun Che's smirk deepened. "Is that it?"
Zhang Yao gritted his teeth, frustration twisting his expression. With a growl, he swung his fists wildly, desperate to land a hit.
Yun Che's body weaved through the attacks like a breeze slipping through cracks. Calm and unhurried, he sidestepped each strike with minimal motion.
"Anyone could see these coming," he said flatly—then thrust a palm into Zhang Yao's chest.
Boom—!
The strike wasn't brutal, but it carried enough force to send Zhang Yao skidding backward across the stage, boots screeching against stone. Gasps filled the hall.
A man with no cultivation aura stand toe to toe with the elite of the Zhang Family?
"How did he do that, Retsu?" Little Fairy asked, eyes wide as she watched Yun Che stop Zhang Yao's attack so effortlessly. "Isn't that the same move you used on Yuanba?"
Retsu nodded thoughtfully, her tone soft. "Ah, that? It's called Sonic Sway."
"Sonic Sway?" Little Fairy echoed, intrigued.
"Mm. By combining Haki perception with our natural instincts, we train our bodies to automatically evade or intercept attacks without thinking. It's like the body moves on its own, guided by Haki."
"Wait… so you're saying it's not just physical movement? It's… instinctual?" Mulan chimed in, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes. Especially effective when facing rapid strikes or unpredictable barrages. Even if we don't consciously react in time, the body does." Retsu smiled fondly, recalling her spar with Yuanba during the tournament.
"Incredible," Little Fairy murmured. "Haki can really do all that?"
"Yuu-kun said this move—Sonic Sway—is only the beginning," Retsu added, her eyes glinting with quiet excitement. "He believes it's the first step toward mastering something called Ultra Instinct. I don't fully understand it yet, but the idea of moving without thinking, reacting perfectly in every situation… it sounds amazing."
Around her, the girls leaned in, their interest stirred.
Even Xia Qingyue—usually composed—tightened her grip on her sleeve. "Ultra Instinct… something beyond Haki?"
"Apparently," Retsu said. "But to get there, we need to perfect the basics. Haki comes first. Sonic Sway builds upon it. Only then, maybe… we can grasp that higher state."
The atmosphere around the girls shifted. Curiosity turned to resolve.
They weren't just strong. Under Yun Che's guidance, they were growing into something far greater.
Qingyue closed her eyes briefly. Haki first... Then Sonic Sway... Then Ultra Instinct. She was determined. If Retsu could do it, so would she.
Back at the center of the stage, Yun Che smirked confidently, his eyes locked on Zhang Yao.
"You made your challenge, now I'll make a condition of my own," he said, his voice calm but steady enough to echo through the tense hall. "Let's fight… without using Profound Energy. Just good old-fashioned, skill-against-skill. No tricks. No flashy power."
A ripple of shock swept through the audience.
"W-What did he just say…?"
"No Profound Energy? Is he insane?"
This was the Profound Sky Continent—fighting without Profound Energy was like dueling without a sword.
Zhang Yao frowned. "You want a brawl? You dare suggest such a crude fight… against me?"
Yun Che simply smiled. "What, scared?"
"Fine!" Zhang Yao snapped, drawing a gleaming machete from his back. "But don't blame me when you regret this. Draw your weapon!"
Yun Che looked around the hall casually, completely unfazed. Then, with a shrug, he strolled to the banquet table and picked up… a boning knife—slender and unassuming.
Murmurs rose again across the room.
"Is he serious?"
"A kitchen knife…?"
But Yun Che wasn't finished.
He reached over and grabbed a small, round metal serving dish cover, spinning it briefly on his palm before holding it like a small shield. "There we go. Knife and shield. Classic."
Zhang Yao's eyes twitched. "You… Are you mocking me?!"
"Mocking?" Yun Che tilted his head innocently. "Not at all. Perfectly balanced as I say."
Gasps and laughter erupted from a few corners of the hall, while others stared in disbelief.
"You dare trample the honor of the Zhang Family with cutlery?!"
Yun Che lowered his stance slightly, the boning knife glinting in one hand and the improvised shield tucked against his forearm.
"Don't think of it as a fight," he said coolly. "It's a challenge after all."
Zhang Yao growled, enraged.
"Enough! Let's see how long your little 'banquet set' lasts!"
"Anytime, genius," Yun Che said, eyes narrowing with lethal calm. "Let's dance."
The clash began.
Zhang Yao lunged first, his machete slashing downward in a powerful arc. The sound of metal slicing air rang through the hall—
Clang!
Yun Che parried it effortlessly with his makeshift shield. Then, rather than countering with brute force, he spun.
A full-body spin—graceful, fluid, almost theatrical.
Zhang Yao's eyes narrowed. Was that... a twirl?
Another strike came—this time from the side—but Yun Che bent backward with uncanny flexibility, letting the blade graze over him like water off silk. His boning knife flashed out in a curved motion—not aimed to strike, but to redirect, guide, deflect.
"Is he... dancing?" Little Fairy murmured, her eyes widening.
Even Qingyue and Cang Yue furrowed their brows.
"Danna-sama's movements… they're not martial." Mio tilted her head. "But, he's still fighting."
Xue Ling leaned forward, squinting. "How can you dance and fight?"
As Yun Che weaved through Zhang Yao's wild slashes, his footwork was light yet calculated. A twist here, a sway there. Even when he blocked, it was with elegance—almost playful.
Zhang Yao was getting frustrated. His attacks were powerful, refined, forged through years of cultivation—but every strike missed its mark or was harmlessly turned away.
"Hold still!" he shouted.
Yun Che had always wanted to try this.
Ever since he saw it in his old world—the eccentric, almost theatrical fighting style inspired by Rasputin's wild dance in Kingsman. And now, here, in this foreign realm of cultivators, against an opponent expecting brute strength and solemn swordplay, it was the perfect moment.
Zhang Yao charged at him again, slashing wildly.
Yun Che ducked—not just ducked, slid, knees to the floor, gliding across the stage with arms spread and a smirk on his face. The maneuver resembled a dancer taking center stage at a folk festival, not a man evading a killing blow.
"What… what is he doing?" someone in the audience whispered in stunned confusion.
Zhang Yao's expression twisted in disbelief. "Are you mocking me?!"
Yun Che twirled once on his knee, rising with a deliberate spin of his knife and shield. He advanced—not to strike, but to entertain. A slow stab at Zhang Yao's shoulder—easy to avoid—but humiliating in its pace. As if he was toying with him.
"You little—!"
Zhang Yao lunged again, but Yun Che hurled the metal dish cover in a clean arc. Clang! It slammed into Zhang Yao's shoulder, staggering him back just enough for Yun Che to slide forward and pirouette out of range—twirling again, the boning knife glinting in the light.
Laughter and gasps echoed around the hall.
"Is he dancing?!" someone blurted.
"He's toying with him!"
"W-what kind of martial art is that?!"
Yun Che leapt to the elevated platform at the edge of the stage, crouching low, taunting.
Zhang Yao, fuming, charged again—this time aiming low, sweeping to take Yun Che's legs out.
But instead—
Hop! Hop!
Yun Che bounced upward, legs kicking out in sharp rhythm—once, twice—landing with knees bent and arms up in the unmistakable form of the Russian traditional squat jump.
It was surreal.
The music of the scene seemed to play in everyone's head despite the silence of the hall. He wasn't just dodging. He was dancing—and fighting but still dominating.
Zhang Yao swung again—
Tap!
A boot lightly struck his jaw, not enough to hurt—but more than enough to shame.
Yun Che flipped backward, landing on his knees once more, arms spread like a performer taking a bow. His shield in one hand, knife in the other. Smiling.
Zhang Yao's sword trembled in his grip—not from fatigue, but from sheer disbelief.
The moment hung in silence—Zhang Yao panting, red-faced, sword trembling. Yun Che stood tall, twirling his boning knife casually in one hand, the metal banquet lid shield balanced in the other.
And then—he moved.
In one swift motion, Yun Che closed the distance. He ducked under Zhang Yao's final wild swing, caught his forearm mid-slash, and twisted. With a metallic clang, the machete spun from Zhang Yao's grasp and clattered to the ground.
Gasps filled the hall.
Before anyone could blink, Yun Che brought his forehead crashing into Zhang Yao's face with a brutal headbutt.
Crack!
Zhang Yao staggered back, dazed, eyes wide.
And then—tap—the cold edge of a chicken boning knife touched the hollow of his throat.
Yun Che stood there, unfazed. Calm. Dominant.
Zhang Yao froze. The color drained from his face. His arm fell limply to his side.
He had lost.
Not just lost—humiliated.
His profound weapon, empowered by years of training and family legacy, was on the floor. And he had been bested by a man wielding a kitchen knife and a food lid. A man who danced through the battle like it was a stage performance.
And worst of all—Yun Che hadn't even used his Profound Energy.
The entire hall was dead silent.
Jin Zhuo's jaw hung open.
Even Mulan, poised and graceful, blinked in disbelief. "He danced... and defeated him?"
Retsu smirked. "Ara…he really did it. I never knew dancing could become a fighting style."
The Jin Family spectators, and even the elders, watched in sheer awe. They had seen men with monstrous strength, mythical weapons, and heaven-defying techniques… but never this.
Not a chef-turned-warrior dancing to invisible music and defeating a top genius with style.
Cang Yue crossed her arms, letting out a soft chuckle. "Only Che'er would humiliate a Sky Profound Realm cultivator while looking like a folk dancer at a festival."
Xia Qingyue, who had remained reserved until now, lowered her fan and muttered under her breath, "So ridiculous… and yet…"
"…So impressive," Little Fairy finished, eyes twinkling.
Zhang Yao fell to his knees, completely disarmed—physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Yun Che lowered his blade.
"I guess I won," Yun Che said with a smirk, casually twirling the boning knife between his fingers.
"The Jin Family has won the final challenge!"
Old Man Lin's voice echoed throughout the hall, but the crowd sat frozen in disbelief.
Yun Che—an auraless man wielding a kitchen knife and a food cover—had just defeated Zhang Yao, the pride of the Qinglong Sect and the strongest genius of the Zhang Family. With that victory, the Jin Family had officially triumphed over all nine families… without suffering a single defeat.
Whispers broke into murmurs. Then, gasps. Then, stunned applause.
Jin Zhuo stood tall, his gaze drifting slowly from Yun Che to the companions who stood behind him—Retsu, Mulan, Little Fairy, Xue Ling, and the rest. Each one of them carried an air of quiet strength. They weren't just cultivators. They were artists, strategists, and scholars.
Some mastered arithmetic and reading like breathing. Others painted with divine precision. Some sculpted with bare hands. Complementary cooking and coordinated attacks with frightening genius. Even their "strengthless" martial arts defied common sense.
With them, the Jin Family didn't just win back their debts, status, and treasures.
They reclaimed dignity.
They regained honor.
They stood tall once more—above the nine families who once tried to trample them.
Zhang Yao stumbled to his feet, red-faced and furious. "If I could've used my Profound Energy, I would've crushed you!"
Yun Che let out a slow sigh, shaking his head. "Right… the classic excuse of a man desperate to save face after a loss."
"Yao'er! Use your Profound Energy!" the Zhang Family Patriarch barked from the stands, unable to contain his rage and shame.
Jin Yuelian stood up in alarm. "Che'er!"
But Yun Che didn't even blink. When Zhang Yao lunged at him with a fist blazing in Profound Energy, Yun Che caught it—with one hand. Effortlessly. His face remained bored, as if swatting away a fly.
"Really, man?" Yun Che's voice was calm, almost disappointed. "You already lost. I gave you face by accepting your duel without Profound Energy. But now? You're just proving how small you really are."
In the same breath, he raised his other hand and delivered a clean, precise karate chop to the side of Zhang Yao's neck.
Thwack!
Zhang Yao's eyes rolled back. He swayed once—then collapsed like a sack of rice, unconscious on the stage floor.
The entire Zhang Family stood up, stunned into silence.
A Sky Profound Realm warrior. Taken down. Not just once—but twice.
And by a man who didn't emit a single trace of aura.
Whispers rippled through the hall like wildfire.
"Who is he…?"
"How could someone like that…?"
The Jin Family members glanced at each other with wide eyes. The tension that had weighed on them since the duels began now melted into awe.
And as Yun Che stood alone on the stage, the banquet lid shield hanging loosely at his side and a dull kitchen knife in hand, he turned to the crowd.
The crowd was stunned speechless.
In the crowd, Xu Qian and her fiancee, Zhang Jin were eyeing him. Somehow a figure stepped into their minds seeing him dance. Just like someone who used music to fight in the arena in the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament.
The patriarch of the Zhang Family stood up. "Those girls and that man? Are they even part of the Jin Family?"
The hall grew tense as the Zhang Family leader rose, his voice sharp with accusation. "These people—are they even part of the Jin Family? Outsiders shouldn't be allowed to fight on their behalf!"
It was a weak, transparent excuse. A last-minute attempt to weasel out of the mountain of debt and humiliation they had brought upon themselves.
The Gao Family quickly backed the claim, seizing the moment to shift the tide. "That's right! We can't accept the results of challenges fought by people not registered under the family!"
"If that's the case, then all the previous matches should be voided!"
"Void them!"
"Return the Martial Judgment Statues!"
A wave of support rippled across the remaining families—nervous, desperate to avoid paying their dues. They saw a loophole, and like scavengers, they clung to it.
Old Man Lin and Grandmaster Ming merely sighs. In desperation, the nobles have become total vultures. They are judges for the challenges and didn't support either families. Including the Jin Family.
Yun Che sighed, rubbing the back of his neck like he was dealing with toddlers. Then, he stepped forward, his voice suddenly booming across the hall, enhanced by profound energy.
"Oh, look at you fools," he said, his tone dripping with mockery. "You bend and break your own rules to trap others—and when they beat you at your own game, you cry foul?"
His words struck the room like thunder.
"You speak of outsiders—but did you not hire outside chefs for the culinary challenge? Foreign tacticians for the strategic battle? Talents from other cities to represent your families?"
The hall fell silent.
"Clause Five of the agreement—the very agreement you all signed without reading properly—clearly states: 'Each family may bring any number of representatives, regardless of bloodline or origin, to aid them in the challenges, as long as they act under the family's banner.'"
He paused for a heartbeat, then stepped closer. `
"We violated nothing. You, on the other hand, wrote your own downfall and signed it with arrogance."
Silence.
Humiliation.
The heads of the families stood frozen, realizing there was no way out. The agreement they once thought would ensnare the Jin Family had become their own noose.
And Yun Che had just pulled it tight.
The Zhang Patriarch wasn't finished. His pride wouldn't allow it. He slammed his cane down and growled, "Why should we even abide by the Jin Family's victory?! Who are you to command us?! Just because you won, doesn't mean we have to bow to your terms!"
The other families nodded along, desperate for any justification to escape their shame.
Yun Che, still calm, simply smirked and leaned forward. "Oh? Then let me ask—who are you to command the Jin Family?"
That silenced the hall for a moment.
"Who are you to force a challenge on a family that refused? Who are you to demand submission from us while breaking your own terms? Who are you to bind us with a debt we never accepted—while ignoring your own when you lost?"
The Zhang Patriarch's face twisted in fury. "Damn brat!"
"Oh, what's the matter?" Yun Che mocked, voice rising. "Triggered, are we? Now that your schemes failed, you're lashing out like children who dropped their toys."
He turned slowly to face the hall. "You nobles are pathetic. You set up this challenge expecting to crush a family with dwindling resources and a ruined reputation. You flooded the terms with poison, planted spies, tried to steal talents, and what happened?"
He let the silence hang.
"You lost. One after another. Fairly. Publicly. Shamefully. And now that the tables have turned—you want to void everything and play the victim?"
A tense stillness gripped the room. Yun Che's voice sharpened like a blade.
"We honored the agreement. You signed it. You inflated the debts. And now? Our debts with you are cleared. Yours with us… have just begun."
The Zhang Patriarch barked, "You think you can stand against all of us? It's eight families against one! We have the Zhu Family's support! The Wu Clan stands behind us!"
Gasps echoed. Now the true backing behind their arrogance was clear.
But Yun Che… laughed.
"Ah… so now the truth comes out. You're not just shameless. You're gutless. Always hiding behind someone else."
Then his eyes glinted coldly, and his voice dropped with dangerous confidence.
"And you think we came without our own backup?"