Chapter 30: The War God of Wu City
The crowd was still roaring from Wu Yuan's overwhelming victory, but Wu Yuan himself had already tuned out the noise. His eyes flickered as the familiar translucent screen appeared before him.
[System Mission Completed!]
Mission: Defeat Level 5 Body Tempering Realm Cultivator – Completed
Rewards: 10 SP
Wu Yuan's lips pressed into a thin line. One or two more wins, and the rewards will dry up… I can't let that happen. Every SP I earn today is a weapon for tomorrow's storms. I can't afford mercy—or hesitation.
His gaze swept across the duel platform and then the crowd. No challengers were stepping forward—not even the so-called mysterious Jiang juniors. The silence from their side was almost deafening.
A faint frown appeared on Wu Yuan's face. If no one challenges me, how am I supposed to earn more SP?
For a moment, he stood there, calculating. Then, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
If I hesitate now, I'll miss my chance to stockpile resources before the real storms come.
Wu Yuan stepped forward, his voice cutting through the arena like steel.
"Since no one has the courage to step onto the ring anymore," he said, his tone steady but commanding, "allow me to suggest a change to the rules. If two cultivators of the same level—Level 5 Body Tempering Realm—dare to challenge me, I will fight both of them at the same time."
The entire arena went dead silent for a heartbeat.
Then—
BOOM.
The crowd erupted. A wave of shock rolled through the spectators like thunder splitting the sky.
"Two at once? Did I hear him right?"
"He's only at Level 4! Is he insane or just fearless?"
"Young Master Wu is serious? Two Level 5s at once?" one whispered, his face pale.
Another, clenching his fists in silent support, muttered, "He's carrying all of us on his back right now…"
Another junior, trying to stay optimistic, says, "If anyone can do it, it's him! Didn't he crush that Level 5 earlier?"
Wu Xiao's face turns pale at first, but then she bites her lip and mutters, "Young Master Wu Yuan… you'll win, I know you will," showing her mix of fear and faith.
"Her heart screamed for him to stop, but her eyes refused to look away. Wu Yuan's back was like a mountain—steady, unshakable. If anyone could do this, it was him."
A moment of awe crosses her mind—He's not just fighting for himself… he's fighting for all of us.
Wu Cheng stepped forward, his brows tightly furrowed as he approached the platform. As the steward of Wu City's lord manor, it was his duty to oversee the duels and ensure fairness—but this situation was anything but ordinary.
"Young Master Wu," Wu Cheng said gravely, his tone carrying both concern and authority, "are you certain about this? Facing two Level 5 Body Tempering cultivators at the same time… it will be extremely dangerous."
Wu Yuan glanced at him, his calm eyes unwavering. "Don't worry, Uncle Wu," he said with quiet confidence. "I know exactly what I'm doing."
For a moment, Wu Cheng's lips parted as if to argue further, but the determination in Wu Yuan's gaze silenced him. This boy… no, this young man, was no longer someone who could be judged by ordinary standards.
As Wu Cheng stepped back, his thoughts churned. How is this possible? At his age, even old clan head, our clan's most promising genius of the last century, could only dream of such power. Has the heavens truly favored our clan again? Or… is this boy destined to rise beyond Wu City altogether? A faint shiver ran through him as he wondered if he was witnessing the birth of a legend.
After a long pause, Wu Cheng let out a slow breath and gave a faint nod. "Very well," he said, his voice low, "but I will be watching closely." He took one last, lingering look at Wu Yuan—like a guardian reluctantly stepping back—before leaving the stage.
While leaving the platform, Wu Cheng subtly signaled the guards overseeing the crowd. One of the guards, noticing Wu Cheng's gesture, instinctively tightened his grip on the hilt of his weapon, his eyes locked on the duel ring—ready to intervene if things went wrong.
The guards exchanged tense glances—this was no longer a friendly clan sparring match. It felt like watching a life-and-death duel unfold.
One guard's knuckles whitened around his weapon, as if silently praying he wouldn't have to step in.
Excitement blazed in many eyes. The duel ring had gone from thrilling to unimaginable. But amidst the clamor, several faces turned dark.
In the corner where the disguised Lei juniors stood, the mood grew ugly. Their pride had already been wounded by Ziyun's defeat. Now, Wu Yuan's bold declaration felt like salt on an open wound.
If they didn't respond now, their silence would be no different from admitting defeat. Their faces would be trampled in front of Wu City.
Lei Zhenyu's expression was like a dark storm as he rose to his feet. His voice cut through the murmurs like a blade.
"Junior brothers, you both will go," he commanded, his tone sharp and unyielding. "Don't give that brat even a chance to attack. Shut him down and defeat him as swiftly as possible. We can't allow this madness to continue."
The two Level 5 cultivators—one from the Lei Clan's Second Line and the other from the Fifth—clenched their fists, veins bulging as their killing intent surged. Their anger, stoked by Ziyun's humiliating defeat, now burned like fire, threatening to consume their composure.
The Fifth Line youth, Lei Minghao, was known for his explosive strength, his body trained like a war hammer meant to crush anything in his path. Beside him, Lei Wanshan of the second Line radiated a colder, more calculating aura, his movements always measured like a coiled serpent waiting to strike.
"We'll show them," Lei Minghao growled, his voice low but laced with fury. "This brat will regret every breath he takes on that platform."
Lei Wanshan's eyes narrowed, a glint of steel flashing within. "Remember, Senior Brother Zhenyu said no chances. We go in fast and hard—break his rhythm before he can strike."
With a synchronized step, both moved toward the platform. Their combined presence made the wooden planks creak slightly, the pressure of two Level 5 cultivators causing a ripple of tension across the arena.
Seeing them approach, Wu Yuan's lips curved into a faint, confident smile.
"So, you two will be my challengers? Good. Come—I'll give you a real match."
The two disguised Jiang challengers sneered.
"Yes, but don't get too cocky. You may be strong, but no one can take both of us!"
Wu Yuan tilted his head slightly, his voice calm yet cutting.
"We'll see who walks off this ring… and who gets carried away."
The air between them seemed to thrum with invisible tension.
The moment both challengers stepped onto the platform, the air shifted.
No more words. No more taunts. Only battle.
With a single glance exchanged between them, the two disguised Jiang challengers exploded into motion. They shot forward like mirrored shadows, one veering left, the other right. The wooden planks of the duel ring groaned under their charge. The air cracked—sharp and heavy—as if the arena itself braced for the collision.
BAM! A savage fist ripped toward Wu Yuan's ribs from the left, while a spinning kick came flying from the right.
But Wu Yuan didn't retreat. He moved like water, like iron—fluid yet unyielding. His left arm rose, catching the punch with a bone-jarring thud, while his right fist smashed upward, colliding with the heel of the incoming kick. The impact rang out like a drumbeat, vibrations rippling through the ring.
The crowd roared—half in shock, half in awe.
Wu Yuan's lips curled into a faint smile. So, they're stronger than Ziyun. Good. That means I can have a good fight.
His qi surged. Muscles tightened, bones hummed with power. He unleashed his strength—his body blazing with the vitality of a Level 5 Body Tempering Realm cultivator.
The clash erupted into a whirlwind of strikes.
The fight became a storm.Lei Minghao's raw, hammer-like strength crashed against Wu Yuan's arms, each strike heavy enough to splinter wood. Lei Wanshan's movements were sharp and coiled, his kicks and sweeps coming from blind angles, meant to tear through any defense.
But Wu Yuan was faster—always a step ahead.He ducked, sidestepped, and twisted through their attacks like a serpent coiled in battle. His fists shot out like thunderbolts, deflecting, parrying, and countering with ruthless precision.
Every blow Wu Yuan landed was heavy and clean. The thuds of flesh and bone meeting his strikes echoed over the roaring crowd.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Is he… holding back?" someone whispered, stunned."Two Level 5s—and he's not even sweating!" another shouted.
Wu Xiao stood among the Wu juniors, her small fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Her heart hammered against her chest as she whispered,"Young Master Wu Yuan… you can do this. I know you can."Her wide eyes never left his figure, the young boy moving like a war god amidst the storm of fists and kicks.
The challengers were getting desperate.Minghao roared and charged, trying to overpower Wu Yuan with sheer force. Wanshan spun low, aiming a sweeping kick to knock him off balance.
Wu Yuan's footwork blurred. He twisted, stepping into Minghao's attack, his fist slamming into the youth's forearm with a crack of impact before pivoting sharply—his elbow smashing into Wanshan's ribs. Both opponents grunted, stumbling back a step, but they charged in again.
Minutes passed like heartbeats.The duel ring shook from their relentless clashes. Dust rose around them, the boards creaking as the three figures moved so fast they seemed to leave afterimages behind.
Yet only Wu Yuan remained unshaken. His breathing was steady. His strikes were faster, sharper, and heavier with each passing exchange.
Bruises began to blossom across the challengers' arms and torsos. Their movements slowed—slightly at first, then more with each strike they failed to block. Sweat streamed down their foreheads, while Wu Yuan's skin remained dry, his eyes calm and unwavering.
"He's… wearing them down," a Wu Clan junior murmured, wide-eyed."No, he's dismantling them," another corrected. "Piece by piece."
In the stands, Lei Hanwu's expression twisted from anger to disbelief."How… how is he fighting them both like this?"
Even Wu Cheng, standing near the guards, found himself leaning forward, his fists tightening. This wasn't just a duel anymore—it was a display of dominance.
Wu Yuan's eyes flashed."It's over."
With a burst of speed, he feinted toward Wanshan. The Lei youth instinctively brought his guard up, but Wu Yuan vanished from his line of sight. A heartbeat later—
BANG!A straight punch hammered into Minghao's ribs, the sound of impact cracking through the arena like thunder. Minghao's breath exploded from his lungs as his body doubled over.
CRACK!Wu Yuan spun on his heel, his second fist smashing into Wanshan's chest. The youth's eyes went wide as the air left him in a strangled gasp.
Both challengers staggered, their knees shaking violently.And then—
THUD.They collapsed, one after another, like trees cut from their roots.
For a moment, the arena was deathly silent.
Then, the crowd erupted like a storm breaking free.
"Young Master Wu! Young Master Wu!"
The chant rose again, louder, wilder, shaking the air.
Wu Xiao's chest tightened. She clasped her trembling hands over her heart, tears threatening to spill as her voice cracked. "He did it… he really did it," she whispered, pride and relief twisting in her chest like fire and water. She wiped at her eyes and shouted through her tears, "I told you! No one can beat Young Master Wu Yuan!"
Around her, the Wu Clan juniors were beside themselves—shouting, jumping, even pounding their fists against their palms."Did you see that? He fought two Level 5s at the same time!" "Our Wu Clan's honor—he's raised it to the heavens!"
Wu Cheng stood frozen. His breath caught in his throat, his eyes locked on Wu Yuan's calm, upright figure. He had expected the boy to fight bravely, yes. But this? This was something else entirely.
A long breath escaped his lungs—one he hadn't realized he was holding. "This boy…" he muttered, his voice trembling with something close to reverence, "isn't just a genius. He's walking a path beyond our understanding."
For the first time in years, Wu Cheng felt an unfamiliar chill of awe crawl down his spine. He had seen countless so-called prodigies rise and fall, yet none could stand as Wu Yuan did now—unshaken after defying impossible odds.
The city guards exchanged wide-eyed glances. One guard who had gripped his weapon so tightly his knuckles had gone white finally exhaled, muttering under his breath, "By the heavens… I thought we'd have to rush in to save him."
Another whispered, still unable to believe,"He's just a child… and yet he looks like a war god. He didn't even break a sweat."
The tension that had wrapped the platform like an iron chain slowly loosened, replaced by a heavy, stunned silence among the guards. Even their hardened hearts felt the weight of what they had just witnessed.
On the other side, the Lei juniors were pale and rigid. The defeat of Lei Minghao and Lei Wanshan felt like a blade driven into their pride.
Lei Hanwu's jaw clenched so hard his teeth might crack."Two of our best… and still, we lost."The words tasted bitter in his mouth.
Lei Zhenyu's expression was cold, but a vein pulsed at his temple, betraying his barely-contained fury. His voice, low and sharp, cut through the gloom like a knife:"This Wu Yuan… he's not just talented. He's a monster. But this isn't the end. The Lei Clan doesn't forget humiliation."
Wu Yuan ignored the cheers, the stares, the whispers. A crisp chime echoed in his mind:
[System Mission Completed!]
Mission: Defeat Two Level 5 Body Tempering Realm Cultivators Simultaneously – Completed.
Rewards: 30 SP
Bonus: Ironblood Body Tempering Scroll (Top Grade Yellow Rank) – Unlocked.
Wu Yuan's pupils shrank. Ironblood Body Tempering Scroll? A top-grade Yellow Rank body cultivation technique? His heart stirred with excitement. Something like this could solidify the Wu Clan's foundations and sharpen its edge for the battles ahead.