Chapter 31: When Genius Sounds Like Madness
The arena still buzzed with disbelief, whispers surging through the crowd like ripples on a pond. But atop the duel platform, Wu Yuan stood silently, eyes drifting past the fading cheers.
The two unconscious challengers had already been carried off the ring—Lei Clan juniors, bloodied but alive. There were no more footsteps approaching. No more threats. No more challengers.
Wu Yuan exhaled slowly.
"No more Level 5s... I suppose that's the end of today's duels."
His thoughts turned inward, he had spent the past few fights disguising his true strength—holding back his Heaven-Eating Pulse Conduction technique, hiding his explosive bursts of speed, and masking his spiritual pressure. But that tactic wouldn't last forever.
"If I stop now, I'll lose momentum."
His gaze swept the silent crowd, calculating quickly.
"The only path forward… is upward."
He stepped forward on the platform, his voice rising confidently over the gathering murmurs.
"Since no Level 5 Body Tempering cultivators are willing to step forward…"
"I'll wait five minutes. If anyone of that realm wishes to challenge me—come now."
A pause. The crowd watched, murmuring.
Five minutes passed. Not a soul climbed the stairs.
Wu Yuan smiled faintly.
"Very well." His voice rang out. "From tomorrow, I will accept Level 6 Body Tempering Realm cultivators as challengers."
The plaza erupted.
Gasps, shouts, and cries of disbelief tore through the watching crowd. Even some elders standing at the edge of the arena took a visible step back.
"He… he's only Level 4, right?"
"Didn't he just fight two Level 5s at once?"
"Now Level 6s? Is he mad?"
"Or is he bluffing?"
At the edge of the duel platform, Wu Cheng's eyes widened. The steward's jaw tensed as he looked toward the boy on the stage.
"You really don't plan on stopping, do you…?"
In Jiang group, Lei Hanwu and Lei Zhenyu watched in silence.
Lei Zhenyu's gaze narrowed.
"Interesting. He's not just strong—he knows how to control a narrative."
Lei Hanwu clenched his fists.
"He's provoking us. Again."
Meanwhile, back on the platform, Wu Yuan turned calmly and walked off the stage.
Behind his calm expression, Wu Yuan's mind was already shifting gears, calculating probabilities, system rewards, and the risks of exposure.
Tomorrow wouldn't be easy.
But it would be worth it.
Without another word, Wu Yuan stepped down from the duel ring. Wu Xiao followed closely, her gaze still fixed on him, as if trying to understand the storm she was walking beside.
They headed back toward the Wu Clan estate, Wu Yuan completely unfazed by the buzz around him. Gasps, hushed whispers, and shocked murmurs followed them like trailing shadows. But he didn't spare any attention for them.
He had made his move.
The board would respond.
What he didn't realize, however, was how fast his bold declaration had traveled. It shot through Wu City's back alleys, clan estates, merchant corridors, and tea houses with more speed than a scammer vanishing after selling counterfeit pills.
Wu Xiao opened her mouth a few times, as if wanting to speak—but closed it again just as quickly.
What could she even say?
He just challenged opponents two whole levels above his… as if it were no different than changing breakfast porridge flavors.
Wu Xiao had only recently begun cultivating seriously under Wu Yuan's guidance. She now understood how grueling even one realm advancement could be. She had tasted the bitterness of slow progress, the strain it placed on one's body and mind.
And yet… here was Wu Yuan.
An eight-year-old boy.
Walking off a duel ring after defeating two Level 5 Body Tempering cultivators—
…only to publicly challenge Level 6s next.
"Young Master…" she thought. "Are you really just a genius? Or something far more dangerous…?"
Sensing her hesitation, Wu Yuan glanced sideways, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Xiao'er," he said casually, "you're thinking I've gone mad, aren't you? That I'm an idiot for challenging someone two levels above me?"
She blinked, flustered. "N-No, Young Master! I would never—how could I say something like that?"
"Mm." Wu Yuan didn't sound offended. If anything, he sounded amused. "Then what is it? You're worried?"
Wu Xiao hesitated, then lowered her head slightly. "It's just… Level 6 is a whole different level. The difference in strength is… vast. I just… I just don't want you to get hurt."
Wu Yuan chuckled softly, his tone gentle. "Xiao'er, don't you trust your Young Master?"
She looked up—and this time, her eyes didn't waver.
"Xiao'er trusts you more than she trusts herself."
Wu Yuan's gaze lingered on her a moment longer, and for once, the ever-calculating mind behind his calm eyes softened, just a little.
He chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eyes."Don't worry. I was only teasing."
The tension in Wu Xiao's shoulders eased slightly, though her eyes still held worry.
By then, the two had reached the entrance of the Wu Clan estate. Before they could step inside, a young attendant hurried forward, clearly having waited some time.
"Young Master!" he bowed quickly. "The Clan Head and the other elders are already gathered in the main hall. They're waiting for you."
Wu Yuan's expression didn't change, though his eyes sharpened ever so slightly.
"Understood. I'll head there now." He turned to Wu Xiao. "Xiao'er, go back to the courtyard. I won't be long."
Wu Xiao nodded quietly, still processing everything. "Yes, Young Master."
As she turned to leave, Wu Yuan strode in the opposite direction, his figure straight and calm as ever—though within, his thoughts had already shifted to what awaited him inside the main hall.
When Wu Yuan entered the grand main hall, he noticed it immediately—too quiet. No idle chatter, no laughter. Just rows of elders watching him in silence, as though he were already on trial.
He knew he was the cause.
As Wu Yuan stepped into the grand main hall of the Wu Clan, the murmurs quieted instantly. The room was filled with the familiar faces of the clan's leadership—stern elders seated in semi-circle, their expressions unreadable.
Clan Head Wu Lingtian was the first to break the silence.
"Congratulations, Wu Yuan," he said, his voice clear and solemn. "Not only have you won today's duels, but you've also protected the dignity of the Wu Clan. You've reminded Wu City that the blood of our ancestors still flows strong."
A round of nods and approving murmurs followed.
"Well said, Clan Head."
"Indeed. Young Wu Yuan fought with both strength and composure beyond his years."
"He avenged Wu Lu's humiliation and turned the tide of public opinion."
"No one can claim the Wu Clan lacks younger generation talent now!"
Pride was evident in their voices—even those who had once doubted now spoke with admiration.
But amidst the praise, one figure remained silent.
Wu Lin.
Seated quietly beside the Clan Head, his father hadn't spoken a word. His gaze was fixed on Wu Yuan, sharp and unwavering, as if trying to peer through him—to see not the image, but the truth beneath it.
Wu Yuan felt that gaze, cold yet heavy with something unspoken.
But he didn't flinch.
He stood calmly in the center of the hall, his posture unbending, awaiting whatever came next.
Finally, Wu Lin broke his silence. His voice was low but carried unmistakable weight.
"Yuan'er," he said, eyes narrowing slightly. "Why did you accept a two-on-one challenge against Level 5 Body Tempering Realm cultivators? And now you've declared that you'll fight Level 6s tomorrow? What exactly are you trying to prove?"
The hall fell silent for a moment. Then, Wu Lingtian—no longer speaking as Clan Head but as Wu Yuan's uncle—added with a furrowed brow, "Yes, Yuan'er. You shouldn't have pushed it that far. Defeating a single Level 5 cultivator was already more than enough to showcase the strength of the Wu Clan's younger generation."
Before Wu Yuan could respond, a voice rose from among the elders.
"I disagree," said Elder Wu Mingze, his tone unusually firm. "No outcome today could be better than what Wu Yuan delivered. If he's capable of defeating stronger opponents, then why shouldn't he continue?"
The words had barely left his mouth when a wave of disapproval spread through the hall.
Wu Lingtian's expression darkened.
Wu Lin's eyes sharpened.
Even the more neutral elders exchanged glances.
Sensing the shift, Elder Wu Mingze softened his tone and quickly added, "What I mean, of course, is this—if Wu Yuan had stopped after just one or two victories, the Jiang Clan could still issue challenges to our other juniors. And if any of them lost, the Wu Clan's image would still suffer. Right?"
There was a pause.
Then came a deep sigh from the corner. Elder Wu Tianhai, long regarded as one of the wisest voices among them, finally spoke.
"You're both right… and wrong," Wu Tianhai said, his voice calm but firm. "Wu Yuan's risks were great. But so are the times we live in. Hiding our talents behind safety will only bring decline. If our younger generation is never tested, how will they grow?"
His eyes swept across the hall.
"If we keep shielding them, they will never know what true struggle is. And if they cannot withstand the winds of adversity, then when the storm comes… they'll be swept away and forgotten in history."
Silence settled again, heavy and thoughtful.
Wu Yuan stood in the center, calm as ever, but inside, he noted every word, every shift in tone, every flicker in their expressions.
He was not just fighting battles in the ring.
This… was a battlefield too.
As Elder Wu Tianhai's words faded, Clan Head Wu Lingtian looked once more at Wu Yuan and spoke with a gentler tone.
"Yuan'er, Elder Tianhai is right. You don't have to carry the burden of the Wu Clan alone. Let the other juniors also experience hardship. Let them grow."
Beside him, Wu Lin remained silent, his gaze locked on Wu Yuan—piercing, unwavering. He said nothing further, but his eyes spoke volumes. It wasn't the gaze of a concerned father—it was the look of a man searching for answers, dissecting a puzzle in front of him.
Wu Yuan noticed.
He understood.
His heart stirred with a few guesses.
Was his father testing him? Suspecting something?
He couldn't be sure, but one thing was clear—Wu Lin wasn't watching him as just a father, but as the Wu Clan's Great Elder.
The pressure was palpable.
Yet Wu Yuan didn't flinch.
He stepped forward, calm and collected. Without turning toward the Clan Head or the other elders, he met Wu Lin's gaze directly. The moment hung still—sharp, silent.
Then he spoke.
"Father," Wu Yuan began, voice clear, "I have confidence in my strength. And I know my limits."
His tone did not carry arrogance—only conviction.
"When I asked to fight two Level 5 cultivators today, it wasn't for pride or show. While fighting them, I noticed something... off. I started to suspect their identities weren't what they claimed."
A quiet ripple moved through the elders, but no one interrupted.
"I thought that with pressure, with real battle, I could confirm something. But even after both duels, I still couldn't be certain. So I raised the stakes. Challenging a Level 6 tomorrow is not just about proving strength—"
He paused briefly.
"—it's to keep drawing them out. If I don't, they may back away. We may lose the one chance to expose them."
He let those words hang, watching for any reaction from his father.
Silence followed—but it was a silence that now carried weight.
They were no longer talking about just duels.
And everyone in the room felt it.
Hearing Wu Yuan's explanation, Wu Lingtian's eyes narrowed. For a moment, the hall was silent.
Then he stepped forward, his voice calm but laced with steel.
"Are you certain about this, Wu Yuan? And tell me honestly — how confident are you?"
The elders turned their eyes to the young boy again.
"If you're not absolutely sure, I'll step in. I'll declare that you've been grounded by clan authority — for using excessive force in today's duels. Let the outside world mock me if they want. I'd rather be seen as a soft clan head than see you risk your life on mere suspicion."
There was no anger in his words — only concern and the weight of his position pressing down.
Wu Yuan looked at his uncle, then at his father, who remained unreadable. He took a breath.
"I understand your concern, Uncle… but I wouldn't have made such a declaration if I wasn't confident."
He straightened his back, tone firm yet respectful.
"Whether it's to protect the clan's honor — or uncover a greater threat — I will face what comes tomorrow."
Silence settled again, heavy and thoughtful.
As Wu Lin's nod settled the air in the room, the tension in the hall finally began to thin.
But Wu Yuan knew this was only the beginning.
He had made his move, laid his pieces on the board — and now, the game was in motion.
Let them call him arrogant. Let them whisper that he was insane.
Because sometimes… genius only sounds like madness to those too afraid to imagine the impossible.