His face grim, Hong Yu walked in from outside.
The first thing he did upon entering was look toward Yun Mengyao in the corner. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw she was unharmed. But his gaze immediately fell upon the chaotic state of the small courtyard and Yun Mengyao's drenched, shivering frame. His expression darkened further, and a chilling aura emanated from him.
Killing intent. A murderous aura!
It was the kind of aura possessed only by one who had truly waded through bloody battles, lingered on the edge of death, and clawed their way from beneath the Death God's Scythe.
Under Hong Yu's murderous gaze, the group, including Hong Lin, felt a sudden chill run up their spines. The hair on their bodies stood on end—it was a primal fear.
"W-what's going on?"
Recalling the scene from yesterday, Hongyan couldn't help but reveal a hint of fear.
The two lackeys he had brought with him were in an even worse state; their lips were pale, and their legs were subtly shaking.
'This guy is strange.'
Hong Lin had just broken through to the Eighth Layer of the Essence Realm and was brimming with confidence. Although Hong Yu gave him a strange feeling, he didn't pay it much mind.
"Hong Yu, perfect timing."
Hong Lin took a step forward, staring arrogantly at Hong Yu. "You should know why I'm here today, shouldn't you?"
Hong Yu shook his head.
Hong Lin's expression darkened, and his gaze turned hostile. "You're a real piece of work. I've found you detestable since the first time I saw you in the Martial Arts Hall. A nobody from a side branch, no background, no backing, yet you refuse to accept your mediocrity. You're always deluding yourself with that nonsense about hard work paying off, trying to climb up. I despise trash like you who don't know their place."
"The Seventh Young Master is right! You're a piece of trash who doesn't know his place," Hongyan chimed in.
Hong Yu shot him a look and said flatly, "I'm trash? Then what does that make you, my defeated opponent?"
"You..."
Hongyan's face flushed beet red, and he was left speechless.
Seeing Hong Yu ignore him, Hong Lin's expression grew even darker. He barked, "Hong Yu, you're too arrogant! Don't think you're invincible just because you got lucky against Hongyan. Today, I'll teach you that there's always someone better. Someone with your pathetic talent is nothing but scum in front of a Celestial Pride Son like me. A piece of dog shit!"
With that, Hong Lin charged at Hong Yu.
"I hear your Basic Boxing Technique has reached the Realm of Perfection, enough to break Hongyan's Little Thunderbolt Palm. Fine. I'll use the Little Thunderbolt Palm to crush you and shatter that so-called confidence and pride of yours into dust."
Though it was the same Little Thunderbolt Palm, the effect was astounding when executed by Hong Lin.
Before the Palm Force even struck, the Palm Wind it generated howled forward, stinging Hong Yu's face.
Hong Lin truly lived up to his name as a Celestial Pride Son of the Hong Family Clan. Not only had he reached the Eighth Layer of the Essence Realm at the age of sixteen, but he had also cultivated the Little Thunderbolt Palm to the Mastery Realm. He was just a single step away from the Realm of Perfection, where he would generate Momentum—a truly remarkable feat!
As expected of the Seventh Young Master, his Little Thunderbolt Palm was indeed impressive.
With three sudden, long cries, Hong Yu's figure blurred as he attacked, shockingly using the very same Little Thunderbolt Palm he had just learned. "In that case, I'll use the Little Thunderbolt Palm to test the renowned Seventh Young Master myself!"
"How arrogant."
"He's courting death."
"The Seventh Young Master's Little Thunderbolt Palm is one step away from the Realm of Perfection! Who the hell do you think you are, trying to compare yourself to him?"
The handful of lackeys, led by Hongyan, sneered with contempt.
Only Yun Mengyao bit her lip, stubbornly waving a small fist. "Brother will definitely win."
BOOM!
The two Little Thunderbolt Palms slammed into each other, unleashing a powerful burst of energy. Both had reached the Mastery Realm with the technique and were evenly matched. Their clash was head-on, with neither giving an inch. A powerful gale erupted from their position at the center, howling as it spun outwards.
BANG!
The standoff between their palms lasted for a moment before they both channeled their power at once, sending each other flying backward.
'How is this possible? I'm already at the Eighth Layer of the Essence Realm, yet he can fight me to a standstill? What is his cultivation level?' Hong Lin stumbled back four or five steps before steadying himself. He clenched his jaw, his heart reeling with shock.
'According to Hongyan's report, Hong Yu's strength was only around the Sixth Layer of the Essence Realm. Even before my own breakthrough to the Eighth Layer, I was one hundred percent confident I could defeat a Martial Artist at that level.'
'What's more, I've now broken through to the Eighth Layer Realm, possessing the terrifying strength to lift eight hundred jin! In my calculations, a single move from me should have been enough to utterly crush Hong Yu.'
'And yet, based on that exchange, Hong Yu's power wasn't the least bit weaker than mine. In fact, he seemed to have a slight advantage. Doesn't that mean his strength is at least at the Mid-stage of the Eighth Level of the Essence Realm, if not higher?'
Hong Lin found this difficult to accept.
'How could a member of the side branch with no resources—someone who had to rely on breakthroughs just to earn a Nourishing Essence Pill from the Tiger Instructor—possibly possess greater talent and strength than me?'
But no matter how much he refused to believe it, the facts were right in front of him!
It was only now that he finally realized he had seriously underestimated this boy from the side branch, someone he had never given a second thought.
Hong Yu, who had also taken three steps back, couldn't help but shake his head. 'Sigh. Shadow Martial might be the best way to learn a Martial Skill, but without the tempering of real combat, it's still lacking. It affects my overall combat power.'
"I don't know how you got this strong, but... the stronger you are, the more satisfying it will be when I crush you!"
Hong Lin let out a low roar and charged menacingly at Hong Yu.
"My recent seclusion wasn't just about breaking through to the Eighth Layer of the Essence Realm! Hong Yu, have a taste of my Rising Dragon Fist!"
The Rising Dragon Fist was the foremost of the Hong Family's ten great Advanced Martial Skills, embodying the concept of ascending to the heavens and transforming into a dragon. When cultivated to its peak, its power was so terrifying it could even rival a typical Top-Level Martial Skill.
ROAR!
Hong Lin had already cultivated his Rising Dragon Fist to the Perfection Realm, giving birth to Fist Momentum. Faintly, the distinct sound of a Dragon's Roar echoed from it.
Hong Lin's movements were draconic and unstoppable, truly carrying the aura of a golden carp transforming into a dragon, soaring to shatter the heavens. It was doubtful that even an ordinary expert at the Eighth Layer of the Essence Realm could withstand such a powerful punch.
For the first time, a solemn expression appeared on Hong Yu's face. He slowly exhaled. "Basic Boxing Technique!"
'Let the gentle breeze brush the mountain; I am the Bright Moon over the great river. Let your power shake the Nine-Layer Heavens; I remain unmoving, adapting to all changes!'
This was the core tenet of the Basic Boxing Technique.
Despite the powerful momentum of the Rising Dragon Fist surging toward him, its swirling Qi Vortex kicking up dust, sand, and stone, Hong Yu remained as still as the unmoving Wisdom King—calm and composed. The mighty, wind-breaking fist closed in, whipping his black hair into a wild dance. He looked like a demon among demons—proud, confident, arrogant, and domineering!
"Die, Hong Yu!"
A savage red light flared in Hong Lin's eyes, as if he could already see Hong Yu collapsing in defeat before him.
However...
At the very instant the Rising Dragon Fist was about to strike him down, the motionless Hong Yu finally moved. His sharp brows shot up as he let out a roar like that of a Desolate Beast. The muscles in his arms bulged explosively, veins popping like dormant dragons coiling beneath his skin.
BOOM!
Hong Lin felt an inhuman surge of power erupt from the thin figure opposite him. A wave of aching numbness shot through his arm, and the monstrous force of the impact sent him flying backward.
'The Seventh Young Master... was defeated?'
'H-how is that possible?'
'How many secrets is Hong Yu hiding? What is his true level of strength?'
'My heavens! The Seventh Young Master is already a rare genius for reaching the Eighth Layer of the Essence Realm at sixteen. But Hong Yu is only fifteen... doesn't that make his talent even greater than the Seventh Young Master's?'
Hongyan and his cronies were all dumbfounded.
Hong Lin sat slumped on the ground, staring crestfallen at the proud, slender figure. The look in his eyes gradually changed. The contempt, disdain, and scorn were all gone, replaced by an unprecedented level of shock and solemnity.
He couldn't comprehend how this boy from the side branch—someone he had never even deigned to look at—could be so strong!
Hong Yu slowly walked over to Hong Lin, who was being helped to his feet by Hongyan, and said flatly, "Kneel. Kowtow to Yaoyao and apologize."
"Hong Yu, don't push it too far!" Hongyan quickly stepped forward, pointing at Hong Yu and shouting.
Without even glancing at him, Hong Yu kept his gaze fixed on Hong Lin.
"Hong Yu, don't be so merciless. I, Hong Lin, admit defeat for today. But making me kneel to you? That's absolutely impossible."
Hong Lin threatened, "Let me go, and I can act as if today never happened. Otherwise, the consequences of offending me are more than you can bear."
"Are you going to kneel on your own, or do I have to help you?" Hong Yu asked.
"You..."
Before Hong Lin could say another word, Hong Yu struck.
With a series of dull thuds, Hongyan and his lackeys were sent flying, knocked unconscious. Hong Yu fixed his gaze on Hong Lin again. "Kneel. Apologize."
"Hong Yu, you're courting death! You—"
Not waiting for him to finish, Hong Yu kicked out viciously. A sharp pain shot through Hong Lin's already injured legs. His knees buckled, and he crashed heavily to the ground.
"Bastard! Hong Yu, I'll kill you!" When had Hong Lin ever suffered such humiliation?
He shot Hong Yu a venomous, hate-filled glare. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he suddenly sprang up, a dagger appearing in his hand. He thrust it toward Hong Yu's abdomen.
The dagger was incredibly sharp, its blade glinting with a terrifyingly cold light.
The cold glint illuminated Hong Lin's venomous and sinister face, making him look exceptionally monstrous.
"You're courting death!"
A cold glint flashed in Hong Yu's eyes. He pushed off the ground, twisting his body to evade Hong Lin's sneak attack. At the same time, his arm shot out and grabbed the hand holding the dagger. With a low roar, he raised his leg and drove his knee directly into Hong Lin's arm.
CRACK! With a sickening crunch, Hong Lin's arm bone snapped, his forearm twisting to an unnatural ninety-degree angle.
Overcome by excruciating pain, Hong Lin's face contorted into a terrifying grimace.
"Hong Yu, you dare break my arm? I'll kill you..." Hong Lin roared hysterically.
But before he could finish, Hong Yu struck again. He violently raised his leg and brought it down in a whipping motion toward Hong Lin's forehead. If that blow landed, even if it didn't kill Hong Lin, he would be left a concussed idiot.
Just then, a low roar seething with furious killing intent suddenly echoed from outside the courtyard. A sharp, bone-chilling aura instantly locked onto Hong Yu...
"Insolent Hong Yu! How dare you commit such violence in broad daylight! Surrender at once!"