Lü Yinghao had been defeated!
It was direct, simple, and brutal. Jiang Jichen's victory was clean and decisive.
The world fell silent. All eyes were fixed on Jiang Jichen, but a storm raged in their hearts, roiling like a boundless ocean.
Lü Yinghao was a Late-stage Eighth-level Mortal, ranked among the top fifteen of Cyan Moon City's younger generation. He had mastered the ultimate technique, the Thirteen Shocks of Clouds, and even some Cultivators with higher Cultivation Realms were no match for him.
Yet now, he had been defeated by a young Cultivator. What was even harder to accept was that this opponent was a Spirit Cultivation Wasted Body!
Those aged fourteen to seventeen were considered teenagers, while those from eighteen to twenty-five were considered youths.
And now, Jiang Jichen, a fifteen-year-old teenager, had defeated Lü Yinghao, a nineteen-year-old genius from the youth bracket.
This wasn't just Lü Yinghao's defeat; it was a resounding slap across the faces of all the youth-level Cultivators.
This was unprecedented. At least in the Celestial Pearl Country, there was no record of a fifteen-year-old ever defeating a Cultivator ranked in the top fifteen of the youth bracket.
Today, Jiang Jichen had broken that record. Even though he was still a Spirit Cultivation Wasted Body, his name would be remembered after this battle.
When that question—"Who else?"—was asked, the entire arena fell silent. Not a single person dared to respond.
Jiang Jichen stood before the crowd and said calmly, "In that case, prepare your Spirit Pills and come at me together. I don't have time to waste on you. If I am defeated, the Mid-Level Storage Bag at my waist and everything inside it will be yours!"
The boy's domineering aura, his unyielding intensity, and his passionate spirit were on full display.
Jiang Jichen's words were like a drop of water hitting a pan of boiling oil, causing an uproar among the young Spirit Cultivators.
This was especially true for Murong Hee and Shen Yuqing. Both were incredibly proud individuals and Spirit Cultivator geniuses ranked in Cyan Moon City's top fifteen youths, in no way weaker than Lü Yinghao.
How could they possibly endure being so disdained by Jiang Jichen—a fifteen-year-old Cultivator, a Spirit Cultivation Wasted Body?
"Jiang Jichen, don't get so arrogant! I'll be the one to take your life!"
"You want to take on all of us? Fine by us! Let's see you get beaten like a dog."
"A mere teenager with a wasted body dares to disrespect us youth Cultivators like this? He deserves to die!"
...
Dozens of young Cultivators roared in fury. In a flash of movement, they all charged forward to attack.
The crowd was incensed, but the ones who actually attacked were few—only a dozen or so. However, every one of them was a famous young Spirit Cultivator genius from Cyan Moon City. Murong Hee and Shen Yuqing each possessed the strength to fight Jiang Jichen on their own, to say nothing of so many others joining them.
"Is Jiang Jichen insane? Taking on everyone by himself? He's got a death wish!"
"I think he's unbelievably charismatic. If he weren't a Spirit Cultivation Wasted Body, I'd do whatever it takes to make him mine."
"This is the passion of youth! This is how it should be!"
...
Many people remained neutral. Spectators who had rushed over just to watch the show also had their own reactions to the scene.
The older generation thought Jiang Jichen was mad. The young women were captivated by his charisma, their hearts aflutter. The boys his age felt a fire ignite within them, their own spirits soaring with excitement.
Just then, the battle erupted. A dozen or so young Spirit Cultivator geniuses from Cyan Moon City attacked simultaneously, surrounding Jiang Jichen with killing intent.
By now, they had been thoroughly enraged by Jiang Jichen. Furthermore, the Mid-Level Storage Bag was of astonishing value. Everyone wanted it, but first, they had to take Jiang Jichen down.
Therefore, they no longer cared about the dishonor of ganging up on him or worried about losing face.
Besides, the immense combat power Jiang Jichen had just shown had truly shaken them. If they were being honest with themselves, none of them—not even Murong Hee or Shen Yuqing—had absolute confidence they could defeat him in a one-on-one fight.
Murong Hee was Murong Qingshu's older brother. His talent was slightly inferior to his brother's, but he was still one of the top two disciples of the Murong Family's younger generation.
Shen Yuqing was the Young Master of the Shen Family. He had just turned eighteen but was already a Late-stage Eighth-level Mortal, his talent even surpassing that of Lü Yinghao.
The two of them were the leaders of this group of a dozen or so young Spirit Cultivators, and they were naturally the most powerful.
In the distance, Princess Qing Ling was very worried. Though she was captivated by Jiang Jichen's domineering presence, she muttered peevishly, "What an idiot! Why does he have to be so stubborn? He could have just taken them out one by one!"
Granny Liu had also been shocked and found it hard to believe when she saw Jiang Jichen defeat Lü Yinghao. But now, she just snorted coldly. "Little bastard. If he'd challenged them one by one, he might have lasted a while. Now, his defeat is certain."
Xing'Er, the old steward, and the others from the Five Mansions were also breaking out in a cold sweat for their Young Master, watching the scene unfold with nervous anticipation.
Even the other mansions of the Jiang Family had been alerted. Many Jiang Family disciples flocked over, only to witness an unbelievable sight.
Several Elders from the Jiang Family were also watching the scene in secret.
"I never thought Jiang Jichen's combat power would become so domineering after he switched to Body Refining Techniques. Jiang Haijian and Jiang Haiyun's defeat wasn't without reason. But for Murong Qingshu and Lü Yinghao to lose as well... that's a bit hard to accept."
This was Third Elder Jiang Qingsong's quiet sigh. His own son, Jiang Haijian, had been defeated by Jiang Jichen, and he had found it unbelievable at the time. He never imagined that Jiang Jichen, whose path of Spirit Cultivation was ruined, could still be so powerful. His talent was so high it was bound to stir feelings of jealousy.
"The Dao of Body Refining is broken. He can only act arrogantly within the Body Warrior Realm. In a little while, once Haijian and Haiyun step into the Innate Realm, they'll be able to crush him with a flip of their hands. Still, for that brat to produce a Mid-Level Storage Bag... That should belong to our Jiang Mansion. A good-for-nothing who can't cultivate with Spiritual Power has no right to possess it. And now he's using it as a wager? What a profligate waste!"
Second Elder Jiang Qingyun said coldly, his voice laced with hatred and fury.
He, too, was incredibly tempted by the Mid-Level Storage Bag. After all, in the entire Jiang Mansion, only the Mansion Master possessed one; the rest of them only had Basic-Level Storage Bags.
He desperately wanted to intervene and snatch it for himself, but it was inappropriate for members of the older generation to interfere in the struggles of the young. If it weren't for that, Granny Liu, watching from afar, would have already made her move.
"That Mid-Level Storage Bag does indeed belong to our Jiang Mansion. If Jiang Jichen manages to hold onto it, we will reclaim it afterward!"
Grand Elder Jiang Qingshan said coolly, his gaze also fixed on the Mid-Level Storage Bag at Jiang Jichen's waist.
"Grand Elder, do you actually think Jiang Jichen has a chance of winning against Murong Hee, Shen Yuqing, and a dozen others at the same time?"
Fourth Elder Jiang Qinghe asked, sensing an underlying meaning in the Grand Elder's words.
The Grand Elder sighed before speaking. "I can't guarantee whether he'll win or not. But Jiang Jichen's talent is truly the most outstanding in our Jiang Family—perhaps even in the entire Celestial Pearl Country. If his ability to cultivate with Spiritual Power wasn't crippled, he would be the hope of our Jiang Family. We would be willing to use all our resources to nurture him, and he would be worthy of that investment. But now, his path of Spirit Cultivation is ruined, and the Dao of Body Refining is broken. No matter how strong he is on that path, he can only ever reach the Body Warrior Ninth Level Realm. He may seem nearly invincible among his peers now, but against an Innate Realm Cultivator, he's no different than an ant. Therefore, we cannot waste the Jiang Family's already limited resources on him. Everything I do... is for the sake of the Jiang Family!"
...
On the wide Ancient Street, before the gates of the old Five Mansions, Jiang Jichen was being assailed by over a dozen young Spirit Cultivators. Threads of Spiritual Power in every color swirled around him, shimmering as they transformed into dazzling Spiritual Light. The spectacle was almost beautiful.
But only those within the storm of attacks could know its true danger. One lethal technique after another materialized, blasting toward Jiang Jichen.
In a single instant, despite his formidable physique, his profound Step Technique, and his powerful Soul Power that allowed him to track every attack, he was still wounded. Blood streamed down his shoulder, staining his robes red.
But he had not suffered for nothing. In exchange, three Seventh Level Mid-stage Mortal Warriors and two Late Seventh Level Mortal Warriors were struck down, unable to rise again.
Eleven people remained. All of them were young Spirit Cultivator geniuses at or above the Seventh Level Great Perfection Mortal Warrior Realm. The strongest among them were, of course, Shen Yuqing and Murong Hee. They were the ones who had wounded him.
"Jiang Jichen, you're finished! Get down!"
At that moment, seven young Seventh Level Great Perfection Mortal Warriors closed in. Each of them condensed a Martial Technique and unleashed it on Jiang Jichen from a different angle.
Jiang Jichen laughed defiantly. "In a battle among the young, I am invincible! To defeat trash like you, seven fists will be more than enough!"
Facing their seven attacks, Jiang Jichen showed no intention of dodging. Instead, he charged forward to meet them head-on.
WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!
All seven Martial Techniques struck Jiang Jichen's body, making him tremble uncontrollably.
But in that same instant, Jiang Jichen threw seven punches of his own.
Seven Stars Sky-Breaking Fist. One punch, one person down. All seven of the attacking Seventh Level Great Perfection Mortal Warriors were sent flying like kites with their strings cut, collapsing to the ground, unable to rise.
*Ptooey!*
Jiang Jichen spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale.
But his expression remained cold and indifferent. The blood flowing from his wounds couldn't cause his expression to waver in the slightest.
His body was trembling, but his footing was firm. He took a step forward and barked, "Bring it on!"
Murong Hee and Shen Yuqing's expressions finally changed. They felt a crushing pressure building in their chests. The other two were completely overwhelmed by Jiang Jichen's aura, their hearts seized with fear.
The four who remained were all young Spirit Cultivators of the Eighth-Level Mortal Realm. But faced with Jiang Jichen's raw power and domineering presence, they were momentarily stunned.
"His body is trembling and his breathing is chaotic! He's about to collapse! There's no need to fear him! Let's strike together and kill him!"
Of the four, only Murong Hee and Shen Yuqing had the mental fortitude to react quickly, shouting out the command.
However, before the words had even left his lips, Jiang Jichen was already in front of the two Eighth Level Mid-stage Mortal Spirit Cultivators, his formidable body crashing directly into them.
BOOM!
The two Eighth Level Mid-stage Mortal Warriors were sent flying, countless bones broken. They collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.
Jiang Jichen was covered in blood. His legs trembled, and it looked as though he could barely stand. But his gaze was still sharp, and colder than ice.