Chapter 25: Provocation

Lu Changfeng was, after all, the personal disciple of the Peak Master. On this merit alone, he could cast aside all conventions and do as he pleased on Yuehan Peak.

Just as Lu Changfeng began to walk toward the pool, Ye Yunlan, standing among the crowd, frowned slightly. She stepped forward and spoke up:

"Peak Master! It is surely inappropriate for Junior Brother Lu to enter the Yuehan Pool when he did not participate in the trials! After all, in the past, everyone had to rely on their own strength to gain entry!"

"..."

"Indeed, Peak Master, Yuehan Peak has never had such rules!"

"We worked so hard in the trials, why should he be allowed in directly?"

"Peak Master, this matter truly warrants reconsideration!"

Initially, the disciples had been afraid to defy Yue Qingshuang. But now that someone had taken the lead, they were unwilling to see one of the spots given away for nothing.

Yue Qingshuang’s expression remained indifferent as she addressed Ye Yunlan: "Are you questioning my decision?"

There was no trace of emotion in her voice, yet the surrounding disciples immediately fell silent, not daring to make another move. Ye Yunlan’s expression shifted slightly. She took a step back, but then stubbornly persisted: "This disciple would not dare! But we are all disciples of Yuehan Peak! I do not believe that a personal disciple should be treated with such special consideration." She gritted her teeth, refusing to back down.

"Peak Master! I agree with the Senior Sister!"

"Even if his talent is heaven-defying, he should still abide by the rules you set!"

"A personal disciple should be no exception!"

Luo Yun, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly and chimed in: "Lu Changfeng, if you’re a man, then face me in a proper trial! If you don't dare, then get out and withdraw from this challenge!" He turned to face Lu Changfeng, his voice cold.

As the younger brother of the Senior Brother of Heavenly Sword Peak, Luo Yun was a bully who picked on the weak. Ever since Lu Changfeng arrived at Yuehan Peak, he had been repeatedly humiliated by him, which fueled his deep resentment. With others leading the charge, he naturally jumped at the chance to make Lu Changfeng’s life miserable.

As Ye Yunlan and Luo Yun stepped out, the other disciples began to murmur in agreement. Yue Qingshuang observed the scene, a rare flicker of annoyance appearing in her eyes.

At that moment, Lu Changfeng stopped and turned to look at Luo Yun and Ye Yunlan. He could have ignored their provocations—after all, he was a personal disciple—but if he simply walked into the pool under these circumstances, it would put Yue Qingshuang in an impossible position. While she might not care, Lu Changfeng did. She was his master, however convenient the arrangement. Besides, reputation and dignity were things one had to earn through force.

"If you want to fight, why do you need so many excuses?" Lu Changfeng nodded slightly. "But Luo Yun, you are not enough."

As these words left his lips, Luo Yun’s eyes widened in fury. Through relentless effort over the past few days, his cultivation had reached the fifth level of the Meridian Opening Stage. He had even paid a heavy price to boost his strength, all for the day he could personally teach Lu Changfeng a lesson. Now that Lu Changfeng had openly insulted him, he was consumed with rage.

"Hmph!" Luo Yun stepped forward, his voice icy. "What big talk! In that case, let me see if you actually have the ability to back it up!"

As he spoke, Luo Yun’s cultivation erupted. Spiritual energy surged, and the pressure of his fifth-level Meridian Opening cultivation bore down on Lu Changfeng. Lu Changfeng remained indifferent, unfazed by the surging pressure.

Luo Yun sneered internally, watching him: "A mere newcomer daring to spout off here! Today, I’ll show you what it means to regret this!" A smirk played on his lips as he imagined the scene of Lu Changfeng kneeling before him.

The next moment—

*BOOM!*

With a thunderous roar, a figure was sent flying backward. Blood splattered on the ground, and the fierce winds gradually died down.

"What?!"

"This… this must be a mistake! How could Senior Brother Luo be injured?"

"Impossible! Lu Changfeng is clearly a newcomer; how could he possess such power?"

The disciples around the Yuehan Pool stared with wide eyes at Lu Changfeng, who remained standing exactly where he was. Their expressions were filled with shock. In that split second, Luo Yun had charged at Lu Changfeng, only for the latter to strike out with a light, effortless punch. Luo Yun had vomited blood and been sent flying.

*THUD!*

Luo Yun crashed heavily to the ground, clutching his chest, staring at Lu Changfeng in disbelief. "You… you aren't at the second level of the Meridian Opening Stage?!"

Lu Changfeng waved his hand, and his aura erupted, causing the surface of the pool to ripple violently. The surrounding wind howled, forcing the onlookers to squint.

"Who told you I was at the second level?" Lu Changfeng replied calmly.

In his mind, Luo Yun was already a dead man. Under the eyes of the crowd, he chose not to finish him off. Luo Yun clenched his fists tightly and looked toward a silent disciple standing nearby.

"Luo Sheng! Are you not going to attack?!" he roared, as if the intervention of this disciple named Luo Sheng would guarantee his victory.

"Young Master Wuren ordered me to ensure your safety, not to be your thug," Luo Sheng replied with a neutral expression, though his eyes burned with eagerness.

Luo Yun gritted his teeth. "I don't care what my brother said, attack him! If anything happens, I'll take the blame! Otherwise, when I return, I will report you!" He had completely lost his reason. After being defeated by Lu Changfeng, he had trained like a madman. He had been fully prepared this time, yet he had still been defeated so easily. This only made his hatred for Lu Changfeng burn deeper.

"Sigh..." Luo Sheng let out a sigh and stepped forward, placing himself in front of Lu Changfeng.

The next moment—

*BOOM!*

His cultivation surged forth, the aura of the first level of the Zhou Tian Stage erupting. The surrounding trees shook violently, and withered leaves were swept away by the howling wind.

"The Zhou Tian Stage? Isn't that going a bit too far?!"

"What's 'too far' about it? Would you rather just watch this newcomer snatch a spot for himself?"

The crowd was in an uproar, eyes fixed on the two figures confronting each other.

"Offense intended!" Luo Sheng took a deep breath, a flicker of cruelty flashing in his eyes.

Lu Changfeng knew that Luo Sheng was not as reluctant as he claimed. In fact, he was eager to fight. He could detect a faint trace of killing intent within the pressure radiating from Luo Sheng. The man’s aura was filled with a malevolent chill, as if he had killed many people before. His eyes held nothing but cold indifference.

High above, Yue Qingshuang watched as if she saw nothing, her expression serene. As a cultivator of the Dao Palace Realm, she had seen through Lu Changfeng’s true cultivation at a glance. She was, in fact, quite looking forward to his performance. While a person's aptitude determined their limits, their character determined whether they were worth cultivating.