"Brother, can I tear his face now?" Yue Ran was eager to try. He vaguely felt he could break through to the next level, but something was still missing. He had finally encountered a cultivator at the early Golden Core stage, and if he didn't have a fight, he felt restless.
Elder Lai's face turned green. He was a respected elder in the Cang Lang Sect and a master at the Golden Core stage. Now, two mere Foundation Establishment cultivators dared to defy him. It was unbearable. Before Yue Ran could make a move, Elder Lai struck first.
Xiao Man stepped back, and Yue Ran shot forward like an arrow from a bow. They exchanged a palm strike, and both were forced back several steps. Elder Lai was greatly shocked, while Yue Ran was exhilarated. "Good! Again!"
Xiao Man walked to Bai Chen's side, protecting him and ensuring no villains would seize the opportunity to attack. Yue Ran, meanwhile, was locked in a fierce battle with Elder Lai. They fought to a standstill, drawing a crowd of onlookers. The crowd shook their heads, seeing a late Foundation Establishment cultivator challenge a Golden Core stage expert. The gap between major realms was vast. This young man was truly fearless; he would likely be crippled if not killed this time.
Elder Lai had initially thought that as a Golden Core stage master, dealing with a late Foundation Establishment cultivator would be a simple matter. However, this young man, who seemed to have emerged from nowhere, possessed a peculiar set of techniques. Although his attacks didn't seem impressive, he could easily break through Elder Lai's defenses and fight him to a draw.
The onlookers' interest was piqued. A Foundation Establishment cultivator was fighting a Golden Core stage expert, and the Golden Core expert was not gaining the upper hand. Many suspected Yue Ran had a secret weapon or had consumed some cultivation-boosting pills; otherwise, how could he contend with a Golden Core stage master?
An Yue watched, dumbfounded. Xiao Man alone was surprising enough, and now this red-clothed youth was just as monstrous as Xiao Man. Such a promising talent, she wondered which sect he belonged to.
"Junior Brother Xiao, who is this person?" An Yue asked curiously. If this person were a rogue cultivator, she would definitely try to recruit him into the Lie Yang Sect.
"Yue Ran, my brother." Xiao Man had been keeping an eye on Yue Ran's situation, ready to intervene if anything went wrong. Despite Yue Ran's high offensive power, he was still a major realm behind. He wouldn't be at a disadvantage in the short term, but it was uncertain for a prolonged fight. A swift victory would be most beneficial for him, but Yue Ran clearly didn't want a quick fight.
"Xiao Qin, Elder Lai is a Golden Core stage master, and your brother's cultivation is only at the late Foundation Establishment stage. There's a vast difference between these major realms, like a thousand mountains and rivers. If this continues, he will be at a disadvantage," Liu Hong reminded Xiao Man. "Why don't you offer Elder Lai some conciliatory words, so he doesn't harm him?" Su Dan Novel Network.
"Has Elder Fang He not come out this time?" Xiao Man asked abruptly.
"Elder Fang He was seriously injured in Wuji City and is recuperating; he has not come out."
Xiao Man merely nodded, her gaze fixed on Yue Ran. After a moment, Xiao Man understood Yue Ran's intentions and immediately laughed, scolding, "You brat, no wonder you were so eager to get beaten. So you want to use this old scoundrel for practice."
"Brother, will the third brother lose?" Bai Chen asked, having finished his recuperation, and seeing Yue Ran fighting Elder Lai.
"Losing is not necessarily a bad thing," Xiao Man said slowly. "How do you feel?"
"Much better. I didn't expect him to attack me so shamelessly."
"With this lesson, you'll know how to deal with such situations next time," Xiao Man said indifferently. She didn't oppose the gentleman's code, but it depended on the person. Towards an honorable person, the gentleman's code would naturally earn respect. But using it against a villain was seeking one's own doom.
Bai Chen remained silent, his head lowered, lost in thought.
Xiao Man glanced at him. "Watch their battle carefully. A'ran's combat experience is exceptionally rich and worth learning from. The one named Lai only has the advantage of a higher realm. If they were at the same realm, he would never be A'ran's opponent."
Bai Chen quickly raised his head to watch the two fight. Even An Yue and Liu Hong were influenced and began to observe the battle seriously. Yue Ran's attacks were fierce and his angles cunning. Even though Elder Lai's cultivation was profound, he couldn't subdue Yue Ran for the time being.
The more Elder Lai fought, the more alarmed he became. He even regretted coming to trouble Bai Chen. At the same time, resentment towards Zou Shuang welled up in his heart. Knowing that Xiao Man was a jinx, causing trouble wherever she went, Zou Shuang had concealed the fact that he was injured by Xiao Man. This was clearly an attempt to harm his master.
As resentment brewed, Elder Lai's attacks grew weaker. After a while, he broke the distance between them and said, "I'm not fighting anymore."
"No, how can you concede halfway!" Yue Ran was indignant. He was just about to grasp the key, and he couldn't let Elder Lai flee halfway. He immediately moved to continue the fight.
Xiao Man called out to him, "A'ran, don't be reckless."
"Brother, I haven't had my fill yet."
"Since Elder Lai doesn't wish to fight, as young people, we shouldn't bully the elders," Xiao Man stepped forward, grabbing Yue Ran's arm to prevent him from acting rashly. If the fight continued, Yue Ran might not win, but if he provoked the one named Lai too much, and he decided to fight to the death with them, it would be troublesome.
"Brother."
"Listen," Xiao Man gave Yue Ran a cool glance, and all of Yue Ran's arrogance immediately subsided. He stood obediently by Xiao Man's side and remained silent. "Elder Lai, this matter was initiated by Zou Shuang's provocation and bullying. We retaliated afterward. I believe the people of the Cang Lang Sect are not sore losers, right?"
Elder Lai gritted his molars. "If you have something to say, just say it."
"You injured Bai Chen, so you should provide some compensation, shouldn't you?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Lai almost spat out a mouthful of blood. He had indeed struck Bai Chen with a palm, but he hadn't gained any advantage either. His disciple was crippled, destined to be impotent for life, and several disciples in the sect were injured. He had only come to seek an explanation, only to be almost defeated! Most importantly, Xiao Man shamelessly demanded compensation from him!
"Aren't you a bit too shameless?"
Xiao Man chuckled at his words. "Elder Lai, my brother here hasn't had his fill, and I'm also itching for a fight. Does Elder Lai wish for my three brothers and me to spar with you again?"
A blatant threat! Elder Lai let out a long sigh, wanting to curse, but he held back. After a moment, he took out a bag of spirit stones from his spatial pouch and threw it to Xiao Man. Xiao Man caught it and opened it to look. "Elder Lai, are you trying to send a beggar away? You injured Bai Chen and cost me a Soul Replenishing Pill. Elder Lai, you know the price of a Soul Replenishing Pill, don't you?"
Elder Lai almost bit his molars to pieces. After a moment, he reluctantly took out two more bags of spirit stones and threw them to Xiao Man. He then left with his disciples, filled with resentment.