Chapter 45: Your Provocation Feels Like Flirting!

At this moment, Cao Xuan had yet to change into the two-striped blue robe of the inner sect. The alchemist’s token at his waist was inconspicuous amidst the noisy crowds of the Sky Ladder Tournament square.

Thus, in Fang Baiyu’s eyes, Cao Xuan was still the same fourth-layer Qi Refinement youngster from half a year ago.

“Cao Xuan, you haven’t forgotten our duel, have you? What’s the matter? Are you scared?”

“If you kneel and apologize now, I, Fang Baiyu, might just spare your life!”

The sect’s Sky Ladder Tournament only required that the matches not go too far, but threats and boasts were common; in fact, the Enforcement Hall encouraged disciples to show some spirit.

As long as no one died, everything was permissible.

To the judges, Fang Baiyu’s words were nothing more than the arrogance of youth.

Nevertheless, as a judge, one still had to offer a reminder. “That disciple ahead, the man before you is already a ten-time winner in the fourth-layer Qi Refinement zone. His strength is not to be underestimated.”

He then turned to Fang Baiyu and said, “You’ve already achieved ten consecutive victories. Normally, anyone who wishes to challenge you must also have ten wins. Are you certain you want to challenge him?”

“If you lose, he will immediately inherit your ten-win streak!”

The referee was fair. For Cao Xuan, this was a formidable opponent; for Fang Baiyu, a risk.

Of course, no one suspected that Cao Xuan’s cultivation was higher than fourth-layer Qi Refinement.

Fang Baiyu raised his sword without hesitation. “I have no problem with it. Cao Xuan, come on up. If you win, what harm is there in giving you my ten victories?”

His two followers laughed. “Senior Brother Fang, you’re too generous, handing over the ten wins you fought so hard for.”

The other jeered, “That’s not right—he might not even be your match, so how can you say you’re just giving them away?”

...

Some disciples who’d watched Fang Baiyu fight shook their heads, not optimistic about Cao Xuan’s chances.

Both were at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, but Fang Baiyu had trained diligently for half a year, and his talent set him apart from the average cultivator.

After all, most cultivators valued freedom, spending abundant time on cultivation and little on combat skills.

Cao Xuan ignored the chatter and respectfully handed his identity token to the judge.

“Protector, is this acceptable?”

“What could be wrong with it…” The judge took the token, but his expression changed instantly.

The token recorded Cao Xuan’s recent examination as a seventh-layer Qi Refinement inner disciple.

“Um… Fang Baiyu, is it? Are you sure you want to challenge Cao Xuan?”

He now knew precisely who Cao Xuan was.

Fang Baiyu waved dismissively. “I’m sure!”

The judge nodded, then addressed Cao Xuan: “This will only count as a personal wager between you; the ten-win streak will not transfer… And—go easy on him.”

Fang Baiyu sensed something was off. “Wait—”

But before he could finish, a surge of ninth-layer Qi Refinement fell from Cao Xuan, whose examination showed seventh-layer, but who was fully capable of concealing his true cultivation. There was no rule against being at the ninth layer, after all.

Cao Xuan only needed the advantage of information and a swift increase in strength. Even if there were questions, superior strength would render them moot.

With a thunderous crash—

Fang Baiyu had barely steadied his sword when it was sent flying.

Cao Xuan didn’t even use any spell. Relying solely on his oppressive aura, he forced Fang Baiyu to the arena floor.

Not only that, but all the disciples nearby trembled beneath the pressure.

Some of the female disciples even collapsed on the ground, their eyes rolling back.

“So… so strong!”

Because Cao Xuan had “gone easy,” Fang Baiyu didn’t lose consciousness.

Propping himself up as if doing push-ups, he struggled to rise, but Cao Xuan’s spiritual power held him immobile.

He muttered, “Impossible… Absolutely impossible… How can you be this strong?”

“Aren’t you an outer disciple at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement? Don’t you wear a one-striped blue robe?”

“You must be cheating!”

Cao Xuan shook his head, walked over, squatted down, and lightly tapped Fang Baiyu’s face with the identity token.

Up close, Fang Baiyu finally saw that the two ancient characters for “Outer Sect” on the token had changed to “Inner Sect.”

Cao Xuan quietly said, “Old Fang, honestly, there’s no deep grudge between our families.”

“In business, a few bumps are inevitable, but we’re still fellow disciples. Do you truly dislike your senior brother that much?”

“And as a cultivator, do you not understand the importance of improvement?”

“Six months ago you were at this level. Now you’re still at this level. Look at me—I’ve made quite a bit of progress!”

“That’s enough. We’re all adults now. Let’s be more mature, shall we, and stop acting like children?”

At this, Fang Baiyu bit his lip. Compared to half a year ago, when Cao Xuan would just cuss him out, he almost preferred that. Verbal sparring meant they were still on equal footing. Now, Cao Xuan’s calm, almost parental tone made his challenge sound like childish whining.

Meanwhile, the surrounding disciples thought, What a wonderful senior brother!

“This Fang Baiyu is just a brat. The senior brother never even took him seriously, yet he kept pestering.”

Hearing Cao Xuan’s words, they all assumed that “quite a bit of progress” meant he had gone from sixth to seventh layer Qi Refinement. Given the disparity in strength, they hadn’t realized he was actually at the ninth layer.

It showed that Fang Baiyu had never been Cao Xuan’s equal; the senior had merely been indulging the junior.

Apparently, they thought, one was a sixth-layer outer disciple, the other a fourth-layer, but now the senior had advanced to the inner sect.

Only the nearby judge revealed a hint of admiration, murmuring, “Few disciples are willing to devote themselves to bitter cultivation these days.”

In his view, Cao Xuan, with his ninefold spiritual root, should have reached seventh-layer Qi Refinement two or three years ago, but he’d been in seclusion, only passing the inner sect exam this year.

“It’s a pity I only checked his cultivation, not his bone age. If he’s under thirty and already at ninth-layer Qi Refinement, then in five years, the Azure Cloud Sect will likely gain a Foundation Establishment cultivator!”

Qi Refinement cultivators had begun to nourish their bodies with spiritual energy; even at thirty or forty, they looked barely over twenty.

At this moment, Fang Baiyu turned his head with difficulty, seeing the disciples pointing at him, and the girls who had once swooned at his glance now looked at him as though he were a clown.

Combined with Cao Xuan’s words, Fang Baiyu suddenly felt much older.

“I… I admit defeat!”

Cao Xuan shook his head and withdrew his oppressive force.

Fang Baiyu struggled to his feet, his sword hand still trembling.

He glanced beneath the arena—his two followers had their heads lowered, pretending not to know him.

Fang Baiyu managed a bitter smile. “So this is what it feels like to be a loser?”