Wu Da remained silent, and so did the spectators. They were all thinking the same thing—this guy is a crazy bastard!


    Heughed when Wu Da tried to threaten him. At first, they thought he was expressing his contempt. However, some understood the reason.


    "He''sughing at his voice, which doesn''t match his appearance…"


    "Ahem… well… Elder Wu Da… is unique."


    "Ahem, ahem…"


    Some who realized this began to cough awkwardly. More and more people tried to suppress theirughter.


    "Y-you…"


    Wu Da turned red with anger. His voice had always been a big problem, but because of his strength, few dared tough at him! However, now…


    "Hmph, die!"


    Rushing forward, Wu Da swung his sword. Xie Qing''s eyes shed. Just as the sword was about to touch the young man''s neck, he suddenly disappeared.


    "W-what?! W-where did he go?"


    Confused, the muscr man began to look around. However, Xie Qing was nowhere to be seen. Did he run away?


    The spectators were also surprised. They hade to watch this spectacle because someone had decided to teach the arrogant neer a lesson. Who would have thought that this neer would be so strange!


    "Hmph, coward! Where are you? Stop hiding!"


    "I''m not hiding."


    "What…"


    BOOM!


    A loud sound echoed as if something had been struck. The spectators fell silent for a long time, with no one speaking for a full five minutes.


    For… in one attack, Wu Da had passionately kissed the arena floor. The force of the blow knocked him out.


    And in this case… the victory goes to Xie Qing! But… um… this was too strange a fight. It felt more like a performance than something worthwhile.


    So the spectators were indignant.


    "What the hell was that?"


    "Pfft, that guy is crazy! He took out Wu Da with one swing, as if swatting a fly!"


    "Hey, maybe this scene was staged? Will there be a new star in the inner court?"


    "Star, my ass. Wu Da is the son of an elder. Who has the status to use him as a stepping stone?"


    "Who knows. This is only the first battle, and it''s already so absurd!"


    Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. He listened to the chatter, trying to figure out if there was more to this official duel.


    And, as expected, he discovered something.


    "This… is only the first duel? Hmm. So there are others," the young man''s neutral face began to contort with the realization that he had been handed a pile of crap: "Damn. Why do these bastards love to fight so much? I can''t just let them beat me to get rid of the annoying bastards?"


    Of course, the idea of offering his neck to be beaten was just sarcasm. Xie Qing narrowed his eyes, looking displeased.


    "Bastards. They''re testing my patience!"


    However, even so, he was helpless. Technically, all formalities were observed—an official duel is official because it is approved by an elder. Therefore, Xie Qing had no choice but to ept his fate.


    "There is only one way to prevent the stream of annoying worms! That is to enter the Top 100! Because disciples cannot challenge another disciple if the difference in their rankings is more than 50!"


    Xie Qing''s eyes lit up. He truly did not want to stand out so soon, but what could he do? He had no choice but to go all the way!


    ***


    There was something strange. Although Xie Qing''s opponents were not bad, their rankings were not high, and their strength was even morecking. In reality, they were quite weak.


    So he was puzzled. Was it necessary to go to such lengths to use so many people? The young man was already certain that someone was behind this. However, he did not understand who.


    "Did I offend someone? I admit, my actions may seem arrogant, but I did not cause trouble first! Rather, everyone was annoying me!" Xie Qing was genuinely puzzled. He tilted his head, casually beating his opponent: "Do they want to test my strength? But why? I don''t have an outstanding status.


    What''s more, why would someone go to such lengths for me…"


    For some reason, at that moment, Xie Qing remembered Elder Li Su. He had a feeling that this old man was trying to test his strength.


    "Does he doubt me? Does he think that burst belongs to me?" Xie Qing wondered, tilting his head to dodge his opponent''s attack. Then he swung his fist and punched his opponent in the face.


    "Ugh!"


    "Enough games. Too boring," Xie Qing snorted, grabbing his opponent''s clothes and tearing them, then rubbing his fist: "You''re dirty as shit. Go take a bath."


    "Y-you…"


    His opponent trembled with anger, pointing at him with his index finger, and then fell to the ground unconscious. This…


    "V-victory goes to Disciple Cheng E…"


    Too strange! Too stupid!


    ***


    "Interesting."


    Not far from the arena was a tall pavilion. This was considered the dining hall for the elders. And now, on the highest floor, there were many people sitting around a round table.


    "Something interests you, Elder Li Su?" someone from the crowd asked.


    "Hm? No, I wouldn''t say that," Li Su replied casually.


    "Oh? You looked interested. Anyway, Elder Li, why arrange all this duel drama? Just for some disciple?" the same elder continued, looking puzzled: "I admit, he is indeed talented, but is it worth the effort?"


    "Well…"


    Li Su smiled faintly. He himself realized that he was reacting strangely, but he couldn''t help it. He wanted to see what kind of progress this young man would make.


    His talent had captivated the elder, making him envious. Therefore, Li Su, being a stingy old man, wanted to torment the talented brat a bit. This was something he had done even in his youth.


    So, among the elders, he was not particrly liked.


    "Li Su, I heard you came out of secluded cultivation and I couldn''t believe it. And now? My eyes do not deceive me. You really dragged your stinky ass out of that musty cave, hahaha!"


    "…"


    Li Su slowly turned his head to the person who dared to speak to him so rudely. He frowned as he recognized him.


    "Yang Shui. Your rotten character is still as disgusting as ever. You reek of cheap perfume. Spent the whole day in the brothel again?" Li Su said in an irritated voice and covered his nose, as if expressing his protest.


    "Oh,e on! All those young girls are so beautiful, hehe." Yang Shui grinned, and his grin was almost devilish. He licked his lips: "And you''re still the same. Sitting in your cave and jerking off your dantian. You''re over three hundred years old. Maybe you should find a wife?


    And when you have fun with her, you can share her with me, hahaha! You know, brothers should share…"


    "Shut up, you talentless pig."


    "Pfft!"


    Yang Shui snorted in annoyance. Li Su''s words had hit a nerve, but he didn''t want to show it, so he clicked his tongue disdainfully and sat back in his seat.


    There was an awkward atmosphere at the table. Although the elders might appear united, few of them got along.


    They had all been ssmates in the past and knew each other. There was a lot ofpetition among them, so it was no surprise that some had unresolved karma. However, due to their status, they had to restrain themselves.


    Therefore, they remained silent for most of the time. Even Yang Shui, who had been noisy just a minute ago, now looked as if he was ready to fall asleep at any moment.


    However, he could do nothing about it. The gathering of the elders, or the banquet—call it what you will—was a mandatory event and a tradition.


    In the past, the elders would discuss sect affairs and share news with each other, but now… it seemed more like a strange attempt to make quarreling children get along.


    Li Su quickly lost interest in this event. In any case, he was not particrly focused on socializing with others—that was not in his nature.


    "Hm? The boy is already finished. Interesting. It seems I chose some weaklings. Although they are at the same cultivation level, this boy''s physique is abnormally strong. Is this rted to his cultivation technique?


    Or does he have a bloodline?"


    Li Su''s eyes gleamed. If it was a bloodline… well, the elder was excited.


    In these times, it was rare to find people with bloodlines. For as time passes, the degradation of blood does not stand still. Among the devilish people, there are those with demon bloodlines, but… they are extremely weak and barely stand out.


    "How many surprises will you bring me, Disciple Cheng E?"


    ***


    Xie Qing sneezed. Suddenly, it felt like some bastard was thinking about him.


    "Anyway…" he thought, wiping his nose, "it seems like there isn''t a single worthy opponent in this ce. They''re all low-ranked disciples. I managed to raise my ranking to #871. But this is fucking bullshit. Seriously…"


    In this world of weaklings… Xie Qing felt alone!


    "Can I challenge an elder to a duel?" he thought with a serious expression.