Chapter 178

The elders of Lanyue and the three doors looked at each other, now wearing the same expressions Wanhuamen and Daoyuanshan had shown earlier.

They’d sent Pang Yong to intimidate the Tiger-Chasing faction—who could’ve predicted his defeat?

The remaining early-stage disciples were far weaker than him; sending them would mean free losses.

Seeing their dismay, the elders from both sects felt immense satisfaction, some stroking their beards smugly.

"Junior Brother, your companion cultivator’s full of surprises," Xiao Yize praised.

Yang Lingshu nodded. "Fangxuan comes from my family—a Potential Cultivator they’d awaited for decades. We entered the Path of Cultivation together. Though his talent’s merely above average, his grasp of techniques surpasses even mine."

He credited Lv Fangxuan’s performance to natural technique aptitude.

While Lv Fangxuan did have skill in techniques—Old Yu had noticed this during their Sanglu Valley training—he paled compared to true geniuses like Yang Linghu.

Alone, he’d never have reached the fourth-level technique mastery in three months.

This feat stemmed entirely from Yang Lingshu’s copied notes of Li Yuande’s Dao of cultivation insight. To prevent leaks, Yang Lingshu made him study the notes only in his cave before burning them.

"Hah! Lingshu, this Fangxuan shows promise. I’ll ensure the Inner Door trains him properly!" Mo Xian declared, pleased Wanhuamen had won the early-stage match.

As they spoke, the opposition responded by sending a fourth-level Gathering Qi cultivator—effectively surrendering the first round.

Lv Fangxuan wisely conceded after completing his task, sparing himself a pointless fight.

"Zheng Han, Wukui Sect’s new direct disciple—fourth-level Gathering Qi!"

His aura dwarfed Pang Yong’s the moment he stepped forward.

Wukui Sect oversaw Wuhui Peak, conquered earlier by Tiger-Chasing. When Tiger-Chasing breached their gates, they’d seized all treasures—including the Patriarchal Treasure Tree taken by the He Family. Wukui Sect’s arrival now carried clear purpose.

"Yang Lingshu of Wanhuamen! Face me!" Zheng Han’s challenge rang out.

This direct provocation made dynasty cultivators like He Shenglai and Zi He exchange glances.

The Four Sects had come prepared. Sending Pang Yong first revealed they’d known Tiger-Chasing’s weakness. Without Lv Fangxuan’s hidden strength, defeat would’ve been certain.

By targeting Yang Lingshu specifically, Wukui Sect proved they’d studied Tiger-Chasing’s internal alliances. Directly confronting the He Family was unwise—testing the waters through their ally, the Yang Family, made perfect sense.

"Master was right after all—plenty of rats still infest noble families and sects," Zi He muttered inwardly.

He Shenglai shifted his weight forward, narrowing his eyes as he studied the cloud ship across from him. The Exterminate Evil Division would handle internal purges; he wouldn’t need to intervene. His task today was simply to memorize the faces of every Wukui Sect member present for future reckoning.

All eyes on the high platform turned to Yang Lingshu. With a faint smile, the young man stood, bowed to Xiao Yize and Mo Xian, then leapt down from the observation seat to the Debate Platform’s center.

"Second Young Master, they’re clearly targeting our young master," someone whispered.

"Of course," Yang Lingrui replied. "To them, the Yang Family remains a small Gathering Qi clan with no real heritage. In all of northwest Canglan, we’re barely an ant. Before ascending the mountain, Lingshu hadn’t even reached third-level Gathering Qi cultivation."

Both men recognized the Four Sects’ strategy—they’d chosen Yang Lingshu as their easiest target.

Zheng Han stood two years older than Yang Lingshu, his peak fourth-level Gathering Qi foundation rock-solid. His combat strength rivaled Fifth Level cultivators, making him more than sufficient to crush someone who’d been third-level Gathering Qi mere months prior.

Yet neither Mo Xian’s group nor Yang Lingrui and Lv Fangxuan showed concern. The Four Sects’ intelligence was outdated—they assumed three months might’ve pushed Yang Lingshu to fourth level at best, with no significant combat improvements.

They couldn’t possibly know the truth.

Those same three months had seen Yang Lingshu absorbing Chen Yang’s Dao of cultivation insights through Thought Transmission, switching to the Spiritual Communication Technique. His transformation left his former self unrecognizable.

"Yang Lingshu, direct disciple of Wanhuamen’s Heavenly Travel Peak, accepts the challenge."

No longer hiding his power, his aura surged unabated until stabilizing at peak fourth level.

"Peak fourth?!" Zheng Han’s eyes bulged. Their reports swore the boy had been third-level Gathering Qi weeks ago! How?

Had this brat experienced sudden enlightenment during his brief Wanhuamen training?

No time for theories—the overseers’ voices boomed: "Begin!"

Zheng Han’s body erupted into blinding golden light, trailing razor-edged winds. The Wukui Sect had planned carefully—their metal-path specialist reinforced with wind techniques perfectly countered Yang Lingshu’s water and wood paths. Elemental advantage and superior speed should’ve guaranteed victory.

Yang Lingshu moved. Water technique currents erupted to impede his foe while thick roots burst from stone, weaving into a wooden bulwark.

Useless.

Zheng Han danced through the watery onslaught, golden arm-blade reducing the wooden shield to splinters. A collective gasp rose from young disciples.

"This looks bad…"

"Senior Yang’s techniques are countered completely!"

Even Wanhuamen elders showed unease—until they noticed Mo Xian’s unshaken composure.

Then everything changed.

Zheng Han pressed his assault, golden blade carving deadly arcs. Yet Yang Lingshu drifted through the storm of strikes like willow down caressed by breeze—not a single cut grazed his robes.