Star Martial Soaring Cloud

The onlookers were completely stunned by Wang Xiao's outrageous words, followed by a barrage of ridicule and sneers, with discussions rising and falling.

"One hundred and one is greater than two fiftys, so it can be easily crushed? What kind of algorithm is that?"

"You can calculate it like that? Is the ranking based on order or size?"

"No wonder he's so arrogant at number 101. Does he really think he's invincible? Young Master Ye Xin is ranked 102nd, which is higher than his 101st, so he thinks only Young Master Ye Xin can be his opponent."

"Is this guy a complete idiot?"

"It doesn't look like it; 'can't count' would be a more accurate description!"

The way everyone looked at Wang Xiao had changed from initial surprise to blatant mockery and disdain.

Some people initially thought he was shrewd and calculating, but now they only see him as an ignorant, fearless, attention-seeking clown.

Upon hearing this, Yun Zhi was slightly taken aback, then smiled gently. Her red hair fluttered in the wind, and the sunlight fell on her exquisite and beautiful profile, making her skin appear as white as snow and her eyes sparkle with brilliance, making her incredibly captivating.

"Lu Yang, you're quite the character. But what's your choice now? Give me back my three thousand one hundred gold coins, and I might even consider you my underling!"

Good heavens, this is quite a scheme.

Not only will he have to return the three thousand gold coins he spent on the competition, but the hundred gold coins that Yunzhi used to humiliate the gossiping man will also be attributed to him in the end.

Is there really such a good thing in the world?

Winning a match means losing money, and then having to bow down and act like someone else's lackey?

"Princess, I've never heard of a victor becoming the loser's underling. Elders and prodigies, have you ever heard of such a principle?"

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone fell silent, no one dared to speak, and no one dared to meet Wang Xiao's gaze.

Who dares to answer this question?

Miss Yun, the most unruly and spoiled princess in the capital, who dares to defy her?

His very words implied that she was being unreasonable and had offended the powerful Yun family.

Who would willingly invite trouble?

The crowd felt a mix of emotions, and a deep sense of contempt.

Anyone could clearly see that Yun Zhi was deliberately praising Wang Xiao to death, putting him in a very difficult position and leaving him with no way out.

But Wang Xiao, instead of seeing through this deadly scheme, actually enjoyed it. He looked smug, as if he had really gained a huge advantage.

"Does he really think Zhou Qian defeated Yun Fei?"

"I had some expectations for him before, but now he seems to be a complete idiot!" someone scoffed softly, full of regret.

"Ignorance is bliss, I actually admire him, what a pity!"

Ignoring the surrounding criticism, Wang Xiao strode forward, his tone extremely arrogant: "In the end, it's because you're all too weak. The Yun family's top guards couldn't even withstand a single shot from one of my men. If I'm going to find help, shouldn't I find someone stronger than me? After seeing this, it's clear the Yun family's strength is nothing special, so I won't consider them!"

Everyone present was stunned into silence, nearly fainting from anger. Even Yun Zhi was speechless with shock.

Is this person really stupid?

Can't he see through such obvious acting?

Did he really think Zhou Qian could defeat Yun Fei with a single shot?

Most fatally, he dared to openly express his contempt for the Yun family in broad daylight!

Does he really not want to live anymore?

Where did this person come from?

Aside from the Yun family, who would dare to confront the Ye family head-on? Why did he choose to do it?

As soon as Wang Xiao finished speaking, a chilling killing intent locked onto him, and a biting coldness swept over him. If looks could kill, he would have died a hundred times over.

Yunfei!

This Yun family guard spent half his life fighting and killing, taking it upon himself to protect the Yun family.

Wang Xiao publicly scorned the Yun family and disgraced their reputation; in his eyes, he was already a man destined to die.

Just as Yunfei was about to make his move, a deep, domineering shout, filled with boundless rage, suddenly resounded across the training ground, forcefully suppressing his burning anger.

"How dare you insult the Yun family! You're courting death!"

The roar was like a thunderclap, making everyone's eardrums buzz, causing violent airflow and a sudden gust of wind!

All that could be seen was a burly figure leaping over, his fist, as big as a large bowl, aimed straight at Wang Xiao's face.

The unparalleled force of the punch shook the air, creating a piercing explosion. The airflow was violently shattered, and its power was terrifying!

This punch was delivered without holding back, aimed straight for the kill!

In the blink of an eye, Wang Xiao and Zhou Qian moved simultaneously.

Wang Xiao retreated; with a nimble sway and fluid footwork, he turned and appeared behind Zhou Qian.

Zhou Qian stepped forward and resolutely stood in front of Wang Xiao, becoming a solid barrier.

Although he didn't understand Wang Xiao's intentions or what Wang Xiao was trying to do, he trusted Wang Xiao as a person, and that was enough.

Zhou Qian shielded Wang Xiao behind him, holding his spear horizontally with crimson spiritual energy condensed on the shaft, steadily blocking the unstoppable punch head-on!

boom--!

Fists and guns clashed, a deafening roar shook the entire arena, and shockwaves swept in all directions!

Its unparalleled punching power is as vast as the ocean.

A violent force poured out from the gun, Zhou Qian's body trembled violently, and he and Wang Xiao behind him were pushed backward by this force!

Zhou Qian gritted his teeth, unleashing all his Yuan Power and circulating his protective True Qi at full force to desperately resist the terrifying pressure.

But this punch was far more terrifying than he had imagined!

Before the force of the first punch had dissipated, the second layer of hidden power had already erupted.

The force of the punches was like waves, one after another, layer upon layer, endless, crushing all obstacles!

The spear in Zhou Qian's hand, which had accompanied him through countless battles, was now bent to the extreme by the immense pressure, and the curvature of the spear was almost broken!

Everyone present was horrified upon seeing this.

When a cultivator embarks on the path of cultivation, protective true energy will naturally arise around their body.

It can protect the internal organs and meridians internally, and defend against external forces externally. It is the most basic and core barrier for cultivators.

When cultivators clash, their vital energy surges and their power is overwhelming, enough to tear apart metal and stone and shatter mountains. Yet, the cultivators' clothes and bodies remain intact, thanks to the protection of their protective true energy.

As long as the protective aura remains intact, everything around the body will be safe and sound.

Otherwise, if cultivators were to fight each other, they would end up naked, and no cultivator would dare to fight each other.

This is also one of the core principles of cultivation in Kyushu.

Many people mistakenly believe that spiritual duels are a contest of destructive power and killing power, but this is not the case.

True strength is never about destruction, but about protection.

How much you can protect determines how strong you are.

This is also why cultivators in Kyushu have the lowest requirements for weapons.

As long as this spirit exists, any weapon is a divine weapon.

To put it more bluntly, this energy is a small world within itself. It coexists with one's own soul and flesh, protecting the small area around them.

Ordinary cultivators simply coexist with it, passively relying on this small world for protection, unable to actively control or utilize it.

Only by entering the realm of divine consciousness can one truly utilize this small world.

This is how the field came about.

The spear in Zhou Qian's hand had been with him for nearly ten years, and this was the first time he felt that the spear was about to break.

He could protect himself, but he could no longer protect the spear in his hand.

Just as the gun was about to break, a warm yet powerful force surged from his back, completely dissolving the second force that he could not resist.

"Is this the gap between us and them?" Zhou Qian's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and the desire to become stronger burned hotter than ever before in his heart.

The imposing figure finally landed in the arena, revealing his true appearance.

His feet stomped on the ground, creating a shockwave that swept across the entire arena with a wild and fierce aura, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.

His long hair flew wildly, his eyebrows and eyes were arrogant and fierce, and what came into view was the violent and ferocious aura of someone who had been through many battles.

Yunyi.

I ranked 30th in the Jixia Academy's assessment.

His name doesn't match his appearance, but his behavior perfectly matches his looks. He is violent and domineering, and extremely decisive in killing.

"Yun Yi, what are you doing? This is my business!" Yun Zhi's clear, angry voice rang out.

"Sister, I don't care about your affairs, but this person insulted the Yun family in public, he deserves to die!" Yun Yi's fist was still clenched, his knuckles cracking, and his anger had not subsided.

"What? The Yun family dares to do it but not admit it?" Wang Xiao peeked out from behind Zhou Qian, his body slightly shrunken, his eyes cunning, looking like a thief. He immediately retorted, "In the duel just now, you were the ones who took the initiative to fight, and you yourself admitted defeat! What, can't accept defeat?"

Seeing this, everyone's contempt for Wang Xiao intensified.

When danger strikes, they cower behind others to save their lives; when the crisis is over and they see someone backing them up, they immediately jump out to boast and argue. Such behavior is undoubtedly that of a clown.

Wang Xiao ignored this completely and then said something that left everyone speechless and almost laughing in anger.

"Besides, this is a competition, it costs money. Don't you understand the rules?"

"They're obsessed with money! What time is it, and they're still thinking about those few taels of silver!"

"I was hoping for a miracle, but now I'd rather see Young Master Ye Xin beat him up. He's so deserving of a beating. Why did Jixia Academy choose him?"

"The selection process at Jixia Academy is incredibly rigorous, so how could they possibly admit such a greedy, arrogant, and ignorant brat!"

Yun Yi took a step forward, causing the ground to tremble slightly. He roared in a deep voice, "Since you insist on courting death, then let's fight again!"

"Sorry, I'm tired." Wang Xiao waved his hand, looking nonchalant and lazy. "Today's arena matches are over. I need to conserve my energy and prepare for tomorrow's duel with Young Master Ye Xin."

Everyone present completely broke down, internally complaining incessantly.

How can there be such a shameless person in this world?

He was counting silver notes the whole time, and he only dodged for a moment. Is he already tired of fighting?

"You have no choice now!" Yun Yi's long hair flew wildly, full of wildness, and the air around him surged wildly, his violent momentum even stronger, and he had already unleashed his powerful fist.

"Yunyi, I've said it before, this is my business!"

Yun Zhi moved swiftly, her red hair fluttering in the wind, her figure as light as a butterfly, like a rosy cloud skimming the sky, gracefully landing in the martial arts arena.

Her landing was incredibly graceful; her toes lightly touched the ground, and she floated down with a languid grace, her clothes fluttering and her skirt swaying gently, like a fairy descending from the moon.

As she landed, her slender, fair hand gently reached out, seemingly soft and weak, yet it landed precisely on Yun Yi's ferocious fist.

Without a deafening roar or a violent collision, Yun Yi's ferocious fist force, capable of shattering mountains and splitting rocks, was effortlessly deflected and dissolved into nothingness by her.

"Huh? Wasn't she ranked fiftieth? How come she's so relaxed!" A hint of curiosity flashed in Wang Xiao's eyes, and the even more reckless words slipped out, "I get it! So you guys are in cahoots with Young Master Ye Xin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent; everyone present felt like their brains couldn't process what he was saying.

Is there anyone who would curse like that?

Everyone knows that the Yun and Ye families, who control the north and south respectively, are like fire and water, and have been fighting each other for a century. They are mortal enemies known throughout the world.

Now Wang Xiao is actually saying they're in cahoots.

Wang Xiaoyu, never one to back down, continued her spiel: "You all deliberately colluded to put on an act, first sending people to test my true strength! Unable to ascertain my true abilities, you planned to wear me down through a series of attacks, forcing me to be exhausted and severely injured today, rendering me unable to participate in tomorrow's duel of the prodigies! What a scheme, what a brilliant tactic!"

"You're asking for death!" Yun Yi was completely enraged by these distorted statements, his chest burning with anger and his killing intent soaring to the heavens.

"Enough!" Yun Zhi opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and felt her vision go black after hearing Wang Xiao's words.

Therefore, when Wang Xiao spoke again, she knew things were going badly, and she had to go on stage to stop Yun Yi.

This has nothing to do with Wang Xiao's strength, but rather that Wang Xiao is too good at leveraging opportunities!

Wang Xiao may seem insignificant now, but he is the most crucial piece in the entire Jixia Chess Game.

As long as he remains on the chessboard, he is invincible.

No one dared to hurt him, no one dared to touch him.

Because he has to play tomorrow.

This is his duel with Ye Xin.

The Yun family needs him to strike at the Ye family.

Therefore, once Yun Zhi made her move, Wang Xiao had no choice.

Who knew that Wang Xiao would seize the opportunity and directly exclude the Yun family.

Who would dare to hurt him at this time?

This is not only a slap in the face to Jixia Academy, but also a trampling of the dignity of the Great Qian Dynasty, and even offends the Ye family.

If Wang Xiao withdraws from the competition due to injury, and Ye Xin ends up in Jixia Academy, what will become of the Ye family's reputation?

The previous arena battle was initiated by Wang Xiao, and the outcome, honor or disgrace, was entirely up to him; no one else could criticize him.

But now Wang Xiao has refused to fight again, insisting on saving his strength for tomorrow's duel. If someone else makes a move, the nature of the problem will completely change.

Yun Zhi understood the situation perfectly, but she couldn't figure out where Wang Xiao's confidence came from.

Because once the duel ends tomorrow, this chessboard will be gone, and Wang Xiao's chess piece will be of no value whatsoever.

Is it really worth offending the Yun family?

Was he so certain that he could get into Jixia Academy?

Entering the Jixia Academy, surviving, and becoming a disciple of the Emperor—that would change everything.

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, and Yun Zhi's eyes suddenly turned cold as a bold guess arose in her heart.

"Could it be that he has already secretly sided with the Ye family? Is that why he is so fearless, so reckless, and deliberately provoking my Yun family?"

Only this explanation can account for all his unusual behavior.

Yun Zhi looked up at Wang Xiao, slowly curving her lips into a smile, and softly asked, "Lu Yang, do you know what the most attractive thing in the world is?"

Before Wang Xiao could respond, she answered herself, her tone drawn out: "It's a mystery."

"You've successfully piqued my interest, but I hope your answer won't disappoint me!"

After saying that, she turned around and raised her hand, signaling everyone to leave.

Yun Yi stared intently at Wang Xiao, his eyes still filled with murderous intent, and slowly made a cold decapitation gesture towards him: "I'll remember you."

"Wait a moment!"

Just when everyone thought the commotion was about to end, Wang Xiao suddenly called out to them in a loud voice.

The onlookers, already filled with doubt, all focused their attention on Wang Xiao, and then they heard an even more earth-shattering statement.

"Didn't you want to fight me? Just join Ye Xin's group and you'll get your wish!"