Wang Chen was very young, had no background or pedigree to speak of, and had acquired an exceedingly rare beast pet capable of taking human form.
In the eyes of the Azure Cloud Palace cultivators, he was like a child walking through a marketplace clutching a jade disc—making people itch to snatch it away.
Hong Yuan had used the pretext of testing techniques to needle Wang Chen; anyone could see his intentions clearly.
He had thought Wang Chen was young and easy to bully, never expecting him to turn hostile so suddenly and strip his face bare before everyone.
"Insolence!"
Humiliated into fury, Hong Yuan brazenly made a move, clawing at Wang Chen.
His right palm expanded several times over in an instant, its skin turning a pale golden hue as bulging muscles rippled with tremendous force.
Golden Vulture Claw!
This claw strike was one of Hong Yuan's signature techniques. Once it caught hold, even bronze cast and iron forged could not withstand it!
More importantly, a dignified cultivator had actually cast aside all shame and launched a sneak attack in full view of everyone. Quite a few present curled their lips in private, deeply disdainful.
Yet not a single person stepped forward to stop him.
Dharma Master Ji Yun included.
Perhaps Mo Han was the only one supporting Wang Chen, but even he had not expected Hong Yuan to be so shameless. By the time he wanted to intervene, he was already a step too late.
Wang Chen merely gave a cold smile. He immediately raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together into a Sword Finger.
He thrust it straight toward Hong Yuan's claw!
A streak of incomparably fierce qi force suddenly shot from his fingertips, striking the center of the other man's palm.
"Aah!"