The New Generation's Struggle to Find Success

The highly anticipated rookie ranking competition has come to a successful conclusion. In the end, Lu Jie defeated Wen Yu by a narrow margin to win the rookie championship.

When the qualifying rounds ended, everyone was excitedly discussing the great battle.

The streets leading from the arena to the various residences were bustling with people.

Yi Yun returned to Tai'a Divine City at this moment. As he walked along the road, he saw the bustling crowd and was slightly taken aback. "Hmm? So many people?"

As Yi Yun stared blankly at the newcomers, the newcomers were also stunned when they saw Yi Yun.

The reason is that Yi Yun's appearance is simply too perfect.

Because it was such an important occasion as the rookie ranking competition, many people were dressed smartly, Yi Yun was wearing tattered and dirty clothes that were obviously a size too small, with disheveled hair and a broken knife. He looked like a beggar and was completely out of place in Tai'a Divine City.

Who is this guy?

Many people had this thought in their minds. If they didn't know that no outsiders would enter Tai'a Divine City, they probably would have thrown money at Yi Yun.

Just then, a group of people emerged from not far away, surrounding Wen Yu, Lu Jie, Qiu Niu, and Chu Xiaoran.

In the martial arts world, strength is paramount. The four of them stepped out as if they were surrounded by stars.

Chu Xiaoran and Qiu Niu, in particular, were highly respected, and even when the streets were crowded, people would make way for them.

Qiu Niu and Chu Xiaoran were stunned when they saw Yi Yun suddenly appear.

Because Yi Yun had changed so much in the past year, they didn't recognize him at first glance.

After staring at Yi Yun's face for a long time, Qiu Niu and Chu Xiaoran exchanged a glance, both showing disbelief.

It really is him!

"Yi Yun! Haha!" Qiu Niu laughed heartily. Qiu Niu and Yi Yun were originally just ordinary friends, but in Falling Star Abyss, they went through life and death together, and it was Yi Yun who saved Qiu Niu's life.

That kind of relationship is naturally different.

Qiu Niu squeezed through the crowd, strode up to Yi Yun, and forcefully punched Yi Yun's shoulder.

"I knew you wouldn't die so easily, haha!"

Qiu Niu was genuinely happy that Yi Yun had returned alive.

Yi Yun laughed heartily and said, "I'm lucky... I just narrowly escaped death."

After nearly a year of solitude, seeing these familiar faces again filled Yi Yun with mixed emotions. When he was being hunted by the Golden Crow Remnant, he had indeed almost lost his life.

"Yi Yun, you're finally back!" Chu Xiaoran walked up to Yi Yun. Ten months ago, when they parted, Chu Xiaoran was a few points taller than Yi Yun, but now she had to look up at him slightly.

During their time apart, she felt that Yi Yun had undergone a complete transformation. It wasn't just his appearance, but something else entirely, though Chu Xiaoran couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly was different.

"Yi Yun, you've been training for so long, what's your cultivation level?" Qiu Niu asked casually.

"Purple Blood Peak!" Yi Yun didn't hide it.

"Haha, you're a bit slower than us. Xiao Ran and I have already started to condense the rudimentary form of our Yuan Foundation. We're practically on the threshold of the Origin Foundation Realm, and we should be able to truly break through to the Origin Foundation Realm within two months!"

Speaking of cultivation, Qiu Niu's eyes lit up, and he was eager to try again. In the past ten months, he had made great progress, especially the leap from the Purple Blood Peak to the half-step Yuan Foundation, which allowed Qiu Niu's "Divine Ox King Power" to advance to another level.

Each level of the "Divine Ox King Power" represents a qualitative leap.

Now Qiu Niu is full of confidence and wants to fight anyone he sees.

"Brother Yi, when are we going to the arena to practice?"

Qiu Niu knew that Yi Yun was definitely very strong, but his confidence was now inflated. Seeing a peer as strong as Yi Yun, he really couldn't resist the urge to fight. He thought that even if he couldn't defeat Yi Yun, the gap wouldn't be as big as it was a year ago.

Seeing Qiu Niu, Chu Xiaoran, Yi Yun chatting happily, the other newlyweds were all a little dumbfounded.

They never expected that this beggar-like man was actually Qiu Niu and Chu Xiaoran's friend.

"Yi Yun... could he be the winner of last year's rookie ranking competition...?"

Some of the newcomers had heard of Yi Yun's deeds and had some impression of this name, which had been almost forgotten by the trial participants of Tai'a Divine City.

"It should be him, but this guy... he defeated Chu Xiaoran in the last rookie ranking competition? Really?"

People were stunned; this guy was completely different from the expert they had imagined!

He doesn't seem to have the slightest bit of a master's demeanor. How could he be more powerful than Chu Xiaoran and Qiu Niu?

Many newcomers looked at Yi Yun with some confusion and doubt. Many of them had witnessed Chu Xiaoran and Qiu Niu's strength firsthand, and it was truly terrifying.

But this person in front of them seemed to have come from a refugee camp; he didn't seem reliable at all. They found it hard to believe that this person could be a super expert. And even if he was very powerful a year ago, he had been missing for so long, and they didn't know what he had gone through during that time. Could he still be ahead of Qiu Niu and Chu Xiaoran?

Such thoughts inevitably cross people's minds.

At this point, Yi Yun had already decided to part ways with Chu Xiaoran and Qiu Niu.

"Brother Yi, come to the arena sometime! Be sure to let me know!"

Qiu Niu didn't forget about sparring with Yi Yun. In his opinion, Yi Yun would definitely be aiming for a higher ranking after his return.

Yi Yun smiled and said, "Okay!"

"Haha, don't try to fool me. You don't know yet, do you? Qin Haotian, Li Xiao, Qiao Brothers have all left Tai'a Divine City. Now, the top spots in the arena are all vacant, and everyone's eyeing them! Several experienced trial participants who have a chance to win first place are competing fiercely, especially recently because of the city lord's birthday banquet, the arena rewards have increased significantly!"

Qiu Niu said, pointing to the crowd behind him, "These past few days have been a break from the arena because of the newcomer ranking competition. Otherwise, there would be countless people fighting there every day, several times more than usual!"

"Oh? Qin Haotian and Li Xiao have already left?" Yi Yun was slightly taken aback. Yes, they had already stayed in Tai'a Divine City for six years and were about to leave.

Pity!

After Yi Yun entered Tai'a Divine City, the names of Qin Haotian, Li Xiao, and others became household names.

Yi Yun really wanted to fight Qin Haotian.

Although Yi Yun is currently at the Purple Blood Peak, due to the difference in cultivation level, he is basically no match for Qin Haotian. However, Yi Yun wants to know just how big the gap is between himself and Qin Haotian.

Now that they have left Tai'a Divine City, he has no chance to challenge them.

This is undeniably a pity.

"Yes, otherwise, with them holding us back, it would be even harder for us to break into the Earth Ranking." Qiu Niu laughed heartily, completely oblivious to Yi Yun's thoughts. In Qiu Niu's view, it was simply a pipe dream for their generation to challenge Qin Haotian.

"The overall strength of the arena has dropped significantly. The current five-year trial participants are a step behind Qin Haotian. So maybe in a year or two, we can also compete for the top five of the Heaven and Earth Ranking!"

Qiu Niu was very excited. If he could break into the top five of Tai'a Divine City in the fourth year, it would be a glorious history to be proud of.

Yi Yun sighed softly. Yes, Tai'a Divine City doesn't produce outstanding individuals every year. Right now, Tai'a Divine City is experiencing a talent gap.

Yi Yun still prefers fighting against those unparalleled geniuses. Qin Haotian is gone, and it seems that only Luo Huo'er is left. However, Luo Huo'er rarely appears in the arena. She doesn't compete for the Heaven Ranking or the Earthly Ranking, so no one knows how strong she really is.

"Brother Yi, we're finally back! Come on, we absolutely have to go to Divine Moon Tower for a couple of drinks!"

Qiu Niu wanted to take Yi Yun out for drinks.

However, Yi Yun shook his head, "Next time. I've been away for so long. Now that I'm back in Tai'a Divine City, the first thing I need to do is pay my respects to Master Yuehua and Elder Cang Yan."

One of these two was his Provisional Master, and the other, although not his master, had taught him a great deal. As elders, it was only right and proper for Yi Yun to pay them a visit first.

Half an hour later, on the sixty-ninth floor of the Central Divine Tower.

"Miss! Miss!" Dong'er ran to Luo Huo'er's training room with her short legs.

"What is it now?" Luo Huo'er asked impatiently. Her little maid always liked to make a fuss.

Dong'er gasped for breath and said urgently, "That... that person you really hate, he's back!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Huo'er curled her lip in disdain and said absentmindedly, "I hate so many people! I can't even remember them all. Which one are you talking about?"

"It's... it's that Yi Yun!" Dong'er wiped the sweat from her forehead with her chubby little hands and said breathlessly.

"Yi Yun?"

Luo Huo'er was taken aback, and the family's secret cultivation technique she was practicing involuntarily stopped.

Her expression shifted repeatedly, and she remained silent for a full ten seconds.

That guy who disappeared for almost a year, he actually came back.

Thinking it over, Luo Huo'er snorted softly and said, "Good people don't live long, but evil people live a thousand years. I knew he wouldn't die so easily!"

"Yes, yes!" Dong'er nodded vigorously. "Miss, would you like to go see him? He's currently visiting Master Yuehua."

Luo Huo'er curled her lip, "Why would I see him? In a few days, this toad will move back next door to us. We'll be seeing each other all the time, it'll be so annoying!"

As Luo Huo'er spoke, she began practicing her martial arts again.

However, she couldn't help but think about it, and as she thought about it, a slightly wicked smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

Although she had always disliked Yi Yun, at least Luo Huo'er didn't want him to die like this.

"Miss, what are you laughing at?" Dong'er asked curiously.

"Did I laugh?" Luo Huo'er was taken aback, then snorted, "I laughed because this guy is back, and I have something fun to play with again. Watch how I tease him, hehehe!"

Luo Huo'er laughed happily, while Dong'er tilted her head, trying hard to think, "It seems... Miss didn't succeed in teasing people before, did she?"

Of course, she would never dare to say that aloud.

...(To be continued~^~)