The elder stared in stunned disbelief, thinking he had misheard. "Three minor realms higher?!"
"My lord, are you sure you are not joking?"
The old man's shock was entirely understandable.
After all, challenging someone across three minor realms was extraordinarily difficult. Throughout the history of the Great Xia Dynasty, only a handful of people had ever managed it.
"Your Highness, isn't this too risky?"
Even Luo Feng was startled, asking worriedly.
Chu Yun's expression did not change as he replied calmly, "I am not joking. Just make the arrangements."
The elder drew a deep breath. "Please wait a moment, my lord."
With that, he left the counter directly.
"My lord, no one has ever defeated a Misty Rain Pavilion duelist by crossing three minor realms," Luo Feng reminded him.
Chu Yun smiled lightly, calm as drifting clouds and gentle winds. "Do not worry. Since I dare to do this, I naturally have confidence."
Luo Feng could not help feeling doubtful. Could the Ninth Prince truly be so certain?
"Wait!!"
"Golden Core Realm Peak?!"
Luo Feng's body suddenly trembled.
He suddenly recalled what Chu Yun had said earlier—challenging a Golden Core Realm Peak duelist across three minor realms.
That meant his realm was Early Golden Core?!
"How is that possible?!"
Luo Feng looked at Chu Yun in shock. "Your Highness, your cultivation..."
Chu Yun turned to him, a smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Shh. Do not tell anyone."
Luo Feng took a long breath, his gaze fixed tightly on Chu Yun, with a trace of utter disbelief hidden deep in his eyes.
In a single day, his realm had risen from the early Qi Gathering Realm to the Early Golden Core?
Could such a thing really be possible?
While Luo Feng was still reeling in shock, the elder hurried over with another figure.
"My lord, I am Xu Nian, chief steward of Misty Rain Pavilion."
"I heard that you wish to challenge a duelist three minor realms above your own?"
This middle-aged man named Xu Nian was most likely one of Misty Rain Pavilion's upper ranks. The elder from before followed behind him, not daring to act presumptuously in the slightest.
"That is correct."
"If I succeed in the challenge, Misty Rain Pavilion will not go back on the corresponding reward, will it?" Chu Yun asked.
"Of course!"
"Please rest assured, my lord. Misty Rain Pavilion's integrity is plain for all to see."
"However, before that, I must remind you that challenges at Misty Rain Pavilion are fought to the death," Xu Nian warned.
"I understand." Chu Yun nodded.
"Good."
"May I ask your name, my lord, so I can have it registered?" Xu Nian asked.
"Xiao Yan." Chu Yun casually made up a name.
"Very well."
"Old Fang, take Young Master Xiao to the dueling arena," Xu Nian ordered, looking at the elderly man behind him.
"Yes, sir."
"Young Master Xiao, this way, please."
The elder led Chu Feng and the others toward a nearby spacious dueling arena.
"Xiao Yan..."
Xu Nian searched his memories carefully, yet the name remained utterly unfamiliar to him.
Among the notable figures of the Great Xia Dynasty, there was not a single one named Xiao Yan.
The elder brought Chu Yun and the others to the dueling arena. "Young Master Xiao Yan, step onto the lift platform, and you will be able to enter."
"Alright."
Chu Yun stepped onto it. As the platform descended, he successfully entered the circular dueling arena, and barriers rose around it.
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Luo Feng and Venerable Wan Lei sat in the stands, watching intently.
Luo Feng had already made up his mind. If anything happened to His Highness, he would not care about Misty Rain Pavilion's rules—he would rush down and save him.
At worst, he would reveal his identity.
He believed Misty Rain Pavilion would not dare lay a hand on an Imperial Prince.
Not to mention how much His Majesty valued him, Asura Venerable of the Shi Family was currently in the Imperial City.
As Chu Yun entered, the introductions for both sides of the duel lit up.
Early Golden Core Xiao Yan vs. Golden Core Realm Peak duelist.
"Damn?!!"
"Are my eyes playing tricks on me?"
"Early Golden Core against Golden Core Peak? Am I dreaming?"
"Who exactly is this Xiao Yan? Is he looking to die?"
The moment the arena information appeared, many people near the trading counters cried out in astonished discussion.
One spread to ten, ten spread to a hundred.
News that Xiao Yan was challenging a duelist across three minor realms quickly spread through the entire third hall.
In no time at all, Chu Yun's dueling arena was packed full.
Wearing a mask, Chu Yun glanced around the arena.
Good heavens, this truly could be called a sea of people and mountains.
The several thousand seats in the stands were completely filled!
Some people were even standing in the distance to watch, while people from the second hall kept rushing over to join the excitement.
"Tonight, I will make the name Xiao Yan famous across this Earth Realm overnight."
Chu Yun remained calm and composed. He was certain of victory in this battle.
Xu Nian, Misty Rain Pavilion's chief steward, appeared on the control platform above the dueling arena. "This challenge will be undertaken by Young Master Xiao Yan of the Early Golden Core against a Golden Core Realm Peak duelist of Misty Rain Pavilion!"
"Now, the duelist shall enter!!"
As Xu Nian's voice fell, Chu Yun watched as a prison door in the wall opposite him slowly opened.
A man dressed in rough cloth, his upper body bare and his muscles bulging, entered slowly with a Spirit Hammer in hand. Dozens of scars covered his chest and back.
"It is actually Tie Feng!!"
"This Xiao Yan is truly digging his own grave now."
"Among Misty Rain Pavilion's Golden Core Realm duelists, Tie Feng's combat strength ranks in the top ten!"
"Three hundred and forty-seven victories without a single defeat. The Golden Core Realm cultivators who died by his hand could be stacked into a tower."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Misty Rain Pavilion truly does not want this Xiao Yan to live well. They actually sent out a killing god like Tie Feng."
Many people in the stands gloated when they saw the duelist.
Most had already placed their bets, all wagering on Tie Feng's victory.
Although Xiao Yan's odds were as high as ten to one,
hardly anyone bet on him. After all, no one believed Chu Yun could kill Tie Feng across three minor realms.
Tie Feng's odds did not even reach one-to-one, but at least it was a guaranteed, risk-free safety net. Better to earn what one could.
Chu Yun looked at the duelist named Tie Feng before him.
His eyes were lifeless, and he was indifferent to life. Endless slaughter had long numbed him.
"Duelist Tie Feng, Golden Core Realm Peak cultivation. Record: three hundred and forty-seven victories, zero defeats!"
"Then I now officially declare that the duel begins!!" At Xu Nian's command, the duel commenced.
"Tie Feng, get him! Beat him to death for me!!"
"Tie Feng, go! I bet one hundred thousand spirit stones—kill him for me!!"
Before the two had even begun fighting, the gamblers in the stands were already shouting at the top of their lungs, cheering Tie Feng on.
"You are the first Early Golden Core cultivator to challenge me."
"Since you are so eager to die, I will grant your wish."
Tie Feng swung his iron hammer and sprang into the air. Black radiance emerged from the Spirit Hammer, its might surging like monstrous waves as it smashed down from above at Chu Yun!
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