The Strongest Should Be Just Like This

"Qin Wangchuan!"

I challenge you!

The boy's clear and stubborn voice echoed in the empty exit, carrying an undeniable determination.

Xie Qingshang's expression changed slightly.

She had just emerged from the Secret Realm and witnessed firsthand the terrifying methods of this Young Master Qin, which were almost at the level of rules; dozens of cultivators were reduced to ashes with a mere laugh.

His younger brother, Xie Qingyu, was only at the initial stage of the Ninth Realm, and his aura was still unstable. How could he possibly be a match for him?

This is tantamount to a mantis trying to stop a chariot!

She was about to step forward to stop him when she saw Qin Wangchuan, who had Original Intention and about to leave, pause and slowly turn around.

For the first time, a clear smile appeared in his deep eyes in front of Xie Qingshang.

"Oh?" Qin Wangchuan's gaze fell on Xie Qingyu, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry, "You know me?"

"Of course I know you!" Xie Qingyu straightened his still thin chest, his voice rising slightly with excitement, "Qin Wangchuan! The one who set up arenas in the Heaven Above and Earth Below, across Upper Thousand Provinces, and dominated the competition, defeating thousands of his Prodigy!"

He paused, a barely perceptible hint of humiliation and resentment flashing across his face, his voice lowering slightly. "My cousin... he also stepped into your ring back then. And you defeated him in a single move!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Qingshang, who was standing next to him, seemed to have a sudden flash of inspiration, and the vague sense of familiarity he had felt before instantly became clear.

So it was him!

After she finished her seclusion to break through her cultivation level, she did find that some of the proud and arrogant young Prodigy in the clan were more or less injured and in low spirits.

I heard privately that they went to participate in an extremely brutal arena battle and were swept aside.

Unexpectedly, the champion who had swept through the younger generation of Upper Thousand Provinces, leaving her arrogant cousins defeated, was now standing right in front of her!

No wonder I felt like I'd heard the name "Qin Wangchuan" somewhere before.

Now, Qin Wangchuan's expression of amusement deepened.

Far from being angered by the challenge, he stepped forward with great interest, an invisible pressure quietly spreading out, but he deliberately controlled it and did not truly crush it.

"Now that you know who I am," Qin Wangchuan tilted his head slightly, looking at the courageous young man, "Aren't you afraid?"

"I'm afraid!" Xie Qingyu answered decisively, clenching his fist until his knuckles turned white. "But I must challenge you! Only by defeating you, or at least lasting a few moves against you, can I prove I'm not a coward!"

"Otherwise... you'll just keep being laughed at!"

The boy's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, but his gaze grew even more resolute as he stared directly at Qin Wangchuan, showing no sign of backing down.

Upon hearing this, Qin Wangchuan finally understood the whole story.

It was probably this child, along with his cousin whom he had defeated in one move, who faced a lot of criticism and pressure after returning to the Lineage.

This challenge was less about seeking empty fame and more about the boy trying to protect his pitiful self-esteem and break free from the labels imposed upon him by others.

He gave a soft "hmm," his voice betraying neither mockery nor any other emotion.

His gaze swept over Xie Qingshang, who looked worried, before returning to Xie Qingyu.

"To be able to say that, you're already very strong." Qin Wangchuan finished speaking and turned to leave.

"Etc!"

Xie Qingyu once again blocked his way, her chest heaving violently, her eyes burning with an indomitable flame.

"I know you're strong, and I know I'm no match for you." His voice wasn't loud, but it was unusually firm. "But I'm going to show you with my actions—I am your enemy, and I'm not afraid!"

Memories flooded back like a tide.

When he first heard that someone from the Heaven Above Heaven Lower Realm to set up a challenge, his cousin Xie Nian was full of ambition and prepared to go.

He followed along with them, filled with admiration; of course, the Xie Family wasn't the only ones to learn the news.

There were also the Cang Family members who had always been at odds with the Xie Family.

In the stands, Xie Qingyu naively made a bet with the Cang Family, firmly believing that her cousin would win.

But reality dealt him a heavy blow.

In the chaotic battle where the Prodigy besieged Qin Wangchuan, his cousin was defeated and knocked off the stage with a single finger from his opponent.

But that annoying guy from the Cang Family managed to withstand two moves.

Although it was only a matter of one move, it became a handle for the Cang Family to ridicule them at will.

"Isn't your cousin supposed to be very strong? How come he was defeated in just one move?"

"I think his cousin was scared, so he deliberately fell off the ring to avoid getting beaten up!"

Despite his desperate attempts to explain the dangers of the ring, saying that his cousin had lost and there was no question of him being afraid.

But it didn't work.

Some even maliciously speculated. "I think your Xie Family is all the same, a bunch of cowards!"

"Or why don't you go and challenge that person?"

Xie Qingyu knew her cousin's character better than anyone else.

That figure, sweating profusely on the training ground, that once proud youth who defeated countless Prodigy, is now nailed to the pillar of shame because of a single defeat.

At that moment, Xie Qingyu secretly vowed in her heart that if she encountered Qin Wangchuan again, she would definitely challenge him.

He wanted to prove to everyone that the Xie Family could fail, but they would never be afraid!

"I challenge you!" the young man declared, his voice clear and sharp as the ringing of a sword, "To prove that there are no cowards in the Xie Family!"

Chu Wujiu, standing to the side, frowned as he watched the teenager chattering away, wanting to step forward and interrupt what he saw as a meaningless farce.

But as soon as he took a step, Yun Zexuan grabbed him from the side.

Yun Zexuan shook his head slightly, gesturing for him to look at Qin Wangchuan.

Chu Wujiu followed the gaze and was slightly taken aback.

The playful and nonchalant look on Qin Wangchuan's face had vanished, replaced by an almost solemn seriousness.

"I understand." Qin Wangchuan's voice was calm, yet carried a peculiar weight.

Unlike Jiang Yan and Gu Tianye's previous challenges to themselves.

This child knew who he was and knew he would lose, yet he still dared to challenge them.

That's really good.

Upon seeing this, Xie Qingyu's face immediately lit up with joy.

But then, as if remembering something, he added earnestly, "I know I might be insignificant in your eyes, but I'm serious! I want to challenge you, so..."

"I'm serious too." Qin Wangchuan interrupted him, his gaze landing squarely on Xie Qingyu.

"Your opponent is Qin Wangchuan, the Qin Clan Divine Son." He paused, his earnest gaze seeming to imprint itself on the young man before him. "My opponent, what's your name?"

Xie Qingyu looked at Qin Wangchuan, who had suddenly become serious, and instinctively shrank back.

An invisible, chilling killing intent began to emanate from Qin Wangchuan, sending a chill down his spine.

But he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fear that stemmed from his life-or-death instinct, and mustered his courage to clearly state his name:

"The Xie Family, Xie Qingyu!"

Qin Wangchuan nodded and asked again, "What's your cousin's name?"

Xie Qingyu was taken aback. Although she didn't understand, she still answered honestly, "Xie Nian."

"Xie Qingyu, Xie Nian, very good, I've remembered." Qin Wangchuan said, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "Xie Qingyu, I can tell you responsibly."

"No one who went on stage that day was a coward, including your cousin."

"Of course, neither are you."

As soon as he finished speaking, an ancient longsword silently appeared in Qin Wangchuan's hand. Although the sword was cracked, its power was extremely terrifying.

"Third Gear."

"Jie Jin Jian Wo."

With those two whispers, an invisible furnace-like phantom seemed to flash and disappear behind Qin Wangchuan.

At the same time, the aura around him suddenly changed drastically, no longer ethereal and unpredictable as before, but transformed into a near-tangible, soul-chilling sense of oppression.

The air seemed to freeze, and the light distorted around him.

The ground beneath his feet cracked silently, and fine arcs of electricity danced on his hair and the hem of his clothes.

It was a danger that transcended the realm itself, as if he himself had become the embodiment of "calamity".

"I accept your challenge and will defeat you here."

"Count down to five," Qin Wangchuan said, sword in hand, his terrifying aura, now at its peak, firmly locking onto Xie Qingyu. "You can begin preparing."