Cloud Pavilion.
It was a special institution established by the Great Cloud Dynasty.
Its duty was to seek out talented individuals within the dynasty and oversee changes to the rankings.
As a renowned, major city, Wanyang City naturally had a branch of Cloud Pavilion.
Thus, many extraordinarily talented martial artists chose to challenge famous prodigies on the rankings at Cloud Pavilion, quickly rising to prominence.
At that moment, the White Jade Plaza at Cloud Pavilion was already crowded with people, and the noise was deafening.
Some members of the city's prominent lineages, along with many powerful figures, had also come after hearing the news.
"Lin Xuan disappeared for five years. Why challenge Xu Qingyun as soon as he shows up? Can he win?"
Someone in the lively crowd voiced their doubts.
"He should have a chance. Lin Xuan had some renown back then, after all, and his talent was extraordinary. If he dares challenge Xu Qingyun now, he must have plenty of confidence."
"I'm not so sure. If Lin Xuan really is that powerful, why hasn't he made it onto the Human Prodigy Ranking?"
"That's not necessarily true. Making the Human Prodigy Ranking is all well and good, but some monstrous talents don't care for it at all."
"True. Either way, we'll find out once they start fighting."
Many people nodded in agreement.
Some well-informed martial artists considered the matter before speaking.
"I heard Lin Xuan went overseas and joined some major sect. His strength has grown considerably."
Overseas sects!
They didn't know much about the forces beyond the Great Cloud Dynasty, but they understood that there was always someone stronger and something greater beyond the horizon.
Some overseas sects that had kept to themselves for many years were indeed frighteningly powerful.
However, someone immediately argued back.
"So what if Lin Xuan joined an overseas sect?"
"Times have changed. The Great Cloud Dynasty is flourishing more and more. It's countless times stronger than it was when it was founded, and may well be no weaker than those overseas sects."
"And that's not even counting the imperial family. The Mystic Blade Sect, the Divine Fist Sect, and the other major sects are already comparable to some overseas sects, aren't they?"
At that, the crowd fell noticeably quieter.
It was true. Though the Great Cloud Dynasty didn't have much contact with overseas forces, it had grown increasingly powerful.
Some weaker overseas forces even had to come and pay tribute!
So the outcome of this duel was genuinely hard to predict.
Inside a large tavern on the right side of White Jade Plaza.
The seventh floor, usually bustling with activity, was nearly deserted.
Only five people sat there, drinking tea.
All of them wore luxurious robes.
One was a middle-aged man.
Seated at the head of the table, he had sharp brows and bright eyes. A smile played at his lips as he watched White Jade Plaza.
"Interesting. Which overseas force is trying to use that boy Lin Xuan to test the strength of my Great Cloud?"
After speaking, the middle-aged man's gaze shifted to the robed man on his right, and he asked, "Xu Qingyun is your only son?"
The man in fine robes was the current patriarch of the Xu Family in Wanyang City, and his cultivation was quite advanced.
He was also one of the city's top twenty experts.
But at that moment, he answered with a slight tremble in his voice. "Yes. I wouldn't dare conceal it from Your Highness. Qingyun is indeed my illegitimate son."
How could he not be nervous in the presence of King Wanyang, who had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood?
He hurriedly followed up with a flattering remark.
"Though my son is unruly and hot-blooded, his talent is quite good. In the future, he'll surely brave fire and water for Great Yun and devote himself to its service."
"I know your son's potential, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs."
King Wanyang nodded, his expression mild and smiling.
He had been stationed in Wanyang City for many years.
The more talented people the city produced, the greater the benefits he could gain.
Moreover, some of those prodigies might eventually become his subordinates and serve him.
So from time to time, he made a point of meeting the young talents in person.
If he took a liking to one, he would also step forward to recruit them.
Seeing the Xu Family patriarch smiling as though he had won King Wanyang's approval, the other patriarchs present furrowed their brows.
"I heard Lin Xuan is highly valued by an overseas sect. An elder even took him as a personal disciple. He won't be easy to deal with."
At that moment, Patriarch Mu remarked in a low, ominous tone.
"Haha! To tell you the truth,"
"half a month ago, while my son was training in Heavenly Blade Canyon, he ran into the prodigy ranked thirteenth on the Human Prodigy Ranking—and defeated him with ease."
Patriarch Xu laughed boldly, his hands behind his back. "My son simply didn't make a fuss about it, and I never announced it."
Hearing that, Patriarch Mu fell silent, saying no more.
Xu Qingyun had originally been ranked only nineteenth.
Yet he had defeated the prodigy ranked thirteenth, which clearly meant he had been hiding his strength.
Unless something unexpected happened, Lin Xuan was bound to lose this time.
Patriarch Xu was a crafty old fox indeed, hiding his hand so well!
As time passed,
the area around the plaza filled with a vast crowd.
Su Yun and the others arrived as well.
"Everyone's saying Lin Xuan joined some overseas sect and has grown much stronger."
"Do you think he can win?"
Jiang Feng asked, looking curious.
Li Changqing furrowed his brows and thought it over. "He's an extremely mysterious man. There wasn't a single word about him before, so we don't know how strong he is. It's hard to say who'll win."
"Lin Xuan doesn't have much chance. Among the Divine Fist Sect's Inner Sect disciples, Xu Qingyun is among the very best."
"Perhaps only Junior Brother Su Yun can match him."
Chen Qingxue spoke from beside them.
"I hope Xu Qingyun wins. If he loses, he won't be the only one who loses face."
"If that happens, things could get serious."
Mu Yu, an Outer Sect disciple who was usually quiet, pointed out the key issue.
At his words,
the others were taken aback.
Indeed, the outcome of this duel didn't just affect the Human Prodigy Ranking!
By then, Su Yun had already turned his gaze toward White Jade Plaza.
The next moment, two figures landed in the center of the plaza.
"Lin Xuan, you've got guts, coming here to challenge me!"
Xu Qingyun clenched his fists, his aura surging.
A faint golden light spilled from his fists, making them look extraordinary.
Xu Qingyun was broad-shouldered and eight feet tall, his expression impassive.
He looked like trouble.
"Enough talk. I've got my eye on your place in the Human Prodigy Ranking!"
Lin Xuan held a crimson longsword, his gaze cold.
In truth, he didn't care much about the so-called Great Cloud Human Prodigy Ranking.
But the great power behind him wanted him to challenge a ranked prodigy and test the strength of the Great Cloud Dynasty's younger generation.
If he succeeded, his standing within that great power would rise considerably.
His future prospects depended on it.
Besides, he and Xu Qingyun had clashed in the past.
Defeating him head-on would let Lin Xuan vent his pent-up anger.
"After all these years, you're just as arrogant and ignorant as ever!"
Xu Qingyun couldn't help but sneer.
Back then, he had taught Lin Xuan a lesson for slaughtering innocents, and the two had held a grudge ever since.
He hadn't expected that, years later, Lin Xuan would not only join an overseas sect but also dare to challenge him directly!
Today, he would prove to the world that those overseas sects that had kept to themselves for years were not necessarily stronger than the Divine Fist Sect!
If he won, the higher-ups of the Divine Fist Sect would surely reward him with a trove of treasures.
Perhaps he could even break through to the Qi Sea Realm within a year!
A moment later,
the White-Robed Deacon of Cloud Pavilion walked calmly onto the plaza.
Then he swung his right arm and shouted,
"The match begins!"
Before you continue