"Th-this... is this the strength of the Forbidden Sect's higher-ups...?"
Standing behind the Flame Lord Ancient Sage, Han Wujie was enveloped by the sages' pressure, his heart trembling.
But he soon steadied himself, and his gaze grew resolute.
The Flame Lord Ancient Sage released his own sage aura, shielding Han Wujie from the pressure around him. With a faint smile, he cupped his hands and said:
"Sect Master Lin, this stubborn disciple of mine once agreed to come here in person to challenge your sect's prodigy, Bai Yun!"
"I couldn't dissuade him, so I had no choice but to bring him here myself. I hope you won't take offense, Sect Master Lin!"
At those words, Zhao Sheng's expression turned thoroughly unpleasant, and he said:
"Old ghost Flame Lord, my dear disciple Bai Yun is still in seclusion."
"Since your disciple arranged this challenge with mine, you should come back another day!"
Learning that Bai Yun was still in seclusion, Han Wujie felt disappointed and unwilling to give up!
"Since Bai Yun isn't here, may I ask you seniors whether I can challenge your sect's other prodigies?"
"If I recall correctly, your sect has eight other direct disciples..."
Han Wujie stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Lin Feng and the elders.
Hearing this, Lin Feng's expression darkened slightly.
The other elders looked displeased as well.
As luck would have it, among the direct disciples of the Forbidden Sect's eight elders and Lin Feng himself,
aside from Chu Luo, who was in the hall,
the other eight direct disciples had all entered seclusion recently to improve their strength for the upcoming selection of the sect's ranked disciples...
But aside from Yin Ya,
Sect Master Lin Feng and the other elders did not believe Chu Luo could match Han Wujie.
After all, Chu Luo's cultivation was only at the beginningless first realm.
How could he possibly be a match for Han Wujie, who was in the fifth spirit soul realm?
"Impudent disciple, stop this nonsense!"
"Step back at once!"
Anger appeared on the Flame Lord Ancient Sage's face as he immediately reprimanded him.
"Yes..."
Deeply unwilling, Han Wujie cupped his hands and retreated behind the Flame Lord Ancient Sage.
"It's fine..."
"Young man, you really have come at an unfortunate time today!"
"The other direct disciples are all in seclusion. If you want to challenge them, come back another time!"
Lin Feng waved a hand and spoke calmly.
Although Lin Feng and the elders did not mind,
the core disciples below felt utterly stifled!
Someone had come knocking on their door. How could they swallow this?
Thus, one core disciple stepped forward and cupped his hands:
"Sect Master, I wish to challenge Fellow Daoist Han. Please grant me permission!"
"You?"
"Heh... forget it!"
"You're no match for me!"
Han Wujie glanced at the core disciple and saw that he was only in the first spirit soul realm. Immediately losing interest, he laughed disdainfully.
"Damn it, this guy is way too arrogant!"
"Exactly! He's so full of himself, but does he have the strength to back it up?"
"I can't stand this anymore! Sect Master, I want to challenge Fellow Daoist Han too!"
"Me too!"
The core disciples stepped forward one after another, pleading with Lin Feng on the main seat.
Chu Luo stood off to the side, looking every bit the spectator enjoying the show.
"Very well!"
"In that case, this is a good opportunity for you to see the gap between yourselves and a true prodigy!"
"I grant permission!"
"Go compete in the arena on the square!"
Lin Feng had originally intended to stop these clamoring core disciples.
But on second thought,
perhaps letting these disciples see the true gap would not be such a bad thing!
"Third Elder, sorry for the trouble!"
Sect Master Lin Feng spoke with a faint smile.
"Heh..."
"A trifle!"
Hum...
Yin Ya grinned, and a terrifying wave of imperial pressure instantly enveloped everyone.
"A Great Emperor!"
The Flame Lord Ancient Sage's pupils contracted sharply. His gaze fell on Elder Yin Ya, filled with terror and wariness!
But his expression soon returned to calm!
He had never expected this old fellow to be the one who had broken through to the great emperor realm!
This is trouble!
The Flame Lord Ancient Sage cried out inwardly.
The next instant, Han Wujie and all the Forbidden Sect disciples present saw the scenery around them rapidly change.
A blink earlier, they had still been in the hall.
Now, without knowing when it had happened, they had all arrived beside the arena in the square.
So this is what a Great Emperor can do...
Truly terrifying!
Good thing he's my master...
In a corner, Chu Luo grinned, his heart blooming with joy.
With a Great Emperor master like this protecting him, he could simply lie back and coast along his martial path from now on!
Just as Chu Luo was indulging in these daydreams,
the core disciple who had previously declared his intent to challenge Han Wujie leaped onto the arena and glared at him:
"Han Wujie, come fight!"
Han Wujie looked toward his master.
The Flame Lord Ancient Sage smiled faintly and reminded him:
"My stubborn disciple, do not injure this young friend. Stop once the outcome is clear!"
Han Wujie nodded, then leaped straight up and landed in the arena.
"I am Wang Hao, a disciple of the Second Elder, just like Senior Brother Bai Yun. Please enlighten me!"
A spirit sword appeared in Wang Hao's hand as he spoke coldly.
Without even looking at Wang Hao, Han Wujie folded his arms and said:
"I'm not interested in your name. Make your move!"
"Damn you!"
"You're far too arrogant!"
Boom...
Wang Hao was beside himself with rage, thoroughly provoked by Han Wujie.
He stepped forward, thrusting his spirit sword as he charged toward Han Wujie.
Hum...
Han Wujie's figure instantly vanished from where he stood.
In a flash, he appeared right in front of Wang Hao.
Turning sideways, Han Wujie easily evaded Wang Hao's spirit sword and threw a counterpunch.
Before Wang Hao could even react,
his body flew backward like a kite with its string cut!
He crashed to the ground!
The entire exchange had happened in the flash of lightning and the strike of flint!
Climbing up from the ground, Wang Hao looked dazed, his face filled with dejection.
"Hiss... what terrifying speed..."
Only then did the Forbidden Sect disciples recover from their shock, each sucking in a breath of cold air.
Strange gleams flickered in the eyes of Lin Feng and the elders, their thoughts unreadable...
Yet a smile curled at the corners of the Flame Lord Ancient Sage's mouth.
Probably only those few direct disciples of the Forbidden Sect could stand against Han Wujie...
"Does anyone else want to come up?"
Standing in the arena, Han Wujie looked disdainfully at the disciples below and spoke coldly.
"Damn you! I'll challenge you!"
Another core disciple could no longer endure it and jumped straight into the arena.
But a second later, this core disciple was likewise sent flying by a single move from Han Wujie.
"You've gone too far! I'll fight you. Please enlighten me!"
After this disciple's defeat, more disciples came forward to challenge him, one after another.
But the results were just as expected: every core disciple who entered the arena fell to Han Wujie.
Aside from Yin Ya and Han Feng, Zhao Sheng and the other elders wore dark, deeply unpleasant expressions.
At times, they truly wanted to summon their beloved disciples out of seclusion immediately and have them teach Han Wujie a proper lesson!
He was simply far too arrogant!
As more and more core disciples were crushed by Han Wujie,
the disciples present sank into low spirits, all hanging their heads in dejection.
The gap between their strength and Han Wujie's was simply too great.
It was like a vast chasm. They could not possibly be his match!
Seeing all the disciples hanging their heads,
Chu Luo, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, looked toward the arrogant Han Wujie in the arena and frowned slightly.
As a member of the Forbidden Sect, he could not simply stand by and watch Han Wujie humiliate his sect like this...
Thus, with a stir of his divine sense, Chu Luo entered the system.
A status panel immediately appeared in his mind.
Host: Chu Luo! Cultivation: Beginningless first realm! Remaining lifespan: Two and a half years! Comprehension: Max level! Physique: None! Cultivation art: Forbidden Primal Chaos Art (third level!) Disciple protection points: 10,000! Martial techniques: Great Spatial Shift (forbidden grade), Blood-Transferring Rebirth (forbidden grade), Great Void Maitreya Palm (forbidden grade)... (Note: The names of the remaining 997 forbidden-grade martial techniques have been omitted!)
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