Chapter 28: A Stage of Blood and Dust
By the time Wu Yuan and Wu Xiao arrived at the central duel ring, the roar of the crowd had already reached a fever pitch. Wu Yuan's wandering thoughts snapped back into focus as the noise washed over him like a tide.
The duel ring, normally a place of routine challenges, was now surrounded by an overwhelming sea of spectators. Every tier of the viewing stands was filled to the brim, while countless others pressed against the outer edges just to catch a glimpse.
The news had spread like wildfire overnight.
Even the beggars in the city's back alleys had heard the news: "Young Master Wu Yuan will accept any challenge below Level 5 Body Tempering Realm today!"
It wasn't just an announcement. It was a promise that had electrified Wu City.
Everyone wanted to witness it for themselves.
Would the Wu Clan's young genius remain undefeated—or would the Jiang Clan's mysterious juniors finally bring him down?
Without breaking stride, Wu Yuan walked toward the duel platform, his posture straight and unyielding.
As they approached, he turned to Wu Xiao and spoke in a calm yet firm voice:
"Xiao, stay outside the platform. Watch carefully."
Wu Xiao nodded obediently, though her eyes stayed glued to his back, as if afraid that looking away might cause him to vanish from her sight.
Now standing before the duel ring, Wu Yuan allowed himself a moment to observe the surroundings. His sharp gaze swept across the sea of faces. From the scions of major clans to wandering cultivators, from merchants to street urchins—everyone seemed to be here. Even the representatives of the Trade Tower and the Medicine Hall had sent people to witness the spectacle.
Some hawkers had even abandoned their usual wares to climb rooftops for a better view, while a few daring children perched on tree branches, their wide eyes fixed on the platform.
The air was thick with sweat, roasted skewer smoke, and dust kicked up by shuffling feet.
Quite the crowd. Wu Yuan's lips curled slightly. *Looks like everyone wants to see whether I will stand… or fall.*
Yet, as he scanned the scene, something stood out.
There were no obvious elder-level experts among the spectators.
"No elders?" Wu Yuan muttered under his breath. "That's impossible…"
That left only two possibilities. Either the powerful figures of Wu City truly didn't care about this duel…
—or they were here, hiding themselves, watching silently from the shadows.
And Wu Yuan was willing to bet on the second.
"Most likely they're lurking nearby," he thought, a faint glimmer of caution flashing in his eyes. "Waiting… measuring me."
While Wu Yuan's sharp eyes swept across the crowd, he could feel countless gazes locked onto him in return. Murmurs rippled through the onlookers like waves breaking against the shore.
"So that's him… the Wu Clan's young genius who caused all this chaos!"
"He looks so calm. Hah, let's see how long that lasts once the Jiang juniors step in."
"Isn't this all because he defeated the Jiang and Shan juniors back-to-back? Yesterday was clearly the Jiang Clan's revenge!"
The crowd's whispers reached his ears, but Wu Yuan didn't react. He knew the truth ran much deeper than the idle speculation of common folk.
Most of them believed this was nothing more than a feud sparked by a few duels between juniors. They thought that yesterday's brutal challenges were simply the Jiang Clan trying to regain face.
This is only the surface, he thought, his eyes narrowing as he looked over the crowd once more. What's happening now is just the opening move… a test. The clans are probing, fighting not for honor but for control of Wu City. And perhaps… there are hidden powers behind the scenes, pushing them like pieces on a board.
Wu Yuan's gaze swept over the crowd, his voice ringing clear and unwavering across the duel ring.
The duel ring was no longer just stone and wood—it was a stage where his clan's future teetered on a blade's edge.
"I, Wu Yuan of the Wu Clan, will accept any challenge from those below Level 5 of the Body Tempering Realm. If you dare, step onto this stage."
A hush fell for a heartbeat, then the crowd stirred as a new group approached from the southwestern side of the arena.
The mysterious Jiang juniors—ten unfamiliar faces, each exuding quiet confidence—had finally revealed themselves.
From their ranks, a youth stepped forward. His presence was calm, yet the oppressive intent in his eyes made the air feel heavier.
Level 3 Body Tempering Realm.
The spectators whispered among themselves.
"Wait… isn't he the one who shattered Wu Lu's knee yesterday… with a single punch?"
"Yeah, that's him! They say he didn't even use his full strength."
The youth's steps echoed as he ascended the platform, each step filled with an unshakable arrogance. Stopping a few feet from Wu Yuan, he tilted his chin slightly, his tone dripping with mockery.
"Wu Yuan, I challenge you. Today, I'll show everyone the truth—that you're nothing more than trash who can only bully weaklings. Against truly talented juniors, you're nothing… not even worth a fart."
For half a breath, the arena froze
The words fell like a slap across the arena, causing an uproar.
Gasps erupted among the spectators. Even members of the Jiang and Shan Clans, along with other juniors who had previously lost to Wu Yuan, frowned in anger at the insult.
"What is he saying? If Wu Yuan is trash, then what are the ones he defeated? Less than trash?"
"Arrogant fool! Does he think he's better than all of us?"
The crowd's muttering turned into open curses directed at the Jiang youth, his arrogant words striking a nerve in everyone present.
Hearing the arrogant words of the youth, Wu Yuan's expression remained as calm as still water. He neither showed anger nor contempt. When he spoke, his tone was flat and cutting—like a blade that didn't need to be sharpened.
"You're not my opponent," Wu Yuan said plainly. "Send someone stronger. You may have injured Wu Lu yesterday, but you're not worth me raising my hand against you. Step down and let someone truly powerful take the stage."
For a moment, the arena froze. Then, laughter burst like a dam breaking, mixed with the gasps of those who couldn't believe what they had just heard. Even a few seasoned cultivators shook their heads with grudging admiration at Wu Yuan's composure.
That single statement, delivered without the slightest hint of emotion, struck deeper than any curse. The Jiang youth's face flushed red beneath his mask, his pride shredded in front of thousands. His attempt to ridicule Wu Yuan had backfired, leaving him the one standing in shame.
"Hah! Did you hear that? Wu Yuan doesn't even consider him worth fighting!"
"Level 3 Body Tempering Realm, and he dares challenge a genius who has already beaten Level 5 opponents? What a clown!"
"Did he not wash his face this morning before dreaming he could defeat Wu Yuan?"
"I swear, this might be the funniest thing I've heard all week—best joke in Wu City!"
Laughter rippled across the arena, cutting like knives into the youth's pride. Some even scoffed at the Jiang Clan's reputation.
"Are all Jiang juniors this foolish, or is it just this one with loose screws?" someone sneered.
The youth's body trembled slightly, his fists tightening. Anger boiled in his veins, but he didn't dare reveal his true identity—because he wasn't a Jiang at all. He was a Lei Clan prodigy in disguise, forced to swallow this humiliation while hiding in the skin of another clan.
The shame burned hotter than fire.
Without thinking, the youth roared and channeled all his power into his fist. His body lunged forward like a mad beast, attacking Wu Yuan without a single word of warning.
The crowd gasped in shock.
"What is he doing? The duel hasn't even started!"
"Did he just lose his mind from one remark?"
The sudden outburst left many speechless. Striking without the signal was dishonorable—and revealed a fatal flaw: an unstable heart.
A few old cultivators watching from the sidelines shook their heads.
"Such a lack of control… This child may be talented, but with a mind like this, he has no future," one elder muttered coldly.
"But…" another hesitated. "Didn't this brat defeat Wu Lu yesterday with a single punch? His strength is real. Surely that means he has some kind of future, right?"
The first elder sneered.
"Strength alone is useless if your heart wavers at the slightest ridicule. Watch closely—you'll see why I say his path is already crippled."
The words made the nearby crowd fall silent. They turned their attention back to the duel ring, waiting to see how Wu Yuan would respond.
Wu Yuan didn't move.
He stood calmly, his eyes cold and unreadable, as the Jiang challenger—his face twisted with anger—rushed at him with all the power he could muster. The onlookers expected Wu Yuan to dodge, to counter, to at least prepare a stance. But he didn't even lift a finger.
The distance closed rapidly.
Dust lifted around the challenger's feet; veins knotted along his forearm. He put everything into that strike.
Just as the opponent's fist was about to land—barely an arm's length away—Wu Yuan finally acted.
There was no flourish, no unnecessary movement. He simply raised his own arm, forming a tight fist, and threw a single, straightforward punch to meet the incoming blow.
Bang!
Fist met fist.
For a heartbeat, everyone expected Wu Yuan to be forced back—after all, the Jiang challenger had poured every ounce of his strength into that strike, while Wu Yuan's punch looked almost lazy.
But the result was the complete opposite.
A sharp, sickening crack echoed through the arena. The Jiang youth's face contorted with pain as he flew backward. His arm twisted unnaturally; he hit the platform howling in agony. His arm… not just broken, but pulverized—bones splintered beyond recognition.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Before anyone could react, Wu Yuan's small figure blurred. He crossed the distance between them in a flash, his expression still calm. Without hesitation, he raised his fist again and drove it straight into the Jiang youth's chest.
Crack!
The sound of ribs breaking was like thunder rolling over the duel ring. The Jiang youth coughed blood and went limp, collapsing unconscious.
A hush swept through the arena, heavier than before. Some took a step back from the ring without realizing it, as if Wu Yuan's calm, ruthless fists could reach beyond the platform.
"W-We admit defeat!" a Jiang Clan attendant finally shouted in panic, rushing forward—but it was too late. Two punches. That was all it took for Wu Yuan to crush his opponent beyond recovery.
Wu Xiao jumped and clapped her hands, her eyes shining with joy.
"Young Master won! Young Master won!"
The crowd finally found their voices.
"Too ruthless…"
"Wu Yuan… this boy… he's terrifying!"
"Wu Lu might recover in time, but this Jiang brat? With injuries like that, his cultivation might never return to normal!"
From the stands, a few of the "Jiang" youths watched in stiff silence—their eyes no longer mocking.
Everyone stared at the young genius of the Wu Clan with a mixture of awe and fear. Wu Yuan had shown not just strength—but cold, precise ruthlessness.