"Impossible!"
It wasn't just Xu Yanci—Yun Guanqing also completely lost her composure, as if she'd seen a ghost.
Given the Crown Prince's age, the chances of him having learned the Bright Moon Sword Technique beforehand were practically zero.
So that meant… Yang Cheng had just watched Xu Yanci perform the technique once and immediately learned it?
And that wasn't even the most shocking part.
The most shocking part was that Yang Cheng, who had just picked it up, casually performed a version that completely surpassed Xu Yanci's.
Same technique, but the difference between Xu Yanci and Yang Cheng was massive.
It was like Yang Cheng was the grandmaster, and Xu Yanci was a novice.
It was no exaggeration to say that Yang Cheng's Bright Moon Sword Technique had reached the highest—ninth—level.
But how could someone like this exist?
Xu Yanci felt like he'd been struck by lightning.
Just a moment ago, he'd looked down on Yang Cheng with complete disdain.
But now, Yang Cheng had shattered his confidence in one blow.
He'd been training the Bright Moon Sword Technique for seven years.
Seven years of diligent practice had only taken him to the third level.
Yet Yang Cheng had watched him once, learned the technique, and instantly reached the ninth level.
Then what was the point of all those years of hard work?
"Wow! Chengcheng, you're amazing!"
A cheerful voice rang out. Tang Xingyu clapped hard for Yang Cheng.
Then she climbed onto a stool, placed her hands on her waist, lifted her chubby little chin, and glared fiercely at Xu Yanci. "I told you Chengcheng's swordsmanship is better than yours. Do you believe me now?"
"I… I…"
Xu Yanci's face went pale as he stumbled backward.
Yang Heng shrank further into himself.
He'd known it—crossing this Crown Prince freak was a mistake.
Yang Cheng pretended to be curious. "Cousin, do you still think I was exaggerating? Still want to 'guide' me?"
A strike to the heart.
That sentence was like a dagger to Xu Yanci's chest.
He genuinely felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart.
"Heehee! You're clearly worse than Chengcheng, but you still wanted to teach him. Aren't you embarrassed?"
Tang Xingyu stuck out her tongue and made a funny face at Xu Yanci.
"You little rascal, come here. Talk nonsense again and I'll smack your butt."
Cheng Junyi grabbed her, flicked the two tufts of hair sticking out from her head, and gave her a light scolding.
Tang Xingyu immediately sat upright with puffed cheeks, looking properly disciplined.
Of course, Xu Yanci didn't think she was cute at all.
But right now, he had no energy to care about Tang Xingyu.
He stared at Yang Cheng, his eyes full of disbelief and frustration. "How do you know the Bright Moon Sword Technique?"
Yang Cheng answered naturally, "You taught me, didn't you?"
Of course, it was in the previous life.
That part, he'd never say aloud.
Everyone else just assumed Yang Cheng had learned the technique after watching Xu Yanci's performance once.
At that moment, even those who had been hostile toward Yang Cheng felt a chill.
Just what kind of monstrous talent was this?
Even Cheng Junyi couldn't help but reevaluate Yang Cheng's aptitude.
This disciple of hers… might really be a little freakish.
And truthfully, with Yang Cheng's current talent, watching Xu Yanci demonstrate the Bright Moon Sword Technique once really was enough for him to learn it.
After all, he had eaten a Bodhi Fruit, his comprehension was absurd, and he practically had a photographic memory.
But if not for the foundation from his past life, he wouldn't have been able to perform it at the ninth level.
Back then, he'd trained it to the seventh level. With the comprehension of this life, he pushed it directly to the ninth.
That's why it looked so ridiculously impressive.
Xu Yanci's face turned even paler.
Right then, he felt the urge to do something.
If not, his heart for martial cultivation might collapse on the spot.
"Your Highness!"
He gritted his teeth. "It's just one sword technique. It doesn't fully represent one's sword talent. Real swordsmanship is revealed through battle."
The moment he said that, Cheng Junyi frowned.
Xu Yanci's challenge was clearly an attempt to bully a child. Shameless.
But with her wisdom, she quickly understood his motive.
If Yang Cheng agreed, then Xu Yanci—with his age and cultivation advantage—would likely win.
That would help him rebuild his confidence.
If Yang Cheng refused, Xu Yanci could comfort himself by saying the Crown Prince feared him.
Coming up with this kind of mental rescue plan on the fly… Xu Yanci clearly had a sharp mind.
Yun Guanqing stayed quiet, clearly approving her son's decision.
That made Cheng Junyi lose all fondness for her.
They'd been friends in their youth.
She had looked forward to seeing an old friend again.
But Yun Guanqing's current attitude was deeply disappointing.
Sure, Xu Yanci was her son—she could be biased.
But Yang Cheng was also her nephew. And she completely ignored his future, just to prioritize her son's pride.
Cheng Junyi was ready to speak up on Yang Cheng's behalf and refuse the challenge.
But before she could say anything, Yang Cheng smiled. "Sure."
At first, he'd thought that the past should stay in the past. This was a new life, and Xu Yanci hadn't yet done anything to harm him.
So maybe he shouldn't hold old grudges and should go easy on him.
But now, seeing how Xu Yanci acted—even without their past—he would definitely become an enemy in the future.
Since that's the case, there was no reason to show mercy.
Yang Cheng had already agreed, so Cheng Junyi had to swallow her words.
Fortunately, she wasn't too worried.
With the strength Yang Cheng had already shown, even if he wasn't quite as strong as Xu Yanci, he could still protect himself.
Xu Yanci latched onto that glimmer of hope like a drowning man grabbing a rope, afraid Yang Cheng would back out. He shouted urgently, "Your Highness, take my strike!"
Shua!
Xu Yanci's sword flicked, cold light flashing as his strike surged toward Yang Cheng like a violent storm.
This time, it wasn't just the Bright Moon Sword Technique—he'd also mixed in the Xu clan's secret art, the Startling Swan Sword Manual.
The sword intent was sharp and fierce—he clearly wanted to crush Yang Cheng with overwhelming power.
But Yang Cheng simply shifted to the side slightly. He brought two fingers together like a sword and gently tapped forward.
His fingers, as if by some miraculous angle, struck the back of Xu Yanci's blade.
Ding!
A crisp clang echoed through the air.
Xu Yanci's arm went numb as he staggered back two steps.
His sword strike had been casually neutralized by Yang Cheng.
"What?!"
Xu Yanci's pupils shrank, heart pounding in shock.
That strike of his—ordinary Martial Masters would've had a hard time parrying it. Yet Yang Cheng blocked it so easily?
Yang Cheng smiled. "Cousin, your sword… is too slow."
"Damn it!"
Xu Yanci's face twisted in fury.
Buzz!
He unleashed his full strength. His true qi surged violently from his body.
In an instant, his speed soared. He shot toward Yang Cheng like a bolt of lightning.
But to Yang Cheng, with his profound understanding of the sword…
Xu Yanci's supposedly lightning-fast sword was still turtle-paced.
Clang!
Yang Cheng casually deflected him again.
Xu Yanci gritted his teeth and launched another attack.
"Too slow."
"Still too slow."
"Cousin, your sword… is just way too slow."
Yang Cheng stayed calm and composed the whole time.
Xu Yanci looked like a madman, attacking wildly.
But no matter how fast or fierce he struck, Yang Cheng easily countered every move.
It didn't look like a duel between evenly matched opponents—it looked like a teacher demonstrating to a student.
Everyone watching—Cheng Junyi and Yun Guanqing included—was dumbfounded.
"Enough."
Yang Cheng sighed softly. "Let me show you what real sword speed looks like."
Before his words had even faded, he vanished.
Before Xu Yanci could react, Yang Cheng was already in front of him.
Xu Yanci barely had time to raise his sword in defense.
Clang!
In that instant, Xu Yanci was blasted backward, his sword flying from his grip and clattering to the floor.
"Impossible! How is your sword this fast?!"
Xu Yanci roared.
Yang Cheng answered calmly, "Cousin, weren't you going to guide me just now? Why are you asking me questions now?"
Xu Yanci's face was ashen. Humiliation and rage churned in his chest.
He was the dignified eldest grandson of the Xu clan—a twelve-year-old prodigy who had already reached Martial Master realm. Yet he'd been crushed by a three-year-old?
"Yang Cheng, don't get cocky!"
Xu Yanci clenched his teeth. His true qi surged again, and a faint blood-colored glow shimmered around his sword.
"Blood Moon Sword Manual?!"
Cheng Junyi's expression changed. "That technique has a very high cultivation threshold—it's beyond Xu Yanci's current limits."
He might be able to barely activate it, but doing so could harm his foundation.
Yun Guanqing panicked too. "Yanci, stop!"
But Xu Yanci was too far gone—blinded by rage and humiliation. He didn't hear anything.
His sword aimed straight at Yang Cheng, and his eyes were crazed.
"Yang Cheng—fall before me!"
A crimson sword light shot forth like a rainbow, slashing directly at Yang Cheng's face.
But Yang Cheng remained utterly calm.
"Your speed's finally decent. Too bad your technique is garbage—full of holes."
He barely moved.
Just tapped forward with three fingers.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The blood-red sword light was instantly pierced through in three places.
Then—
Boom!
The crimson glow exploded, and Xu Yanci's attack collapsed completely.
He flew backward like a broken kite, slammed into the ground hard, blood pouring from his nose and mouth.
Yang Cheng stood exactly where he'd been.
His fingers pointed diagonally at the floor, robe fluttering. Not a single scratch on him.
The whole place fell silent.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they'd just seen.
A three-year-old child… had just defeated a twelve-year-old Martial Master in a single move?
That… that was beyond ridiculous!
Ding!
[Host has launched a stunning counterattack, completely crushing the Yang God-level Xu Yanci.]
[In just two years, host went from being crushed by Xu Yanci to completely dominating him. The Late Bloomer path truly shines.]
[This battle not only erased past humiliation but also shattered Xu Yanci's confidence. Task completed.]
[Reward issued.]
Yang Cheng didn't claim the reward right away.
He slowly raised his head, scanning everyone present, until his gaze landed on Xu Yanci—still half-kneeling on the floor.
He said flatly, "Cousin, your swordsmanship needs a lot more work."
Xu Yanci's face went ghostly pale. His lips trembled, but no words came out.
He had lost.
Utterly and completely lost.
Lost to a three-year-old child!
At that moment, all his pride, all his dignity, had been shattered by Yang Cheng.
Everyone else present had only one thought:
Just how high was Yang Cheng's level in swordsmanship?
"You've entered the path of sword dao?"
Yun Guanqing suddenly asked, eyes wide in shock as she stared at Yang Cheng.
The moment she spoke, the others felt a jolt in their hearts.
Sword dao—not sword techniques.
Many people could learn sword techniques. But entering the sword dao… that was one in ten thousand.
Sword technique was about moves. Sword dao was beyond technique—true understanding of the way of the sword.
To go from technique to dao was like a carp leaping the dragon gate.
Those who entered the sword dao could serve as elders in sword sects.
In smaller regions, they could even establish their own sword schools.
Xu Yanci's eyes trembled violently.
He had tried countless times to step into sword dao, but had never succeeded.
That's why he understood better than anyone—how hard it was.
And now, Yang Cheng… had entered sword dao?
If that were true, then it all made perfect sense.