Xin Hongyi.
She was a prodigy well-known throughout the Academy.
A member of the Fire Xin Race, one of the three great secret clans of the Southern Region.
And as for these secret clans, their level of mystery was off the charts.
Across the entire Southern Region, not a soul truly knew the depth of their heritage.
All the same, nobody dared mess with them—after all, anyone who ever crossed them was already wiped off the face of the earth in a bloodbath…
And yet now, Xin Hongyi had actually lost at the hands of Ye Qiubai.
On the other hand, Ye Qiubai gripped a wooden sword, his white robes fluttering with the wind, looking calm and composed, as if untouched by injury.
A crushing defeat!
Xin Hongyi's face was deathly pale.
Even when she had unleashed her Mystic-Tier Sword and used the secret technique of blood-sacrificing her blade, Ye Qiubai had shut it down with a single strike.
This showed just how vast the gap in power between them truly was.
Like a chasm!
Xin Hongyi let out a bitter laugh. Now she finally understood the difference between herself and Ye Qiubai, no wonder Lu Chang'sheng had chosen him and not her back then.
"I lost."
She staggered to her feet, cupped her fists and said, "But I will surpass you. I'll be back to challenge you again."
Seeing the stubborn look in Xin Hongyi's eyes, Ye Qiubai smiled and nodded. "Anytime. I'll be waiting."
The Sword Hall Elder sat back in his seat, his gaze complicated. He murmured, "This kid's future is limitless…"
Qin Tiannan glanced at Lu Chang'sheng and smiled, "So, aren't you even the least bit happy?"
Lu Chang'sheng: "Why should I be happy?"
He finished speaking, leaned back with his head in his hands, a twig in his mouth, looking totally at ease.
"Heh, you brat, you sure like to play it cool. But you must be feeling pretty proud, seeing your own disciple show off like this, right?"
Huh?
What am I faking?
Lu Chang'sheng looked completely exasperated. He was actually hoping Ye Qiubai wouldn't cause such a stir—when The Cottage gets mobbed by people all wanting to be disciples, how was he supposed to teach them all?
He hadn't even figured out how to cultivate immortality himself.
If he messed up teaching them, who'd take the fall?
No way.
I've gotta make that kid Qiubai keep a lower profile…
Below, the Academy disciples all looked shocked.
To think that even against a secret clan prodigy like Xin Hongyi, he could still win that easily.
Just how strong was his real power anyway?
The Cottage.
This name was already starting to spread throughout the Academy.
Ye Yan watched this unfold, his face dark, fingers clenched tight.
That sword strike just now—even if it'd been me taking it, no way I could have come out unscathed!
In fact, he'd sensed an incredibly dangerous aura from it!
You have to realize—Ye Yan was in the Purple Mansion Realm!
After the Golden Core Pill, comes the Purple Mansion Realm.
They were separated by a major cultivation stage, yet he still felt that way!
What's more, Ye Qiubai clearly hadn't gone all out—if he did, could I really withstand that strike?
The answer was written all over Ye Yan's terrified face.
Ye Qiubai…
He's really back now!
Brighter than ever!
On the side, Huo Qingming watched all this and chuckled. "Well, it just got a whole lot less boring."
"What, are you planning to challenge Ye Qiubai yourself?"
Beside him, Lin Ce, feather fan in hand, laughed, "Now that's just bullying—pick on someone your own size, yeah?"
Huo Qingming glanced at Ye Yan with a sigh. "Can't help it. I owe the Ye Family's First Elder a favor."
Then, his tone shifted as he turned to Lin Ce, grinning: "Lin Ce, this time I'm definitely going to break through that turtle-shell formation of yours!"
Lin Ce smiled, fanning himself. "We'll see about that."
Evidently, neither of them had Ye Qiubai on their radar. After all, the difference in realm was obvious.
Ye Qiubai was just at the peak of the Golden Core Pill Realm—no wonder they didn't see him as a threat.
Ye Yan hurriedly asked, "Big Brother Huo, why not go up now?"
Huo Qingming shot him a glare, eyes full of disdain, and said impatiently, "I'll act when it's time."
Meanwhile, atop the high platform—
Ye Qiubai stood with his sword in hand. For a while, no one dared get up there and challenge him.
But on the other five high platforms, people were leaping up, starting their own battles!
Watching this unfold, Lu Chang'sheng couldn't help but feel pleased. "Mm-hmm, let's keep it like this. Nobody challenging is best—less attention for me."
Qin Tiannan: "..."
The elders: "..."
But Ye Qiubai had other ideas.
Why isn't anyone coming up?
Don't tell me everyone's been scared off?
This won't do!
I need The Cottage to get even more famous—only then will I get more junior brothers and sisters! Otherwise, Master will just make me cook again…
Thinking of that, Ye Qiubai let out a sly smile and shouted, "So what, none of you left? Is that really all the other halls have got?"
At that, Lu Chang'sheng's jaw dropped.
Qin Tiannan and the other elders couldn't help but laugh.
The disciples below, hearing this, were instantly furious!
"Are all Cottage disciples this arrogant?"
"I'll show you what I've got!"
With that, a man holding a giant axe leapt onto the stage.
"This guy's half a step into the Purple Mansion Realm, from the Martial Hall!"
The axe-wielding man growled, "Since I'm half a step into Purple Mansion, I've got the advantage, so I'll let you strike first."
Ye Qiubai raised an eyebrow but didn't say a word—his body vanished on the spot.
He actually turned into a streak of sword-light, shooting forward!
The man's face changed dramatically—he forgot his earlier words and swung his giant axe down hard!
It was like splitting Mount Tai in two!
Ye Qiubai's expression stayed calm as he brought his wooden sword down hard.
It collided with the much larger axe!
BOOM!
A deafening crash echoed from the high platform!
And tumbling down with the bang—was that giant axe!
Under the man's terrified gaze, Ye Qiubai pressed in with his wooden sword!
With one strike, the sword landed at the man's throat—one inch further, and he'd be dead!
"I... I lost."
Ye Qiubai sheathed his sword.
"He can still crush people above his level..."
"Are Cottage disciples really this terrifying?"
"Looks like only a Purple Mansion Realm disciple could ever knock Ye Qiubai off the stage..."
But when a Beginner Stage Purple Mansion disciple finally stepped up—
They realized just how terrifying Ye Qiubai's strength truly was.
Although it wasn't as effortless as before—one casual strike and it's over—
Once he used the first move of the Nine Heavenly Demon Sword, the Purple Mansion disciple couldn't resist at all!
Ye Yan watched this, fists clenched so tight veins stood out.
He was at Beginner Stage Purple Mansion now, but seeing someone as strong as him get beaten so easily by Ye Qiubai—
He couldn't help but start to panic inside.
"Ye Qiubai! I have to crush you today!"
"Big Brother Huo, can you go now?"
Ye Yan turned to Huo Qingming, who stood by with his arms crossed.
Huo Qingming looked annoyed, but finally nodded. "Cottage people are getting a little too cocky now."
With that, he stomped heavy-footed on the ground, muscles bulging with explosive power!
He landed hard right in front of Ye Qiubai!
"That's…"
"Martial Hall's Huo Qingming—Intermediate Stage Purple Mansion Realm!"
"Looks like Ye Qiubai's winning streak ends here…"