As soon as Ye Qiu spoke, the whole scene fell into shock. Everyone’s gazes turned to him in unison.
At once, many paused in surprise.
“Who is this lad?”
“We have never seen him before.”
“Is he challenging Pei Gang?”
As the crowd puzzled over it, Real Person Chang Mei cried out in excitement. “Little brat, come save me quickly.”
Ye Qiu stepped forward. He came to Real Person Chang Mei’s side. He scanned the area and said, “You lot rest well. Leave the rest to me.”
“Big brother, be careful.” Mo Tianji warned.
Ye Qiu nodded slightly. Then his gaze fell on Pei Gang. It was icy cold.
“Lad, who are you?” Pei Gang shouted.
Ye Qiu answered loudly, “Ye Changsheng!”
Ye Changsheng?
Why did that name sound so familiar?
The Azure Cloud Sword Sect disciples paused first. Then they looked at Yun Xi. They thought to themselves, is the saintess’s beloved not Ye Changsheng?
Could it be this lad before them?
Yet besides being a bit handsome, they saw no other merits for now!
“You are Ye Changsheng?” Tuoba Xiong eyed Ye Qiu coldly from head to toe. He sneered, “I never thought Yun Xi’s chosen one would be a waste.”
“Waste?” Ye Qiu gave a scornful smile. “You have no right to judge if I am a waste. But I know you are a bear.”
“Seeking death.” As Tuoba Xiong’s words fell, he moved to strike.
“Brother Tuoba, this man is mine.” Pei Gang reminded him. Then he looked at Ye Qiu and said, “Lad, before us, a little Golden Core realm cultivator like you has no right to act arrogant.”
“I hear you have a close tie with Fairy Yun Xi. For her sake, I will not kill you today.”
“But your few friends are dead for sure.”
“If you want revenge for them, wait until you break through to the peak of Cave Heaven. Then come find me. Now scram!”
Though Pei Gang claimed it was for Yun Xi’s sake, his words clearly treated Ye Qiu as a waste. He felt Ye Qiu unworthy as an opponent.
Who knew, Ye Qiu stood still. Instead, he let out a mocking laugh. “Is the peak of Cave Heaven that impressive?”
“Yes, the peak of Cave Heaven is impressive.” Pei Gang said with smug pride. “Only by breaking through to the peak of Cave Heaven can one earn the title of genius.”
“It took me over thirty years to reach the peak of Cave Heaven. You are only at the peak of Golden Core now. That is a whole major realm from the peak of Cave Heaven. With your talent, it will take you at least a few hundred years to break through. Hahaha…”
Pei Gang’s laughter had not ended when Ye Qiu cut him off.
“Do not think of me as a good-for-nothing like you. The peak of Cave Heaven? I need only a moment to break through.”
After he spoke, Ye Qiu closed his eyes. Brilliant golden light spread from his body.
Those watching saw his actions. Their faces turned odd.
“No way. Does he plan to break through here?”
“This fellow must be mad. He is only at the peak of Golden Core. How can he cross a whole major realm to the peak of Cave Heaven?”
“What a show-off.”
“I think this lad is an idiot…”
Cao Mao, Wei Wuji, Tuoba Xiong, and An Ruoxi all wore looks of disbelief.
Even the Azure Cloud Sword Sect disciples, after seeing Ye Qiu’s move, looked at Yun Xi with eyes full of pity and confusion.
“The saintess has peerless talent. How could she fall for such a fool?”
Pei Gang could not help but mock Yun Xi loudly. “Fairy Yun Xi, this is your chosen one?”
“Hahaha, he is a joke.”
“What does he take himself for? Some once-in-a-century peerless genius…”
Boom!
Before Pei Gang finished, a sudden thunderclap exploded.
The crowd looked up in haste. They saw a vast thunder cloud form in the nine heavens above.
At once, a stifling aura spread across the sky and earth.
It was clear heavenly tribulation would descend soon!
Pei Gang sneered, “Do you really think the Cave Heaven realm is so easy to break through? Fool!”
At this time, Real Person Chang Mei shouted loudly, “Little brat, use the heavenly tribulation to blast them all.”
Ye Qiu opened his eyes. He looked at Pei Gang and said, “I am about to cross the tribulation. Do you want to join me?”
His words dripped with provocation.
“Lad, do not be so arrogant. Once you finish crossing, I will settle accounts with you.” After Pei Gang spoke, he gripped his copper hammer and retreated quickly. He did not want to get caught in the heavenly tribulation.
The others also pulled back ten li. They watched from afar.
Real Person Chang Mei saw this. He huffed in anger. “Little brat, are you daft? Just drag them into the heavenly tribulation. You could wipe them out without effort.”
Ye Qiu said, “Heavenly tribulation could take them down, but it is still an external force. This time, I want to crush them with my own strength.”
“Strength?” Real Person Chang Mei paused. “You do not really plan to break through to the peak of Cave Heaven, do you?”
“Little brat, I advise you to drop that idea!”
“You are only at the peak of Golden Core. That is a whole major realm from the peak of Cave Heaven…”
Boom!
Before Real Person Chang Mei finished, thunder poured from the nine heavens like a waterfall. Countless world-shaking thunder dragons plunged from the sky.
“You lot pull back further.” After Ye Qiu spoke, he shot into the sky. He faced the heavenly tribulation head-on with force.
Soon, he vanished into the sea of thunder.
Those watching from afar saw this. They cried out in shock.
“This lad is truly mad!”
“He really drew down the heavenly tribulation. He will likely die to it before his enemies can touch him.”
“If crossing tribulation were that easy, we would all be peerless experts by now.”
“Best if he dies quick. Then I have a chance to pursue Fairy Yun Xi.”
“…”
Mocking voices rose without end.
Yet to their great surprise, after just a few minutes, Ye Qiu burst from the countless thunderbolts. He stood high in the air. His aura was several times stronger than before.
“What? He broke through to the early stage of Cave Heaven!”
Many cried out in alarm.
At the same time, some still mocked. “He was at the peak of Golden Core to start. Breaking through one minor realm is nothing.”
Boom.
Just then, another cascade of thunder a thousand zhang long plunged from the high sky. Ye Qiu sank into the sea of thunder once more.
“The heavenly tribulation has not ended?”
“What does this lad want? Does he plan to keep pushing forward?”
“He is mad. Utterly mad!”
Amid cries of shock, Ye Qiu continued to cross the tribulation.
In less than a quarter hour, Ye Qiu’s cultivation broke through again. He reached the mid stage of Cave Heaven.
By now, the mocking voices had faded.
Because everyone knew that breaking through two minor realms in one go was no small feat.
Anyone who could do that deserved the name of genius.
“This lad broke through two minor realms in a breath. He has some skill. But I do not believe he can truly reach the peak of Cave Heaven!” As Pei Gang finished, “boom”, thunder descended from the nine heavens once more.
At once, Pei Gang’s face changed.
“What? He wants to push further?”
