CHAPTER 456: 456, ARE YOU GETTING COCKY?

Swoosh!

Although Yun Xiao’s movements were fast, the unforeseen event still occurred. The sound of a piercing wind rapidly approached, and immediately after, Yun Xiao’s formidable Power of Soul sensed a hint of danger. His extended fingers eventually retracted.

Snap!

Another faint sound followed, Yun Xiao’s gaze darkened with a mix of relief that he had withdrawn his hand promptly. At the edge of the Mixed Element Grass, a shiny short blade was now stuck. Had his hand withdrawn any slower, he might have lost all five fingers.

The two strangers went for the kill from the get go, which even for someone of Yun Xiao’s temperament, unavoidably aroused fury, especially since the ambush was aimed at the Mixed Element Grass he was determined to obtain.

"My senior brother told you to wait, didn’t you hear him? Or are you deaf?"

Just when Yun Xiao turned around with anger on his face, what first entered his ears was an exceedingly arrogant voice. At the same time, three figures entered his vision. The speaker was a lean young man with a face full of maliciousness.

However, upon a closer look, Yun Xiao found the trio unfamiliar, at least not someone he recognized from any major sects or the royal families within the Xuanyue Empire.

But on sensing the Meridian Qi aura of the leader, Yun Xiao’s heart tensed up, for this person turned out to be a supreme genius who had reached the Late Stage of Meridian Union Realm.

At such an age, the only talents he had seen who reached the Late Stage of Meridian Union Realm were the Xuanyue Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding, Lingtian Crown Prince Nie Qianqiu, and a few others from the Lingyun Sect, such as Xu Hongzhuang.

Even the Jade Pot Sect’s formerly top genius Mo Qing and the second genius Yue Qi had not broken through to the Late Stage of Meridian Union Realm; so who exactly was this guy?

"You’re not from the Xuanyue Empire?"

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Yun Xiao refrained from reaching for the Mixed Element Grass and instead asked directly, already guessing the identity of the newcomers.

"Shen Wannian’s peerless grandeur cannot possibly be confined within a small place like the Xuanyue Empire," the same person replied haughtily, and this voice caused the nearby trade area to suddenly fall silent as if everyone had been stunned by a certain name.

"Shen Wannian? Could it be the ’Yufeng Sect’s’ Shen Wannian?"

"It seems to be him. It’s said that the Yufeng Sect has vast influence and already secretly controls the Yufeng Empire. Shen Wannian’s status might even exceed that of the Yufeng Empire’s Crown Prince."

"Shen Wannian is indeed the most powerful contender for the champion of this Hidden Dragon Conference. Who would have thought we’d see him here!"

"With his dominance, I suppose that ragged youth would likely back down, right?"

"..."

After a brief silence, a crowd had gathered around, and the ensuing buzz of discussion vaguely informed Yun Xiao of the identities of the strangers.

The Hidden Dragon Continent is peppered with thousands of empires, and naturally, they vary in status. Places like the Xuanyue and Lingtian Empires are considered high-ranking empires.

However, the Yufeng Empire mentioned by the crowd was even stronger than both the Xuanyue and Lingtian Empires, almost considered to be the unrivaled foremost empire of the Hidden Dragon Continent.

Moreover, it’s rumored that the ruling of this empire is somewhat special. Although ostensibly under the control of the royal family, it is in fact in the hands of the empire’s largest sect, the Yufeng Sect.

Although there is no confirmation of such claims, according to some cultivators who have been to the Yufeng Empire, even the Yufeng Empire’s Crown Prince must pay his respects to the senior brothers of the Yufeng Sect, which indirectly reveals certain implications.

Yun Xiao may be unaware of the power struggle within the Yufeng Empire, but he had heard of the Yufeng Sect and knew that its number one genius was none other than Shen Wannian.

Since the Hidden Dragon Conference is to be held in the Xuanyue Imperial City this time, before it commences, news about the leading geniuses from all the great empires would naturally spread into the Xuanyue Empire, and hence to the Jade Pot Sect.

Just as the commentaries earlier mentioned, Shen Wannian is the most potent contender of this Hidden Dragon Conference, indicating not only his exceptional Meridian Qi Cultivation but perhaps also some formidable and secretive techniques.

What Yun Xiao did not expect was that even before the Hidden Dragon Conference began, he would encounter this legendary Shen Wannian of the rumors in this small border city of the Xuanyue Empire, and in such an unpleasant way.

However, present-day Yun Xiao did not have to worry about anyone except those in the Spirit Vein Realm. Pointing to the short blade on the stall, he asked in a deep voice, "Senior Brother Wannian, may I know what this means?"

Over the years, Yun Xiao had dealt with plenty of arrogant individuals. Whether it was Xuanyue Crown Prince Xuan Jiuding or Lingtian Crown Prince Nie Qianqiu, hadn’t they all suffered losses at his hands?

"What’s that supposed to mean? Are you a fool, boy? It’s obvious that Brother Wannian has taken a liking to that item. If you want it, you need to ask if my Yufeng Sect agrees to it!"

The gaunt youth acted as if he were the spokesperson for Shen Wannian, and his tone made the people around him reveal surprise on their faces. However, they all refrained from speaking out due to Shen Wannian’s well-known assertiveness.

After all, nobody knew who that rough-dressed youth was, and it was unwise to offend a likely champion of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, a super genius, over someone irrelevant.

"This brother, my junior brother is not good with words, please don’t mind him. However, I am quite interested in this little grass, could you please make an exception and give it to me?"

At this moment, the leading Shen Wannian finally spoke up. His tone was much milder than his junior brother’s, but his way of hiding a needle in cotton made him seem even harder to deal with.

Moreover, although Shen Wannian made a request, every word and phrase suggested that the item already belonged to him, allowing no room for others to touch it.

If the rough-dressed youth were an ordinary early-stage Meridian Union Realm youth, he might have compromised due to Shen Wannian’s status, at least that’s what everyone thought.

Because if the rough-dressed youth were to compromise, maybe he could make a connection with this senior brother of the Yufeng Sect, which might bring enormous benefits at the Hidden Dragon Conference.

However, these people did not know Yun Xiao; their idea of "adapting to the times makes a hero" did not apply to the rough-dressed youth in front of them.

Let alone the Mixed Element Grass mattered for the enhancement of the Ling Wan to the Meridian Union Realm, even if it were an ordinary item, Yun Xiao would not give in under such pressure. The pride of the Long Xiao Battle God was not something a mere late-stage Meridian Union Realm genius could trample at will.

"Sorry, this is my item, and I have no intention of reselling it!"

Yun Xiao did not show the slightest hesitation; he merely shook his head slightly, then reached out again for the Mixed Element Grass, determined to have it this time.

"Hey, don’t say I didn’t give you face, alright?"

Seeing this, a trace of anger flashed in the gaunt youth’s eyes. When he turned and saw the surprised expression on Brother Wannian’s face, he let out a cold laugh and directly dashed towards Yun Xiao, attempting a furious strike at his back.

If the short blade flung earlier was just meant to intimidate Yun Xiao, then this attack was aimed at his vital points – a direct hit could leave the youth seriously injured or even result in his immediate death.

That was the most honest thought of the people present. The rough-dressed youth appeared to be at the early stage of the Meridian Union Realm, whereas the second brother of the Yufeng Sect had reached the middle stage of the Meridian Union Realm. The gap between them was not merely a matter of distance.

Those who could attend the Hidden Dragon Conference were no weaklings. This second brother of the Yufeng Sect, if placed in any other sect, would surely be considered the number one genius. It’s just that in the Yufeng Sect, he was ranked below Shen Wannian.

Sensing the overwhelming attack coming from behind, Yun Xiao’s eyes flashed with a fierce light. These guys were cruel by nature, resorting to life-threatening violence over a simple disagreement. Truly they were on a path of seeking death.

When Yun Xiao himself was at the peak of the Meridian Rushing Realm, he had killed Qiao Lin, an early-stage Meridian Union cultivator. Now having broken through to the early stage of the Meridian Union Realm, facing this second brother of the Yufeng Sect again, he did not feel a trace of fear.

Whoosh...

Seeing Yun Xiao turn his body, that earlier move to grab the Mixed Element Grass suddenly became a feint, followed by his right leg drawing a beautiful arc towards the right palm of that second brother of the Yufeng Sect.

"Truly overestimating oneself!"

Seeing this, the sneer in the second brother’s eyes grew even more intense, while Shen Wannian and the third brother of the Yufeng Sect both nodded slightly. In their eyes, the youth’s action was suicidal.

Despite his gaunt appearance, he practiced a Cultivation Technique that greatly enhanced Physical Strength. In terms of sheer Physical Strength alone, even Shen Wannian did not dare claim he could win for sure.

This unknown youngster, with his early-stage Meridian Union Cultivation, actually dared to use his Physical Strength to withstand the second brother’s palm strike. It was nothing short of sheer fantasy.

"Hm?"

Perhaps only the second brother, as the person involved, realized something was awry the moment he contacted Yun Xiao’s right leg. The pouring power was like an overwhelming tide, utterly impossible for him to contend with.

Bang!

Whoosh...

After a loud noise, everyone saw the gaunt figure flying backwards, smashing several stalls along the path into disarray before crashing to the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

Seeing this scene, the entire trading district of Moon Cool City fell into dead silence. An invisible, eerie atmosphere flowed, and their gazes shifted to the rough-dressed youth for the first time.