Upon hearing the voice, the entire Bluestone Plaza fell silent, and everyone turned to look in the direction it came from.
With a rustling sound, the crowd parted, revealing a young man in his early twenties, dressed in a python robe, slowly walking forward.
He stood seven feet tall, with a face as handsome as jade, and a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
Behind him followed an elder with a pale, beardless face and a sinister appearance.
"Chief Steward Xue!"
Seeing the sinister elder, Zhang Yunyi and the sect masters of the other three Great Sects all changed their expressions.
This elder was none other than Xue Rong, the chief eunuch of the Royal Palace of Kingdom Chu.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to His Highness, the Ninth Prince of Kingdom Chu!"
Xue Rong glanced around the crowd, smiling as he introduced.
"The Ninth Prince?"
The crowd was slightly surprised upon hearing this.
There had long been rumors that the Ninth Prince of Kingdom Chu was a martial arts prodigy with exceptional talent.
However, no one had ever seen him.
"Are you Peng Yue, the Senior Brother of Azure Light Sect?"
The Ninth Prince, hands behind his back, looked up at Peng Yue on the battle stage.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Ninth Prince!"
Peng Yue cupped his fists respectfully. Although the prince had insulted him as a mere chicken and dog, stirring anger within him, he had to maintain respect.
After all, the power of the Royal House of Kingdom Chu was formidable, far beyond what the Azure Light Sect could match.
Even if the Four Great Sects joined forces, they might not be a match for the royal family.
"Would you dare to face me in battle?"
The Ninth Prince asked with a smile.
"Oh?"
Peng Yue narrowed his eyes slightly, not answering immediately.
Seeing this, the Ninth Prince sneered, "What's wrong? Does the so-called leader of the younger generation in Kingdom Chu lack the courage to face me?"
His eyes held a mocking glint.
Peng Yue felt a surge of anger but nodded immediately, "Since Your Highness wishes to instruct, I am willing to accompany you!"
"Very well!"
The Ninth Prince nodded with a smile, then turned to Zhang Yunyi on the viewing platform and said, "Sect Master Zhang, how about adding a little wager to my battle with your disciple?"
"What kind of wager?"
Zhang Yunyi asked expressionlessly.
He knew that the Ninth Prince's visit today was not with good intentions.
"I've long heard that Sect Master Zhang has a beloved daughter, a beauty beyond compare. It must be her, right?"
The Ninth Prince pointed to Zhang Ruoling and continued, "Seeing her today, the rumors are indeed true. If I win today, why not betroth your daughter to me?"
At these words, everyone was stunned, not expecting the Ninth Prince to take a liking to Sect Master Zhang's daughter.
Lin Xiao was also a bit taken aback. Did this prince fancy Ruoling?
It couldn't be that simple, could it?
Zhang Ruoling's face turned cold as the Ninth Prince targeted her. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
She had never met this Ninth Prince and knew nothing about him. How could she possibly marry him?
Zhang Yunyi's expression remained unchanged as he replied calmly, "Marriage is a lifelong matter, not a wager for a duel. If Your Highness wishes to spar, then step onto the stage."
Zhang Yunyi rejected the proposal. In recent years, the royal family had been subtly suppressing the Four Great Sects. Now, seeking an alliance through marriage must have some ulterior motive.
He did not want the Azure Light Sect to be infiltrated by the royal family and ultimately become a tool in their hands.
"Hahaha, since Sect Master Zhang is unwilling, I shall not insist today!"
The Ninth Prince did not press further. He laughed heartily, leaping onto the battle stage with ease.
"Make your move!"
The Ninth Prince stood calmly, his gaze steady as he looked at Peng Yue.
Peng Yue slightly cupped his fists, drawing his long blade, and a powerful aura surged from him.
Swish!
Peng Yue slashed out, and a fierce blade energy shot towards the Ninth Prince.
Since the Ninth Prince had not revealed any aura of cultivation, Peng Yue was unsure of his level, so this strike was merely a probe.
However, Peng Yue felt no fear of his opponent, as the prince appeared four or five years younger than him. No matter how talented, his cultivation couldn't be too high.
"Too weak, too weak!"
The Ninth Prince shook his head slightly, instantly punching forward, his fist colliding with the oncoming blade energy.
Boom!
A loud explosion sounded, the blade energy shattered, and the Ninth Prince remained unmoved.
"6th Layer Meridian Opening Realm!"
"With bare hands, he countered the blade energy. He must have practiced body refining techniques!"
"He's so young, only about twenty, yet his cultivation has reached the peak of the 6th Layer Meridian Opening Realm!"
As the Ninth Prince made his move, exclamations erupted across the Bluestone Plaza.
The Ninth Prince's slender frame concealed such immense power.
Peng Yue was also shocked, his expression turning serious.
"Kill!"
"Blazing Sun Overhead!"
Peng Yue shouted, leaping into the air, his long blade slashing down fiercely.
In an instant, the blazing blade light seemed like the sun overhead, a three-meter-long blade beam slashing down towards the Ninth Prince.
"Fast enough, but lacking power! Let me show you what true strength is!"
Facing Peng Yue's powerful strike, the Ninth Prince remained unfazed, speaking calmly.
He did not choose to dodge but instead met it head-on.
"Overlord Fist!"
A powerful aura surged from the Ninth Prince, and he seemed like a king dominating the world.
His fist glowed with dazzling golden light, as if it were not a fist but a miniature golden sun.
Boom!
A loud explosion ensued.
Peng Yue, like a kite with a broken string, was blasted off the stage, crashing heavily onto the Bluestone Plaza.
Pfft!
Peng Yue spat out a mouthful of blood, his hands trembling, barely able to hold his long blade.
Looking up, he saw his palms had split, blood flowing freely.
Most importantly, the long blade forged from refined steel was bent and deformed, the blade edge shattered, completely ruined.
"How is this possible?"
Peng Yue was horrified. What kind of power was this?
The entire plaza was silent, not a sound could be heard.
The Ninth Prince's strength was beyond everyone's expectations. In just two moves, Peng Yue was defeated.
Strictly speaking, it was only one punch.
After all, the first punch was merely a casual block of Peng Yue's blade energy. The real attack was just one punch.
The foremost among the disciples of the Four Great Sects couldn't withstand a single punch from the Ninth Prince. How terrifying!
Even the sect masters of the Four Great Sects were astonished, not expecting the Ninth Prince to be even more extraordinary than the rumors suggested.
Zhang Yunyi's face was grim. With his keen eye, he could see the intricacies.
The Ninth Prince not only had a cultivation at the peak of the 6th Layer Meridian Opening Realm, slightly stronger than Peng Yue, but also practiced body refining techniques.
Moreover, his mastery in body refining might surpass his cultivation, with the power contained in his slender body far exceeding that of martial artists at the same level.
"The Ninth Prince is indeed extraordinarily gifted. Today, our Azure Light Sect concedes wholeheartedly!"
Zhang Yunyi stood tall, speaking loudly.
With that, he gestured for the disciples beside him to help Peng Yue.
"Hehe, Sect Master Zhang flatters me!"
The Ninth Prince stood on the battle stage, looking around, and asked in a deep voice, "Is there anyone else among the Four Great Sects willing to instruct me?"
The crowd exchanged glances. Even the leader of the younger generation from the Four Great Sects was defeated with one punch. Who would dare to go up and humiliate themselves?
"Let's go!"
After Peng Yue was helped back, Zhang Yunyi checked him briefly and, seeing no serious injuries, led all the disciples of the Azure Light Sect to leave.
The Sect Exchange Tournament had ended, and now that none of the Azure Light Sect disciples could defeat the Ninth Prince, there was no reason to stay.
"Sect Master Zhang!"
Seeing the Azure Light Sect preparing to leave, the Ninth Prince called out, "You've seen my talent and strength. I'm more than worthy of your daughter. In ten days, I will personally visit Azure Light Sect to propose."
Hearing this, Zhang Yunyi paused, his face cold as he replied, "I already said, marriage is a lifelong matter, not to be decided by a duel."
"Haha, it has nothing to do with the duel. It's because I fell in love with your daughter at first sight!"
The Ninth Prince said with a smile.
"Thank you for your favor, Ninth Prince, but my daughter is not yet of marrying age!"
Zhang Yunyi finished speaking, waved his sleeve, and strode away.
Seeing this, the Ninth Prince sneered inwardly. What a Zhang Yunyi, what an Azure Light Sect, the first to be made an example of.