As soon as Lu Zhenyu spoke, nearby disciples overheard him and began to gather around. His sharp tone drew even more attention.
Lu Zhenyu narrowed his eyes and asked coldly,
"Who are you? Why are you wearing a mask? And what business do you have on the Thousand Flower Peak? Which peak do you belong to?"
Shen Xuan's brows furrowed slightly at the arrogance in his voice, but he remained calm. In his usual cold tone, he replied,
"My name is Shen Xuan."
The moment those words left his lips, the crowd erupted in whispers.
"An outsider? How can an outsider step into the inner clan?"
"Is he joking? No way the clan would allow this…"
Ignoring their shock, Shen Xuan continued,
"I have permission. That is why I am going to this peak. As for why I wear a mask—that has nothing to do with you."
He turned to leave, but Lu Zhenyu suddenly grabbed his arm, his expression darkening.
"Permission? Don't make me laugh. You're just an outsider! Not only are you inside the inner clan, you dare step foot on the Thousand Flower Peak? Today, I'll teach you a lesson—you need to know your place. Outer disciples like you have no qualifications to stand here, let alone act arrogantly!"
With that, Lu Zhenyu launched an attack, his qi surging with the force of late-stage Qi Condensation.
But before the crowd could even blink, Shen Xuan raised a single hand and blocked the strike effortlessly. His cold voice cut through the air like a blade:
"First of all, I am not an outer disciple. Second, according to Lu Clan's rules, no disciple is allowed to fight within the clan—unless it's a formal challenge in the arena."
His words silenced the surroundings, the gathered disciples staring wide-eyed. Everyone could not believe what they were seeing shen xuan blocked the lu zhenyu attack with one hand even lu zhenyu was slightly shocked.
Shen Xuan shoved Lu Zhenyu backward with ease. The crowd gasped—an outsider had just repelled the Lu Clan's fifth heavenly genius in a single move.
Lu Zhenyu's face twisted with rage. His pride burned hotter than fire. How could he, a direct descendant of the Lu Clan, be pushed back by an outsider?
Gritting his teeth, he snarled,
"Hah! The rules only forbid disciples with the Lu surname from fighting inside the clan. But you" a wicked smile spread across his face, "you're an outsider. Which means I can crush you as I please!"
Excited murmurs rippled through the gathering disciples. Everyone's eyes lit up; they were about to witness a real fight inside the clan, something rarely seen.
Lu Zhenyu's qi flared violently as he charged forward again, his aura pressing down like a storm.
But this time, Shen Xuan's lips curved into a cold, almost evil smile.
Ignorant fool… you've just dug your own grave by reminding me of the rules.
In the next instant, Shen Xuan stepped forward, his fist shooting out like lightning.
"Boom!"
The fists collided. The onlookers braced themselves for shockwaves, for ripples of energy tearing through the ground. But nothing came. Instead
Crack!
The sharp sound of breaking bone echoed through the air.
Lu Zhenyu's scream split the silence as his body staggered backward. His arm hung at a grotesque angle, the bone shattered from Shen Xuan's single punch.
The disciples watching froze in disbelief, their jaws dropping.
"How… how is this possible?"
"Wasn't Lu Zhenyu the fifth heavenly genius of the clan?"
"He… he lost to an outsider in just one exchange?"
All eyes turned to Shen Xuan, who stood tall and unshaken, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd. The contrast between his calm demeanor and Lu Zhenyu's anguished cries only made the scene more terrifying.
Lu Zhenyu's face turned pale from the searing pain in his arm. His eyes blazed with fury as he roared,
"You bastard!"
In an instant, he drew out a gleaming spirit-level sword. The blade shimmered with sharp qi as he began chanting an incantation.
Buzz!
A faint glow appeared on his forehead, followed by the sudden manifestation of intricate tattoo—the Lu Clan's mark. Gasps spread through the gathered disciples.
"He… he's activating the clan mark? At the Qi Condensation realm?"
"Impossible! Even inner clan disciples need years of training to draw that mark!"
Normally, only when backed into a corner would a cultivator dare to activate their clan tattoo. For Lu Zhenyu to manifest even a fragment of it at such a young age… it was proof of his talent as a heavenly genius.
His aura surged, instantly soaring to the level of an early Foundation Establishment expert. A proud, mocking smile curled across his lips.
"Hahaha! Outsider, this must be your first time seeing the might of an emperor clan's tattoo. Today, you'll understand why the emperor clans rule over this continent!"
With a furious roar, Lu Zhenyu dashed forward, his sword cutting arcs of light through the air. The tattoo's power made his strikes faster, sharper, and far deadlier.
Shen Xuan's eyes narrowed. For the first time, genuine surprise flickered across his face. But rather than fear, it ignited something else within him, his battle intent began to burn like wildfire.
Interesting…
The clash began again.
Lu Zhenyu's sword slashed with blinding speed, but Shen Xuan moved like a phantom, dodging every strike. Each time his feet landed, the ground trembled faintly, his qi boiling within his body, ready to explode.
For two long minutes, Lu Zhenyu unleashed his frenzied assault. Yet Shen Xuan didn't counter, didn't falter—he simply evaded, his cold eyes watching.
Then the glow of the tattoo began to dim. The power of the clan mark flickered, its time running out.
Lu Zhenyu's breathing grew ragged. His aura weakened with every passing second.
That was the moment Shen Xuan's cold smile returned.
He stepped in. With a single, explosive motion, he slipped past Lu Zhenyu's sword and drove his fist straight into his opponent's face.
BAM!
Lu Zhenyu screamed as his nose shattered, blood gushing down in crimson rivers. Before he could recover, Shen Xuan's fists rained down mercilessly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each strike echoed like thunder. Bones cracked, flesh tore, and Lu Zhenyu's proud features twisted into an unrecognizable mess. His entire body was soon drenched in blood, his limbs broken at unnatural angles.
When Shen Xuan finally stopped, Lu Zhenyu collapsed to the ground, barely conscious, his once-handsome face reduced to a grotesque mask of blood and bruises.
The crowd stood frozen in silence. Not a single word was spoken.
This… this was the fifth heavenly genius of the Lu Clan? Defeated so brutally?
And by an outsider?
Disciples exchanged shocked glances, their hearts trembling. In front of them stood Shen Xuan calm, cold, and utterly terrifying.
It wasn't that lu zhenyu was weak , it is just that today his luck was really bad, he happened to run into a monster like shen xuan.
When the brutal fight ended, whispers spread like wildfire among the gathered disciples.
"Quick, inform the elders!"
"Someone has already gone!"
True enough, the battle had not gone unnoticed. Several disciples had reported it, and the terrifying fluctuations of qi had already drawn attention from nearby peaks.
Whoooosh!
Three figures descended from the skies, their auras so overwhelming that even the heavens seemed to tremble. The air itself grew heavy under the sheer weight of their presence.
Disciples all around immediately collapsed to their knees, their faces pale, sweat dripping down their brows. The pressure was unbearable.
Even Shen Xuan, standing tall in the middle of the chaos, felt his knees bend slightly. The crushing aura pressed down on his body like a mountain. Yet, unlike the others, he did not kneel. His gaze remained steady, his back straight, as he forced his body to endure the terrifying suppression.
The three elders finally landed.
The first, an old man with sharp, hawk-like eyes, was Lu Wenxuan, the Peak Master of Lingxiao Peak. His presence was calm yet unfathomably deep, like a sea that could drown anyone.
The second, broad-shouldered with a fiery expression, was Lu Haoran, Peak Master of Canglong Peak. His aura was like a raging beast, fierce and domineering.
The third, with long white hair fluttering in the breeze, radiated a gentle and majestic aura—Lu Yichen, the master of Yanxia Peak.
The disciples lowered their heads further, greeting in unison:
"Greetings, Peak Masters!"
The three elders' gazes swept over the scene. Their eyes landed on Lu Zhenyu, who lay on the ground half-dead, his face battered beyond recognition. Shock flashed in their eyes—he was supposed to be one of the Lu Clan's five heavenly geniuses!
Before they could even ask, Lu Haoran's fiery eyes turned toward Shen Xuan. His brows furrowed.
The crowd grew silent, their hearts thundering in their chests.
"You brat," Lu Haoran's voice boomed like thunder, shaking the earth beneath their feet. His aura surged again, pressing down directly on Shen Xuan. "Why have you not greeted your elders? Has no one taught you the manners of this clan?"
The suffocating silence stretched. Every disciple's eyes were locked on Shen Xuan, waiting for him to either kneel… or be crushed under Elder Lu Haoran's fury.
But instead—
Shen Xuan calmly clasped his fists, his tone steady and respectful, yet unyielding.
"Greetings, Elders," he said, his voice echoing across the courtyard. Then his gaze shifted toward Lu Haoran, his cold eyes unwavering. "Elder, I was going to greet you… but before I could, you released your pressure on me. If by 'manners' you mean bowing…" Shen Xuan paused, his words sharp as blades. "Then allow me to clarify. I did not even bow to my master. And as for you—I don't know you."
Huuuuu!
The disciples gasped collectively, their hearts nearly leaping out of their chests.
Did he just say that… to Elder Lu Haoran?!
Even the three elders were caught off guard, their expressions flickering with surprise.
Lu Haoran's face darkened, his fiery aura flaring up once more. The air trembled, as though on the verge of exploding. Yet before he could speak, another elder stepped forward.
Lu Yichen.
His gentle, dignified aura seemed to soothe the atmosphere as he raised a hand lightly, halting Lu Haoran. With a gentle smile, he turned to Shen Xuan.
"Young one… your tongue is sharp, but your spirit is not weak. Tell me, what is your name?"
His voice was calm, but there was a probing intent behind his question. Lu Yichen had already noticed the extraordinary firmness in Shen Xuan's gaze.
The disciples held their breath. Finally, Shen Xuan answered in his usual cold tone:
"Shen Xuan."
The name dropped like thunder.
Shen Xuan? An outsider…?
The elders' expressions froze for a moment. Whispers broke out among the disciples.
"Outsider? Did he just say outsider?"
"How can an outsider stand here in the inner clan?"
Even the three elders were shaken. The rules of the Lu Clan were clear only those with Lu bloodline were allowed in the Inner Clan. Yet standing before them, this young man had just declared his name openly… and not a trace of hesitation existed in his eyes.
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