On the stage, Xiao Teng crossed his arms, looking down at Shi Bo with contempt. "Half-step to External Cultivation," he thought smugly. Though he hadn't yet cultivated true Qi, the seed within him granted power far beyond a Body Refinement realm warrior. Today, I'll be the brightest star in Qingyang Town—honor and beauty will be mine.
"Yield?" Shi Bo, his wild hair tangled like a savage's, shook his head. "I don't back down from fights, Xiao Teng!" His voice boomed with unyielding resolve. "I want to see how far I can go against you!"
With a roar, Shi Bo unleashed his palm strike—Open Tomb Palm!—a flurry of bone-crushing winds surging toward Xiao Teng.
"Hmph. I wanted to let you leave with dignity," Xiao Teng sneered, stepping through the storm of palms as if strolling through a garden. "But you're too stubborn."
Boom!
A thunderous explosion tore through the air as Xiao Teng's palms clashed with Shi Bo's attack. The force obliterated the palm winds and slammed into Shi Bo, sending him flying off the stage, blood vomiting from his mouth.
"Xiao Teng!" Shi Zhan, Shi Clan Village's chief, leaped up, shattering his wine cup. "The rules forbid killing! Do you think we'll let this slide?!"
The crowd erupted in outrage. Shi Bo was their pride, their genius. For him to be humiliated—and injured—was unthinkable.
"Xiao Teng crossed the line," Xiao Tianxiong muttered, exchanging a grim glance with Wu Lion.
On the stage, Xiao Teng sneered, hiding his malice. "Who cares? Even if I killed him, the chiefs would protect me. I'm Xiao Teng—the fifteen-year-old half-step prodigy!"
The Aftermath
Xiao Ba, Shi Bo's father, stepped forward, his face a mask of forced calm. "My son overstepped. I'll personally apologize after the games."
The crowd's anger slowly died, but tension lingered. Xiao Ba then turned to Xiao Dashan, his tone sharp. "Let's skip the rest. My son's already proven himself—no one here is worthy to fight him!"
Xiao Yang, watching from below, trembled with rage. They're calling me a "waste" in front of everyone…
"Enough!" Xiao Ye strode onto the stage, his eyes blazing. "I don't need Jiaoshe Blood to crush all of you!"
Xiao Teng scoffed. "What's the matter? Afraid I'll embarrass you again?"
"Today," Xiao Ye declared, "I'll show you why I'm Qingyang Town's true prodigy!"
Boom!
Xiao Ye's aura exploded, shaking the stage. His punch—a Fierce Tiger Fist Stance—cracked the air with a primal roar, shaking the heavens.
"Impossible!" Xiao Teng roared, his half-step cultivation clashing against Xiao Ye's punch.
Crash!
The two warriors collided. Dust billowed as they parted, but only Xiao Teng stumbled backward, ribs snapping under the force.
"Impossible! How?!" Xiao Teng screamed, his face pale.
Xiao Ye stepped forward, his hair wild, eyes blazing like stars. "Half-step External Cultivation? Pathetic."
Boom!
Xiao Ye's palm struck Xiao Teng, pinning him to the collapsing stage. Bones cracked; Xiao Teng writhed in agony.
"Look!" Xiao Ye roared, lifting his foot. "This is true power!"
The stage shattered beneath him, leaving a gaping hole in the earth. The crowd fell silent, their jaws agape.
A fifteen-year-old External Cultivation realm warrior?!
Chaos and Ambition
"Impossible!" Wu Lion roared, his face puce. "Xiao Tianxiong, explain this!"
Xiao Tianxiong could only stare, his mind reeling. Xiao Ye… he's always been hiding his strength?
Meanwhile, Wu Lion's eyes lit up with greed. "My granddaughter is only thirteen… but if Xiao Ye marries her, she'll secure our clan's future!"
"Are you mad?!" Xiao Tianxiong snapped. "She's underage!"
But Wu Lion was already gone, chasing after Shi Zhan and his granddaughter.
On the ruined stage, Xiao Ye stood victorious. The crowd's awe turned to feverish excitement. This was the prodigy they'd never seen before—a true genius, unburdened by luck or blood.
As dust settled, one truth echoed through Qingyang Town:
The era of Xiao Ye had begun.