Defeated.

Xueyu lost to Fang Yang just like that? Was he only a match for a single blow?!

Many stared with eyes wide as saucers, unable to believe what they were seeing.

The prevailing opinion had been that "the duel between Fang Yang and Xueyu would be a battle of titans. Even if Fang Yang ultimately won, it would come at a heavy cost."

But the reality before them was a slap in the face to many, leaving them with no way to argue.

This was completely different from what everyone had imagined!

"Hmph." The corners of Sen Hui’s lips curled up, filled with pride for Fang Yang.

Seeing her brother’s tragic state, Xuezhi’s heart ached, but then, for some reason, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

’I can’t catch up. I can never catch up.’ Minghai Nanyu shut her eyes in pain, forcing herself to accept the reality before her.

Ever since the Soaring Dragon Examinations, she had predicted that Fang Yang would leave her far behind, to the point where she wouldn’t even be able to see his back.

But a prediction was just a prediction. When it actually happened, the impact was unimaginable.

A heavy sense of despair, like the dark of night, enveloped the lake of her heart, refusing to dissipate.

In a daze, she seemed to hear a shattering sound coming from her heart.

Her Dao heart had shattered!

"Hiss... good thing I knew my place and just ran the moment I saw Fang Yang back then." Black Tower City sucked in a cold breath, his scalp tingling.

He felt lucky for his quick thinking during the Soaring Dragon Examinations.

He turned his head and saw a look of utter shock on Muri Guanglong’s face.

Even an old fox like Muri Guanglong had briefly lost his composure.

It was clear just how immense the shock Fang Yang had delivered to the crowd was.

’Useless trash, useless trash! That bastard, what a bastard! All my careful planning was for nothing... that bastard...’ Murong Caiwei’s face turned ashen as she cursed Xueyu in her heart.

The dust settled. Fang Yang had truly crushed Xueyu with a single punch.

After a brief silence, the crowd outside the arena erupted into a tumultuous uproar.

The clamor was like a great river, surging wildly in all directions, raising monstrous waves that did not subside for a long time.

A young seed? A young Great Saint. A young Great Saint!

In that moment, everyone’s expressions were different, presenting a rare tableau of human reactions.

...

He came in a hurry, and he left in a hurry.

Before Fang Yang could fully experience the mysteries of the vast, yellow-sanded desert, he returned from that wondrous realm to the martial arts field.

At this moment, he stood alone with his hands behind his back, his demeanor perfectly serene.

On the other side, Xueyu was enveloped in a ball of cyan divine light.

The contrast between the two only served to highlight how extraordinary he was.

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings.

Almost everyone who met his gaze immediately looked away.

Even the likes of Black Tower City and Muri Guanglong averted their eyes, pretending to gaze at the sky.

Only a few, like Sen Hui and Murong Caiwei, dared to meet his gaze.

Murong Caiwei, in particular, stared at him intently, a fierce look appearing on her exquisitely beautiful, pale face.

’Murong Caiwei?!’

Seeing this, the light in Fang Yang’s eyes intensified.

A thought suddenly struck him, as if he had realized something.

However, before he could think further, the Steward from the martial arts field approached him.

The Steward informed him that he had acquired Xueyu’s Merit Points.

Three thousand Merit Points!

For people like Minghai Nanyu and Cyan Aura, it would take at least half a year, or even a full year of hard work to earn three thousand Merit Points.

But for Fang Yang, it was so easy.

In an instant, the gazes of the people in the arena grew feverish as they imagined themselves being the one to gain three thousand Merit Points.

"Xiaohui, let’s go." Fang Yang walked over to Sen Hui’s side, a faint smile on his face as he narrowed his eyes.

Under the admiring gazes of the crowd, they left the martial arts field and headed for the Wind Peng Dojo.

After returning to the Wind Peng Dojo, Fang Yang began to investigate the identity of the mastermind behind the scenes, especially Murong Caiwei.

Of course, the Fang Clan had no real foundation or power within the Thunder Saint Academy.

He had to rely on Sen Hui, using the channels of the Sen Clan.

When Sen Hui learned of Fang Yang’s suspicions, she immediately mobilized her people and ordered them to investigate.

A goose leaves a trace where it flies; the power of the Sen Clan was far greater than ordinary people could imagine.

Ultimately, Sen Hui discovered that Murong Caiwei was behind everything. She even found a letter for Fang Yang that Caiwei had intercepted and secretly hidden away!

The night was as cool as water.

Qinglian Dojo.

"Xiaohui, what’s your plan?" Sen Wei looked down and asked.

Hearing this, Sen Hui’s expression turned serious. "My plan? I’m going to deal with this Murong Caiwei myself. I’ll try being civil first, but if she doesn’t know what’s good for her, then I’ll make her learn!"

As she spoke the last words, a stern look appeared on her gentle and beautiful face.

"Good, good, good." Sen Wei said "good" three times in a row, her heart filled with joy. She suddenly felt that Sen Hui had gained a bit of Fang Yang’s assertive style and was no longer as weak as she used to be.

...

「Two days later.」

Sen Hui sent out invitations far and wide, and the noble ladies of various families gathered at the Qinglian Dojo.

Among them was Murong Caiwei, who, despite a reminder from her cousin, still arrived with her head held high in arrogance.

She was like a proud peacock, completely unafraid even when facing what was likely a "Hongmen Banquet" set up just for her!

Afterward, Sen Hui indeed tried being civil first, but unexpectedly, Murong Caiwei showed her no respect.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Sen Hui actually slapped Caiwei’s delicate face, making it swell up red like a pig’s head and leaving her utterly humiliated.

This act shocked all the noble ladies, leaving every one of them speechless and dumbfounded.

’Heavens, is this still the same Sen Hui who was called the standard for all ladies?’

Only a few of the more clever ones vaguely guessed the truth—Sen Hui was getting revenge for Fang Yang!

Later, with Sen Wei there to back Sen Hui up, Caiwei could only retreat in hatred and defeat.

As the sky darkened, the noble ladies made their excuses and departed one after another.

For a time, all sorts of carriages shuttled through the sky, accompanied by flashes of divine rainbows.

At this moment, Sen Hui stood with her hands clasped before her like a proper lady, watching everyone leave with a smile.

Her sister, Sen Wei, who was beside her, laughed heartily. "Good! That’s how it should be. With people like her, you have to give them a good, hard slap. You’re Wei’Er, so who does that make me?"

...

「Meanwhile.」

After Murong Caiwei returned to the Immortal Mountain Dojo, she shut herself in and refused to come out.

"Cairou, is Wei’Er doing any better?" Dongli rushed over as soon as he heard the rumors.

Cairou shook her head. "Brother Dongli, you should probably go in yourself. My sister doesn’t want to see anyone right now, not even me."

After speaking, she activated a technique. The magnificent palace rumbled, and a doorway appeared.

WHOOSH... Dongli took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and slowly walked inside.

It wasn’t easy being the Great Saint’s Son-in-law.

He might look glamorous and successful in public, but behind the scenes, he was truly walking on thin ice.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so envious of Fang Yang before.

Speaking of which, his origins were somewhat similar to Fang Yang’s.

The Ming Sea Dong Clan he belonged to had no living Saint.

Fortunately, however, his clan possessed a complete Great Saint legacy: the Soul River True Dragon!

"It’s all your fault, all your fault! Why are you so useless? Waaaaah..."

The moment Murong Caiwei saw Dongli arrive, she had a complete mental breakdown, her face tear-streaked and beautiful like a pear blossom in the rain.

Immediately, her fists began to beat against Dongli like raindrops.

Dongli didn’t dare to fully activate his defensive techniques and even deliberately suppressed his own vital energy.

Otherwise, the backlash alone would have been more than Caiwei could handle.

For now, he could only reach out and hold Caiwei, letting her vent her anger.

Once he saw that Caiwei’s anger had subsided a little, he whispered softly, "I promise you, when the time is right, I will personally make a move against Fang Yang..."