C47 A Single Hand Fought Against a Generation of People(2)

"It's just dumb luck that you picked up some flashy but useless fighting skills. I bet what you learned is second-rate. What makes you think you can challenge me?" Lau Ruyue scoffed, though inside he was shaken. He was relieved he hadn't rashly stepped forward earlier; losing face would have been a disaster. While backing down was embarrassing, it was better than getting knocked out cold. At least he could come up with an excuse for not accepting the challenge.

"Second-rate, huh? Then why are you afraid to face me?" Woo Zhengyang chuckled.

"I'm a full-fledged disciple of the Iron Cloud Sect. Do you think you're worthy of challenging me?" Lau Ruyue replied, feeling a bit more confident. Losing face was one thing, but his greatest asset was his affiliation with the Iron Cloud Sect. In a few years, he would easily leave Woo Zhengyang in the dust.

"If you think the title of an Iron Cloud Sect disciple makes you superior, then stand up for your sect and accept the challenge from an outer disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect!" Woo Zhengyang said, pulling out his Profound Heaven Sect badge.

At this point, getting Lau Ruyue to accept the challenge was nearly impossible. Woo Zhengyang's goal was to shatter Lau Ruyue's inflated ego.

While traveling, unless part of an organized group, sect disciples generally avoided wearing clothes with the Profound Heaven Sect emblem to prevent being targeted for revenge.

The Iron Badge serves as the identification for outer disciples of the Profound Heaven Sect. Woo Zhengyang's swift defeat of Lau Ruyue had already left the crowd in awe, but it merely hinted at his experiences over the past year. When the Iron Badge appeared, the crowd's emotions surpassed mere astonishment.

In a place like Bright Sun City, formal disciples of the four major sects are highly esteemed, which is why today's banquet is such a significant event. Unexpectedly, two new disciples from these prestigious sects have emerged at this very gathering.

Moreover, Woo Zhengyang's status as an outer disciple differs from that of Lau Ruyue. The sect's trials aren't entirely fair; anyone under sixteen can become a servant disciple. If they manage to awaken their Origin Genuine Qi within a year, they can advance to a true outer disciple, regardless of using their own spiritual fruits or elixirs.

As the second son of the Lau family head, Lau Ruyue likely had ample preparation for his entry into the Iron Cloud Sect. In contrast, the people of Bright Sun City are well aware of Woo Zhengyang's standing in the Lau mansion. He had to rely solely on himself to pass the Profound Heaven Sect's assessment. This determination alone set him apart from Lau Ruyue, not to mention Woo Zhengyang's demonstrated combat prowess, which far exceeds that of a typical novice disciple.

"Zhengyang... you actually made it into the Profound Heaven Sect..." Among the crowd, there were feelings of envy and jealousy, but Lau Qinghan was genuinely thrilled. Overcome with emotion, this stoic man, known for enduring pain without tears, found his hands trembling with excitement.

"Yes, Uncle!"

"No way... absolutely no way. How could he possibly pass the exams of the Four Great Sects? This badge must be fake, or maybe he found it somewhere and didn't return it..." Lau Ruyue couldn't believe it. He had to use three spiritual fruits to awaken his Origin Genuine Qi just to pass the test. How could Woo Zhengyang have passed as well?

However, Lau Ruyue's reasoning didn't hold water. Whether it was forging a badge from the Four Great Sects or picking one up and not returning it, pretending to be a disciple, it was a death wish. If word got out, that person would face the wrath of the Four Great Sects. Others could kill him and take the badge to the respective sect for a reward.

Woo Zhengyang had been wandering for a year. Even if he were naive, he wouldn't do something so foolish. Besides, the martial skills and techniques Woo Zhengyang just displayed couldn't be faked.

"What he said is true... I just didn't expect he only joined a year ago. Interesting!" The burly young man, Huang Ruoshan, suddenly spoke, his eyes finally showing some interest as he looked at Woo Zhengyang.

"Brother Huang... this..." Lau Ruyue was taken aback. He never expected his senior to speak up at such a crucial moment, completely undermining him.

"Lau Ruyue, this is your family matter, and I shouldn't interfere. But now that you've brought the sect into it, and the other party is a fellow disciple from the same cohort of the Profound Heaven Sect, you should accept this challenge!"

"Huang, this..." Lau Ruyue's words made his vision go dark with regret for inviting him over.

Everyone had just witnessed Woo Zhengyang's performance. Even Sun Wuji, a Four-star Martial Disciple, was beaten to a pulp in just a few rounds. Ruyue had only recently activated his Origin Genuine Qi and returned to share the news. How could he possibly be a match for Woo Zhengyang?

"This concerns the reputation of our sect. We can't afford to be careless. Even if you concede, you must accept the challenge. Our Iron Cloud Sect doesn't take in cowards!" Huang Ruoshan reprimanded with a displeased look.

Huang's words left Ruyue speechless. He knew Huang's standing in the Iron Cloud Sect. If he didn't handle this well, he'd have to hand over his sect badge before it even warmed in his hand.

This grand banquet, known throughout Bright Sun City, would become a joke. Even if he managed to handle it well, the event was already a laughingstock unless he could defeat Woo Zhengyang. But was that even possible?

"I concede!" Lau Ruyue said to Woo Zhengyang, bowing with clenched fists, wishing he could sink into the ground, his face flushed with shame...